New Japan on AXS TV Episode 2
January 23, 2015
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Josh Barnett
Recap by: Jason Namako of Wrestleview.com
Kazuchika Okada welcomes us to the show.
Okada: “March 23, 2013, New Japan Cup Korakuen Hall Part 2, World Pro Wrestling returns.
We first go to a 6-Man Tag from earlier on in the show.
Suzuki-Gun (Minoru Suzuki, The American Psycho” Lance Archer & TAKA) w/”The Canadian Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Taichi vs. CHAOS (IWGP Intercontinental Champion “The King of Strong Style” Shinsuke Nakamura, “The Stone Pitbull” Tomohiro Ishii & Jado)
Commentary talks about how important Korakuen Hall is to pro wrestling & MMA in Japan. Suzuki attacks Nakamura before the bell as Nakamura is doing his pose by the ropes. All 6 men brawl around ringside as the bell sounds.
We move forward in the match as Jado fights out of a chinlock by Archer. Archer blocks a Sunset Flip, but misses a right hand. Jado avoids a corner charge, kicks Archer off, tags in Nakamura. Nakamura knocks Suzuki-Gun off the apron, Archer misses a clothesline, flying one-legged kick by Nakamura. Series of knees to the ribs by Nakamura to Archer in the corner, followed by the vibrating boot. Archer avoids a corner charge, but Nakamura catches him with another knees to the ribs. Nakamura drapes Archer across the top rope, running knee to the ribs gets 2. Ishii & Suzuki tag in. Strike exchange, Suzuki hits a headbutt, but Ishii with one of his own, followed by a Backdrop Driver for 2. Suzuki catches Ishii off a charge, Sleeper applied. Suzuki spins Ishii around and goes for the Gotch Piledriver, but Ishii blocks it. Nakamura then comes in and hits Suzuki with a lung blower. Ishii with a Lariat to Suzuki for a close 2. Suzuki slips out of the Brainbuster, locks Ishii back in the Sleeper. TAKA in, corner clothesline to Ishii, Suzuki with a running boot, then Archer with a big boot and a back suplex, finally TAKA with a basement running knee to Ishii, Jado breaks up the pin. TAKA with a kneelift to Ishii, but Nakamura catches TAKA off the ropes and lifts him up. Assisted Fireman’s Carry Neckbreaker by Nakamura & Ishii to TAKA, Archer breaks up the pin. Archer runs into a boot by Nakamura, followed by another flying one-legged kick, then Ishii hits Archer with a release German. Suzuki stops the Brainbuster by Ishii to TAKA, La Magistral by TAKA gets a close 2. TAKA off the ropes, but Ishii DRILLS him with a Lariat!
Ishii this time hits the Brainbuster on TAKA for the win.
Winners: CHAOS by pinfall (Brainbuster)
Afterwards, Ishii has the mic.
Ishii: “Hey, Suzuki, you guys are weak! Hey! Let Shinsuke & I challenge you (Killer Elite Squad) in an IWGP tag match!”
Killer Elite Squad get into the ring, Smith has the mic.
Smith: “Listen up, you two jackass jerks! I’m so glad that verbal diarrhea is over with. You guys want a shot at K.E.S. and the IWGP Tag Team Champions? Well, your request is granted. But however, Nakamura, there’s something that you have that I want. Nakamura, I challenge you for the Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship and when I’m through with you, you won’t know what day it is, or what year it is. You’re not just going down for 1-2-3, but you’re going down and out for good!”
Nakamura has the mic.
Nakamura: “We’re challenging the IWGP tag match, its just been decided. It seems like Smith wants to challenge me for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship belt. Should I take on his challenge? My answer is…….YEAOH!!”
Nakamura & Smith go nose-to-nose.
We go backstage to post-match comments from Nakamura.
Nakamura: “As long as Ishii…no, Ishii-san is with me, Shinsuke Nakamura, we have nothing to worry about. Let’s teach those good-for-nothing dummies a lesson on how to wrestle. Ishii-san and I will, YEAOH!!!”
Commercial
We go to comments from Okada about the build to his 2013 New Japan Cup Finals match against Hirooki Goto, which is the other match on this week’s show.
