NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome took place from Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. Chris Charlton and Walker Stewart did the call for English commentary. The main event featured Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Tomohiro Ishii defending the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Titles against Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb & HENARE.
NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome Review
Masked Horse & Masked Boltin def. Tiger Mask & Toru Yano: Masked Horse was Ryusuke Taguchi and Masked Bolton was Oleg Boltin. Yano did his usual comedy routine. Boltin shined planting Yano with a gut wrench suplex for a two count. Yano responded sending Boltin into the exposed turnbuckle. Taguchi ran wild delivering hip attacks to Tiger Mask and Yano. Tiger Mask responded catching Taguchi with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a two count. Tiger Mask delivered a Tiger Driver to Taguchi but Boltin made the save. Yano pulled Boltin to the floor. Tiger Mask went for a Crucifix Pin. Taguchi caught Tiger Mask in the Kudo Clutch for the win. Amin’s Thoughts: A fine comedy tag team match. [**]
TMDK (Zack Sabre Jr., & Kosei Fujita) def. Young Blood (Oskar Leube & Yuto Nakashima): Fujita and Nakashima began exchanging big strikes. Fujita applied a side headlock but Nakashima broke free. Nakashima planted Fujita with a scoop slam for a two count. Sabre caught Nakashima with a cheap shot. Fujita took advantage catching Nakashima with an arm breaker. Fujita and Sabre took control as they worked over Nakashima’s arm. Nakashima responded rocking Sabre with a mid kick. Nakashima got Leube the hot tag. Libra ran wild rocking Fujita with a running boot. Leube planted Fujita with a spinning slam. Nakashima followed with a PK but Sabre made the save. Fujita responded catching Nakashima with a German suplex coming off the ropes. Sabre went for an Octopus Hold but Leube broke free. Leube planted Sabre with a running powerslam for a two count. Sabre avoided a running leg drop. Sabre rocked Leube with a PK for a two count. Sabre went for a second PK but Leube caught him. Sabre placed Leube in a sleeper hold. Fujita caught Nakashima in a guillotine hold. Leube tried to break free. Sabre placed Leube in a rear-naked choke for the submission win. Amin’s Thoughts: This was a really good action packed match. I was pleasantly surprised to see how much offence both Leube and Nakashima got working a pretty evenly match with TMDK. This was a great showing from the Young Blood who looked poised to a big year as a team in 2024. Good to see Sabre get the win for his team as he’s the one who has a big match with Hiroshi Tanahashi at Wrestle Kingdom. [***½]
Bullet Club War Dogs came out rolling a casket to the ring before the next match. Moloney took the mic saying Christmas came early so he brought a box for them. Moloney said he was going to give them a preview.
United Empire (Francesco Akira, TJP & Callum Newman) def. Bullet Club War Dogs (Clark Connors, Drilla Moloney & Gedo): A brawl broke out around ringside. Akira and TJP rocked Conners with a series of combination kicks. BC War Dogs took control after Moloney pulled Newman to the floor. Moloney ran Newman into the barricade. Newman battled back catching Moloney with a dropkick. Akira ran wild rocking Moloney with a Woo dropkick. Akira followed with a double stomp for a two count. TJP connected with a flying crossbody to both Conners and Moloney. Conners stopped TJP’s momentum catching him with a snap powerslam. Conners tagged Gedo into the match. TJP caught Gedo with a Final Cut. Akira and TJP delivered 2/2 to Gedo for the win. Amin’s Thoughts: This was a good action packed match. Gedo was there to take the pin for his team and that’s perfectly fine. [***]
Bullet Club War Dogs attacked Catch 22 after the match. Conners and Maloney delivered High/Low taking out Newman. After recovering from the attack, TJP delivered a promo hyping the Wrestle Kingdom match with War Dogs. They challenged the War Dogs to a Coffin Match on Night Two of the tour which was made official.
