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Road to Tokyo Dome night 1 (December 22) Full card, preview 【WK17】
Road to Tokyo Dome night 1 (December 22) Full card, preview 【WK17】
Tokyo Dome previews, Young Lion challenges, and Suzuki-gun nears its end
The traditional Korakuen hall end to 2022 sees the Road to Tokyo Dome. This year, the high stakes previews of Wrestle Kingdom have an added emotional twist, as Suzuki-Gun rides for the final time over two nights.
Watch Road to Tokyo Dome live or in English on demand on NJPW World!
Main event: YOH, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kazuchika Okada vs Suzuki-Gun (DOUKI, Lance Archer & Minoru Suzuki)
The main event of the evening will see Suzuki-Gun clash with the forces of Hontai and CHAOS for the final time in six man action. Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada’s history with Minoru Suzuki is deep, rich and violent, and Lance Archer has been a memorable opponent for the Ace and the Rainmaker as well. Meanwhile YOH has consistently been kept in check and in torment by the SZKG juniors, and with DOUKI well on his way to being a major junior heavyweight force away from Suzuki-Gun from 2023 onward, this is a fitting penultimate match for the stable.
7th Match: Six or Nine (Master Wato & Ryusuke Taguchi) vs Los Ingobernables De Japon (Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI) vs Suzuki-Gun (El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) vs BULLET CLUB (Taiji Ishimori & Gedo)
With Master Wato, Hiromu Takahashi, El Desperado and Taiji Ishimori set to face off in a four way over the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom, December 22 will see a four way tag team preview. A rare bout that’s sure to be chaotic, will this tag team experience offer any hints as to January 4’s singles winner, and who will make the loudest statement in Korakuen?
6th Match: Ren Narita & Tomoaki Honma vs Dangerous Tekkers (Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi)
As Suzuki-Gun disbands after December 23, the future of Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi as a team must also be in question. Yet what can’t be called into question is Sabre’s drive to win his first official singles championship in New Japan, nor Ren Narita’s determination to rocket himself straight to the top by becoming NJPW World TV Champion on January 4. Get ready for a hard hitting taste of things to come in Korakuen.
5th Match: Shota Umino, Satoshi Kojima & Togi Makabe vs Los Ingobernables De Japon (SANADA, Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito)
January 4 will see an ending of eras in more ways than one, as Keiji Muto wrestles his final match in a NJPW ring, and the Antonio Inoki Memorial Match sees us bid farewell to an iconic figure. Satoshi Kojima and Togi Makabe will represent the older guard battling in the latter, while Shota Umino represents a new breed fighting for prominence in the former. Against ungovernable opposition, who comes out on top?
4th Match: Oskar Leube vs Jeff Cobb
United Empire will be putting Young Lions to the test in a series of singles matches to start the night in Korakuen Hall, with Jeff Cobb facing Oskar Leube at the top of that pile. Leube is the newest member of the Noge Dojo, but bringing with him experience from New Zealand and Germany, as well as a lot of size and strength. When it comes to size and strength though, few can top Jeff Cobb. How will young Leube fare against the Imperial Unit?
3rd Match: Ryohei Oiwa vs Great-O-Khan
Ryohei Oiwa takes on Great-O-Khan one on one. Oiwa is rising in popularity thanks in no small part to his fresh faced good looks, but will they hold up in the clutches of O-Khan’s vicious claw?
2nd Match: Yuto Nakashima vs Aaron Henare
Yuto Nakashima and Aaron Henare is a fascinating match stylistically between two martial arts proponents with street fighting and New Zealand Dojo experience. Henare will be showing his experience advantage tonight though as he takes Yuto to task.
1st Match: Kosei Fujita vs Francesco Akira
Starting out, Kosei Fujita will be taking on one half of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champions in Francesco Akira. A spirited and high speed affair is sure to get the Korakuen crowd red hot as we get underway!
The traditional Korakuen hall end to 2022 sees the Road to Tokyo Dome. This year, the high stakes previews of Wrestle Kingdom have an added emotional twist, as Suzuki-Gun rides for the final time over two nights.
Watch Road to Tokyo Dome live or in English on demand on NJPW World!