Okada: “I had a tough match against Yano at the semi-finals. So many things went on in that match. (We see highlights from said match.) It was my first match after coming back from the U.S. and I couldn’t perform the way I wanted to. Until now, the New Japan Cup was a tournament that decided the No. 2 guy, but I think that changed after I entered the tournament. Miracles happened in January (loss to Tanahashi) and in February (loss to Suzuki), but if I went on as usual, I would win the tournament easily. So, my mind was already on the next goal. The winner of the tournament gets to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight. So I thought, only 2 more wins for a belt. My right to challenge will be decided quickly and the belt would come to me, that’s all. I’ve fought Hirooki Goto many times in the past, so I know a lot about him, but he is a difficult guy to face. There are good and bad sides to him, so for me, its both easy and difficult when facing Goto. (We see Goto beating Davey Boy Smith Jr. in the 2013 New Japan Cup Semi-Finals.) His body avalanche is on my list of top 3 moves I don’t want to take. I hope I won’t have to take it. If I do, I would probably want to stop fighting.”
From March 23, 2013 in the Finals of the 2013 New Japan Cup: “The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada w/Gedo vs. Hirooki Goto
Commentary talks about the history of the New Japan Cup before the match. Crowd chants for Okada as the bell sounds. Commentary mentions Goto’s amateur background. Chain wrestling early, Okada gets to the ropes quickly. More chain wrestling, Okada blocks a cross armbreaker. Leglock applied by Goto, Okada gets out, stalemate. Goto with a side headlock and a shoulder tackle, followed by a hiptoss and a Victim Kick for 2. Chinlock applied, followed by an elbow to the top of Okada’s head. Elbow drop gets Goto 2. Chinlock re-applied, Okada gets to the ropes. Okada comes back with a series of uppercuts, followed by a snapmare and a running basement sliding dropkick, sending Goto outside as we go to commercial.
Commercial
Back from commercial as Okada goes out after Goto and drives him back-first into the barricade. Okada places Goto’s head into the barricade bars and pulls back on Goto’s neck, followed by a kick to the barricade, doing more damage to Goto’s neck. Back in, Deep in Debt applied by Okada, Goto gets to the ropes, but Okada does not break. Okada finally breaks before he is in danger of being DQ’d. Goto fights back with a series of overhand chops, but Okada with a knee to the ribs and an elbow to the back of the head. Goto with a back elbow, but Okada catches a kick and hits a front kick. Straitjacket Neckbreaker gets Okada 2. Japanese Stranglehold applied, Goto gets to the ropes. Goto sent off the turnbuckles, Okada with a running back elbow in the corner. More back elbows by Okada, but Goto avoids a corner charge. Goto runs into a boot by Okada, but then catches Okada with a Blindside Lariat. Series of chest kicks by Goto, followed by a spinning heel kick in the corner and a Backdrop Driver. Lariat sends Okada to the outside. Goto goes out after Okada and sends him into the barricade, followed by a Lariat that sends Okada into the front row as we go to commercial.
Commercial
Back from commercial as the referee begins his 20 count while Gedo checks on Okada. Okada just barely gets back in by the count of 20. Goto stomps away at Okada, but Okada blocks a German with elbows. Goto, not to be denied, this time hits Okada with a German for 2. PK by Goto gets another 2. Okada blocks being lifted up by Goto with elbows, but Goto with a series of forearms. Okada comes back with the one-man flapjack. Crowd chants for Okada. Okada places Goto up top, Too Awesome Dropkick knocks Goto off the ropes and all the way to the outside. Okada goes out after Goto, sends him into the barricade, then hits him with a running boot that sends Goto into the front row. Okada drapes Goto across the barricade, DRAPING DDT ON THE FLOOR!! Referee begins his 20 count, Okada stops it and brings Goto back in. Okada with a slam, then heads up top. Top Rope Elbow Drop, then Okada with the Rainmaker Pose, calling for the Rainmaker. Okada goes for it, but Goto fights out with elbows. Okada avoids a Discus Lariat by Goto, lifts him up and hits Heavy Rain for 2. Okada goes for the Tombstone, but Goto blocks it. Goto lifts up Okada, but Okada slips out. Okada avoids another Blindslide Lariat, but Goto avoids another Too Awesome Dropkick. Lariat by Goto to Okada, both men down as we go to commercial.
