New Japan Pro Wrestling Dontaku Night 2 Results 5/04

It’s the second and final night of Pro Wrestling Dontaku, which caps off a several week tour. The main event will be Kazuchika Okada making the first title defense of his fifth reign against SANADA.

Shota Umino & Ren Narita b. Yua Uemera & Yota Tsuji when Umino pinned Tsuji with a Fisherman Suplex – The story of the Young Lions all through this tour has been Tsuji and Uemera proving their worth. Uemera got cut off and worked over for the first few minutes, then he managed to escape and tag Tsuji. Narita broke Tsuji’s Boston Crab on Umino, who hit the Fisherman Suplex on Tsuji for the win.

After the match, Umino left the ring. Narita attacked Uemera and stomped on him. Looks like a heel turn might be in the near future.

Suzuki-Gun (Minoru Suzuki, NEVER Openweight Champion Taichi, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, El Desperado, & Taka Michinoku) b. Ryusuke Taguchi, Tiger Mask IV, YOSHI-HASHI, Jeff Cobb, & Toa Henare when Taichi pinned Henare with a superkick – For once, the heels did NOT attack before the bell. A day to mark the calendar. The babyfaces got the upper hand early, and Taguchi did his usual coaching to direct them to corner splash Taka. This time though, Hashi stood on the second rope to use his own butt as a turnbuckle. Still, the plan backfired and the heels took control of the match by taking the match to the floor. By the time everything got back in the ring, Hashi was at the mercy of Suzuki-Gun. Cobb got the hot tag and ran wild. He hit a Double Back Suplex, and squared off against Taichi. Henare tagged in, but got cut off. A multi-man brawl broke out, and Henare hit a spear on Taichi for a near fall. However, Taichi responded with a superkick on henare, and pinned him while the other babyfaces were held at bay.

Jushin Thunder Liger, Togi Makabe, & Toru Yano b. IWGP Heavyweight Tag Champions and ROH World Tag Team Champions The Guerrillas Of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) & Jado of Bullet Club when Yano pinned Jado with a roll-up– The babyfaces got shine out of the gate, but naturally the heels took over whent he action went to the outside. They got the heat on Liger, with Makabe getting the hot tag. he ran wild until a double down against Loa. Yano tagged in and removed a turnbuckle pad (socking behavior, no doubt). Loa took the opportunity to tag in Jado. While the referee was distracted, Jado attacked with his shinai. Makabe blocked the attack, and knocked GOD out of the ring. Yano low-blowed Jado and rolled him up for the pin.

IWGP US Champion Juice Robinson, Hirooki Goto, & Mikey Nicholls b. Bullet Club (Jay White, Bad Luck Fale, & Chase Owens w/Gedo) when Robinson pinned Hikuleo with Pulp Friction – Owens attacked Goto from behind while he was demanding White face him. The Goto managed to still get Owens into their corner and gain momentum. Owens managed to tag out when Honma missed a Kokeshi Headbutt. The heels took over and beat down Honma. Goto got the tag and ran wild. The babyfaces rallied behind Juice when he he got the tag, which allowed Juice to hit Hikuleo with a Pulp Friction to pin Hikuleo.

While Juice celebrated the lights went out, and a cryptic video aired depicting a man in a black jacket an jeans with a knife. The message read “Time’s Up 6/05”.

Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo of Bullet Club IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Dragon Lee & Will Ospreay when Phantasmo pinned Ospreay with a Pedigree – Presumably this was meant to be a showcase for the debuting Phantasmo. Both teams shoved each other, and the match started out hot. A lot of exciting back and forth action, including an AMAZING moonsault by Phantasmo of the top rope to the outside. Ospreay tried an Oscutter, but countered with a superkick. He then followed up with an airplane spin neckbreaker. Finally, he hit a gut wrench Pedigree on Ospreay to pin him.

Kota Ibushi & Roppongi 3K (Sho & Yoh) b. Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito, BUSHI, & Shingo Takagi) when Naito pinned Yoh with Destino – Another very fast paced match. The heels cut of show with triple teaming and got the heat on him. Ibushi got the hot tag and cleared the ring. He and Tagaki battled with dueling strikes. Takagi hit a DVD and tagged Naito. Ibushi kicked out of Gloria, and tagged Yoh, who made a comeback. Once again, LIJ triple teamed. This time, Naito was able to hit Destino an get the win.

After the match, Naitotook the mic and finally issued his challenge to Ibushi for Dominion. Ibushi of course accepted.

