4 Ups & 3 Downs From NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 (Night 2)
1. A Moment Of Epic Triumph
Jay White winded the absolute f*ck out of Ibushi in a tremendous economical strategy early in the match. Ibushi had just endured a war to win the IWGP Heavyweight Title the previous night. Immediately, this was distinct from their seminal G1 Climax 2019 final, in which White sought to eliminate the Kamigoye by shattering Ibushi's ankle. And, Ibushi being Ibushi, he also took a demented high-angle neck bump on the apron.
This was an astute, almost meta approach - White, expert heel, put on a deliberate anti-performance before tearing the house down. The heat went long, and it's just as well White has such a loathsome, commanding presence and the acumen not to make his sh*t look too good by design. He almost fell gracelessly to the mat when crotching Ibushi on the ropes. This is a desperate and intelligent man who does not give a single f*ck about anything other than the win, which develops a beauty in itself.
White intensified the assault by going to the neck; if Ibushi somehow found that spirit to recover from those deranged bumps, he would not have the stamina. Ibushi used his own underrated ring IQ to counter White's assault into the Bastard Driver in the first, thrilling glimpse of the signature New Japan classic to come, one richly informed by the heat.
When it arrived, it did so not with a "Holy sh*t!" but a "F*cking hell" moment; after Ibushi crept back into it, following an awesome exchange of callbacks to 2014 and 2020, he clocked White flush in the skull with a disgusting kick.
In a great moment - iconic under normal circumstances - Ibushi, having descended into those dark recesses, surrendered his neck for White to strike. White simply surrendered. The ploy revealed itself after the low blow, after which White, screaming "F*ck you," pummelled Ibushi gut-first into the barricade.
Suspense. Struggle. Head-drops. Plural. Just f*cking grotesque - and dramatic as all hell - sleeper suplexes sold with an almost pitiful wail on Ibushi's part that contrasted perfectly with the invincible darkness he had summoned earlier.
Gedo's bullsh*t, mirroring Togo, was reserved for a key moment in the form of an electrifying near-fall when he snatched Red Shoes out of the ring.
Ibushi won with a despicable back-of-the-head/traditional Kamigoye combo after a scorching series of near-falls, emerging as the top star of the company - and setting up Okada Vs. Ibushi III next year.
Bring it on.