New Japan on AXS TV Episode 8
March 6, 2015
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Josh Barnett
Recap by: Jason Namako of Wrestleview.com
Shinsuke Nakamura welcomes us to the show.
Nakamura: “My name is Shinsuke Nakamura. This is October 14, 2013, Ryogoku Championship. World Pro Wrestling returns.”
We will see two matches this week from the 2013 King of Pro Wrestling iPPV at Sumo Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
NEVER Title, G1 Rights: “Mr. Rated R” Yujiro Takahashi vs. “The Stardust Genius” Tetsuya Naito (c)
Yujiro comes out with two women at his side to dance in the ring before the match. Yujiro chopblocks Naito in Naito’s previously injured leg as the bell sounds. Yujiro goes outside and throws 2 chairs in the ring. Yujiro with a kneebreaker, then goes to place Naito’s leg in one of the chairs. Yujiro grabs the other chair and looks to hit Naito’s leg with it, the same thing he did to put Naito out of action in 2012, but the ref stops him from doing so. Referee gets rid of one of the chairs, allowing Naito to dropkick the other chair back into Yujiro’s face. They head outside, with Naito hitting Yujiro with back clubs. Back in, Yujiro with kicks to the injured leg, but Naito with right hands. Yujiro with a back club and another kick to the leg. Naito with an armdrag, a hiptoss and a running sliding dropkick. Running dropkick by Naito in the corner, then goes to the apron and hits a slingshot dropkick to Yujiro. Crowd chants for Naito. Naito drapes Yujiro across the middle rope and hits a neckbreaker. Neckbreaker across the knee by Naito, followed by a running basement dropkick to the back of Yujiro’s head for 2. Leg nelson applied by Naito, Yujiro gets to the ropes. Yujiro runs into a back elbow, but chops Naito off the turnbuckles, then hits a running boot that sends Naito off the apron and crashing into the barricade. Yujiro with a head of steam and wipes out Naito with a tope suicida as we go to commercial.
Commercial
Back from commercial as Yujiro heads up top with Naito and hits a Super Belly-to-Belly. Olympic Slam by Yujiro gets 2. Yujiro charges, but Naito catches him with a wheelbarrow victory roll for 2. Yujiro catches Naito going for a Flying Forearm, but Naito takes him down and locks in Pluma Blanca. Yujiro gets to the ropes. Naito heads up top with Yujiro and hits a Super Rana. Naito heads back up top, missile dropkick to the back of Yujiro’s head. German gets Naito a close 2. Naito holds onto Yujiro and goes for Gloria, but Yujiro pulls at his hair. Yujiro blocks a Dragon, but Naito takes him down. Naito goes for another Wheelbarrow Victory Roll, but Yujiro counters it with a Wheelbarrow German for 2. Yujiro hits a Buckle Bomb, followed by a Deadlift German for another close 2. Yujiro can’t believe it! Yujiro goes for Tokyo Pimps, but Naito slips out and rolls Yujiro through into an enziguri. Strike exchange, then a slap exchange, Naito gains advantage. Naito blocks a kick, hits another enziguri, but Yujiro then turns Naito inside out with a clothesline for another close 2. Yujiro goes for Tokyo Pimps again, but Naito blocks it and hits a Koppo Kick. Naito this time hits the Flying Forearm, followed by a Dragon for a close 2. Naito this time hits Gloria, then heads up top.
Stardust Press, then Naito locks Yujiro back in Pluma Blanca and Yujiro taps.
Winner and STILL G1 Rights Holder and NEVER Champion: “The Stardust Genius” Tetsuya Naito by submission (Pluma Blanca)
We go to post-match press conference comments from Naito afterwards.
Naito: “I’ve won steadily up until now, but the more I win, the more tasks I see for myself. I wanted to pump up the crowd more. It wasn’t a big game, but I wanted to stir it up. I feel that I had been indulged by the fans. I’m a type of wrestler who always just tries my best, so everyone would cheer me on like I’m a little kid. I finally feel that I’m a rank higher. Some might finally criticize me for my performance. I might end here, or maybe bounce back. My life as a wrestler depends on the outcome of that. I might be under adversity, but I will definitely bounce back and become the star of New Japan Pro Wrestling.”
Commercial
Back from commercial, we go to the TV Studios with comments from Nakamura on the build to his match with Marufuji.
