Posted in New Japan Pro Wrestling

NJPW Power Struggle 2017 Results

   November 5, 2017

NJPW Power Struggle 2017
November 5, 2017
Edison Arena Osaka
Osaka, Japan

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Transcription by Josh Lopez 

Power Struggle Pre-Show Match: David Finlay vs. Katsuya Kitamura 

Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Finlay applies a side headlock. Finlay and Kitamura starts running into each other. Kitamura with a Leaping Shoulder Tackle. Kitamura shoves the referee down to the canvas. Finlay repeatedly stomps on Kitamura’s chest. Following a snap mare takeover, Finlay applies a rear chin lock. Finlay stomps on Kitamura’s back. Finlay delivers multiple headbutts. Finlay connects with a Body Avalanche for a two count. We have a stale mate in the center of the ring.

Kitamura connects with a Delayed Vertical Suplex. Kitamura follows that with a series of knife edge chops. Kitamura clotheslines Finlay. Finlay side steps Kitamura into the turnbuckles. Finlay drops Kitamura with a DDT for a two count. Finlay goes for a Cutter, but Kitamura blocks it. Kitamura Spears Finlay for a two count. Finlay and Kitamura are trading back and forth shots. Kitamura goes for another Vertical Suplex, but Finlay lands back on his feet. Finlay connects with a Uranage Back Breaker for a two count. Finlay plants Kitamura with the Stunner to pickup the victory.

Winner: David Finlay via Pinfall 

First Match: The Young Bucks vs. Dragon Lee & Titan 

Dragon Lee and Nick Jackson will start things off. Lee with a single leg takedown. Nick leapfrogs over Lee. Lee SomerSaults over Nick. Lee shoots Nick into the ropes. Nick goes for a Hurricanrana, but Lee lands back on his feet. Nick with a Over Hand Chop to Lee. Nick delivers a  Lucha Libre Arm-Drag. Lee responds with a leg sweep. A quick pinning exchange leads to a double dropkick in the center of the ring. Matt Jackson knocks Titan off the ring apron. Lee kicks Matt in the jaw. Titan goes for a SpringBoard Crossbody Block, but The Bucks catches him in mid-air. Titan fights out of the Indy Taker position. Titan with a Pop Up Dropkick that sends Matt crashing to the outside. Titan and Lee lands Stereo Planchas. Lee kicks Nick in the gut. Lee and Titan are double teaming Nick in the corner.

Titan drops Matt with a SpringBoard Missile Dropkick. Titan goes for the cover, but he’s not the legal man. Nick knocks Titan off the ring apron. Nick drops Lee with a SlingShot Face Buster. Nick follows that with a MoonSault to the outside. Matt dishes out a couple of haymakers to Lee. Lee ducks a clothesline from Matt. Lee responds with a Guillotine Choke. Bucks connects with a Buckle Bomb/Enziguri Combination. The Bucks applies Stereo SharpShooter’s, but Lee and Titan crawls to the bottom rope to create separation.

Lee and Matt are in a middle of a standing switch exchange. Lee with a Bicycle Nick to Matt. Lee tags in Titan. The Bucks SuperKicks Titan. Matt gets Titan tied in the tree of woe. Nick with a Draping Swanton Bomb for a two count. The Bucks sets up for the Indy Taker, but Lee decks Nick with a Hurricanrana off the ring apron. Matt responds with an Avalanche Tornado DDT. The sequences continues with Titan taking out The Bucks with a SpringBoard MoonSault. Titan rolls Matt Jackson back into the ring. Titan cartwheels over Matt. Titan goes for another MoonSault, but The Bucks counters with the Indy Taker. The Bucks applies the Cease and Desist which forces Titan to tap out.

