[7.0] "This pretty good show had very solid matches and somewhat bad encounters and the main event was a 10."

[8.0] "This event needed to mark the end of Tanahashi's era and it did that in a perfect way. Of course we had matches poor executed (Rambo and 4-way), but not everything needed to be perfect. The last three ones were very good and we had other good things during the show. I'm pretty excited to see how NJPW will move forward after this."

[9.0] "Reviewing WK is hard because I'm this to close to sounding like a broken record talking about how insanely good the in-ring quality was in almost every match. So I'll focus on what I loved the most: Tanahashi's retirement match (tears were dropped), 2 unexpected title changes (for me), Aaron Wolf's great debut and the women's match. The only real low points were the fatal 4 way and the Heayvweight tag titles not making the main card"

[7.0] "Some might say a wrestling show is only as good as its main card. If that's true, then this was one of the best Wrestle Kingdoms of all time. Of course, I don't really feel that way since most of the undercard for this show was extremely lackluster and genuinely skippable. I really wish Syuri and Saya Kamitani got more time, since they really deserved a good showing. However, I felt they did a decent job with the time they were given. Aaron Wolf had a decent presentation behind him, although I'm not totally blown away by him and may need some more time to really understand the hype for him. Tsuji and Takeshita easily stole the show in terms of match quality, as I expected, happy with the result as well, despite the fact that I feel quite strongly for both performers. The main event was, of course, moving. However, I was really glad to see that Okada and Tanahashi managed to work an interesting story into the match as well, with Okada needing to bring back "the old Okada" to score a win over Tanahashi. The match was great despite the fact that Tanahashi isn't as athletic as he once was, and the entire ceremony afterwards was quite lovely as well. Loved seeing the golden lovers once again, although it's a real shame Nakamura couldn't have been there at all. Beautiful and deserved retirement ceremony on an unfortunately less-than-incredible show."

[8.0] "This was one of the better NJPW cards I've seen in many a year. It does my heart good that it's one of the most viewed in recent memory as well. The undercard could have done with a little tightening up. I understand they were trying to fit everything into a TV runtime and they wanted to give as many guys as much exposure as they could, but cutting out the Rambo and replacing it with a Tag Title or Junior Title match would have made for a better show quality-wise."

[6.0] "I'm only going with a 6 because other than the women's title match, this undercard of this show is the shits, the 3 main events saved this one big time. Big case of trying to get everyone on the show sacrificing the quality of the show."

"This was a great WK but there have been better ones. I thought the last two matches were really great but the undercard really brought this down"

[8.0] "Interesting one because it's obviously not on the level of what NJPW used to do in terms of card and quality of matches. However, the show is obviously special for everyone with Tanahashi retirement. However, a few things helped a lot make this show a good one, including : Aaron Wolf terrific debut that made the crowd go crazy, solid and special Syuri/Kamitani match, great and intense match for the greatest prize between Takeshita and Tsuji. This WK sadly lacked of a brilliant junior heavyweight match, they had a great possibility with the 4 way but they chose to make a different thing..."

"A worthy farewell for Tanahashi but the fight wasn't that good in my opinion. Tsuji vs Takeshita was great but I prefer a bit faster fights. I think it wasn't perfect but it was still a great fight. It's great that Andrade and Will will also fight in Japan."

[8.0] "The two main events were simply awesome, but the rest of the card (except the women's match) was kinda bad. However, I am still giving this event a relatively high mark due to the emotions it gave me."

"8/10 Great Wrestle Kingdom but a slightly weak mid card and would have loved to see Syuri vs Kamitani go on a little longer"

[8.0] "Slightly overrated this WK with the emotions running behind Tana's retirement (understandably so) but the Syuri, Takeshita and Tana retirement matches aside this is an absolutely bang average for a WrestleKingdom which still means is a a very good event. Okada vs Tana is the best retirement match I think I've seen."

[10.0] "This year felt like Wrestle Kingdom again. The show flew by, every singles match was a banger, especially the final two matches. The multi-man matches were action packed and got workers infront of the sold out Tokyo Dome, because this show wasn't just about Tanahashi retiring. It was reminding everyone just how good NJPW can be, and 2026 is shaping up to be the year this company needs."

