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00:00Well, as we get set for our main event, folks,
00:11we talked about the very pinnacle of all there is in professional wrestling.
00:18Whoa!
00:22The mark for the very best professional wrestler in the world is
00:26the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
00:29And the mark of the very best professional wrestler in the world
00:33is the one to win in the Tokyo Dome main event.
00:36We talked yesterday, Walker, about what it is,
00:40what you need to be victorious in this building, in this spot.
00:45And you need a little bit of the black hearts and the dark hearts.
00:50There was a lot of talk, Rocky, the sportsmanship, nice competitism,
00:55and a lot of respect between Ricochet and Zack Sabre Jr.
00:59But this past week on AEW Dynamite, the actions of Ricochet to Swerve Strickland
01:05showed that Ricochet is a master of the dark arts and has all the killer instinct he needs
01:11to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
01:14I have never seen that man, that guy I know, Trevor Man, Ricochet, act like that ever in my life.
01:23And I've known him for many, many years.
01:26And to see what he did to Swerve Strickland last week on AEW Dynamite was appalling.
01:32But you're right, Chris, that is a man who is desperate to show the world what he is,
01:40and what he's willing to do to his opponent.
01:46And Zack Sabre Jr., on the night after such an amazing match,
01:55and defending the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, needs to be a little worried.
01:59It's not the high flying good time sensation anymore.
02:17There's something dark that lives within that soul.
02:29Through the fire, through the smoke and flame, it all comes down to one man in the entire world's eyes,
02:57and the entire world's pressure sits on the broad shoulders of the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion,
03:06the front man, Zack Sabre Jr.
03:10Less than 24 hours ago, it was this man who was making this very walk down the long entrance ramp of the Tokyo Dome.
03:19Title around the waist for what very well could have been the last time, a war of resolve ensued, 43 minutes, 44 seconds in the end.
03:30And Zack Sabre Jr. puts up the results that both men on that night really needed.
03:34But all the talk, all the talk, Rock, of Ricochet being the one and only in professional wrestling.
03:42Right now, making his way to ringside, you're looking at the one and only, the top of the sport.
03:49It is Zack Sabre Jr. It is your World Heavyweight Champion.
03:52What an incredible moment last night.
03:58Zack Sabre Jr., like you said, the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion,
04:06and a successful defense in the main event of the Tokyo Dome.
04:12Zack Sabre Jr. This match is going down the way!
04:16I'm looking to make history once again here tonight at the first ever
04:23WrestleDynasty event here in the Tokyo Dome.
04:27Zack was the first in 19 WrestleKingdom, the first non-Japanese to win a main event.
04:34If he wins tonight, he would be the first ever, regardless of nationality,
04:39to defend as champion strikes the back knife oh wait a minute ricochet ricochet
04:48takes down the champion the bell sounds and we're underway here it's the main event of the
04:54tokyo dome one fall 60 minutes and it may not take that ricochet on a roll so dangerous
05:05oh sasuke over the top he's going fast he's going fast this is the way to do it boys
05:13450 cover two very damn nearly the shortest tokyo dome main event of all time
05:22it was zack saber jr said leading into this ricochet you can call yourself the one and
05:30only as much as you want but i'm zack saber jr this isn't the speed championship on the
05:35house show loop this is the world heavyweight title it is the main event in the tokyo dome
05:40and it's time to put the working boots on first singles match between these two since november
05:4626 2017 both men have gone worldwide ever since ricochet has won their last three encounters
05:56four and three overall to zack saber jr but i really don't think those past matches will get
06:01any reference point no so much has changed in the last eight years well the first taking place back
06:07in 2013 these men just then starting to gain a little bit of buzz on the independent scene and now
06:13well you've seen the men that they've turned into world heavyweight champion sabre jr ricochet
06:18a man who you talk about showing the world what he's got earlier on rocky romero he's shown the world
06:24what he's had he's left a comfortable system up north to really challenge himself to really prove
06:30i am the man that i've said i am for the past 10 years yeah what a complete standout continental classic
06:36this year in aw and proves and keeps showing himself every single week what he's like wow
06:45no better illustration of what these two men are about
06:49than right there for that control
06:52i feel like the closest thing that you could get to these two styles would be an osprey will
06:58osprey versus zack saber jr how many times that they have amazing uh uh you know battles over the
07:04years and that's probably the best tape that you could have prepared for for each one of these guys
07:09watching zack versus will and uh ricochet preparing for himself for this type of match against
07:14zack saber as well it was though at the end of the day zack saber jr not one to watch a lot of tape of
07:20his own matches at least everything it is all improv not a lot of pre-match thought not a lot of
07:32strategizing was the last to the building today came in just about an hour before bell time did
