User Reviews

However, 'Wrestle Kingdom 13' was not quite as lucky as the previous events, as there were a lot of things that stop the show from the Tokyo Dome, on being a total masterpiece. One of them was the fact, that the majority of wrestling fans knew that some of NJPW roster was indeed, jumping ship, and leaving for well establish American companies like WWE or starts up like All Elite Wrestling, due to them, spoiling it, on social network pages, a few days before the big event. Because of this, the show result were a little bit predictable like the main event between IWGP Heavyweight champion, Kenny Omega and challenger, Hiroshi Tanahashi, IWGP United States Championship match, champion, Cody Rhodes versus competition, Juice Robinson, and last, but not least, the three-way tag team match for the Tag Team Championship, between champions, 'Guerrillas of Destiny' (Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa) & challengers, 'The Young Bucks' (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) & 'Los Ingobernables de Japon' (Sanada and Evil). Still, without spoiling too much of the show, the contests were honestly, very entertaining to watch. The first match of the night, the Gauntlet match to determine the number one contenders to the NEVER Openweight 6 Men Tag Team Championship, involving the 'Most Violent Players' (Togi Makabe, Ryusuke Taguchi and Toru Yano), 'Chaos' (Hirooki Goto, Beretta and Chuckie T.) 'Suzuki-Gun' (Minoru Suzuki, Lance Archer and Davey Boy Smith Jr.) 'the Elite' (Hangman Page, Yujiro Takahashi and Marty Scurll) and Yuji Nagata, Jeff Cobb and David Finlay shows that. While, not as goofy or fun as the New Japan Rumble, in which, it replaced. This contest did give an idea of what New Japan is thinking with tag feuds with the future. Nevertheless, the next match in the evening was the one worth watching. The Never Openweight Championship Match between champion, Kota Ibushi & challenger, Will Ospreay was acrobatic & strong style stiff as hell. This is a truly spectacular contest. Sucks that Ibushi got a concussion, because of this match. They really need to be, more careful. This brings us to Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Match, between champions, 'Suzuki-gun' (Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado), and challengers, 'Roppongi 3K' (Sho & Yoh) & 'Los Ingobernables de Japon' (Shingo Takagi & Bushi). For the most part, this contest was highly forgettable. All I can remember is that Bushi having wardrobe malfunction during his entrance with his hood covering, most of his face, causing him to blindly stumble out. The next fight on the card was for the Revolution Pro Wrestling British Heavyweight Championship between title holder, Tomohiro Ishii and competitor, Zack Sabre Jr. While, personally, I hate cross-promotion matches, because I came here to see New Japan talents fight for New Japan promotion titles. I did like the technical, both were able to tell. The ending with the submission was a true highlight. The fifth match on the card was more of a joke. Like I said previous, it was pretty clear, who was going to win. 'The Young Bucks' didn't look like they had the will to win & 'Guerrillas of Destiny' was very silly with their over the top baby face turn. It was not a good contest. At least, it's more memorable than the next contest. The only thing, I remember about that match was the fact that Cody Rhodes was wearing the football colors of the Jacksonville Jaguars on his wrestling trucks, hinting on, his new adventure with Tony Khan, son of Jaguars owner, Shahid Khan. Like their previous match at 2017's 'Wrestle Kingdom 11', this was also highly mediocre. While the next contest had plenty of display of agility and acrobatics, it was equally as disappointing as the Cody Rhodes match. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship Match between Kushida VS Taiji Ishimori look more like a struggle. Personally, I dig the weird Kushida entrance. I just didn't like Ishimori having turning the jobber, Bone Soldier mantle into a winner idea. Ishimori deserves better. As for the Jay White vs. Kazuchika Okada match. I kinda like the build up to this grudge fight. It was surprisingly a straight forward affair. Good contest with shocking results. It's clear by the end of the match, NJPW is trying to build new stars with Western audiences. IWGP Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship No Disqualification Match between champion, Chris Jericho & challenger, Tetsuya Naito was also fine. However, Jericho is looking utterly, not good. Aged is really catching up with him. He seem plastered, and bloated. Very unhealthy looking. Hope, nothing is wrong with him. Then, there is the IWGP Heavyweight Championship Match between Omega and Tanahashi. By far, my second favorite match of the night. I like the build up to this, with the Ace having to prove that, he isn't past his prime, yet. The really long match was stellar. Just wish Tanahashi focus more on building an in ring story with him working on Omega's injury leg. That's my only nitpick, besides the predictable value. Overall: I have to say, as a whole, 'Wrestle Kingdom 13' is worth watching, even with its weak middle card. I can still recommended checking it out, even if you don't follow NJPW that well. The show was pretty easy to get through. So, treat yourself like a king, and check this out. You deserve a decent watch.

Wrestle Kingdom is always a big event, it always has some great matches, but this event felt a little flat.

No match was that bad, but none stood out to me. Some of them felt too short, others too long.

Kenny Omega's title reign ending in anticlimactic fashion like that was disappointing as well.