Jay White becomes fifth IWGP World Heavyweight Champion
The main event of Dominion in Osaka Jo Hall on June 12 saw Kazuchika Okada looking to make his fifth defence of the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Jay White in Osaka Jo Hall.
Ever the master manipulator, Jay White would try and bait the fans into breaking regulations and having them chant for their champion, before vocally declaring that Gedo would not get involved from ringside. As Okada controlled the early moments though, it was a tug of a heel from the Blacksmith, out of sight of his charge, that saw White take control. A short DDT, and shots into the guardrails saw rib damage that made Okada struggle for air, a matter compounded with a smothering with the ring apron.
Frustrated by his challenger’s trash talk, Okada would level White with a forearm and then a big boot. Building momentum, a dashing back elbow and a DDT was followed by a flapjack, and with his foe on the floor, Okada leapt over the guardrail onto both Jay and Gedo. Yet just as Okada went for a potentially critical hit of a Tombstone on the floor, the Switchblade struck back, sending Okada ribs first twice into the steel guardrail, before a half hatch suplex seemed to put Okada out for the count at the 15 minute mark.
The match back in his control, White would sprinkle a high impact Complete Shot and Bladebuster between shots to the ribs as the champion gasped for air. A Saito Suplex over the top rope, and Okada was in even more trouble; Okada had to go big to get some space even at his own detriment. A top rope shotgun dropkick did exactly that, the impact sending White flying while Okada’s breath was driven from his body.
Okada would continue to build momentum even as he was badly hurt, but as Okada went for his first attempt at the Rainmaker, he was caught in the TTO submission hold. With another look at Hiroshi Tanahashi calling the match at ringside, White would transition into a Texas Cloverleaf, but still the Rainmaker refused to give in.
A Money Clip from Okada would be frustrated by White and Gedo, who hopped on the apron and ensured that the Switchblade benefitted with a low blow. The furious Okada would demand White stand and fight, unleashing brutal strikes to the challenger, but with bad ribs still affecting his wind, Okada fell to a Snap Sleeper and a Regalplex for two each. Desperate to avoid the Bladerunner, Okada uncorked a short arm lariat, and a second before drilling White with a corkscrew Tombstone at the 35 minute mark; the Landslide followed, but just as the Rainmaker was inbound, a hare trigger Bladerunner granted White the gold.
The achievement makes Jay White the first in history to hold every singles championship available to a heavyweight in NJPW, with the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship included. Setting his sights on the Forbidden Door, White slammed Hangman Page backstage as he proclaimed that he and AEW at large wouldn’t exist without his actions. White’s opponent in Chicago June 26 is currently TBD.
