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Welcome to PWInsider.com and my thoughts of the ongoing AEW/NJPW Supershow Wrestle Dynasty from the World Renowned Tokyo Done, just one night removed from Wrestle Kingdom 19.
Walker Stewart (who I personally think is top 1-2 in the world as a wrestling commentator) amd Chris Charlton have the call of tonights (today’s?) action
International Women’s Cup Final: Momo Wantanabe vs. Athena vs. Willow Nightingale vs. Persephone
Right off the bat, I’ll disclose that I know next to nothing about Wantanabe and Persephone. I know for a fact that Willow and Athena are beyond excellent so this looks like a heck of a way to kick things off. Willow and Momo are kicking things off with Persephone getting involved and rolling Willow up from behind. Persephone with a VERY impressive fallaway slam. Athena then takes out Persephone. Action here picks up. Kind of felt like these 4 needed to get the “feel” of this first but things have picked up nice.
Willow is showing a lot more fire than usual, I like that. Persephone nails a tope con hillo on Willow. Momo takes charge of things and nails a deadeye to Willow. That looked impressive!. I’ll say right now, this is a better 4 way than either 4 way matches last night (that’s zero knock on the men who worked last night, just saying these women are impressing me on this stage). Athena with a beautiful Eclipse to Willow only gets a 2. Momo with a bat to the face (damn that looked nasty) leads to get pinning Athena.
WINNER: MOMO WANTANABE
Wantanabe now has the right to challenge any champion from any of the participating companies (Stardom, CMLL, AEW and ROH)
ROH World Tag Team Championship: Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara vs. SHO & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
ROH vs, NJPW flavor in this one as SHO & Kanemaru represent the House of Torture, a subset of Bullet Club. We are reminded that Dustin was on the first Jan 4th Tokyo Dome show in 1992. For some odd reason I distinctly recall Lex Luger beating Masahiro Chono to retain the WCW World Title. Really curious to see where they go here, as Kanemaru and SHO obviously have a good working relationship with AEW. My only issue here is going to be the antics of House of Torture, whose matches always seem to go the same way, TONS of interference and ZERO referee intervention. Stewart and Charlton are doing an excellent job trying to educate the audience as to who Guevara is, as I think this is his first time in an NJPW ring. Rhodes and Guevara have turned into a solid unit. Dustin snap powerslams both members of HOT (guy is timeless/ageless it seems). Kanemaru spat whiskey in Dustin’s face, Sammy was able to make the save. It’s Dustin with whiskey to Kanemaru’s face. Sammy nails a beauty of a swanton and Rhodes is able to pin. Kanemaru.
WINNERS AND STILL ROH WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: DUSTIN RHODES & SAMMY GUEVARA
This’ll wrap up what I consider to be a solid pre show. Wrestle Dynasty is next!
Lucha Libre Gauntlet Match
Hechicero, representing CMLL, starts off this match with Kosei Fujita, representing TMDK from New Japan. No way I’ll be able to keep up, which is why I like blogging more. Walker Stewart tells that this’ll be just like the AEW Casino Gauntlett, which I’ve become a big fan of. The third entrant is Soberano Jr from CMLL, followed quickly by Master Wato from NJPW. After this match up there’ll be only one more multi person match, which fits the NJPW audience much better, as they’re not used to too many multi man matches. Mascara Dorata from CMLL is next in. Dorata is the 5th guy in the match. Wato and Fujita are keeping up as best they can, but they seem a bit out of their element. The 6th man in is Taiji Ishimori, representing Bullet Club from NJPW. Immediately it seems Ishimori is much more comfortable here in this situation. Titan from CMLL is next up. He’ll definitely be in his element here, he’s also a member to Tetsyua Naito’s group, Los Ingobernobles de Japon, when he’s in Japan. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight champion El Desperado is the 8th and final entrant. Best wishes to Douki, who lost to Desperado last night. He suffered a VERY nasty elbow injury. Desperado is eating a 7 on 1, as it seems like the others want to prove their mettle against the champion. Man, they are eating El Desperado up. Hechicero went for a pin and the others broke it up, so now they’re all facing off. If you like the Lucha style, this match is definitely for you. The other 7 are fighting on the outside as Desperado is lying in the ring dead as a doornail. Desperado comes to life as Fujita attacks him. Ishimori sneaks in and rolls up Desperado for the pin.
