Naito moves to V2, faces Jon Moxley next
The main event of Sakura Genesis on April 6 saw the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship in an all LIJ affair, New Japan Cup winner Yota Tsuji facing the champion Tetsuya Naito.
Naito was his brazen self, avoiding Tsuji’s initial attempts at a lock-up before the pair exchanged head-locks in the opening proceedings. Naito showcased his confidence, sending Tsuji to the outside before feigning a dive and hitting his signature pose, but Tsuji had no intentions of playing the fool as he swiftly returned to the ring to stomp on the champion and take control. A body scissors and knee to the mid-section had Naito searching for safety on the outside and gasping for air, only for Tsuji to dazzle with a seamless topé through the middle ropes.
Tsuji’s authority would not relent, hurling Naito into the steel barriers at ringside and delivering a backbreaker back in the ring. Tsuji’s targeted submissions continued to put emphasis on Naito’s lower-back, and at the ten minute mark Naito’s minimal offence in the match changed as he sent Tsuji plummeting onto his own knee with an arm-drag. For the first time Naito gained the advantage, his basement dropkick to the back of Tsuji’s head followed up by a draped neckbreaker and another neckbreaker, the surgical work now being done to weaken Tsuji’s neck.
A second arm-drag onto Naito’s knee continued the destruction of Tsuji’s neck, a neckbreaker from the apron to the floor the exclamation mark on Naito’s always effective strategy. Returning to the ring Naito continued the endless punishment with a leg scissors across Tsuji’s head and neck, the challenger almost fading before finding safety in a rope break. Back on his feet Tsuji fought back with a desperation tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, the move offering him a much-needed chance to recuperate. A big boot and Mount Tsuji splash led into a beautiful tijeras which left Naito vulnerable on the apron and Tsuji took full advantage, crushing Naito with a curb stomp from the apron to the floor.
The champion would barely return to the ring before the referee’s twenty count, Tsuji attempting to capitalise but being caught by Naito’s deadly swing DDT instead. Twenty minutes now passed Naito rained elbow strikes across Tsuji’s weakened neck, Ryogoku rallying behind the challenger as Naito dominated. The fans’ support would not be enough though, Naito stunning with a frankensteiner off the ropes; but the Destino follow up would be denied by Tsuji’s slam and an ugly knee strike. The challenger sought to regain momentum, his Falcon Arrow variant earning a two count but Naito quickly fought back, an enzugiri and Corriendo Destino being the set up for the full Destino.
Tsuji, however, would avoid Destino and respond with a splitting Gene Blaster, but the damage was too severe for him to attempt a pin. Destino delivered and Gene Blaster executed, the LIJ comrades now met in the middle of the ring to exchange forearm strikes but Tsuji’s attacks were simply too weak and Naito retorted with hammering elbow strikes. Whilst Tsuji’s strikes may have been weak his curb-stomp combo was effective, squashing Naito’s face into the mat as he willed his body to keep up with his unlimited spirit.
Thirty minutes now surpassed in this historic main event, Tsuji delivered a superplex from the top rope before locking in a poetic Boston Crab: Tsuji remembering his final match as a Young Lion when he took on Naito, now looking to beat not only Naito but his own past as well. Tsuji stunned as he executed Marlowe Crush, the same move that earned him victory throughout the New Japan Cup, but on this night it would not be enough to win the title. Tsuji’s Gene Blaster attempt was creatively countered by Naito, Tsuji lawndarted and taking further punishment to his neck, Naito then unleashing his own Gene Blaster. Tsuji’s spirited comeback attempt would be foiled by Valentia and Destino was imminent, and despite Tsuji’s best attempts destiny would prevail as Destino claimed Tsuji and Naito retained the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