House of Torture (Ren Narita, EVIL & SHO) (w/Dick Togo) def. Shota Umino, Master Wato & Tomoaki Honma: Shota Unimo came out from the crowd wearing a Christmas hat. Ren Narita came out with HoT wearing a hooded cape. HoT quickly took control as Narita ran Umino into the barricade. Wato caught SHO with a hurricanrana inside the ring. Wato followed with a running bulldog. SHO distracted the referee. EVIL took advantage swinging a turnbuckle into Wato’s face. EVIL kept covering Wato who kept kicking out at two which got the crowd back into the match. Wato responded nailing Narita with a leg lariat. Umino rocked Narita with corner strikes. Unimo shoved the referee away. Umino planted EVIL with a t-bone suplex. Umino delivered a fisherman’s suplex to Narita for two count at the 10 minute mark. Narita responded raking Umino in the eyes. Narita launched Umino into the exposed turnbuckle. Umino battled back catching EVIL with a swing DDT. Umino got Honma the hot tag. Wato rocked EVIL with a springboard uppercut. Honma followed with a sliding Kokeshi to EVIL for a two count. Honma rocked EVIL with a flying Kokeshi but HoT made the save. Dick Togo distracted the referee. EVIL called for Everything is EVIL. Honma countered rocking EVIL with a head butt. HoT distracted the referee again. This gave Narita the opportunity to whack Honma with a pushup bar. EVIL delivered Everything is EVIL to Honma for the win. Amin’s Thoughts: This was a good action packed match as everyone got a chance to shine. I gotta say they are a doing a good job making the Narita and Umino rivalry feel special. The single’s match between them is going to feel like a big deal when it happens. They always has to be some HoT antics which brings down the enjoyment of a match. [***¼]
The crowd booed as HoT continued to attack Umino after the match. The crowd cheered as Kaito Kiyomiya and Ryohei Oiwa ran down to make the save. Umino went for the Paradigm Shift DDT but Narita left the ring. Kiyomiya offered a handshake. The crowd cheered as Umino shook both Kiyomiya and Oiwa’s hands.
Los Ingobernables De Japon (Hiromu Takahashi & Shingo Takagi) def. El Desperado & Satoshi Kojima: Desperado and Takahashi were evenly matched to start. Takahashi rocked Desperado with strikes in the corner. Takahashi didn’t notice Takagi make the tag. Takagi applied a crossface but Desperado placed his foot on the ropes. Desperado battled back catching Takahashi with a spinebuster. Kojima ran wild rocking Takagi with rapid fire chops which got the crowd popping. Kojima planted Takagi with a Koji Cutter. Takagi responded rocking Kojima with a jab/lariat combo. Takagi rocked Kojima with a sliding lariat for a two count. Takahashi rocked Kojima with a superkick. Takagi followed with a Pumping Bomber but Desperado made the save. Kojima fired up rocking Takagi with a huge lariat which got a big reaction. Takagi quickly responded drilling Kojima with a Pumping Bomber for the win. Amin’s Thoughts: A really good action packed tag team match. The interaction between Kojima and Takagi was the highlight as it felt like they were challenging each other to see who can do better. A great showing from Takagi who looked awesome in the win. [***½]
Just 5 Guys (IWGP World Heavyweight Champion SANADA, Yuya Uemura & DOUKI) (w/TAKA Michinoku) def. Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Yota Tsuji & BUSHI): Tetsuya Naito received a great reaction from the crowd.Naito was holding a Weekly Pro-Wrestling magazine which featured a SANADA interview. Naito worked the match wearing a t-shirt. The announcers introduced Naito at Tokyo Sports 2023 MVP. Uemura ignored Naito as he wanted Tsuji to start the match. Uemura shined early catching Tsuji with a huge arm drag. DOUKI tagged in connecting with a double stomp for a near fall. BUSHI nailed Douki with a cheap shot. This led LIJ taking the advantage. The action moved the floor as Naito ran SANADA into the barricade. Naito played heel pulling on DOUKI’s hair as SANADA made the save. DOUKI responded catching Naito with a cartwheel handspring elbow. Naito sold it like DOUKI got him right in the eye he recently got operated on. SANADA ran wild delivering a slingshot plancha to Naito on the floor. Naito battled back going for a swing DDT but SANADA had it scouted. SANADA called for Magic Screw but Naito had it scouted. Naito caught SANADA with