[8.0] "Certainly not the best Wrestle Kingdom I've seen, but it was paced smartly enough to keep you from checking the clock. The undercard felt like NJPW trying to fit the entire roster into a carry on bag but it kept the show fun between the dramatic bouts. Tsuji vs Takeshita was shaping up like a perfectly respectable main event then Tanahashi's retirement match walked in and reminded everyone who actually owns the house. Uneven but the final stretch hit so hard it forgave almost everything before it."

[8.0] "This wasnt the best show I've seen or attended in terms of actual card. But in terms of vibe, it was 10. Pushed too hard to get everyone they could on the show and I think it worked out worse for everyone. Last three matches plus Saya vs Syuri were all truly great. The six man tag rambo was such a mess, not even a funny mess. As way the 4 way junior match, it could've been really good but too many interferences to make sure we see everyone else."

[10.0] "thank you Ace for making wrestling as exciting as it is today, thank you for the memorable and legendary matches <3"

[7.0] "Mixed bag, with the Women's match not being given the platform they both deserve, and the semi and main events giving great performances - but there was also some drivel in here, looking at the tag rumble match in particular."

[8.0] "For what the show was, it was good, and it was all about Tanahashi. There's really no point in watching the first 2 hours or so of this show as it was boring and nothing really happening, but that was to be expected i felt like ever since they put out the card for this show, the final three matches were great and all progressively got better, with the main event being up there with one of the best spectacles i've ever watched in my life. I've been watching dome shows for more than 10 years now and i said it last year, they are still in this rebuilding phase and it still doesn't look like there's light at the end of the tunnel anytime soon. But who knows. Thank you to Tanahashi for all the memories, now we trust in him to make all the right decisions with the best wrestling company of all time."

[9.0] "What an odd show to try and rate. Tanahashi vs Okada is one of the most beautiful, brilliant pieces of art I've ever watched. Aaron Wolf vs EVIL was absolutely awesome. Tsuji vs Takeshita got really good by the end, I enjoyed ELP + Chris' stuff, and Saya vs Syuri was fun too... but everything else felt inconsequential and slightly tired at points. Still, the good stuff was good enough to get a great rating... but I'd recommend doing some skipping if you're watching, and that's holding me back from a full 10/10"

[6.0] "Only rating the PPV, not the pre-show. The show felt clearly split in two: a weak first half with an overly long and uninteresting opening tag match, followed by very average and overbooked bouts that dragged the show down. Things improved a lot in the second half, with a strong debut by Aaron Wolf and a closing stretch of two matches worthy of Wrestle Kingdom, featuring a high level of wrestling. A good ending saves an otherwise inconsistent show."

[10.0] "What a show! The Saya match was great! But the last three matches were unbelievable! Aaron debut was the best debut ever. Tsuji vs Takeshita was a poem to puroresu wrestling. The Main Event and the Ceremony were perfect in every sense of the word!"

[8.0] "This was a good show, much better than last year. The young lions tag team match was nothing special. I thought the Chris Brookes and El Phantasmo match was just ok. The NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag Rambo was a mess and honestly should've done a 6 team gauntlet match and have Knockout Brothers and TMDK here instead of at New Years Dash. Syuri and Saya Kamitani was good though was disappointed that Saya didn't win. The ten men tag was meh and was kinda underwhelmed was "X" was revealed as Jake Lee. The four way was definitely a waste of time with DOUKI not defending the Junior Heavyweight Championship and Fujita should've won it. Aaron Wolf vs EVIL was a fun bout and Wolf does have potential but right now he needs work on some things for me to become a fan favourite. I was very invested in Takeshita and Tsuji, it was kinda slow at the start but they reeled me back in by the end and good to see Tsuji finally reach the top. Then the main event, that was incredible, admittedly slow at time but it was still a phenomenal way to send off the eternal ace. Overall, there are some things that new japan needs to work on, but still a promising look into the future with Tannahashi as president."

