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LIJ in Korakuen championship previews to end January
LIJ in Korakuen championship previews to end January
The Road to New Beginning sees first Korakuen bouts of 2023
After a month away from the hallowed Korakuen Hall, the first Korakuen events of 2023 will see action on the Road to the New Beginning on January 24 and 25, with plenty to look forward to.
Watch the New Beginning series LIVE IN ENGLISH on NJPW World!
The main event on January 24 will see Shota Umino team with Toru Yano and the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada of CHAOS to face Los Ingobernables De Japon’s Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi and SANADA. Feberuary 11 will see Shingo Takagi take on Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, while more immediate concerns surround Shota Umino and Tetsuya Naito’s special singles match on February 3 in Sapporo. It’s sure to be a hotly contested trios affair to round up the first Korakuen event of the year.
Another preview will take place when Will Ospreay and TJP will face Taichi and Yoshinobu Kanemaru. After a violent brawl in Ota on January 5, Ospreay and Taichi are on a collision course in Taichi’s home town of Sapporo to kick off February. Meanwhile, TJP and Francesco Akira are preparing to defend IWGP Jr. Tag Team gold against Kanemaru and DOUKI, and after a pair of losses to the former Suzuki-Gun side, need to make a statement tonight.
January 25 will see YOH and Ryusuke Taguchi join Okada for a six man battle with Hiromu Takahashi, Shingo Takagi and BUSHI. After a Direct Drive at New Year dash, YOH was quick to challenge for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, that match now official for Sapporo. Can the CHAOS member keep his momentum going?
Umino and Naito’s issues will continue when he and Tomoaki Honma face SANADA and Tetsuya Naito. It will be a tough climb for the relatively unfamiliar combo of Umino and Honma to take on former IWGP Tag team Champions in Naito and SANADA, as the LIJ duo seek to put the young Shooter in his place.
After a month away from the hallowed Korakuen Hall, the first Korakuen events of 2023 will see action on the Road to the New Beginning on January 24 and 25, with plenty to look forward to.
Watch the New Beginning series LIVE IN ENGLISH on NJPW World!
The main event on January 24 will see Shota Umino team with Toru Yano and the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada of CHAOS to face Los Ingobernables De Japon’s Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi and SANADA. Feberuary 11 will see Shingo Takagi take on Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, while more immediate concerns surround Shota Umino and Tetsuya Naito’s special singles match on February 3 in Sapporo. It’s sure to be a hotly contested trios affair to round up the first Korakuen event of the year.
Another preview will take place when Will Ospreay and TJP will face Taichi and Yoshinobu Kanemaru. After a violent brawl in Ota on January 5, Ospreay and Taichi are on a collision course in Taichi’s home town of Sapporo to kick off February. Meanwhile, TJP and Francesco Akira are preparing to defend IWGP Jr. Tag Team gold against Kanemaru and DOUKI, and after a pair of losses to the former Suzuki-Gun side, need to make a statement tonight.
January 25 will see YOH and Ryusuke Taguchi join Okada for a six man battle with Hiromu Takahashi, Shingo Takagi and BUSHI. After a Direct Drive at New Year dash, YOH was quick to challenge for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, that match now official for Sapporo. Can the CHAOS member keep his momentum going?
Umino and Naito’s issues will continue when he and Tomoaki Honma face SANADA and Tetsuya Naito. It will be a tough climb for the relatively unfamiliar combo of Umino and Honma to take on former IWGP Tag team Champions in Naito and SANADA, as the LIJ duo seek to put the young Shooter in his place.
Four Title Matches, special singles clashes in Sapporo 2/4 & 5
Four Title Matches, special singles clashes in Sapporo 2/4 & 5
Hot fights in frozen Sapporo to kick off February
February sees the snow pile up in Sapporo, but the action will be hotter than ever. A traditional scene of shocking events and incredible matches, Hokkai Kita Yell sees two nights of the New Beginning the weekend of February 4 and 5, with some massive matchups.
Watch New Beginning LIVE in English on NJPW World!
