Welcome to Fightful.com's live coverage & discussion for NJPW's Wrestle Kingdom 15, Night One. We'll be bringing you full, fight by fight coverage of every match on the card. Follow us on Facebook! Facebook.com/FightfulOnline
The show starts with Kevin Kelly and Chris Charlton start the show by welcoming us to Wrestle Kingdom 15.
NJPW Rambo
Chase Owens and Tomohiro Ishii start the match with an exchange of a few strikes. Then a short time later, Minoru Suzuki music begins, and Owens leaves the ring. Suzuki gets in the ring, and he throws a punch at Ishii, and then they have a staredown. The fourth entrant is Yugi Nagata, and he gets in the ring and goes right after Suzuki with some strikes, and now the fifth entrant is Toa Henare, and he eliminates Nagata Suzuki when they are outside of the ropes, and he pushes them off. The sixth entrant is Hirooki Goto and the seventh being Yujiro Takahashi. Goto eliminates Henare with a spear. Takahashi and Owens double-team Ishii. Yoshi-Hashi is the eighth entrant, and soon he is followed by Togi Makabe, and he is the ninth entrant. Makabe eliminates Goto and Yoshi-Hashi. Tomoaki Honma is the tenth entrant, and Hiroyoshi Tenzan follows him being the eleventh entrant. Owens and Ishii are fighting on the apron.
Rocky Romero is the twelfth entrant, which surprises Kevin Kelly because he said Rocky was supposed to be doing commentary with him and Charlton. Douki is the thirteenth entrant; while Douki is making his entrance, Romero and Ishii team up and start double-teaming Douki. Douki is almost eliminated right away because he hit Rocky Romero with a steel pipe. The fourteenth entrant is Sho, at fifteen is Bushi, sixteen being Tiger Mask, and at seventeen Bad Luck Fale. Fale saves Chase Owens from being by Ishii, but in turn, Fale eliminates Ishii. The eighteenth entrant is The Young Lion Gabriel Kidd; while he is waiting to get in the ring, Honma is eliminated, and Rocky Romero is also eliminated. Fale eliminates Sho, and The nineteenth entrant is Yuya Uemura, followed by Yota Tsuji, who is twentieth. Fale has just eliminated Kidd, Tsuji, and Uemura almost immediately. Fale is not done, and he eliminates Tiger Mask.
The last competitor is Toru Yano, and he does not even have to get in the ring because the match is already over as the last four men will now move on to tomorrow night's show for the KOPW 2021 trophy.
Winners: Chase Owens, Bad Luck Fale, Toru Yano, and Bushi
- Before the main card begins, Kevin Kelly says they are dedicating the broadcast to Brodie Lee, and Chris Charlton and Rocky Romero join him.
El Phantasmo vs. Hiromu Takahashi
The bell rings to start the match, and El Phantasmo gets out of the ring and starts asking where Jushin "Thunder" Liger was. Hiromu takes advantage of El Phantasmo not paying attention does a top rope senton onto El Phantasmo. Now, he attempts to hit ELP with a sunset powerbomb, but ELP blocks it, and in return, El Phantasmo hits Takahashi with the sunset powerbomb. El Phantasmo now lands a Hiromu with a great moonsault on the outside of the ring. El Phantasmo is completely controlling the match, and El Phantasmo has Takahashi laying on the top rope, and ELP drops down on him.
ELP is now walking on the rope and flips onto Takahashi. Just a short time later, both men are up and exchanging strikes. El Phantasmo has Takahashi on the ropes, but El Phantasmo falls back on the referee "accidentally," and he takes advantage of the referee not being able to see his illegal strike on Takahashi. El Phantasmo hits the Styles Clash and goes for the pin, but Takahashi kicks out. El Phantasmo attempts to hit CR2 for the win, but Takahashi counters it and pins El Phantasmo.
Winner: Hiromu Takahashi
IWGP Tag-Team Championship
Dangerous Tekkers (Zack Sabre Jr & Taichi) vs. Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa)
The match begins with both teams striking each other, but Taichi gets the upper hand on Tama Tonga to start the match. Taichi is getting many strikes in on Tonga and is also putting different submission holds on Tonga. Taichi tags in Zack Sabre Jr., and Sabre Jr. are now in control of the match and doing the same thing Taichi was doing to Tonga. Tonga eventually gets some strikes in and gets away from Sabre Jr. and tags in Tanga Loa, and Sabre Jr. tagged in Taichi. Loa is in and has Taichi in the Guerrillas corner. Tonga is holding Taichi back, and Loa is just punishing Taichi. Loa tags in Tonga, and they are just destroying Taichi with strikes and chokeholds. Taichi gets away and tags Sabre Jr., Sabre Jr., after receiving the hot tag, is taking on both Tonga and Tanga with quick and heavy strikes.
