It’s a holly jolly Road to Tokyo Dome!

NJPW gives us a Christmas Eve present on the road to WrestleKingdom 16! And Toru Yano is holding an End of the Year Party Match for his KOPW trophy!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Triple Threat: Tiger Mask VS Ryusuke Taguchi VS El Phantasmo; ELP wins.
• Six Man Tag: Third Gen VS The United Empire; The United Empire wins.
• Six Man Tag: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Great Bash Heels VS KENTA, Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale; Kenta, Chase & Fale win.
• KOPW 2021 End of Year Party Rules: Toru Yano VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Yano wins and is Mr. KOPW 2021.
• 8 Man Tag: Chaos VS House of Torture; Chaos wins.
• Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Suzuki-Gun; Suzuki-Gun wins.
• Shingo Takagi & BUSHI VS Kazuchika Okada & Robbie Eagles; Okada & Eagles win.

PLAY BY PLAY

Triple Threat: Tiger Mask VS Ryusuke Taguchi VS El Phantasmo!

The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships are a big target on the backs of Tiger & Eagles! One half of each team is facing off in a title match sampler, will the living legend make it through both the Funky Weapon and Headbanga?

As they make their entrance, the Cutest Tag Team offers a Christmas present, but to who? ELP keeps saying this person and that person isn’t worthy. Not even Milano Collection AT deserves it? But then they get in the ring, and maybe a Young Lion? Or a ring staff member? No, not them, either. ELP puts the box down and asks one to come into the ring to receive the gift. But then he puts it down to STOMP it! And PUNT it out of the ring! Will he be a Grinch for Taguchi and Tiger?

The bell rings and fans rally up as the three circle. ELP rushes Taguchi but Taguchi throws him out! Tiger kicks away on Taguchi, CLUBS him, then headlocks. Taguchi powers out, Tiger runs him over, and things speed up. Taguchi hurdles and hip attacks Tiger down! ELP returns but he’s thrown right back out! Tiger returns and he sobats Taguchi, then whips him to a corner. Tiger ROUNDHOUSES Taguchi, and fans rally up. Tiger whips Taguchi but Taguchi reverses, only for Tiger to throw Taguchi out. Tiger runs but into ELP’s mule kick! That foot’s definitely loaded! Tiger bails out, fans rally and ELP PLANCHAS but crashes down as Taguchi moves!

Taguchi stomps ELP, and gets the leg, and ELP scrambles! Taguchi lets the foot go, ELP stomps Tiger as he makes his way around the corner. ELP gets in but Taguchi’s there. ELP swears there’s nothing in his boot this time, and he wants a handshake as a Christmas promise. Taguchi doesn’t trust that but ELP even kneels. Taguchi says if it’s for Christmas, then okay. But then ELP stomps Taguchi’s foot! Taguchi clutches his toes while ELP flexes. ELP isolates Taguchi’s leg and STOMPS the foot! Then he gets an arm and rallies the fans up to STOMP the fingers! So much for the Christmas promise!

ELP then gets Taguchi up, knuckle locks and CHOPS, to go up and up and all around, to CLAW Taguchi’s back! ELP drop steps his way out and then CLAWS Tiger! ELP gets in and cartwheels corner to corner, to PURPLE NURPLE!! The ref reprimands and counts, ELP lets go, but then goes back for another PURPLE NURPLE!! The ref counts, ELP stops at 4, and fans rally up for Taguchi. ELP brings Taguchi out to snap suplex, Uno Amigo! And then another, Dos Amigos! ELP wants three but Taguchi blocks! Fans fire up, Taguchi throws body shots, Taguchi gets his Uno Amigo! And then Dos Amigos! And then ELP blocks! ELP turns it into a cradle, TWO and Taguchi has it!

TWO, ELP has it! TWO, Taguchi has it! Rolling Small Package! They go around and around and around and around, and then they break free. They stagger around dizzily, Taguchi enziguris but whiffs! Both men still fall over! Tiger gets in to cover Taguchi, TWO! Tiger covers ELP, TWO! Fans rally up for Tiger now as he throws forearms with ELP. They go back and forth, Taguchi runs in to DOUBLE HIP ATTACK! Fans fire up as Taguchi sits them both up to hit point blank hip attacks back and forth! Taguchi fires up and runs, but both ELP and Tiger fall over and Taguchi just plain misses! Fans rally up while all three men are down!

Tiger and ELP sit up and they brawl again, now with haymakers back and forth! Tiger kicks, ELP forearms, repeat! Taguchi comes back to ENZIGURI ELP! And ENZIGURI Tiger! Fans fire up as Tiger and ELP end up on opposite ends. Taguchi starts up Forever Hips! Then he baseball slides to apron ENZIGURI ELP! Fans fire up as Taguchi aims, and he springboards to MISSILE HIP! Cover, Tiger breaks it! Tiger waistlocks but Taguchi resists the lift. Taguchi breaks free but Tiger tilt-o-whirls to crucifix takedown! Cover, but ELP breaks it! ELP gets Tiger for the straitjacket torture rack, and SWINGING NECKBREAKER! Cover, Taguchi breaks it just in time!

