Originally published at https://www.postwrestling.com/2018/04/29/main-event-result-from-new-japans-wrestling-hi-no-kuni-event/
Tetsuya Naito defeated Minoru Suzuki in the main event of New Japan’s Wrestling Hi No Kuni event on Sunday in Kumamoto.
The main event lasted 30 minutes and 23 seconds, and I never the felt the match hit a dramatic peak point.
Suzuki beat down Naito throughout the match with an early focus on the arm and then targeting the right knee for the majority.
This included long sequences of selling by Naito, including from the various kneebars applied by Suzuki. The audience was pro-Naito and did not seem to believe he would submit at any point.
In getting submissions over, they need to be established as tools that immediately end a match, lending on the credibility of the authentic hold in a real fight scenario. In professional wrestling, you have the desire to take away from the authenticity of a submission in favor of added drama to the match with heavy selling. In time, the credibility of the submission dissipates, and I felt that during this match.
Naito made a brief comeback at the end, countered a rear-naked choke to hit a brainbuster and followed with one Destino to pin Suzuki.
It was not a surprise that Naito won but he won at that stage of the match. As the main event, I didn’t feel this reached the level of any big New Japan matches this year.
The length of the match is also a factor as New Japan has conditioned the viewer to expect no less than 30 minutes for big main events. That is fine for major IWGP title matches but when it’s the expectation every time out, it wears on the audience.
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I felt this matchup featuring two of the hottest guys in NewJapan was overshadowed in wrestling this week by the Greatest RR show taking place. I had very high expectations for this match, and had enjoyed the build despite most shows on this tour not being in English. These guys are such welll defined characters no words are needed for me.
That said - I couldn’t agree more with John.
I was fine with the submission story telling despite not believing Naito would tap - possibly because I thought stoppage could occur and also because of Naito’s affiliation with ZSJ. I was dumbfounded when the ending came after one Destino - a move that requires all body parts to execute - from Naito who was selling all body parts.
Suzuki also looked weak. Which really hurts him to me after a great run from defeat at WK and the hair angle to his US appearances where he was incredibly over and UK success. While he did get a bloody nose - I felt that was the saving grace to this finish. The idea that he was busted up and stunned. But I don’t think that was the booking, more the luck of the bloody nose (how ironic).
Question for somebody more knowledgeable about NJPW than me: what’s the difference between this show and the Road to Dontaku shows? This seemed isolated even though the recent LIJ- SuzukiGun matches on that Road To tour have built to this (and the tag).
I assumed Naito was taking this match but like John felt let down by the finish. I was shocked after all those shoot slaps (that busted up Suzuki) that it only took one Destino to win the title.
Who does everyone see as next for Naito? If Jericho won’t do. DOMINION I’d book Naito vs Ibushi for the IC title and Kenny vs Okada for the world as a double main event for Dominion.
Yeah this match was a let down. I felt the submission attempts went on far too long, in future they could have people tap very quickly after Suzuki applies a hold - it’d help sell the drama when someone holds on for a while or escapes. The finish was really abrupt too - winning after a single destino doesn’t bother me but it just felt too rushed, like they got told they were running out of time.
The Robinson/Goto match was far better, which was a surprise.
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