By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
New Japan Pro Wrestling “Dynasty”
January 5, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan at the Tokyo Dome
Streamed live on New Japan World and TrillerTV.com
NJPW Dynasty Pre-Show
Walker Stewart and Chris Charlton were on commentary. The entrances for the International Women’s Cup match took place…
1. Willow Nightingale vs. Persephone vs. Athena vs. Momo Watanabe (w/Thekla) in a four-way for the International Women’s Cup. Late in the match, Athena took out Persephone with a move from the apron to the floor. In the ring, Willow got Watanabe on her shoulders and hit a Death Valley Driver into a corner of the ring. Athena Hit the O Face on Willow and had the pin, but Watanabe’s stable mate Thekla pulled the referee out of the ring. Watanabe hit Athena with a baseball bat while the referee was distracted. Watanabe followed up with a suplex into a bridge and got the three count…
Momo Watanabe defeated Athena, Willow Nightingale, and Persephone in a four-way in 11:30 to win the International Women’s Cup.
Powell’s POV: Good work from all four wrestlers, but the finish did nothing for me. It was disappointing to see outside interference in the pre-show opening match. I also rolled my eyes at the idea of Watanabe hitting Athena with a home run swing that would maim or even kill someone if it were done legitimately. I’m surprised that Athena took the loss, though perhaps this will lead to something for her in Japan or even back home in ROH.
Entrances for the ROH Tag Team Title match took place…
2. Dustin Rhodes and Sammy Guevara vs. Sho and Yoshinobu Kanemaru for the ROH Tag Team Titles. At one point, Guevara was isolated when Sho stepped on one of the ROH tag team title belts in a display of disrespect. Rhodes took a hot tag and hit both opponents with power slams. Rhodes played to the crowd and was cheered. Later, Kanemaru took a swig of whiskey.
Rhodes stopped him from spitting it initially, but Kanemaru eventually spat it in his face for a near fall. Dustin ended up with the whiskey bottle and took a swig of his own, which he then spat in Kanemaru’s face. Guevara superkicked Kanemaru and then Dustin hit Kanemaru with a Final Reckoning. Guevara hit Kanemaru with a Swanton, and then Dustin covered Kanemaru for the three count.
Dustin Rhodes and Sammy Guevara defeated Sho and Yoshinobu Kanemaru in 9:25 to retain the ROH Tag Team Titles.
After the match, Dustin dropped down on his knees and kissed the mat and then bowed…
Powell’s POV: A fine pre-show match. It had to be cool for the Japanese fans to get a rare opportunity to see Dustin in person.
NJPW Dynasty Main Card
A video package opened the main card. One round of pyro shot off on the stage. The English broadcast team of Walker Stewart and Chris Charlton checked in. Charlton read through the rules for opening match…
1. Eight-man gauntlet match. CMLL and NJPW will each have four representatives in the match. Hechicero and Kosei Fujita were the first two entrants. The third entrant was Soberano, who eventually cleared Hechicero from the ring with a head-scissors. Soberano followed up with a Fosbury Flop dive. The fourth entrant was Master Wato.
The fifth entrant was Mascara Dorada, who cleared Sobrano from the ring with a head-scissors. Dorada ran the ropes for a dive, but Hechicero cut him off. Dorada cleared Hechicero from the ring with another head-scissors and then hit Soberano and Hechicero with suicide dives.
The sixth entrant was Taiji Ishimori. The seventh entrant was Titan, who hit a dive onto Ishimori once he entered the ring. The final entrant was El Desperado, who captured the IWGP Jr. Hvt. Championship by defeating Douki by injury forfeit at Wrestle Kingdom 19 the night before.
All seven wrestlers stood in the ring and motioned for Desperado to enter. They eventually left the ring and roughed him up on the entrance ramp and then tossed him inside the ring. The wrestlers took turns working over Desperado.
It was big dive time for various wrestlers, which got a good reaction from the crowd. In the end, Fujita had Despardo in a submission hold when Ishimori tossed the referee into both men to break it up. Ishimori then hooked Desperado into a pin and got the three count. Fujita was not happy with Ishimori for stealing the pin.
