Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-Jo Hall Recap/Review: 6/9/18

 

It's once time to look at one of NJPW's biggest shows of the year: Dominion in Osaka-Jo Hall. Full disclosure: I skipped the first 3 matches since I couldn't be arsed to give a shit about them, plus I'm saving Okada/Omega for a separate post, as there's WAY too much detail in it. Anyways, let's get started.

Hirooki Goto vs. Michael Elgin vs. Taichi, NEVER Openweight Championship Match

The match starts off with Taichi backing off from the advances of Elgin and Goto and exiting the ring. Just as Elgin and Goto lock up, Taichi attempts to roll up Goto, but Elgin breaks it up. He and Goto go at it again, while Taichi exits the ring once again. He gets back in and briefly teams up with Goto to take down Elgin. This partnership ends just as it started as Goto suplexes Taichi onto Elgin, then tries the same with Elgin, who blocks it.

Elgin sends Goto to the outside and goes at it with Taichi before sending him to the outside. While Taichi and Goto brawl on the outside, Elgin delivers a somersault plancha to the both of them. All 3 eventually get back in the ring; Taichi and Goto take Elgin out once again. Taichi attempts the superkick, only to be met with an Ushigoroshi from Goto. Elgin gets back in and attempts a superplex to Taichi; Goto delivers a back suplex to Elgin. Goto tries for the superplex again, only for Elgin to deliver a springboard sunset flip powerbomb, taking them both down.

Elgin sends Taichi to the outside while he and Goto brawl in the ring. Following an Ushigoroshi, Goto nails Elgin with an inverted version of his GTR finisher; Elgin kicks out. Miho Abe distracts the referee while Taichi hits Elgin and Goto with his signature microphone stand. He then superkicks Goto, who kicks out. Elgin gets back in, bucklebombs Taichi, then into Goto, then delivers his finishing spinning powerbomb to secure the win and become the new champ.

Thoughts: To be perfectly honest, I was really only interested in his match for my mans Taichi. But as I watched the match, I was pleasantly surprised. The match quality was quite decent, all three men are perfectly capable in-ring performers. Plus, I loved the story being told of Taichi coming in just to fuck up Elgin and Goto's little affair. He's an extremely underrated talent and deserves to be used more.

Not much more to say here. It's decent match, but you don't absolutely HAVE to see it (unless you love Taichi like I do).

Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) vs. EVIL and SANADA, IWGP Tag Team Championship Match

Nick and SANADA start the match off. Both display impressive agility, with Nick in particular, who gets the upper hand following a tilt-a-whirl headscissors/dropkick/rope-walk somersault arm drag combo. EVIL and Matt are tagged in; the Bucks break off a little tag-team offense on their opponents, taking the advantage for the time being. Getting back in the ring, EVIL and SANADA turn the tables thanks to a sidewalk slam from EVIL to Matt and a tag-team maneuver to Nick.

The two go to work on Matt, taking advantage of his past back issues. They keep it up until Matt evades an EVIL senton and a SANADA plancha, tagging in Nick, and he shows off his special brand of hot-tag offense as per usual. EVIL dodges an apron kick from Nick, who hurts his foot on the ring post. EVIL and SANADA take the momentum back for a brief respite. The two attempt their Magic Killer; Nick counters with a desperation headscissors to SANADA while Matt dropkicks EVIL and lifts SANADA onto the top rope.

The Bucks attempt a double superplex, but EVIL counters with a double powerbomb, with SANADA also receiving some of the damage. Matt and SANADA are tagged in following a quick exchange from Nick and EVIL; the two trade blows, with Matt getting the advantage and setting SANADA up for the Meltzer Driver. The attempt is blocked as EVIL pulls Nick off the apron. SANADA then attempts a dragon sleeper and Matt counters with a sharpshooter attempt. EVIL breaks it up, only to be put in a sharpshooter himself.

SANADA then puts the dragon sleeper on Matt once again, only to be met with a missile dropkick from Nick, still nursing his foot. SANADA manages to tag in EVIL, who promptly plants Matt with Darkness Falls. Matt manages to get him up for the Meltzer Driver, but Nick slips on the ropes, feeling the effect of his foot injury. EVIL and SANADA then hit Matt with their variation of the Meltzer Driver, but Nick somehow manages to break up the pin. Matt gets hit with the Magic Killer, only for Nick to once again break up the pin.

Getting Nick out of the ring once again, EVIL and SANADA attempt to double-team Matt, who manages to clothesline EVIL but is met with a SANADA dropkick. After spinning Matt around with a dragon sleeper, SANADA attempts a moonsault; Matt dodges and spears him. The Bucks then delivers their patented superkicks to their opponents. They hit SANADA with More Bang For Your Buck to become the new IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.

Thoughts: I understand that it's commonplace to shit on New Japan's Tag Division, given that the booking isn't the best, but when two of the top teams in the world go out there and really give it their all, you have to give props. All four men involved are excellent performers who are at the top of their game, and they really made you (at least me) care about the state of the Tag Team Division. The back-and-forths were absolutely excellent; the chemistry between the two teams is absolutely impeccable and I'm all for seeing them wrestle each other again in the near future.