The lights dimmed again, and Hiroshi Tanahashi made his return (He had been off this tour due to injury. He cut a promo about how this time last year he also was out with an injury, And how last year he went on to win the G1. He climbed to the top of the mountain, but now he’s down on the ground. But he will rise to the top again, as he got the cast removed yesterday. He then said that he will be at the Best Of Super Juniors final on June 5th. Jay White and Gedo came to the ring. White said he was next n line for a title shot, not Tanahashi. Tanahashi should get in long line behind Goto. Gedo then distracted Tanahshi and White jumped him from behind. He placed Tanahashi’s arm in a chair to pillmanizae Tanahahi. Fortunately the ring crew made the save.

It was refreshing to see a babyface getting saved before getting beat down. Though it was a little different to see two strain promos on a New japan show. Usually there is only one promo cut during a show, and even then it’s after the main event.

A video packaged recapped the history between Ishii and EVIL. The announcers explained that Evil had been using the Sasori-Gatame/Scorpion Deathlock/Sharpshooter because it was Riki Choshu’s invention, and Choshu was Ishii’s mentor.

Tomohiro Ishii p. EVIL with a brainbuster – As expected, these two immediately started charging into each other and trading dueling strikes. While it was Evil that staggered first, it was Ishii who was finally knocked off his feet. Evil wasted no time taking the fight to the floor. After knocking Ishii around on the floor, Evil put the fight back in the ring and tried for the Deathlock. Ishii escaped and started his comeback. A superplex by Ishii for a two count. The match again went to the outside, with Evil hitting an Elevated DDT on the floor. After that, Evil did his “chair around the neck” chairshot. Now it was Evil’s turn to hit a superplex. Again, Evil used the Deathlock, but this time Ishii made it to the ropes. After exchanging a few clotheslines, Ishii leveled Evil and applied his own Scorpion Deathlock. Evil made it to the ropes and broke the hold. Ishii hit a sliding lariat for another two count. Evil blocked a brainbuster and hit a German Suplex. Ishii popped right up and hit another lariat. Evil decked Ishii with a headbutt and another lariat. Ishii escaped Everything Is Evil and hit his own German Suplex. Both men popped up, with Ishii erupting with another lariat. Evil kicked out at one. Both men returned to trading strikes. Ishii got another near fall with a lariat, then finally hit a brainbuster for the pin. Now THAT was a hossfight!

Another video package aired showcasing the past few months, with Okada winning the New Japan Cup by defeating SANADA in the finals, then winning his fifth IWGP Title from Jay White. Okada followed through on his promise to grant Sanada a title shot when he returned as the champion.

Sanada came to the ring in new gear and a new skull mask. When he removed the mask, he also had a new hairdo as well. Kevin Kelly noted that each of their previous five matches has gotten longer in length, which would imply Okada finding him increasingly harder to beat.

IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada p. SANADA with a Rainmaker to retain the title – A very slow start to the match, with both men on the mat. It picked up after the match went to the floor. The two exchanged several reversals and roll-ups when the match got back into the ring. Okada hit a dropkick and a Tombstone Piledriver, but when he went for the Rainmaker, Sanada reversed into a Skull End. Okada dodged the Moonsault. Again Sanada went for the Skull End. This time when he went for the Moonsault, Okada blocked with his knees. The two erupted into an exchange of moves as Kevin Kelly reminded us that this match was now longer than their New Japan Cup final. They exchanged backflips attempting to use the Skull End, and they both exchanged attempts at Tombstone Piledrivers. Then they went for Rainmakers, with Sanada being the one finally connecting. Okada kicked out of the Rainmaker. Sanada tried another Skull End, which Okada finally reversed into a Spinning Piledriver. A Rainmaker later, and Okada retained the title. A great match. Maybe not MOTYC, but a great match. It’s definitely a longterm story being told with Okada having an increasingly more difficult time beating Sanada. A logical next step would be Sanada finally beating Okada during the G1.

After the match, Okada offered a handshake. Sanada briefly accepted, and turned it into a fistbump. Okada posed with a “WINNER!” sign, and began his promo. The lights darkened again, and another pre-recorded video aired. This time it was CHRIS JERICHO, who vowed to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Dominion. With the exception of calling himself The Painmaker, he did not mention Okada by name. A nice subtle touch that it would have aired regardless of who won.

The last two matches were great, and an awesome cap off to a show that otherwise would have felt above average.

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