Taiji Ishimori defeated El Desperado, Hechicero, Kosei Fujita, Soberano, Mascara Dorada, and Titan in 16:30 in an eight-man NJPW and CMLL gauntlet match.
Powell’s POV: This was similar to AEW’s Casino Gauntlet match in that the match could have ended at any point with a single pinfall. It was fine for what it was and the live crowd seemed to enjoy it.
2. Katsuyori Shibata vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi. This match was set up at WK19 the night before when Shibata issued a friendly challenge that Tanahashi accepted. This was a chop fest, though Tanahashi did get some gasps from the crowd when he headbutted Shibata. They went back to chopping until the bell rang to end the match.
Katsuyori Shibata fought Hiroshi Tanahashi to a 5:00 draw.
After the match, Shibata and Tanahashi went nose-to-noise. Shibata backed up and then extended his hand, which Tanahashi shook. The wrestlers hugged and then played to the crowd together…
Powell’s POV: This was Shibata’s first NJPW match since Wrestle Kingdom 16 when he was supposed to have a match fought under catch wrestling rules. The idea was for Shibata to have a safe match due to the serious head injury that he suffered in 2017. Shibata blew that off and had a regular match with Narita. Shibata and Tanahashi presumably kept it basic due to Shibata’s injury history.
3. NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Mercedes Mone vs. Undisputed British Women’s Champion Mina Shirakawa in a title vs. title match. Shirakawa’s title is a Revolution Pro championship. Shirakawa targeted the left knee of Mone. Late in the match, Mone went for the Moneymaker, but Shirakawa countered of it and dropped Mone face first on the mat. Shirakawa put Mone in the Figure Four. Mone rolled onto her and got a two count to break it. Shirakawa went for the Figure Four again, but Mone caught her in an inside cradle for a two count. Mone hit her Moneymaker finisher and scored the pin…
Mercedes Mone defeated Mina Shirakawa in 14:10 to retain the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship and to win the Undisputed British Women’s Championship.
Powell’s POV: A good match that lacked drama, at least as far as I was concerned. Shirakawa dominated so much of the offense that I just assumed it was only a matter of time before Mone would shut her down and get the pin. Yes, this most likely means there will be yet another title belt popping up on AEW television soon.
4. David Finlay (w/Gedo) vs. Brody King. Finlay dropped the IWGP Global Championship to Yota Tsuji the night before at WK19. King was dominant throughout the majority of the first ten minutes of the match. King went for a powerbomb, but Finlay slipped away and then speared him for a two count. Finlay clubbed the back of King’s head and then covered him for a two count. Finlay spoke with Gedo and then set up for a move, but King hit him with a Death Valley Driver into one of the corner pads. King followed up with a cannonball and then placed Finlay on the top turnbuckle. Finlay fought back and got King in powerbomb position and then dropped him face first on the top turnbuckle. Finlay powerbombed the big man and then hit him with his Overkill finisher before pinning him clean.
David Finlay beat Brody King in 13:00.
Powell’s POV: Although the formula was similar to the women’s match in that the person who dominated the majority of the offense wound up taking the loss, I didn’t feel like the outcome was equally predictable. I suspected that Finlay would get a bounce back win after dropping his title the night before and because he is the NJPW regular. But I also couldn’t rule out the possibility of Finlay taking back-to-back losses as part of a brief losing streak storyline.
Shota Umino rode his motorcycle around the stadium, just as he did prior to the WK19 main event. Once he parked it on the stage, he walked down the entrance ramp. Claudio Castagnoli ran out and attacked him from behind. Castagnoli was oddly rewarded for his pre-match attack because the referee called for the bell once both men were in the ring…
5. Shota Umino vs. Claudio Castagnoli. The match spilled over to ringside where Castagnoli ran Umino into the barricade and then picked him up and dropped him on it. Castagnoli was dominant early. Umino eventually battled back and hit a DDT on the apron shortly before 7:00. Umino followed up with a Draping DDT from the barricade. Back in the ring, Umino hit a missile dropkick. Castagnoli stuffed a Death Rider attempt. Castagnoli got Umino seated on the top turnbuckle and then went to the middle rope.
