NJPW Declaration Of Power Results (10/10) World Title Match, New Title Announced, LIJ Gets New Member, More
Welcome to our WrestlingINC.com Declaration of Power Live Coverage. Our live coverage starts at 4am ET. Please share tonight's coverage of tonight's event on social media and chime in with your thoughts in the Comments section below.
Here is the full card:
-Ren Narita Comeback Match: Ren Narita, David Finlay & Robbie Eagles vs. Suzuki-gun (El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI)
-Suzuki-gun (Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi) vs. TMDK (Shane Haste & Bad Dude Tito)
-Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hikuleo & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. House of Torture (EVIL, SHO & Yujrio Takahashi)
-CHAOS (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) vs. United Empire (Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan)
-Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, BUSHI & Hiromu Takahashi) vs. United Empire (Will Ospreay, Aaron Henare, TJP & Francesco Akira)
-Master Wato vs. Taiji Ishimori
-KOPW 2022 Provisional Trophy "Who's Your Daddy?" Match: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. El Phantasmo
-Kazuchika Okada vs. JONAH
-IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Match: Jay White (c) vs. Tama Tonga
The show begins with a salute to NJPW founder Antonio Inoki, who passed at the beginning of the month. The NJPW roster surrounds the ring. Seiji Sakaguchi is also at ringside. A video tribute to Inoki plays. It is announced that Wrestle Kingdom 17 will be held in Inoki's memory and honor.
Seiji Sakaguchi holds a photo of Inoki in the ring as there is a moment of silence, followed by a 10 bell salute.
Ren Narita Returns!
Live from Ryogoku Sumo Hall in Ryogoku, Japan. Chris Charlton, Kevin Kelly & Rocky Romero on commentary.
FIRST MATCH: Ren Narita Comeback Match: Ren Narita, David Finlay & Robbie Eagles vs. Suzuki-gun (El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI)
Narita starts the match by pummeling El Desperado. Desperado and Kanemaru come back to double team Narita, and humble the Young Lion a little bit. Finlay and Eagles interrupt the assault to help their team take the advantage. DOUKI tags in and almost gets pinned by a Double Underhook Suplex.
Narita blocks a Backslide. DOUKI hits Doton-No-Jutsu for a nearfall. Narita powersback and hits the Belly To Belly Suplex for the pinfall in 7:28.
WINNERS: Ren Narita, David Finlay & Robbie Eagles
SECOND MATCH: Suzuki-gun (Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi) vs. TMDK (Shane Haste & Bad Dude Tito)
The match starts with everyone comparing pecs. Tito and Taichi start the match off, first with the pec dance, and then by grappling. They soon tag in Haste and Sabre, who take out their long time frustrations out on each others, dating back to their days in Pro Wrestling NOAH, cracking each other with vicious strikes. Taichi tags in and drills Haste with a Hook Kick.
Kawada kicks from Taichi daze Haste. Haste tries to fight back but eats gut kick. Haste comes back with a dropkicks and tags in Tito. Taichi blocks a German Suplex and hits a stiff enzuigiri. Sabre tags in. Sabre pummels Tito in the corner. Tito hits a rolling elbow, a thrust kick, and an enzuigiri. Tito dumps Sabre with a German Suplex but Taichi breaks up the pin. Sabre counters Tito and locks in an Armbar and transitions into a Triangle Choke. Tito powers out with a Deadlift Buckle Bomb. Haste runs in but gets taken out by an Axe Bomber from Taichi. Sabre captures Tito with the European Clutch for the pinfall in 9:58.
WINNERS: Suzuki-gun (Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi)
Tag Action Continues!
THIRD MATCH: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hikuleo & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. House of Torture (EVIL, SHO & Yujrio Takahashi)
Match starts with Hikuleo fighting off all three members of House of Torture. The numbers eventually become too much. Tanahashi tags in. Yujiro Takahashi and Tanahashi trade blows. Yujiro holds his own against Tanahashi and tags in SHO. SHO gets some blows in and tags in EVIL. EVIL and Tanahashi battle back and forth until Taguchi tags in.
Tagcuhi uses his eccentric offense to get the upperhand but SHO gets in a sneaky blow, and EVIL takes advantage. SHO tags in and all three House of Torture members attack Taguchi. SHO hits a Straight Jacket Piledriver but Tanahashi breaks up the pinfall. Dick Togo distracts the referee. SHO hits Taguchi in the mouth with a wrench. SHO goes for Shock Arrow but Hikuleo chokeslams SHO out of nowhere and drags Taguchi on SHO for the pinfall in 7:14.