Main event: YOH, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kazuchika Okada vs Suzuki-Gun (DOUKI, Lance Archer & Minoru Suzuki)
The main event of the evening will see Suzuki-Gun clash with the forces of Hontai and CHAOS for the final time in six man action. Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada’s history with Minoru Suzuki is deep, rich and violent, and Lance Archer has been a memorable opponent for the Ace and the Rainmaker as well. Meanwhile YOH has consistently been kept in check and in torment by the SZKG juniors, and with DOUKI well on his way to being a major junior heavyweight force away from Suzuki-Gun from 2023 onward, this is a fitting penultimate match for the stable.
7th Match: Six or Nine (Master Wato & Ryusuke Taguchi) vs Los Ingobernables De Japon (Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI) vs Suzuki-Gun (El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) vs BULLET CLUB (Taiji Ishimori & Gedo)
With Master Wato, Hiromu Takahashi, El Desperado and Taiji Ishimori set to face off in a four way over the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom, December 22 will see a four way tag team preview. A rare bout that’s sure to be chaotic, will this tag team experience offer any hints as to January 4’s singles winner, and who will make the loudest statement in Korakuen?
6th Match: Ren Narita & Tomoaki Honma vs Dangerous Tekkers (Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi)
As Suzuki-Gun disbands after December 23, the future of Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi as a team must also be in question. Yet what can’t be called into question is Sabre’s drive to win his first official singles championship in New Japan, nor Ren Narita’s determination to rocket himself straight to the top by becoming NJPW World TV Champion on January 4. Get ready for a hard hitting taste of things to come in Korakuen.
5th Match: Shota Umino, Satoshi Kojima & Togi Makabe vs Los Ingobernables De Japon (SANADA, Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito)
January 4 will see an ending of eras in more ways than one, as Keiji Muto wrestles his final match in a NJPW ring, and the Antonio Inoki Memorial Match sees us bid farewell to an iconic figure. Satoshi Kojima and Togi Makabe will represent the older guard battling in the latter, while Shota Umino represents a new breed fighting for prominence in the former. Against ungovernable opposition, who comes out on top?
4th Match: Oskar Leube vs Jeff Cobb
United Empire will be putting Young Lions to the test in a series of singles matches to start the night in Korakuen Hall, with Jeff Cobb facing Oskar Leube at the top of that pile. Leube is the newest member of the Noge Dojo, but bringing with him experience from New Zealand and Germany, as well as a lot of size and strength. When it comes to size and strength though, few can top Jeff Cobb. How will young Leube fare against the Imperial Unit?
3rd Match: Ryohei Oiwa vs Great-O-Khan
Ryohei Oiwa takes on Great-O-Khan one on one. Oiwa is rising in popularity thanks in no small part to his fresh faced good looks, but will they hold up in the clutches of O-Khan’s vicious claw?
2nd Match: Yuto Nakashima vs Aaron Henare
Yuto Nakashima and Aaron Henare is a fascinating match stylistically between two martial arts proponents with street fighting and New Zealand Dojo experience. Henare will be showing his experience advantage tonight though as he takes Yuto to task.
1st Match: Kosei Fujita vs Francesco Akira
Starting out, Kosei Fujita will be taking on one half of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champions in Francesco Akira. A spirited and high speed affair is sure to get the Korakuen crowd red hot as we get underway!
Road to Tokyo Dome night 2 (December 23) Full card, Preview 【WK17】
Road to Tokyo Dome night 2 (December 23) Full card, Preview 【WK17】
Last night before Wrestle Kingdom is last night for Suzuki-Gun
The final matches of 2022 in New Japan Pro-Wrestling will tonight see the final ground laid for Wrestle Kingdom 17, and the last hurrah for Suzuki-Gun. An emotionally charged evening is sure to unfold in Korakuen Hall December 23.
Watch Road to Tokyo Dome LIVE or in English on demand on NJPW World!