February 4: Umino vs Naito, Taichi vs Ospreay, IWGP Jr.Tag!
The main event on February 4 will see Shota Umino go head to head with Tetsuya Naito. Once upon a time, Umino was inspired by Naito to get into the wrestling business, but since his return from excursion, Shooter has gotten short shrift from Naito. Umino pledged to open El Ingobernable’s eyes, and did so to an extent at the Tokyo Dome on January 4, picking up the victory over BUSHI in Keiji Muto’s last NJPW match.
The next night, Umino would be aggressive in pursuing Naito, the two men brawling around ringside after their bout. This issue between the two men would only be resolved with a singles bout; with Naito seeking a spot in the Wrestle Kingdom 18 main event, a win over Umino would be a good start to that campaign, but Umino could instantly catapult himself to the top flight with a victory over Naito.
WIll Ospreay will face hometown boy Taichi in the semi main event on February 4. When this match goes down, it will be one month to the day since an emotional rollercoaster of a bout with Kenny Omega for Will Ospreay. In the aftermath, a broken former champion questioned his motivations, and set himself and NJPW an ultimatum; one year to get where he needs to be.
The next night though, it was very clear that Omega had gotten into Ospreay’s head. An unstable Ospreay took to Taichi’s ‘Just Four Guys’ faction, and singled out Holy Emperor Taichi for brutal punishment. The furious Ospreay brawled violently with Taichi during and after the match, with this singles conflict now made as a result. Certainly a win over Taichi would be a good first step to get Ospreay back on track, but with Taichi having the home crowd advantage, and a more measured temprament than the hot headed Ospreay, that’s easier said than done.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Catch 2/2 will put their belts on the line as they seek a fourth defence against DOUKI and Yoshinobu Kanemaru. Both during the Super Junior Tag League and at new Year Dash, DOUKI has secured victory for he and Kanemaru over the IWGP Jr. Tag Champions, and now a long deserved title match is official. In the hotly contested junior heavyweight tag division, TJP and Francesco Akira could, with a fourth defence tonight, match the memorable reign five years ago for El Desperado and Kanemaru himself. Catch 2/2 are ushering in a modern boom period for junior tag wrestling, and want that to continue in Sapporo.
February 5: Three Championship bouts!
Headlining on night two in Sapporo will be the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship when YOH faces Hiromu Takahashi. 2022 had been a rough period for YOH as he struggled to find himself as a singles competitor. A key part of that journey was a Best of the Super Junior victory over Hiromu, albeit a Hiromu in a weakened state with a bad knee. The win would see YOH turn a corner of sorts, but it was teaming with Lio Rush in the Super Jr. Tag League that saw him really hit his stride.
Although YOH and Rush would come up just short of converting their Super Jr. Tag victory into the IWGP Junior Tag Team Championships, and Rush’s injury at the Tokyo Dome has put paid to that combination for now, YOH was still riding a wave of momentum as he faced and pinned Hiromu during New Year Dash. Now the title is on the line, can he make the most of this opportunity?
The NJPW World TV Championship will be defended for the first time in Sapporo as the first champion Zack Sabre Jr. faces an old enemy in Tomohiro Ishii. Ishii and ZSJ have battled over the British heavyweight Championship in the past, but will now be on the clock as they fight for the TV title. Every NJPW World TV Championship match has a 15 minute time limit, but that shouldn’t be an issue for Ishii, who charged into his British opposition at the highest possible rate of knots when they met at New Year Dash. Yet ishii’s impetuousness could carry a submission price if he makes the slightest error against Sabre in Sapporo.
Looking to make a big weekend for TMDK, Shane Haste and Mikey Nicholls will battle Bishamon for the IWGP Tag Team Championships. World Tag League this year almost boiled down to an all Australian affair, but it was Bishamon who defeated haste and Nicholls to instead face Aussie Open in the tournament final; a final which they won and then converted to title success on January 4. Yet the next night, a Tankbuster would see Bishamon beaten in Ota, with TMDK staking a claim for the titles. Last year also saw Bishamon victorious in both World Tag League and the Tokyo Dome, but a brief title reign saw them drop the tag gold after only reaching V1. Can they set the standard for a longer reign in 2023?
