NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 Day 2 Live Results
Follow all the action from the Tokyo Dome...
Jan 5, 2021
Good morning, and welcome to Cultaholic Wrestling's live results for day two of Wrestle Kingdom 15. The main card is scheduled to begin at 8 am GMT and fans can watch the show on NJPW World or pay-per-view with FITE TV.
After an eventful January 4, New Japan Pro-Wrestling will round out the annual Tokyo Dome show with Kota Ibushi's first defence of the IWGP Heavyweight & IWGP Intercontinental Double Championship against Jay White. Stardom will also return to the Tokyo Dome with two dark matches ahead of the main card.
Check out the full card for day two below: • AZM, Saya Kamitani & Utami Hayashishita vs. Natsupoi, Himeka & Maika - Stardom dark match• Tam Nakano & Mayu Iwatani vs. Syuri & Giulia - Stardom dark match • Toru Yano vs. BUSHI vs. Bad Luck Fale vs. Chase Owens - Four-Way Match for the KOPW 2021 Trophy• Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado (c) vs. Master Wato & Ryusuke Taguchi - IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship • Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Jeff Cobb - NEVER Openweight Championship• SANADA vs. EVIL • Taiji Ishimori (c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi - IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship• Kota Ibushi (c) vs. Jay White - IWGP Heavyweight & IWGP Intercontinental Double Championship
Toru Yano def. Bad Luck Fale, Chase Owens & BUSHI - KOPW 2021 Trophy
Ahead of the match, Chase Owens told Kevin Kelly he and Bad Luck Fale had a plan.
Once the match did begin, BUSHI and Toru Yano refused to get in the ring, but they soon charged in to break up a pin after Fale and Owens recreated the infamous Fingerpoke Of Doom.
It didn't take long for a turnbuckle to become exposed and Chase Owens used it to attack Toru Yano. The two Bullet Club members then worked together to beat down Yano after they knocked BUSHI to the outside.
BUSHI and Toru Yano eventually recovered and all four men took turns getting in some offence.
Drama between Fale and Owens materialised soon after. Both men hit BUSHI with the Grenade Launcher and Owens went for the cover. This didn't sit well with Fale, though, and he pulled his stablemate off and tried to go for his own pin, which was then broken up by Chase.
The Bullet Club members bickered for a couple of seconds and tried to Double Chokeslam the official. Toru Yano snuck into the ring and Low Blowed them both while the referee was suspended in the air. The Sublime Master Thief then pinned BUSHI to win the KOPW 2021 Trophy.
Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado def. Master Wato & Ryusuke Taguchi - IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
There was much intrigue heading into the match around if Suzuki-gun would retain, particularly as many believe El Desperado deserves to be in the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title picture following his match with Hiromu Takahashi in the BOSJ 27 final.
It didn't take long for some high flying action as Master Wato hit Kanemaru with a Corkscrew Moonsault to the outside. Comedy emerged moments later as Ryusuke Taguchi ran the ropes while ordering El Desperado to join him. Despy looked at Taguchi in disgust and Suzuki-gun proceeded to take control of the match after Despy used a chair on The Funky Weapon when the official wasn't looking.
The babyfaces eventually fought back after Master Wato caught Kanemaru with a Springboard European Uppercut. Kanemaru regained control, though, by using the referee to block Wato's offence. A rough night for this official so far.
Both Wato and Kanemaru tagged out, leaving El Desperado and Taguchi to fight. After another comedy spot, Taguchi followed up with Three Amigos and a Reverse Powerslam. He then set up for the Bomaye but Kanemaru blocked it.
Later, Taguchi finally connected with the Bomaye but Despy kicked out. Kanemaru tried to hit Taguchi with the whisky bottle. The Funky Weapon ducked and tossed him out of the ring.
The Heel Master's actions distracted the official, though, which allowed Despy to deck Taguchi with a closed fist and follow up with the Pinche Loco for the 1-2-3.
Shingo Takagi def. Jeff Cobb - NEVER Openweight Championship
The storyline heading into the match centred around the fact Shingo Takagi had never defeated Jeff Cobb.
The fans were up for the match, applauding the performers before they even locked up.
Both men quickly started exchanging Forearms while the crowd clapped along. Takagi tried to knock Cobb down with a Shoulder Tackle and managed to succeed after a Hip Toss. Cobb powered out of Shingo's cover, though, and sent the NEVER Openweight Champion crashing to the mat with a Dropkick.
