NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome Tour - December 21 - December 24, 2021

[Chris]

Road to Tokyo Dome night 1 (December 21) preview
Free action gets us on the road to Wrestle Kingdom 16

The last four cards of 2021 in NJPW will see a Christmas celebration in Korakuen Hall, and tensions mount as the countdown is on for Wrestle Kingdom 16.

Watch Road to Tokyo Dome live or in English on demand FREE on NJPW World!

Main event: Los Ingobernables De Japon (Shingo Takagi & Hiromu Takahashi) vs CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada & Robbie Eagles)

2021 records:
Takagi: 71-39-2 (63.4%) of which singles 21-5-1 (77.8%), championship matches 5-2 (71.4%)
Takahashi: 37-16-2 (67.2%) of which singles 14-5-1 (70%), championship matches 2-1 (66.7%)
Okada: 54-42-1 (55.7%) of which singles 17-4 (81%) championship matches 0-1 (0%)
Eagles: 24-22 (52.2%) of which singles 9-7 (56.3%), championship matches 3-1 (75%)

The main event sees another preview of IWGP World Heavyweight Championship action January 4 as Shingo Takagi and Kazuchika Okada square off. In Ryogoku Sumo Hall on December 15, an emphatic Rainmaker scored for Okada against BUSHI, as the number one contender sent a powerful message to the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. Tonight, Takagi’s partner Hiromu Takahashi carries with him a burden of responsibility as Best of the Super Jr. winner, as well as El Desperado’s challenger on january 4 at the Tokyo Dome. Certainly the Time Bomb will be just as eager as Shingo to avoid defeat and send a powerful message of their own. Yet with Robbie Eagles preparing for his own big spot in defending IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag gold on January 5, something has to give.

6th Match: Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI) vs United Empire (Jeff Cobb, Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare)

With singles matches set for Tetsuya Naito and SANADA opposite Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan at Wrestle Kingdom, United Empire and Los Ingobernables de Japon collide in six man action tonight. United Empire have been nothing other than dangerous in multiman matches this year with a phenomenal record of dominance. Will this be another emphatic statement of intent, or will LIJ have something in store for their opponents?

5th Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato vs BULLET CLUB (Gedo, Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo)

As El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori get set to challenge for IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag team Championship gold, they face off against one of their January 5 opponents in Ryusuke Taguchi in this six man battle. Meanwhile Hiroshi Tanahashi may not be able to get his hands directly on KENTA before his no disqualification Tokyo Dome battle for the US title, but the returning Gedo will make a fitting object of his aggressions.

4th Match: Tiger Mask, YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto vs Suzuki-Gun (Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & TAKA Michinoku)

A preview of January 4’as IWGP Tag Team Championship match sees Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI go up against Dangerous Tekkers. After a sudden rollup saw the CHAOS side pip Dangerous Tekkers to the World tag League final and eventual trophies, there is a score to settle here in Korakuen, but CHAOS and Tiger Mask seek to ensure the scales are further tipped in the number one contenders’ favour.

3rd Match: Ryohei Oiwa, YOH & Tomohiro Ishii vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (EVIL, SHO & Yujiro Takahashi)

NEVER Openweight Six Man Champions HOUSE OF TORTURE see non-title action tonight as they face Ryohei Oiwa andCHAOS’s Tomohiro Ishii and YOH. This also serves as a preview of two January 4 matches, as YOH is set to face former partner SHO and Ishii battles EVIL over NEVER singles gold. with months of ill feeling toward the BULLET CLUB sub group boiling over, tempers will flare tonight.

2nd Match: Toru Yano & Kosei Fujita vs Suzuki-Gun (Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI)

Toru Yano only has to last the week before he can call himself back to back King of Pro-Wrestling for 2020 and 2021. To hit that milestone, he will have to face Kanemaru on Christmas Eve however, in a unique end of year party rules match. On Christmas Eve it will be as much about holding one’s liquor as it is holding down one’s opponent to the mat; before that though, Yano teams with Young Lion not even of legal drinking age in Fujita as they face Kanemaru and DOUKI.

