Hiroshi Tanahashi moves to V1 with US title
Hiroshi Tanahashi headed into the main event of Wrestle Grand Slam in the MetLife Dome on September 4 ready to defend the IWGP United States heavyweight Championship against a clearly emotional Kota Ibushi, crying as he prepared for his first bout since a bout with aspiration pneumonia that sidelined him for the last two months.
In a classical start to the match, Tanahashi was persistent with a side headlock before Ibushi trapped the champion in a tight headscissors. Staying one step ahead, Ibushi evaded a Tanahashi wrist lock with a back flip into an armbar. Yet Tanahashi would score the first significant offense of the match with a basement dropkick to his challenger, and set to work on the left leg of Ibushi.
An Indian Deathlock punished Ibushi, but the challenger rallied with a dropkick that caught Tanahashi in the bridge of the nose. Employing his kickboxing based training, Ibushi landed a combo and flying midkick, before a Frankensteiner put Tanahashi to the floor, where he was victim of the Golden Triangle. A springboard dropkick back into the ring, and Ibushi looked to press the advantage, but a headkick was caught with a Dragon Screw.
Not willing to be controlled by the Ace, Ibushi was quickly back to his feet and threw forearms at Tanahashi, who responded with simultaneous blows of his own. The vicious switch flipping in Ibushi, the challenger drove forearms to the back of Tanahashi’s head before attempting Kamigoye, but getting stopped instead with a Twist and Shout.
Tanahashi followed up with a pair of Slingblades, Ibushi popping right up after the first, but not the second. A High Fly Flow attempt would only meet the knees of Ibushi however, and the challenger’s knee again rocketed into Tanahashi with Kamigoye, but Ibushi was unable to cover, instead collapsing backward as the match passed the 15 minute mark.
As Ibushi found his feet, he delivered a BomaYe to Tanahashi and sought to land the decisive Kamigoye, but the champion found his feet. Ibushi landed a bicycle knee to the point of Tanahashi’s jaw and went for the finishing blow again, but the champion crossed his arm to stop the path of the knee, and landed another Slingblade. A Dragon suplex for two, and Tanahashi hit a High Fly Attack, and then the High Fly Flow to retain the title.
As Tanahashi thanked Ibushi for the effort and congratulated him on his return, Tanahashi addressed every fan in attendance and watching around the world, saying that while it would take time, and half steps, the world will get gradually better and gradually brighter, all with him in an NJPW ring.