February sees the snow pile up in Sapporo, but the action will be hotter than ever. A traditional scene of shocking events and incredible matches, Hokkai Kita Yell sees two nights of the New Beginning the weekend of February 4 and 5, with some massive matchups.
Watch New Beginning LIVE in English on NJPW World!
February 4: Umino vs Naito, Taichi vs Ospreay, IWGP Jr.Tag!
The main event on February 4 will see Shota Umino go head to head with Tetsuya Naito. Once upon a time, Umino was inspired by Naito to get into the wrestling business, but since his return from excursion, Shooter has gotten short shrift from Naito. Umino pledged to open El Ingobernable’s eyes, and did so to an extent at the Tokyo Dome on January 4, picking up the victory over BUSHI in Keiji Muto’s last NJPW match.
The next night, Umino would be aggressive in pursuing Naito, the two men brawling around ringside after their bout. This issue between the two men would only be resolved with a singles bout; with Naito seeking a spot in the Wrestle Kingdom 18 main event, a win over Umino would be a good start to that campaign, but Umino could instantly catapult himself to the top flight with a victory over Naito.
WIll Ospreay will face hometown boy Taichi in the semi main event on February 4. When this match goes down, it will be one month to the day since an emotional rollercoaster of a bout with Kenny Omega for Will Ospreay. In the aftermath, a broken former champion questioned his motivations, and set himself and NJPW an ultimatum; one year to get where he needs to be.
The next night though, it was very clear that Omega had gotten into Ospreay’s head. An unstable Ospreay took to Taichi’s ‘Just Four Guys’ faction, and singled out Holy Emperor Taichi for brutal punishment. The furious Ospreay brawled violently with Taichi during and after the match, with this singles conflict now made as a result. Certainly a win over Taichi would be a good first step to get Ospreay back on track, but with Taichi having the home crowd advantage, and a more measured temprament than the hot headed Ospreay, that’s easier said than done.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Catch 2/2 will put their belts on the line as they seek a fourth defence against DOUKI and Yoshinobu Kanemaru. Both during the Super Junior Tag League and at new Year Dash, DOUKI has secured victory for he and Kanemaru over the IWGP Jr. Tag Champions, and now a long deserved title match is official. In the hotly contested junior heavyweight tag division, TJP and Francesco Akira could, with a fourth defence tonight, match the memorable reign five years ago for El Desperado and Kanemaru himself. Catch 2/2 are ushering in a modern boom period for junior tag wrestling, and want that to continue in Sapporo.
February 5: Three Championship bouts!
Headlining on night two in Sapporo will be the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship when YOH faces Hiromu Takahashi. 2022 had been a rough period for YOH as he struggled to find himself as a singles competitor. A key part of that journey was a Best of the Super Junior victory over Hiromu, albeit a Hiromu in a weakened state with a bad knee. The win would see YOH turn a corner of sorts, but it was teaming with Lio Rush in the Super Jr. Tag League that saw him really hit his stride.
Although YOH and Rush would come up just short of converting their Super Jr. Tag victory into the IWGP Junior Tag Team Championships, and Rush’s injury at the Tokyo Dome has put paid to that combination for now, YOH was still riding a wave of momentum as he faced and pinned Hiromu during New Year Dash. Now the title is on the line, can he make the most of this opportunity?
The NJPW World TV Championship will be defended for the first time in Sapporo as the first champion Zack Sabre Jr. faces an old enemy in Tomohiro Ishii. Ishii and ZSJ have battled over the British heavyweight Championship in the past, but will now be on the clock as they fight for the TV title. Every NJPW World TV Championship match has a 15 minute time limit, but that shouldn’t be an issue for Ishii, who charged into his British opposition at the highest possible rate of knots when they met at New Year Dash. Yet ishii’s impetuousness could carry a submission price if he makes the slightest error against Sabre in Sapporo.
