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It’s probably the most great time of the yr! That’s proper, WRESTLE KINGDOM season! New Japan Professional-Wrestling will probably be doing two back-to-back nights within the Tokyo Dome for his or her flagship occasion for the third consecutive yr.
One of many tropes which have been established with two nights of Wrestling Kingdom is double title matches involving a number of of the highest stars. The IWGP Heavyweight Title matches at Wrestle Kingdom 14 and 15 delivered in-ring, however the setup for these matches was convoluted. This yr we have now one other double title match state of affairs. Nevertheless, this yr’s setup and construct make some sense.
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Primary Occasion: IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
Shingo Takagi vs. Kazuchika Okada
As I discussed earlier, there will probably be two IWGP World Heavyweight Title matches at Wrestle Kingdom 16. We’ve got three males strolling round with heavyweight championships going into this occasion.
First, we have now Shingo Takagi, the reputable IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. Shingo received the title at Dominion after Will Ospreay vacated the title resulting from harm. Will Ospreay returned to NJPW a number of months at Resurgence with a duplicate of the IWGP World Heavyweight and claimed to be the “Actual World Champion.” Ospreay believes since he by no means misplaced the title and defeated Shingo twice this yr, he ought to nonetheless be champion. Then we have now Kazuchika Okada, who received the G1 Climax 31 Match. As a substitute of utilizing a briefcase to signify his event win, Okada makes use of the beloved defunct Model 4 IWGP Heavyweight Title. Okada believes he needs to be acknowledged as a champion since he received the G1 with a formidable 9-1 file.
To settle the controversy of who the true champion of NJPW is, Shingo will defend the IWGP World Heavyweight title in opposition to Okada. On Night time 2, the winner of Shingo/Okada will defend the IWGP World Heavyweight title in opposition to Ospreay.
There’s a number of historical past between Shingo and Okada. Shingo has achieved the unthinkable and defeated Okada twice this yr. First within the opening spherical of the New Japan Cup, then at Dominion for the aforementioned vacant World Heavyweight Title. Shingo appears to have Okada’s quantity.
Nevertheless, since their final match at Dominion, Okada has began using his notorious Rainmaker Clothesline once more. I’ve a troublesome time believing Shingo will get a 3rd consecutive victory over Okada. With 2022 being the fiftieth Anniversary of NJPW, I believe they’re going to need their Golden Boy again on prime. No matter who wins, this will probably be an epic bout and an early match of the yr contender.
seventh Match: IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
El Desperado vs. Hiromu Takahashi
Hiromu Takahashi and El Desperado’s conflict on the Better of the Tremendous Jr. 27 Last was an amazing match that made a number of folks’s 2020 Match of the Yr listing. Since then, folks have been clamoring for these two to battle once more on a giant stage.
Hiromu and Desperado confronted off once more within the Better of the Tremendous Jr. 28. They fought to a 30-minute time restrict draw and delivered the most effective matches from this yr’s league. Each males vowed to settle the rating within the event remaining. Nevertheless, that might not be the case. Desperado did not make it to the ultimate whereas Hiromu did. Hiromu defeated YOH within the Finals to earn a championship match in opposition to Desperado.
Hiromu has been on a mission for the Jr. Championship to foremost occasion a Wrestle Kingdom present. On this evening, he and Desperado will probably be within the semi-main occasion. Which is a giant deal contemplating the Jr. Title match is often positioned earlier within the present. Desperado is coming in with a giant chip on his shoulder. Will the champ lastly be capable to beat Hiromu on the large stage? I believe so.
sixth Match: IWGP Tag Workforce Championships
Harmful Tekkers (Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi) vs. CHAOS (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI)
Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI have been having an amazing 2021. The vast majority of the yr, they have been the NEVER Six-Man Tag Champions together with CHAOS stablemate Tomohiro Ishii. The trio defended the titles in among the finest NJPW tag matches of the yr. After shedding the NEVER Six-Man titles, Goto and YOSHI-HASHI entered the 2021 World Tag League. After a protracted grueling event, Goto and YOSHI-HASHI received the league beating the IWGP Tag Workforce champions alongside the best way. With their event win, they’ve earned the correct to problem Harmful Tekkers for the titles at Wrestle Kingdom 16.
The Harmful Tekkers had an amazing yr as effectively. Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. have been the faces of the Tag Division. Whether or not they have been defending or difficult for the titles, Tekkers have been a focus within the division. Final yr, Tekkers did not defend the titles in opposition to the 2020 World Tag League Winners, Guerillas of Future. Taichi and Sabre will do all the things of their energy to ensure historical past doesn’t repeat its self. Sadly for Tekkers, I consider lightning will strike twice, and we’ll see new IWGP World Tag Workforce Champions.
fifth Match: NEVER Openweight Championship
Tomohiro Ishii vs. EVIL
CHAOS and HOUSE OF TORTURE have been in a heated feud for a number of months. One of many pivotal moments of this feud was EVIL. Yujiro Takahashi and SHO ending the 454 Day NEVER Six-Man Title reign of Ishii, Goto, and YOSHI-HASHI. In fact, they received the titles using underhanded ways and the assistance of Dick Togo.
