Hello y'all! Good morning folks and here's my WrestleKingdom 12 Review
to start off the year! And that's the best way to start 2018! Review one of the
most favorite times in the year. So let's get to it!
34,995 fans were in the TokyoDome and witnessed the granddaddy of them
all WRESTLEKINGDOM! (NJPW's WrestleMania) and it was outstanding, the
atmosphere was superb and the expectations were high. And it's my pleasure to
write about it.
NOTE: I didn't watch the NJ Rumble so I'll not talk about it, but I read
the result and the review, I gotta say it was great that they did a tribute to
Takayama! Kikihara is the right winner. Respect
IWGP Jr. Tag Team Championship: Young Bucks Vs. RPG3K (with Rocky
Romero)
They stole the show, outstanding start for the show as Young Bucks start
off WrestleKingdom once again, this time they met the young and upcoming
Roppongi 3K, the match was sick, they had some great moments, it looked like
the Bucks were focusing on Yoh's Back, they had very good moves in this one,
they also took out Rocky Romero with a Powerbomb on the fucking Ramp. Then YOH
and Sho started to spark a comeback, it was very fine and cool comeback, they
locked the bucks in the Sharpshooter and in that moment the Bucks did a Revival
Spot, while one member prevents other to tap out, it was a very cool moment,
and in the end, The bucks prevailed and secured the victory after a stunning
Meltzer driver and than the Sharpshooter to tap 3K out.
That was a great start, great moves, high spots, much like last year's
match, I loved it.
I give this match: 73 out of 100,
P.S Congrats to my fellas Matt&Nick, it's their 7th reign
as IWGP Tag Champs, and guys if you think you heard the last time about RPG,
you dead wrong fellas, it's not over for them. This two young fellas would get
the titles in the future, much respect!
NEVER Openweight 6Man Tag team Championship Gauntlet match
G.O.D and Bad Luck Fale Vs. Beretta,Ishii and Toru Yano Vs. Juice
Robinson,Ryusuke taguchi and Togi Makabe Vs. Mike Elgin&War Machine Vs.
Zack Sabre Jr., Taichi and Takashi Iizuka.
The match was started with Suzuki Gun vs. Elgin&War Machine, they
did a fine start, not great but fine start, Zack Sabre Jr. literally deserves
better than this.. anyway WarMachine&Elgin were eliminated 1st,
as expected. And than came CHAOS. And when CHAOS Came, it was their match, Yano
Rolled up Taichi after less than a minute and SUZUKI Gun were eliminated, than
came Taguchi Japan! And They got eliminated too, after Yano pinned Taguchi..
and than the Bullet Club came as final entrants, they had a good show in this
match, while everyone got a chance to shine, the ending was fine as Beretta hit
the DudeBuster and got the victory for CHAOS. What I didn't like about this
match is that Ishii and Sabre Jr. got only to be in this match, they are 2 of
the most talented guys in New Japan today, if not the most.. so why to give
them only to wrestle in the 6Men ? why not to book Ishii in a singles match vs.
Zack? Anyway it was fine match.
I give it 62 out of 100.
Cody Vs. Kota Ibushi
Finally some singles action, and this time it's a great one of a singles
match. Cody Vs. Kota Ibushi! Cody came with his wife Brandi, Brandi looked
great entering the ring with Cody, Cody's blonde looks weird but cool. The
match started in ibushi's side, as he took momentum, than when cody realized
that he's overmatched, him and Brandi did a trick on Kota, that trick opened
the door for Cody to take control, Cody went on Ibushi's neck and took control
of the match, it was makes sense, and than Kota started to Spark a Comeback,
and than.. Cody did one of the most crazy Cross Rhodes he's ever done, off the
fucking apron! To the floor! It was a scary scene I thought Ibushi broke his
neck.. that was a beautiful move though, the fans's reaction was CRAZY, that
was insane, than Cody got Overconfident and as you know "Overconfidence
kills" and Kota came back, he delivered a powerbomb. Cody kicked out, but
than Kota finished the match with one of my favorite moves, the PHOENIX SPLASH
(Hey hayabusa) and Kota got the victory he rightfully deserves. Overall it was
great match. Cody's heel work with Brandi was outstanding, great shoutout to
both of them, Kota got the win rightfully, I want to see that guy grow and
evolve, he's one of the great names today, he deserved this win, this match was
great, felt a bit short but it was great.
I Give this match: 74 out of 100.
IWGP Tag Team Championship, KES Vs. EVIL&SANADA
Aw shit! I waited for this match very much, spoke with Lance before the
match, one of my closest buddies in Wrestling world..
The match was started with an Early attack by KES on EVIL, they hit EVIL
with a finish. For a near fall, they remained in control for some minutes, they
even did a CHOKESLAM on the fucking apron, that moment left SANADA to take a
beating, things picked up as EVIL got up and him&SANADA took control, they
hit a MAGIC Killer and than Sanada hit a Moonsault to get the victory. That was
the shortest match in the card but it was a good one, I got to say the Chemistry
of both teams is very good. Great work by KES. Putting over EVIL&Sanada.
I Give this Match: 65 out of 100.
