Keiji Muto Retirement Show live results: Muto vs. Tetsuya Naito
After eight months and several final matches of sorts along the way, Japanese wrestling legend Keiji Muto will officially have his last pro wrestling match tonight at Pro Wrestling “Last” Love in Tokyo, Japan.
The 60-year-old Muto will face NJPW star Tetsuya Naito in the night’s main event, first set up at Wrestle Kingdom 17: NJPW x NOAH when Naito accepted Muto’s challenge.
The event will feature talent from NJPW, NOAH, Dragongate, All Japan Pro Wrestling, Tokyo Joshi Pro, and DDT.
In a highly-anticipated non-title match, IWGP World Champion Kazuchika Okada will face GHC Champion Kaito Kiyomiya. It began when Kiyomiya kicked Okada flush in the face during a match at Wrestle Kingdom 17: NJPW x NOAH, resulting in Okada attacking Kiyomiya for a double DQ.
In another non-title match, IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi will face GHC Junior Champion AMAKUSA.
The rest of the pay-per-view will feature multi-person tag team matches.
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Daiki Inaba & Masa Kitamiya defeated Yasutaka Yano & Yoshiki Inamura
This was a great opening tag. The sequences with Inaba were fantastic. Yano held his own as his star continued to brighten. The heavyweights played their role as constant checks to the smaller guys throughout. Good stuff.
Unsurprisingly, the GHC tag champions left this match with a win. After a long rally from Yano, Kitamiya caught him with a Samoan drop and Saito suplex to win the match.
TJPW Showcase: Miyu Yamashita, Rika Tatsumi, Shoko Nakajima & Yuka Sakazaki defeated Maki Itoh, Miu Watanabe, Mizuki & Yuki Arai
I may be biased, but this match was incredible. TJPW present vs. TJPW future was the perfect dynamic for an eight-man tag, and the crowd ate it up.
The team of Yamashita, Rika, Shoko, and Yuka were the clear favorites, as they were/are the last four women to hold the POP belt, TJPW’s top prize, but the up-and-comers held their own. The match played out in one cohesive sequence, allowing everyone to get in a little something.
In the end, Yuka, the reigning POP champion, took advantage of the constant escalation, hitting a Magical Girl Splash on Yuki Arai to win the match.
Anthony Greene, Jack Morris & Jake Lee (Good Looking Guys) defeated Satoshi Kojima, Takashi Sugiura & Timothy Thatcher
This was a boring match, here to further establish GLG (I guess) on the biggest stage in wrestling. It was easily the worst thing on the pre-show.
This was a painfully typical 6-man through in through, coming to a rather sudden end when Lee hit Thatcher with a kick in the corner, leading to the pin.
Chris Ridgeway, Daga, Eita, HAYATA & Yoshinari Ogawa (STINGER) defeated Alejandro, Atsushi Kotoge, Junta Miyawaki, Seiki Yoshioka & YO-HEY
This was precisely the kind of match you would expect from the NOAH juniors, plus some STINGER meta-drama.
After a few minutes of sequences, Ridgeway started mat work, eventually securing a choke and winning the match.
After the match, Ridgeway and HAYATA were blindsided by their former faction mates, with Ogawa leading the charge. Daga and Eita were clearly on Ogawa’s side.
Chris Ridgeway, Daga, Eita, HAYATA & Yoshinari Ogawa (STINGER) defeated Alejandro, Atsushi Kotoge, Junta Miyawaki, Seiki Yoshioka & YO-HEY
This was the kind of match you would expect from the NOAH juniors, if a little short, plus some STINGER meta-drama.
After a few minutes of sequences, Ridgeway started mat work, eventually securing a choke and winning the match.
After the match, Ridgeway and HAYATA were blindsided by their former faction mates, with Ogawa leading the charge. Daga and Eita were clearly on Ogawa’s side.
DDT Showcase: MAO, Shunma Katsumata, Toi Kojima & Yuki Ueno (37KAMIINA) defeated Tetsuya Endo, Yuya Koroku (Burning), Hideki Okatani, & Takeshi Masada
This wasn’t my style of match, but everyone gave it their all. Masada was a real standout, especially given his experience, or lack thereof.
This match was quick to break down, with 37K taking an early lead. The match was filled with action, with little-to-no breaks.
In the closing moments, Ueno hit the rookie Masada with the WR to win the match.
El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr., Naomichi Marufuji & Ninja Mack (NOAH) defeated Diamante, KAI & Shun Skywalker (Dragongate/Z-Brats)
This was another athletic multi-man tag. This time Z-B played the heels throughout, letting the NOAH boys play up their home-field advantage.
