Kota Ibushi vs. Tetsuya Naito
https://twitter.com/njpwworld/status/1025905475068428288
Kota Ibushi pinned Tetsuya Naito in the main event. While this match didn’t reach the sheer heights that Omega-Ishii did, considering the act they had to follow, Naito and Ibushi put on one hell of a main event.
The star of this match was the crowd. As commentary pointed out: Osaka was the first city to really turn on Naito during his initial main-event babyface run (think Roman Reigns in Philadelphia after Royal Rumble 2015). It played a part in his downfall and eventual heel turn. While Naito is more or less a total fan-favorite, he has made it his mission to never let Osaka forget that the hate is mutual.
Thus, Naito was a total heel in this match, brutally assaulting Ibushi and playing up his sneering contempt for Osaka. For his part, Ibushi seemed determined to break Naito’s neck (as well as his own, because this is Ibushi) in a flurry of dazzling, dangerous spots.
The crowd were completely into everything. Even though they had just sat through Omega-Ishii, they gave the loudest reception to this main event. They hated Naito, and wanted the pure-hearted Ibushi to come out the victor. Thankfully, they got their wish, as Ibushi hit his knee strike for the clean three.
The B Block is still a three-way race between Omega, Ibushi, and Naito. With two matches left, Omega still controls his destiny at 12 points, while Ibushi has climbed his way to 10. Naito also has 10, but Kenny and Kota both hold tiebreaking wins over him. Needless to say, Naito is gonna need help from both of them, and when it comes to the final day of B Block action at the Budokan, all eyes will be on Omega-Ibushi (as if they wouldn’t be already).
The next round A Block action takes place August 5 again in Osaka. The main event is Kazuchika Okada vs. EVIL.
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6 years ago by Wrestle Talk
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