It’s become an annual tradition lately for the New Japan Ranbo to decide who battles for the right to start the journey to crowning the King of Pro Wrestling (KOPW) for 2022. Toru Yano has ended 2020 & 2021 holding the trophy, and to kick off NJPW’s year – we have a huge battle royale! Last four men standing will meet in a Fatal Four Way tomorrow, and eliminations are from pinfall, submission, or going over the top rope.
CIMA Makes His NJPW Return In The New Japan Ranbo
The two men who started this match would be Chase Owens & Aaron Henare. Owens is the only man to take the KOPW 2021 title from Yano, and commentary confirmed 19 men will be involved – giving 17 men to come. Henare would avoid the early C-Trigger and hit a big shoulder tackle. Owens fired back with a complete shot into the corner – before Kosei Fujita hit the ring.
The young lion rushed the ring and hit a big dropkick, and Henare would try to take advantage and throw Owens out. Yuto Nakashima was next, another Young Lion hit the ring, only for Henare to beat him down. Ryohei Oiwa would be next, putting three Young Lions in the ring. Oiwa instantly tossed Owens with a gutwrench suplex before a dropkick to Henare. Much like Fujita & Nakahima, he got beaten down.
Master Wato was down next, who took in the big stage before throwing some strikes at Owens & Henare. A jumping back kick took Owens down, and a thrust kick dropped Henare. Hiroyoshi Tenzan was down next. Minoru Suzuki would be in after Tenzan, who had quickly found himself in trouble. All three young lions went right for him, and were dropped fast with submissions.
Satoshi Kojima would take the fight to Suzuki upon hitting the ring, and Taka Michinoku hit the ring to take the TenKoji cutter. A big surprise came with CIMA, making a NJPW return, and he’d take Taka out with a double knee drop. Honma hit the ring, as CIMA & Wato exchanged in the ring, with CIMA sending him over the top.
SHO & YOH Take Their Issues To Wrestle Kingdom
During the finals of Best of the Super Juniors, YOH was continuing the biggest fight of his career. He made it from a 0-4 start to the finals, and was closing in on a win over Hiromu Takahashi when his old tag team partner turned rival invaded. SHO all but ruined that main event, and killed the chances to YOH getting a title shot at Tokyo Dome. However, having the chance to finally shut SHO up for good in the opening match of the show will be just as sweet.
SHO would plug his ears as the music of YOH hit, and as soon as they hit the ring – YOH sent his former partner outside and dove right onto him. He’d try for Direct Drive on the ramp, but YOH slipped free. SHO threw a ringside attendant into YOH, before slamming them onto YOH.
Once he got back to his feet, it was right into the barricade for YOH, and into the ring for a two count. SHO would choke YOH out, and this match was not going according to plan. YOH tried to stop the choking and had his eyes gouged, but a dragon screw got him back into the fight. The arms of SHO were trapped and some fast stomps rained down to the chest.
Dick Togo Gets His Just Deserts
YOH would nail a dropkick and german suplex. Direct Drive would be attempted but SHO blocked and tried to cut him down with kicks – before YOH was nailed with a spear. SHO would try to kick the head of YOH in, before being rolled up for two. A big lariat landed, before a powerbomb and crossarm piledriver would get another near fall.
A second attempt at the crossarm piledriver saw YOH lock in the Stargazer, his variant of the Calf Slicer. SHO would be rolled into the middle of the ring, and Dick Togo came to ringside to distract the referee. Instead of keeping the hold in, YOH let it go and took a big lariat from SHO because of it.
Snake Bite was applied by SHO, and YOH would fight to try and get a foot on the ropes. YOH was almost out, but would power his way back up and broke the hold. Again the referee was grabbed by Togo, and SHO grabbed his favorite wrench. Instead, it hit the jaw of Togo, and YOH got the Five Star Clutch for the win!!
Will YOH help CHAOS gain the NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships tomorrow? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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