Tetsuya Naito seized the spotlight and etched his name in history at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18, emerging victorious in the main event by capturing the prestigious IWGP World Heavyweight Title. He achieved this remarkable feat by defeating the formidable SANADA in a battle that electrified the audience.

In the closing moments of the match, Naito demonstrated his resilience by countering SANADA’s Deadfall with a Deadfall of his own, swiftly followed by a brainbuster. With momentum firmly on his side, Naito unleashed the finishing blow, executing his signature move, Destino, to secure the hard-fought victory.

However, Naito’s celebration was cut short as EVIL and Dick Togo launched a ruthless attack on him, determined to deny him his moment of triumph. EVIL declared that Naito would not be allowed to savor his victory.

In a dramatic turn of events, SANADA rushed to Naito’s aid, taking down EVIL and Togo, and coming to his teammate’s rescue.

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Amidst the chaos, Naito expressed his gratitude to SANADA and proceeded to lead the crowd in the iconic Los Ingobernables de Japon roll call, a moment that resonated with the roaring audience.

This victory marked Tetsuya Naito’s first reign as the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, adding to his legacy as a former three-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion. SANADA had held the title for an impressive 271 days and successfully defended it on four occasions before Naito’s triumphant ascent to the championship throne.

Readers interested in further details about NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18 can refer to the event’s results for more information.

What do you think about Naito winning the title at Wrestle Kingdom? Let us know in the comments.

Steve Carrier

Steve is the Founder of RingsideNews. He has been writing about professional wrestling since 1996. He first got into website development at the time and has been focusing on bringing his readers the best professional wrestling news at it's highest quality.

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