[7.0] "This show was really carried harddd by the last 3 matches. Alotta shit on this show was pretty boring sadly. Somehow the JR Heavyweight Title match was a complete cluster fuck alongside the 6 man title rambo. Cool seeing some DDT shenanigans in the Tokyo Dome with the Chris Brooke's/Phantasmo match. Sayuri/Saya was really fuckin good and might be the only thing that's memorable besides the last 3 matches. Like don't get me wrong it's not a bad show but I come to expect more from a Wrestle Kingdom especially on the 20th anniversary. Tanahashi's send off was everything it shoulda been and more, great seeing all these old New Japan icons back even it's just for one night only"

[9.0] "A great Wrestle Kingdom that was carried by the last three matches. Aaron Wolf's debut against EVIL was a blast, Tsuji vs Takeshita was a bomb throwing war and the main with Tanahashi retiring against Okada where the legend won a spiritual battle over his rival."

[8.0] "Genuinely a very hard show to rate as a whole although that has summed up NJPW for quite a while now as this was really a two match card and yes they both were unreal matches but the rest of the card bar Saya/Syuri and Wolf/Evil which i really enjoyed, the rest was just really meh. For starters The preshow matches were both passable for a preshow to be fair. But the Rambo was once again dross and wasted so much talent in a stupid match at least the right team won. BCWD/UE was decent i will say i probably enjoyed it more than most as i love a lot of the guys who were in that match still baffled at another Jake Lee push though. The junior heavyweight match was peak Gedo terrorism and was just straight ass. But the show was saved by one of the greatest semi and main events i have ever seen on a wrestling show both matches were easy fivers and just so peak and will make sure people at least remember the end of this show. I will say Tanahashi's post most ceremony also boosts my rating of the show as not only was it amazing and heartfelt, i also got to see Jay white and Will Ospreay on my screen for the first time in 9 and 4 months respectivly which was just amazing. So yeah a card that really shows the state of NJPW but the IWGP title match gives me hope for a good 2026 and the Main event was an all timer Thank you Tana."

[7.0] "This years Wrestle Kingdom was a two match card for me. With the two final matches being the best. The main event alone is a good enough reason to watch this show with an emotional and epic final encounter for Tanahashi and Okada. The World Heavyweight match felt like it needed a few more minutes to be an WK classic, and much of the other matches felt more like filler than the biggest show of the year."

[9.0] "NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20 was an excellent show that was capped with a simply perfect retirement match and ceremony for Hiroshi Tanahashi. That carried this entire show to an all-time status. The opening Young Lions tag was fairly decent. Some high energy for everyone involved and Murashima looked strong getting the win (**1/2). El Phantasmo vs Chris Brookes was a nice showcase of both men and showcased their individual styles very well. They went out there and had a solid bout (***). The New Japan Ranbo was a straight up clusterfuck, but it did have a few bright spots, especially the exchanges between Yuya/Shooter & Taichi/Ishii. TMDK was a brilliant choice to win and giving Oiwa/Hartley their first titles (**). Syuri vs Saya Kamitani was a banger with both ladies going full throttle right from the start. Both women beat the hell out of each other and didn't let up until the end. Syuri winning was the biggest shock result of the night for me and hope Saya has a speedy recovery after getting hurt at STARDOM Dream Queendom. We need a big time IWGP Women's Title match on every big show from New Japan after this please (****1/4). United Empire vs Unaffiliated War Dogs was a fun time with the dynamic between Hiromu Takahashi & David Finlay being the highlight. Jake Lee being X was a choice that I know most fans don't like, but made sense with his War Dogs association prior to injury. Andrade should have got the pin here though (***1/2). El Desperado vs SHO vs Kosei Fujita vs Taiji Ishimori was a completely disappointing match that was made worse by the booking of the Juniors over the past year. Gedo hates the Juniors and there is no denying it after this one. I love Despy and think he's been a great Ace for the division, but Fujita should have won obviously (*). Aaron Wolf vs EVIL was the biggest surprise match of the night. The reaction for Wolf was unreal. Everything he did got a huge reaction & he felt like an absolute superstar from the entrance to the entire match. Awesome performance and probably the best "big show" debut since Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania 34. Judo beasts are just built different. Wolf is a star (****). Yota Tsuji vs Konosuke Takeshita was an outstanding encounter that escalated so well and was paced superbly throughout. It never felt like an half an hour with the storytelling being absolutely brilliant with Tsuji working over the ribs to set up for Gene Blaster and try to damage his stamina, while Takeshita worked the neck to set up for Raging Fire and Wagamama. The psychology was so sublime and made you into every moment. Tsuji showed his fighting spirit and NJPW pride by busting out the Boston Crab that had me on my fee. A bonafide MOTYC (*****). Kazuchika Okada vs Hiroshi Tanahashi was one of the greatest retirement matches of all time. An absolutely sensational main event inside a sold-out Tokyo Dome. The emotion was off the charts with the Dome firmly behind Tana, while Okada played a fantastic heel throughout. The storytelling was pristine with both men busting out tributes to their rivals and peers. The finishing sequence with Okada having to dig deep and bring out the New Japan Rainmaker with the pose for the 1st time in 2 years was amazing. Wow! This was incredible and sets the bar high for the rest of 2026 (*****+). The retirement ceremony was PERFECT. No notes!"

