New Japan Pro Wrestling on AXS TV (July 22nd) Recap Hirooki Goto vs Shinsuke Nakamura & Katsuyori Shibata vs Tetsuya Naito

Welcome to the recap for this week’s edition of New Japan Pro Wrestling on AXS TV. I’m Ryan Cook and I’ll be taking you through what is sure to be a great episode as we are in Kobe, Japan at Kobe World Memorial Hall for what is better known as the event Destruction in Kobe. We have IWGP Intercontinental Champion Hirooki Goto defend his belt against the charismatic King of Strong Style Shinsuke Nakamura. Then Katsuyori Shibata faces Tetsuya Naito.

Hirooki Goto vs Shinsuke Nakamura IWGP Intercontinental Championship Match

They start off with a test of strength in the center of the ring that Goto gets the better of. Goto floors Shinsuke then hits a brutal clothesline that sends Shinsuke over the top rope. As we come back from commercial Goto is in control outside until Nakamura whips Goto into the railing, but Goto just throws him into it and gets back in the ring. Shinsuke hits a running knee then a diving knee off the apron. They skip ahead a little as Shinsuke goes for the Bomaye, but misses. 

Shinsuke hits his signature reverse explorer suplex then goes for another Bomaye, only to have Goto reverse into an arm bar, but unable to get the tap. Goto smartly focuses on the elbow of Nakamura, hitting an olympic slam for a quick 2 count. Shinsuke hits a brutal knee to the back of Goto’s head, they move ahead to the two exchanging forearms then Shinsuke nearly getting the 3 count after a sliding knee attack to the side of Goto’s head.

Nakamura sets Goto up on the top rope, but he gets reversed as Goto hits a sunset flip powerbomb for a close 2 count as we go to commercial. They’re skipping around, but they’re getting the best parts of the match in, makes sense, their original match was nearly 40 minutes long. Goto hits an ushigoroshi for a very close 2 count, immediately following up by sitting Nakamura on the top rope then hits another ushigoroshi off the top rope and Shinsuke somehow kicks out. Shinsuke drops Goto with a right hand, but it dropped by a sickening headbutt.Goto goes for a lariat, but Nakamura counters with a flying arm bar, only for Goto to counter into an arm bar of his own, Nakamura nearly taps, but Goto stays on him for a hammer lock. Shinsuke jumps up and hits a knee that drops Goto, then goes for the Bomaye, but Goto counters. Shinsuke finally hits the bomaye for the win and the win.

Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura via pinfall with the Bomaye

-After the match Shinsuke is interrupted by the Bullet Club as Gallows and Anderson get in the ring, Karl challenging Shinsuke to a title match, saying he beat him in the G1 and they be can beat him again. Shinsuke seemly accepts, facing off with Anderson then leaving the ring.

Katsuyori Shibata vs Tetsuya Naito

This is arguably the match that made the Naito heel character reach it’s peak of popularity. The Los Ingobernables character without question resurrected Naito’s career. 

The match starts with Shibata hitting a big boot onto Naito on the apron that sends him to the floor, but capitalizes and tosses Shibata into the railing a few times before getting into the ring. Naito plays to the crowd as Shibata recovers, going back outside after Shibata and tossing him into the crowd. Naito tosses Shibata back into the ring, playing to the crowd more as he keeps Shibata grounded with kicks on the mat then in the corner, finishing it up with a front drop kick. Shibata has had enough though as he repeatedly hits Naito in the corner with forearms, then uses the ropes for a triangle choke, pretty creative by Shibata. Shibata is in control now as he uses his speed to his advantage, running into him in various corners with knees and boots before tossing him outside. 

They cut to Shibata tossing Naito around the outside of the ring to all four corners of the security railing before tossing him back into the ring. Shibata applies the octopus stretch, but Naito quickly gets to the rope. Shibata finishes up his flurry of offense with a shotgun dropkick in the corner as we go to commercial. Shibata hits a float over suplex for a 1 count then after Naito spits on him Shibata repeatedly hits him with forearms and after Naito hits a release German suplex, Shibata turns him inside out with a clothesline. They exchange forearms in the center of the ring with Shibata getting the upper hand with an uppercut into a crossface submission, but can’t get Naito to tap. Naito pushes the referee then hits two low blows and a slap before hitting Destino for the pin and the win.

Winner: Tetsuya Naito via pinfall with Destino