Main event: Suzuki-Gun Final- Suzuki-Gun (TAKA Michinoku, El Desperado, Lance Archer & Minoru Suzuki) vs Suzuki-Gun (Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI)
After 11 years of violent brotherhood, it would only make sense for the final Suzuki-Gun match to see all eight active members fighting one another in our main event. One of the most hated and feared factions in all of professional wrestling history is also one of the most respected and loved; as Minoru Suzuki’s army is more than strong enough as a collective of individuals to stand on their own merits, this final melee will be a bittersweet one indeed.
7th Match: Kazuchika Okada, YOH & Master Wato vs BULLET CLUB (El Phantasmo, Taiji Ishimori & Gedo)
With IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Jay White conspicuous by his absence, Kazuchika Okada will have eyes in the back of his head, and fists balled as he takes the Catalyst’s handler Gedo to task here tonight. Speaking of conspicuous, El Phantasmo is notably missing from the Tokyo Dome card on January 4; having suggested that he is better suited to KOPW competition than any other member of the roster, the KOPW 2023 Ranbo is certainly a potential spot for ELP. He could show his hand tonight, while Master Wato seeks a final hint at outlasting Taiji Ishimori in January 4’s chaotic four way.
6th Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ryusuke Taguchi & Shota Umino vs Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI)
Five sixths of Keiji Muto’s final NJPW match will face off in trios competition on December 23. Ryusuke Taguchi perhaps couldn’t be further removed from Keiji Muto, but nonetheless will present stiff competition alongside Hiroshi Tanahashi and Shota Umino as they get set to face LIJ in the Tokyo Dome in a match that sees past, present and future collide.
5th match: TenCozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima) vs Bishamon (YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto)
Tag record: 2-0 Bishamon
On January 4, World Tag League winners Bishamon seek to regain IWGP Tag team Championship gold in the Tokyo Dome when they face FTR. As Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler ply their trade primarily in AEW, Goto and YOSHI-HASHI feel duty bound to bring the tag titles home; as six time former IWGP Tag Team Champions themselves, TenCozy know something of champion duties, and will be instilling some of that into Bishamon here tonight.
4th Match: Los Ingobernables De Japon (Hiromu Takahashi & Shingo Takagi) vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (EVIL & Dick Togo)
A sub narrative through much of 2022 has been the near total collapse of HOUSE OF TORTURE when it comes to competition. In a results driven business, H.O.T may as well be in reverse such has been their record over tag leagues and recent tours. Part of that collapse was during the New Japan Cup, when a packed Korakuen Hall exploded for Hiromu’s victory over EVIL. That gets run back here, and might we see a hint for future directions of the NEVER Openweight 6 Man titles and KOPW into 2023?
3rd Match: Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, Tiger Mask & Ren Narita vs United Empire (Jeff Cobb, Great-O-Khan, Aaron Henare & Francesco Akira)
United Empire have always been motivated by a certain chip on the shoulder. That should be all the more prominent over the two days rounding out 2022 in Korakuen Hall, as Akira is the only member of this four man squad with a spot on the main card at Wrestle Kingdom. Ren Narita earned his own spot by reaching the finals of a NJPW World TV title tournament that saw Jeff Cobb, Great-O-Khan and Aaron Henare all fall by the wayside; those frustrations are sure to be acted out tonight as United Empire look to end the year with a forceful statement.
2nd Match: Ryohei Oiwa & Kosei Fujita vs CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano)
2023 is sure to see Ryohei Oiwa and Kosei Fujita continue their rise. As they end 2022, the two young prospects will team up against former IWGP Tag Team Champions in Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano.
1st match: Yuto Nakashima & Oskar Leube vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (Yujiro Takahashi & SHO)
As poor as the close of 2022 has been for HOUSE OF TORTURE, they remain with the NEVER 6 Man tittle’s in their clutches. Two thirds of the championship team will be in action against the NZ Dojo connection of Oskar Leube and Yuto Nakashima. It would be the Christmas present of a lifetime if these ‘frenemies’ were to upset two of the champs, but two men right at the top of the naughty list will have something to say about that.
The final matches of 2022 in New Japan Pro-Wrestling will tonight see the final ground laid for Wrestle Kingdom 17, and the last hurrah for Suzuki-Gun. An emotionally charged evening is sure to unfold in Korakuen Hall December 23.