Taguchi CLUBS ELP, bumps him off buckles, and fans fire up! Taguchi hoists ELP up top and ELP lands hard on his groin. Taguchi climbs up, but Tiger yanks him down! Tiger climbs up now to fire off on ELP, and then stands ELP up to double underhook! SUPER BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! Cover, Taguchi breaks it again! Taguchi throws Tiger aside, gets ELP up to chicken wing, DODON’S THRONE! Cover, Tiger breaks it! Tiger throws hands, whips, and tilt-o-whirls Taguchi to a BACKBREAKER! Tiger underhooks, but Taiji Ishimori distracts from the apron! The ref tells him to get down, but the opening allows Taguchi to power through and jackknife bridge!

But then ELP adds on for a stacked cover! ELP WINS!

Winner: El Phantasmo, by pinfall

The Headbanga is the Grinch that stole this win! Taiji gets in to beat up Taguchi, and then beat up Tiger Mask! Taiji sets Taguchi up for ELP, but the ring crew gets in! He takes SUDDEN DEATH! A Young Lion gets in, he takes SUDDEN DEATH! ELP takes aim again, tunes up the band, but ROBBIE EAGLES springboards in! He missile dropkicks ELP down, then gives Taiji a TURBO BACKPACK! Robbie, Tiger and Taguchi work to get ELP’s boot off! ELP kicks them away and Taiji gets ELP out of there! The Cutest Tag Team runs away, the secret of ELP’s boot still a secret! But will Tiger & Eagles expose that secret while holding onto the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag titles?

Six Man Tag: Third Gen VS The United Empire!

Satoshi Kojima, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Yuji Nagata reunite! After a rough go for all of them in World Tag League, will their Christmas at least be merry? Or will the Dominator, Hawaiian Hulk & Ultimate Weapon conquer TenCozy & Blue Justice for the holidays?

The ref barely finishes his check and the Empire attacks! Aaron Henare goes after Tenzan, Great-O-Khan is after Kojima, and Jeff Cobb goes after Nagata! They throw Third Gen out and the bell gets this on record. Khan Mongolian Chops Kojima and CLUBS him, Cobb rams Nagata into the apron and Henare throws body shots. Henare puts Tenzan in the ring while Cobb digs his knee into Nagata’s chest. Henare drags Tenzan up, bumps him off buckles, and fires off body shots while the ref tries to restore order. Fans rally up for Tenzan and Third Gen as Henare brings Tenzan out for a suplex! Cover, TWO!

Henare brings Tenzan up but Tenzan hits back with forearms! Henare gives those back, they go back and forth, Tenzan Mongolian Chops! And again! Henare hits a heavy body shot! Then a HEEL KICK! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up as Tenzan gets up, but Henare CLUBS and KNEES him! Henare runs, into the WHEEL KICK! Hot tag to Kojima and Khan! Kojima dodges Khan’s boot to fire off forearms to the back! Kojima whips, Khan reverses but Kojima CLOBBERS him! Fans fire up, Khan gets to the corner and Kojima fires off MACHINE GUN CHOPS! Khan calls his team over, but Cobb just gets added to the MACHINE GUN CHOPS!

Kojima tops Cobb off then gives Khan a little more! Fans fire up, Kojima whips corner to corner and forearm smashes! Kojima fires up as he climbs the corner, but Henare throws a body shot! Then Henare throws Kojima! Henare DECKS Nagata, Khan drags Kojima up. Henare runs but Tenzan trips him up! Kojima breaks free to ROCK Khan! Tenzan gets in, TenCozy pinball Khan between Mongolian Chops and forearms! Kojima Mongolian Chops, then DDT’s Khan down! Cover, TWO! Fans fire up as Kojima brings Khan up in the cravat. Khan fights the cutter, shoves Kojima to ropes, and Cobb grabs Kojima’s foot!

Kojima glares at Cobb, but Khan puts Kojima in the IRON SLEEPER! Kojima starts to fade, Khan folds Kojima up for a cocky throne cover. TWO, Khan runs and BOOTS Kojima to a corner! Tag to Cobb, Cobb runs in to dropkick! Cobb is copying Tetsuya Naito’s COMBINACION CABRON! Then GACHIMUCHI MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Fans fire up and Cobb slaps Kojima around. Cobb wants to mock Kojima’s armband move but he has no armband to take off. Cobb still runs, but Kojima clubs Cobb’s clothesline away! Then Kojima kicks and hits a COZY CUTTER! Both men are down and fans fire up! Kojima crawls over, hot tag to Nagata!

Nagata KICKS Cobb in the chest over and over! Cobb ends up in a corner, Nagata whips him corner to corner. Nagata runs in to BOOT Cobb, but Henare stops Nagata from hitting the exploder! Henare scoops Nagata but Nagata slips free to give Henare the EXPLODER! But he turns around into Cobb’s SUPERKICK! Cobb runs in but misses in the corner, Nagata SHINING WIZARDS! Feed to TENCOZY CUTTER! NAGATA LOCK II!! TenCozy keeps the rest of the Empire away with an Anaconda Vice to Henare and Kawatagoroshi for Khan! The Empire endures all these submissions, Cobb fights around, and gets a ROPEBREAK with a foot!

