NJPW Declaration of Power - October 10, 2022

[Chris]

JONAH vs Okada, Tama vs Jay confirmed for Declaration of Power in October!​

First two matches set for Ryogoku

October 10 will see NJPW return to Ryogoku Sumo Hall, with a traditional national sports day holiday event back on the calendar. This time, as NJPW continues to revive classic tour names from our 50 year history, Declaration of Power is back from being a regular series through the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Watch Declaration of Power LIVE IN ENGLISH October 10 on NJPW World!

It was indeed a declaration of power in Osaka during the G1 Climax, when JONAH stunned EDION Arena and the world at large with a Black Forest Bomb and Torpedo to defeat Kazuchika Okada. Okada went on to win the tournament and cement his place in the main event for Wrestle Kingdom 17 on January 4 2023, but he has unfinished business with TMDK’s Top Dog. October 10 will see the two do battle in a special singles match; though Okada’s position as IWGP World Heavyweight Championship challenger at Wrestle Kingdom is not at stake, another win for JONAH could set him in a very strong position to be the champion by January 4.

That said, the current champion Switchblade Jay White has been all but unbeatable in 2022. After taking the title from Okada at Dominion, White defended against Handman Page, Adam Cole and the Rainmaker at Forbidden Door, before undergoing what the Switchblade said was ‘a deliberate attempt to find a contender to beat me’ in the form of the largest G1 field of all time this summer. During his campaign, the Catalyst of Professional Wrestling had one solitary blemish- to Tama Tonga. Tama would state after rocking White with a Gunstun and taking his place in the G1 final four, that the champion had ‘given me the push off the ledge to prove I can fly’ and will now seek to show just how far he can soar. Could he be wearing IWGP World Heavyweight gold when all is said and done in Ryogoku?

Plenty more matches are set to be announced for Declaration of Power- stay tuned in the weeks to come!
​

 

[Kairi HoHo]

So just like Cobb when he defeated Okada and it was such a big thing then Okada came back and defeated him and no one remembers it as much. Okada vs Jonah 2 good Match to come with Okada winning showing his dominance further within New Japan. Tama vs Jay White 2

 

[Chris]

Extra Matches Set for Declaration of Power!​

KOPW 2022, Ishimori and KUSHIDA, and a big homecoming set for Ryogoku October 10

More matches have been added to an increasingly loaded card in Ryogoku Sumo Hall on October 10 for Declaration of Power.
Watch Declaration of Power LIVE IN ENGLISH on NJPW World!

Added after the events of Burning Spirit in Kobe, the KOPW 2022 trophy will be on the line when El Phantasmo challenges Shingo Takagi. While KOPW matches usually involve a fan vote for the stipulation, here both participants have agreed to a unique ‘Who’s Your Daddy Match’.

Ever since Phantasmo pinned Shingo in the G1 Climax, ELP has been declaring loud and long that he is Takagi’s daddy. Shingo took distinct umbridge all the way through the Burning Spirit tour, but that tour ended in Kobe with a Ground Cobra pinfall for Shingo over his tormentor. As the two confronted one another backstage, the Who’s Your Daddy Match was hatched.

The Who’s Your Daddy Match will be contested under regular rules, but the stipulation concerns what happens after the result. The loser must take the microphone and concede to the viewing public and the winner ‘you are my daddy’. With not just the KOPW trophy, but immense personal pride on the line, who will be victorious in Ryogoku?

Taiji Ishimori has been maintaining the BULLET CLUB tradition of humiliating his opposition when it comes to his attitude with KUSHIDA. When the Timesplitter returned to New Japan Pro-Wrestling and requested a title opportunity, Ishimori flatly declined, saying instead that KUSHIDA had to prove himself worthy of a shot at the gold. Ever since, and despite impressive performances in the US and Japan, including a direct pinfall over the Bone Soldier in the Nippon Budokan back at the G1 finals, Ishimori has still denied KUSHIDA his title shot, and the would-be-challenger’s bout with hand, foot and mouth disease prevented KUSHIDA from making a key statement at the end of the previous tour.

Now Ishimori has granted KUSHIDA one final test, in the form of a non-title singles match. Should KUSHIDA win, there is no doubt that he will deserve a chance at Ishimori again for the gold, but if it’s the champion that’s victorious, what will be next for both KUSHIDA and the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship itself?

Also official for Declaration of Power is Ren Narita’s Homecoming Match! Three years ago, Narita went on excursion to the LA Dojo, and since became a staple on NJPW STRONG. After a 2022 that started with an exhibition against Katsuyori Shibata in the Tokyo Dome, and continued in spectacular form against high profile opponents on NJPW STRONG, Narita is now set to make his official return to Japanese rings full time. Just who will be his first opponent back in Japan? Stay tuned for more information!

With JONAH’s special singles match with Kazuchika Okada, and Jay White vs Tama Tonga for the IWGP World heavyweight Championship already signed for Ryogoku, it’s set to be a loaded night in Sumo Hall! Watch all the action with live ringside English coverage on NJPW World!

