Recap of Night One of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s annual Wrestle Kingdom 15 event at the Tokyo Dome.
Hiromu Takahashi def. El Phantasmo to remain the No. 1 Contender for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship
Toward the end of the match, El Phantasmo attempted to hit CRII, but it was blocked by Takahashi. Takahashi then hit a hurricanrana and cradled Phantasmo to remain the No. 1 Contender.
Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa def. Taichi and Zach Sabre Jr. to win the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
Tama Tonga used Taichi’s iron glove on him. G.o.D. then hit Ape Sh*t on Taichi to win the tag titles.
IWGP United States Champion Jon Moxley appeared in a video stating that he is coming for whoever is victorious in the contract challenge.
なんと“USヘビー級王者”ジョン・モクスリーから、ビデオメッセージ!!
「東京ドームの後に、挑戦権利証を持っているヤツは覚悟しておけ！」
※1.4東京ドーム大会の試合結果はコチラ！
⇒https://t.co/8uoYzf8BgD#njwk15 #njpwworld pic.twitter.com/TOJh7pK3Pi— 新日本プロレスリング株式会社 (@njpw1972) January 4, 2021
KENTA def. Satoshi Kojima to retain the IWGP United States Championship challenge briefcase
Kojima attempted a lariat, but KENTA ducked and hit a Busaiku Knee. KENTA connected with a second Busaiku Knee for a near fall. KENTA then executed the Go 2 Sleep to pick up the victory and retain the briefcase.
“緊急登板”小島聡が追い詰めるも、最後は問答無用のgo 2 sleep!!
KENTAが“US王座挑戦権利証”を死守…!!
今度こそ、モクスリー戦が実現か？
※1.4東京ドームの試合結果はコチラ！
⇒https://t.co/8uoYzf8BgD#njwk15 #njpw pic.twitter.com/gi0Z9WVRfD— 新日本プロレスリング株式会社 (@njpw1972) January 4, 2021
Hiroshi Tanahashi def. Great-O-Khan
After being dominated by Great-O-Khan for most of the match, Tanahashi hit two High Fly Flows to pick up the victory.
Kazuchika Okada def. Will Ospreay
In a brutal match that went over 35 minutes, Okada blocked a Storm Breaker and hit a sit-out piledrive. Okada followed up with a Rainmaker to pick up the victory.
強烈無比！ 最後は、“伝家の宝刀”レインメーカーを解禁！
35分越え“壮絶マッチ”は、オカダがオスプレイを撃破…!!
※1.4東京ドームの試合結果はコチラ！
⇒https://t.co/8uoYzf8BgD#njwk15 #njpw pic.twitter.com/Y9vDyhT5DU— 新日本プロレスリング株式会社 (@njpw1972) January 4, 2021
Kota Ibushi def. Tetsuya Naito to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and the IWGP Intercontinental Championship
After 30 minutes of wrestling, Ibushi escaped Naito’s Destino and connected with a jumping knee strike. Ibushi followed up with his third Kamigoye and pinned Naito to become a double champion.
Naito presented Ibushi with the championships following the match. Jay White then came out with Gedo and told him his reign would last only one night because he would take the titles on night two of Wrestle Kingdom 15.
https://twitter.com/tvasahi_cs/status/1346085415036489729?s=20