Looking to make a big weekend for TMDK, Shane Haste and Mikey Nicholls will battle Bishamon for the IWGP Tag Team Championships. World Tag League this year almost boiled down to an all Australian affair, but it was Bishamon who defeated haste and Nicholls to instead face Aussie Open in the tournament final; a final which they won and then converted to title success on January 4. Yet the next night, a Tankbuster would see Bishamon beaten in Ota, with TMDK staking a claim for the titles. Last year also saw Bishamon victorious in both World Tag League and the Tokyo Dome, but a brief title reign saw them drop the tag gold after only reaching V1. Can they set the standard for a longer reign in 2023?
World, NEVER titles, Japanese career on the line in Osaka 2/11
World, NEVER titles, Japanese career on the line in Osaka 2/11
EDION Arena to see loaded lineup at the end of New Beginning tour
The New Beginning series will see its conclusion on February 11, with a brace of big title matches and singles feuds settled.
Watch New Beginning in Osaka LIVE IN ENGLISH on NJPW World!
The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship will be at stake when Shingo Takagi challenges Kazuchika Okada. Takagi would confront Okada after the Wrestle Kingdom 17 main event, stating that he still remembered losing to the Rainmaker in the exact same spot one year earlier, but that in the intervening 12 months, he had put together a more than worthy resume. Shingo has to prove that point tonight, and could secure his second IWGP World Heavyweight Championship reign should he do so. But can anyone defeat the ‘last boss of professional wrestling’?
The NEVER Openweight Championship will be on the line when Tama Tonga defends against El Phantasmo. In six man action at New Year Dash, the NEVER Openweight Championship just happened to be in the clutches of El Phantasmo when an itchy trigger finger saw ELP level the newly crowned champion with the belt for the disqualification. Phantasmo acted on instinct, and will have paid the price in his paycheck, but has come out on the upper end long term as he now challenges Tama Tonga. This intriguing clash of styles will make for a thrilling title bout, but can Tama’s second reign be ending like the first at V0?
After an emotional defeat at the hands of Kazuchika Okada on January 4, Switchblade Jay White was ata loss for what went wrong, before his search for a scapegoat landed on Hikuleo. White blamed Hikuleo’s defection from BULLET CLUB to join his G.o.D family in Hontai as the first domino to fall in his immaculately land plans, and vowed to ‘hurt you like you hurt me’.
The next night, White assaulted Hikuleo with a chair before issuing a dangerous challenge- that this match should be a Loser Leaves Japan bout. After building himself up over years on NJPW STRONG, Hikuleo stands to capitalise on his success in Japan, but that Japanese career stands to be ended before it even begins, with the Swicthblade’s big match experience clearly setting himself as the favourite for this bout- but if Hikuleo does claim the biggest victory of his career, what next for the Catalyst of Professional Wrestling?
With KENTA vs Hiroshi Tanahashi, Taiji Ishimori versus Master Wato, Narita Suzuki and El Desperado in non title action with HOUSE OF TORTURE and more, it’s a loaded card February 11!
The New Beginning series will see its conclusion on February 11, with a brace of big title matches and singles feuds settled.
Watch New Beginning in Osaka LIVE IN ENGLISH on NJPW World!
The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship will be at stake when Shingo Takagi challenges Kazuchika Okada. Takagi would confront Okada after the Wrestle Kingdom 17 main event, stating that he still remembered losing to the Rainmaker in the exact same spot one year earlier, but that in the intervening 12 months, he had put together a more than worthy resume. Shingo has to prove that point tonight, and could secure his second IWGP World Heavyweight Championship reign should he do so. But can anyone defeat the ‘last boss of professional wrestling’?
The NEVER Openweight Championship will be on the line when Tama Tonga defends against El Phantasmo. In six man action at New Year Dash, the NEVER Openweight Championship just happened to be in the clutches of El Phantasmo when an itchy trigger finger saw ELP level the newly crowned champion with the belt for the disqualification. Phantasmo acted on instinct, and will have paid the price in his paycheck, but has come out on the upper end long term as he now challenges Tama Tonga. This intriguing clash of styles will make for a thrilling title bout, but can Tama’s second reign be ending like the first at V0?
