NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18 Results – Jan. 4, 2024 – SANADA vs, Tetsuya Naito

January 4, 2024
Tokyo, Japan – Tokyo Dome
English Commentary: Walker Stewart, Chris Charlton, and Rocky Romero

Quick Match Results

1. Pre-show: New Japan Rambo match – Great-O-Khan, YOH, Toru Yano, and Taiji Ishimori advanced to KoPW Championship Four-Way match at New Year Dash 2024 (32:40)
   • The entrants in order were Chase Owens, Great-O-Khan, Gabe Kidd, Alex Coughlin, Jeff Cobb, HENARE, Tomohiro Ishii, Mikey Nicholls, Shane Haste, Yujiro Takahashi, Master Wato, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, YOH, SHO, Fujita Hayato, Taiji Ishimori, DOUKI, Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka, and Taichi.
2. IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship – Catch 2/2 (Francesco Akira & “The Aswang” TJP) defeated Bullet Club War Dogs (Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney) (c) via 2×2 (pinfall 9:38)
3. NJPW World Television Championship – Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Zack Sabre Jr. (c) via Roll-up (pinfall 8:53)
4. Yuya Uemura defeated Yota Tsuji via Deadbolt Suplex (pinfall 10:57)
5. EVIL & Ren Narita defeated Kaito Kiyomiya & Shota Umino via Double Cross (pinfall 7:06)
6. NEVER Openweight Championship – Tama Tonga defeated Shingo Takagi (c) via DSD (pinfall 13:46)
   • Following the match, Nic Nemeth (former Dolph Ziggler) and Ryan Nemeth came out and sat at ringside in the commentary area for the IWGP Tag Team and NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships Title vs. Title match.
7. IWGP Tag Team & NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships, Title vs. Title match – Guerrillas of Destiny (Hikuleo & El Phantasmo) (NJPW Strong) defeated Bishamon (YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto) (IWGP) via Thunder Struck ’91 (pinfall 9:47)
8. IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship – El Desperado defeated Hiromu Takahashi (c) via Pinche Loco (pinfall 14:21)
9. IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship Three-way match – David Finlay defeated Will Ospreay and Jon Moxley via Modified Into Oblivion (pinfall 22:17)
   • Following the match, Finlay walked up to where the Nemeths were still seated and taunted Nic Nemeth with his newly won title belt. This led to Nemeth getting up and confronting Finlay resulting in Finlay spitting in Nemeth’s face and a brawl breaking out. Afterwards, Finlay walked away while Nemeth chased him and brawled to the back.
10. Kazuchika Okada defeated Bryan Danielson via Rainmaker (pinfall 23:24)
    • Following the match, Okada and Danielson bowed at each other showing their respect they had for the other.
11. IWGP World Heavyweight Championship – Tetsuya Naito defeated SANADA (c) via Destino (pinfall 25:42)
    • Following the match, Naito was presented with the IWGP World title but before he could do a post-match LIJ roll-call, Dick Togo and EVIL ran out and attacked Naito. EVIL grabbed a microphone and held up the IWGP World title stating that he will not let Naito have his roll call moment. Before EVIL could attack Naito again, SANADA attacked EVIL and Togo sending both guys out of the ring and gave a nod of respect at Naito before leaving the ring. Naito then grabbed the microphone and thanked SANADA for what he did and gave his long awaited LIJ roll call shouting out each member of his group, finishing with his own name.