WINNERS: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hikuleo & Ryusuke Taguchi
After the match, Taguchi, Tanahashi and Hikuleo make it clear they want a shot at House of Torture's NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Championships.
FOURTH MATCH: CHAOS (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) vs. United Empire (Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan)
O-Khan gets the better of YOSHI-HASHI to start. Goto tags in and gains the advantage, which leads to Cobb tagging in. YOSHI-HASHI tags back in. Goto and YOSHI-HASHI use their combined strength to keep the big man at bay. YOSHI-HASHI hits an assisted Dragon Screw and almost submits Cobb with a kneebar but O-Khan breaks it up. YOSHI-HASHI nearly gets the win on a rollup. O-Khan and Cobb dismantle YOSHI-HASHI.
YOSHI-HASHI fights out of Imperial Drop. YOSHI-HASHI fights off O-Khan but walks into a Tour of the Islands from Cobb for the pinfall in 10:09.
WINNERS: United Empire (Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan)
Titán Joins LIJ!
FIFTH MATCH: Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, BUSHI & Hiromu Takahashi) vs. United Empire (Will Ospreay, Aaron Henare, TJP & Francesco Akira)
Naito and Ospreay start things off with a flurry of reversals, ending with Naito taunting Ospreay. Henare tags in. SANADA tags in. The two go back and forth and BUSHI tags in. BUSHI and Hiromu double team Henare until TJP comes in to even the odds and send Hiromu to the outside. BUSHI sends Henare to the outside. Everyone brawls on the outside.
TJP tags in and gets the better of BUSHI, stretching him. Akira tags in and pummels BUSHI. Everyone runs in and hits signature moves until the ring is cleared of all but Akira and BUSHI. Akira tosses BUSHI into the referee. Akira undoes the mask strings of BUSHI but a masked man runs into the ring and takes out all of the United Empire. BUSHI hits MX on Akira for the pinfall in 8:07.
WINNERS: Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, BUSHI & Hiromu Takahashi)
Naito and Ospreay stare each other down in the ring, while the masked man teases removing his mask. Naito tosses Ospreay's belt and throws Ospreay out of the ring. The masked man gets on the ring apron and calls for a mic. He takes off his mask, revealing Titán. Titán asks to join LIJ, who vote to approve his request. All five men fistbump.
There is a brief intermission.
Master Wato Steps In For KUSHIDA
Back from intermission, NJPW President Takami Ohbari announces the creation of the NJPWWorld Television Championship. All matches will be 15min time limit matches, with high speed matches encouraged. There will be a tournament to crown the first champion soon.
SIXTH MATCH: Master Wato vs. Taiji Ishimori
Wato starts off the match by rushing Ishimori. Wato gets the better of Ishimori with a flurry of strikes but Ishimori quickly comes back and slows Wato down. Ishimori assaults Wato's limbs. Wato fights back. Wato sends Ishimori to the outside and hits a huge tope. Ishimori fights back on the outside and sends Wato back in the ring.
Ishimori continues stretching Wato and nearly gets a submission, but Wato fights to the ropes. Ishimori returns to assaulting Wato's arm. Wato comes back and hits some big impact moves. Wato hits Recitimente for a nearfall. Wato climbs the top rope. Ishimori dodges RPP, sending Wato crashing into the canvas. Ishimori can't capitalize. Wato hits Vendeval. Ishimori comes back with La Mistica, and transitions to the Bone Lock. Wato tries to get to the ropes but Ishimori rolls him to center. Wato blocks Bloody Cross. Wato counters Cypher Utaki. Wato hits Recitimente for the pinfall in 14:40.
WINNER: Master Wato
Before Wato can declare himself #1 contender to the title, Hiromu Takahashi and El Desperado charge the ring. Ishimori flees the ring while El Desperado berates him on the microphone. Ishimori gets back in the ring and says there should be a 4-way match for his IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship.
Who's Your Daddy?
SEVENTH MATCH: KOPW 2022 Provisional Trophy "Who's Your Daddy?" Match: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. El Phantasmo
Both men are wearing shirts that say they are daddy. A straight forward match in which the loser must call the winner "daddy."