Castagnoli slammed Umino to the mat from the second rope, which got a rise out of the live crowd. Castagnoli used the Giant Swing and the fans counted along with each revolution, but it only led to a two count. Castagnoli put Umino in a Sharpshooter until he reached the ropes. Castagnoli once again put Umino on his shoulders while standing on the middle rope, but Umino fought free and blasted him with rapid fire elbows. There were some boos. Umino took Castagnoli down with a tornado DDT. Castagnoli stuffed another Death Rider attempt and hit a clunky looking popup uppercut for a near fall. Castagnoli hit the Ricola Bomb for a near fall. Umino stuffed a Neutralizer and an uppercut, then hit the Death Rider and got the three count…
Shota Umino beat Claudio Castagnoli in 14:30.
Powell’s POV: A bounce back win for Umino after he took the loss in the main event at WK19. Umino also has issues with Jon Moxley, so it’s logical for him to beat one of Moxley’s Death Rider allies.
A video listing key dates for NJPW was shown. A Stardom show was listed for mid-April in Las Vegas…
6. Konosuke Takeshita (w/Don Callis) vs. Tomohiro Ishii for the Never Openweight Championship and AEW International Championship. Takeshita beat Shingo Takagi in a title vs. title match at WK19 to win the Never Openweight Title. Takeshita dumped Ishii on his head with a German suplex and then hit him with a knee strike that led to a two count around 5:00.
A short time later, Takeshita hit a Falcon Arrow from the ropes for a near fall. Takeshita acted surprised by not getting the pin. Ishii stuffed a Raging Fire attempt. Ishii caught him with a lariat that resulted in a one count. Both men stayed down. When they got up, they traded big elbow strikes.
Ishii fired up and connected with a headbutt and then hit a couple of lariats that led to a two count. Ishii followed up a short time later with a sliding lariat and went for a brainbuster, but Takeshita slipped away and put him down with a Poison Rana. Takeshita removed his elbow pad. Ishii ducked a lariat and then took a knee strike. Ishii connected with an enzuigiri. Takeshita blasted him with a forearm and then hit Raging Fire and got the pin…
Konosuke Takeshita defeated Tomohiro Ishii in 13:35 to retain the Never Openweight Championship and AEW International Championship.
Powell’s POV: This was a fun match with Takeshita throwing everything at Ishii, yet not being able to put him away for a good portion of the match. The crowd really came to life for Ishii’s comeback. Ishii moves really well for a guy who will turn 50 in December. As was the case with Mone’s win earlier, Takeshita winning most likely means there will be yet another title belt popping up on AEW television.
7. Great-O-Khan and Jeff Cobb vs. “The Young Bucks” Matthew Jackson and Nicholas Jackson vs. Tetsuya Naito and Hiromu Takahashi in a three-way for the vacant IWGP Tag Team Titles. Rocky Romero joined the broadcast team. The Bucks were listed as Matthew and Nicholas on the big screen. Matthew wore a pearl necklace and pearl earrings.
Cobb hit a series of suplexes around 8:00. Cobb stuffed an EVP Trigger attempt and then simultaneously suplexed the Bucks. Khan performed an airplane spot on Matthew and then Cobb hit him with a standing moonsault. Cobb had the pin, but Takahashi broke it up.
Matthew and Takahashi worked together to perform a double superplex on Cobb. They bumped firsts afterward and then Matthew superkicked Takahashi.The Bucks set up for a TK Driver on Naito, but it was broken up by Takahashi, who grabbed the leg of Nicholas. The Bucks hit an EVP Trigger on Naito and Matthew had him pinned, but O-Khan broke it up. The Bucks hit O-Khan with back-to-back double superkicks. The Bucks hit a TK Driver on O-Khan and then Matthew pinned him.
“The Young Bucks” Matthew Jackson and Nicholas Jackson defeated Great-O-Khan and Jeff Cobb, and Tetsuya Naito and Hiromu Takahashi in a three-way in 13:50 to win the vacant IWGP Tag Team Titles.
