2008: Hiroshi Tanahashi © vs Shinsuke Nakamura
Wrestle Kingdom II (attendance: 27,000)
http://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00171_1_10
The Wrestle Kingdom video game received a sequel and so did the event. Here we are at Wrestle Kingdom II!
The theme of working together continues with the Total Nonstop Action joining New Japan for the event. All Japan and Dradition (well, Tatsumi Fujinami at least) come along for the ride. All of these guest appearances and working together, and we’re going to do Tanahashi vs Nakamura.
Last time we saw Shinsuke Nakamura he had unified the IWGP Heavyweight title and the NWF Heavyweight title (which was retired) back in 2004. A month later the Super Rookie had to vacate the title due to injury. At the 2006 event he challenged 44th champion Brock Lesnar unsuccessfully, before Lesnar left the promotion and took the title with him. NJPW declared it vacant, Lesnar continued to defend it sanctioned by the Inoki Genome Federation.
In July 2006 Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Giant Bernard to fill the vacancy and become the 45th champion. During his first reign he defeated Shinsuke Nakamura, as well as Taiyo Kea in an inter-promotional match at the first Wrestle Kingdom. He eventually lost to Yuji Nagata in April 2007, but had regained the title by October. After a successful defence against Hirooki Goto, he’d once again find himself against career rival Shinsuke Nakamura.
This is the third title match between these two and they go in with one victory a piece. Nakamura won the IWGP U-30 Openweight title in January 2005 and Tanahashi defended the IWGP Heavyweight title in December 2006. It’s 2008 and the Heavyweight title is on the line once again in the main event of the evening!
Finally! Two entrances! Nakamura makes his way to the ring to Subconscious, full of intensity, but lacking in swagger. He’s determined, he’s focused and he wants the title back. He comes out in a dashing red silk robe. So he’s got the music, he’s got the colour scheme – he’s half way to becoming the King of Strong Style.
And of course coming out second is the defending champion Tanahashi. He’s the champion and he’s got the charisma and charm that he’s now known for. He is ready to assume the role of ace. He looks extremely odd with the second IWGP belt, given that most of his time as champion since this moment is with the fourth belt. But the third has gone walkabout, so they’re back to the second for the time being.
Introductions are made, your referee for this match up, Red Shoes Unno.
Bell rings and both men circle, Tanahashi inviting the crowd to get excited. They face off and lock up with a collar and elbow. Nakamura with the shoulder taped, I wonder if it will come into play. Nakamura pushes Tanahashi back to the ropes but Tanahashi gets the switch. Will the ace provide a clean break? No. He’s going to slap Nakamura quite hard on the way out. Tanahashi is impressed with his handiwork. I imagine Nakamura is not.
They go to tie up again but Nakamura takes a different approach and goes for a waistlock. The two wrestle for position but find the ropes. Tanahashi is in the power position and on the break, stomps the challenger on the way out. Nakamura goes after Tanahashi who retreats to the ropes. They face off again and almost lock hands. Nakamura with a boot and takes control with a wristlock. Tanahashi reverses it to one of his own. Nakamura flips off the ropes for momentum and after a few flips and rolls the two trade control – neither man coming out on top.
They tie up again with a clinch and Tanahashi backs him to the ropes. No clean break this time but Nakamura immediately faces him down. He’s pushing him to gee him up and then finds an opening for some forearms. Scoop slam attempt but Tanahashi grabs a dragon sleeper. Nakamura floats it over with the assist of the ropes and turns it to his favour. The two trade dragon sleepers with reversals before Nakamura drops down and tries a cross armbar. Tanahashi to the ropes, the hold is broken and he heads outside, favouring the arm.
A shot outside shows a young Tetsuya Naito at ringside.
Tanahashi’s back in and on offence with some kicks and forearms. Jawbreaker to Nakamura and a clothesline over the ropes. Tanahashi channeling his hero Shawn Michaels, grabs the ropes and ‘skins the cat’.
Nakamura regroups on the outside and attempts to re-enter, but is met by Tanahashi on the apron. Dragon screw through the ropes can’t be too good for Nakamura. He finds his way back in and Tanahashi heads straight for the knee he’s just put a target on. Sent off the ropes and Tanahashi must have been following along with this series and those Keiji Mutoh matches we did earlier. A low dropkick to the knee of Nakamura. He grabs a toe hold and Nakamura grabs the bottom rope.
Tanahashi breaks, and then goes straight back to the knee. Standing High Fly Flow on the knee and then he goes up and misses a rolling senton from the second rope. Doesn’t matter too much as he’s straight back to the knee. Comes off the ropes and Nakamura shows him the other one though. Nakamura sends him in and gets a powerslam for 2. Scoop slam and Nakamura goes up top. Connects with a moonsault! Doesn’t stick around for the cover as he calls for one more. Misses it, but lands on his feet and jolts his knee. Tanahashi is quick to capitalise with a low dropkick.