WINNER TAIJI ISHIMORI
This’ll clearly establish Ishimori as Desperado’s first challenger.
I’m absolutely terrible as guessing crowd sizes. Seems like the floor is packed with a few lower sections as well.
Grappling Match: Katsayori Shibata vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
Tanahashi is fresh off his career saving win vs. EVIL last night. Shibata saved him and then issued this challenge. This is only an exhibition match with a 5 minute time limit. Reason for this is that New Japan hasn’t cleared him since with head injury in 2017 (honestly don’t know if that’s storyline or not). We’re over 90 seconds in and we’ve had the same lockup, the story here is that these guys are going hard. Now they’re banging away with some DARN HARD CHOPS. The blood vessels in those chests are bursting. You couldn’t pay me enough to take those. A lockup and chops is all we got as the time expires. But, my gawd, those were brutal shots.
OFFICIAL DECISION: DRAW
We are reminded that we have 364 days left to enjoy the career of Tanahashi
Winner Takes All: Rev Pro Champion Mina Shirakawa vs. NJPW Strong Champion Mercedes Mone
Looking forward to this because I haven’t had a chance to see Mina in her natural setting, I’ve only seen the fish-out-of-water character she’s been in AEW. Mone, for her end, seems to have finally settled in to AEW. LAst couple of months she seems like she’s got her old mojo back. Mina seems VERY comfortable here, completely in her element. Here’s a little thing that I’m noticing: Mone knows EXACTLY where the camera is at all times. It’s almost like she’s trying hard to appeal to both the live crowd and the people watching on NJPW World or Triller. Mone hit a nice Meterora for 2. Mone is now terrified of Mina’s offense, she seems desperate, in a good way, mind you. Mina is in complete control. Of course, as soon as I say that, Mone nails a gut buster. Mone hit the 3 Amigos, which I love. Mina with a DDT off the top. Mina with a 2nd Figure 4 leglock. I could absolutely get all in behind this Mina Shirakawa. After an intense sequence of near falls, Mone hits the Money Maker for the pin.
WINNER AND STILL NJPW STRONG CHAMPION & NEW REV PRO WOMEN’S CHAMPION MERCEDES MONE
Heck of a match and you can tell this meant a LOT to Mone.
Brody King vs. David Finlay
Cory Strode loves a good hoss fight. I think he’ll like this. Finlay has got be in a foul mood, having lost the IWGP Global Championship last night to Yota Tsuji. Finlay has taken a bit of flack because many don’t see him as Bullet Club leadership material. My opinion? He absolutely has grown into the role and genuinely looks and wrestles like a star. The story that Stewart and Charlton (who are doing an absolutely FANTASTIC job on the call, btw) is that these are 2 men breaking away from their more famous counterparts (Malakai Black and Fit Finlay). We’re told the winner here will be in line for a shot at the Global Title. Not used to seeing Finlay manhandled but King is the man to do it. They’re working much more of an American as opposed to Strong Style, which kind of surprises me. As soon as I say that, Finlay hits a running tackle into the rail, no faking that. These guys are working really hard and I appreciate it. Something just seems…off on this one. Finley hits the overkill and scores the pin.
WINNER DAVID FINLAY
Absolutely the right call here as Finlay could ill afford 2 Dome losses in 24 hours.