Winner: The Young Bucks via Submission 

Second Match: El Desperado, Taichi, Taka Michinoku, Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Zack Sabre Jr vs. Hirai Kawato, Juice Robinson, Jushin Thunder Liger, Kushida and Tiger Mask 

A pier six brawl ensues before the bell rings. Sabre starts tugging on Robinson’s dreadlocks. Kanemaru and Desperado is trying to rip off Liger’s mask. Desperado stomps on Tiger Mask chest. Liger with a Corner Clothesline to Kanemaru. Tiger Mask connects with a Tilt-A-Whirl Back Breaker. Liger gets Desperado trapped in the SurfBoard Submission Hold. Kanemaru breaks up the submission attempt. Liger shoves Kanemaru into Desperado. Liger follows that with a DDT/FlatLiner Combination. Robinson and Sabre are tagged in. Robinson drops Sabre with a shoulder tackle. Robinson knocks Michinoku off the ring apron.

Taichi kicks Robinson in the gut. Robinson responds with a leg lariat. Sabre and Robinson are trading back and forth shots. Robinson goes for Pulp Friction, but Sabre counters with the Octopus Stretch. Robinson decks Sabre with the Double Knee Gut Buster. Kushia and Michinoku are tagged in. Kushida with a Tilt-A-Whirl Head Scissors TakeOver to Michinoku. Kushida takes out Kanemaru and Desperado with a Hand Spring Back Elbow Strike. Kushida repeatedly kicks Michinoku in the shoulder. Kushida leapfrogs over Michinoku. Kushia with a Cartwheel Dropkick.

Kushida goes for a DDT, but Michinoku blocks it. Michinoku delivers a Leaping Side Kick. Suzuki Gun are mauling Kushida in the corner. Kushida kicks Michinoku in the gut. Michinoku goes for a Crippler Cross Face, but Kushida counters with the HoverBoard Lock. Sabre from behind applies a Kimura Lock on Kushida. Kawato with a SpringBoard Missile Dropkick to Sabre. Kushida drops Desperado with a Cannonball Strike off the ring apron. Tiger Mask follows that with a Suicide Dive to Kanemaru. Kawato decks Sabre with a SomerSault Plancha. Kushida applies the HoverBoard Lock which forces Michinoku to tap out.

Winner: Hirai Kawato, Juice Robinson, Jushin Thunder Liger, Kushida and Tiger Mask via Pinfall 

Third Match: Chase Owens, Cody Rhodes and Yujiro Takahashi vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima and Togi Makabe 

Tenzan and Rhodes shakes hands. Rhodes wants Tenzan to kiss the ring. Rhodes tags in Owens. Bullet Club attacks Tenzan and Kojima from behind. Tenzan side steps Owens into the turnbuckles. Tenzan drops Rhodes with a shoulder tackle. Tenzan kicks Takahashi in the gut. Kojima and Tenzan with a Double Shoulder Block to Takahashi. They follows that with a series of Mongolian Chops. Kojima bodyslams Owens. Kojima delivers a SlingShot Leg Drop, Tenzan with the lateral press for a one count. Tenzan is mauling Owens in the corner. Following  a Corner Clothesline, Tenzan connects with a Vertical Suplex for a two count. Tenzan kicks Owens in the back. Rhodes attacks Tenzan from the ring apron. The Bullet Club are triple teaming Tenzan. Rhodes with a SlingShot Stomp to the gut of Tenzan. Rhodes applies an arm-bar. Rhodes tags in Takahashi.

Following a Snap Mare TakeOver, Takahashi dishes out a Sliding Leg Drop for a two count. Owens with a Clubbing Axe Handle to the back of Tenzan. Owens with multiple Mongolian Chops to Tenzan. Tenzan goes for the Mountain Bomb, but Owens blocks it. Owens tags in Rhodes. Rhodes punches Tenzan in the jaw. Tenzan connects with the Mountain Bomb. Tenzan tags in Makabe. Makabe clears the ring. Rhodes kicks Makabe in the gut. Makabe responds with three consecutive PowerSlams. Makabe with a Corner Clothesline to Rhodes. Makabe transitions into the Corner Mount. Makabe clotheslines Rhodes for a two count. Rhodes lands a Desperation Boot to create separation.

Rhodes drops Makabe with the Diamond Dust. Rhodes delivers the Disaster Kick to Makabe. Makabe regains momentum with another clothesline. Kojima and Owens are tagged in. Owens is mocking Kojima. Kojima starts lighting up Owen’s chest. Kojima with a Leaping Forearm Smash to Owens. Takahashi attacks Kojima from behind. Takahashi with a Big Boot that knocks Tenzan off the ring apron.