07:39that's nasty ricochet smartly getting out of that as quick as possible the submission jazz musician
07:48right and rocky it dawns on me that you compare ricochet to will osprey and in that same sentence
07:56you had to compare zack saber jr to zack saber jr there is no one that can match this man or compare
08:02to him in the technical game or as we've proven last night any game the best in the world right now
08:08absolutely but i don't want to forget about what ricochet's done in the last few months
08:17and the street that he's been on and now with that newfound attitude willing
08:27to do whatever he wants whenever he wants it makes him an extremely dangerous competitor
08:33yes now one always though has been chasing zack saber jr i think for me ricochet saw what zack
08:42saber jr did in winning the g1 climax immediately calling a shot winning the world heavyweight championship
08:48ricochet was in a similar position way way back in 2014 won best of the super juniors way back then
08:56but could not convert on his championship opportunity and that sort of brought to mind in my opinion
09:02well a long dormant perhaps rivalry 10 years on against zack saber jr wow yeah
09:11uncomparable
09:14this is your pro wrestlers pro wrestling match this is your clash of styles for the evening chris
09:22this is a match where you know i mean if you're in a training system anywhere in the world this is
09:27the tape that you will show yes to your school you know and shout outs to our power to perry in the
09:35in the wrestling club i'm sure they're watching this match as well next week
09:38good friends
09:46shake targeting the back of that head up and over and that is the exact same way these two men first
09:53came to blow oh zaka watch for it ricochet off the middle wow salt connects cover here for ricochet
10:01and it is not lost on the challenger just how big of an opportunity that this is to go from zero
10:11to 100 by winning the title war cap you saw right on that last blow and you can see right now
10:17zack saber jr now he calls over the referee long lingering the intercostals the rib that area the
10:24injury that never never heals the only crack in zack saber jr's game and ricochet is just starting to
10:30expose it well i do want to point something out here for a minute a potential second crack could
10:35be showing so much of that ddt utilized throughout that 40 plus minute main event yesterday which
10:41showed to umano you're going to want to watch out for the traps the next and that's going to connect
10:46all the nerves together there chris yeah i mean this is i mean we know zack saber jr wow wow
10:53as great as ricochet was in the continental classic it is no measure there is no comparison i'm sorry
11:00between the continental classic and the g1 climax zack saber jr the best tournament wrestler
11:07in all of professional wrestling knows to go from the g1 semi-final to the final the very next night
11:13and here it's almost like going to g1 finals back to back rock no absolutely i mean you go 43 minutes plus
11:21with uh is definitely going to put you at a disadvantage here tonight what kind of condition
11:32is zack saber jr walking into that and whether it's the g1 or the continental classic these are two taxing
11:39tournaments something that is you know tests your body each and every night in a very short amount of
11:45time you know going against top heavyweights from across the world across the globe absolutely
11:54absolutely there is no doubt ricochet has had a tremendous demanding schedule and rick says
12:00more than lived up to that not only that you're not including the travel that's one of the biggest thing
12:05in japan yes we you know we do have some some hard travel but there's nothing like flying cross country
12:11each and every week three four times a week and putting that on top of your body including this
12:16crazy wrestling schedule on top of that so i beg to differ when it comes to just comparing g1 and
12:21continental classic because i think they're just both extremely taxed tournaments
12:30heavy shots turn your back on saber jr hits that rope
12:35ricochet wow oh combo savant oh knee strike it oh and a crushing lariat
12:46ricochet not known for being a heavy striker a heavy power guy but this guy is strong as hell
12:53capture the cover here and it's only two and last time zack saber jr ricochet squared off walker
13:00ricochet was a junior heavyweight now definitely has heavyweight power together with junior heavyweight
13:07speed and much like that will osprey comparison able to combine both
13:16oh you don't give any of your limbs to zack saber jr and live to tell the tale
13:20wow ran right into that to the champion
13:29watch it again ricochet fireman's carry transition crunched in by the challenger cover here
13:41do not forget this for a second it only takes three of those precious seconds for ricochet to
13:47completely revolutionize his career
13:59ricochet has been an intercontinental and a united states champion he has never been a world champion
14:07and this might be the night here we go
14:11with the spirit gun there
14:13jack sabre jr
14:31but still again right back to those ribs walker
14:35a little slow zack saber jr down but it is not going to stop him that's what we found out yesterday
14:44that man can go he was willing to go to the 60 minute limit if joe domino would have taken him there
14:4960 minute limit applies here tonight he'll go the same if he has to
14:53yeah yeah yeah yeah
14:57ricochet had to happen
15:02backhand spring ricochet one of the elbow
15:05suplex the fire from ricochet dragon dead cover oh so close there
15:13Everything that Zack Sabre Jr. is doing, Rocky, is going back to those trips.
