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Welcome to the New Japan on AXS TV report for Week Three of Wrestle Kingdom 17!
IWGP Women’s Champion KAIRI vs. Tam Nakano.
They gave them both big entrances and put over it was the first women's bout in the dome since the 1990s. KAIRI controlled early. Tam escaped a clothesline and used a sunset flip takedown, setting up a big dropkick. Some nice sequences early. They began slugging it out. KAIRI cut off Nakano's momentum with a spear and then a running clothesline into the corner. Tam knocked the champ to the floor and hit a splash to the floor, which looked brutal. Kevin Kelly made references to "rumors" on social media. Yeah, rumors, Kevin. Tam nailed the Steiner Driver but somehow KAIRI kicked out. KAIRI fired back and beat down Tam, hitting the insane elbow off the top for the pin. Not a shocking ending in the least but really good action all the way through.
After the match, the former Sasha Banks got a big entrance. She was announced as THE CEO, Mercedes Mone. She came out with a new red, white and blue Statue of Liberty-inspired look with blue and golden hair. She took the robe off and faced off with KAIRI, who raised the belt between them. They shook hands but Banks laid her out with what was supposed to be a Gori Guerrero Especial into a DDT but it went wonky. She threw the belt down on KAIRI and demanded a mic.
She mocked KAIRI, congratulating her on making history and said she knows a thing or two about making history. She came to New Japan and STARDOM to make history. She said she's the CEO of the women's division. She told KAIRI to enjoy the title while she can, because she's going leave her "bankrupt b**ch" on 2/18 at Battle in the Valley. That's the San Jose, CA event that will air live on FITE.TV. A solid appearance for Mone in her debut but I didn't get the impression this was a MOMENT. I didn't get the feeling it was seen as a MASSIVE deal live at all in Japan, but here in the States, it should garner attention, especially on social media where Mone has a rabid fan base.
IWGP Tag Team Champions FTR vs. YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto.
FTR walked to the ring like they were banged up. Dax and Goto started out, slugging it out with each other. FTR nailed the Powerplex on Goto, who kicked out. Goto was bleeding from the mouth. HASHI tagged and chopped away at everyone, controlling the ring. Lots of good, methodical strikes and moves. Dax nailed a hell of a piledriver on HASHI and then FTR whipped out a spike piledriver but Goto broke up the pinfall. Good timing. The challengers take out Dax and score the pinfall. Super, enjoyable wrestling from bell to bell. They all showed each other respect after the match. With FTR taking yet another loss, you have to wonder whether AEW books them to rebound or are sliding them backwards. Time will tell!
In Mutoh's final NJPW match, Keiji Mutoh & Hiroshi Tanahashi & Shota Umino vs. Tetsuya Naito & SANADA & BUSHI.
I'm calling it now. WWE inducting Mutoh in the Hall of Fame this April.
HUGE ovation for Mutoh when he was announced. This should be a lot of fun. They showed Masahiro Chono, Jushin Liger and Tatsumi Fujinami announcing. SANADA and Mutoh started out. Makes sense given SANADA was his protege. SANADA nailed a Great Muta-like moonsault early for a near fall. I liked that. Mutoh caught him with a shining wizard. He teased going for a moonsault. Yeah. that wasn't going to happen!
LIJ controlled the ring and worked over Tanahashi. They went into a triple submission with Team Mutoh in control. BUSHI was caught in a series of Tanahashi maneuvers. Naito got involved, allowing BUSHI to drill him with a kick. Mutoh returned and nailed the shining wizard on BUSHI, allowing Umino to drill and pin him with the Death Rider, Nice touch to let the youngest member of the team to get the shine with the win.
The match was OK. Really, it was about Mutoh getting the big pop for his entrance more than anything else.
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