[7.0] "I'll note that I did watch the pre-show matches after the show had concluded. It was an emotional night though. The show's match quality averaged at a 3 for me (including pre-show). But man, the last three matches, combined with the post-match ceremony bring it up heavily for me. It has a lot of matches that float at average, and one that is downright bad. But it ends with a bang. [***.5]"

[9.0] "[9.4] NJPW's Wrestle Kingdom 20 ends up being one of the most emotionally gripping nights in pro wrestling. We saw the retirement of The Ace of the Universe, Hiroshi Tanahashi in the best retirement match and ceremony I've ever seen. The card itself was pretty good! We got Syuri vs. Saya, United Empire vs. Bullet Club, Andrade, The Return of Jake Lee, Aaron Wolf winning the NEVER Openweight Title, Tsuji winning the IWGP Heavyweight Title, Jake Lee attacking Tsuji and Tanahashi vs. Okada and the ceremony. What a fucking night."

[9.0] "The last 3 hours of the show was 11/10. The overly long Tanahashi Retirement Ceremony, I loved it! Anything after the IWGP Juniors title match was fun to watch and of signature NJPW quality"

[9.0] "I loved this show, maybe the first part of the card feels filler, but the 3 last matches were awesome."

[8.0] "Taken as a complete package, this event is a surprisingly tricky one to assess. The undercard largely failed to elevate itself beyond adequacy, delivering a run of matches that rarely threatened to linger in the memory. Outside of the excellent IWGP Women's Championship bout and a commendably smooth debut for Wolf, much of the early portion felt functional rather than inspired, doing little to build momentum or a sense of occasion. It was the kind of undercard that didn't actively harm the show, but nor did it justify the scale of the stage. Where the event truly found its identity was at the top of the card. The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match between Tsuji and Takeshita was nothing short of phenomenal, driven by urgency, physicality, and an unmistakable desire from both men to define the night. It was followed by Tanahashi's retirement match, which delivered precisely what it needed to: an emotionally charged, reverent closing chapter that celebrated the iconic Okada-Tanahashi rivalry while acknowledging the passage of time. Rather than chasing one last athletic peak, the match leaned into memory, symbolism, and character, making it far more powerful than a simple "great performance" ever could be. The post-match ceremony, featuring familiar faces from across Tanahashi's career, provided a heartfelt and dignified full stop; less a farewell soaked in sadness, and more a recognition of a legacy fully realised."