​

 

[Chris]

Declaration of Power (October 10) Full card, Preview​

Championship matches and a major homecoming set for Ryogoku

The National Sports Day holiday of the second Monday in October in Japan sees NJPW’s autumn Ryogoku event back in its rightful place in the calendar this year, harkening back to the 90s and early 2000s with Declaration of Power. With two title matches and the return of Ren Narita, drama is at every turn in Sumo Hall!
Watch Declaration of Power LIVE IN ENGLISH on NJPW World!

Main event: IWGP World Heavyweight Championship- Jay White vs Tama Tonga
Singles record: 1-0 Tonga

The main event of the evening sees Jay White look to defend the IWGP World heavyweight Championship for the second time against challenger Tama Tonga. It was back in February that a Bladerunner struck to remove Tama Tonga from BULLET CLUB, sparking a chain reaction that saw Tonga represent Hontai during the G1, fuelled with a burning desire for revenge as the former BC Kingmaker was driven to take down the King.

That he did on the last night of league action, and though Tama would fall to eventual tournament winner Kazuchika Okada in the semifinals, the statement was clearly delivered to the champion. Tama would ‘thank’ Jay White for letting him show the world that he can fly, and after an attack in Kobe, youngest brother Hikuleo would join the challenger’s side. After relieving White of his giant ‘Young Gun’ prospect, might he also relieve him of the world heavyweight title?

8th Match: JONAH vs Kazuchika Okada
Singles record: 1-0 JONAH

Kazuchika Okada’s second straight G1 Climax victory this summer in the Nippon Budokan saw even the best equipped fall to the Rainmaker. Yet a near flawless record had a sizable blemish when JONAH soared off the top rope to Okada in Osaka to stunned gasps of amazement. Unpinned and unsubmitted in a NJPW ring, JONAH has established himself as Top Dog in reputation if not status, and the latter will be assured if he can beat the CHAOS leader again in Ryogoku. Okada stated after winning the G1 that he wanted his spot in the main event at Wrestle Kingdom 17 assured, meaning the briefcase defences of old are gone this year. Yet should JONAH come out victorious tonight, he will be certainly able to call his own shots, suggesting in his comments of late that he wants to create a three way defence of the world heavyweight gold at the Tokyo Dome. As Wrestle Kingdom season approaches, can a big man make his way to the Big Egg?

7th Match: KOPW 2022- Who’s Your Daddy Match Shingo Takagi vs El Phantasmo
Singles record: 1-0 Phantasmo

Another match established at the end of the G1 Climax, Shingo Takagi will defend his KOPW 2022 holder status, as he looks to erase a painful loss to El Phantasmo that eliminated him from the tournament’s D Block. If the loss itself wasn’t painful enough, ELP has rubbed salt in the wound on a consistent basis through the last tour, hailing himself ‘Shingo’s daddy’ and heaping embarrassment, and losses on his foe on a near nightly basis.

Takagi was able to turn the tide back in Kobe on September 25, as a debatable low blow followed by a Ground Cobra saw him grab a decisive, if controversial pinfall victory on Phantasmo. Post match, an argument erupted backstage that ended with a KOPW 2022 trophy defence made official. Both the trophy and pride will be on the line tonight, as the Who’s Your Daddy match will see the loser have to take an in ring mic and declare to the world that the winner is their ‘daddy’.

6th Match: Taiji Ishimori vs KUSHIDA

After making a surprise return to NJPW earlier this summer in Korakuen Hall, KUSHIDA had planned to challenge IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Taiji Ishimori right away, but the Bone Soldier was rather less than welcoming of the Timesplitter. Declaring that KUSHIDA had no right to ‘waltz into’ a title shot, Ishimori determined that the former six time title holder should be subject to an ‘assessment perios’ during the Burning Spirit tour. Despite KUSHIDA’s activity in the US and Japan that included a direct pinfall over Ishimori at the G1 Climax final in tag team action, a last minute illness at the back end of the previous series saw him, in the champion’s eyes ‘fail’ the assessment as laid out.

Now Ishimori has refused for this singles match to be contested for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, instead using this special singles match to ensure KUSHIDA has ‘no place left to stand’ in New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Will KUSHIDA prove the champion badly wrong at Declaration of Power?

5th Match: Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI) vs United Empire (Will Ospreay, Aaron Henare, Francesco Akira & TJP)

Following Burning Spirit in Kobe on September 25, Tetsuya Naito made an uncharacteristic appeal to the IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay. While Naito’s eyes have never been on the red and gold US belt, a wrestler of the year front runner and the man that defeated him in the G1 Climax semifinals earlier this summer in an instant classic is certainly an attractive prospect, and after the events of Royal Quest in London adding further fuel to the fire, Naito wants to get back in the ring to get direct contact with the Commonwealth Kingpin in Ryogoku. Both Naito and Ospreay have won IWGP Heavyweight and World Heavyweight gold in Ryogoku; could this match get a glimpse into the future of the US title?

