Hiroshi Tanahashi makes the save for Kazuchika Okada after Dominion 6.9 main event

In the main event of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall this morning (for full results, check here), Kazuchika Okada retained the IWGP Heavyweight Championship after a grueling war with Chris Jericho.

It was a clash of styles from the start, with Okada having pledged to show Jericho a real New Japan main event without all the brawling and gimmicks, and our heavy metal dad Y2J immediately taking him to the floor for a beating and hardcore spots. The Rainmaker was able to fight back and into his usual patterns, but got frustrated and started giving Jericho what he wanted, which lead to some close calls.

In the end, Okada was able to snap the win off with a flash rana pin for the victory, but the Painmaker wasn’t done with him yet. Jericho beat Okada down with a chair, hit the Judas Effect, and horse-collared him into the post, EVIL style, before Hiroshi Tanahashi made the save.

Y2J ran off, but not before cutting a promo saying he’d see Okada later and wishing him, “Happy championship, bitch!”, and the 1/100 Ace helped the Rainmaker to the back, leaving the crowd in Osaka-jo Hall disappointed and voicing their displeasure at the lack of any post-show comments or air guitar from any of the men involved.

But this sets two interesting things up going forward— one, obviously, you have to think the plan is to do Jericho vs. Tanahashi later in the year now (likely at King of Pro-Wrestling in October if I had to guess), and two, the Tanahashi/Okada alliance from late last year is resurrected heading into the G1 Climax, which opens up some interesting possibilities as Chaos continues to kind of gently dissolve into the tapestry of the New Japan babyface army.

There you have it, folks

Excited for the possibility of Y2J and the 1/100 Ace squaring up at some point in the future, Cagesiders?