Welcome to the Fightful.com recap for this week's episode of New Japan Pro Wrestling on AXS TV! We have arrived! Starting tonight and for the next four weeks we will have arguably the best wrestling event in the industry this year; Wrestle Kingdom 10! Tonight we start off with a title match as Kenny Omega defends his IGWP Jr.Heavyweight title against KUSHIDA and IWGP Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura defends his title against The Phenomenal One; AJ Styles in a dream match! A word of warning, skip to the second half, watch Kenny and KUSHIDA then come back and watch Shinsuke and AJ because you will come away a lot happier, because no offense to Kenny; but he and KUSHIDA couldn't top Nakamura and Styles.
Kenny Omega vs KUSHIDA IGWP Jr.Heavyweight Championship Match
Ryusuke Taguchi comes out dressed like Doc Brown from Back to the Future as KUSHIDA comes out. Kenny comes down to the ring, talking, but you can't hear him because of the music, accompanied to the ring by The Young Bucks as we go to commercial.
Kenny takes an early advantage, tossing KUSHIDA into various corners then goes for a splash, but KUSHIDA gets out of the way and hits a dropkick that sends Kenny outside as Kenny sprays KUSHIDA with cold spray then KUSHIDA dropkicks him on the outside. KUSHIDA goes to kick Kenny on the apron, but Matt Jackson hits him with a trash can. Kenny hits a Green Bay Plunge then hits a moonsault off of the railing with a trash can; that was cool. Kenny hits a backbreaker that sends KUSHIDA outside as Nick and Matt Jackson play drums with the trash cans on the outside as Kenny hits a swanton over the top rope and takes out KUSHIDA. Kenny hits a facebuster for a quick 2 count then chokes him with his tape on his wrist. Kenny rolls it up and hits KUSHIDA with it then they exchange chops in the center of the ring. Kenny goes for a stalling suplex, but KUSHIDA counters and hits a pele kick. KUSHIDA follows up with a series of kicks and a springboard back elbow then a headscissors into the Hoverboard Lock, but Kenny gets to the ropes. KUSHIDA focuses on the left arm of Omega, but Kenny uses his right one to chop KUSHIDA. They run the ropes and KUSHIDA hits him in the top of the head with a flipping kick then takes Kenny out on the outside with a swanton. KUSHIDA hits a moonsault for a quick 2 count and immediately transitions to an armbar, Kenny countering with a release german suplex as we go to commercial.
Kenny is really selling his left arm as he puts KUSHIDA up on the top rope, but KUSHIDA tries to go for the Hoverboard Lock on the top rope, KUSHIDA deciding to land a flapjack off the top rope. Kenny hits a spinning back kick then a jumping knee, but KUSHIDA drops Kenny with a stiff right hand. KUSHIDA goes for a corkscrew moonsault, but catches nothing but the mat. Kenny slaps his arm, seemingly angry at it. Kenny goes for the One Winged Angel, but turns it into a german suplex when KUSHIDA counters then KUSHIDA immediately transitions to the Hoverboard Lock as Nick Jackson tries to drag Kenny to the ropes. Ryusuke Doc Taguchi hits the Bucks with a trash can, Kenny going for the One Winged Angel again, but KUSHIDA counters. Kenny hits another high knee and hits a one arm sitout powerbomb for a very close 2 count. Kenny drops KUSHIDA with another jumping knee then hits another as KUSHIDA is hung on the second rope. Kenny hits the One Winged Angel, but KUSHIDA rolls him up for the pin and the win. Great match, this was the lowest point for Kenny this year, but it gave him the freedom to join the Heavyweight division and was the start of his meteoric rise. This match started it all for Kenny.
Winner: KUSHIDA via pinfall
Shinsuke Nakamura vs AJ Styles IWGP Intercontinental Championship Match
Very interestingly we open with JR and Josh talking about how Shinsuke and AJ are set to be leaving New Japan for WWE soon and how they have never faced each other before.
They lock up to start the match, AJ getting a side headlock, but Shinsuke gets out of it, only for AJ to do it again. Shinsuke gets out and AJ tries to backslide, but Shinsuke counters then AJ teases the Styles Clash, but Shinsuke gets out of it immediately. They lock up again for a clean break, Shinsuke telling AJ to come get some then AJ shoots him, but Shinsuke catches the bullet and eats it; amazing. AJ follows up with a beautifully perfect dropkick then they exchange forearms in the center of the ring. Shinsuke goes for a sleeper then hits a backbreaker on AJ who has started to sell his legit back injury; doing so all throughout this match, part of the reason why the storytelling is so good. Shinsuke hits AJ with a series of kicks and drops him with a step up enzugiri. Shinsuke hits his signature foot tremble in the corner then hits a facebuster. Shinsuke goes for the Bomaye, but AJ counters then Shinsuke sets AJ on the ropes, hitting his signature double knees, this time into the back of AJ for a quick 2 count. Shinsuke goes for it again, but AJ counters and hits what is now his finisher in WWE; The springboard forearm. They get up to their knees then their feet, exchanging forearms, AJ hitting a facebuster for a close 2 count. They get up again then exchange strikes, AJ getting a pele, but Shinsuke hits a running knee for a quick 2 count as we go to commercial.
Shinsuke is in control as we come back, picking AJ up in a fireman's carry, but AJ gets the backslide, following it up with a knee of his own then a 450 splash for a very close 2 count. AJ goes for bloody sunday, but Shinsuke counters with a flying armbar, transitioning to a triangle choke, but AJ counters with a one arm improvised Styles Clash for a very very close 2 count; he didn't get all of it. AJ hits bloody sunday again then drops Shinsuke with a stomp to the back of the head. AJ teases the Styles Clash, but goes up top instead. Shinsuke kicks AJ then hits an avalanche landslide off the top rope for a quick 2 count. Shinsuke hits AJ with a knee strike to the back of the head, setting him up for the Bomaye, which he hits and gets the pin and the win. This match was an amazing sendoff for both of these men, easy five stars.
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura via pinfall with the Bomaye
-After the match they touch fists before AJ is taken backstage. Shinsuke thanks the crowd, them having no idea that this would be his last match in Japan for at least a few years. This was certainly a great way to go out on top. This match was amazing, but what is arguably the match of the year is coming up soon; the final match in the storied rivalry of Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada in the main event!
