NJPW had their final The New Beginning show this morning, once again in Sapporo and this was Kazuchika Okada’s final match in New Japan.
Okada teamed with his fellow CHAOS members to defeat the United Empire and it was only right the match ended with a Rainmaker. To conclude their feud, Yota Tsuji defeated Yuya Uemura in a hair versus hair match.
The main event was a Wrestle Kingdom rematch, Tetsuya Naito successfully defended the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against the former champion, SANADA.
The match began with some back-and-forth chain wrestling and they were both toying with each other to see who would throw the first punch. SANADA brought the fight to the outside where he threw Naito into the barricade, but Naito responded by hanging SANADA’s feet on the apron and dropping him head-first with a DDT. Naito continued with some arm drags and strikes before locking in a neck lock. He released the hold to hip toss SANADA neck-first onto his knee before locking in a submission on the outside putting pressure on SANADA’s neck.
SANADA battled back with two dropkicks to Naito’s knee, a dropkick to his chest and a plancha to the outside. As they got back in the ring, Naito slipped behind SANADA to reverse DDT him onto his knee before landing another hip toss on his knee. Naito wanted a top rope maneuver next, but SANADA dropkicked him from behind sending him into the ring post. SANADA now joined him on the top rope for an avalanche neck breaker onto his knee and he followed that with a twisting neck breaker.
He then locked in Skull End until he released the hold to go for a diving moonsault, but Naito got his knees up. Naito was now drilling elbows into SANADA’s neck and he followed that with an avalanche hurricanrana. SANADA then hit a dropkick and went for a Death Valley Driver, but Naito reversed into a Destino before hitting more elbows. Naito followed that with a spine buster and both men were now trading reversals.
SANADA came out of that exchange hitting a TKO and followed that with two diving moonsaults. He then attempted a Deadfall, but Naito reversed into a Destino before going for a second Destino that ended in a botch. Both men then locked up and SANADA hit an enzigiri before hitting a shining wizard. Naito then reversed SANADA into submission, but he released the hold and SANADA hit another two shining wizards. SANADA now attempted Deadfall again, however, Naito reversed into a tornado cradle pin to steal the win and retain his title.
.@s_d_naito × @rainmakerXokada
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— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) February 24, 2024
Following his victory, Naito addressed Okada and invited him into the ring to wish him farewell. For old time’s sake, Naito spit in Okada’s face before they exchanged some spots. They then stopped to smile at each other and show respect, the perfect send-off for Okada in NJPW.
NJPW The New Beginning in Sapporo Results
Boltin Oleg, YOH, Togi Makabe, El Desperado & Shota Umino vs. House of Torture (Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Yujiro Takahashi, Ren Narita, SHO & EVIL)
Despite all of House of Torture’s cheating, Umino defeated Kanemaru with a Death Rider. Following the match, YOH stole SHO’s Jr. Heavyweight Championship.
Winners: Boltin Oleg, YOH, Togi Makabe, El Desperado & Shota Umino
Umino was left standing in the ring as all the lights went out, a video then played from ‘Scapegoat’ Jack Perry. He is coming to NJPW and he wants a piece of Umino.
— Jack Perry (@boy_myth_legend) February 24, 2024
CHAOS (YOSHI-HASHI, Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano & Kazuchika Okada) vs. United Empire (Francesco Akira, Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman) & Matt Riddle
This was Okada’s final match in NJPW, as he bid farewell to the Japanese fans he hit Newman with all his classic moves. The dropkick, a diving elbow drop and finally a Rainmaker to get the victory. Okada thanked the fans for all their support and told them he would see them again before bowing to show respect.
Winners: CHAOS (YOSHI-HASHI, Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano & Kazuchika Okada)
Guerrillas of Destiny (Tanga Loa & Tama Tonga) vs. Guerrillas of Destiny (El Phantasmo & Hikuleo)
G.o.D. against G.o.D. for Tama Tonga’s final match in NJPW, he wanted to leave Japan after battling his closest friends. Jado was also the special guest referee for this match and it was clear it hurt him to count the three after Hikuleo hit Tonga with a God Send. The four men all showed their respect and Tonga thanked all the fans.
Winners: Guerrillas of Destiny (El Phantasmo & Hikuleo)
Rysuke Taguchi & Nic Nemeth vs. Bullet Club War Dogs (Gedo & David Finlay)
The new IWGP Global Champion, Nemeth super kicked Finlay and then dropped Gedo with a Danger Zone to get the victory. Following the match, Nemeth challenged a hero of his, Hiroshi Tanahashi, to a title match and he accepted this challenge.
Winners: Rysuke Taguchi & Nic Nemeth
BUSHI vs. TAKA Michinoku
BUSHI defeated Michinoku by forcing him to submit to a modified figure-four leg lock.
Winner: BUSHI
Hiromu Takahashi vs. DOUKI
In a shocking upset, DOUKI managed to defeat Takahashi cleanly with a Suplex De La Luna. After five years, DOUKI has finally beat Takahashi.
Winner: DOUKI
Shingo Takagi vs. Taichi
This was a spectacular match between two of the workhorses of NJPW. Taichi was able to get the victory after hitting Takagi with a Dangerous Backdrop.
Winner: Taichi
Hair versus Hair Match: Yota Tsuji vs. Yuya Uemura
This match began very slowly and both men were feeling each other out, that was until Tsuji hit a rolling senton and leaping splash. Tsuji stayed in the driver’s seat with some strikes, a backbreaker and locking in the Boston crab. He released the hold to dropkick Uemura to the floor, but Uemura reversed a suplex from the apron and hit a dropkick. Uemura now began to focus on Tsuji’s left arm with some well-placed kicks, arm drags and a wrist lock. He quickly transitioned into a cross-arm breaker, but Tsuji instantly reached the ropes. Tsuji then reversed a suplex from Uemura to lock in the Boston crab again, he continued to tweak the move until he lost his grip. He then swung Uemura around the ring, but Uemura snapped Tsuji’s arm before driving that arm into the mat.
Uemura was now striking Tsuji all over the ring before both men were exchanging roll-ups. This led to a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker from Tsuji, but Uemura quickly responded with a double under-hook suplex. He then went to the top rope, but Tsuji met him up there and delivered an avalanche Spanish fly. Tsuji could not capitalize though as Uemura hit him with the Deadbolt Suplex, but he didn’t have enough power to make the pin. Both men now hit stiff forearms before they went back to their roots delivering basic moves they learned as Young Lions. Uemura caught Tsuji with a backbody drop and then went for a diving crossbody, but Tsuji side-stepped it.
Tsuji now stomped Uemura’s head into the mat and followed that with a falcon arrow. He next hit Uemura with a flurry of kicks, but Uemura responded with an enzigiri and a cutter. Uemura now hit a headbutt and German suplex, but Tsuji bounced off the ropes and folded Uemura with a Gene Blaster to get the victory and save his hair! Uemura was then forced to sit in a chair and Tsuji chopped his long hair off before buzzing him bald.