1st Match: Yuji Nagata & Yuto Nakashima vs BULLET CLUB (Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens)

The first match of the evening sees Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens face Yuji Nagata and Yuto Nakashima. An impressive World Tag League run for Fale and Owens saw them out of the final running, but with many more eyes upon them. With ten days remaining in the year, they seek to run more heads before 2021 is out.​

 

[Chris]

Here's the other lineups:

NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome, Wednesday, December 22, 4:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World --

• Hiroshi Tanahashi, Robbie Eagles & Tiger Mask vs. KENTA, Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo
• Shingo Takagi & Hiromu Takahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada & Ryusuke Taguchi
• Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI vs. Jeff Cobb, Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare
• Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Master Wato vs. Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & TAKA Michinoku
• Tomohiro Ishii, Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma & YOH vs. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Dick Togo & SHO
• Toru Yano, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Minoru Suzuki, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI
• Bad Luck Fale, Chase Owens & Jado vs. Yuto Nakashima, Ryohei Oiwa & Kosei Fujita

NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome, Thursday, December 23, 4:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World --

• Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI vs El Desperado & DOUKI
• Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito & SANADA vs. Jeff Cobb, Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare
• Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomoaki Honma, Robbie Eagles & Tiger Mask vs. KENTA, Bad Luck Fale, Chase Owens, Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo
• Tomohiro Ishii, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & YOH vs. EVIL, Yujiro Takahahsi, Dick Togo & SHO
• Toru Yano & Yuji Nagata vs. Minoru Suzuki & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
• Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Kosei Fujita vs. Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & TAKA Michinoku
• Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato vs. Ryohei Oiwa & Yuto Nakashima

NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome, Friday, December 24, 4:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World --

• Shingo Takagi & BUSHI vs. Kazuchika Okada & Robbie Eagles
• Hiromu Takahashi, Tetsuya Naito & SANADA vs. El Desperado, Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr.
• Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & YOH vs. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Dick Togo & SHO
• KOPW 2021: Toru Yano vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru
• Hiroshi Tanahashi, Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. KENTA, Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens
• Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata vs. Jeff Cobb, Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare
• Ryusuke Taguchi vs. El Phantasmo vs. Tiger Mask

 

[Chris]

Road to Tokyo Dome night 2 (December 22) Preview
Second of four night run in Korakuen to round out 2021

The Road to the Tokyo Dome continues on December 22, with more previews of Wrestle Kingdom 16.

Watch Road to Tokyo Dome live or in English on demand on NJPW World!

Main event: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Robbie Eagles & Tiger Mask vs BULLET CLUB (KENTA, Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo)

2021 records:
Hiroshi Tanahashi: 64-53-1 (54.2%) of which singles 12-9 (57.1%), championship matches 4-3 (57.1%)
Eagles: 24-22 (52.2%) of which singles 9-7 (56.3%), championship matches 3-1 (75%)
Tiger Mask: 25-40 (38.5%) of which championship matches 1-0 (100%)
KENTA: 28-32 (46.7%) of which singles 11-6 (64.7%), championship matches 1-2 (33.3%)
Taiji Ishimori: 51-54 (48.6%) of which singles 7-9 (43.8%), championship matches 3-5 (37.5%),
El Phantasmo: 50-43-1 (53.2%) of which singles 12-9-1 (54.5%), championship matches 3-5 (37.5%)
The main event tonight sees KENTA return to action as he stands opposite his January 5 Tokyo Dome opponent in Hiroshi Tanahashi. The Ace brings backup in the form of IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Flying Tiger, presenting ample opportunity for a double championship preview, as BULLET CLUB’s Cutest Tag Team stand on the opposite side. who will deliver the stiffest first shot before a pair of championship matches January 5 in the Tokyo Dome?

6th Match: Los Ingobernables De Japon (Shingo Takagi & Hiromu Takahashi) vs Kazuchika Okada & Ryusuke Taguchi

2021 records:
Takagi: 72-39-2 (63.7%) of which singles 21-5-1 (77.8%), championship matches 5-2 (71.4%)
Takahashi: 38-15-3 (67.8%) of which singles 14-5-1 (70%), championship matches 2-1 (66.7%)
Okada: 54-43-1 (55.1%) of which singles 17-4 (81%) championship matches 0-1 (0%)
Taguchi: 35-40 (46.7%) of which 7-6 (53.8%), championship matches 0-2 (0%)
24 hours after he enlists Robbie Eagles to face Shingo Takagi and Hiromu Takahashi, December 22 sees IWGP World Heavyweight number one contender Kazuchika Okada team up with Ryusuke Taguchi to face the LIJ duo. With just three more events before the big January 4 championship clash, what will the next step be between Okada and Shingo? And with an on again off again, but always heated issue between Hiromu and Taguchi playing out once more in Korakuen, who emerges victorious?