On top of that, it also told a great story. It combined Matt's back issues with Nick's broken foot, as well as the over-arching story of this being their first time vying for Heavyweight Gold in NJPW. EVIL and SANADA fulfilled their role fantastically as Heavyweight mainstays looking to teach the new (seemingly) fresh meat a lesson. There's a mighty fine chance if you don't give a shit about Tag Teams in New Japan, you will after this match.

Jushin Thunder Liger, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Rey Mysterio vs. Bullet Club (Marty Scurll, Cody and Hangman Page)

Mysterio and Scurll start the match off, only for Tanahashi and Page to be tagged in. After a quick exchange between the two, Cody is tagged in. They trade bits of offense before Mysterio and Scurll are tagged in. Following a few quick evasions, Mysterio hits Scurll with a hurricanrana and then tags in Liger, his team seemingly in control. Liger delivers a baseball slide dropkick to Scurll and then puts him in a surfboard lock back in the ring.

Cody and Page knock Tanahashi and Mysterio off the apron and break up the hold; BC start working Liger over for a while. Liger eventually manages to build up enough strength to deliver a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker to Scurll and tag in Mysterio, who returns the favor and works Scurll over for a bit. He attempts a 619, unaware Page tagged himself in. Tanahashi tags himself in to prevent the attack and delivers a springboard crossbody to Page, then dropkicks Cody off the ring apron.

Page sets up Tanahashi for his Rite of Passage finisher, but The Ace wriggles out and delivers a swinging neckbreaker to Page. Both teams deliver counters to their respective opponents, and Liger and Cody get tagged in. Liger delivers a series of roll-up pin attempts then a Shotei palm strike to Cody. Mysterio hangs Scurll up in the ropes for a 619 attempt; Page tries to break it up and powerbomb Mysterio, only for Tanahashi kick him in the gut while Mysterio hurricanranas him into the ropes and delivers a 619 to the both of them.

Outside the ring, Mysterio delivers a hurricanrana to Scurll while Tanahashi plants Page with a slingshot plancha. Liger hits Cody with a super hurricanrana, then tries for a brainbuster. Cody counters with a Cross Rhodes for the victory.

Thoughts: Normally I'd pass on on these kinds of exhibition matches (insert joke about New Japan multi-man tag matches here), but since it's got my Elite boys and Mysterio, I had to watch it. While it wasn't anything special, it was certainly a fun little match. All six competitors looked strong and lose no momentum either way here. This match wasn't going to be anything special, but then again it didn't need to be. It fulfilled its role perfectly as a decent exhibition match that eased the crowd into what would be a show growing in intensity.

 Will Ospreay vs. Hiromu Takahashi, Junior Heavyweight Championship Match

Ospreay and Takahashi immediately start the match off throwing stiff forearms, pulling no punches. Ospreay gets Takahashi in the corner only to get hit with a belly-to-belly suplex. Takahashi attempts his signature sunset bomb. Ospreay blocks it and the two battle for leverage on the outside. Ospreay pulls Takahashi off the ramp and delivers a running somersault senton onto him. Getting back in the ring, Ospreay sweeps the leg and is successful with a low corner dropkick, seemingly gaining full control.

Ospreay works Takahashi over for a while, employing a more technical strategy. Takahashi finally counters with a hurricanrana, then delivers a corner clothesline/sliding kick combo, then follows it up with a shotgun dropkick off the ring apron to the outside. The action gets back in the ring as Takahashi hits Ospreay with a shotgun missile dropkick, then a pop-up powerbomb for his troubles. He gets Ospreay in the corner, who counters with a series of kicks, then a springboard forearm smash.

Takahashi dodges the Robinson Special kick, gets out of a lifting slam and puts a rope-hung headscissors choke on Ospreay. He gets out and nails Takahashi with a Sasuke Special plancha. Back in the ring, Ospreay plants Takahashi with a lifting slam and attempts an OsCutter; Takahashi counters with a german suplex. He then delivers another german suplex to Ospreay following an impressive series of counters.

Ospreay hits Takahashi with a pair of reverse hurricanranas, then tries to set him up for his Storm Breaker finisher; Takahashi counter with a sunset flip powerbomb. The two end up on the ring apron, where Takahashi attempts his Time Bomb finisher. Ospreay slips out of it, hits a side kick then a second-rope superplex off the ring apron. He drapes Takahashi over the ropes, gets him with a shooting star press then executes a corkscrew shooting star press; Takahashi kicks out.

Ospreay attempts the Storm Breaker once more; Takahashi gets to the ropes, plants Ospreay with a diving flip piledriver then locks in a triangle choke. Ospreay first delivers a one-arm powerbomb, then a side powerslam (or whatever the hell that was), then follows it up with a Robinson Special. He then tries for an OsCutter, but Takahashi send him to the apron and delivers a sunset bomb. Back in the ring, Takahashi drills Ospreay with a variation of the Emerald Flowsion, but Ospreay kicks out.