The action moved to the outside soon after and Cobb hit Takagi with a Belly To Belly Suplex. The Hawaiian Hulk controlled the match for the next several minutes inside and outside of the ring. The Dragon tried to fight back but kept selling his back.
Cobb went for a Crucifix Powerbomb from the apron to the floor. Takagi managed to escape and caught his opponent with a Rolling Senton to the outside.
Both men took turns getting some offence in and Cobb eventually connected with a Black Tiger Bomb for a near fall. Shingo fought back with a Death Valley Driver, Superplex and Wheelbarrow Suplex. His injured back prevented him from making the cover, though.
Both men exchanged Forearms, Kicks, Punches and Clotheslines and Takagi won the battle with a Clothesline. He was knocked to the floor following the move, however, and only got back in the ring at 19.
Cobb went for Tour Of The Islands but Takagi escaped and targeted the former Lucha Underground star's leg. Shingo followed up with Made In Japan for a near fall.
Cobb hit Takagi with a German Suplex and Tour Of The Islands. The Empire member sold his knee, however, and took at least 10 seconds to make the cover. This gave Shingo time to recover and kick out at two.
Cobb tried to follow up with a Tour Of The Islands from the top rope but Shingo escaped and connected with a Powerbomb. This didn't deter Cobb and he went for the finisher again, only for Takagi to escape again.
The champion and the challenger continued to fight back and forth and Takagi eventually hit Last Of The Dragon for the victory.
SANADA def. EVIL
The expectation is the winner of this match will face either Kota Ibushi or Jay White for the IWGP Heavyweight & IWGP Intercontinental Double Championship at one of the New Beginning shows.
The action started out slowly but quickly hastened as SANADA went for Everything Is SANADA and embarrassed EVIL by trapping him in the Paradise Lock.
EVIL took control soon after by placing a chair around SANADA's neck and using another chair to drill his former tag team partner in the face. EVIL then threw SANADA into the apron which caused the timekeeper to fall out of his chair. Dick Togo took advantage and smashed SANADA with a chair while the official wasn't looking.
The LIJ member fought back with a Plancha to EVIL and another to Togo. Both EVIL and SANADA exchanged momentum for the next several minutes and tried to put each other through a table at ringside.
EVIL connected with a Superplex and locked in the Darkness Scorpion. SANADA managed to make it to the ropes but EVIL pressed home his advantage with Darkness Falls - the set up for Everything Is EVIL. The former Double Champion went for his finisher but SANADA countered, fired his opponent into the exposed turnbuckle and hit a Belly To Back Suplex.
He followed up with a TKO for a near fall and tried to hit his patented Moonsault, but EVIL rolled out of the way. SANADA tweaked his knee on the landing and EVIL swung his opponent's leg into the referee, knocking the official down. Dick Togo then entered the ring and he and EVIL hit Magic Killer on SANADA.
The Spoiler set up for the Diving Senton, SANADA countered and knocked him to the floor. SANADA then turned to his attention back to EVIL and locked in Skull End. EVIL got out of the submission and SANADA connected with one Moonsault but the Bullet Club member got his knees up during the second attempt.
After a brief grapple, EVIL grabbed the official which gave Dick Togo the chance to wrap a garrote around SANADA's neck. The LIJ member used his strength to break free, though, and Togo went crashing through a table moments later.
EVIL had to fight on alone and tried to hit Everything Is EVIL. SANADA blocked the move and a Low Blow attempt and followed up with Everything Is SANADA, a Pop-Up TKO and a Moonsault for the 1-2-3.
Hiromu Takahashi def. Taiji Ishimori - IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
In a call-back to last night, Takahashi went for a Sunset Bomb, Ishimori countered but Hiromu stopped him from getting back in the ring with a Powerbomb on the apron. The Time Bomb then walked to the top of the ramp and ran all the way down for a Super Shotgun Dropkick. Ishimori blocked the move, though, and followed up with a Corkscrew Moonsault to the outside.
The Bone Soldier dominated the match for the next few minutes, throwing Takahashi into the exposed turnbuckle and targeting his injured hand. The BOSJ 27 winner fought back with a Shotgun Dropkick into the railing and a Falcon Arrow back in the ring for a near fall.
Ishimori went straight after the arm soon after, hitting a Springboard 450 Splash on the limb while it was draped on the bottom rope. The champion then locked in the Yes Lock but Hiromu made it to the ropes.