Sabre Jr. slows things down when he has Tonga in a stretch hold, but Tonga gets to the ropes, and Sabre Jr. releases the hold. Meanwhile, Loa strikes Sabre Jr. from behind, allowing Tonga to get back in the ring and tag his partner Loa. Tanga Loa controls the match and punishes Sabre Jr.; however, Sabre Jr. reverses a hold and has Tanga in a rear-naked chokehold, but Tonga breaks it up. Guerillas of Destiny are trying to end the match and are going to try and super powerbomb Sabre Jr., but Tonga walks away, and Sabre Jr. now has Tanga in a hold on the ropes. Taichi takes down Tonga, and then he goes over to Sabre Jr., and Sabre Jr. has Taichi powerbomb him and Loa. Sabre Jr. goes for the pin, but Loa kicks out of it. Taichi and Sabre Jr. are completely controlling the match, but Tonga gets in and hits Sabre Jr. with the gun stun. Gedo interferes, and Tonga has the Iron Glove, and he hits Taichi with it. Loa pins Taichi, and we have new IWGP Tag-Team Champions.
Winner: Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa)
- After the match, we get a Jon Moxley promo, and he says he will be ready for whoever cashes in and wants to go after his IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship.
IWGP US Heavyweight Right to Challenge Contract
KENTA vs. Satoshi Kojima
The match begins with both men about to tie up, but instead, Kenta rolls outside of the ring. When he gets back in the ring, Satoshi Kojima controls the beginning of the match, and he has Kenta in a headlock for close to a minute. Kenta escapes, but Kojima hits Kenta with a shoulder, and he rolls outside of the ring. Kenta is now controlling the match against Kojima, and Kenta starts punishing Kojima with multiple kicks and strikes. Kojima is back in control and hits Kenta with about ten fast chops across Kenta's chest. Kenta is not phased, and he starts throwing punches at Kojima. Kenta and Kojima are in the corner, and Kenta lands a suplex on Kojima from the top turnbuckle. Now, Kenta is trying to hit a vertical suplex outside of the ropes but still on the apron. Kojima counters Kenta and hits a DDT on the apron. Kenta is back in the ring, and Kojima exchange strikes, but Kenta hits a DDT out of nowhere on Kojima. Kojima takes off his elbow pad, and he hits the ropes, but Kenta hits Kojima with a quick powerslam. Kenta rolls out of the ring and grabs the United States briefcase. Kenta attempts to hit Kojima with it, but Kojima knocks it out of his hands. Kenta and Kojima go back and forth, but Kenta ends it quickly when he hits his Go To Sleep finisher on Kojima. Kenta then goes for the pin and retains his briefcase.
Winner: Kenta
They take a short break to clean and disinfect the ring per NJPW's COVID-19 protocol.
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Great-O-Khan
The match begins with a tie-up, and then both me counter each other with their different holds. They are both are using various amounts of technical holds and moves. Great-O-Khan uses his strength and has the upper hand and strikes Hiroshi Tanahashi numerous times. They are now outside the ring, and Great-O-Khan is in total control; he throws Tanahashi right into the ring post. Tanahashi gets bodyslammed on the entrance ramp, and the referee begins the count, but Tanahashi makes it back in at nineteen. When Tanahashi gets back in the ring, Great-O-Khan strikes Tanahashi, and Tanahashi goes right down. Great-O-Khan puts Tanahashi in a kneebar submission hold, but Tanahashi gets to the ropes. Great-O-Khan goes for a big boot, but Takahashi counters it and goes right after Great-O-Khan's right leg. Tanahashi is in control with a series of forearm strikes, Tanahashi hits a flipping senton on Great-O-Khan, but it has little effect on Tanahashi. The match continues with both men exchanging a flurry of punches. The Great-O-Khan is controlling the match, and he attempts to toss Tanahashi over the ropes, but Tanahashi holds the ropes and does not go over. Takahashi has enough strength and hits the sling blade on Great-O-Khan and lands it. He goes for the pin, but Great-O-Khan kicks out. The Great-O-Khan has applied the claw onto Tanahashi and is trying to get him to submit. Tanahashi grabs the rope, but that doesn't stop Great-O-Khan, and he hits Tanahashi with a suplex. Tanahashi hits the dragon suplex, but Great-O-Khan kicks out. Tanahashi now goes to the corner and hits Great-O-Khan with two High Fly Flows and then ends it by pinning Great-O-Khan.
Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi
Will Ospreay w/Bea Priestly vs. Kazuchika Okada
Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada start with a stare down and then tie-up. Ospreay is the first to control the match when he punches Okada, but it does not last long, and now Okada is controlling the match, and it causes Ospreay to roll out of the ring. However, Okada goes after him, and he throws Ospreay into the barrier by the announcers and then tosses Ospreay into the ring. Ospreay rolls back out, and Okada does a big dive onto Ospreay outside the ring. The dive also ended up slowing down Okada, and Ospreay takes control because of it. Ospreay hits Okada with a neckbreaker outside of the ring. Ospreay now gets on the top rope and jumps down and knees Okada. Okada is struggling, and Ospreay is getting some kicks in on Okada, and after the kicks, he nails Okada with a backbreaker. Ospreay is punishing Okada, but Okada hits a big back body drop on Ospreay.