5th Match: Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI) vs United Empire (Jeff Cobb, Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare)

In the Tokyo Dome on January 5, Tetsuya Naito and SANADA go into singles matches with Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan respectively. But while Cobb and O-Khan have yet to amass the singles success in the Dome that their opposition can boast, tonight sees them walk into a six man tag environment where they have a comfortable advantage, and where they will seek to make a significant mark on LIJ before Wrestle Kingdom.

4th Match: Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Master Wato vs Suzuki-Gun (Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & TAKA Michinoku)

On January 4, the CHAOS side of Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI will face Dangerous Tekkers for the IWGP Tag Team Championships. One of the last previews of the year will see the two teams collide, as CHAOS enlist Master Wato, and TAKA Michinoku joins Suzuki-Gun.

3rd Match: Tomohiro Ishii, Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma & YOH vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Dick Togo & SHO)

A complete HOUSE OF TORTURE squad will be in eight man action tonight, meaning at least the numbers game will not be a factor as they face a mixed CHAOS and Hontai squad. As we get set for YOH vs SHO and Ishii vs EVIL for the NEVER Championship on January 4, can a blow be struck to H.o.T?

2nd Match: Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Toru Yano vs Suzuki-Gun (Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Minoru Suzuki & DOUKI)

Before this six man preview, voting will be closed for the final KOPW 2021 match of the year. The Year End Party Match will see Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Toru Yano face off in a bout where participants must take a drink every two minutes, with the fans deciding whether the poison du jour will be whiskey or sake. More serious business tonight though will see Suzuki-Gun try to rack up one of their last wins of the year.

1st Match: Yuto Nakashima, Kosei Fujita & Ryohei Oiwa vs BULLET CLUB (Bad Luck Fale, Chase Owens & Jado)

A Young Lion trio will kick off the night opposite BULLET CLUB. Yet to win a match in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, can Oiwa Fujita and Nakashima muster up a seasonal miracle in the opener?​

 

[Chris]

Road to Tokyo Dome night 3 (December 23) Preview
Night three of four in Korakuen sees time run out on Wrestle Kingdom approach

Wrestle Kingdom 16 is finally nearly here, as night three on the Road to Tokyo Dome hits Korakuen hall with under two weeks to go until the big event. Who makes the biggest waves tonight?

Watch Road to Tokyo Dome live, or in English on demand on NJPW World!

Main event: Los Ingobernables De Japon (Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI) vs Suzuki-Gun (El Desperado & DOUKI)

2021 records:
Takahashi: 37-15-3 (67.2%) of which singles 14-5-1 (70%), championship matches 2-1 (66.7%)
BUSHI: 65-60 (52%) of which singles 7-8 (46.7%), championship matches 0-4 (0%)
El Desperado: 64-31-1 (66.7%) of which singles 13-6-1 (65%), championship matches 7-6 (53.8%)
DOUKI: 39-52 (42.9%) of which singles 3-9 (25%)
A preview of January 4’s IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship match sees Hiromu Takahashi and El Desperado on separate teams tonight. El Desperado’s 13 championship matches in 2021 is indicative not just of his ascent in the junior heavyweight division from this point last year, but across all of New Japan Pro-Wrestling. The masked man who has openly ‘never looked to be the face of anything’ now carries a heavy champion’s responsibility, and will be more than willing to do whatever it takes to retain his gold come night one of Wrestle Kingdom 16. Meanwhile all four of these men have pushed dangerous limits against one another through the year, and will end 2021 in spectacular fashion this week.