a hip toss backbreaker. Naito tagged Tsuji back into the match. SANADA went for the Paradise Lock but Tsuji broke free. SANADA caught Tsuji with a hurricanrana. Uemura went for a German suplex but Tsuji blocked. Ueumra caught Tsuji with a victory roll for a close two count. Tsuji stopped Uemura momentum hitting a curb stomp. BUSHI tagged into the match. BUSHI ran wild hitting a missile dropkick. The action broke down with everyone getting involved. SANADA placed Naito in a Paradise Lock. SANADA placed BUSHI in Skull End. Uemura followed hitting a flying crossbody onto BUSHI. Uemura delivered the Deadbolt Suplex to BUSHI for the win. Amin’s Thoughts: This was a good action packed match as everyone got a chance to shine. I liked the layout of the match making SANADA look strong heading into the Wrestle Kingdom main event. The excitement for the Wrestle Kingdom main event just isn’t there because SANADA just hasn’t clicked as champion. [***½]
Taichi [c] def. Yoshinobu Kanemaru in Whiskey Bottle Ladder Match to retain the King-Of-Pro Wrestling Title: The rules were whoever grabbed the whiskey bottle was the only person who was allowed to use it. You win the match by pin or submission. The action moved to the floor right away as Kanemura ran Taichi into the barricade. Kanemura took control swinging Taichi’s leg into a ladder. Taichi responded running the ladder sending Kanemura into the exposed turnbuckle at the five minute mark. Taichi tried to climb the ladder. Kanemura used another ladder to attack Taichi’s injured leg. Kanemura climbed the ladder and grabbed the whiskey bottle. Kanemura flew off the ladder into a Taichi right hand. The referee stoped Taichi from using the whiskey bottle. Kanemura took back control slamming Taichi’s injured leg on the floor. Kanemura applied a half crab but Taichi grabbed the ropes at the 10 minute mark. Kanemura spat whiskey in Taichi’s face while placed in a Figure-4-Leg Lock. Taichi grabbed the ropes to force a break. Kanemura poured whiskey in Taichi’s face. Kanemaru went for a Figure-4-Leg Lock. Taichi responded spitting whiskey into Kanemura’s face at the 15-minute mark. Taichi teased using the whiskey bottle but didn’t. Taichi fired up planting Kanemura with backdrop suplex. The lights went out. The crowd immediately started booing. HoT attacked Taichi. EVIL and SHO held Taichi upside down. Dick Togo flew off ladder giving Taichi a low blow. HoT poured whiskey into a bucket. HoT drowned Taichi’s head into a bucket. Just 5 Guys finally made their way to the ring to help Taichi out at the 20-minute mark. Taichi battled back rocking Kanemura with an Axe Bomber. Taichi delivered a Dangerous Backdrop Suplex but Kanemura kicked out at two. Kanemura grabbed hold onto the referee. Kanemura gave Taichi a low blow. Kanemaru delivered a brainbuster for a two count. Kanemura delivered a flying moonsault to Taichi onto a ladder for a two count. Kanemura flew off the ladder right into a Taichi low blow. Dick Togo was shown ringside pouring whiskey into a bucket. Kanemura grabbed the bucket. Kanemaru changed his mind as he didn’t use the bucket. Kanemura instead delivered a reverse DDT for a two count. Taichi made a comeback kicking the whiskey bucket into Kanemaru’s face. Taichi rocked Kanemura with a superkick at the 25-minute mark. Taichi delivered Black Mafisto for the win. Amin’s Thoughts: I’ve seen much worse HoT matches. This was just a boring match that went way too long. [*½]
Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomohiro Ishii [c] def. United Empire (Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb & HENARE) to retain the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Titles: Chris Chartlon on commentary noted everyone around the world wants a piece of the Rainmaker likely referencing Okada could become a free agent soon. Huge chants of Okada as he started the match. Cobb did Daniel Bryan’s YES chants. Cobb caught Okada coming off the ropes launching him with a release suplex. Cobb had Okada on his shoulders who escaped. Ishii and Tanahashi delivered a pair of basement dropkicks to Cobb’s leg. Tanahashi placed Cobb in a Cobra Twist. Ishii tagged in. Cobb and Ishii exchanged huge shoulder tackles as neither man went down at the five minute mark. O-Khan tagged in rocking Ishii with Mongolian chops. The crowd popped as Ishii battled back planting