[10.0] "I expected this one to be marginally better than wk19, only cause of tana's retirement, boy was I wrong. This was the first wrestle kingdom to feel like one in a while. This felt like the proper end of an era and the beginning of another, we're leaving 2010's njpw and any holdovers from it behind once and for all, and we're moving onto a new njpw. This felt like a true wrestle kingdom, like I experienced the best event of the year already on jan 4, as it should be. ELP was good as always, he's awesome regardless of which place on the card you give him. People didn't love the rumble, but I for one liked it, maybe it could've been 5 minutes shorter, but other than that, it was cool. Kamitani vs syuri was amazing, I'm not a stardom watcher for now, but they're getting me closer to becoming one. UE vs War Dogs was also pretty good. The 4 way match was the only one I'm a little disappointed by, first off, Fujita should've won it, secondly, it could've been longer, but most importantly, why the hell wasn't there a Jr. Heavyweight title match on the card? I was positively surprised by Aaron wolf vs evil. It should've had a lower position on the card, maybe the women's match could've taken its place, but other than that, I'm fine with it. Then comes takeshita vs yota, the bets match of the night imo. Awesome story, characters and motivations being told in its build, amazing in ring storytelling and action, this felt like a revival of the glory of new japan that seemed to have been lost somewhere. This was amazing. And finally, okada vs the GOAT tanahashi, this was the best retirement match imaginable, amazing storytelling, perfect opponent, tanahashi left it all out there, it was just beautiful. Overall, the major matches really tied the event together to make a beautiful story, and a statement to the pro wrestling world, that njpw is still njpw."

[9.0] "Admittedly, the show started with many mediocre matches, aside from the women's match. But it ended on a high note with a good Never match, a very good Yota vs. Take match, and an unforgettable Okada vs. Tanahashi match. This makes for a very positive overall result, especially considering the importance and time allotted to the weaker matches. Aside from the matches, Jake Lee's persistent push was a surprise, which some may find off-putting, but I found it entertaining throughout the show. It remains to be seen what will happen next. Finally, my rating is greatly influenced by the fantastic finale of the show, particularly the last two hours dedicated to the Ace. A great combination of match and exceptional after-match segment. Thank you, Tanahashi, for the emotions! In-ring quality: 4/5. Angles and segments outside of the match: 3/3. Bonus/penalty: exceptional end of the show +0.5. Total: 9.5/10. Show watched on NJPW World."

[8.0] "Most of this is just kind of watchable and not bad. I think up until the final three matches, it's a perfectly passable show which was able to keep me going despite watching the broadcast live on very little sleep. Once you get to the final three, it's like New Japan has a new writer or something. Those final three matches were very well orchestrated to tell the stories they wanted to tell, and to elicit the responses which they got. New Japan at it's rare and very best makes you feel like you're watching history as it happens. It makes you feel like you're watching something which will be remembered forever. Tanahashi just went out on one of the best retirement matches and send-offs I've ever seen. You can never count that man out. He might be the most stubborn person on the planet. I think overall this show is slightly lower than my rating would suggest, but it's the biggest and most important New Japan has felt in a while. The problem is that it comes at the expense of losing Tanahashi, and it doesn't feel like there's a great deal to be excited about in the new future, especially in the undercard scene. Still, the main draw, Tanahashi's retirement, was handled very well. Congratulations to Hiroshi Tanahashi on a legendary career."

[7.0] "The night was all about Ace Tanahashi's retirement and he certainly got a great and memorable send-off. If that was your focus, it's an all-timer show. If you look at it as another WK PPV, then you may indeed be disappointed by some of the card. I'm somewhere in the middle as I have never watched a ton of NJPW and didn't know about Tanahashi until maybe 3 years ago. Therefore, I didn't have the same emotions most viewers had to this event. That match was special, and the IWGP champion battle that preceded it was great. I liked 3 others that I rated 7/10 on the main, but the rest were sub-par. They didn't need that many multi-man matches on the card, especially if they're not going to be great. At that point it turns from "filler" (which isn't a bad thing on a long PPV card) to a waste of time. So, if you're the biggest Tana fan, I can see if you gave this a 9/10 for all the great stuff at the end. But, it's not a 10/10, and I think it's somewhere in between a 7 and 8. Thank you, Ace!"

