Sticking with his guns in the build to this match, MJF wears a robe to the ring that says “New Japan is an indie.” He begins mocking Hiroshi Tanahashi as soon as the bell rings, doing a poor air guitar, but the Ace quickly shows him how it’s done. The champ dislikes that and heads up the ramp, to which Hiroshi gets a “coward” champ going.
MJF tries to ambush his challenger with a kick to the gut when he returns to the ring, but Tanahashi is ready for it. That doesn’t save him from being sent hard into the turnbuckles, then strung out over the top rope.
Sending Tanahashi back to the mat with a shoulder, MJF shows the crowd a double bird, but the Ace gets a rollup for two before falling victim to an abdominal stretch. MJF grabs the top rope for extra leverage, staying one step ahead of the referee and berating the fans while he does it.
The crowd tries to will Tanahashi to escape, and Bryce Remsburg finally has enough and kicks MJF’s arm off the ropes. Tanahashi starts to build momentum with forearms to the face and a scoop slam. He hits a senton off the middle rope and gets a two count.
The Ace goes up top, shoving MJF to the ground as he struggles with his footing. He flies and lands on the champ but sells some of the damage to his midsection. Now MJF tries to go up top, but he’s thrown down and hit with a Sling Blade for another near fall.
Is it time for the High Fly Flow? No, because MJF is able to hit the ropes to crotch his foe. That leads to a huge superplex by the champ, one that leaves both men stunned, though MJF is able to cover for two.
MJF signals for the end and looks for the Heatseeker, then switches tactics to a double underhook shoulderbreaker. He covers for another near fall but looks like he has hurt his knee a bit too.
The champ is in Tanahashi’s face calling him a joke. That seems to fire up the Ace, as do the “Go Ace” chants. MJF pokes him in the eyes and flicks off the crowd again, but he turns right into a Dragon Screw.
Tanahashi applies the Texas Cloverleaf, dragging MJF back toward the center of the ring. The champ reaches the ropes for a break, then knees Hiroshi in the gut. Tanahashi fights back with the Twist and Shout and another Sling Blade. He goes up top, but his High Fly Flow catches both knees of MJF.
Both men are down after that impact, with the fans clapping to urge them up. MJF is selling the heck out of his left knee, so credit to him. MJF finally grabs his belt, which Remsburg takes away from him, so Tanahashi’s schoolboy can only gets two.
When Tanahashi is shoved into Remsburg, however, MJF is able to sneak on his Dynamite Diamond Ring, and his ring-aided right hand allows him to get the pinfall and retain the title.