After Wrestle Kingdom, Dominion is the second biggest show on New Japan Pro Wrestling’s calendar. However, going into this show, there was a lot on the line with a new IWGP World Heavyweight needing to be crowned after Will Ospreay had to relinquish his title. Also, with so much uncertainty due to the pandemic, many fans were grateful that Dominion could even go ahead.
Yet, it did successfully and featuring all the most-loved athletes in the company. With a mixture of tag, singles and title bouts, here are all the matches during the show ranked!
5. CHAOS & Hontai v Bullet Club
Credit: NJPW1972
As expected, the opening match for the Dominion card was a huge multi-man tag match featuring the members of Bullet Club, CHAOS and Hontai. In reality, this was never going to be the best wrestling match by a stretch and instead served to introduce new storylines for after the show.
Yet, many thought it had more substance than most New Japan opening matches. With the return of El Phantasmo, it felt like Bullet Club had some of its charisma back detracting from the likes of EVIL, Yujiro and Dick Togo. It was also a great chance for fans to see their favourite in Tanahashi.
The main essence of this match was the mixture of Jr and Heavyweight wrestlers involved. From the strength of Ishii and Goto, the athleticism of SHO and Ishimori and the showmanship of ELP and Tanahashi, it had a bit of everything.
After the 11-minute mark, Taiji Ishimori managed to pin SHO with a Bloody Cross. With that win, ELP and Ishimori cemented their right to an IWGP Jr tag title match. However, for some reason, EVIL, Yujiro and Togo saw it as their opportunity to challenge for the NEVER 6-Man titles. It will be an interesting set of storylines to watch going forward.
4. Suzuki Gun v Los Ingobernables de Japon
Credit: NJPW1972
On the surface, this match didn’t seem to have any cohesion to it. After beating G.O.D for the titles, the team of Zack Sabre Jr and TAICHI had a rare match acting as the babyfaces. However, to put them against the crowd favourites in Los Ingobernables de Japon seemed to revert all that progress. However, it was a match that proved that these teams have great potential to produce perfect matches.
Throughout the match, all of the wrestlers involved got to show their own personalities. TAICHI quickly got frustrated with Naito trying to strangle him. Naito continued to poke the Suzuki Gun team with his taunts and the juniors showcased their skills.
In particular, the action between ZSJ is something that will never get old. Whenever the two of them get into the ring with each other, it feels like an intricate dance consisting of complicated choreography. Their final exchange of reversals and roll-ups led SANADA to pin ZSJ with a beautiful Aussie Suplex.
With SANADA pinning Zack, the duo has now got a claim to the IWGP tag titles. Although the duo has teamed as a faction, it will be the first time SANADA and Naito will go for titles together. Yet, not only will it be a fresh team for the division, but a new set of opponents to bring something out of Dangerous Tekkers.
3. Special Singles Match – Jeff Cobb v Kota Ibushi
Credit: NJPW1972
Although there were no title implications going into the match, there was a matter of pride on the line with both men wanting to prove something. After uniting the two IWGP titles just to lose it on his first defence, many worried that Kota Ibushi had lost his way. With the absence of Ospreay, The Empire has also been struggling to gain momentum.
As expected from two men who are the epitome of a super-athlete, the match was full action from the second the bell rang. In the match, although it would look like a mismatch of styles on the surface, the two men are more similar than different. The combination of strength, speed and power from both men made a special singles match into something more.
Whereas Cobb seemed to utilise his size advantage throwing Ibushi around like a rag doll, he also proved that he has the athleticism of a Jr hitting moonsaults with ease. Similarly, with Ibushi, he raced around the ring and slowed the pace focusing on strikes and power-based offence.
Throughout the match, the two men pushed each other to their limit in a short time. Yet, in the end, Ibushi got the win with one final Kamigoye. Although this gives Ibushi momentum for his title match with Shingo, where does it leave Cobb? With one member down and the others not really doing anything on the upper card, it doesn’t showcase The Empire in the way they wanted.
2. IWGP Jr Heavyweight Championship – El Desperado v YOH
Credit: NJPW1972
After Hiromu was injured again earlier in the year, many worried about the state of the company’s small Jr division. Yet, when El Desperado was crowned as champion, fans saw it as a new chapter for the belt pushing underrated talent to the forefront. This was further confirmed when Roppongi 3k’s YOH became the latest challenger. Despite postponing the match due to COVID, fans were treated to a diverse wrestling match from the two.
For two Jr Heavyweights, the match started on the mat with both men feeling each other out. However, it quickly picked up speed and intensity. As expected, Desperado focused on damaging YOH’s already weakened knee, which has only just recovered from surgery. Unfortunately, it seemed as if every time YOH tried to regain some strength, Despy was stalking him like a hunter.
Of course, YOH used all his heart and passion to keep fighting, utilising his own diverse style combining high-flying and Japanese Strong Style. It was that diversity that was key in this match. Both men have very different styles and showcased them perfectly allowing their skills to shine. From Desperado’s strikes to YOH’s submission skills, the match was full of layers.
In the closing minute, the intensity heated up with a series of strikes and flash pins. Yet, Desperado had worn YOH down too much and hit a picture-perfect Pinche Loco for the win.It was definitely the right choice from New Japan. After waiting so long for a reign, it would have been disappointing for Despy to lose the title on his first defence. However, being so close to the title will also ignite a fire in YOH and lead to greater things in the future.
1. IWGP World Heavyweight Championship – Kazuchika Okada v Shingo Takagi
Credit: NJPW1972
Going into the show’s main event, it was more than just a rubber match between two of the best athletes in the world. With a chance to be the new IWGP World Heavyweight champion, there was pride and a spot in the belt’s new history on the line. Fans also had extremely high expectations.
For two men who are so athletic, the match started in quite a slow and methodical manner. Both Okada and Shingo stuck to the mat liken they were in the process of feeling each other out but it didn’t last long. Within no time at all, the speed increased and so did the danger. Throughout the match, Takagi made sure to exploit Okada’s back problems with some high-risk offence.
Yet, Okada found a way to take the match and ensure the pace suited him. Rather than focusing on a power game, where Shingo strives, he chose to increase the speed and unpredictability of the offence. The match was truly dynamic. There were moments outside the ring, executing a flurry of offence or just standing in the centre of the ring throwing forearms.
As the match continued, neither Okada nor Shingo seemed to have any plans of slowing down. On the contrary, it seemed like every time one of the men tried to attack, the other found some way to counter it or use the momentum in their favour.
In the end, after one Last of the Dragon, Shingo got the win and his first taste of IWGP Gold. With his place at the top of New Japan cemented, will Takagi cope with the pressure of being the face of the company?
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