8 Ups & 2 Downs From NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12
4. High Spot City
WK’s four-way Junior Heavyweight Title match was never going to be a psychological masterpiece. Featuring two of the world’s most reckless high-fliers (Hiromu Takahashi and Will Ospreay), plus a couple of willing crash test dummies (KUSHIDA and Marty Scurll), it was designed to be a spot-fest from the moment it was booked.
In this regard, the bout offered few surprises. The purple-haired Ospreay took control early, shaking the crowd from their post-intermission lull with trademark dazzling offence, and it soon got super risky. KUSHIDA executed a ludicrous top rope dive to the outside, almost landing on the steel barrier. Will leapt from a lighting rig. All four damn near kicked each other’s faces off. It was, for long portions, a car crash.
Yet there was still something missing. Perhaps it was the crowded lineup, but it felt like each performer patiently waiting for their turn to take control at points, much like a WWE-style multi-man clash. A noticeable issue, but not enough to spoil the bout’s appeal.
The closing quarter made the match, with Hiromu and KUSHIDA both delivering apron sunset flip powerbombs, Ospreay Shooting Star Press-ing to the outside, and some heart-stopping near-falls. It was a deserved win for Will, too: he should’ve never lost the belt in the first place.