Nakamura in the corner as the two exchange strikes. Tanahashi with a few slaps now. He is wrestling far from honourably. Slap, slap, slap. Nakamura fires back. Tanahashi ducks a clothesline and takes him for a ride. Two german suplexes before Nakamura switches on the third and dishes out two of his own. He tries a dragon suplex for the third, but Tanahashi switches and completes his trifecta. Goes for another but Nakamura switches it for the hattrick. Tanahashi gets the fourth from the same switch-a-roo. As does Nakamura. Holds it for a count of 2. Both men down, which is to be expected after eight German suplexes. They rise and Nakamura comes off the ropes, but is caught with a Slingblade. They’re down again.
They both find their feet. Tanahashi takes advantage with a few slaps but Nakamura catches him with a clothesline. Double underhook piledriver for two. Nakamura starting to rally. Knee to the gut. Sends Tanahashi corner-to-corner, or at least corner-to-middle before it’s reversed. Tanahashi ducks a clothesline and then blocks the second. That hurt the shoulder. Red Shoes Unno tending to Red Pants Nakamura. Tanahashi back on attack but Red Shoes tries to create some space. Tanahashi straight to the shoulder as he targets Nakamura in the corner. Seats him on top. Hooks him for an exploder but Nakamura fights it off. Tanahashi’s straight back up and manages to hit it on the second try. Nakamura’s arm is hurting and Tanahashi is proud of his part in making that happen as he goes back to it. A dragon screw to the arm is a unique way of punishing a man. Cross armbar from Tanahashi and that spurs Nakamura to make a quick passage to the ropes to break it.
A young Prince Devitt looks on with concern (and blue hair for some reason).
Tanahashi with a wristlock and Nakamura tries to forearm his way out of it. Ultimately ends up wrapped up in an arm holding German suplex that brings to mind the Shut Down German of Kento Miyahara. Gets 2 from it. Full nelson slam and a High Fly Flow! 1, 2, kickout! Tanahashi arguing with Red Shoes over the count. One more High Fly Flow will work. At least until Nakamura gets the knees up. Both men down again.
Tanahashi first to rise and comes off the ropes, misses a clothesline and Nakamura takes him down with a flying cross armbar. Tanahashi manages to break it, just long enough for Nakamura to grab a triangle choke and then turn that back into the armbar. Tanahashi works it around and stomps his head to break. Inverted powerslam from Nakamura and a Landslide (Samoan driver) for 2.
Nakamura asking questions of Red Shoes. Let’s try again. Tanahashi counters it with a Slingblade. Hits the ropes for a second one. Gets a two count, tries a dragon suplex, Nakamura counters it with one of his own and a very close 2 count. Landslide attempt but Tanahashi rolls through for 2. Dragon, nope – Tiger suplex from Tanahashi for a 2.9. Nakamura grabs a leg in desperation but Tanahashi stomps that out of him. Ascends the corner but Nakamura’s there to meet him. They exchange pleasantries, I mean strikes, and it’s a Super Landslide from Nakamura! He picks Tanahashi up again for a second one and the 1, 2, 3! New champion crowned in 23:08. Shinsuke. Nakamura! Who gets a sling (not blade) thrown straight on that injured arm.
While NJPW World has the winner’s music for the first time – I’m also building a YouTube playlist around this project and I used Subconscious in 2004. In that article I asked the question about when Nakamura changed themes and believe it or not, in searching for Moving City to post for this article – I discovered that he debuted Subconscious in May 2004! Which means I posted the wrong theme in the 2004 article. So have the wrong theme for today and two wrongs make music that is oh so right. Here’s Moving City – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0BcokK2uCQ
Kurt Angle and Jeff Jarrett make their way to the ring as Nakamura celebrates. Angle with the Third Belt and TNA World title over his shoulders. Angle had retained the Third Belt in a match with Yuji Nagata earlier in the night. Nakamura grabs a microphone and I presume issues a challenge. Angle says that this young man is not in his league and he will kick his ass all over Tokyo. (I’m going a lot better with the English here). Nakamura says something with great enthusiasm as Angle departs. Not sure why he came out to be honest. Nakamura keeps being handed trophies which he struggles to lift with only one hand. Finally he gets his belt and young Devitt helps him put it on. And he poses with it and all those trophies. The former Super Rookie, the future King of Strong Style – the current IWGP Heavyweight champion.
A month after this event, Nakamura and Angle would face off with Nakamura bringing the third belt back home. A new fourth belt was created as a symbolic way of NJPW putting the incident behind them. Nakamura’s reign was ended in April 2008 but Keiji Mutoh.
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