Watch Road to Tokyo Dome LIVE or in English on demand on NJPW World!
Main event: Suzuki-Gun Final- Suzuki-Gun (TAKA Michinoku, El Desperado, Lance Archer & Minoru Suzuki) vs Suzuki-Gun (Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI)
After 11 years of violent brotherhood, it would only make sense for the final Suzuki-Gun match to see all eight active members fighting one another in our main event. One of the most hated and feared factions in all of professional wrestling history is also one of the most respected and loved; as Minoru Suzuki’s army is more than strong enough as a collective of individuals to stand on their own merits, this final melee will be a bittersweet one indeed.
7th Match: Kazuchika Okada, YOH & Master Wato vs BULLET CLUB (El Phantasmo, Taiji Ishimori & Gedo)
With IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Jay White conspicuous by his absence, Kazuchika Okada will have eyes in the back of his head, and fists balled as he takes the Catalyst’s handler Gedo to task here tonight. Speaking of conspicuous, El Phantasmo is notably missing from the Tokyo Dome card on January 4; having suggested that he is better suited to KOPW competition than any other member of the roster, the KOPW 2023 Ranbo is certainly a potential spot for ELP. He could show his hand tonight, while Master Wato seeks a final hint at outlasting Taiji Ishimori in January 4’s chaotic four way.
6th Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ryusuke Taguchi & Shota Umino vs Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI)
Five sixths of Keiji Muto’s final NJPW match will face off in trios competition on December 23. Ryusuke Taguchi perhaps couldn’t be further removed from Keiji Muto, but nonetheless will present stiff competition alongside Hiroshi Tanahashi and Shota Umino as they get set to face LIJ in the Tokyo Dome in a match that sees past, present and future collide.
5th match: TenCozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima) vs Bishamon (YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto)
Tag record: 2-0 Bishamon
On January 4, World Tag League winners Bishamon seek to regain IWGP Tag team Championship gold in the Tokyo Dome when they face FTR. As Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler ply their trade primarily in AEW, Goto and YOSHI-HASHI feel duty bound to bring the tag titles home; as six time former IWGP Tag Team Champions themselves, TenCozy know something of champion duties, and will be instilling some of that into Bishamon here tonight.
4th Match: Los Ingobernables De Japon (Hiromu Takahashi & Shingo Takagi) vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (EVIL & Dick Togo)
A sub narrative through much of 2022 has been the near total collapse of HOUSE OF TORTURE when it comes to competition. In a results driven business, H.O.T may as well be in reverse such has been their record over tag leagues and recent tours. Part of that collapse was during the New Japan Cup, when a packed Korakuen Hall exploded for Hiromu’s victory over EVIL. That gets run back here, and might we see a hint for future directions of the NEVER Openweight 6 Man titles and KOPW into 2023?
3rd Match: Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, Tiger Mask & Ren Narita vs United Empire (Jeff Cobb, Great-O-Khan, Aaron Henare & Francesco Akira)
United Empire have always been motivated by a certain chip on the shoulder. That should be all the more prominent over the two days rounding out 2022 in Korakuen Hall, as Akira is the only member of this four man squad with a spot on the main card at Wrestle Kingdom. Ren Narita earned his own spot by reaching the finals of a NJPW World TV title tournament that saw Jeff Cobb, Great-O-Khan and Aaron Henare all fall by the wayside; those frustrations are sure to be acted out tonight as United Empire look to end the year with a forceful statement.
2nd Match: Ryohei Oiwa & Kosei Fujita vs CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano)
2023 is sure to see Ryohei Oiwa and Kosei Fujita continue their rise. As they end 2022, the two young prospects will team up against former IWGP Tag Team Champions in Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano.
1st match: Yuto Nakashima & Oskar Leube vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (Yujiro Takahashi & SHO)
As poor as the close of 2022 has been for HOUSE OF TORTURE, they remain with the NEVER 6 Man tittle’s in their clutches. Two thirds of the championship team will be in action against the NZ Dojo connection of Oskar Leube and Yuto Nakashima. It would be the Christmas present of a lifetime if these ‘frenemies’ were to upset two of the champs, but two men right at the top of the naughty list will have something to say about that.
