The main New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) branch in Japan returns to action on August 26th at Korakuen Hall after a mid-tour break that began after its August 16th event in Shizuoka.
The Summer Struggle event is highlighted by the first round of KOPW (seemingly King of Pro Wrestling) Title tournament action after fans took part in voting to determine the stipulations for the four opening-round matches. The winners of each contest will move on to the Summer Struggle in Jingu featured event on August 29th to determine the interim champion (yearly champion to presumably be awarded every December).
The marquee match will see former five-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion CHAOS member Kazuchika Okada face Bullet Club members Yujiro Takahashi, Gedo, and Jado in a 1 on 3 Handicap Match. If Yujiro’s team wins, he moves on to the 4-Way match at Summer Struggle in Jingu.
Yujiro and Okada have been in the midst of a program since Yujiro ran in during Okada’s New Japan Cup finals match against Evil on July 11th.
The headline match will see Los Ingobernables de Japon (LIJ) member Sanada face CHAOS member and one-half of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Sho compete in a submission match. Due to both wrestlers proposing the same style of stipulation a fan voting didn’t take place.
In the fourth match, CHAOS member Toru Yano faces former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion LIJ member Bushi in a 2-Count Pinfall Match. The winner will be decided once a competitor gains a count of two on their opponent. It’s unlikely this match will last very long.
The third match is a No Finisher Match between two-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hontai member Satoshi Kojima and Suzuki-Gun member El Desperado.
Despite using multiple techniques to win matches, their finishers are listed as the Lariat (Kojima) and Pinche Loco (Desperado). The match is the first match of the event to be for a spot in the KOPW finals.
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