[8.0] "Okay show with two superb matches in the Main Event and Co-Main (And a nice one hour or so for Tanahashi retirement cerimony, if you're a fan). There rest of the show was not that hot, though. The STARDOM girls did well with the time they had and the crowd was super hot for Aaron Wolf's debut, which upped the match a fair bit in my book. Overall, i enjoyed the show but it didn't leave me itching to come back watching NJPW again,"

[8.0] "Couldn't ask for much more when it came to the retirement of the ace. Tanahashi really called his shot by having his match follow Takeshita vs. Tsuji. Aside from the perfection in the main event, there were excellent showings in the 2nd and 3rd to last matches on the card. The women's double title match was also very good. Tanahashi left everything in the ring, still having a killer match just like he would've had 10 years ago. Watch the match and the whole retirement ceremony. He wheels around and says thank you to everyone. MVP of Wrestle Kingdom 20 goes to Hiroshi Tanahashi, and it really can't go to anyone else. He had one of the best matches he ever had in the biggest possible moment of his career. Well done to the ace of the universe. Go take some Tylenol."

"This has been the best Wrestle Kingdom in years. Easy to sit through with ebs and flows. Not every match was 5* but that is the way it should be. Tanahashi's last match absolutely delivered. The third act had me enthralled, with the finish being beautiful storytelling. The same is true of the IWGP World Heavyweight title match. Absolutely amazing end. Crowning Tsuji as the guy was the right decision compared to the other young guys. Aaron wolf was someone I was very impressed with. Amazing first match. Future IWGP World Heavyweight champion for sure!"

[9.0] "Enjoyed a lot this Wrestle Kingdom, and that's probably because it was an easy event to watch, the card was very direct, they made clear the stories they wanted to tell, and it was all about Tanahashi's retirement, which is of course the correct choice. The last three matches were just very interesting, with Wolf's debut, a title for title and probably the most important main event of this century in Japan. The stadium was packed for Tana's farewell, and he deserved that, it was a record breaking audience, a super important moment, that will be remembered forever. That show was a great way to celebrate the Ace's career, and also 20 years of Wrestle Kingdom."

[9.0] "Oh jeez, some of these commenters are so critical haha. Overall, the show was very good and extremely memorable. The critics need to realize that not all matches are supposed to be 5 stars, earlier matches on the card (ie. The ranbo, the Junior 4-way) are there to get the crowd hype and lift spirits leading up to the more serious final matches, like opening bands leading up to the headliners. Did they achieve their mission? Yes, as you could hear from the positive fan reactions. Like what, do you expect a ranbo to be 40 minutes and have the dramatics of an Okada/Omega? Lower your expectations folks, not all wrestling HAS to be technical marvels. They can also be...oh you know...fun. Anyways, the women's match was great, the ten man had great action and is leading to an evolving story, the title match was EXCELLENT and was exactly what it needed to be propping up a home grown star (especially with him winning by Boston Crab, such a wonderful touch! ), Wolf/EVIL far exceeded expectations with Wolf showing the f up for his first match ever and EVIL masterfully leading him there, and the main was perfection. Best retirement match ever, absolutely flawless and is something that will be remembered forever in the history of puro. Overall, great show, there wasn't anything on the card that didn't fulfill its purpose, stink up the venue, or blow the crowd away. Wish I could rank it an 8.5 but hey, might as well round up ;) Wouldn't say it was as good as STARDOM's Grand Queendom 2025 which was a top to bottom perfect show, but it's still 100% a must watch. Great job NJPW and I can't wait to see what's in store for 2026!"

