Power Struggle 2018: Jericho overcomes Evil, Roppongi 3K wins tag tourney

Y2J faced and defeated a great Evil at NJPW’s Power Struggle only to find the leader of Los Ingobernables de Japon, Tetsuya Naito, is waiting for him in the wings.

Being introduced with a new theme song and entrance video that claimed he is “The Best in the World”, Jericho, the current IWGP Intercontinental Champion, came to the ring wearing a black mask and a hat. As Y2J took off the black mask to reveal a white one underneath, Evil ran across the ring attacking him. A slingshot clothesline stunned Jericho.

Jericho took a hike into the crowd. Evil followed grabbing Y2J by the scruff of the neck and hurling him into some empty chairs. The two superstars exchanged chops and punches in the crowd. Walking Jericho back to the ring, Evil posted him.

A snap suplex on the arena floor had Jericho clutching the small of his back. Jericho held onto the ring apron as Evil set up a table outside the ring. Evil bounced Jericho’s head off the ring, wanted to powerbomb him through the table but Y2J backdropped him instead. Jericho pitched Evil into the ringside barrier. While laying some boots into Evil, Jericho grabbed a camera from a cameraman and started filming himself.

Jericho DDTs Evil into the announce table. Photo: NJPW.

Y2J choked Evil out with his t-shirt then threw him over the security barrier.

“Everything is Jericho!” yelled Y2J before DDTing Evil on the announce table, which incidentally did not break.

Jericho ripped a NJPW banner off the announce table and blew his nose on it as the crowd booed.

“You see that, Kevin Kelly, you stupid bastard!” Jericho yelled at the lead English commentator.

As official Red Shoes shook his head, Jericho stomped Evil into the mat. Jericho stopped an Evil rally with a kick to the stomach and a Lionsault. Jericho got a near fall with a diving back elbow off the top rope.

Yelling his name, Evil clotheslined Jericho over the top rope to the arena floor. Evil grabbed two steel chairs from under the ring. He ran the first one into Jericho’s stomach then placed it over his head. He shoved Jericho and the chair into the steel post. Evil batted the chair off of Jericho’s head with the other chair. Jericho lay on the floor holding both his head and jaw.

When they returned to the ring, Evil laid Jericho out with a clothesline and a Fisherman’s Suplex. A two count for Evil. Evil tried for a running shotgun dropkick but Jericho caught both of his legs spinning him into the Walls of Jericho but Evil pushed him off and across the ring. A battle on the apron saw Evil give Jericho an STO through the table splitting it in half.

Evil puts Y2J through a table. Photo: NJPW.

This didn’t stop Y2J from locking on the Walls of Jericho once they were both back in the ring.

“Come on, Evil! Give up!” yelled Y2J.

Evil refused to quit crawling to the ropes successfully.

An irate Jericho grabbed Red Shoes by the shirt claiming Evil tapped out. Not getting the decision he wanted Jericho shoved Red Shoes to the mat.

Jericho missed a Lionsault. Darkness Falls had Jericho’s shoulders on the mat for a two count. Evil blocked a Code Breaker and both men caught each other with a clothesline. Evil shocked the crowd and Jericho too by kicking out of a Code Breaker.

Jericho puts on the Walls. Photo: NJPW.

“Stay down!” screamed Jericho over and over punching Evil in the face.

It was then Jericho’s turn to stun Evil as he kicked out of Everything is Evil.

Jericho rolled out of Darkness Falls flipping it into a Walls of Jericho. Evil fought it as long as he could before tapping out. As Jericho put Evil in the Walls again to inflict more damage after the bell rang Tetsuya Naito came out and ran Jericho off.

“You want it?” Jericho shouted at Naito from the entrance way holding up the title belt.

Naito smiled holding open the ring ropes for Jericho.

Jericho turned his back and walked away raising his hands in victory.

In the backstage area, Chris Jericho spoke to the media.

Jericho talks the press backstage at Power Struggle. Photo: NJPW.

