Welcome to the first of many episodes of New Japan Pro Wrestling on AXS TV that will be covered in the weeks ahead. I'm Ryan Cook and I'll be going over all of tonight's episode as we go back to September 23rd 2015 at the Multipurpose Grounds in Okayama, Japan for what is better known as the annual event, Destruction in Okayama.
On tonight's episode The Bullet Club's Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows try to defend their IWGP Tag Team titles for the first time against the always dangerous Tencozy; Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima. Togi Makabe defends his NEVER Openweight title against the rising star that is Kota Ibushi and KUSHIDA defends his IWGP Jr Heavyweight title against the crazy, charismatic cartoon character come to life; Kenny Omega!
IWGP Tag Team Title Match
Anderson & Gallows vs Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima
Gallows and Tenzan start off the match with Gallows taking control early only to have Tenzan recover with his trademark windmill chops. Tenzan goes for the anaconda vice that Doc gets out of twice then tags in Anderson. Karl mocks Tenzan by using his own chop on him, only to be countered with a back body drop that gives Tenzan enough time to tag in Kojima. Kojima immediately drags Anderson to the corner and does his own signature move, machine gun chops where he rapidly chops his opponent's chest, perfect against someone who's nickname is Machine Gun Karl Anderson.
Kojima is in control as he lands an elbow drop for a 2 count, but Anderson counters with a dropkick then he and Gallows double team Kojima for a 2 count. Anderson and Gallows go for the Magic Killer, but Tenzan breaks it up. Anderson goes for the Stun Gun, but Kojima counters into his version of a cutter. JR brings up all the different versions of the cutter from the Stone Cold Stunner to the Diamond Cutter to Kojima's own version, the Kojima Cutter.
Tencozy lands the Ten-Koji Cutter and go for the pin, but it is immediately broken up by Gallows. They go for it again on Gallows only to get an uppercut and a big boot for their troubles. Kojima rallies back though and knocks Gallows down with a stiff lariat. Kojima hits a brainbuster on Anderson for a 2 count and knocks him down with a lariat right after. Anderson hits the Stun Gun on Kojima, but Tenzan is in before he can go for the pin. Doc comes in with Kojima and they hit the Magic Killer on Kojima for the 3 count and the win.
Winner: Gallows & Anderson via pinfall with the Magic Killer
-There's a post match segment backstage where Anderson & Gallows share a drink and Gallows shows off his over the top personality on the mic.
IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title Match
KUSHIDA vs Kenny Omega
Omega starts the match by offering KUSHIDA a handshake which he reluctantly accepts. KUSHIDA starts off by grounding Omega, showing off his impressive grappling skills, even spinning around on top of Omega at one point. They show Matt Sydal at ring side as KUSHIDA hits a springboard reverse elbow that sends Omega to the outside. KUSHIDA dives onto Omega, but is caught Omega hits a rolling fireman's carry slam on the outside only to stand on the security railing and do a moonsault with a trashcan. Kenny Omega really likes to give the fans his own unique brand of strong style wrestling.
Omega accidentally takes out Doc Gallows who is at ringside which gives KUSHIDA enough time to take control of Omega, hitting a moonsault for a 2 count. KUSHIDA goes for the Hoverboard Lock and transitions to an armbar that Omega rolls through into a gutwrench powerbomb for a 2 count. KUSHIDA hits a springboard reverse elbow on Omega, but they hit the referee which causes Gallows, The Young Bucks and even KUSHIDA's tag team partner Alex Shelley to make an appearance before Omega goes for the One-Winged Angel which KUSHIDA counters.Karl Anderson then comes out of nowhere and hits the Stun Gun allowing Omega to hit the One-Winged Angel for the win.
Winner: Kenny Omega via pinfall with the One-Winged Angel
-Backstage after the match KUSHIDA says Omega should be ashamed for having the Bullet Club interfere and questions how Kenny could be satisfied winning like that.
NEVER Openweight Title Match
Togi Makabe vs Kota Ibushi
The match starts off with Makabe and Ibushi immediately exchange forearms to the face to start the match, ending the sequence with a beautiful dropkick by Kota. They make their way outside where Makabe takes control, using his strength to throw Ibushi into multiple security railings. Ibushi gets back into the ring, but Makabe is right on him, hammering him repeatedly with right hands. Makabe has slowed the faster Ibushi to a crawl, the veteran Makabe doing his best to keep him grounded. Makabe goes for a 2 count then goes for a single leg Boston Crab, but cannot get the tap.
Ibushi finally manages to get in some offense after being behind seemingly the entire match with a dropkick then a roundhouse kick that drops Makabe into a standing moonsault for a 2 count, really showing off his athleticism and versatility. Makabe recovers with a powerslam then lands the King Kong Powerbomb, but only gets a 2 count. Ibushi hits a frankensteiner off the top rope for a 2 count and after Makabe counters an attempted German suplex, Ibushi takes him down with a stiff lariat.
ibushi goes for Makabe who has rolled to the outside, but is immediately grabbed and thrown into the railing; you would think Kota would have learned by now. Makabe grabs a table from ringside and sets it up, attempting to powerbomb Ibushi through it, but he's countered with a stiff kick to the side of the head. Ibushi then hits a huricanrrana off the security railing then a front dropkick that sends Makabe crashing into the railing. Ibushi immediately capitalizes by setting Makabe up on the table then does a diving double foot stomp into Makabe from the top rope to the other side of the security railing; no wonder people have such high praise for Kota Ibushi in 2016. Those tiny Japanese tables are tough as can be as it didn't even crack it, much less break it.
Ibushi and Makabe make it back into the ring before the 20 count with Ibushi landing a series of strikes to set Makabe up for the Golden Star Bomb that to the surprise of the crowd and Ibushi only gets him a 2 count. Ibushi goes up top, but Makabe catches him, reversing a suplex off the top rope into a bridging German suplex for a close 2 count. Ibushi goes up one more time and hits nothing, but canvas with a 450 splash that Makabe rolls out of the way of. They exchange lariats in the center of the ring, both men looking absolutely exhausted at this point. Next they exchange forearms to the face then slaps to the chest, but Makabe gains the upper hand with a lariat that turns Ibushi inside out, somehow only managing to get a 2 count out of it. Makabe sets Ibushi up on the top rope for a suplex, but Ibushi counters. Makabe undeterred turns it into a full nelson spider suplex then hits the King Kong Knee Drop off the top rope for the win.
Winner: Togi Makabe via pinfall with the King Kong Knee Drop
-Tomohiro Ishii confronts Makabe after the match, but doesn't stick around for long. Makabe gets on the mic and says that if course he'll take the challenge. Backstage he says that Ibushi has excellent skills and is one of the top wrestlers in the world, but he still has a lot to learn.
What a great night of matches, especially our main event, it was a clear indication as to why so many people are so high on Kota Ibushi. Be sure to come back next week for another episode of New Japan Pro Wrestling on AXS TV that is sure to amaze as Shinsuke Nakamura faces Hirooki Goto for his IWGP Intercontinental title!