Nakamura: “Even though Marufuji is a Jr. Wrestler, he fights equally as strong, if not stronger than a Heavyweight wrestler. He can wrestle professionally, as well as do tricky moves. He has the imagination that no other wrestlers have. (We see video of a tag match involving both Nakamura & Marufuji from Wrestlekingdom 6 in 2012.) Concering the match at the Tokyo Dome, I think we both felt that it was going to be an interesting match. (We see a staredown between the two after the match.) That moment, I asked him who is whiter, Toru Yano or Go Shiozaki.”
Interviewer: “Seriously?”
Nakamura: “I’m serious. (laughs) Please don’t cut this out, I was actually asking him that. We formed a tag in NOAH in August 2013, we had KENTA & Suguira as opponents who were doing well. I thought it’d be more interesting to match-up with them. I said that after the match, but I didn’t think he would show up in Kobe after the match.” (We see video of Marufuji challenging Nakamura at the September 2013 “Destruction” iPPV in Kobe.
Marufuji: “I came up on this ring for just one reason. I want Shinsuke Nakamura’s head.”)
Nakamura: “I thought, ‘how interesting?’ It was taken lightly in a good way, for Marufuji and for me. How should I put it, we had taken away the borders of Heavyweight and the Jr. Division. I don’t think it mattered to us that we belonged to different groups. In a way, it was a way to get away from the traditional way, I think the match showed just that. Regardless of the belt, he was one of the opponents that I wanted to face. I was pumped up the moment he appeared in front of me.”
Main Event for the IWGP Intercontinental Title: Naomichi Marufuji (NOAH) vs. “The King of Strong Style” Shinsuke Nakamura (c)
Feeling-out process early. Chain wrestling, stalemate. Nakamura backs Marufuji into the ropes, rubs his face in Marufuji’s chest. Marufuji goes for a superkick, Nakamura avoids it. Nakamura with a drop toe hold, Marufuji avoids a stomp. Marufuji with a drop toe hold, Nakamura avoids a sliding dropkick. Marufuji avoids a basement head kick, another stalemate. Nakamura with a knee to the ribs, followed by more knees in the corner and finally, the Vibration Boot. Marufuji gets up, grabs the leg and then they exchange strikes. Superman Forearm by Nakamura, both miss clotheslines until Marufuji hits Nakamura with one off a criss-cross. They go onto the apron and Marufuji SPIKES NAKAMURA WITH AN APRON PILEDRIVER!!!
Commercial
Back from commercial as the referee begins his 20 count with Nakamura still down from the apron piledriver. Nakamura gets back in at the count of 16. Marufuji stomps away at Nakamura, followed by a knee drop to the side of Nakamura’s head. Cravate applied by Marufuji, followed by a snapmare and a series of face rakes using his boots. Marufuji then spins around while his feet are around Nakamura’s neck, twisting the neck. Marufuji gets 2. Headscissors applied by Marufuji, Nakamura gets to the ropes. Marufuji drapes Nakamura’s head across the middle rope, then hits a series of elbows to the back of the head. Marufuji goes outside and charges for a running sliding dropkick, but Nakamura avoids it. Marufuji avoids another basement head kick and hits Nakamura with a slingshot backstabber for another 2. Chinlock applied, crowd wills on Nakamura. Nakamura gets to the ropes. Marufuji with more kicks to the injured neck of Nakamura, followed by a series of chops. Nakamura fights back with forearms, but Marufuji with a knee to the ribs. Nakamura then comes back with an enziguri. Marufuji with a savate kick to the ribs, but Nakamura with a one-legged dropkick. Nakamura with more knees to the ribs in the corner, then drapes Marufuji across the top rope and hits a series of running knees to the ribs for 2. Leaping knee drop to the ribs by Nakamura for another 2. Standing gourdbuster by Nakamura, but Marufuji blocks a reverse powerslam with elbows to the back of Nakamura’s head. Marufuji evades Nakamura with a cartwheel, then hits a dropkick. Flying back elbow by Marufuji in the corner, followed by a running double stomp. Basement superkick by Marufuji gets a close 2. Series of standing switches, then Marufuji takes Nakamura down in a Cobra Clutch, followed by adding on a Triangle Choke. Nakamura gets free of the choke, but Marufuji with another backstabber while the Cobra Clutch was still applied, then adds on a headscissors to the hold. Marufuji lifts up Nakamura and hits a Cobra Clutch variation of the Regalplex for a close 2. Flash Kick by Marufuji, but Nakamura slips out of the Shiranui. Marufuji slips out of another reverse powerslam attempt and hits a spinning back kick to the ribs, then goes for the Shiranui again, but Nakamura places him in the Tree of Woe. Nakamura with more knees to the ribs, followed by another Vibration Boot. Backstabber by Nakamura, then this time hits the reverse powerslam. Nakamura calls for the Boma-Ye and goes for it, but Marufuji sidesteps it and places Nakamura in the Tree of Woe. Marufuji with a savate kick to the ribs, then goes onto the apron and goes for Coast-to-Coast, but Nakamura avoids it and goes onto the turnbuckles. Marufuji with a running dropkick to Nakamura, then heads up top and goes for a Super Exploder, but Nakamura knocks him off the ropes. 2nd Rope Boma-Ye by Nakamura, then goes for another Boma-Ye, but Marufuji catches him with an enziguri. Marufuji this time hits the Shiranui, but Nakamura kicks out! Marufuji goes for the Tiger Frosion, but Nakamura drives him into the corner. Marufuji with another enziguri, but Nakamura avoids a head kick. Marufuji avoids a head kick by Nakamura, but connects with a spinning heel kick, both men down as we go to commercial.