Third Gen lets the Empire go and fans rally up. Nagata whips Cobb corner to corner, then sends Teznan in for a clothesline! Then Kojima hits a back elbow! They feed Cobb to Nagata’s BOOT! BRAINBUSTER! Cover, Khan breaks it! Kojima CLUBS Khan, but Khan fights the waistlock. Drop sayanagi for Kojima! Headbutt for Khan! SAMOAN DROP for Tenzan! Nagata ROCKS Henare, whips him to Cobb for an ATHLETIC PLEX! Fans fire up again and Khan drags Nagata up. He whips Nagata to a corner, then runs in to clothesline! Henare runs in to SHINING WIZARD! feed to the BOOT ROUNDHOUSE combo! Then they get Nagata up for Cobb, TOUR OF THE ISLANDS!! Cover, The Empire wins!

Winners: The United Empire, by pinfall

Cobb mocks Naito’s posing as he, Henare and Khan stand tall. Khan also calls out Sanada, as they’re having a 1v1 match at WrestleKingdom 16, Night Two! With Will Ospreay on his way back, is it only a matter of time before the United Empire rules over all NJPW?

Six Man Tag: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Great Bash Heels VS KENTA, Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale!

The Ace teams with Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe ahead of taking on Fang Revived in a No Disqualification match for the IWGP US Championship! Will Everyone’s Kokeshi & Rampaging King Kong help the Once in a Century Talent get ready? Or will the Crown Jewel & Rogue General help Kenta make them Go To Sleep?

Tanahashi takes off the jacket to show off the muscles, and fans cheer, but Bullet Club attacks! Kenta of course goes after The Ace while Chase is after Honma and Fale is after Makabe. The bell rings to get this on record as Bullet Club mugs Tanahashi. Chase and Fale keep Tanahashi up so Kenta can kick him down. Fans rally for Tanahashi as Kenta stomps him around. Kenta drags Tanahashi up but Tanahashi fires forearms! Kenta gives them back, they go faster and faster and fans fire up! They go shot for shot, Tanahashi gets the edge and fires off a strike fest! Kenta kicks but Tanahashi blocks it, CLUBS the leg, then runs. Kenta uses the ref as a shield!

Tanahashi carefully moves the ref aside, but Kenta BOOTS and sobats Tanahashi! Tanahashi blocks the next kick to DRAGON SCREW the leg! Fans rally up as both men are down! Hot tags to Chase and Makabe! Makabe rallies on Bullet Club, and runs at Chase in the corner to clothesline! Makabe climbs up to rain down fists! Fale stops Makabe at 8 but Makabe hits him back. Makabe whips, Fale reverses, Makabe bounces off buckles and Fale runs him over! Chase BOOTS Honma down, Fale goes out after Honma, and Chase rains down fists on Makabe! The ref reprimands the closed fists, so Chase CHOKES Makabe! The ref reprimands again and Chase lets off.

Fans rally up but Chase bumps Makabe off buckles. Chase climbs up and rains down fists on Makabe! Chase gets to ten, then tags Fale in. They mug Makabe with heavy body shots, but fans still rally for Makabe. Makabe eggs Fale on so Fale throws more body shots, and even forearms. Makabe doesn’t back down so Fale throws shots in the corner! Tag to Chase, he cravats to neck wrench Makabe, and then snapmare. Chase JAMS a knee into the back, and then pulls on the arms for a motorcycle stretch. Fans rally up, Makabe fights to his feet, and he turns things around on Chase, only for Chase to turn it back around. Chase digs his foot into Makabe’s back, then pushes Makabe down.

Tag to Fale, Chase mocks Honma, and Fale throws body shots on Makabe. Fale CLUBS away on Makabe in a corner! Fale whips Makabe corner to corner, runs in, but Makabe dodges! But Kenta gets in to DECK Tanahashi before the tag! Kenta whips Tanahashi into railing while Makabe tags in Honma! Makabe rallies on Bullet Club, but he can’t knock Fale down! Honma fires up and runs, but Chase kicks him from behind! Fale and Chase mug Honma, then they double whip. Honma holds ropes, BOOTS Chase, and kicks Fale low! Chase runs back in, but into the COMPLETE SHOT DDT COMBO! Honma fires up, runs and KOKESHI for Fale! KOKESHI for Chase!

Fans fire up as Honma drags Fale up. Honma tries to suplex but Fale’s too big! Kenta gets in and CLUBS Honma, but then Tanahashi gets in to SHOTEI Kenta down! Tanahashi stomps Kenta out of the ring and they brawl outside. GBH get Fale up to DOUBLE SUPLEX! Fans are fired up as Honma covers, TWO! Honma hurries up top but Chase anchors his foot! Honma fights Chase off, but Fale choke grips Honma! Fale drags Honma down from the top, but Honma breaks free to throw forearms and haymakers! Honma fires up, but turns into the SHI TRIGGER! Fale gets Honma with the GRENADE! Cover, Bullet Club wins!

