New Japan - Wrestling #3 : Tanahashi vs. Naito IWGP Intercontinental Championship.

Seeing Hiroshi Tanahashi forcing Tetsuya Naito to tap out to the Texas Cloverleaf at Dominion 6.11 in Osaka-jo Hall 2017, winning the disrespected IWGP Intercontinental Championship was so satisfying. I realize many felt like at Wrestle Kingdom 12 Tanahashi should have put over Jay White, but I consider such critique a bit ridiculous. White is an up and comer, no doubt (and Omega did the deed, putting over White, losing the IWGP US title to him, so all is well), but Tanahashi is a legend and when he loses it needs to be to established near-Top stars (like Naito when he won the IC title from Tanahashi and Omega, who also won the IC title thanks to a win against Tanahashi). And I personally thought the match between Tanahashi and White was far better and more evenly wrestled than many others who felt the former did the latter zero favors during the IC title defense. But against Naito, who had been tossing around the title, stepping on it, throwing it up high in the air, stomping on it, and just treating it like an object unworthy of respect, Tanahashi made it a mission to relinquish it from such mistreatment. Tanahashi’s right bicep injury put him at a severe disadvantage, and Naito clearly aimed for such an easy target. This handicap was attacked over and over, with Naito locking Tanahashi in punishing submission holds which put pressure on the arm. The agonizing bends and applied stretches in these holds (at only point Naito even drapes a leg over Tanahashi’s face) would have made most surrender, but Tanahashi just had that will to continue despite the further damage that stubbornness against “fighting another day” could have caused. Tanahashi finally took his own advantage, going after Naito’s knee, using the always dangerous Dragonscrew Leg Whip in a variety of ways (the DSLW on the ring apron was nasty!).This was indeed a storytelling classic for the IC title where the injuries of both men are exposed and it will come down to the right submission hold, applied at the right time in the right place. Naito was unable to hit Destino, but did get a near fall with his Gloria semi-finisher. Tanahashi does get a near-fall with his High Fly Flow, but Naito spoils the early celebration. I think, though, the middle-of-the-ring Texas Cloverleaf, where Naito seemed to be trapped in it for an eternity, was the perfect solution to the rivalry, as Tanahashi gives this despicable heel proper punishment for his prolonged devalue of the IC title. Because Naito was being groomed anyway for another showdown with Okada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, this was the right path towards removing him from the IC scene because Tanahashi was a credible choice to take the belt off him. It had all the ingredients, really: personal distaste between two competitors, a prize one desperately covets while the champion disregards it as a meaningless prop, and a stipulation involving the challenger getting this one last chance to win the belt. And the two injuries give both wrestlers an area to go after, and they most certainly do. The drama of if Naito wins, the title will be discarded, so it is imperative that Tanahashi detach it from him is milked for all its worth, too. The way Naito went at that arm and how Tanahashi had to just survive was so well told. One hell of a contest. This is what I consider good wrestling entertainment. ****/****

*Naito’s spitting at his opponents and fans really sets him out as quite a unpleasant character, but he’s nonetheless one of the most popular wrestlers in New Japan, if not the most popular wrestler in the company!