Ospreay attempts the Storm Breaker once more, only to be met with Takahashi’s triangle choke again. He tries to power out of it, but Takahashi counters with a butterfly piledriver. Following a running death valley driver to the turnbuckle, Takahashi finally manages to hit Ospreay with the Time Bomb to secure his victory and his new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.

Thoughts: Hot damn, this was great. The kind of action I expect top-tier performers such as Ospreay and Takahashi. Each sequence and counter was crisp and precise; there was absolutely no wasted motion. The moves they were able to pull off still confound me, even I should be used to it coming from these two (did Ospreay seriously counter a triangle choke with a fucking one-armed Emerald Flowsion?).

What also stood out for me was the dynamic between the two performers. Ospreay was much more deliberate and methodical here, trying to slow the momentum down, which was an interesting change of pace. Don't get me wrong, Ospreay still had plenty of time for some fast-paced, high flying action; but I definitely liked how he's changed his game up. It's made him a much more well-rounded performer. Takahashi came with his usual brand of frenetic energy, which is always fun to see. I really dug how Ospreay seemingly pumping the brakes while Takahashi kept his foot firmly on the gas pedal.

So yeah, fantastic match. Not much more to say here.

Chris Jericho vs. Tetsuya Naito, IWGP Intercontinental Championship Match

Before Naito even makes his way to the ring, Jericho cheap shots him and the two brawl out on the floor. After hitting Naito with several foreign objects, Jericho powerbombs Naito through a table set up on the outside. The action continues on the outside as Jericho DDTs Naito on an announce table. Once the bell is rung, Jericho continues the punishment, utterly beating him down. Following a butterfly backbreaker, Jericho delivers a Lionsault.

Jericho continues the carnage, taunting Naito in the process as he tosses him around. Jericho then attempts the Walls of Jericho, but Naito makes it to the ropes. After spitting in his face, Naito takes Jericho down and throws a flurry of punches. After delivering a neckbreaker/sliding kick combo, Naito gets Jericho in the corner and gets him with a legsweep/slingshot dropkick combo. Naito then delivers an apron neckbreaker, then a neckbreaker to the floor.

On the outside, Naito seems firmly in control now as he hits Jericho with a broken piece of the table he got put through. He piledrives Jericho on the other announce table; back in the ring, Naito missile dropkicks Jericho, then attempts a super hurricanrana. Jericho counters with a ganso bomb, then puts Naito in the Walls of Jericho. Jericho attempts a corner catapult, but Naito manages to get to the second rope and deliver a hurricanrana to Jericho, then a springboard tornado DDT.

Naito attempts his Gloria side slam, but Jericho rolls out and countera with the Walls of Jericho once again. Naito manages to get to the ropes; Jericho argues with the referee, which helps Naito as he sends him onto the ropes with a flapjack, then german suplexes him. He nails Jericho with the Destino, who manages to get to the ropes. Jericho then counters Naito’s flying forearm with a Codebreaker. 

Naito kicks out of the pinfall attempt and the two throw hands for a brief spell.

Jericho attempts the Lionsault once again, but Naito gets his knees up. Naito then nails him with Gloria and sets him up for Destino. Shoving the referee out of the way, Jericho low blows Naito and gives him one final Codebreaker to become the new IWGP Intercontinental Champion.

Thoughts: To this was an interesting change of pace from the last match is an understatement. If Ospreay/Takahashi was a supremely crisp and precise display of athleticism and technique, this match was just a straight-up fight from beginning to end. And to be honest, it's refreshing to see especially considering how New Japan matches usually are. 

Don't get me wrong, I love New Japan with all my heart. But this match was a welcome twist on the usual fare. Whereas most NJPW matches are sticklers for precise technique, this one just said, "Fuck it, this is going to be a straight-up brawl. Foreign objects are going to be used, and it's gonna be kind of a hot mess." And I think this company needs more matches like this in order to rope in much more casual wrestling fans who aren't used to the NJPW style.

My favorite thing about this match is that it's just a contest of "Who can beat the piss out of their opponent more," which feeds into my previous statement. Jericho had firm control for the beginning of the match, punishing Naito for the sole purpose that he could. Then when Naito got the advantage, it turned into a straight-up revenge story. I love Jericho got the win, because him as IWGP Intercontinental Champion is going to bring in a LOT more casual Western viewers.

Overall

9/10. Even without the EPIC last match which I'm dedicating my next post to, this was still an excellent show from top to bottom. It started off pretty good, then seemed to ramp up the quality as it moved, which is to be expected from a New Japan show. Even the "weak" points (the NEVER Openweight Championship match and the 6-Man exhibition match) were still quite good, and I'd recommend checking them out.

Outside of You Already Fucking Know What, I'd have to say match of the night belongs to Jericho/Naito. It told the best story and just entertained me the most.

Stay tuned for Okada/Omega.