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Kota Ibushi vs Jay White for the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships (NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 Day 2)
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Our main event at Wrestle Kingdom 15 Day 2 was Kota Ibushi defending the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships against "Switchblade" Jay White. White earned this opportunity by beating Ibushi at Power Struggle for his G1 Climax 30 Right To Challenge Contract. Ibushi defeated Naito yesterday to win the IWGP Dual Gold. He has lost three straight to Switchblade.
White used a distraction from Gedo to get early control in this Wrestle Kingdom 15 Day 2 main event. Ibushi came back with a running mid kick that sent White to the floor. Gedo grabbed Ibushi, but got hit with an elbow. Switchblade took advantage of Ibushi getting back in the ring to hit a DDT.
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Back on the floor, White hit a high angle back suplex with Ibushi landing his neck on the apron. He then worked over the ribs of Ibushi on the apron. An attack on the ribs was how he won at Power Struggle. Back in the ring, White stomped on the ribs. Switchblade got into an argument with the referee in this Wrestle Kingdom 15 closer, which gave Kota an opening to land a mid kick.
Ibushi followed with a standing moonsault for two. On the floor, White pushed Ibushi ribs-first into the guardrail. Switchblade then focused his attack on both the ribs and knee of Ibushi in this Wrestle Kingdom 15 title contest. This was the two plans that he used to beat him the past two meetings. White hit a running European Uppercut and followed with the Blade Buster for two.
Ibushi caught White with a frankensteiner that sent him to the floor. Back in the ring in this Wrestle Kingdom 15 match, Switchblade dropped Ibushi ribs-first on the top rope and followed with a suplex into the corner for a two count. The two men traded strikes and then cradles, which led to Ibushi landing the Bastard Driver.
White countered the Bomaye into a snap back suplex and followed with the uranage for two. He then hit the Kiwi Crusher for another two. Ibushi used White's momentum for a back suplex and hit the Bomaye for a near fall in this Wrestle Kingdom 15 closer. White reversed a lariat into the backslide with his feet on the ropes like how he won at Power Struggle, but the referee caught him before the three. Ibushi then hit the buzzsaw kick.
He looked for the Phoenix Splash, but Gedo distracted. White then hit consecutive dragon screws and applied the TTO submission. Ibushi made the ropes though. White got wrist control and kicked at Ibushi's face, which angered the Golden Star bringing his dark side out in this Wrestle Kingdom 15 main event. Kota responded with palm strikes and stiff kicks.
Ibushi challenged White to a strike exchange, in which Kota kept knocking him off his feet and eventually to the floor. White got back in and begged Ibushi to pin him, but Kota slapped and ran down strikes. The ref tried to pull him off, but he knocked him down. That led to White hitting a low blow. On the floor, White worked over the ribs and back using the apron, guardrail and ring post.
Back in the ring, White hit the Complete Shot and two deadlift German Suplexes. Kota blocked a third on the apron and hit the deadlift German Suplex from the apron to the ring. He followed with the Last Ride sitout powerbomb for a near fall in this Wrestle Kingdom 15 battle. White reversed Kamigoye into a sleeper suplex with Ibushi landing on his neck. He hit another and followed with a Regal Plex for a near fall. Ibushi reversed Blade Runner into the Kamigoye for a near fall.
Kota hit the Phoenix Splash, but before he could get the three, Gedo pulled the referee out. Ibushi blocked a brass knuckles punch from Gedo and hit the Kamigoye. Ibushi brought the ref back in, but Switchblade caught him with the Blade Runner for a near fall in this Wrestle Kingdom 15 barnburner. White then locked on TTO again, but Ibushi made it to the ropes. White caught Ibushi's knee and hit the Regal Plex for two. He followed with a sleeper suplex and looked for the Blade Runner, but Ibushi caught him with a V Trigger.
After a series of reversals, Ibushi hit a lariat and then a reverse Kamigoye. He then followed with another Kamigoye for the win and retained the titles in over 48 minutes at Wrestle Kingdom 15 Day 2. This set the record for the longest match in Tokyo Dome history. Post match, SANADA came down and challenged Kota Ibushi to be his next opponent after Wrestle Kingdom 15. Ibushi accepted. He then cut a promo to close the show.
This was a simply outstanding, epic encounter. It was so emotion-driven, filled with amazing storytelling, impeccable selling and superb pacing. This was a fantastic ending to Wrestle Kingdom 15 weekend.
Results: Kota Ibushi defeats Jay White via pinfall
Star Rating: *****
