REVIEW: NJPW WRESTLE KINGDOM 12

Monday, January 08, 2018 , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sorry for being so late (not that my opinion matters, but anyway), but had a really difficult time finishing the whole show and still wanted to talk about the show that for me is a highlight itself.
The first Wrestle Kingdom show I ever watched was WK 7, and since then I don't miss a single one. It's always one of the best shows of the year in my opinion, and it never disappoints. So let's make a quick review on the highlights and best matches of WK12.


NEVER Openweight Champion Minoru Suzuki vs. Hirooki Goto in a Hair vs. Hair & Title and No Seconds deathmatch for the NEVER Openweight Championship

This one is, for me, the highlight of the lower card of the show. These two kill it every time they are in the a wrestling ring. Minoru Suzuki and Pete Dunne are two examples of what a natural heel looks like. They don't act like one, they ARE one. And Suzuki is a pretty awesome one.

What made it even more special was the way the leader of Suzuki-gun handled the fact he had to shave his hair. Respectful like we have never seen him before, he went back to the ring and shaved his own hair, giving everyone a different side of himself. These are little details that make Japanese events and matches so special. What a war it was.

Winner: and new NEVER Openweight Champion Hirooki Goto


 IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion Marty Scurll vs. Will Ospreay vs. Hiromu Takahashi vs. KUSHIDA for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship

It has always been the same: there was only three things that were certain in life - death, taxes and Marty Scurll beats Will Ospreay. That was not the case here, even though it was not a singles match. Ospreay was superior in another great Junior Heavyweight division match. Every single one of these 4 individuals had their moments, ups and downs during the match, but at the end the British overcome the odds and became champion for the second time in his career.

Winner: and new IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay


IWGP United States Champion Kenny Omega vs. Chris Jericho for the IWGP United States Championship

The match the world was waiting for. The match no one thought they'd ever see. The hype was big, and it didn't disappoint. Two of the biggest superstars of their generations colliding, with a prestigious title on the line (WWE, you could learn a thing or two about how to book the Universal Championship by looking at the way the IWGP US Title was booked). Jericho was as nasty as they come, and Omega proved why everyone is right when they call him a "wrestling god". I loved every bit of this match, especially the part when they destroyed everything in the English commentary table, with Jericho attacking Redshoes and his son. Simply awesome.

Winner: and still IWGP United States Champion Kenny Omega


IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada vs. Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship

The match NJPW fans were waiting for. It had so much history behind it that the "main event" spot was deserving against a Omega/Jericho clash. On the one hand, Tetsuya Naito finally had the opportunity to be in the main event of WK and revenge what happened at Wrestle Kingdom 8, proving the people who said he couldn't connect with the fans and took his main event spot 4 years ago wrong. On the other hand, Kazuchika Okada furthered his legacy by once again main eventing WK, with an already historic IWGP Heavyweight Championship reign at 562 days (on January 4th), being the longest reigning IWGP Hvt. Champion of all time.

I read that the history behind Naito losing was his emotion by finally being in the main event made him weaker, and his constant attempt of hitting his old finishing move, the "Stardust Press", made him lose a bit of his "Tranquilo" side and brought back some of his past character that, as we all know, couldn't beat Okada at WK8 and couldn't be as great as he is today. It's a very good logic, and it makes sense. I would still go with him becoming champion and giving Okada the great title loss match, but everything is a long-term plan and I definitely see Naito becoming champion within the next year, without a doubt.

Winner: and still IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada.


So what did you think about Wrestle Kingdom? Did you enjoy? Use the #SWRWK to talk about it on social media, and make sure you don't miss a single NJPW event from now on, if this was your first one. See you tomorrow for DHH of RAW!


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