The Bullet Club perfect their tandem offense on Kojima. Owens with the lateral press, but Kojima kicks out. Owens goes for the Package PileDriver, but Tenzan counters with a clothesline. Takahashi kicks Tenzan out of the ring. Makabe with a Double Clothesline to Rhodes and Takahashi. Owens drops Makabe with a Step Up Enziguri. Kojima goes for a Koji Cutter, but Owens counters with a Leaping Front Kick. Kojima responds with the Western Lariat to pickup the victory.

Winner: Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima and Togi Makabe via Pinfall 

Fourth Match: ACH & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Roppongi 3K w/Rocky Romero in the Finals of The 2017 Super JR’s Tag Team Tournament 

Super 69 side steps R3K into the turnbuckles after the bell rings. Taguchi delivers a series of Running Hip Attacks. ACH is choking Sho in the corner. Yoh leapfrogs over ACH. R3K sends Super 69 out of the ring. R3K dishes out Stereo Planchas to the outside. Yoh rolls ACH back into the ring. Yoh drop toe holds ACH face first to the canvas. Sho connects with the Basement Dropkick. Following  a Snap Mare TakeOver, Yoh continues to target the injured ribs of ACH. Yoh with the lateral press for a one count. Yoh applies a hammer lock. Yoh tags in Sho. Sho kicks ACH in the shoulder. Sho with a Running Knee Lift to ACH. Sho applies an Abdominal Stretch. Sho knocks Taguchi off the ring apron. R3K are double teaming ACH in the corner.

Sho bodyslams ACH for a two count. Sho follows that with a roundhouse kick to the ribs. R3K continues to cut the ring in half. Sho with a Corner Clothesline to ACH. Sho goes back to the Abdominal Stretch. Sho goes for a German Suplex, but ACH counters with a back elbow strike. ACH with a WheelBarrow Double Stomp to Sho. ACH makes the hot tag to Taguchi. It’s Hip Attack Time. Taguchi lands a SomerSault Plancha to Sho. Taguchi connects with the SpringBoard Hip Attack. Taguchi gets Sho trapped in the Ankle Lock. Sho crawls to the bottom rope to create separation. Taguchi with Back to Back Vertical Suplex’s to Sho. Sho responds with the Guillotine Choke.

Sho goes for the Spinning Heel Kick, but Taguchi blocks it. Taguchi drops Sho with the Step Up Enziguri. Taguchi in the jaw. Yoh responds with an Inverted Atomic Drop. After another Hip Attack, Taguchi tags in ACH. ACH stomps on the back of Yoh. ACH follows that with the Hesitation Dropkick. ACH decks Yoh with a Running Discus Lariat. ACH ascends to the top turnbuckle. ACH goes for a Frog Splash, but Yoh ducks out of the way. Yoh with multiple forearm smashes to ACH. Yoh and ACH are trading back and forth shots. R3K with Stereo Knee Stikes to ACH. R3K goes for the 3K, but ACH blocks it. ACH with  Low Dropkick to Sho. Yoh SuperKicks ACH.

Sho is trying to fight off Taguchi and ACH. Super 69 lands Stereo Hip Attacks. Taguchi connects with the Tiger Suplex. ACH rips off his medical tape. ACH with the Midnight Star for a two count as Sho breaks up the pin attempt. Sho and Taguchi are in a forearm exchange. ACH goes for the Leaping X-Factor, but Sho counters with a DeadLift Knee Buster. Yoh with the Slice Bread to Taguchi. Sho follows that with Three Rolling German Suplex’s. R3K connects with the 3K. Instead of going for the cover, R3K goes after ACH. ACH kicks Sho in the jaw. ACH goes for a Discus Forearm, but Sho counters with a Back Stabber. Yoh with a ShotGun Dropkick that sends ACH crashing into the turnbuckles. R3K plants ACH with the 3K to pickup the victory.

Winner: Roppongi 3K via Pinfall 

– The Young Bucks will take on Roppongi 3K For The IWGP Junior Tag Team Championships. 