After an emotional defeat at the hands of Kazuchika Okada on January 4, Switchblade Jay White was ata loss for what went wrong, before his search for a scapegoat landed on Hikuleo. White blamed Hikuleo’s defection from BULLET CLUB to join his G.o.D family in Hontai as the first domino to fall in his immaculately land plans, and vowed to ‘hurt you like you hurt me’.
The next night, White assaulted Hikuleo with a chair before issuing a dangerous challenge- that this match should be a Loser Leaves Japan bout. After building himself up over years on NJPW STRONG, Hikuleo stands to capitalise on his success in Japan, but that Japanese career stands to be ended before it even begins, with the Swicthblade’s big match experience clearly setting himself as the favourite for this bout- but if Hikuleo does claim the biggest victory of his career, what next for the Catalyst of Professional Wrestling?
With KENTA vs Hiroshi Tanahashi, Taiji Ishimori versus Master Wato, Narita Suzuki and El Desperado in non title action with HOUSE OF TORTURE and more, it’s a loaded card February 11!
New Beginning in Nagoya (January 22) Full card, preview
New Beginning in Nagoya (January 22) Full card, preview
New series kicks off in Nagoya
After the drama of Wrestle Kingdom 17, and the twists and turns of New Year Dash, it’s time for a New Beginning, as the first full series of 2023 kicks off with what is sure to be a red hot, loud crowd in Nagoya’s Dolphins’ Arena January 22.
Watch New Beginning in Nagoya LIVE IN ENGLISH on NJPW World!
Main event: KOPW 2023 Shingo Takagi vs Great-O-Khan
singles record: 1-0 Takagi
A mere 17 days after winning a four way match at new Year Dash to become the first holder of the new KOPW 2023 belt, Shingo Takagi puts his provisional holder status on the line against Great-O-Khan. During the aforementioned four way, Shingo and O-Khan formed an alliance of sorts to take care of SHO and his cheating ways, but when it got to the end game, it was O-Khan who felt cheated, an Eliminator on Toru Yano not doing the job as Shingo made the break and then struck Yano with Last of the Dragon.
That led to O-Khan lording his British Championship status over Takagi, and issuing a backstage challenge, saying that ‘if this belt is for fighters, then we should dominate’. That could be a hint as to the rules the Dominator may bring forth when it comes to this KOPW bout. His first challenge to KOPW status back in November 2022 was in the form of an amateur wrestling rules match, and it could be that Nagoya will see another callback to his extensive combat sports background. What will the stipulations be, and who leaves Nagoya with the KOPW status?
6th Match: YOH, Ryusuke Taguchi, Shota Umino & Kazuchika Okada vs Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI)
A double preview for later in the series, LIJ do battle with YOH, Shota Umino, Ryusuke Taguchi and IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada. After months of giving Shota Umino the cold shoulder, Tetsuya Naito can no longer ignore the Roughneck in Sapporo as the two will do battle in a special singles match. Meanwhile, after a pinfall victory over the freshly crowned five time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, YOH will challenge Hiromu Takahashi on February 5. With Kazuchika Okada set to face the challenge of Shingo Takagi at the tour closer in Osaka, there’s plenty connecting him to LIJ in this opening event as well.
5th Match: United Empire (Francesco Akira, TJP, Aaron Henare & Will Ospreay) vs Just Four Guys (TAKA Michinoku, DOUKI, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Taichi)
At New Year dash on January 5, TAKA Michinoku led Taichi, Yoshinobu Kanemaru and DOUKI to action, with the explanation that this alliance in the wake of Suzuki-Gun’s dissolution was one without leaders and hierarchy; that they are Just Four Guys. While the team name might need some workshopping, they instantly produced results, as DOUKI scored victory in the ensuing six man tag match and instantly challenged for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships, that match with Catch 2/2 taking place in Sapporo.