6th Match: Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & Shingo Takagi) vs United Empire (Jeff Cobb, Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare)

2021 records:
Takagi: 71-39-2 (63.4%) of which singles 21-5-1 (77.8%), championship matches 5-2 (71.4%)
Naito: 66-40 (62.3%) of which singles 3-5 (37.5%), championship matches 1-6 (14.3%)
SANADA: 81-47-2 (62.3%) of which singles 12-7 (63.2%), championship matches 1-5 (16.7%)
Cobb: 71-15 (82.6%) of which singles 11-5 (68.8%), championship matches 0-1 (0%)
O-Khan: 84-25 (77.1%) of which singles 9-9 (50%), championship matches 0-2 (0%)
Henare: 34-17 (66.7%) of which singles 0-2 (0%)
As LIJ and United Empire prepare for singles clashes on January 5 in the Tokyo Dome, this six man preview will see the very elite of NJPW in 2021 in action. Shingo Takagi’s 27 singles matches is a massive number for the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, and his 77.8% win rate is impressive indeed. Meanwhile SANADA is the ironman of New Japan over the year, his 130 matches wrestled this year outpacing everyone else. Yet for sheer dominance across all environments, Jeff Cobb’s 82.6% success rate across 86 bouts in NJPW, STRONG and CMLL is an incredible feat. What matters now though is making the biggest statement before Wrestle Kingdom.

5th Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kazuchika Okada, Tomoaki Honma, Robbie Eagles & Tiger Mask vs BULLET CLUB (KENTA, Bad Luck Fale, Chase Owens, Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo)

2021 records:
Hiroshi Tanahashi: 63-53-1 (53.8%) of which singles 12-9 (57.1%), championship matches 4-3 (57.1%)
Okada: 54-42-1 (55.7%) of which singles 17-4 (81%) championship matches 0-1 (0%)
Honma: 16-74 (17.8%) of which singles 0-3 (0%)
Eagles: 24-22 (52.2%) of which singles 9-7 (56.3%), championship matches 3-1 (75%)
Tiger Mask: 24-40 (37.5%) of which championship matches 1-0 (100%)
KENTA: 28-32 (46.7%) of which singles 11-6 (64.7%), championship matches 1-2 (33.3%)
Fale: 16-13 (55.2%) of which singles 0-1 (0%)
Owens: 29-40 (42%) of which singles 3-10 (23.1%), championship matches 1-3 (25%)
Ishimori: 51-53 (49%) of which singles 7-9 (43.8%), championship matches 3-5 (37.5%),
Phantasmo: 50-42-1 (53.8%) of which singles 12-9-1 (54.5%), championship matches 3-5 (37.5%)
Kazuchika Okada and Robbie Eagles of CHAOS join a Hontai side to take on BULLET CLUB opposition tonight. For one night only, Okada will take his focus off his January 4 opponent Shingo Takagi while Tanahashi will be consumed with KENTA before their no disqualification match January 5, and Flying Tiger seek to show their dominance to BULLET CLUB’s Cutest.

4th Match: Tomohiro Ishii, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & YOH vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Dick Togo & SHO)

Time is running out before a reckoning for HOUSE OF TORTURE at Wrestle Kingdom 16. That’s certainly what YOH and Tomohiro Ishii are expecting as they head into action January 4 and 5, and TenCozy will gladly bring a fight to the worst of NJPW’s worst. Yet HOUSE OF TORTURE will be equally keen to ruin the holidays and plunge Korakuen into darkness tonight.

3rd Match: Toru Yano & Yuji Nagata vs Suzuki-Gun (Minoru Suzuki & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)

24 hours before they clash in an alcohol fueled battle to determine KOPW for 2021, Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Toru Yano meet in tag team action tonight. Meanwhile, as they approach Wrestle Kingdom, Yuji Nagata and Minoru Suzuki meet one another to resume a rivalry that has graced many a Tokyo Dome card in the past.

2nd Match: Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Kosei Fujita vs Suzuki-Gun (Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & TAKA Michinoku)

CHAOS and Suzuki-Gun collide in another preview of IWGP Tag Team Championship action January 4. Meanwhile Fujita has a major opportunity to represent NJPW in the kickoff to Wrestle Kingdom in Yokohama Arena on January 8 as he faces NOAH young prospect Yasutaka Yano; finishing 2021 strong will make for a more confident Young Lion to start 2022.