After the match, the Jacksons looked in the camera and Matthew said it looks like you haven’t seen the last of them in Japan. As they were walking to the back, Nicholas told the fans to enjoy it because it might be the last time they see the Bucks in NJPW.
Powell’s POV: Hey, more title belts are coming to AEW. Yikes. This was the first Young Bucks match since they dropped the AEW Tag Team Titles to Private Party on October 30. You wouldn’t know it from watching this match. They executed their signature spots to perfection, never looked winded, and showed no rust.
8. Yota Tsuji vs. Jack Perry for the IWGP Global Championship. As previously noted, Tsuji beat David Finlay to win the IWGP Global Championship at WK19. Perry wore a goat mask and brought a scythe to the ring as part of his entrance. Around 10:00, Tsuji hit a Spanish Fly from the top rope for a near fall. Tsuji waited for Perry to get up and then charged, but Perry caught him with a knee strike.
A short time later, Perry shoved Tsuji toward the referee and then hit him with a low blow that the referee didn’t see. This led to Perry making a cocky cover and getting a a near fall. Perry went for a knee strike that Tsuji avoided. Perry supelxed him. Both men ran the ropes and then Tsuji speared and pinned Perry.
Yota Tsuji defeated Jack Perry in 13:30 to retain the IWGP Global Championship.
Powell’s POV: A good match. Tsuji going over felt like the logical move given that he just won the title and is the NJPW regular.
9. Kenny Omega vs. Gabe Kidd. Both wrestlers had big star entrances. Omega had some of his hair braided. Kidd had the NJPW logo on one side of his tights. AEW’s Bryce Remsburg was the referee. Omega executed an early second round moonsault. He reached for his abdomen, then patted it and smiled confidently.
There was a suplex spot near the ropes that led to both men tumbling to the floor. Kidd ran Omega into the barricade multiple times. Kidd and Remsburg argued for a moment. Omega took advantage by kicking Kidd through the ropes. Omega followed up with a pescado. Omega sold abdominal pain. A short time later, both men fought on the apron. Kidd went for a piledriver, but Omega backdropped him, causing Kidd to hit the ropes and tumble to the floor.
Omega hit a dragon suplex at ringside. Omega played to the crowd while setting up for a move and received a mixed reaction. Omega looked like he was setting up for a powerbomb on the apron, but he turned and powerbombed Kidd over the barricade and through a table. Kidd took some of the bump on the back of his head. Remsburg called for a medical help while Kidd’s allies said he was fine. Omega picked up Kidd, who was bleeding from the forehead.
Omega hit a springboard flip dive and overshot Kidd, yet took out a lot of the extras on the other side of the barricade who were there to break his fall. Omega clutched his right hip. Kidd eventually battled back and slammed a chair over the back of Omega. Kidd wiped some of the blood from his own forehead and smeared it on his chest. Kidd gave Omega a brainbuster on a table that was halfway set up on the floor. Kidd ripped the table board free and slammed it over Omega’s head.
Omega bled heavily from the forehead. Kidd tossed several chairs inside the ring. Once they were in the ring, Kidd suplexed Omega onto some of the chairs. Moments later, both traded chair shots to the head. Gross. Red Shoes took over as the referee (I’m guessing Remsburg was taken out by Omega’s springboard dive spot). Both men traded palm strikes in the middle of the ring.Omega connected with a couple of V-Triggers, but Kidd put him down with a lariat.
A short time later, Omega executed a dragon suplex from the ropes and covered Kidd for a near fall.Omega hit a V-Trigger and went for his One Winged Angel finisher, but he sold his abdomen. Kidd caught Omega in an abdominal stretch. Omega reached the ropes and was suplexed by Kidd. Omega threw a lariat at Kidd, who no-sold it. Kidd put Omega down with a piledriver and covered him while holding up one arm and got a two count.
Kidd let out a primal scream and set up for a piledriver. Omega tried to counter into a huracanrana, but Kidd stuffed it and slammed him to the mat. Kidd followed up with another piledriver and went for the pin, but Omega put his foot over the bottom rope at the last moment just before the ring announcer said they’d reached 30:00.