Both men exchanged offence for the next few minutes, using Hurricanranas, Death Valley Drivers and a Canadian Destroyer to good effect. The champion and challenger then exchanged Forearms in the centre of the ring, with each strike echoing around the Tokyo Dome. Takahashi won the battle but Ishimori quickly got back to his feet and repeatedly smashed Hiromu with Forearms to the face.
After approximately 20 Forearms, Ishimori changed up his offence and targeted Hiromu's shoulder by throwing him into the ring post and following up with a Shoulderbreaker. He then locked in the Yes Lock and transitioned into a Double-Arm Lock. Takahashi refused to give up, however, and made it to the ropes.
Takahashi hit Victory Royal soon after for a near fall. He followed up with a Death Valley Driver into the exposed turnbuckle and delivered Time Bomb for a two count.
He went for Time Bomb 2 - Ishimori eventually countered into the Bone Lock, applying pressure on the injured shoulder. Ishimori then went for Bloody Cross but Hiromu reversed into a Corkscrew Victory Royal. He then picked up the champion and connected with Time Bomb 2 for the victory.
Hiromu Takahashi is your new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion.
Kota Ibushi def. Jay White - IWGP Heavyweight & IWGP Intercontinental Double Championship
Jay White had repeatedly got the better of Kota Ibushi in their previous encounters, defeating The Golden Star at Wrestle Kingdom 14, during the G1 Climax 30 and at Power Struggle. The question heading into the main event was could Ibushi overcome arguably his greatest challenge and leave the Tokyo Dome as God?
The match started slowly as interference from Gedo allowed Jay White to dominate the opening stages. Ibushi tried to fight back but Switchblade quickly regained control and methodically wore down Ibushi for the next several minutes by targeting the champion's ribs and legs.
Ibushi hit his first big move 20 minutes into the match and connected with the Bastard Driver. He tried to follow up with a Bomaye but Jay White reversed into a Belly To Back Suplex and followed up with a Ura-nage for a near fall. Switchblade next hit a Kiwi Crusher for another two count and tried to connect with Blade Runner but Ibushi rolled out of it and hit the Bomaye for his own near fall.
The two men called back to their Power Struggle match as Jay White trapped Ibushi in a Backslide and placed his feet on the top rope. White had the match won, but Red Shoes spotted the cheating this time around and stopped counting the pin.
White proceeded to target the legs once again and wore Ibushi down with submissions. He then kicked Ibushi in the head but The Golden Star just stared at the challenger while taking the Strikes and unleashed "Murder" Ibushi.
The champion laid in repeated Kicks and Strikes while White cowered in the corner. White tried to fight back but "Murder" Ibushi repeatedly flattened him with Forearms.
Gedo begged White not to fight this Ibushi head-on and Switchblade just lay down and asked Ibushi to pin him. The Golden Star refused to do so and Slapped, Kicked and Punched White while he lay on the mat. The champion let his anger get the better of him, though, as he pushed away Red Shoes and White took advantage with a Low Blow.
White immediately went back on the attack and beat down Ibushi with Forearms on the ramp. The Bullet Club member then got back in the ring and begged Ibushi to crawl back inside the squared circle.
The challenger hit two Deadlift German Suplexes and went for a third on the apron but Kota escaped and hit his own Deadlift German Suplex from the middle rope back into the ring.
"Murder" Ibushi followed up with a Sit-Out Powerbomb for a near fall. Ibushi then set up for the Kamigoye but White countered into a Sleeper Suplex. White hit a Regal-Plex for another two count.
Ibushi reversed a Backslide into a Kamigoye once they were back on their feet but White somehow kicked out. Ibushi then connected with a Phoenix Splash and the match continued after Gedo pulled Red Shoes from the ring.
Gedo tried to hit the champion with brass knuckles, Ibushi blocked it and drilled him with the Kamigoye.
Ibushi dragged Red Shoes back into the ring, which gave White time to recover and connect with the Blade Runner. It looked like it was all over but the champion just managed to shrug his shoulder from the mat before the count of three.
Both men looked exhausted and could barely get to their feet. They eventually managed and White locked in the ITO. White screamed for Ibushi to "give up!" but the champion made it to the bottom rope.
White landed another Regal-Plex for another two count and followed up with Bloody Sunday. He picked Ibushi up for Blade Runner, but the champion escaped and hit a Running Knee.
Both men countered the other's finisher. Ibushi then hit a Reverse Kamigoye and a third Kamigoye with an exposed knee to win the match after 48 minutes and 5 seconds.
After the bell, SANADA challenged Ibushi to a match for the titles. Ibushi accepted and said they would fight at some point in the future.