Okada now in control and hits Ospreay with a big forearm and follows it up with a flapjack. Ospreay recovers and hits Okada with a German suplex on Ospreay; however, Okada recovers and hits Ospreay with Heavy Rain, and again both men are down. Okada and Ospreay are now exchanging punches, and then they exchange forearms. Ospreay runs to the corner and is on the top turnbuckle, but Okada knocks him off the ring with a nasty dropkick. Ospreay and Okada are both outside the ring, and Okada throws Ospreay right into the guardrails. Okada gets Ospreay back in the ring and hits Ospreay with a top rope launch. Ospreay tries to hit Okada with the Stormbreaker. They now run the ropes, and Ospreay counters an Okada dropkick with a powerbomb, and he goes for the pin but only a two count. They are on the outside again, and Ospreay is on the announcer's table. He goes to grab Okada and attempts to do a suplex, but Okada escapes it. Okada comes back to Ospreay, but Ospreay kicks him and then hits a suplex onto the announcer's table. Ospreay brings Okada back to the ring, hits a violent powerbomb, and then goes for the pin, but Okada kicks out amazingly.
Ospreay is getting upset, and he is attempting to hit Okada with the OsCutter, but Okada reverses it into a tombstone. Okada gets Ospreay back in the ring and has Ospreay in the Money Clip. Bea Priestly gets on the top of the apron, and Okada pushes Ospreay into Priestly, and now he has Ospreay in the Money Clip again, but he gets to the rope. Okada is toying with Ospreay and punishes Ospreay, but Ospreay cannot do anything to hurt Okada. Ospreay gets a slap in here and there, but Okada comes back with an uppercut and then a hard chop. Okada goes to the top rope and nails Okada with a dropkick.
Ospreay goes for Oscutter again, but Okada catches him with Money Clip, but Ospreay gets out of it. Okada throws Ospreay back into the ropes, but this time, he hits Okada with the Oscutter. Okada is down, and Ospreay kicks him repeatedly, and the referee Red Shoes, tries to get him to stop him, and he pushes him down. Okada hits The Rainmaker on Ospreay and knocks him down, but just a short time later, Ospreay catches Okada and hits him with a Tombstone, and then the Rainmaker, Ospreay goes for the pin, but Okada kicks out at two. Okada is back up on his feet and hits one final Rainmaker on Ospreay. Okada then follows it up by pinning Ospreay.
Winner: Kazuchika Okada
Main Event
IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships
Tetsuya Naito vs. Kota Ibushi
Before the bell rings, Tetsuya Naito and Kota Ibushi stare each other down from opposite corners. Both competitors walk around the ring before they lock-up. Neither Naito nor Ibushi are getting the upper hand and are just countering each other's holds. They finally break it up, and they separate; the crowd claps in appreciation of their athleticism. They then lock-up, but Naito gets Ibushi in a headlock and holds it on for a good minute or so until Ibushi can get out of it. Naito is outside of the ring, and he hits Ibushi with a suplex; Ibushi lands on his head on the ramp in the entranceway. Ibushi makes it back to the ring, and shortly after, Ibushi is back in control of the match and hits a standing moonsault onto Naito.
Ibushi then goes for a German suplex but Naito counters and pushes Ibushi to the corner. Naito goes outside the ring ropes, but Ibushi hits Naito with a hard clothesline, and Naito lands on his head now. Naito now drops Ibushi on his head outside of the ring. Naito and Ibushi are back in the ring Ibushi lands the double stomp onto Naito. Ibushi and Naito are both up and exchanging strikes in the ring; Naito then hits Ibushi with numerous short elbows to the side of Okada's head. Naito goes for a quick pin but a kick-out at two. They now go to the corner, and Ibushi escapes Naito and hits Naito with a backflip kick. Naito rolls to the apron, and Ibushi follows him; Naito hits Ibushi with a backdrop on the apron.
Ibushi is back up and counters Naito with a Frankensteiner off of the side of the apron. Naito lands hard on the outside and is almost counted out at nineteen. Naito hits the Poisonrana on Ibushi. Naito hits a Destino on Ibushi and goes for the pin but only gets a two count. Ibushi knocks Naito with a huge lariat. Ibushi hits the Kamigoye on Naito, follows it up by trying to pin Naito but only a two count. Naito is up, and he hits Ibushi with an enzugiri. Ibushi hits another Destino and then gets Naito with another Kamigoye, and then he goes for the pin and gets the win. We have a new IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Champion.
Winner: Kota Ibushi