15:20Even that time, usually Zack will hit a suplex like that, and that bridge will be true.
15:25I saw him trying to adjust his footing.
15:27But he struggled. You're absolutely right, Chris. He struggled there.
15:36And Zack, very unlike Zack to take a moment there and not continue on the attack.
15:43When he attacked, when he attacked.
15:50Yeah, Zack, driver.
15:53Yeah, he thought he wanted it, Ricochet instead.
15:56No.
16:03One of the uppercut caught in on the back.
16:06Ricochet knee up to the jaw of Sabre Jr.
16:11Floating over.
16:18Into a brain buster.
16:23But keeping a hold.
16:26Keeping a hold and escalating the danger.
16:30Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
16:32Oh, whoa, whoa.
16:33Oh, man.
16:34Keeping a hold and still maintaining it.
16:37Ricochet is on a warpath tonight for the world title.
16:41Never seen anything like that.
16:44There might have been those scissors to the skull of Sir Strickland last week on TV.
16:50And he's with that same energy that Ricochet just stabbed Zack Sabre Jr.
16:56into the ringside flooring.
16:58What did we talk about yesterday, Chris?
17:00You have to have that killer instinct.
17:03And if it was bullied in and beaten into Ricochet, it's still there.
17:08One, two, three, three, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
17:29He never talked about that neck.
17:30He talked about those nerves.
17:32Zack Sabre Jr.
17:33Trying to find some feeling in that arm in the hand.
17:36Ricochets back inside.
17:37The title can't change hands on a count out or a small location.
17:41We saw it yesterday.
17:42We can see it here.
17:44You can see it here.
17:45And he just now coming to.
17:47Oh, no, no.
17:48Tab, Tab.
17:49Have you had?
17:50Oh.
17:51Got it.
17:53And a title unlike in AEW, the championship would have changed hands on a count out.
17:59The damage has really been done on the championship.
18:13I'm the champ.
18:20Can we just stand up?
18:22Can we do this?
18:23Huh?
18:24Can we just stand up, motherfucker?
18:27Oh, motherfucker.
18:28Oh, yeah.
18:29Yeah, come on, dickhead.
18:30Yeah, come on, dickhead.
18:31Huh?
18:32Huh?
18:33Huh?
18:34Huh?
18:35Huh?
18:36Huh?
18:37Huh?
18:38Huh?
18:39Huh?
18:40Huh?
18:41Huh?
18:42Huh?
18:43Huh?
18:44Huh?
18:45Huh?
18:46Huh?
18:47Huh?
18:48Huh?
18:49Huh?
18:50Huh?
18:51Huh?
18:52Huh?
18:53You're back in Japan now, mate.
18:54Yeah, mate!
18:55Oh!
18:56Oh, my God!
18:58Oh, my God!
19:03For Zack Sabre Jr. yesterday, it was education.
19:17And tonight against Ricochet, it is a trial.
19:24It's a trial by combat, firing in these uppercuts.
19:33Nobody better at delivering these than Zack Sabre Jr. himself.
19:44Oh, man!
19:47What a count of eight for Ricochet.
19:52Shades of Chucky T with that one.
19:54Oh, great PWG callback there.
19:57Yeah, two guys that know each other so well.
20:05And you gotta think, after last night, the 43-minute battle with Shota Umino
20:13and strong, heavy strikes like that have got to be wearing on the champ.
20:20Oh, what he will always have.
20:23Ricochet definitely has the better gas tank, but nobody has the better.
20:30It's submission instincts.
20:32Does not matter the environment, where you are in that ring.
20:35Zack Sabre Jr. knows the crucial element to grab a hold.
20:41Yes!
20:50Uh-oh.
20:51Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
20:52We saw this yesterday.
20:53Hey, man.
20:54Yeah.