Winners: Kenta, Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale, by pinfall

Kenta keeps going after Tanahashi and Makabe on the outside, the win isn’t good enough for him! Kenta gets a chair from under the ring to SMACK Tanahashi with it! Kenta drags Tanahashi up and puts him in the ring. Chase stomps Tanahashi, Kenta brings out a kendo stick! But Tanahashi fights free! Tanahashi has the stick! And he swings, only for Kenta to bail out! Fans rally, “Let’s Go, Ace!” The No Disqualification match is coming, but is Kenta underestimating how extreme Tanahashi can get?

KOPW 2021 End of Year Party Rules: Toru Yano VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru!

This is the LAST KOPW match of 2021! The Producer could be a back-to-back KOPW Champion, if he can outdrink the Heel Master! That’s right, every two minutes, each man must take a shot! It’s first fall to a finish, or the first to fall over drunk! Who parties hard this holiday season and goes home with the trophy?

The introductions are made, the trophy is presented, and we see who can hold their liquor and hold their own!

Fans rally up as Yano and Kanemaru circle. But then Kanemaru bails out? He doesn’t seem in the mood for Yano’s antics. Fans rally up harder and Kanemaru gets back on the apron. Kanemaru gets his whiskey and fans cheer. The fans did vote that the drinks tonight would be whiskey over Yano’s sake, after all. But we see the clock and we’re under a minute before it’s time to drink. Yano goes outside to delay now, and now Kanemaru dares Yano to get back in. They argue, but no body makes a move. The countdown signals itself, time to drink! Kanemaru and Yano go to the tables at ringside, and they get the mic so we can hear them each opening the bottles.

Yano and Kanemaru each pour themselves a shot, fans rally as they say, “CHEERS!” Also there’s the standing count. Both men drink up and get up before 8 of 20 to get back in the ring. Obviously this first shot wasn’t going to take them out, so we continue! Fans fire up as the two argue again. Yano wants Milano Collection AT’s thoughts, and Kanemaru also argues with him. Yano uses that distraction to roll Kanemaru up! TWO, and Yano apologizes! Kanemaru rushes in, Yano dodges to get the arms! Kanemaru reverses that to backslide Yano, TWO! Kanemaru kicks Yano low, but Yano grabs Kanemaru’s hair and throws him down! Roll up, TWO!

Kanemaru gets to the corner, Yano runs in but Kanemaru dodges to roll Yano up, TWO! Fans fire up as both men catch their breath. We’re back under a minute, and it seems like both men are starting to feel that whiskey hitting. Kanemaru stomps Yano, then he whips Yano to ropes. Yano holds ropes, but Kanemaru BOOTS him down! Yano bails out, staggers around, but Kanemaru pursues. Kanemaru pulls Yano’s hair and whips him into railing! Kanemaru pulls Yano’s hair more to shake him around! The countdown begins, and it’s time for another shot! Fans rally as both men make their way over to the tables.

Kanemaru and Yano argue even as they sit down and pour themselves another drink. “CHEERS!” The ring count starts, they get the drinks down, and Yano is already in the ring to untie the buckle pad! Kanemaru gets in, Yano dodges and throws him the pad! The ref takes the pad from Kanemaru, and Yano SLAPS Kanemaru on the back of the head! Yano shakes Kanemaru around! The fans rally up and Yano throws Kanemaru away! Kanemaru dry heaves and sputters in the corner! Yano drags Kanemaru up, whips him corner to corner, but Kanemaru reverses! Yano hits the bare buckles! Kanemaru shakes Yano around now! Up, down, back, forth! Now Yano dry heaves! Cover, TWO!

Fans rally as Yano and Kanemaru slowly stand. Kanemaru whips, Yano reverses and redirects, but then Kanemaru reverses! Yano reverses, Kanemaru reverses, they keep going around and around! And around, and around! They’re slowing down but they’re still going around! Both men fall over dizzy! The countdown is back! #WhiskeyTime! Both men drag themselves out of the ring as fans rally up. They somehow make it to the tables and sit down for round three. They pour their drinks, and Kanemaru gets it down right away! “CHEERS!” Yano struggles to even sit up, and the ring count is 7 of 20! Yano takes his time, but Kanemaru is stopping him!? If he doesn’t drink, does he lose?!

The count is 15 of 20, Kanemaru leaves Yano behind! Yano drinks and hurries! Yano gets in at 19!! He’s safe! Kanemaru is furious but Yano goes back out. Kanemaru goes out the other side, and they argue again. The ring count starts again, Kanemaru gets on the apron at 5, and in at 7. Yano argues with Kanemaru again, even as the count reaches 15 of 20 again. Yano walks around the ring, but he gets in at 19 again! Kanemaru stomps Yano over and over, then whips him to ropes. Yano reverses but Kanemaru dropkicks the leg out! Kanemaru gets Yano for a ROLLING CRADLE! Around and around and around, and around and around, and then the cover! TWO!!