Cobb with a suplex. Tanahashi ran wild catching both Cobb and HENARE with Dragon screws. Cobb stopped Tanahashi’s momentum catching him with a Spin Cycle at the 10-minute mark. Tanahashi battled back catching O-Khan with Twist-and-Shout. Tanahashi got Okada the tag. Okada fired up planting O-Khan with a DDT for a two count. Okada planted HENARE with a huge flapjack. Okada went for a dive but O-Khan moved. O-Khan placed Okada in a head/arm choke. O-Khan followed planting Okada with a belly-to-belly suplex for a two count. O-Khan delivered a fisherman’s suplex to Okada but Ishii made the save. UE rocked Ishii with a triple superkick. UE went for an Eliminator combo but Tanahashi made the save. UE quickly stopped Tanahashi. Cobb connected with a standing moonsault to Tanahashi. O-Khan went for the Eliminator but Okada broke free. Okada moved as Ishii rocked O-Khan with a huge lariat. Okada caught HENARE with a dropkick. Okada, Tanahashi and Ishii delivered a triple DDT to O-Khan for a two count. Okada connected with a flying elbow drop. The crowd cheered as Okada did his signature Rainmaker pose. Okada called for the Rainmaker but O-Khan ducked. O-Khan responded planting Okada with a sidewinder. O-Khan called for the Eliminator. Okada responded hitting a discus lariat. Okada got Ishii the hot tag. Ishii knocked HENARE off the ring apron. This gave O-Khan the opening to stop Ishii with a gut-wrench suplex. HENARE delivered a modified Blue Thunder Bomb to Ishii for a two count. Ishii responded hitting a backdrop suplex. HENARE responded catching Ishii with a popup Samoan drop. Ishii no-sold it. Ishii sent HENARE flying with a pounce. HENARE no-sold it. HENARE responded rocking Ishii with a spin kick at the 20-minute mark. HENARE called for Rampage but Ishii blocked. The action broke down with everyone getting involved into the action. Ishii planted HENARE with a Dragon suplex. The crowd was going nuts at this point. HENARE went for a rising knee strike. Ishii intercepted HENARE with a Stack Powerbomb for a two count. Ishii rocked HENARE with a huge lariat but Cobb made the save. UE delivered a Launch Powerbomb combo to Ishii but Okada made the save. Ishii moved as O-Khan booted HENARE. There was another miscommunication spot as HENARE ducked as Tanahashi nailed Ishii with a palm strike just passed the 25-minute mark. HENARE delivered a Toa Bottom but Ishii kicked out for a great two count. HENARE called for Streets of Rage but Ishii broke free. We got more great action as Tanahashi delivered a slingblade to Cobb. Okada delivered a Spinning Tombstone to HENARE. Ishii delivered a running lariat but HENARE kicked out for a great two count. Ishii went for a Vertical Drop Brainbuster but lost his balance as they fell to the mat. Ishii and HENARE exchanged big strikes. HENARE caught Ishii with the Rampage tackle for another great two count. HENARE called for Streets of Rage but Ishii broke free. Ishii rocked HENARE with a launch head butt for a two count. Ishii delivered a sliding lariat but HENARA kicked out for another great two count. Ishii delivered a Vertical Drop Brainbuster to HENARE just past the 30-minute mark for the win. Amin’s Thoughts: This was an awesome action packed match. Just tremendous action from everyone involved as they worked a high calibre PPV match. This was a coming out party for HENARE who’s ready for a big single’s run in NJPW after the performance he had in this match. The near falls in the closing moments were just incredible as they could’ve done a title switch and put the belts on United Empire. I was glad to see the NJPW All-Star team win as the crowd just loved seeing Okada, Tanahashi and Ishii together. [****¾]
Overall Thoughts
The KOPW Title was the only match that really stand out for me. The rest of the show was filled with some great wrestling matches. The main event was excellent and it’s a match that’s worth a recommended watch. Overall, this was a very enjoyable show. You could see NJPW is trying to focus more on their younger stars with Narita, Tsuji, Umino and Uemura who all should all have the potential to become big stars for the company. You can also see how much the NJPW crowds still love seeing Okada, Tanahashi, Naito and Ishii perform. It would be a huge loss for NJPW if Okada leaves. Okada may not be champion. Okada still felt like the biggest star in the company.
