Wrestle Kingdom V: Tanahashi's Title Win Caps a Broad, Ambitious Tokyo Dome Show

Wataru Inoue, Tiger Mask IV, Tomoaki Honma & Tama Tonga defeating Yujiro Takahashi, Tomohiro Ishii, Jado & Gedo occupies match 1 and runs 07:33. In the pre-show/dark portion, the bout's value comes from how clearly it performs its assigned job. The result is easy to understand, the time allotment is neither hidden nor exaggerated, and the match gives the surrounding card a distinct beat. A 6.0 score reflects the combination of stakes, placement and available time rather than reputation alone. The match is judged as one part of this specific Tokyo Dome event, so its grade rises when the result changes a title picture or advances the card and falls when the slot is mostly functional.

Match 2 has Koji Kanemoto & Ryusuke Taguchi over Kenny Omega & Taichi in 08:04. That runtime is important to the verdict because Wrestle Kingdom cards can become crowded, and this bout has to justify the space it receives. Within the pre-show/dark portion, it provides a different matchup or championship consequence without being credited merely for the names involved. The 6.3 score weighs the finish, the position on the show and whether the bout feels complete for its role. Where the match succeeds, it gives the event momentum or a tangible result; where it is limited, the grade stays closer to supporting-card territory.

At 08:36, Bad Intentions (Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson) (c) vs. Beer Money Inc. and Muscle Orchestra is positioned as match 3. The IWGP Tag Team Championship is at stake. The bout is most useful when read in sequence with the matches around it: Wrestle Kingdom needs each section of the card to change pace while still preserving the strongest attractions for later. This one earns a 7.6 because its result and structure contribute something identifiable to the event without automatically becoming a must-watch attraction. Championship stakes or a distinctive stipulation add consequence, but the grade remains tied to the complete viewing experience, including runtime and card position.

Máscara Dorada & La Sombra beats Héctor Garza & Jushin Thunder Liger in 07:42 at match 4. The placement gives the bout a clear responsibility within the main card: either establish the event's rhythm, bridge into the stronger singles programs, or deliver one of the card's major payoffs. Its 7.2 score reflects how fully it meets that responsibility. The verdict does not treat a famous participant or title belt as an automatic quality boost. Instead, the match is measured by the way the finish, time and stakes work together and by whether the next match inherits more momentum than the card had before it.

Hiroyoshi Tenzan defeating Takashi Iizuka occupies match 5 and runs 11:13. In the main card, the bout's value comes from how clearly it performs its assigned job. The result is easy to understand, the time allotment is neither hidden nor exaggerated, and the match gives the surrounding card a distinct beat. A 6.9 score reflects the combination of stakes, placement and available time rather than reputation alone. The match is judged as one part of this specific Tokyo Dome event, so its grade rises when the result changes a title picture or advances the card and falls when the slot is mostly functional.

Match 6 has Rob Van Dam over Toru Yano in 11:28. That runtime is important to the verdict because Wrestle Kingdom cards can become crowded, and this bout has to justify the space it receives. Within the main card, it provides a different matchup or championship consequence without being credited merely for the names involved. The 7.2 score weighs the finish, the position on the show and whether the bout feels complete for its role. Where the match succeeds, it gives the event momentum or a tangible result; where it is limited, the grade stays closer to supporting-card territory.

At 16:15, Yuji Nagata vs. Minoru Suzuki is positioned as match 7. The bout is most useful when read in sequence with the matches around it: Wrestle Kingdom needs each section of the card to change pace while still preserving the strongest attractions for later. This one earns a 8.2 because its result and structure contribute something identifiable to the event without automatically becoming a must-watch attraction. Championship stakes or a distinctive stipulation add consequence, but the grade remains tied to the complete viewing experience, including runtime and card position.

Prince Devitt (c) beats Kota Ibushi in 16:22 at match 8. The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship is at stake. The placement gives the bout a clear responsibility within the main card: either establish the event's rhythm, bridge into the stronger singles programs, or deliver one of the card's major payoffs. Its 8.5 score reflects how fully it meets that responsibility. The verdict does not treat a famous participant or title belt as an automatic quality boost. Instead, the match is measured by the way the finish, time and stakes work together and by whether the next match inherits more momentum than the card had before it.

Takashi Sugiura & Yoshihiro Takayama defeating Hirooki Goto & Kazuchika Okada occupies match 9 and runs 12:08. In the main card, the bout's value comes from how clearly it performs its assigned job. The result is easy to understand, the time allotment is neither hidden nor exaggerated, and the match gives the surrounding card a distinct beat. A 7.5 score reflects the combination of stakes, placement and available time rather than reputation alone. The match is judged as one part of this specific Tokyo Dome event, so its grade rises when the result changes a title picture or advances the card and falls when the slot is mostly functional.

Match 10 has Jeff Hardy (c) over Tetsuya Naito in 11:04. The TNA World Heavyweight Championship is at stake. That runtime is important to the verdict because Wrestle Kingdom cards can become crowded, and this bout has to justify the space it receives. Within the main card, it provides a different matchup or championship consequence without being credited merely for the names involved. The 7.0 score weighs the finish, the position on the show and whether the bout feels complete for its role. Where the match succeeds, it gives the event momentum or a tangible result; where it is limited, the grade stays closer to supporting-card territory.

At 14:17, Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Go Shiozaki is positioned as match 11. The bout is most useful when read in sequence with the matches around it: Wrestle Kingdom needs each section of the card to change pace while still preserving the strongest attractions for later. This one earns a 8.5 because its result and structure contribute something identifiable to the event without automatically becoming a must-watch attraction. Championship stakes or a distinctive stipulation add consequence, but the grade remains tied to the complete viewing experience, including runtime and card position.

Togi Makabe beats Masato Tanaka in 12:46 at match 12. The placement gives the bout a clear responsibility within the closing stretch: either establish the event's rhythm, bridge into the stronger singles programs, or deliver one of the card's major payoffs. Its 7.7 score reflects how fully it meets that responsibility. The verdict does not treat a famous participant or title belt as an automatic quality boost. Instead, the match is measured by the way the finish, time and stakes work together and by whether the next match inherits more momentum than the card had before it.

Hiroshi Tanahashi defeating Satoshi Kojima (c) occupies match 13 and runs 21:57. The IWGP Heavyweight Championship is at stake. In the closing stretch, the bout's value comes from how clearly it performs its assigned job. The result is easy to understand, the time allotment is neither hidden nor exaggerated, and the match gives the surrounding card a distinct beat. A 8.8 score reflects the combination of stakes, placement and available time rather than reputation alone. The match is judged as one part of this specific Tokyo Dome event, so its grade rises when the result changes a title picture or advances the card and falls when the slot is mostly functional.