Shota Umino vs. Claudio Castagnoli
Story here is that Jon Moxley, AEW World Champion and mentor to Shota, is upset that Shota has not joined the Death Riders. Moxley has sent Claudio to show him the error of his ways. Claudio ran out when Shota was ½ way to the ring. Shota has vowed to go through the Death Riders to get to Moxley, which tells me we might be looking at a Dominion showdown between the 2. For now, Claudio is laying a beatdown on Shota, who went 44 minutes with Zack Sabre Jr less than 24 hours ago. Shota pulled off a nice apron DDT here. Shota has fire, I’ll give him that, just not yet convinced he’s 100% for the spot he’s in with NJPW. Claudio gets a big swing off, 19 rotations. Claudio is working a long sharpshooter. Shota takes a hell of a beating here and is able to get in some nice hope spots. Shota out of nowhere nails the Death Rider for the pin.
WINNER SHOTA UMINO
NEVER Openweight Championship: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Tomohiro Ishii
Spoiler: These guys are gonna hit each other HARD. For those that missed it, Takeshita pinned Shingo Takagi in a Title vs. Title match last night. As predicted, these two are holding nothing back. Takeshita may, in fact, win this match (I expect him to), but Ishii is going to make him earn every second of it. Ishii is moving a lot slower than we’ve seen him. I hate to say to say it, but the style he’s wrestled seems to be catching up with him. The Stone Pitbull has left it all in that ring. Big sliding lariat by Ishii, that’s a signature. Takeshita scores the pin.
WINNER AND STILL NEVER OPENWEIGHT CHAMPION KONOSUKE TAKESHITA
Hats off to both these guys. Takeshita took a beating and Ishii is giving it 150% in order to get to 100%
For the vacant IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: The Young Bucks vs. The Great O-Khan & Jeff Cobb vs. Hiromu Takahashi & Tetsuya Naito
Charlton is a little salty here, playing off the story that the Bucks left here 6 years ago and walk right in to this opportunity. For clarity, O-Khan was tag team champion with Henare, who got injured during World Tag League. He chose Cobb as his partner. Takahashi and Naito won the aforementioned World Tag League.
Rocky Romero has joined the booth. OK here’s the part I’m not getting. In AEW, Romero is part of the Conglomeration, if I’m not mistaken. They’re good guys. The Bucks are the arrogant EVPs of AEW. Romero is channeling his inner Bobby Heenan and really laying on the love for the Bucks here. And, as a fan of NJPW, I know Romero is solid on the commentary table. He’s very distracting here.
The story here is the Bucks are avoiding getting too involved and picking their spots. Cobb is a power beast. That kind of strength is illegal I think in 17 states. Naito and Takahashi had a dream match at Wrestle Kingdom (Takahashi’s walk out outfit has to be seen to be believed). Bucks are picking their spots well here. They’re able to isolate the Great O-Khan and nail the Meltzer Driver (not called the TK Driver interestingly enough) for the pin and the win.
WINNERS AND NEW IWGP HEAVYWEIGHT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS THE YOUNG BUCKS
For those keeping score, AEW is headed back with 2 New Japan Championships, which I don’t hate for 2 reasons: 1) Takeshita is willing to go back and forth and will be able to be at least somewhat visible in New Japan and 2) The NJPW tag team scene is, to be blunt, as complete mess. There is only one real, tried and true team on the roster, Yoshi-Hashi & Hirooki Goto. The titles themselves have flip flopped for the better part of 2 years from makeshift team to makeshift team. With the Bucks being absentee champions at best, it’ll kind of allow NJPW to re-set the division without being desperate to have a champion present.
IWGP Global Championship: Yota Tsuji vs. Jack Perry
Last time we saw Perry here, he was a tried and true member of the House of Torture, so I’m somewhat surprised that someone isn’t out here with him. I have to say, overall, I’m enjoying this card more than I enjoyed Wrestle Kingdom the night before. Tsuji, to me at least, has been the standout of his young lion class (Shota Umino and Ren Narita would be his peers). He’s won the New Japan Cup and was a semi finalist in the 2024 G-1. He had what I thought was an excellent match against Finlay in winning the Global Title.