20:56What?
20:57Oh!
20:58Zack Driver!
20:59Come on, go!
21:00From the top, the cover!
21:02Oh!
21:03And it's not there.
21:04Oh, look at that head hit.
21:05Submission.
21:06Immediately down into the cross arm breaker here.
21:10Excellent, excellent contrasting.
21:12Don't you?
21:13All right.
21:14And Zack has the head trapped as well.
21:19Now looking to transition, Ricochet smartly getting right to the rope, not letting Zack,
21:24who's so good at converting submission to submission so quickly.
21:30And we talk about that all the time.
21:32Billy Robinson style.
21:33Hey!
21:34Every six seconds, you can count it, put it on a timer.
21:38Not as quick on the draw here tonight, Chris.
21:40Zack Sabre Jr. feeling the effects of that neck of the intercom.
21:44Yeah, perhaps you're right.
21:47And definitely, the further this goes, the more it will help Ricochet.
21:52That's why Zack Sabre Jr. escalating the intensity.
21:57Ok.
21:58Aho!
21:59No20.
22:00No!
22:01No20.
22:02AhïHowah!
22:04Nah, you come back to me.
22:06Ah!
22:07Oh!
22:08Ah!
22:18Uhh,show!
22:19Ah!
22:20Ah!
22:21Ah!
22:22Ricarage, you won!
22:23Oh!
22:24Ah!
22:25Ah!
22:26Head kick lands.
22:30Question mark from the side.
22:32Ricochet Inferno, and he lands it.
22:41Cover here, we could, but we won't, not yet, have a new champion.
22:46Don't get cute now, Ricochet, the bright lights of the dome.
22:52Well, they require long shots from half-court.
22:58Shooting star, Barreza, oh, man.
23:05There was a two count pressing stand for Ricochet so far.
23:10That does not mean it's impossible.
23:12Ricochet is feeling it now.
23:17What Ricochet does here next.
23:22Oh, my God, that's killer instinct, folks.
23:28And he has it.
23:30That's the new, world everyone champion.
23:35You don't think.
23:36No.
23:37For the title.
24:00For the glory.
24:03Oh, my God, oh, my God.
24:066.30, spiked by Ricochet.
24:09Saber Jr. with the clutch, PK, PK.
24:14He broke the onion bag, he'll break McChay's neck.
24:17Sack driver.
24:20The cover here.
24:22Oh, my God.
24:26Where did Ricochet find the will to kick out of that?
24:32The same place Zack Saber Jr. found the will to land it.
24:38And now, here we go, cross-leg.
24:41Saber.
24:42Oh, no, no, no.
24:46Yes.
24:47Oh, the world just froze.
24:49Oh, three seconds time.
24:52My goodness.
24:53Zack Saber Jr.'s world just froze.
24:55Oh, two big right hands, close fists.
24:59Yeah, yeah, and referee Red Shoes calling it as he sees it.
25:02Yeah, but Zack said, well, Ricochet's not going to give a damn.
25:05And Red Shoes has a long leash.
25:07Ricochet has wrestle matches refereed by Red Shoes before.
25:11You're right.
25:11You're right.
25:12He knows that in this environment, Uno has a long leash.
25:17He's going to exploit every bit of it as well he should.
25:22Uh-oh.
25:25Look at Zack here.
25:27Oh, Saber Jr.
25:29In his element.
25:30You talked about it at the beginning of the match.
25:32Freelance artistry, jazz artistry.
25:38Oh, man.
25:40What a crunchy and painful tune.
25:43Right in the center of the ring.
25:46Ricochet wrapped up.
25:48Four, five, and they're the six.
25:52Yes!
25:54Yes!
25:55And again.
25:57This one is over.
25:59It was a verbal submission.
26:09That's all it could be.
26:11Yeah.
26:11No choice but to say yes.
26:17Now let's put yesterday out of the picture.
26:22Just on tonight, Ricochet sensational.
26:25My goodness, I think you could say semifinalist in this year's Continental Classic.
26:32You would have to say the favorite for 2025 and beyond.
26:37Ricochet, I mean, it's always been money.
26:40But money at AEW in 25, no doubt.
26:43But Zack Saber Jr. on top in the dark.
26:48Another match that could have gone either way.
26:51What a hell of a man there.
27:03The money is in the gold as much as there's money in the chase.
27:06And it won't shock me if we see Ricochet back here in New Japan Pro Wrestling soon enough.