Both men stagger and fall over dizzy! And the countdown is back! Fans rally up and it’s #WhiskeyTime again! Yano and Kanemaru roll out of the ring, but Yano’s dry heaving again. Kanemaru and Yano take a moment to steady themselves before sitting down for round four! Kanemaru is ballsy, filling his shot glass to the brim! Meanwhile, Yano’s doesn’t even look half full! Fans rally, so Yano matches Kanemaru with a full glass! “CHEERS!” The count starts, Kanemaru downs it! We’re at 10 of 20 already as Yano works up the courage. Yano gets it down, but then Kanemaru sends a Young Lion into Yano’s path! Down goes Yano! We’re at 18 of 20, Yano is in at 19.9!!

Kanemaru gets right on Yano for a cover, TWO! Another cover, TWO! Deep leg hook, TWO!! Fans fire up but Kanemaru gets his personal bottle of whiskey, and takes a BIG swig! He pushes the ref aside, but Yano blocks Kanemaru from spitting the whiskey in his face! Yano turns Kanemaru towards the ref, LOW BLOW and Kanemaru spits the whiskey all in the ref’s face!! Yano then gets the bottle, and makes Kanemaru drink even more! Yano drags Kanemaru up, pops him up, POWERBOMB! Cover, Yano wins!

Winner: Toru Yano, by pinfall (Undisputed Mr. KOPW 2021)

The Producer is victorious! But Yano has a special box that he brings to the ring. Yano unveils a bottle of his own whiskey and says, “CHEERS!” Yano drinks to his win as the repeat Mr. KOPW! Can anyone stop Yano from a historic threepeat in 2022?

8 Man Tag: Chaos VS House of Torture!

Yoh joins Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI and the returning Tomohiro Ishii in hopes of getting revenge on Evil, Sho, Yujiro Takahashi & Dick Togo! Will this help Goto-Hashi-Ishii get back to the NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships? Or will Darkness Fall on Christmas Eve?

Introductions don’t even finish before House of Torture attacks! Sho of course goes after Yoh while Yujiro hits Hashi, and Evil throws Ishii out while Dick stomps Goto. Things spill out of the ring, the bell rings to get this on record, and Evil rakes Ishii’s eyes before whipping him into railing! Yujiro has Hashi against the railing as he rakes Hashi’s eyes, Evil keeps after Ishii. Sho brings Yoh up to put him in the ring, the Murder Machine officially starts against Direct Drive. Sho stomps Yoh to a corner, stomps him in the corner, then digs his boots in. The ref reprimands and counts, Sho lets off at 4. Fans rally up, even as Sho stands on Yoh’s head. Yoh fights up but Sho rakes his eyes!

The ref reprimands again, Sho stops at 4, then whips. Yoh reverses, runs in, but misses in the corner, and Sho rakes his eyes again! Sho runs, Yoh dodges, and Yoh hits FLYING FOREARMS! Tag to Hashi, Yoh and Goto BLAST the House of Torture while Hashi stomps Sho. They whip Sho to a corner, Goto clotheslines, Hashi CHOPS, and Yoh back elbows! Feed to Goto’s kick, and Goto hooks Sho up. Hashi runs, BLOCKBUSTER LEG SWEEP! Fans fire up for the #GotoHunt, and Sho scrambles to a corner. Hashi follows him as he scurries around the ring, and then stomps him at the ropes. Ishii gets a shot in, Hashi stands on Sho’s head, and Sho grabs the ropes!

The ref counts, Hashi lets off at 4. Hashi drags Sho up, but Sho wrenches a hand and bends the fingers! Sho whips Hashi to the corner, and surprise! The buckle pad is gone! Hashi hits bare buckles as the Bullet Club special comes into play! House of Torture hits the Chaos corner, and Evil uses a chair on Ishii! Evil chokes Ishii with the chair while Sho and Dick dig their boots into Hashi at the ropes. The ref counts, Dick lets off but Sho keeps going. The ref counts more, Sho stops at 4. Evil’s still choking Ishii with the chair! Evil stops that to rake Hashi’s eyes while the ref is busy with Sho. Sho tags Dick, Dick drags Hashi up and CLUBS him to the corner.

Dick throws hands, he brings Hashi around and snapmares, and then fist drops! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up, Evil tags in and he taunts Yoh. The ref stops Yoh, but he misses Evil using the House of Torture shirt to choke Hashi! Evil then covers, TWO! Evil argues the count but the ref say sit was fair. Tag to Yujiro, Yujiro stomps and snapmares Hashi to then drop a leg, drop an elbow, and drop a headbutt! Cover, but Yoh gets in and Yujiro backs off. Sho gets in to kick Yoh back out, and Yujiro drags Hashi away. Hashi throws body shots and forearms, but Yujiro knees low. Yujiro puts Hashi on the ropes to BOOT him down! Yujiro brings Hashi around to fisherman, but Hashi fights the suplex!