Fifth Match: Bushi, EVIL, Hiromu Takahashi, Sanada and Tetsuya Naito vs. Gedo, Hirooki Goto, Yoshi Hashi, Tomohiro Ishii and Kazuchika Okada 

EVIL and Ishii will start things off. EVIL kicks Ishii in the gut. EVIL applies a side headlock. EVIL and Ishii are running into each other. Following a long forearm exchange, EVIL drops Ishii with a shoulder tackle. Ishii is trying to fight off EVIL and Takahashi. Ishii tags in Hashi. Hashi with a clubbing forearm to Takahashi. Hashi applies a side headlock. Takahashi backs Hashi into the ropes. Takahashi delivers a series of knife edge chops. Hashi responds with a Running Back Elbow Strike. Hashi connects with the Bunker Buster. Hashi starts lighting up Takahashi’s chest. Takahashi inadvertently knocks Bushi off the ring apron. Sanada trips Hashi from the outside. Takahashi with a Basement Dropkick to Hashi. LIJ and Chaos are brawling around the ringside area.

Naito bodyslams Okada. Bushi is putting the boots to Hashi in the corner. Bushi tags in Sanada. Sanada drops Hashi with a back elbow strike. EVIL follows that with a Leaping Senton Splash. Sanada with the lateral press for a two count. Hashi decks Naito with a Spinning Heel Kick. Hashi connects with a Draping Neck Breaker. Hashi tags in Goto. Goto with a shoulder tackle to Sanada. Goto dishes out a Discus Lariat to Bushi. Goto drives his knee to the back of EVIL’s head. Goto with a Snap Vertical Suplex to Takahashi. The Saito Suplex gets a two count. Sanada goes for the Paradise Lock, but Goto blocks it. Goto goes for the GTR, but Sanada counters with Skull In. This leads us to a standing switch exchange in the center of the ring.

Sanada levels Goto with a SpringBoard Basement Dropkick. Okada and Naito are tagged in. They start exchanging forearms. Okada connects with a DDT. Okada drops Naito with a Running European Uppercut for a two count. Naito with an Inverted Atomic Drop to Okada. Naito follows that with a Neck Breaker. Naito lands a SlingShot Dropkick. Naito places Okada on the top turnbuckle. Naito with the FrankenSteiner for a two count. Naito goes for Destino, but Okada blocks it. Naito dodges a Rain Maker attempt by Okada. Naito goes for the Satellite DDT, but Okada counters with the Reverse Neck Breaker.

Naito tags in Bushi. Busi attacks Okada from behind. Bushi delivers a Double Knee Strike in the corner. Bushi with the Missile Dropkick to Okada. LIJ are destroying Okada in the center of the ring. Bushi goes for MX, but Okada ducks out of the way. Takahashi SuperKicks Gedo. Ishii responds with a Vertical Suplex. EVIL SuperKicks Ishii. Hashi takes out EVIL with the Western Lariat. Okada goes for a TombStone, but Bushi lands back on his feet. Bushi with a Rebound Thrust Kick to Okada. Okada responds with a Standard Dropkick. Okada connects with the Top Rope Elbow Drop. Okada does the Rain Maker Pose. Okada with the TombStone PileDriver to Naito. Okada plants Bushi with the Rain Maker to pickup the victory.

Winner: Gedo, Hirooki Goto, Yoshi Hashi, Tomohiro Ishii and Kazuchika Okada via Pinfall 

Sixth Match: Minoru Suzuki (c) w/Suzuki Gun vs. Toru Yano in a BullRope DeathMatch for The NEVER OpenWeight Championship 

Yano attacks Suzuki before the bell rings. Yano with multiple blows to the back of Suzuki. Yano is choking Suzuki with the rope. Suzuki Gun starts double teaming Yano. Suzuki is wrapping the rope around Yano’s wrist. The bell finally rings. Suzuki kicks Yano out of the ring. Suzuki dishes out a couple of haymakers to Yano. Suzuki whips Yano rib first to the steel guard rail. The brawl spills to the staging area. Suzuki goes for a PileDriver, but Yano blocks it. Yano rakes the eyes of Suzuki. Suzuki drops Yano with a Big Boot. Suzuki is bending the fingers of Yano. Suzuki drags Yano back to the ringside area. Suzuki is choking Yano with the rope. Back in the ring, Suzuki starts hanging Yano from the bottom rope.