Also in Sapporo, a special singles bout will see Will Ospreay collide with hometown boy Taichi. After being defeated by Kenny Omega in the Tokyo Dome on January 4 and losing the IWGP United States Championship, Ospreay was an emotional wreck as he set himself a one year time limit to get back to where he feels he needs to be. Singling out Taichi as the first step in that journey, Ospreay headed to Ota with intimidating fury, and the two men would brawl during and after their bout. Now, a pair of previews in this eight man bout.
4th Match: Jado, Master Wato & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs BULLET CLUB (KENTA, Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo)
Osaka on February 11 is set to be a big date for Taiji Ishimori, KENTA and El Phantasmo. While ELP challenges Tama Tonga for the NEVER Openweight Championship, KENTA and Ishimori will face Master Wato and Hisoshi Tanahashi in a pair of special singles matches that could well bear consequences in junior, heavy and openweight divisions. With plenty of previous connecting Tanahashi to KENTA, and Wato to Ishimori, this is sure to be a heated six man bout.
3rd Match: Ryohei Oiwa, Tomohiro ishii, YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto vs TMDK (Zack Sabre Jr., Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls & Kosei Fujita)
TMDK underwent major shifts at the start of this year. Zack Sabre Jr. would capture the NJPW World TV Championship on January 4, and would be congratulated by Shane Haste and Mikey Nicholls, who welcomed ZSJ as the new group ‘frontman’. The next night at New Year Dash, a Tankbuster secured Haste and Nicholl’s IWGP Tag Team Championship challenge to Bishamon, while ZSJ shrugged off a confrontation from Tomohiro Ishii to recruit a new member to the group in 20 year old Young Lion Kosei Fujita. Now, this new TMDK look to make a show of force in the face of future opposition.
2nd Match: Tomoaki Honma, Ren Narita, El Desperado & Minoru Suzuki vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (Dick Togo, EVIL, SHO & Yujiro Takahashi)
After Suzuki-Gun dissolved at the end of 2022, many of its former members may have already found homes, or set up ones for themselves, but Minoru Suzuki and EL Desperado are still conspicuous free factional agents. The intrigue around the two further deepened when first Suzuki and then Desperado made the save for Ren Narita at New Year Dash. Whether this is a unity against a common foe in HOUSE OF TORTURE, or something more concrete remains to be seen, but for the time being at least the three will be joined by Tomoaki Honma to take on H.O.T tonight.
1st Match: Toru Yano & Togi Makabe vs Oskar Leube & Yuto Nakashima
Young Lion ‘frenemies’ in Oskar leube and Yuto Nakashima will team up in the opening bout of the evening, against intimidating Most Violent Players Toru Yano and Togi Makabe. a big test for the two young prospects gets us going; how will they fare in this heavyweight tag team opener?
After the drama of Wrestle Kingdom 17, and the twists and turns of New Year Dash, it’s time for a New Beginning, as the first full series of 2023 kicks off with what is sure to be a red hot, loud crowd in Nagoya’s Dolphins’ Arena January 22.
Watch New Beginning in Nagoya LIVE IN ENGLISH on NJPW World!
Main event: KOPW 2023 Shingo Takagi vs Great-O-Khan
singles record: 1-0 Takagi
A mere 17 days after winning a four way match at new Year Dash to become the first holder of the new KOPW 2023 belt, Shingo Takagi puts his provisional holder status on the line against Great-O-Khan. During the aforementioned four way, Shingo and O-Khan formed an alliance of sorts to take care of SHO and his cheating ways, but when it got to the end game, it was O-Khan who felt cheated, an Eliminator on Toru Yano not doing the job as Shingo made the break and then struck Yano with Last of the Dragon.
That led to O-Khan lording his British Championship status over Takagi, and issuing a backstage challenge, saying that ‘if this belt is for fighters, then we should dominate’. That could be a hint as to the rules the Dominator may bring forth when it comes to this KOPW bout. His first challenge to KOPW status back in November 2022 was in the form of an amateur wrestling rules match, and it could be that Nagoya will see another callback to his extensive combat sports background. What will the stipulations be, and who leaves Nagoya with the KOPW status?
