7 Ups & 5 Downs From NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 (Review)
6. Catch 2/2 (TJP and Francesco Akira) (c) vs. LiYoh (Lio Rush & Yoh)
Super Junior Tag League winners Lio Rush and Yoh only met each other in October and were rank outsiders to win the tournament itself late last year, but getting the privilege of opening Wrestle Kingdom proper against IWGP Junior Tag Team Champions TJP and Francesco Akira made their short union feel like an epic heroes journey.
Rush being violently bludgeoned on the ramp in the first seconds of the contest continued this story magnificently. It was a thriller from there, with the former WWE Cruiserweight Champion gutting his way back into a quality spotfest that twisted and turned with the flexibilities of its competitors before Rush’s sustained damage ultimately cost the underdogs.
TJP getting the win with an inside cradle, parked LiYoh’s Championship aspirations for now, but the commentators were at pains to say that their run may not be over, even if this first shot was.