The Dragongate team continually isolated the NOAH babyfaces, giving them time to shine. Wagner eventually hit a beautiful moonsault on KAI to win the match.
At some point during this, Diamante landed awkwardly, injuring his arm.
Katsuhiko Nakajima, Kenoh & Manabu Soya (NOAH/Kongo) defeated Kento Miyahara, Suwama & Yuma Aoyagi (AJPW)
This was a fantastic match. While it’s no surprise Kento and Yuma stood out, all of the All Japan trio was impressive, with Suwama putting in one of his best performances in a long while.
Kento and Nakajima opened this match to a hot reaction from the crowd, saving the real action for later, they tagged out.
The teams were quick to brawl. This chaotic exchange was exhilarating, with both teams going to war on the outside. Once the match finally returned to the ring, Yuma and Soya traded blows. The All Japan trio worked together to further their lead, isolating Soya from the rest of Kongo.
A jumping lariat bought Soya a tag into Nakajima, leaving Kento and Nakajima alone in the ring again. The pair came to blows this time, and the crowd went wild. After the pair proved to be on equal footing, the match broke down.
After another exciting team-vs-team battle, Yuma aimed to close. After multiple suplexes, Yuma locked Kenoh in a choke, but Soya made the save with a giant lariat. Kenoh followed up with a soccer kick for a nearfall, re-establishing a Kongo lead. A roundhouse kick scored Kenoh another nearfall. Finally, Kenoh hit the PFS and won the match for his team.
After the match concluded, Kento and Nakajima had an intense staredown, perhaps setting up another inter-promotional match in the future.
NOSAWA’s Final Match: Gedo & Taiji Ishimori (NJPW/Bullet Club) defeated MAZADA & NOSAWA Rongai (NOAH)
This wasn’t good, but at least it was brief.
NOSAWA’s retirement match started exactly as you would expect, by rushing their opponents. It didn’t take long for Gedo and NOSAWA to square off, but Ishimori was able to take the lead for his team.
Very early in the match, NOSAWA sat on his knees and stared down a teary-eyed Ishimori. NOSAWA essentially offered himself to Ishimori. Through the tears, Ishimori hit NOSAWA with Bloody Cross, winning the match in under five minutes.
After the conclusion, NOSAWA basked in the Tokyo Dome cheers for a while before heading to the back. This was strange retirement, to say the least.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi defeated GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion AMAKUSA
This was a great match between rival champions. AMAKUSA pushed himself in this match, leaving nothing in the ring. Unsurprisingly, the IWGP champion left with the win, even in a NOAH ring.
This match opened with a relatively typical junior sequence, made special by an incredible crashing dive from AMAKUSA. Even after the dive, Hiromu was able to establish control inside and outside of the ring.
Hiromu’s offense eventually let up, allowing AMAKUSA to land two more stunning dives. Unable to close, AMAKUSA ran at Hirmou, but Hiromu caught him with a nasty throw into the corner.
Hiromu landed a lariat to cement his lead but chose to taunt AMAKUSA with his old mask. AMAKUSA took advantage, retaking the lead and control over the mask. After throwing the mask to the outside, AMAKUSA scored a nearfall, avoiding a timebomb.
Hiromu eventually landed a timebomb, but AMAKUSA kicked out. After the kick out, Hiromu was quick to follow up, landing a second to win the match.
IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada defeated GHC Heavyweight Champion Kaito Kiyomiya
This was an extraordinary match, easily my favorite of the year. I hope this isn’t the end of this pair.
Before the show began, Kaito’s petition to remove this match’s time limit was accepted.
Surprisingly, this match opened with a sloppy collar-and-elbow tie-up. After the tie-up was broken up, the champions started throwing heavy strikes. Okada answered Kaito’s brashness with a German suplex before taking the match outside of the ring.
On the floor, Okada hit Kaito with a backdrop and DDT. Kaito hobbled his way back to the ring, where Okada taunted him with kicks similar to the kick that led to this match. Okada was in complete control.
Kaito stuck Okada with intensity during any opening that Okada gave him. This allowed Kaito to bring Okada to the floor, where he whipped the IWGP champion into the barricade multiple times. After a brief struggle, Kaito hit Okada with a suplex on the apron, which he followed with a dive over the guardrail, wiping out Okada.
Back in the ring, Kaito hit a German suplex for a nearfall. Okada tried to rebound, landing a flapjack for a mid-match reset. The pair traded flying moves, with Okada’s dropkick winning out. Okada landed a tombstone and spinning rainmaker, but Kaito blocked the finishing rainmaker with a knee to the rainmaker arm.