“Evil is a tough son of a bitch and Naito is a coward. I beat Naito in this s–thole of Osaka, I won this championship and there will not be a rematch not in the Tokyo Dome, not in Korakuen Hall, not in Madison Square Garden, nowhere!” said Jericho denying Naito’s challenge and his rematch for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship.

“That is the first classic match that Evil ever had and that is just number 257 for me,” Jericho concluded.

Earlier on the card, Roppongi 3K defeated both Suzuki-gun and Los Ingobernables de Japon to win the Super Jr. Tag League 2018 Championship for the second year in a row.

In the dying moments of the chaotic match, Roppongi 3K give Shingo Takagi stereo running knees to the face. A backcracker and a drop kick had Takagi in a world of trouble. Bushi made the save for Los Ingobernables de Japon. El Desperado and Takagi squared off in the middle of the ring throwing forearms at one another. A double lariat from Takagi knocked both Desperado and Sho. Sho kicked out of the Takagi’s Pumping Bomber finisher. Yoh saved Sho from Last of the Dragon. Roppongi 3K had Takagi beat but Kanemaru pulled the referee out of the ring to break the count. El Desperado hit Yoh in the face with his IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship belt.

Kanemaru threw the referee back into the ring. Bushi blews mist into El Desperado’s face. Kanemaru missed spitting his whiskey and was drop kicked out of the ring. Yoh dove out of the ring to take out both Bushi and Kanemaru. El Desperado kicked out of a Last Ride / backcracker combo by Sho, however, a follow-up Shock Arrow by Sho won the tournament for Roppongi 3K who are the tournament’s first back-to-back champions.

Soberano Jr., Volador Jr., Tiger Mask and Jyushin Thunder Liger Vs Toa Henare, ACH, Chris Sabin and Ryusuke Taguchi

Taguchi and ACH pin Soberano Jr. with a wheel barrel – X-Factor drop. Both teams shook hands after the match.

Winners: Toa Henare, ACH, Chris Sabin and Ryusuke Taguchi.

Kushida, Tomoaki Honma and Togi Makabe Vs Bullet Club (Robbie Eagles, Tanga Loa and Tama Tonga)

Kushida turns a Gun Stun into an arm bar submission on Tonga. Gedo distracts Kushida. Tonga kicks out of a roll-up. Kushida flies into the ropes where Gedo clobbers him with a kendo stick to the head. Kushida kicks out. As Gedo ties up the referee, Taiji Ishimori bashes Kushida with a crutch. Tonga Gun Stunned Kushida for the pin. Ishimori beats on Kushida choking him out with the crutch. He then poses over Kushida with the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.

Winners: Bullet Club (Robbie Eagles, Tanga Loa and Tama Tonga).

Chaos (Beretta, Kazuchika Okada) Vs Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale, Jay ‘Switchblade’ White)

Beretta flips out of the Bad Luck Fall to roll up Fale for the win. Fale and White attack Okada and Beretta. Okada and White fight through Young Lions to get to each other. The crowd cheers for Okada. White challenges Okada to a fight any time. Okada enters the ring and demands they fight right now. White teases heading to the ring but beats up some Young Lions before walking away.

Winners: Chaos (Beretta, Kazuchika Okada).

David Finlay and Hiroshi Tanahashi Vs Kota Ibushi and Kenny Omega

Kenny Omega taunts Hiroshi Tanahashi after the match. Photo: NJPW.

Tanahashi blocks the Golden Trigger only to take one himself. Golden Trigger on Finlay ends the match.

Winners: Kota Ibushi and Kenny Omega.

Roppongi 3K (Sho, Yoh) Vs Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi and Bushi) Vs Suzuki-gun (El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru) – Super Jr. Tag League 2018 Championship

Winners:…and Super Jr. Tag League 2018 Champions, Roppongi 3K (Sho, Yoh).

Taichi (champion) Vs Hirooki Goto – NEVER Openweight Championship