Rocky Romero remains at commentary. Now, he’s calling it straight, which is much easier to process. Crowd seems a little burnt, possibly tired as they seem a little more subdued than usual. Perry and Tsuji are having a chop exchange, followed by some very hard forearms. DDT out of nowhere by Perry for 2, THAT was close. Tsuji easts a low blow. Perry is wrestling a different style here, a little more versatile. Just that that Tsuji nails a spear for the pin.
WINNER AND STILL IWGP GLOBAL CHAMPION: YOTA TSUJI
Really good match between these two, honestly a bit better than I expected. There’s an odd little in-ring theme tonight: less is more.
Kenny Omega vs. Gabe Kidd
I’d honestly prefer not to write here. There is such a difference between Japan Kenny Omega and Everywhere Else Kenny Omega. Even Hiroshi Tanahashi has come out to commentate and watch this. Kidd is the Strong Openweight Champion, though his title is not on the line here. Kidd seems fired up for the biggest match of his life. Hopefully he’s doesn’t blow up. Crowd definitely has come alive for this one. Damn Chris Charlton is going off on the inference that Omega is the king of Japanese pro wrestling. He just mocked essentially every wrestler who left NJPW for AEW, saying (HIS WORDS, NOT MINE) that those wrestlers found a money mark and sold out. Then inferred that they’ve doing nothing in the U.S. that exceeds what they accomplished in New Japan. I honestly don’t know if that was part of the act or if Charlton had some bullets in the chamber that he wanted to release.
AEW referee Bryce Remsburg is the official for this one. Kidd has a brutal intensity that honestly gives him an edge of fear. I believe that Gabe Kidd can kick someone’s ass. Kidd took a powerbomb through the table and landed nasty on his head, may have been part of the match as Kidd came up bleeding. Omega banged his hip on a dive, so now both guys have a handicap.
Kidd’s looking for weaponry under the ring, finally suplexes Omega on a spare table. Clark Connors and Drilla Maloney are seconding Kidd. Kidd is very vocal, almost to the point of distraction. I can only hear the F-word so many times before it becomes redundant. Omega is bleeding a gusher. Omega got superplexed on a pile of chairs. I’ve luckily never suffered from diverticulitis. I can’t imagine that fall was pleasant on the midsection.
Dammnit I hate these numerous unprotected chair shots to the head. When will these guys realize it’s not safe and nothing good comes out on the other side. Kidd is desperately trying to avoid the One Winged Angel. Omega is finally able to hit a V trigger, a Komagoye and finally the OWA to score a pin. This one had to go over a ½ hour. Even in defeat, this’ll bump Kidd’s credibility 10 fold.
WINNER KENNY OMEGA
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Ricochet
If I’m not mistaken, ZSJ became the first foreigner to win the main event of Wrestle Kingdom when he retained the title against Shota Umino. The placement of this is interesting. On the one hand, I completely understand putting the World Title match on last. On the other…how do I say this? Ricochet has no credibility with me as a world title challenger. I’m not just talking about how he’s presented in AEW so far (Wednesday night’s bloodbath angle with Swerve Strickland notwithstanding). He had a good 6-7 years in WWE as well. Granted, he wasn’t presented very well. This title shot seems to have come out of nowhere. ZSJ has been the New Japan MVP over the last 2 years. And PLEASE don’t think I’m knocking Ricochet because I’m critical of AEW, it’s just that this a stadium main event and I’m just not convinced the challenger completely belongs.
Really good intense battle we’ve got going on. The commentary team is fantastic here, giving us Ricochet’s Japanese credentials periodically, at least giving the viewer a full picture. ZSJ is as smooth and as crisp as they come. Just like that ZSJ is able to use his legs to stretch Ricochet’s arms back, causing the verbal submission.
WINNER AND STILL IWGP WORLD CHAMPION ZACK SABRE JR.
That is all from the Tokyo Dome. Thanks for reading
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