Suzuki Gun are putting the boots to Yano behind the referee’s back. Hirooki Goto attacks Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru. Suzuki applies a Kimura Lock. Suzuki transitions into a Cross Arm Breaker. Yano places his boot on the bottom rope to create separation. Suzuki with a Big Boot to Yano. Suzuki is lighting up Yano’s chest in the corner. Yano pokes Suzuki in the eye. Yano starts ripping off a turnbuckle pad. Suzuki with a stiff forearm across the jaw of Yano. Suzuki follows that with a Vicious Back Chop. Suzuki slaps Yano in the face. Yano drags Suzuki head to the canvas. Yano whips Suzuki into the exposed steel.

Yano wraps the rope around Suzuki’s neck. Yano has Suzuki hanging from the ring apron. Takahashi Iizuka arrives to the ringside area. Suzuki kicks Yano in the gut. Suzuki hits Yano in the face with the steel chair. The referee is trying to snatch the chair away from Suzuki. Yano connects with a PowerBomb for a two count. Taichi drags the referee out of the ring. Yano with an Inverted Atomic Drop to Taichi. Iizuka starts attacking Yano. Iizuka brings out the Iron Glove. Yano low blows Suzuki and Iizuka. Yano rolls Suzuki over for a two count. Suzuki side steps Yano into the exposed steel. Suzuki dropkicks Yano. Suzuki applies the Sleeper Hold. Suzuki plants Yano with a Rope Around Gotch PileDriver to pickup the victory.

Winner: Still NEVER OpenWeight Champion, Minoru Suzuki via Pinfall 

Seventh Match: Will Ospreay (c) vs. Marty Scrull For The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship 

Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Scrull with a waist lock takedown to Ospreay. Scrull floats over into a front face lock. Scrull connects with a wrist lock takedown. Scrull is trying to play mind games with Ospreay. Ospreay applies a wrist lock. More chain grappling between both men. Ospreay goes for a Standing MoonSault, but Scrull ducks out of the way. Ospreay with a Sunset Flip cover for a two count. Ospreay ducks a clothesline from Scrull. Ospreay connects with a Tilt-A-Whirl HeadScissors TakeOver. Ospreay follows that with a Dropkick that sends Scrull out of the ring. Ospreay starts showing off his athleticism in the center of the ring. Ospreay shoves Scrull into the barricade. Ospreay delivers a forearm smash across the jaw of Scrull. Scrull deposits Ospreay ribs on the ringside barricade. The brawls spills into the Osaka Crowd.

Scrull launches Ospreay into four rows of chairs. Scrull with a knife edge chop that sends Ospreay back to the ringside area. Back in the ring, Scrull dishes out a Wrist Lock Slam. Scrull stomps on the left shoulder of Ospreay. Ospreay slaps Scrull in the chest. Scrull lightly kicks Ospreay in the face. Scrull drives his knee to the midsection of Ospreay. Ospreay responds with a HandSpring Front Kick. Ospreay lands a Hesitation Dropkick in the corner. Ospreay with a Standing Twisting Corkscrew Splash for a two count. Scrull blocks the Standing C4 from Ospreay. Scrull and Ospreay are in a pinning exchange.

Ospreay kicks Scrull in the knee. Scrull responds with a thrust kick to left knee of Ospreay. Ospreay connects with the Standing C4. Ospreay and Scrull are trading back and forth slaps in the center of the ring. Ospreay uppercuts Scrull. Scrull drops Ospreay with a Throat Chop. Ospreay with the Cheeky Nandos Kick for a two count. Ospreay goes for a SpringBoard Clothesline, but Scrull counters with a European Uppercut in mid-air. Ospreay turns a Neck Breaker into a Cutter. Ospreay misses with the HandSpring MoonSault. Scrull with a Tornado DDT off the ring apron. Scrull dumps Ospreay back first on the apron for a two count. Following a knife edge chop exchange, Ospreay delivers a Spinning Back Fist. Ospreay with a Reverse DDT Slam for a two count.