Takagi immediately dominates ELP. Takagi hits a big back body drop and starts spanking El Phantasmo. ELP escapes the spanking but Takagi maintains dominance. Phantasmo sends Takagi to the outside, feints a jump and then takes out Takagi on the outside. Phantasmo chokes Takagi with his Daddy shirt. ELP climbs the turnbuckle and hits a Moonsault to the outside. ELP gets Takagi in a hold and slams a microphone into Takagi's head.
Phantasmo rolls Takagi back in the ring and hits a big moonsault for a nearfall. They trade blows in the corner. Phantasmo ducks a series of clotheslines, but Takagi catches a crossbody and slams ELP. Phantasmo counters a suplex and rakes the back. Takagi drops ELP for a nearfall. Takagi hits a big back suplex. After a flurry of reversals, Takagi spikes ELP with a DDT. ELP fights back. Both men exchange blows. ELP gets the better of the exchange and hits a UFO for a nearfall.
After another flurry of moves, ELP hits Thunder Kiss '86 for a nearfall. Takagi counters CR II. ELP fights back and hits CR II for a nearfall. Takagi counters CR III. They trade blows. Takagi hits Made In Japan for a nearfall. The two men trade blows again. Shingo hits Sudden Death. Shingo hits CR III for a nearfall. Takagi locks in an Octopus Hold. Phantasmo refuses to submit. Takagi takes the hold to the ground where ELP finally submits in 16:01.
WINNER AND STILL KOPW 2022 PROVISIONAL TROPHY HOLDER AND "ELP'S DADDY": Shingo Takagi
Takagi gets on the mic and demands ELP call him "Daddy." ELP refuses. ELP finally relents and says "Shingo is my daddy." Shingo makes ELP wear the "Shingo is Daddy" shirt, put a pacifier in his mouth, and take a "father/son" photo together. ELP asks Shingo for a hug. ELP hugs Shingo and then punches him right in the crotch. ELP destroys the KOPW 2022 Provisional Trophy.
Rainmaker Reigns in Ryogoku
EIGHTH MATCH: Kazuchika Okada vs. JONAH
JONAH sends his seconds from TMDK away, as both men lock up. JONAH tosses Okada across the ring. Okada strikes JONAH and goes for a headlock, but Okada can't get JONAH to budge. After a series of unsuccessful shoulder tackles, Okada hits a drop toe hold and elbow drop combo. Okada sends JONAH to the outside and hits a Plancha. JONAH recovers and throws Okada into the barricade. JONAH gets on the apron and hits a Running Shoulder Tackle, sending Okada to the concrete. JONAH takes Okada to the aisle and hits a running Razor's Edge into the turnbuckle post. Okada beats the countout, but just barely.
JONAH stands on Okada's ribs. JONAH drives his knee into the injured torso. Okada gets to his feet but remains under assault. JONAH crumples Okada with a big chop to the chest. JONAH maintains dominance and follows up with a backbreaker/gutbuster combo. JONAH hits another huge chop, sending Okada to the canvas. JONAH continues crushing Okada's ribs. Okada mounts a comeback and hits a big DDT on JONAH, but can't capitalize. Okada hits a dropkick to the knee, and then a dropkick to the jaw. Okada tortures JONAH's legs. JONAH rolls to the apron and out of the ring. Okada gives chase.
Okada wraps JONAH's leg around the barricade and continues his assault. The referee tries to separate them but Okada shakes the barricade. Okada hits a Shotgun Dropkick to JONAH's knee. JONAH retreats back to the ring. Okada gives chase. Okada turns his back on JONAH and ends up eating a spear from the big man. JONAH hits a splash in the corner. JONAH hits a running hip attack in the corner. JONAH hits a big suplex for a nearfall. JONAH tries for a diving shoulder block but Okada counters with a big dropkick.
Okada hits a big Chop Block and sends JONAH to his knees. Okada locks in the Money Clip. JONAH fights out but Okada is able to slam JONAH. Okada hits a Diving Elbow Drop and strikes the Rainmaker Pose. JONAH counters a Rainmaker with a German Suplex. JONAH turns Okada inside out with a lariat for a nearfall. Okada blocks a Powerbomb. Okada hits a series of lariats to no avail but a spinning lariat drops JONAH. JONAH counters a Rainmaker with a Musou. JONAH hits Black Forest Bomb. JONAH struggles to the top rope. Okada rolls out of the way of Torpedo. Okada locks in Money Clip. JONAH sends Okada into the corner and hits a Thesz Press. Okada counters a lariat with a German Suplex. Okada maintains wrist control but JONAH counters Rainmaker with a dropkick. They trade blows. Okada hits a huge dropkick. Okada hits Landslide. Okada hits Rainmaker for the pinfall in 19:53.