1st Match: Team Six or Nine (Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato) vs Yuto Nakashima & Ryohei Oiwa

Team Six or Nine are in tag action to kick us off as they face the Young Lions Oiwa and Nakashima. As Taguchi prepares to reunite with Mega Coaches partner Rocky Romero, a Tokyo Dome warmup for Six or Nine, while the Young Lions want to end their year on a high note.​

 

[Chris]

Road to Tokyo Dome night 4 (December 24) Preview
Final stop on road to Wrestle Kingdom

Christmas Eve sees a celebration of the year that was in NJPW, but also the final stop on the road to Wrestle Kingdom 16 on January 4. One man will be crowned the King of Professional Wrestling for 2021, and the last previews of our huge championship matches and personal grudges will take place.

Watch Road to Wrestle Kingdom LIVE or in English on demand on NJPW World!

Main event: Los Ingobernables De Japon (Shingo Takagi & BUSHI) vs CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada & Robbie Eagles)

2021 records:
Takagi: 73-39-2 (64%) of which singles 21-5-1 (77.8%), championship matches 5-2 (71.4%)
BUSHI: 65-61 (51.6%) of which singles 7-8 (46.7%), championship matches 0-4 (0%)
Okada: 54-44-1 (54.5%) of which singles 17-4 (81%) championship matches 0-1 (0%)
Eagles: 24-23 (51.1%) of which singles 9-7 (56.3%), championship matches 3-1 (75%)
The final NJPW match of 2021 will see Kazuchika Okada and Shingo Takagi do battle ahead of the January 4 main event. It’s the last chance for the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion and the G1 Climax winner to square off before a tense end of year break, and then the collision in the Tokyo Dome; a situation to which Okada is well familiar, but Takagi, in only his second Dome main event, and first at a Wrestle Kingdom, is not. Who has the edge in the last bout of the year?

6th Match: Los Ingobernables De Japon (Hiromu Takahashi, Tetsuya Naito & SANADA) vs Suzuki-Gun (El Desperado, Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr.)

2021 records:
Takahashi: 39-15-3 (68.4%) of which singles 14-5-1 (70%), championship matches 2-1 (66.7%)
Naito: 66-42 (61.1%) of which singles 3-5 (37.5%), championship matches 1-6 (14.3%)
SANADA: 81-49-2 (61.4%) of which singles 12-7 (63.2%), championship matches 1-5 (16.7%)
El Desperado: 64-31-1 (66.7%) of which singles 13-6-1 (65%), championship matches 7-6 (53.8%)
Taichi: 41-50 (45.1%), of which singles 7-8 (46.7%) championship matches 3-4 (42.9%)
Sabre: 53-52-1 (50%) of which singles 10-7-1 (55.6%) championship matches 3-5 (37.5%)
The last meeting of Hiromu Takahashi and El Desperado before Wrestle Kingdom highlights our semi main event. During Best of the Super Jr. their thirty minute draw led to a promise to meet again, and as Hiromu held up his end of the bargain, they will meet January 4 with a 60 minute limit. Meanwhile Dangerous Tekkers and Naito and SANADA flirted with the time limit themselves during the World Tag League; while their Tokyo Dome fates have led them to separate paths, there is still unfinished business between both teams.

5th Match: CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & YOH) vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Dick Togo & SHO)

2021 records:
Ishii: 58-46-1 (55.2%) of which singles 13-6 (68.4%) championship matches 8-1 (88.9%)
Goto: 61-55-1 (52.1%) of which singles 5-11 (31.3%) championship matches 7-3 (70%)
YOSHI-HASHI: 63-51-1 (54.8%) of which singles 6-9 (40%) championship matches 7-3 (70%)
YOH: 21-44 (32.3%) of which singles 7-7 (50%) championship matches 2-2 (50%)
EVIL: 60-65 (48%) of which singles 10-8 (55.6%) championship matches 1-3 (25%)
Yujiro: 48-70-1 (40.3%) of which singles 4-10-1 (26.7%), championship matches 1-2 (33.3%)
Togo: 23-36 (39%) of which championship matches 0-1 (0%)
SHO: 52-60-1 (46%) of which singles 12-6 (66.7%), championship matches 3-2 (60%)
A full complement of CHAOS members face the entirety of HOUSE OF TORTURE tonight as previews for January 4’s singles clashes and January 5’s NEVER Openweight 6-Man title match hit the ring. Without the benefit of the numbers game, HOUSE OF TORTURE see themselves without a valuable upper hand, but still will have plenty of tricks up their sleeves, and much for CHAOS to be wary of.

