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NAITO VS. OKADA AT WRESTLE KINGDOM 12: NEW JAPAN ON AXS TV REPORT

By Mike Johnson on 2022-01-27 23:01:00

Welcome to this week's New Japan Pro Wrestling on AXS TV report.

Wrestle Kingdom 12 at the Tokyo Dome - IWGP champion Kazuchika Okada vs. Tetsuya Naito.

Okada was wearing long pants, a departure from his usual look.

Big reactions for both.  Crowd sounds like they are 50/50.  They face off for a long time.  They locked up and Okada broke clean but Naito pounced on the champ.  Lots of back and forth wrestling until Naito mocked the champion by relaxing in the middle of the ring.  He worked over the champ until Okada reversed some attempted offense in the corner and dropkicked him off the corner down to the floor below.

Okada tossed him over the guard rail into the crowd but Naito snapped him on the railing.  He grabbed Okada and nailed a neckbreaker across the barricade.  Okada made it back to the ring but Naito nailed another neckbreaker on the apron.  He rolled Okada into the ring and snapped a missile dropkick.  Naito nailed a series of elbows in the corner, beating Okada down to the mat in the corner.

Okada tried to build a comeback but Naito cut him off, nailed a neckbreaker and a dropkick to the back.   He nailed another neckbreaker for a two count.  They went into a series of reversals culminating with Okada catching Naito with a DDT.  Okada nailed a series of elbows and forearms.   Naito went to the floor, so Okada sprinted around the ring and nailed a big boot.

Okada draped Naito across the guard rail and drilled him down with a DDT.  Back in the ring, Okada missed a charging attack in the corner but was grabbed and drilled with another neckbreaker.   Naito nailed an inverted DDT for another two count.   Naito charged but was caught with a flapjack.  Okada locked in a Cobra Clutch on Naito, trying to take him down.  Naito fought to escape but kept getting taken down to the mat over and over.

Okada worked him over but was kicked off after he tried to charge.  Naito swept his leg and used the ropes to position him and nail a big neckbreaker.  He placed Okada on the top and nailed a top rope reverse hurancanrana, which looked insane.   He nailed Gloria and went for a twisting moonsault press but Okada rolled out of the way.    

Naito was drilled with a running forearm, but fired back with his own.  They began beating each other back and forth with punches and forearms.   Okada nailed a big boot but Naito absorbed it and nailed a spinning kick.   Okada went to the top but missed a BIG missile dropkick.  Naito tried to go for the ropes but Okada snatched him and tried to nail a German suplex, finally succeeding.  He missed a Rainmaker clothesline but caught him on the rebound when Naito tripped up.  Naito kicked out at the last second, which was a big moment.

Okada went for the tombstone but Naito slipped out before he could execute the move.  Naito went for an enziguiri but missed.   Okada went back to the Cobra Clutch.   Naito turned it into Destino but was too spent to make the cover.  They battled back and forth as they hit 30 minutes.    Naito began to get the better of the exchange.  Okada fired back.  They went back and forth.  Naito finally spit in his face and slapped Okada down.

Okada charged and went for a tornado DDT but Naito spiked him down  Naito went for Destino but was caught with a Rainmaker.  Okada held onto his arm and pulled Naito back up. Okada missed the Rainmaker and Naito nailed Destino for a CLOSE two count.  They battled back and forth.  Naito was nailed with a big dropkick as he was rebounding off the ropes.

Okada nailed a tombstone.  He went for a Rainmaker but Naito ducked and nailed Destino.  Naito went for a second but Okada caught him in a tombstone, then hit the Rainmaker for the pin.  

Your winner and still IWGP champion, Kazuchika Okada!

Hell of an excellently wrestled match.

NEXT WEEK - G1 CLIMAX 28 Final, Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kota Ibushi

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