WINNER: Kazuchika Okada
Main Event Time In Ryogoku
MAIN EVENT: IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Match: Jay White (c) vs. Tama Tonga
Jay teases leaving the ring to start. They lock up. White takes Tonga into the corner and slaps him. White gets Tama into the corner again and Tama smacks him in the mouth. Tama pummels Jay in the corner. Tama hits a big arm drag and a back drop. Jay fights back and dumps Tama out of the ring, to the floor. Jay sends Tama into the barricade repeatedly. Jay takes Tama onto the apron, wrenching Tama's back and neck. Jay wraps Tama up in the ringskirt and smothers him.
Jay drags Tama into the ring and hits a slingshot into the bottom rope. Red Shoes refuses to count the pin. Tama tries to fight back but gets slammed back into the canvas. Jay chops away on Tama's chest. Tama counters a Death Valley Driver and hits a dropkick. Tama comes back with a series of back elbows and a body slam. Tama hits a splash in the corner. Tama hits a big lariat. Tama hits a powerslam for a nearfall. After a series of counters, Jay drills Tama with a DDT.
Jay hits a Blade Buster for a nearfall. Tama counters a Uranage. Tama counters a Death Valley Driver with Tongan Twist. Jay tries to escape but Tama stops him. Tama takes Jay to the floor and hits a Tongan Twist. Tama rolls Jay in the ring for a nearfall. Jay fights out of a Death Valley Driver but Tama powers through and hits SRC. Tama climbs to the top rope. Jay gets his knees up and blocks Supreme Flow. Jay tosses Tama onto the top rope, gut first. Tama goes crashing to the outside.
Jay slams Tama onto the apron. Tama beats the countout. Jay pummels Tama in the corner. White hits a big Uranage for a nearfall. White locks in a Boston Crab. Tama refuses to submit. Jay transitions into a Liontamer. Tama fights to the ropes. Tama collapses, preventing a Sleeper Suplex. Jay hits a series of shoulder thrusts. Tama hits a big DDT. Tama climbs to the top rope and hits Supreme Flow for a nearfall.
Tama pounds the canvas, calling for Gun Stun. Jay counters. Jay rolls up Tama but Red Shoes catches Jay with his feet on the ropes. White counters Gun Stun, sending Tama into the referee. Jay White hits a low blow on Tama. Jado stops Gedo from getting involved. Jay attacks Jado. Gedo gives Jado a chair. Tama counters the chair shot with a low blow of his own. Tama considers hitting Jay with a chair, but opts not to. Tama counters Blade Runner with a rollup. Tama gets a visual pinfall but the referee missed it.
Jay hits a Complete Shot. Tama counters the Deadlift German Suplex. They trade chops. They trade elbows. Tama hits a series of uppercuts. Jay comes back with a Complete Shot. Jay hits a Deadlift German Suplex. Jay hits Sleeper Suplex. Tama counters Bladerunner. White counters Gun Stun. Tama counters Blade Runner and hits Bloody Sunday for a nearfall. Jay counters Dive Shack Driver. Jay counters Gun Stun with Crucifix Elbows. White hits a Regalplex for a nearfall. Jay hits a Bloody Sunday. Jay calls for Bladerunner but opts not to. Jay calls for Gun Stun. Tama hits Gun Stun for a nearfall. White counters Dive Shack Driver. Tama hits an Enzuigiri. A flurry of counters and Tama hits a Dragon Suplex. White counters a series of Gun Stuns and hits Bladerunner for the pinfall in 31:07.
WINNER AND STILL IWGP WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: Jay White
After the match, Jay says that he needs to thank Tama "for all of those years in Bullet Club." White says he plans to lead by example. White says Tama deserves the title and this moment, he's good enough for it, but life is unfair. White says Tama went for the title at the wrong time, as it's currently the Switchblade Era. "Any other day, any other time, this could've gone the other way and Tama Tonga could've been your IWGP World Heavyweight Champion." White says Tama would be a great champion, but ultimately he went for it now, and that was his mistake. White runs down his various commercial and career successes. Before he can finish, he is interrupted by Kazuchika Okada, the man White will face on January 4th.
"This isn't your moment," White says as Okada takes the microphone from him. Okada poses the question, "who will lead the next era?" Okada promises to tear it up in the Tokyo Dome.