Commercial
Back from commercial as both men get to their feet. Marufuji slips off of Nakamura’s shoulders and hits another Flash Kick, followed by an open-hand slap and a spin kick. Marufuji goes again for the Tiger Frosion, but Nakamura blocks it and lifts up Marufuji. Marufuji slips out again, but Nakamura with a knee strike. Nakamura avoids another spin kick, lifts up Marufuji, but Marufuji counters with an inside cradle for a close 2. Marufuji with another Flash Kick, but Nakamura with a big right hand. Marufuji hits the Tiger Knee, but Nakamura with a back heel kick, then hits the Boma-Ye!
ANOTHER BOMA-YE!! 1-2-3!
Winner and STILL IWGP Intercontinental Champion: “The King of Strong Style” Shinsuke Nakamura by pinfall (Boma-Ye)
Nakamura & Marufuji fist-bump afterwards in a sign of mutual respect. Nakamura celebrates his title retention, then we go to post-match press conference comments from Marufuji.
Marufuji: “I lost, that’s all there is to it. The only thing I can say is, the puzzle between Nakamura and I is not complete just yet, just tell him that.”
Back in the ring, Nakamura continues to celebrate his title retention, when all of a sudden, we see Minoru Suzuki and Suzuki-Gun head out to ringside. Suzuki gets in the ring and has a mic.
Suzuki: “Hey, you want more, don’t you? You guys here at Ryogoku, you want more too, right? I’ll get you pumped up. Wrestle me wearing that belt. Its exciting, huh? I’ll get you pumped up even more. You, if you lose, I’ll have you join Suzuki-Gun. Isn’t that exciting? Hey, Nakamura and New Japan, this isn’t a request, its a way to get you excited. You know the answer, don’t you? What are you going to do? Hey guys, don’t you want to see Minoru Suzuki face Shinsuke Nakamura? You can take all the time you want.”
Suzuki goes onto the apron with the rest of Suzuki-Gun as Nakamura grabs the mic.
Nakamura: “Sorry, I wasn’t listening. Just kidding! What should I do? Can I make the decision? Its sounds good, its exciting. Its exciting, isn’t it? Hey, Suzuki-Gun and Minoru Suzuki, of course, YEAOH!!!!”
Suzuki-Gun leaves as Nakamura continues to celebrate his title retention.
We go to post-match press conference comments from Nakamura.
Nakamura: “Its an exciting turn of event. With all of my respect, I guess I’ll listen to NOAH’s Marufuji.”
Reporter: “About that Marufuji, he says that the puzzle between him and you isn’t complete yet.”
Nakamura: “Right? I totally agree. Wouldn’t he be excited to face me? To be continued. I’m counting on him. But, my next prey is…its pretty big. He’s not just Minoru Suzuki. Should I quit CHAOS and join Suzuki-Gun? What should I do? I’ve never been asked that. Well, I said it. I said I’ll do it, damn right. I know, Suzuki, I know that you’ve survived in this industry, you’ve survived with your arrogance. But, the real reason is that you’re a ‘YEAOH!'”
We go back to the TV Studios with Nakamura looking back on the match with Marufuji.
Nakamura: “I’ve fought against many wrestlers in the past, but it was very refreshing to fight with Marufuji. In the midst of grabbing each other, punching, kicking and wrestling, I was excited to see what would happen next. In that single match, a title defending match, the result turned out to be what it was, but I don’t know how it would turn out the next time I face him. My own wrestling style was brought out. I think he is a fantastic wrestler, but I can’t praise everything he does. But, it got more fun as the match went on. He was easy, though. That’s why it was so fun for me.”