These factions would conflict once more within the 2021 World Tag League Last as EVIL and Yujiro confronted off in opposition to Goto and YOSHI-HASHI. HOUSE OF TORTURE tried to make use of their shenanigans once more to win the league. Nevertheless, Ishii wouldn’t sit within the again and watch them benefit from his stablemates. Ishii foiled EVIL and Yujiro’s plans permitting Goto and YOSHI-HASHI to win the league.
Now EVIL will probably be searching for revenge on the Stone Pitbull and to take his NEVER Openweight title. It received’t be a simple protection for Ishii as I’m certain we’ll see Togo, Yujiro, and SHO rear their ugly heads. I will probably be rooting for Ishii right here, however with the undesirable push of HOUSE OF TORTURE, I received’t be shocked to see EVIL get the win.
4th Match: Katsuyori Shibata vs. X (Catch Wrestling Guidelines)
On April ninth, 2017, all of us thought we noticed Katsuyori Shibata’s final match. In that notorious match, the headbutt heard world wide occurred, and Shibata suffered a subdural hematoma. Nevertheless, Shibata wouldn’t let that maintain him down. He turned the pinnacle coach of the LA DOJO, and over time, we’ve seen him concerned in bodily angles. These angles gave followers a sliver of hope {that a} Shibata comeback could possibly be doable.
Quick ahead to the G1 Climax 31 Finals. NJPW followers worldwide have been handled to a shock 5-minute exhibition match with Shibata and Zack Sabre Jr. The 2 males wrestled to a time restrict draw. After the match, Shibata proclaimed the subsequent time we noticed him it will be in his gear in an official match.
Shibata can have his first official match since 2017 on January 4th in opposition to a thriller opponent. Throughout a Wrestle Kingdom Press Convention, Shibata introduced that his match will probably be competed underneath Catch Wrestling guidelines. In a Catch Wrestling match, victory will probably be attained as traditional, by way of pinfall, submission, countout, and so forth. Nevertheless, strikes of any sort will probably be prohibited.
The information of the Catch Wrestling guidelines was disappointing to some followers hoping to Shibata compete in a daily professional wrestling match. I believe all NJPW followers would like to see Shibata in a traditional match, however which may not be one thing that might by no means occur once more. We don’t know what his medical clearance is. Because of his harm, he would possibly solely be capable to compete in Catch Wrestling/grappling matches for the remainder of his profession. If that’s the case, I might be proud of that. When achieved proper, grappling matches could be very compelling and entertaining. It may be used as a singular attraction for NJPW playing cards. No matter who his opponent is, I count on this match to be a number of enjoyable. Will probably be so good to listen to Shibata’s music blaring via the Tokyo Dome once more.
third Match: Los Ingobernables De Japon (SANADA, BUSHI & Tetsuya Naito) vs United Empire (Jeff Cobb, Will Ospreay & Nice-O-Khan)
Los Ingobernables De Japon and the United Empire will conflict on January 4th. This match serves as a preview for Jeff Cobb vs. Tetsuya Naito and SANADA vs. Nice-O-Khan. Each of these matches are set for January fifth. These males will probably be trying to get a bonus going into evening 2. United Empire will even be trying to rectify their outcomes from final yr’s Wrestle Kingdom exhibits. This will probably be Ospreay’s first match in Japan since Could fifth. I’m anticipating him to get the win over BUSHI right here.
2nd Match: Rocky Romero, Ryusuke Taguchi & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. BULLET CLUB (KENTA, Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo)
One other preview match will happen on evening one with Hiroshi Tanahashi and the Mega Coaches in opposition to the BULLET CLUB. On evening 2, Tanahashi will probably be difficult KENTA for the IWGP United States Championship in a No Disqualification match. Whereas the Mega Coaches will probably be in a 3 Method Tag Workforce Match in opposition to BULLET CLUB’s Cutest Tag Workforce and Flying Tiger for the IWGP Jr. Tag Workforce Championships.
In the course of the Highway to Tokyo Dome tour, KENTA has repeatedly left Tanahashi laid out. This will probably be Tanahashi’s final likelihood to show he can deal with KENTA earlier than they face off the subsequent evening.
ELP’s Sudden Dying Tremendous Kick has been a thorn within the aspect of everybody within the Jr. Division. The Mega Coaches will probably be trying to expose that ELP.s boot is loaded.
1st Match: YOH vs. SHO
Former Roponggi 3K teammates will sq. off within the opening match of the principle card. The long-time partnership ended when SHO attacked YOH in the course of the Summer season Battle tour. The Ropoggni boys went one-on-one at Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome. SHO defeated YOH by ref stoppage and went on to hitch BULLET CLUB and the HOUSE OF TORTURE.
In Better of Tremendous Jr. 28, YOH was in a position to get revenge on SHO and forestall him from making it to the event’s remaining. In retaliation to the loss, SHO interfered within the BOSJ 28 remaining match and laid out YOH and Hiromu. Purple Sneakers thwarted SHO’s try to sabotage the event finals. YOH fought arduous however did not defeat Hiromu. The query now lingers, had SHO not interfered would YOH received the event?
These two males will probably be trying to settle their points and show who the higher man is. The potential of HOUSE of TORTURE interference makes me not excited for the match. I’m anticipating SHO to win right here someway.
Kick-Off: KOPW 2022 New Japan Ranbo
The New Japan Ranbo returns and can kick off on the pre-show. The ultimate 4 males will advance to a Deadly 4-Method on evening two, the place the winner will change into the primary 2022 provisional KOPW Champion.
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