Hashi suplexes, but Yujiro BITES the hand! Yujiro ROCKS Hashi with a forearm but Hashi fires off a strike fest! Hashi blocks Yujiro’s boot, but Yujiro ROCKS him again! Yujiro reels Hashi in but Hashi suplexes Yujiro high and hard! Fans rally up, both men crawl, hot tag to Evil and House of Torture trips up Chaos! Evil brings Hashi up but Hashi spin back kicks! Hot tag to Ishii! The Stone Pitbull runs but Dick trips him up! Evil knocks Ishii to the corner, he and Dick double whip Ishii to the corner. Dick runs in to clothesline, but Ishii avoids Evil and Evil ends up hitting Dick! Ishii runs back in, Evil dodges and Dick takes another clothesline!

Ishii runs after Evil but Evil gets him in a waistlock. Sho runs in but Ishii boots him away! Ishii standing switches and shoves Evil into Sho! Ishii swings but Evil waistlocks again. Evil shoves Ishii at the ropes but Ishii DECKS Yujiro off the apron! Ishii dodges Evil again to run and run Evil over! Fans fire up as Ishii stalks Evil to a corner. Ishii stands Evil up to CHOP and forearm on repeat! Evil sits down and Ishii rains down forearms! The ref has to back Ishii off, and Evil bails out. Evil eggs Ishii on but Goto gets Evil back in the ring! Ishii and Yoh double whip to uppercut, forearm and Yoh runs, but Sho trips him up! Ishii rushes over but Evil waistlocks.

Ishii breaks free but runs into Dick’s kick! Evil trips Ishii for the SCORPION DEATHLOCK! Yujiro intercepts Goto while Ishii endures. Ishii crawls, reaches out, but Sho holds the rope back! Ishii still gets the ROPEBREAK! Evil holds until 4, then tags in Dick. Fans rally up as Evil and Dick stomp Ishii. Dick slaps Ishii around but Ishii sits up. Dick stomps him down, drags him up, slaps him around more, then whips. Dick catches Ishii for a sleeper hold, but Ishii back suplexes out of it! Fans fire up while both men are down! Ishii crawls over, hot tag to Goto! Yujiro runs in but Goto runs him over! Goto DECKS Sho, then runs in to MURAMASA Dick! And BULLDOG! Cover, TWO!

Fans rally up as GOto stands Dick up and fireman’s carries. Dick slips free, pokes eyes and headlock punches Goto down! Evil and Sho knock Ishii and Yoh down, then they put Goto in a corner. They double whip corner to corner, Dick runs in to back elbow! Sho clotheslines, Yujiro BOOTS, and Evil clotheslines! Then FISHERMAN BUSTER! Dick covers, TWO! Evil distracts the ref while Dick gets Goto with the SPOILER CHOKER! Fans rally, and Goto fights free! Goto DECKS Dick, but Evil knees Goto and rakes the eyes! Evil runs, Hashi LARIATS him down! Yujiro BOOTS Hashi! Yujiro goes after Ishii but Ishii blocks the boot to turn him around and GERMAN SUPLEX!

Dick kicks Ishii and whips him into bare buckles! Goto waistlocks Dick, Dick standing switches and Sho runs in, but Goto gets clear and Sho clotheslines Dick! Yoh dropkicks Sho out! Fans fire up as Yoh PLANCHAS down on Sho! Goto gets Dick into dragon sleeper but Dick fights around. Goto suplexes, Dick slips free, but Hashi SUPERKICKS him down! Goto fireman’s carries Dick, SUPERKICK to Ushigoroshi dragon sleeper! Goto-Hashi get Dick up, SHOTO!! Cover, Chaos wins!!

Winners: Yoh, Hirooki Goto, Yoshi-Hashi & Tomohiro Ishii, by pinfall

Yoh still goes after Sho on the outside, and Ishii battles Evil chair to chair! Evil loses his chair, but then LOW BLOWS Ishii! The brawling continues all around ringside as Yujiro RAMS Hashi into railing, and Sho does the same to Goto! Evil puts Ishii back in the ring, drags him up, and gives him EVERYTHING IS EVIL! But then Yoh runs Evil off, only for Sho to run in !Yoh avoids the wrench shot to JUMP KNEE! Sho avoids Direct Drive to run away!

Things are far from over between Chaos and the House of Torture, though! On WrestleKingdom 16, Night One, Yoh and Sho look to settle their RPG3K fallout, and Evil challenges Ishii for THE NEVER Openweight Championship! And then on Night Two, the House of Torture will defend their NEVER Openweight Six Man titles against Goto-Hashi-Ishii! Will The King of Darkness become the King of NEVER? Or will Chaos make sure that NEVER happens?

Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Suzuki-Gun!

Hiromu Takahashi is ready to take on El Desperado for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship at WrestleKingdom 16, while Sanada & Tetsuya Naito look to be a speedbump in the road for the Dangerous Tekkers. Will LIJ make sure the Rogue Luchador, Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. are stumbling into the New Year? Or will momentum be on the side of the champions?

The teams sort out, Sanada and Taichi have a quick dancing pec showdown, but it’s the Ticking Timebomb that starts against Desperado. Fans rally up for this WrestleKingdom preview, and the two rush each other at the bell! They ram shoulders, then fire off forearms back and forth! Fans rally as they keep going, fast and furious! Hiromu then changes things up to CHOPS, and Desperado CHOPS in reply! They go back and forth with CHOP after CHOP, already turning red in the chest! They shift from overhand to back hand CHOPS, but neither is backing down! Hiromu then SLAPS Desperado, so Desperado SLAPS back! Now it’s a SLAP fight!