6th Match: YOH, Ryusuke Taguchi, Shota Umino & Kazuchika Okada vs Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI)
A double preview for later in the series, LIJ do battle with YOH, Shota Umino, Ryusuke Taguchi and IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada. After months of giving Shota Umino the cold shoulder, Tetsuya Naito can no longer ignore the Roughneck in Sapporo as the two will do battle in a special singles match. Meanwhile, after a pinfall victory over the freshly crowned five time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, YOH will challenge Hiromu Takahashi on February 5. With Kazuchika Okada set to face the challenge of Shingo Takagi at the tour closer in Osaka, there’s plenty connecting him to LIJ in this opening event as well.
5th Match: United Empire (Francesco Akira, TJP, Aaron Henare & Will Ospreay) vs Just Four Guys (TAKA Michinoku, DOUKI, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Taichi)
At New Year dash on January 5, TAKA Michinoku led Taichi, Yoshinobu Kanemaru and DOUKI to action, with the explanation that this alliance in the wake of Suzuki-Gun’s dissolution was one without leaders and hierarchy; that they are Just Four Guys. While the team name might need some workshopping, they instantly produced results, as DOUKI scored victory in the ensuing six man tag match and instantly challenged for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships, that match with Catch 2/2 taking place in Sapporo.
Also in Sapporo, a special singles bout will see Will Ospreay collide with hometown boy Taichi. After being defeated by Kenny Omega in the Tokyo Dome on January 4 and losing the IWGP United States Championship, Ospreay was an emotional wreck as he set himself a one year time limit to get back to where he feels he needs to be. Singling out Taichi as the first step in that journey, Ospreay headed to Ota with intimidating fury, and the two men would brawl during and after their bout. Now, a pair of previews in this eight man bout.
4th Match: Jado, Master Wato & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs BULLET CLUB (KENTA, Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo)
Osaka on February 11 is set to be a big date for Taiji Ishimori, KENTA and El Phantasmo. While ELP challenges Tama Tonga for the NEVER Openweight Championship, KENTA and Ishimori will face Master Wato and Hisoshi Tanahashi in a pair of special singles matches that could well bear consequences in junior, heavy and openweight divisions. With plenty of previous connecting Tanahashi to KENTA, and Wato to Ishimori, this is sure to be a heated six man bout.
3rd Match: Ryohei Oiwa, Tomohiro ishii, YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto vs TMDK (Zack Sabre Jr., Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls & Kosei Fujita)
TMDK underwent major shifts at the start of this year. Zack Sabre Jr. would capture the NJPW World TV Championship on January 4, and would be congratulated by Shane Haste and Mikey Nicholls, who welcomed ZSJ as the new group ‘frontman’. The next night at New Year Dash, a Tankbuster secured Haste and Nicholl’s IWGP Tag Team Championship challenge to Bishamon, while ZSJ shrugged off a confrontation from Tomohiro Ishii to recruit a new member to the group in 20 year old Young Lion Kosei Fujita. Now, this new TMDK look to make a show of force in the face of future opposition.
2nd Match: Tomoaki Honma, Ren Narita, El Desperado & Minoru Suzuki vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (Dick Togo, EVIL, SHO & Yujiro Takahashi)
After Suzuki-Gun dissolved at the end of 2022, many of its former members may have already found homes, or set up ones for themselves, but Minoru Suzuki and EL Desperado are still conspicuous free factional agents. The intrigue around the two further deepened when first Suzuki and then Desperado made the save for Ren Narita at New Year Dash. Whether this is a unity against a common foe in HOUSE OF TORTURE, or something more concrete remains to be seen, but for the time being at least the three will be joined by Tomoaki Honma to take on H.O.T tonight.
1st Match: Toru Yano & Togi Makabe vs Oskar Leube & Yuto Nakashima
Young Lion ‘frenemies’ in Oskar leube and Yuto Nakashima will team up in the opening bout of the evening, against intimidating Most Violent Players Toru Yano and Togi Makabe. a big test for the two young prospects gets us going; how will they fare in this heavyweight tag team opener?