Ospreay goes for a Shooting Star Press, but Scrull gets his knees up in the air. Scrull rolls Ospreay over for a two count. Scrull drops Ospreay with the GTS for a two count. Scrull starts wrenching fingers of Ospreay. Scrull continues working on his joint manipulation game. Scrull blocks another Cheeky Nandos Kick by Ospreay. Scrull kicks Ospreay in the jaw. Ospreay with a Bicycle Kick to Scrull. Ospreay SuperKicks Scrull. Scrull goes for the Inside Out Lariat, but Ospreay lands back on his feet.

Ospreay with the Step Up Enziguri. Scrull responds with the Inside Out Lariat. Scrull connects with a Sunset Flip PowerBomb for a two count. Scrull locks in the CrossFace Chicken Wing. Ospreay kicks Scrull in the back of the head. Scrull is draped over the top rope. Ospreay with a Shooting Star Press to the back of Scrull for a two count. Ospreay delivers the Robinson Special. Ospreay goes for the OsCutter, but Scrull counters with the Cross Chicken Wing. Scrull rolls Ospreay over to pickup the victory. After the match, Hiromu Takahashi and Kushida enters the ring. Scrull says that he’ll face Kushida, Ospreay and Takahashi in a Fatal Four Way Match at WrestleKingdom 12.

Winner: New IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, Marty Scrull via Pinfall 

Eight Match: Kenny Omega (c) w/The Young Bucks vs. Beretta For The IWGP United States Championship

Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Omega backs Beretta into the ropes. Omega applies a wrist lock. Beretta reverses the hold. Beretta with a Wrist Lock Takedown to Omega. Omega kicks Beretta in the jaw. Omega shoves Beretta into the corner. Beretta responds accordingly with a slap. Beretta with a Leaping Double Stomp to the chest of Omega. Beretta lands the Suicide Dive. Beretta is distracted by The Bucks. Omega rams Beretta back into the ring apron. Omega brings out a table from under the ring. Omega with a Vertical Suplex across the bottom rung of the table. Omega follows that with a Flying Double Stomp through the table. Omega connects with the SomerSault Plancha. Omega with The Kotaro Krusher for a two count. Omega dishes out a forearm across the spine of Beretta. Beretta creates separation with a knife edge chop.

Omega levels Beretta with the Back Body Drop for a two count. Omega with a Rolling Senton to Beretta. Omega goes for a MoonSault, but Beretta gets his knees up in the air. Beretta with a forearm/chop combination to Omega. Omega dodges an enziguri from Beretta. Omega with a Gut Wrench German Suplex. Beretta drops Omega with the Tornado DDT. Beretta follows that with a Leaping Elbow in the corner. Beretta has Omega hanging on the middle rope. Beretta with a Sliding German Suplex to Omega. Beretta goes for a PileDriver, but Omega counters with a Back Body Drop on the ring apron. Omega with the Aoi Shoudou for a two count. Beretta has Omega perched on the top turnbuckle.

Omega regains momentum with the snake eyes. Omega connects with the Jay Driller for a two count. Beretta responds with an Avalanche German Suplex. Beretta with the ShotGun Dropkick to Omega. Beretta goes for the DudeBuster, but Omega blocks it. Beretta delivers a PileDriver on the ring apron. Beretta goes for a SlingShot Plancha, but it’s to no avail as Omega sends him crashing through the table. Beretta gets back into the ring at the count of nineteen. Omega with a series of Snap Dragon Suplex’s to Beretta. Omega lands a Vicious Back Chop. Omega PowerBombs Beretta. Omega follows that with the V-Trigger.