27:11A hell of an effort put up.
27:12But there is nobody who can stop this man and the role that he is on right now.
27:20And still, the best pro wrestler on God's green earth, Zack Saber Jr.
27:27is the best pro wrestler on God's green earth, and the best pro wrestler on God's green earth is the best pro wrestler on God's green earth.
27:41Well, Zack Sabre Jr made history as an international wrestler yesterday.
28:04He made history as a pro wrestler here today.
28:07Wait.
28:09Please wait for Ricochet. Hey, Baldy.
28:14Ricochet, thank you.
28:22We won today.
28:24It's a bad one.
28:28What are you talking about?
28:29I've forgotten the Japanese.
28:33I forgot all my Japanese after everything I've been through.
28:37Yeah, all right.
28:38Have we got some English speakers in the house?
28:41I've got a little bit of time.
28:42I'll do a little stand-up routine.
28:46New Japan Pro Wrestling is the best professional wrestling company on this round earth.
29:00I love this country.
29:08I love this company.
29:10The future of New Japan is very, very bright.
29:13But right now, the future of New Japan is fucking orange.
29:26Team DK is going to be at the top of New Japan for a very, very long time.
29:38These two young Japanese men are going to be champions very, very soon.
29:45Oh, we already are.
29:46I got kicks in the head a lot.
29:49I wasn't expecting to do a stand-up routine.
29:53Jack, you're still alive.
29:55So that's an achievement.
29:57And then we'll get you a championship very soon, Roy.
30:01All right.
30:02I think that's enough for today.
30:03Thank you all for being here.
30:07We are Team DK, and the mighty don't kneel, as I must say.
30:31Another day in the office and another day in paradise are the exact same thing.
30:36For Zack Sabre Jr.
30:38Painting the world orange, it's TMDK.
30:41And proud to announce New Japan Pro Wrestling is the best professional wrestling on the planet.
30:47And our flag bearer being that man right there.
30:50I could not be prouder to say it.
30:53And still, World Heavyweight Champion.
30:55Well, I mean, we've seen New Japan versus CMLL.
31:01New Japan and AEW versus Stardust.
31:05New Japan versus AEW.
31:07ROH.
31:08I mean, a lot of that division brings out a lot of passion.
31:13That's on my part.
31:14I'll apologize ahead of time before I get a nasty phone call.
31:18Please do.
31:19It's going to save me a little bit of heat.
31:23You came back with the same, but at the end of the day, we're all here
31:27because we love professional wrestling.
31:29Right.
31:29And it is all love.
31:31I think in the heat of the moment, Chris, we get, like you said,
31:36we're passionate about this sport.
31:37We're a passion for the team that we support and love.
31:41And no matter what it is, this is a great union between so many amazing companies
31:46with so much great history.
31:48And we're bringing it all together here on NJVW World.
31:51I'm so happy that you're in there to be the human form and adore yourself
31:57for bringing us all together as one.
31:59This is a beautiful moment.
32:00This has been a beautiful night.
32:02AEW have been tremendous.
32:04CMLL have been tremendous.
32:06So is stardom and so bring him on it.
32:08Yeah.
32:08But can I get a special thanks to Mr.
32:10Salvador Luthoroff of CMLL, Tony Khan of AEW and ROH,
32:15all the amazing people and staff, yourselves included, to bring this all together.
32:20I mean, this is a marquee, landmark event that I hope that we'll get to see more of
32:25all across the world, not only here in Japan.
32:27From 2025 to 2026 and beyond, the future is bright.
32:33Zack Sabre Jr. says himself, the future is orange.
32:38It is time for us to close it out here tonight.
32:41And still, IWGP World Heavyweight Champion and forever the greatest Zack Sabre Jr.
32:52Folks, Baraki Romero and Chris Charleston, I have been Walker Stewart.
32:57We will see you 24 hours from now in Ota City Gymnasium for what is sure to be a hectic and
33:17eclectic New Year Dash.
33:20But until then, you must kill Jackson.
33:21Go King Daniel, sayonara, and we will see you in 24 hours time.
33:28Thank you so much for watching New Japan Pro Wrestling, AEW, CMLL, Ring of Honor,
33:34and Stardom, and JPW World, the King of Sports.
33:52This is the first time IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.
33:56It is a victory for 20 minutes and 57 minutes.
33:59The final victory of Zack Sabre Jr. is the winner of Zack Sabre Jr.
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