New Japan Pro Wrestling presented their annual Dominion event on Saturday. As the event began at 3am EDT, here’s a spoiler-free match listing for the non-nite-owl New Japan fans. Each match has been given a Need To Watch Rating of 0.0-10.0. The show is available at NJPWWorld.com.
FIRST MATCH: IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Match: Suzuki-gun (El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) (c) vs. Roppongi 3K (Sho & Yoh)
A blistering start to the show. This match showcased how much, for better and worse, Sho and Yoh have grown through their time in the Best Of Super Juniors. A fresh chapter in one of the better rivalries of a 2018.
Need To Watch Rating: (8.0)
SECOND MATCH: David Finlay & Juice Robinson vs. CHAOS (Jay White & YOSHI-HASHI)
A fun, if inessential tag team match. The IWGP United States Title division is in a low-period, as the pillars of the division go through some growing pains.
Need To Watch Rating: (3.2)
THIRD MATCH: CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano) vs. Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki & Zack Sabre Jr.)
The war between Ishii & Suzuki continues. One wonders if this rivalry will spill over to Revolution Pro, where Ishii and Suzuki are both champions. Zack Sabre Jr. and Minoru Suzuki are always a fun pair to watch.
Need To Watch Rating: (6.1)
FOURTH MATCH: NEVER Openweight Championship Match: Hirooki Goto (c) vs. Taichi vs. Michael Elgin
This match is fine. There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s definitely the least interesting of the championship matches on this card.
Need To Watch Rating: (6.9)
FIFTH MATCH: IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Match: Los Ingobernables de Japon (EVIL & SANADA) (c) vs. The Young Bucks (Nick Jackson & Matt Jackson)
The Young Bucks and the lads from LIJ prove that this rivalry has legs. An entertaining match that saw some truly inspired selling from The Bucks. Definitely recommended viewing.
Need To Watch Rating: (9.0)
SIXTH MATCH: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Jushin Thunder Liger & Rey Mysterio vs. Bullet Club (Cody, Hangman Page & Marty Scurll)
Bullet Club is fine. Fun debut for Mysterio.
Need To Watch Rating: (8.0)
SEVENTH MATCH: IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship Match: Will Ospreay (c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi
Ospreay and Takahashi have a match that could main event any PPV, Wrestle Kingdom included. Definitely proof that the recent crop of Juniors have elevated the division in ways not thought possible. Someone PLEASE help Will’s neck.
Need To Watch Rating: (10.0)
EIGHTH MATCH: IWGP Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship Match: Tetsuya Naito (c) vs. Chris Jericho.
Jericho has lost his damn mind, and Tetsuya Naito is along for the ride. This match broke new ground as to what a Chris Jericho match can be. Using every inch of the ring and ringside area, Jericho and Naito told the story of a life and death struggle for dominance, and one of the most prestigious titles in the world. Jericho is in rare form and Naito seems downright gleeful to match the insane Canadian blow for ridiculous blow. Quite simply a masterpiece from bell to bell.
Need To Watch Rating: (11.0) NEW RECORD
MAIN EVENT: IWGP Heavyweight Championship No Time Limit Best Of Three Falls Match: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Kenny Omega.
An entire era, told in a single match. The multi-fall format allows chapters to unfold in this novel of a struggle. Omega, his lover in his corner, comes up against Okada, who trying to establish himself as a living myth and a historic champion. The result is a dense tome, that has endless callbacks to minutes, moments, and even years ago. Expected to be a multi-hour marathon, the manageable length of the match works in its favor, giving it an accessibility that many were afraid it would lack. If you’ve watched the entire Okada/Omega series, then you’re in for an absolute delight, a payoff of payoffs. If this is your first Okada/Omega match, it’s all you’ll ever need. This is the match everyone has said these two could have.
Need To Watch Rating: (12.0) NEW NEW RECORD