Omega connects with the Dr Wily Bomb for a two count. Omega drops Beretta with another V-Trigger. Omega delivers his six dragon suplex of the match. Beretta responds with a Inside Out Lariat. Omega has Beretta staggering after another V-Trigger. Beretta plants Omega with the DudeBuster for a two count. Following a long forearm exchange, Omega repeatedly kicks the injured back of Beretta. Beretta fires up with a series clubbing forearm shivers. Omega dishes out a V-Trigger. Omega with a Reverse Hurricanrana for a two count. Beretta has Omega in the Rolling Crucifix for a two count. Omega plants Beretta with the One Winged Angel to pickup the victory.

Winner: Still IWGP United States Champion, Kenny Omega via Pinfall 

Ninth Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Kota Ibushi For The IWGP Intercontinental Championship 

Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Quick standing switch exchange in the center of the ring. Tanahashi floats over into a front face lock. More chain grappling between both men. Ibushi applies a wrist lock. Tanahashi reverses the hold. Tanahashi transitions into an arm-bar. Tanahashi dishes out a big body shots. Tanahashi with a Hip Toss to Ibushi. Tanahashi follows that with a Leg Scissors TakeOver. Tanahashi applies a side headlock. Tanahashi drops Ibushi with a shoulder tackle. Ibushi responds with a dropkick. Tanahashi takes out the legs of Ibushi. Tanahashi rolls Ibushi back into the ring. Tanahashi starts targeting the left knee of Ibushi. Tanahashi applies a Modified Indian Death Lock. Tanahashi with a Dragon Screw Leg Whip. Tanahashi drives Ibushi leg to the ring apron. Tanahashi and Ibushi are exchanging back and forth forearm smashes on the outside.

Back in the ring, Tanahashi goes for a Running Senton, but Ibushi ducks out of the way. Ibushi misses on the Standing MoonSault. Tanahashi stomps on the injured knee of Ibushi. Both men are staggering after long forearm/uppercut exchange. Ibushi with a Double Stomp to the gut of Tanahashi. Ibushi delivers on his lighting quick offense. Ibushi with a Standing Shooting Star Press for a two count. Tanahashi chop blocks Ibushi. Ibushi responds with a Hurricanrana. Ibushi connects with the Golden Triangle MoonSault. Ibushi goes for a RoundHouse Kick, but Tanahashi counters with a back elbow strike. Tanahashi drops Ibushi with another Dragon Screw Leg Whip. Tanahashi locks in the Texas CloverLeaf Submission Hold.

We have a stale mate in the corner. Ibushi with a Running Knee Strike to the ribs of Tanahashi. Tanahashi responds with a High Fly Flow to the outside. Tanahashi rolls Ibushi back into the ring at the count of fifteen. Tanahashi goes for a German Suplex, but Ibushi lands back on his feet. Tanahashi with a SlingBlade for a two count. Tanahashi ascends to the top turnbuckle. Ibushi lands a Back Flip Kick. Ibushi has Tanahashi perched on the top turnbuckle. Ibushi with a FrankenSteiner for a two count. Tanahashi dodges a Kamigoye attempt by Ibushi. Ibushi lawn darts Tanahashi face first to the middle turnbuckle. Ibushi connects with a DeadLift German Suplex off the second rope. Ibushi goes for the Phoenix Splash, but Tanahashi ducks out of the way. Tanahashi also misses on the High Fly Flow.

Tanahashi repeatedly slaps Ibushi in the face. Ibushi responds with a clubbing palm strikes. Tanahashi is trying to paint brush Ibushi, but it’s to no avail. Ibushi is mauling Tanahashi in the corner. Tanahashi fires up with a series of open hand strikes. Ibushi takes out Tanahashi with the Inside Out Lariat. Ibushi with a SitOut PowerBomb for a two count. Tanahashi responds Back to Back Twist and Shouts. Ibushi drops Tanahashi with a Pele Kick. Ibushi goes for the Kamigoye, but Tanahashi counters with the SlingBlade. Tanahashi with the Dragon Suplex for a two count. Tanahashi lands the High Fly Flow to the back of Ibushi. Tanahashi follows that with the signature High Fly Flow to pickup the victory.

Winner: Still IWGP Intercontinental Champion, Hiroshi Tanahashi via Pinfall 

Check out Episode 78 of the Josh Lopez Wrestling Podcast

Author: Josh Lopez