Desperado ROCKS Hiromu with more of a palm strike then slap! Hiromu wobbles, Desperado reels him in, but Hiromu fights the back suplex to run. Desperado elbows him at the ropes, but then Hiromu returns the favor! Hiromu runs but Desperado sees through the feint to whip Hiromu and elbow him again. Then Desperado feints to elbow again! Hiromu still whips Desperado to a corner to clothesline! Hiromu runs but Desperado follows to clothesline him in the other corner! Desperado then runs corner to corner, but Hiromu follows to clothesline! Hiromu snapmares Desperaod, runs but Desperado avoids the basement dropkick!

Desperado dodges, spins Hiromu around and ROCKS him with an elbow! Hiromu wobbles, but he mule kicks and front kicks! Fireman’s carry, but Desperado slips off. Hiromu elbows Desperado then runs corner to corner to SHOTGUN dropkick Desperado into the corner! Naito DECKS Taichi, Sanada DECKS ZSJ! Hiromu fires up and the fans are with him as he drags Desperado back up. Hiromu suplexes but Desperado fights free and gets around to back suplex! Hiromu roars as he rises up, but Desperado runs, into a SUPERKICK! Hiromu runs, but into a SPINEBUSTER! Both men are down and fans fire up!

Desperado and Hiromu stir, crawl for their corners, ZSJ tags in and he drags Hiromu away from LIJ! ZSJ snapmares to NECK TWIST, then he DECKS Sanada! Taichi trips Naito off the apron to whip him into railing! ZSJ chokes Sanada with camera cable! Taichi RAMS Naito into more railing! ZSJ lets Sanada go and the ref reprimands the Tekkers. ZSJ gets back in as fans rally up, and ZSJ cravats Hiromu for a neck wrench. Hiromu endures, ZSJ snapmares him into double leg hook chicken wings! And then a dragon sleeper! Hiromu endures and kicks around, and he gets the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, ZSJ lets go to then tag in Taichi.

Taichi stomps Hiromu and taunts him as he does. Fans rally for Hiromu but Taichi puts him in a cobra twist! Hiromu endures as Taichi pushes his head and neck down. Taichi even adds a leg, but Hiromu endures so Taichi lets go. Cover, but it’s a choke! The ref reprimands, Taichi stops so he choke-covers again! The ref still reprimands, so Taichi CHOKES with both hands! The ref counts, Taichi stops at 4. Hiromu sputters, Taichi brings him up, Hiromu CHOPS back! Taichi CHOKES Hiromu to the ocrner for it! Tag to Desperado, and Suzuki-Gun dig their boots into Hiromu. The ref reprimands, they all let off, and Desperaod drags Hiromu back up.

Hiromu CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS but Desperado just CHOPS Hiromu down! Desperado CHOPS Hiromu in the corner, whips him corner to corner then runs in, into a BOOT! Hiromu runs but the rana is blocked! Hiromu fights the bomb but Desperado knees back. Desperado runs, into a POP-UP POWERBOMB! Both men are down and fans fire up again! Desperado and Hiromu crawl, hot tags to Naito and Taichi! Naito drops, arm-drags and kicks low, then DECKS ZSJ before he RANAS Taichi! Fans rally as Naito runs in to JUMP KICK, swing in, and then he taunts Taichi before COMBINACION CABRON! Naito mocks Taichi’s sumo before he has a cocky cover, ONE!

Naito drags Taichi up, reels him in and turns him, but Taichi breaks free to CHOKE Naito! The ref reprimands, Taichi whips Naito into the DANGEROUS HOOK KICK! Fans rally up, Taichi run sin at Naito to clothesline in the corner! Taichi then reels Naito in, but no saido as Naito fights free. Naito hits an atomic drop, then he hammerlocks and full nelsons. No Gloria as Taichi fights free, but then Naito clinches! Taichi blocks with a sumo grip on the waistband! Taichi THROWS Naito off! Fans fire up but Naito elbows and ENZIGURIS back! Taichi AX BOMBERS on the rebound! Fans are fired up as both men are down!

Naito and Taichi crawl, hot tags to Sanada and ZSJ! ZSJ and Sanada go around and around but neither can catch the other in a cobra twist. Sanada throws ZSJ out, then PLANCHAS, but ZSJ gets clear! COBRA TWIST! Sanada endures, ZSJ puts him back in the ring. ZSJ gets around to full nelson then snapmare, but Sanada handsprings through. ZSJ headlocks, Sanada powers out but ZSJ catches him to the COBRA TWIST! Fans fire up, Sanada endures, and Sanada powers out to hip toss! Sanada gets the legs then the arms, but ZSJ keeps resisting Paradise. Sanada keeps trying, but ZSJ reels him in for the sunset flip! TWO, and Sanada sits on the cover, ONE!