Commercial
Back from commercial as Okada & Goto get to their feet. Strike exchange, Goto knocks Okada down. Goto with more forearms, but Okada catches him off the ropes with another Too Awesome Dropkick! Red Ink (Cross-Legged STF) applied by Okada, but Goto is trying to fight it and gets to the ropes before Okada can fully lock it in. Okada again goes for Red Ink, but Goto counters out into the Shoryu Kekkai (Armbar). Okada tries to reach the ropes, but Goto switches out into his own variation of Okada’s D.I.D. Okada crawls and is able to reach the ropes to force a break. Crowd chants for Okada. Goto with Jigoku Kuruma (Wrist-Clutch Olympic Slam) for a close 2. Okada goes for the Rainmaker, but Goto lifts him up and hits the Ushikoroshi. Okada blocks being lifted up again, but Goto with a Rabbit Lariat. They head up top, Goto with headbutts to Okada. Goto lifts up Okada, SUPER USHIKOROSHI!!! 1-2…….OKADA KICKS OUT!!! Crowd wills on Okada. Goto lifts up Okada again, Ura Shouten (Swinging Argentine Facebuster) for a close 2. Goto goes for Shouten Kai, but Okada counters it with an inside cradle for 2. Okada catches Goto off a corner charge, Emerald Frosion across the knee for a close 2 as we go to commercial.
Commercial
Back from commercial as Okada goes for the Tombstone again, but Goto blocks it. Goto misses a Lariat, but avoids another Too Awesome Dropkick by Okada. Goto goes for the Goto Shiki (Cross-Legged Cradle), but Okada rolls through it and gets a close 2. Goto misses another Lariat, but counters the Rainmaker by Okada with a Headbutt! Goto goes again for Shouten Kai, but Okada slips out and hits the Too Awesome Dropkick to the back of Goto’s head! Okada lifts up Goto and this time hits the Tombstone!! Okada fires up and picks up Goto.
RAINMAKER!!!!!!! 1-2-3!
Winner of the 2013 New Japan Cup: “The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada by pinfall (Rainmaker)
With the win, Okada now gets to challenge Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP Title at the April 7, 2013 Invasion Attack show in Sumo Hall. Okada celebrates his win, then has the mic.
Okada: “Well, let’s see, I’ve won both (G1 & New Japan Cup) on my debut. What are my thoughts on it now? What are my thoughts? Nothing in particular.”
Gedo now has the mic.
Gedo: “Hey! Just like he predicted, this is exactly what Kazuchika, the Rainmaker, predicted! Only one more win for a complete comeback. On April 7, at Ryogoku Kokugikan, in the Invasion Attack, the mightiest invader, beyond the imagination of human kind, will change the history of pro wrestling. Now, let’s hear from a talent within the human imagination.”
IWGP Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi makes his way to the ring.
Gedo: “You’ve made your appearance, talent Tanahashi, now let’s hear from the next IWGP Champion, the mightiest invader, ‘Rainmaker’ Kazuchika.”
Okada: “Tanahashi, I admit that on January 4, in Tokyo Dome, I lost against you. But, you should know by now that it was a miracle. On April 7, I will prove that to you at Ryogoku Kokugikan. So Tanahashi, it was nice working with you.”
Tanahashi: “Okada, you don’t understand, do you? Just so you know, I’ve never been tired since the day I was born. I’ll say this as many times as it takes, between ‘love’ and ‘money’, love will win!”
Okada & Tanahashi have a posedown, then Okada motions for Tanahashi to leave and Tanahashi does so while the crowd chants for Tanahashi.
Gedo: “This will be settled at the Invasion Attack. On the night history changes, you’ll see money raining.”
Confetti falls down from the ceiling as Okada continues to celebrate his win.
We go back to Okada, talking about the match with Goto.
Okada: “Goto is strong in the springtime, just like his nickname, ‘Haru-Otoko.’ I don’t know why he’s good in spring, but I felt that during the March 23, 2013 New Japan Cup final. I couldn’t tell what was different about him, but there was a part at the end when Goto got me and it was his first move I took. I’m not sure what happened, but I was able to counter attack, that was a lucky break. The difference is, I’m not just strong in spring, but throughout life. I think Goto understood what Gedo meant by a ‘different level.’ I think my entry energized New Japan Cup than its past. I think I also made the value of New Japan Cup higher too. I got all three titles in a year, but I’m always the champion of IWGP. G1 will be mine every time I participate, I won’t enter the New Japan Cup again because I’m constantly the champion, so I hope the others would bring energy to it.”
Okada does the Rainmaker Pose to close the show.
Next week, Episode 3, from the 2013 Invasion Attack, Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi in the fourth match of their trilogy for the IWGP Title. Remember, as always, PURORESU ICHIBAN!!!