New Japan Pro Wrestling presents WRESTLE KINGDOM 12, live from Tokyo, Japan. The biggest NJPW show is set to air at 2am EST on njpwworld.com.
Pre-Show Match: NEW JAPAN RUMBLE
Entrants:
- Katsuya Kitamura
- BUSHI
- Delirious
- Leo Tonga
- Manabu Nakanishi
- Chase Owens
- Yuji Nagata
- TAKA Michinoku
- Yoshinobu Kanemaru
- El Desperado
- Jushin “Thunder” Liger
- Tiger Mask
- Gino Gambino
- Toa Henare
- Yoshi-Hashi
- David Finlay
- Yujiro Takahashi
- Cheeseburger
- Satoshi Kojima
- Hiroyoshi Tenzan
- Masahito Kakihara
Elimnations:
- Delirious pinned by Chase Owens
- BUSHI thrown out by Manabu Nakanishi
- Leo Tonga pinned by Nagata and Nakanishi
- Manabu Nakanishi pinned by Yuji Nagata
- Yuji Nagata pinned by everybody
- Katsuya Kitamura pinned by Chase Owens
- Chase Owens thrown out by TAKA & Yoshinobu
- Jushin “Thunder” Liger*
- Tiger Mask*
- El Desperado*
- Yoshinobu Kanemaru*
- TAKA Michinoku pinned by Gambino
- Gino Gambino pinned by Henare & Finlay
- Toa Henare thrown out by Yoshi-Hashi
- Yoshi-Hashi pinned by David Finlay
- David Finlay thrown out by Yujiro Takahashi
- Yujiro Takahashi pinned by Satoshi Kojima
- Kojima and Tenzan thrown out by Cheeseburger & Kakihara
- Cheeseburger pinned by Masahito Kakihara
WINNER: Masahito Kakihara
After the match, Kakihara cut a promo about the ailing Yoshihiro Takayama and his donation drive.
*This sequence of eliminations was a convoluted mess and not the easiest to follow.
FIRST MATCH: IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Roppongi 3K (Sho & Yoh) vs. The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson)
Yoh and Matt start the match for their teams. After exchanging strikes, their partners rush in, with Matt locking Sho in a Sharpshooter and Yoh locking Nick Jackson in a Sharpshooter. After a forearm battle, Sho & Yoh dominate the Bucks, hitting a series of tandem moves that ended with synchronized somersault planchas over the top rope.
Young Bucks get the momentum back when Nick Jackson hits Yoh with a German Suplex on the ring apron. The Bucks also take out Rocky Romero, Roppongi 3K’s director. After some in-ring offense, Yoh slides out and gets hit with a powerbomb onto the apron. The Bucks double team Yoh in the ring, until Yoh launches Matt Jackson out of the ring. Nick Jackson is able to regain momentum against the smaller Yoh. Matt Jackson tags in, despite showing the effects of his tumble to the outside. Nick tags back in, as the Bucks continue to keep Yoh in their corner.
Matt Jackson starts to beat on Yoh on the outside but Yoh counters a piledriver attempt and a suicide dive, and gets in the ring to tag Sho. Sho tries to get some momentum against the challengers, but The Young Bucks continue to tag in and out of the match. Sho fights back, eventually hitting a double-german suplex on both Jacksons.
First 3K attempt is broken up by a Superkick Party but Yoh hits a Backcracker on Nick Jackson. Nick rolls out of 3K, and then rolls out of a German Suplex and plants both Roppongi members with Superkicks. Matt Jackson tags in and he and Yoh target each other’s weakened backs.
After more back and forth, Matt Jackson locks Yoh in the Sharpshooter, but Yoh struggles to the ropes. Bucks attempt More Bang For Your Buck but Matt’s back gives out and Yoh tries for a roll up. Sho and Yoh then lock The Bucks in single leg Crabs. Nick Jackson fights out and sends Sho into Yoh.
Sho and Nick Jackson get into a forearm battle, but then decide to kick the each other’s tag team partner, battling to see who could do more damage, but Nick then hit a Superkick on Sho, knocking him out of the ring. Nick followed with a moonsault to the outside.
Matt Jackson dominates Yoh and then The Young Bucks hit Meltzer Driver. Nick locks Yoh in the Sharpshooter and Yoh submits.
WINNERS AND NEW CHAMPIONS: The Young Bucks.