Kaito began to target the arm of Okada further, landing a barrage of dropkicks, including one from the top rope. Kaito landed a pair of shining wizards for a nearfall that had left the crowd raucous, but Okada bounced back with a dropkick.
Okada landed a lariat before trying again for the rainmaker. Kaito ducked, but Okada hit the dropkick and tried again. On the second rainmaker attempt, Kaito reversed into the shining wizard and tiger suplex; Okada kicked out. Okada then hit a tombstone before finally connecting with the rainmaker; Okada pulled up Kaito’s head before the three count. Okada hit Kaito with an enziguri, emerald flowsion, and another rainmaker before pinning the GHC champion.
Keiji Muto’s Final Match: Tetsuya Naito defeated Keiji Muto
Considering its limitations, this match was excellent.
Before the match, Masahiro Chono walked to the ring and cut a promo honoring the career of Muto. A video package then recapped Muto’s career with both Sinatra’s and the Sex Pistols’ versions of “My Way” backing.
Muto’s entrance was spectacular, mixing all of his past themes leading into his rising from under the ramp on a flying platform. During his long walk to the ring, the fans showered Muto in chants of his name.
Once the opening theatrics ended, the match began with a collar-and-elbow tie-up. Naito took the match to the mat, where he and Muto traded holds for some time. After this extended struggle, Muto hit his elbow drop, revealing a stream of blood on his cheek.
Natio fought back, landing a snapmare and a dropkick before sending Muto to the outside. On the ramp, Muto’s legs failed him, leaving Naito free to land a lengthy running dropkick. Then, back in the ring, the action stayed on the mat as it became evident Muto’s legs were far from proper. Naito pushed Muto back to the floor, where he began to target Muto’s injured legs.
Back in the ring, Muto landed a quick dragonscrew before securing the figure four leglock. After Naito escaped, he landed an enziguri and returned the match to the mat.
Naito started setting up Muto’s neck with strikes, but Muto answered with Hashimoto chops and a DDT; Muto then landed emerald flowsion for a near fall, honoring two men who never had retirement matches. Muto hit his first shining wizard of the night for a near fall. Muto then hit a backbreaker before climbing to the top rope, teasing a moonsault; Muto stepped down, deciding it wasn’t worth the risk.
Naito landed a hamstring dropkick to send Muto back to the mat. Muto answered with a dropkick of his own, a dragonscrew, and a figure four. Naito escaped, and again, Muto followed up with a dragonscrew and a trio of shining wizards. After Naito kicked out, Muto climbed to the top rope again but stepped down once more.
Naito quickly responded, hitting a dragonscrew of his own before revealing his now bloodied face. Naito locked in the figure four, leading into an extended struggle. Naito eventually let go and dropped Muto with a pair of shining wizards; Muto kicked out. Realizing the end was in sight, Naito hit Destino and won the match.
After the match, Muto grabbed the microphone and cut a promo. He thanked the crowd and called Chono into the ring. He then challenged Chono to an impromptu match. He asked Tiger Hattori to ref the impromptu bout. Chono hesitated, but once his music hit, he made his way from coms to the ring.
Chono and Muto entered the ring. Tiger called for the bell, unveiling a “secret main event”.
Secret Main Event: Masahiro Chono defeated Keiji Muto
This match opened with a collar-and-elbow tie-up. Chono slapped Muto, sending him to the mat. Chono hit a shining wizard and locked in the STF. Muto tapped out in what must be his and Chono’s actual final match.
This was a nice tribute to Chono, giving him an actual retirement match. It’s also objectively hilarious that Muto’s “final match”, which has been built for ages, was his final match for all of about five minutes.
After the match and some reminiscing in the ring, Muto walked to the top of the ramp for his final sendoff.
After the final pyro went off, a screen with the face of Muto, Misawa, & Hashimoto stretched across the Tokyo Dome.
Closing Thoughts
This show was incredible, easily the best of the year thus far. NOAH’s typical production is unmatched, but this was on another level. The in-ring quality, the gravity of the matches, the crowd — everything was excellent.
At the end of all of this, though, I can’t help but think New Japan, not NOAH, benefited the most. Not only did NJPW wrestlers win all four of the attraction matches, main event NOAH’s Tokyo Dome, and bury the GHC all in one night, they also are coming off of Mercedes Mone’s incredible debut and Yuji Nagata securing the Triple Crown. It was already one of the biggest weeks for New Japan post-pandemic, and this show only seals the deal.