[10.0] "This felt like the old wrestle kingdoms. the glory days are back. sure, the undercard was not ideal, however they're entertaining and aaron wolf's debut was really good. Tsuji vs takeshita was emotional and could be match of the decade. okada vs tanahashi is another all time classic. back to back 5 star matches to end the show and an electric crowd with them make these feel truly special, like the glory days"

[8.0] "A two match show, but when those two matches are high end MOTY contenders it helps pull up the score. This match was a real drag until the Wolf vs EVIL match, some stuff that was completely unbecoming of a WK. Thankfully the final two were absolute top notch pro wrestling, with a main event that was not only excellently worked but one of the more emotional occasions you'll ever see. 8.5/10"

[8.0] "NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20 will always be remembered in every possible discussion because of one man's name: Hiroshi Tanahashi, the retirement of the Ace after so many years of dedication to this industry that we love so much. However, this show isn't perfect; the undercard is quite weak, and what's worth watching, in my opinion, is Saya vs. Syuri, Takeshita vs. Tsuji, and Okada vs. Tanahashi (including the wonderful post-match tribute). Murashima/Yasuda vs. Kato/Matsumoto: a good showing for the young lions on the biggest stage possible [**1/2]. ELP vs. Brookes: I liked this match, happy to see Brookes in the Tokyo Dome [***1/2]. Rambo match: they could have cut 5 minutes here and given it to the women's match [**3/4]. Syuri vs. Saya: MOTN. This match is basically a sprint thanks to the minuscule time these two had to work in this clash. 5 more minutes and we would have the first strong MOTY contender [****1/2]. 10-Man Tag: A competent tag match, but with the exception of Jake Lee's return, nothing special [***1/4]. 4-Way: Besides being short, it was ruined by numerous interferences [**]. EVIL vs. Wolf: I haven't followed NJPW full-time since 2019, and I didn't even watch WK last year, so I was quite surprised to see how over Aaron Wolf is with the audience. Here we have the classic HoT match, but some moments are downright funny (because they're so ridiculous), and even though the challenger was super over, I don't find it credible to see the rookie beat a former world champion in his first match (especially with all the external interference he suffered in this match) [***]. Takeshita vs. Tsuji: Another fantastic match on the card and a star-making performance from Tsuji, winning his first world title [****1/2]. Okada vs. Tanahashi: The reason we all watched the show. THANK YOU ACE. Review on matchguide [****1/4]. Final grade 8/10."

[7.0] "A solid, fairly good but not great show. Then comes the main event. Beautiful. A vintage performance from Okada & Tanahashi that had the crowd going berserk throughout. A wonderful end to one of the all time great careers with Tanahashi doing everything he could to try and hang with Okada. The locker room getting emptied out at the end to thank the Ace and making Tana tear up was just the icing on the cake. Thank you Hiroshi Tanahashi. Forever the Ace. ***3/4."

[6.0] "There's no getting around most of those lower card matches, and when I'm rating an entire event, it's gotta take a hit. The rambo was atrocious and felt 40 minutes. I was mostly familiar with all the participants but still found it confusing and DULL. The four way had no standout moments. The tag team match had some fun stuff but was ultimately mid with a stupid ending. God, Jake Lee is ass. aaron Wolf match was strong and the crowd elevated it considerably. The women and final two matches save the show. Okada was a perfect asshole, and Tana went out like a king. Enjoy retirement you beautiful legend."

[6.0] "A hugely underwhelming and disappointing show for a sold out Tokyo Dome. The only things done right were the booking decisions and the final 3 in ring matches. The rest od the show felt nothing like a WK, especially an anniversary year."

[6.0] "I thought the undercard of this show was absolutely dreadful other than the women's match, which while good, underwhelmed me given my expectations and what those two are capable of. Once I hit the top three matches, the Aaron Wolf debut was yet another House of Torture match that I am sick of, and I wasn't particularly impressed by Wolf either. Tsuji and Takeshita delivered and was easily the best match of the night and what I thought was the one truly great match of the show. While I wasn't nearly as into Tanahashi's retirement match as some other people, I thought it was still very good even without my emotional investment and I think the final two matches saved this show from being outright bad."

[5.0] "Although the main event, alongside the retirement ceremony, was excellent, the undercard was a complete throw-away outside of the women's match. I didn't like the choice to highlight Jake Lee, as to me he's a solid midcarder, alongside Despy winning the JR match."

[5.0] "I understand the emotion and celebration involved with this show. I wish I could feel the joy that others are enjoying. And that's beautiful. This was the end of something. It felt like the end of a lot of things. I just don't know. I hope I am wrong. Something just doesn't feel right going forward."