Too Sweet for 2 All Star Matches at NJPW Capital Collision
Marie Shadows takes a quick look at NJPW Captial Collision from May 14, 2022
New Japan Pro Wrestling took over The Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington, DC on May 14th to bring us Captial Collision. Capital Collision felt amazing as I watched it at home. I would love to travel to NJPW and report live from the venue.
Capital Collision has 2 all-star matches that created such an electric feel. The crowd enjoyed all the matches, as did I. However, I believe that these two matches stole the whole show and carried it.
Jay White and Hikuleo vs Okada and Rocky
Tanahashi vs Ospreay vs Moxley vs Juice Robinson - IWGP US Heavyweight Championship
After this show, we are on the road to Forbidden Door which is a joint AEW x NJPW show to bring us high profile matches. Let’s hope Tony Khan doesn’t fuck this up. I still don’t trust Tony Khan. Keep your guard up.
Captial Collision had all members of Bullet Club win their respective matches. Chase Owens - one half of the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions - won his match against United Empire member Great-O-Khan via cheating by having his feet on the ropes in a high angle. The story between the United Empire and Bullet Club is far from over.
In the two matches I mentioned above, Jay White and Hikuleo, and Juice Robinson all won their respective matches while representing Bullet Club.
Capital Collision was a night for Bullet Club. To make new stars. To get stars over. And to have stars prove themselves.
Juice Robinson needed to prove himself in that fatal 4-way match for the IWGP US Heavyweight Championship.
Hikuleo isn’t the “baby bro” anymore. While his decision to stay in Bullet Club, to follow Jay White’s orders or lessons or teachings may be unpopular amongst fans and very unpopular with Tanga Loa and Tama Tonga, I think it was the smartest decision to make given the circumstances. I’m excited to see Hikuleo carve out his own path since he already did the brother storyline with Tama and Loa. This is a business decision. That seems to pop up a lot when your aligned with Jay White.
✨Jay White & Hikuleo vs Okada & Rocky✨
Jay White was sorely missed working in a New Japan Pro Wrestling environment. While I enjoy his work no matter what - despite the ultimate betrayal - he’s a master storyteller and I know that whatever Bullet Club stories are in mind will be great to enjoy. Some take aways from this match:
Okada hasn’t faced Jay White since the Jay1 back in 2020. Jay White Correcting Ian Riccaboni about NJPW timeline
Why are we sacrificing Rocky to Hikuleo?
Hikuleo walks with a confident swagger. The burden of being in the middle of the betrayal was lifted from his shoulders after an impressive match against Jay White at NJPW Strong Mutiny. Hikuleo found himself. He approached this Captial Collision match differently and smartly with Jay White by his side. Not conflicted anymore. No more wondering which side to pick and understands that it’s Hikuleo’s time to shine in the crew of young misfits in NJPW waiting to carve out their own legacy.
Jay White vs Rocky is always amazing to watch.
Jay White vs Okada is always amazing to watch.
Jay White is a menace with the Blade Runner
The elephant in the room has now been slightly addressed. This is the post-match interaction between Tanga Loa and Hikuleo. Jay White gifted Hikuleo the chance to chokeslam Okada after their match. Hikuleo was about to do it and then Loa came out to confront Hikuleo.
There wasn’t a hug or happiness shared. Loa was clearly disappointed. Hikuleo threw up the too sweet sign to celebrate with his brother. Loa wasn’t having it. Jay then slowly slinked into the ring and placed his hand on Hikuleo’s shoulder, almost like control or reassurance.
Loa said to Hikuleo, “You don’t turn your back on family.”
This is far from over.
✨Fatal 4-way for the IWGP US Championship:
Tanahashi vs Ospreay vs Moxley vs Juice Robinson✨
Who in their wildest dreams or fantasy book would ever have thought that Juice Robinson, once flamboyant and tag teaming with David Finlay, would join the Bullet Club? This rejuvenation for Juice is leaps and bounds amazing. He has a new theme, new gear, and is nicknamed “Rock Hard.” If anything, I always wanted David Finlay to turn heel and join the Bullet Club given his losing streak against Switchblade Jay White.
But we have Juice Robinson in Bullet Club. He’s the underdog needing to prove why he belongs higher up on the NJPW card and why he needed this win so bad. Yeah, spoiler, Juice Robinson wins and Ospreay gets screwed again.
Take aways from the match:
All out chaos from all competitors.
Moxley bleeds…again…not a shocker. I just need him to stop bleeding in every match. Value your life more than violence. You have a kid now.
Juice Robinson used a chair to hit Ospreay in the back as he does his handspring.
Tanahashi flying in the air and crashing on Moxley who’s on a Japanese table.
Tanahashi doing High 5 Flow onto Ospreay and Moxley while Moxley has Ospreay in the Bulldog/Bully (?) choke. I think Moxley should get a new choke submission or just a new submission.
Juice Robinson understands all the Bullet Club tactics.
And now we have our new IWGP US Champion, Juice Robinson
This fatal 4-way had good story. Each wrestler getting their spots in. It closed the night on a good note. Juice Robinson really needed this victory.
The two matches I quickly discussed are the main attraction to NJPW Captial Collision. The rest of the matches helped elevate the show as well. I just think these two are the focal points for major NJPW story lines. I will be coming out with the podcast episode going in detail about the show.
That would be paid. I can’t keep giving away free work that requires time, effort, research, and energy to create. I’m being transparent about it.
✨Results of the card:
Karl Fredericks vs Ren Narita = winner Karl Fredericks
West Coast Wrecking Crew vs DKC/Yuya/David Finlay/ Tanga Loa/ Fred Rosser = winner WCWC
Chase Owens vs Great-O-Khan = winner Chase Owens
Jonah/Big Bad Tito/TMDK vs United Empire = winner Jonah/Big Bad Tito/TMDK
Brody King vs Suzuki = winner Brody King
Ishii vs Eddie Kingston = winner Ishii
Jay White & Hikuleo vs Okada vs Rocky = winner Jay White & Hikuleo
Tanahashi vs Ospreay vs Moxley vs Juice Robinson = winner Juice Robinson -new IWGP US Champion
Thank you for reading this whole article! I’m glad you did! What did you think about NJPW Captial Collision? Let me know in a comment!
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