4th Match: Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) vs United Empire (Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb)
Direct tag record: 1-1

Ever since FTR won the IWGP Tag Team Championships in Chicago at Forbidden Door back in June, teams have been vying for a chance to bring the gold back to Japan. Former champions Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan moved to the top of the line when they defeated Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens in Kobe, declaring themselves next to face the winner of FTR and Aussie Open from Royal Quest. Yet now the champions before them in Bishamon have stepped forth to stake their own claim. In April here in Ryogoku, Cobb and O-Khan defeated Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI to lift IWGP gold for the first time, but with a 1-1 record between the two teams, it’ll be the winner of this rubber match that likely will be next in line for the tag gold.

3rd Match: Master Wato, Ryusuke Taguchi, Hikuleo & Jado vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (EVIL, SHO, Dick Togo & Yujiro Takahashi)

Shouts of delight erupted from the crowd in Kobe on September 25 when Hikuleo embraced his brother Tama Tonga center ring. Formally BULLET CLUB’s Young Gun, Hikuleo had chosen to stay with Jay White in the group earlier in the spring even as Tama and Tanga Loa was turned aside, but he refused to lay hands on his family, even as Loa confronted his ‘big little brother’ in Washington DC earlier this year. As Hikuleo seemed to remain conflicted, he would make up his mind in Kobe, and joined Tama and Jado in tag matches in London. Now again, two Guerrillas of Destiny will join forces with Team Six or Nine to take on HOUSE OF TORTURE.

2nd Match: Dangerous Tekkers (Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi) vs TMDK (Bad Dude Tito & Shane Haste)

Tag team action in Ryogoku will see Dangerous Tekkers take on Bad Dude Tito and Shane Haste. With TMDK becoming a consistent force in NJPW in Japan as well as on NJPW STRONG, the factional power struggle in NJPW on both sides of the Pacific is becoming more intense. Tonight will see ZSJ and Taichi look to make a decisive statement on behalf of Suzuki-Gun, while potentially setting the scene for World Tag League in November.

1st Match: Ren Narita Homecoming- Ren Narita, Robbie Eagles & David Finlay vs Suzuki-Gun (DOUKI, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado)

Action in Ryogoku will begin with Ren Narita making his return to consistent Japanese competition after a three year excursion. While fans of NJPW STRONG have seen his growth, now he truly begins his fight on the biggest stage, and does so on the Hontai/CHAOS side opposite a Suzuki-Gun trio.​

 

[Chris]

KUSHIDA absent from Declaration of Power, Replacement TBD​

Thank you for supporting New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

KUSHIDA, who was scheduled to face Taiji Ishimori at Declaration of Power in Ryogoku on Monday October 10, is still recovering from a bout with hand foot and mouth disease, and will not be cleared to compete.

We apologise to fans who were looking forward to seeing KUSHIDA wrestle, and appreciate your understanding.

There will be a change to Monday’s card, to be announced at a later time before the event.

NJPW joins fans in wishing KUSHIDA a full and speedy recovery.

KUSHIDA absent from Declaration of Power, Replacement TBD | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING

Thank you for supporting New Japan Pro-Wrestling. KUSHIDA, who was scheduled to face Taiji Ishimori at Declaration of Power in Ryogoku on Monday October 10, is still recovering from a bout with hand foot and mouth disease, and will not be cleare...

www.njpw1972.com

 

[Chris]

Master Wato to face Taiji Ishimori in Ryogoku Change​

Yesterday the announcement was made that as a result of his continuing recovery from illness, KUSHIDA will not be able to wrestle his scheduled singles match with Taiji Ishimori on Monday October 0 in Ryogoku.

In the wake of the decision, Master Wato would issue his own challenge to Ishimori, suggesting that the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion ‘assess’ someone different. Ishimori accepted the non-title challenge, and now the match is official for Ryogoku!

As a result, what was an eight man contest now becomes six in the third match of the night, with Hikuleo, Ryusuke Taguchi and Hiroshi Tanahashi set to take on HOUSE OF TORTURE. Another set of champions in BULLET CLUB that seem reluctant to defend their belts, will this Hontai trio, with the huge Hikuleo making for a big time addition, force H.O.T’s hand into a future title match on Monday?

Find out LIVE IN ENGLISH on NJPW World!​

 

[Chris]

Caught the past 8 minutes or so of Okada/JONAH and holy fuck bro that was great

 

[Chris]

I can't believe this Tama/Jay White feud started on am Impact Plus special lol

 

[Chris]

Jay marking out bc the beer backstage is actually cold for once lmao

 

[Chris]

Ren Narita is now the Son of Strong Style

 

[Chris]

Omg Narita just won the 6 man without ever tagging out, they're about to strap a rocket to him

 

[Chris]

Big Teets and Taichi having a pec popping contest

 

[Chris]

Talking about doing Tanahashi vs Fred Rosser at Wrestle Kingdom?

 

[Chris]

That Tour of the Island by Cobb to win the 8 man was cool as fuck

 

[Chris]

Omg Titan joins LIJ