New Japan Pro Wrestling is back on iPPV, this time with New Japan Pro Wrestling “Dominion 2013”. Dominion takes place on June 22, 2013 at the Osaka Bodymaker Coloseeum. Unfortunately for us Americans, it will be a slightly rough watch as the show goes live at 4:00 a.m. EST/3:00 a.m. CST that’s never stopped us and it won’t this time. We will be live-tweeting the event (details below the card preview).

NJPW “DOMINION 6.22”, 22.06.2013 (WPW/iPPV)
Osaka BODYMAKER COLOSSEUM
Join us and order the iPPV at http://www.ustream.tv/njpw

Notes

  • Show starts at 4am eastern. On demand runs until 6/30.
  • Taguchi is out of match #2. Tomoaki Honma is his replacement.
  • Match #3 is unique, with three sets of champions. Archer & Smith are the NWA champs, Yano & Iizuka are the GHC champs (NOAH).
  • This is Naito’s return from reconstructive knee surgery. Naito & Okada are expected be the next legendary long term rivals in New Japan.

Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask vs. TAKA Michinoku & Taichi

Pre show match. Nothing to see here. Hey, you get Liger for free. Plus, TAKA is coming…mother fucker. Gets me every time.

IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: Rocky Romero & Alex Koslov (c) vs. Alex Shelley & KUSHIDA

Feels like deja vu. Desperately need new blood here. Should be fine.

Yuji Nagata, Ryusuke Taguchi & Captain New Japan vs. Karl Anderson, Tama Tonga & Bad Luck Fale

Bullet Club extended squash, will no doubt kill Cpt. New Japan again.

IWGP Tag Team Title, 3 Way Match: Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima (c) vs. Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka

Last multi team match was a mess. I expect this to be better. Outcome can go any of three ways, which helps.

NWA World Heavyweight Title: Rob Conway (c) vs. Manabu Nakanishi

Nakanishi can’t go anymore. This could be really bad. I expect it to be short and inoffensive. Conway should retain.

Shinsuke Nakamura & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Minoru Suzuki & Shelton Benjamin

Real sleeper here. Iishi is the current underrated darling. Shelton’s motivation is always a question.

Tetsuya Naito Return Match: Tetsuya Naito vs. Yujiro Takahashi

Naito’s revenge. Takahashi injured him (kayfabe), former tag partners. Blowoff match.

Special Singles Match: Hirooki Goto vs. Katsuyori Shibata

Rematch from the double KO last iPPV.

Special Singles Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Prince Devitt

The real main event. You can argue this is a one match show, but what a match it is. Devitt says if he wins, he wants the champ.

IWGP Heavyweight Title: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Togi Makabe

Makabe has no chance. Layup title defense. Only intrigue is if Okada can get a 4-star or better New Japan caliber main event out of this.

This is all about Devitt/Tanahashi. Devitt is arguably the greatest thing in the entire wrestling business right now (apologies to The Shield, but it’s true). A win over Tanahashi puts him officially on the map as a top line player after many years dominating the junior scene. He is the current junior champ and went undefeated in winning the Super Juniors. He has held both junior title countless times. There is nothing left for him to do at that level. It’s time to be elevated. He has found himself a winner of a gimmick as a heel, has charisma for days, and can work at the main event level without question. He should pin Tanahashi clean in the middle, and be elevated. This could end up being one of those epic, memorable, star making moments. We’ll see if the pull the trigger on “the real shooter”. I’m hyped.

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