Omega put Kidd down with a kick and then hit him with a V-Trigger. Omega followed up with a powerbomb and then drilled him with a knee strike. Omega went for the pin, but Kidd kicked out immediately. Kidd flipped off Omega while kneeling. Omega hit him with a V-Trigger. Omega hit the One Winged Angel and scored the pin…
Kenny Omega defeated Gabe Kidd in 32:00.
Kidd was helped away from ringside by Clark Connors and Drilla Moloney. Hiroshi Tanahashi was shown crying at the Japanese commentary table.
Powell’s POV: Omega returned from major abdominal surgery and stole the Tokyo Dome weekend with a hell of a match. Obviously, Kidd gets a lot of the credit as well. Kidd was given a big opportunity and he hit a home run. I hated the unprotected chair shots to the head, but I enjoyed the hell out of this gritty match.
10. Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Ricochet for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. Sabre beat Shota Umino at WK19 to retain his title the night before. Ricochet made hi entrance first. When Sabre arrived on the apron, Ricochet booted him. the match started moments later. Ricochet hit rapid fire moves and capped off the sequence with a 450 splash for a near fall.
Later, Ricochet suplexed Sabre on the apron. Both men fell to the floor. Ricochet hung on and then suplexed Sabre on the floor. Ricochet returned to the ring. The announcers reminded viewers that a title can change hands on a count-out in NJPW. Sabre barely beat the referee’s 20-count. Sabre and Ricochet talked smack. Ricochet slapped Sabre, who blasted him with a return slap.
Both wrestlers got to their feet and traded uppercuts. Sabre got the better of the exchange and Ricochet with several more. Sabre charged Ricochet in the corner, but Ricochet caught him with a knee. Ricochet let out a primal scream while looking to the crowd around 15:00.
Ricochet put Sabre on the top turnbuckle. Sabre grabbed Ricochet’s hand and put him in a wrist lock that he eventually released. Sabre hit a Zack Driver from the ropes for a near fall and then applied a crossarm breaker, which he transitioned into a Fujiwara armbar. Ricochet reached the ropes to break the hold.
Sabre taunted Ricochet while throwing kicks at him. Ricochet caught his leg and ended up throwing a couple of kicks of his own. Ricochet slammed Sabre to the mat and covered him for a two count. Ricochet went up top and hit a Shooting Star Press for that led to a near fall. Ricochet made the throat slash gesture and then kicked the top of Sabre’s head. Ricochet followed up with another slam for a near fall.
Ricochet went up top again and went for a 630 splash that Sabre avoided. Sabre hit a PK and then a Zack Driver for a near fall. Ricochet battled back and dropped Sabre to his knees with punches. Ricochet went for the Spirit Gun, but Sabre took him down and hooked his arms behind him until Ricochet verbally submitted.
Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Ricochet in 21:00 to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
After the match, Sabre spoke in Japanese and then English. He spoke about how he loves Japan and said his TMDK faction will be on top of NJPW for a very long time. “We are TMDK and the mighty don’t kneel,” Sabre said before tossing the mic in the air to end the promo. Stewart reminded viewers about the New Year Dash show that will be held early Monday morning (North American time).
Powell’s POV: A good match that had a really tough act to follow. There was no reason to think Ricochet would win the title, which worked against the match. Even so, it was entertaining and capped off a fun weekend at the Tokyo Dome.
Both shows served as a reminder of where Tony Khan’s rapid fire match card approach came from. They didn’t run many video packages and just rushed from one match to the next for the most part. While I don’t mind it once a year for a major weekend like this, I think it would be smart for New Japan to include more video packages to help bring viewers up to speed if they only pop in for Wrestle Kingdom. The more you do to win over those fans, the more likely they are to return more often.
While I preferred Dynasty over WK19, both shows were entertaining. I appreciated the earlier start time for Dynasty and hopefully that will become the norm if it becomes an annual event. Finally, a big thumbs up for the New Japan World streaming experience via Roku. The picture was excellent and I didn’t have any buffering issues during either show.
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