The run-up to Invasion Attack wasn’t without controversy. From questions about withholding the Mkabe/Ishii match, not featuring Nakamura in a singles match and apparently continuing the Yano/Tanahashi feud beyond this event to NJPW announcing a 9500 sellout crowd (ticket-wise) a week in advance, when the Sumo Hall can hold 11500 fans (they even had to turn back fans at the gate), some of the NJPW’s decisions seemed a bit strange. Then again, NJPW had been in such situations before, only to send everyone home happy at the end of the night. Let’s see if this was the case here
1. Jushin Thunder Liger, Manabu Nakanishi, Ryusuke Taguchi, Sho Tanaka & Tiger Mask vs. Time Splitters (Alex Shelley & KUSHIDA), Captain New Japan, Yohei Komatsu & Yuji Nagata:
Fun opener featuring an amusing Kakanashi/Nagata sequence that really picked up pace whenever Shelley, Kushida and/or the young lions were in the ring. Delivered as the opener, Shelley (more on him later) pinned Tanaka (who else) to take this one for his team. Fun!
2. BULLET CLUB (Tama Tonga & Yujiro Takahashi) & Cody Hall vs. TenKoji (Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima) & Tomoaki Honma:
The highlight of Takahashi’s entrances is always his scantily clad “date of the evening”, a fact not lost on the NJPW cameramen. They even went further during the match when one of Tenzan’s and Kojima’s double team moves somehow ended up in the dazzling damsel’s cleavage as far as the cameraman was concerned. Not that I’m complaining.
On the other side of the equation, it never ceases to amaze me how over Honma is with the crowds. Surely something must be in store for him in the coming months. Another bout of harmless fun, Honma made the crowd go wild (as usual) Hall showed some potential (but is still green as hell) before taking the fall after a cool 3D/ top rop Kokeshi sequence. Honma scoring the pin here might be significant but we’ll have to wait and see. Honmamania Rules!
3. IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Title – The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) (c) vs. Roppongi Vice (Beretta & Rocky Romero):
Much was expected for this one and the two teams definitely delivered. Romero’s new team with Beretta looks fresh and entertaining, and the 4 of them worked well together to deliver an extremely entertaining match with Beretta and Romero coming out on top. Roppongi Vice’s upset win will probably add to the rumors about the Young Buck’s future (they are on Triple H’s wish list, ROH seeks to counter with an almost unprecedented (for an indie promotion) contract offer), but the good news is Roppongi Vice works as a team so more great match can be expected from this division. Too much fun not to watch guys, seek this one out!
4. IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title – Kenny Omega (c) vs. Mascara Dorada:
I expressed my concerns about this one before the event, but I shouldn’t have bothered. Those two delivered big time and Omega completely redeemed himself from his NB fiasco. While still delivering some antics, his “Cleaner” character works much better when it’s toned down. Some insane bumps from both here, in the end, and in a nice twist, it was actually Dorada’s over-confidence that cost him the match. After the match Omega called out Shelley (who was in Dorada’s corner with a bunch of other wrestlers), and vowed to “Take out the American trash next”. Shelley eagerly accepted. Great stuff! Watch this one, well worth your time.
5. IWGP Tag Team Title – BULLET CLUB (Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson) (c) vs. Matt Taven & Michael Bennett:
Ok this is getting weird. Taven and Bennett were barely on screen during their entrance, neither was Maria’s face. Do I have to spell it out for you at this point? Not my favorite match of the night to be honest, it was more based on some inane comedy than on actual action (even if Taven had his working boots on and delivered a fine performance). Anderson’s infatuation with Maria was the story here and it kinda failed to hold my interest. Not that they weren’t some fun spots (Anderson trying to seduce Maria while Gallows just wanted to knock her teeth out apparently), but not really a match to renew interest for the Heavyweight Tag Team Titles. The Kingdom scored the upset (after a Maria distraction of course), which left Gallows VERY annoyed with Anderson. Signs of tension? Mmmmh… Forgettable but harmless to watch.
6. CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI) vs. Hirooki Goto, Tetsuya Naito & Togi Makabe:
One of the subjects of pre-card controversy, this one ended up being tons of fun, not in the least because all 6 did extremely well to add interest to the various upcoming matches. Makabe and Ishii in particular got the cowds on their feet with their incredibly heated exchanges. From Ishii literally rubbing the NEVER title into Makabe’s face to the two of them constantly bumping into each-other, their transformed their inevitable re-match from has to happen anyway to must-watch. Goto, meanwhile, was booked in such way that he appeared to constantly dominate Nakamura and even ended up scoring the pin on the IC champion himself.
Turns out Gedo and Jado knew what they were doing after all, Makabe vs Ishii and Goto vs Nakamura were both expected, now they are also highly anticipated. That, my friends, is smart booking. Watch, it’s fun!
7. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Katsuyori Shibata vs. Kazushi Sakuraba & Toru Yano:
My least favorite match on the card. I was expecting some more Yano/Tanahashi shenanigans, and we got those, somewhat, but the story here was the building rivalry between Shibata and Sakurabe. I’m not sure about this one, it’s bound to give us some Worked/shoot style matches and I’m seldom into those. Sakaruba scores the pin on Shibata. Coffee-break match.
8. Bad Luck Fale vs. Kazuchika Okada:
I’ve been going on about how much I wanted this match and feud to be finally over with, and I was not alone with that feeling, but, credit where credit is due, those two ended up delivering the pleasant surprise of the night. Okada in particular was great in making Fale look like a killer monster, making his come-backs all the more spectacular. And Fale surprised us all by actually handling more than his fair share of the work. Okada was on fire towards the end and took Fale down with a thunderous Tombstone/Rainmaker combo. Didn’t think I was gonna say this, but actually very watchable. Thumbs up to the two of them.
9. IWGP Heavyweight Title – AJ Styles (c) vs. Kota Ibushi:
Lots was expected here, and, in my opinion, they delivered. Big time! Some will say the feeling out process lasted to long, that Aj’s matches in NJPW are all based on the same concept (people trying to avoid the Style Clash), but this didn’t bothered me at all. The Style’s Clash (as are most finishers in NJPW) has been well protected so teasing it always adds more drama. Styles capacity of apllying it from every angle and Ibushi’s sometimes inventive ways of avoiding it told a good story throughout the match. Add to that some crazy Ibushi bumps and you have yourself another excellent NJPW Main Event. Kota Ibushi really shone trough here and cemented his new-found status as main-eventer. Now if he can only sign that contract extension as quickly as possible and we’ll find him back contending for gold in no time.
And I’ve not even spoken about the finish yet. Try picturing a Phoenix Splash reversed into a Style’s Clash. Can’t? Well just watch it, those two pulled it off. Add to that, a nice touch with Omega (who was in Style’s corner) jumping unto the apron and being clearly torn about it (NJPW’s smartly acknowledging Ibushi’s and Omega’s past history and friendship in DDT), Omega’s longing looks at Style’s trophy and title after the match and, finally, Okada running in and destroying Styles with a vicious Rainmaker, all was spot on from start to finish. Must watch!
NJPW’s Gado and Jado (the booking team) were somewhat criticized before the event, but, when you end up with a very solid card, full of actions and surprises and Nakamura/Goto, Styles/Okada, added heat to Ishii/Makabe, Omega/Shelley, and various intrigues moving forward, you have done very a good job. Kudos to all involved, but the biggest story remains Ibushi ascending to the Main Event scene. And, despite his loss, believe me, he’s there to stay.