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Tetsuya Naito vs. Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships (NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 Day 1)
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The main event of Wrestle Kingdom 15 Day 1 was Tetsuya Naito facing Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships. Kota Ibushi earned the shot by winning back-to-back G1 Climax tournaments. He lost the briefcase to Jay White at Power Struggle 2020. White called his shot for January 5th, so Naito challenged Ibushi for this show. The winner faces Switchblade on Day 2.
Applause rained from the Tokyo Dome crowd at the bell of this Wrestle Kingdom 15 Day 1 closer. The match started with a struggle between the two men that went to the ground. Action sped up with an exchange ending with an Ibushi hurricanrana. The two men fought to the floor, where Naito hit a German Suplex on the ramp with Kota landing on his head.
Ibushi made it back to the ring before the 20 count, followed by Naito stomping down and then applying a headscissors. Action picked up again in this Wrestle Kingdom 15 Day 1 closing match with a series of reversals. Ibushi landed a dropkick and followed with a jumping mid-kick. He then hit a standing moonsault for a two. Naito went for Combination Carbon, but Ibushi reversed it and knocked him to the floor.
The Wrestle Kingdom 15 main event continued on the floor, where Naito landed a neckbreaker. He then followed with an apron-hung neckbreaker to the floor. Once back in the ring, Naito hit another neckbreaker and locked on a headscissors submission. Ibushi fought to the ropes. A series of counters ended with Ibushi hitting a German suplex. Naito powered up but Ibushi caught him with a standing double stomp.
Naito then tried to submit Ibushi in this Wrestle Kingdom 15 Day 1 encounter, but Kota made his way to the ropes. Naito attacked Ibushi's neck with elbows. He followed with Gloria for a two count. Naito took him to the top rope, but Ibushi fought out and hit a backflip kick sending Naito to the apron. Kota went for the Powerbomb, but Naito back dropped him on the apron. Naito ran at Ibushi and hit a hurricanrana from the apron to the floor in a spectacular spot.
Naito broke the 20 count and rolled to the apron. Ibushi went for a German suplex from the apron off the top rope into the ring, but Naito fought out and got back in the ring. He then hit a top-rope poison rana in another brilliant spot for a near-fall. Naito reversed Kamigoye into the Destino for another near-fall. Ibushi then reversed Destino into the Bastard Driver as the Wrestle Kingdom 15 crowd got louder and louder.
The two men traded forearms from their knees and then on their feet. Naito nailed a slap and rolling kick, but Ibushi responded with a lariat to the roar of the Tokyo Dome Wrestle Kingdom crowd. Ibushi hit a powerbomb and followed with Kamigoye for a near-fall. Kota then went to the top rope for the Phoenix Splash, but Naito avoided and hit a running Destino for a close two.
Ibushi reversed Valentia into a Buzzsaw Kick and then hit a Kamigoye for a close near-fall. Kota exposed his knee and went for another Kamigoye, but Naito hit an elbow, an enziguri and Valentia. Ibushi reversed Destino, hit a V Trigger and then landed a third Kamigoye for the win, becoming new (double) champion in over 31 minutes at Wrestle Kingdom 15 Day 1. Kota Ibushi becomes the IWGP Heavyweight Champion for the first time and is now in his second reign as Intercontinental Champion. Post match, Ibushi didn't realize he had won. Naito grabbed the titles and handed them to the new champion, making for a memorable moment.
After Naito left, Switchblade Jay White and Gedo came down to the ring to congratulate Ibushi and hype tomorrow's Wrestle Kingdom 15 Day 2 main event. He said that Switchblade will "become God" tomorrow. Ibushi then cut a promo to thank Naito and tell White that he will finish him tomorrow.
That was a near-flawless encounter. Ibushi and Naito had phenomenal chemistry and delivered masterful performances in this match, making for an instant classic Wrestle Kingdom main event.
Results: Kota Ibushi defeats Tetsuya Naito via pinfall (new champion)
Star Rating: ****