4th Match: KOPW 2021, End of Year Party Rules: Toru Yano vs Yoshinobu Kanermaru

2021 records:
Toru Yano: 62-51 (54.9%) of which singles 12-4 (75%) championship matches 5-1 (83.3%)
Yoshinobu Kanemaru: 60-35 (63.2%) of which singles 7-7 (50%), championship matches 3-4 (42.9%)
The last KOPW 2021 match before the title resets for 2022 will see Toru Yano defend against Yoshinobu Kanemaru in an End of year Party Rules match. The bout will continue as normal except both competitors must drink every two minutes, and answer the referee’s count to determine themselves fit for progression; currently Kanemaru is leading Yano in the official vote for which beverage shall be consumed; the Heel Master likely having an edge with whiskey over Yano’s Japanese sake. Indeed, Kanemaru has enjoyed a victory toast after 63.2% of his matches this year compared to Yano’s 54.9, but Yano is also a surprise front runner in singles success in 2021, winning three quarters of his matches. Can he win the all important final defence to be crowned King of Pro-Wrestling for the second year running?

3rd Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs BULLET CLUB (KENTA, Bad Luck Fale & Chase owens)

2021 records:
Tanahashi: 64-54-1 (53.8%) of which singles 12-9 (57.1%), championship matches 4-3 (57.1%)
Makabe: 13-37 (26%)
Honma: 16-75 (17.6%) of which singles 0-3 (0%)
KENTA: 29-32 (47.5%) of which singles 11-6 (64.7%), championship matches 1-2 (33.3%)
Fale: 18-13 (58.1%) of which singles 0-1 (0%)
Owens: 31-40 (43.7%) of which singles 3-10 (23.1%), championship matches 1-3 (25%)
Hiroshi Tanahashi wrestles his last match of 2021 looking to send one last message to KENTA before their IWGP United States No-DQ match. Teaming with Great Bash Heel tonight, are these the two perfect partners to bring the hardcore side of the Ace into play?

2nd Match: Satoshi Kojima, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Yuji Nagata vs United Empire (Jeff Cobb, Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare)

2021 records:
Tenzan: 33-44-2 (41.8%) of which singles 0-3 (0%), championship matches 0-1 (0%)
Kojima: 26-57-2 (30.6%) of which singles 4-8 (33.3%), championship matches 0-3 (0%)
Nagata: 24-46 (34.3%) of which singles 2-6 (25%) championship matches 0-2 (0%)
Cobb: 73-15 (83%) of which singles 11-5 (68.8%), championship matches 0-1 (0%)
O-Khan: 86-23-2 (77.5%) of which singles 9-9 (50%), championship matches 0-2 (0%)
Henare: 36-17 (68%) of which singles 0-2 (0%)
United Empire end the year as they start it, battling with the Third Generation. At the start of 2021, Great-O-Khan and Will Ospreay in particular singles out Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima for brutal attacks and violent battles. The veterans will never back down from a fight though, and the trio will seek to make a dent into the group tonight as its leader prepares for the main event in the Tokyo Dome January 5.

1st Match: Three Way Match- Tiger Mask vs El Phantasmo vs Ryusuke Taguchi

Taguchi: 37-41 (47.4%) of which 7-6 (53.8%), championship matches 0-2 (0%)
Tiger Mask: 25-40 (38.5%) of which championship matches 1-0 (100%)
Phantasmo: 51-43-1 (53.7%) of which singles 12-9-1 (54.5%), championship matches 3-5 (37.5%)
The night starts with a singles preview of a tag team three way to kick off night two of Wrestle Kingdom 16. The IWGP` Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships will be on the line when Tiger Mask and Robbie Eagles, Flying Tiger, defend against both the Mega Coaches team of Rocky Romero and Ryusuke Taguchi, and BULLET CLUB’s Cutest Tag Team (El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori). Will one of these team representatives set the pace for what’s to come in under two week’s time in the Tokyo Dome?​

 

[Chris]

Kanemaru's choice of whiskey actually won the poll what if he wins

 

[Chris]

Bro I finally watched the Yano/Kanemaru drinking match and that's some of the funniest shit I've ever seen