To be able make your debut for New Japan Pro Wrestling in the Tokyo Dome is an incredible way to begin your career, and that is the chance that new Young Lion Oleg Boltin has here tonight. It will be a simple three minute exhibition against Ryohei Oiwa. Both men have bring serious amateur wrestling skills to the ring – but Oiwa isn’t keen on being shown up by someone with no professional wrestling experience.
Three Minute Exhibition Shows The Skills Of Boltin & Oiwa
The crowd of 25,000 would settle in as Oiwa & Boltin would sprawl, with Boltin slamming Oiwa hard into the mat. Oiwa shot for a double leg, with Boltin casting Oiwa aside. Boltin would whip Oiwa around, looking like an absolute natural in the ring. That’s what this is about, with Oiwa actually holding his punches for this exhibition – focusing on pure grappling.
If this was scored on points, Boltin would win by a landslide, until Oiwa got a wrist lock and moving into a Fireman’s Carry. Oiwa would look for the armbar, but Boltin locked his hands. Boltin would hit a hip toss and body slam for a near fall, and this one ended in a draw. These two won’t be opening the show for long, with both having the potential to main event Wrestle Kingdom someday.
New Japan Rambo Means Instant Chaos
Nothing gets a new year of New Japan Pro Wrestling rolling like the New Japan Rambo. Taking some cues from the WWE Royal Rumble, this match starts with four men – with more entrants hitting the ring at random intervals. You can be eliminated by being thrown over the top rope, being pinned, or being submitted. The last four men standing will battle at New Years Dash tomorrow for the new KOPW 2022 championship title.
SHO & Hikule’o would start this match, with SHO just running away from the Tongan Giant. EVIL & Dick Togo were out next, with EVIL the official entrant. Hikule’o hit a nasty chokeslam, with Tomohiro Ishii hitting the ring next, showing no fear when staring far up at Hikule’o before hitting a double suplex with SHO.
Great-O-Khan was out next, with the RevPro Undisputed British Heavyweight Championship around his waist. He’d walk around the ring posing with the belts, as DOUKI hit the ring and hit a elbow smash. EVIL & SHO tried to take Ishii out, as Rocky Romero made the save. Romero eliminated EVIL, the first elimination of the match.
KENTA would hit the ring next, trading blows with Ishii before opting to go for the eyes instead. Green Killer would land, as Yoshinobu Kanemaru hit the ring – trading blows with old NOAH rival KENTA. Aaron Henare would be next to the ring, getting Ishii from behind before trading forearm smashes. Berzerker Bomb landed, but O-Khan broke the pinfall up for… reasons.
Final Four Are A Mixed Bag
Taguchi would hit the ring next, with Ishii placed on the apron and eliminated by O-Khan & Henare. Jeff Cobb made his way to the ring, as Romero & Taguchi turned to blows. Hikule’o threw DOUKI out, with Shane Haste hitting the ring. Dynamic Bomb was blocked by Romero, as Mikey Nicholls hitting the ring. TMDK united would mean eliminations, taking down Taguchi & Romero in quick fashion. Cobb & O-Khan took out Hikule’o as KOPW legend Toru Yano hit the ringside area. TMDK dumped Cobb from the ring, with O-Khan taking out Haste and then Nicholls.
El Phantasmo was next, a favourite to make the final four. ELP would rake the back of Henare before sending him over the top rope and to the floor. Taichi would sing his way to the ring in amazing fashion, even with his mic stand unplugged. He’d take his gear off, and waited for someone to join him in the ring for a sumo battle – with O-Khan falling.
Shingo Takagi was the second to last entrant, and was thrown to the mat by Taichi. Takagi helped BULLET CLUB throw his rival Taichi out, before being attacked. Yano finally entered the ring. KENTA & Yujiro Takahashi were thrown out, though this writer missed Takahashi even entering this chaos. ELP would pull off the Kofi Kingston save using the barricade, with KENTA & Takahashi helping out.
Takagi was almost out, and next elimination ends this match – naming the final four. ELP was taken out by SHO – and this is over. Yano advances by going nothing, alongside SHO, Shingo Takagi & Great-O-Khan. Who will be KOPW 2023 champion tomorrow at New Years Dash? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
SUBSCRIBE NOW: Get TheOvertimer’s Hottest Stories, Breaking News and Special Features in your email, CLICK HERE!