NEVER Openweight Championship: Hair Vs. Hair DEATH Match: Minoru Suzuki
Vs. Hirooki Goto.
This match wasn't that interesting like the others but still had some
impact. After SUZUKI beat Goto twice last year in a decent matches, that match had some chips on
his shoulder, and that match was a bit of a WAR.even members of SUZUKI Gun and
CHAOS Were involved, that was a warfare, a hard hitting 18 minutes match, GOTO
Won after a GTR, this two guys finally had a great match, and time for Minoru
to get shaved, and Suzuki is a man of his word so he shaved his own hair,
completed the haircut himself.
The match was great, I Give this match: 75 out of 100. Good job fellas.
IWGP JR. Heavyweight 4 Way
Will Ospreay Vs. Marty Scurll Vs. KUSHIDA Vs. Hiromu Takahashi
Aw fuck! I waited for this one so long. That was a SHOW Stealer instant
classic, Ospreay had a HOLY SHIT MOMENT as he delivered a crazy stunning
Moonsault off a Freaking Structure, the match was full of high spots and full
of excitement, everyone had their moments, it was their chance to steal the
show, and guess what? It happened. They stole the show. The finish was not my
favorite but it was a good one, Ospreay won after the OsCutter , pinned Marty
and got the win, match of the night so far…
I Give This Match 86 out of 100
IWGP IC Championship
Hiroshi Tanahashi Vs. Jay White
That match kinda let me down to be honest, Jay is young, putting him in
that early level at this big stage of a match, it's like a risk, he didn't felt
like a star and his gimmick needed more work, on the other hand Tanahashi is
now not the same Tanahashi 2 years ago, it was different, the match was fine,
could be better but it was fine, I expect NJPW to do some work with Jay, this
kid needs more confidence, it would take time but eventually he'll be a Star.
Tana in my opinion needs to lose the title to his next opponent, his reign is
good but it has to be someone else's title now. I say it as a huge Tana fan,
it's just not the same.
I give the match: 52 out of 100…
IWGP US Championship
NO DQ Match
ALPHA Vs OMEGA
Chris Jericho Vs. Kenny Omega!!
Damn I waited for this match for a long time, I thank lord we got this
excitement and this huge hyped match! , and The build up to the match was the
best build ups I seen in years.. Chris's entrance was great, came out with his
band's top hit Judas. And he wore his light up jacket to the ring, I loved it.
And then Kenny came to the ring with a unique outfit, it was look like a Viking
outfit I mean it was weird.. now the match.. well They didn't need a slow
build, so they went at it like it's a goddamn hockey fight (well theyr'e Canadians
so..) Jericho locked up the Walls early, then Kenny reached the ropes. Kenny
tried to jump on Jericho at the outside, he came crash and burn through a
table, than CHAOS Evolved as Chris attacked
the referee Red Shoes, and then attacked his son (young lion) who came
to check about his dad, omega sparked a comeback only for chris to drop him
with a Dropkicks, Chris brutalized Kenny and made him Bleed. He took pride of
it, it was gigantic moment, but his overconfidence cost him, as Kenny made a
comeback and Jericho also felt through a goddamn table when Kenny hits a
V-Trigger, then we got got some series of counters, at one point even Chris
countered a One Winged angel to a LionTamer! Eventually Kenny won with a One
Winged Angel on a Chair! In what was an outstanding contest.
It was a chaotic match, I loved it.
I give this match: 92 out of 100
THE MAIN EVENT
IWGP Heavyweight Championship
Kazuchika Okada Vs. Tetsuya Naito
This was supposed to be NAITO's MOMENT!
Man I'm upset at this result to be honest.. the match was good, could be
better but sadly wasn't, that main event let me down big time, Naito was on a
roll to finally win the Big one! Why fuckin' Why it had to be Okada Again? I
respect the hell outta him but man.. it's was supposed to be Naito. I felt very
angry about the result to be honest.
The ending was heartbreaking, Naito tried another DESTINO, and Okada
Reversed it into a Tombstone and then the RainMaker.. damn, it was very mixed
feeling for me. And not for the good. It was the 1st time I felt
angry at NJPW's booking, I love this company, but I was sad about the result.
Okada is one of the greats, undoubtfully, but damn! NJPW blew a huge freaking
chance to put over Tetsuya. God damn! I
very hope Naito will get the title at any point. He needs to be the next Champ.
Okada needs to finally lose the belt.
I give the match: 79 out of 100.
Now my Overall Rating and opinion
WrestleKingdom 12 was great, not the same as 11 but it was still great
event, filled most of my expectations, but I want to see improvement next year,
Okada as a champ is too over in my opinion, I love his gimmick, and his reign
is legendary but.. too long. It's time for Naito to be the Leading figure in
NJPW. The results were good, the IC Title match, not so much, it felt a lot
different , I'm not used to see Tanahashi in a not so good matches. It's just
not the same. The Super Juniors stole
the show. They did a fucking huge impact, I loved their match. And Jericho and
Kenny, they took both of them to the limit. I loved it.
My overall rating for Kingdom this year: 83 out of 100.
It was very good. But I hope to see things improve, and I hope Jericho
stays in NJPW for a long time.
I hope you enjoyed.