ZSJ has it, ONE, Sanada has it, ONE! ZSJ has it again, ONE, and Sanada keeps ZSJ down, but it’s a double fall! ONE as they both raise their right hands! Double fall, ONE as they raise their left hands! Another double fall, TWO as they both raise the same side! TWO as they raise the other side! Another double cover, TWO as they both get both shoulders up!! Fans fire up as the two reset and stand off. ZSJ offers a handshake, but then he uppercuts Sanada as he goes for it! ZSJ runs but Sanada dropkicks the legs out! Sanada drags ZSJ, steps through, but ZSJ drags Sanada down to a EURO CLUTCH! Cover, TWO! DRAGON SLEEPER!

But ZSJ rolls through, only for Sanada to roll through! ZSJ blocks the bridge, rolls Sanada with body scissors, but Sanada blocks ZSJ’s bridge! Sanada catches the arms to double chicken wing! But ZSJ rolls through that to get the EURO CLUTCH! Suzuki-Gun wins!!

Winners: El Desperado & The Dangerous Tekkers, by pinfall

Once again, the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions get the better of LIJ! Will this help the Holy Emperor & Submission Master against the World Tag League winners, Goto & Hashi? And what of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship showdown of Desperado and Hiromu? They had a draw in this year’s Best of the Super Juniors, will we see the Ticking Timebomb or Rogue Luchador reign supreme?

Shingo Takagi & BUSHI VS Kazuchika Okada & Robbie Eagles!

Alright, we did just see this at the WTL x BOSJ finals event over a week ago. And along the way on the Road to Tokyo Dome. But this is the last time around before the holidays! Will the Dragon & Black Mask or the Rainmaker & Sniper of the Skies have a Merry Christmas this year?

The teams sort out, and Takagi and Okada start to give us a WrestleKingdom preview! Fans are fired up already as they rally, “TA-KA-GI!” “O-KA-DA!” The two circle, feel out the grapple, then tie up. Takagi waistlocks, but Okada wrenches an arm to a wristlock then hammerlock. Takagi headlocks free, grinds Okada down, but Okada pries out of that to have a headlock of his own. Okada grinds Takagi, Takagi fights up and pries free to a hammerlock then headlock takeover. Okada headscissors, Takagi kips free, and fans cheer the exchange. Fans rally up again as the two circle. Okada stays back but ends up cornered. Takagi backs off, but Okada runs in to tie up!

Okada puts Takagi on the ropes, Red Shoes calls for the ropebreak, and Okada lets off, to fake the chop and pat Takagi on the shoulder. But Takagi actually CHOPS! Okada throws a forearm, Takagi gives it back and the fans rally as they go back and forth. Okada changes to EuroUpper, then he runs, only for Takagi to run him over! Takagi knocks Eagles off the apron and he wraps a chinlock onto Okada. Okada moves and gets the ropebreak, Takagi lets off quickly. Takagi drags Okada up, wrenches his arm, then tags in Bushi. Bushi hops up to drop ax handles on Okada’s arm! Bushi has Red Shoes watch Eagles, so that he can choke Okada with his shirt!

Eagles protests and Red Shoes sees, and so he counts. Bushi lets off to then stomp Okada down. Fans rally, Bushi snapmares Okada and digs in his knee in the chinlock. Bushi also smothers Okada by holding his nose closed! Red Shoes reprimands, Bushi lets off, and then Bushi stomps Okada down. Tag to Takagi, Bushi bumps Okada off buckles. Takagi bumps Okada off more buckles, then he taunts Okada. Okada dares Takagi to hit him but Takagi just pie faces him. Okada throws forearms but Takagi eggs him on with a chest bump. Okada throws another forearm, and Takagi DECKS him! Fans cheer as Takagi brings Okada back up.

Takagi suplexes high and hard, floats to the cover, TWO! Fans rally up, “O-KA-GI!” “TA-KA-DA!” Okada blocks the back suplex, clubs away on Takagi, but Takagi CLUBS him on the back. Takagi runs, into a FLAPJACK! Fans fire up while both men are down. Hot tag to Eagles! Eagles kicks and whips but Takagi reverses, only for Eagles to RANA! And WHEEL KCIK! Eagles kips up, fans fire up, and Eagles KICKS and KICKS. Takagi blocks a kick to CLUB the leg, but Eagles dropkicks the legs out, to then LEG LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Fans rally as Eagles goes to the corner and goes up top. 450 but Eagles bails out as Takagi dodges. Takagi runs in but into a BOOT!

Eagles runs, but Takagi pops Eagles up for a fireman’s carry to GUTBUSTER and DDT! Fans rally, hot tag to Bushi! Bushi aims from a corner now, and missile dropkicks Eagles away! BUSHIROONI! Bushi runs to back elbow, then he brings Eagles out to spin around and DDT! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up, Bushi gets Eagles for a fisherman, but no screw as Eagles spins through! Schoolboy with bridge, TWO! Bushi kicks but Eagles blocks, only for Bushi to fight off the Turbo Backpack! Bushi backslides but Eagles rolls off and sobats low! Eagles cravats, Bushi fights out of the Shiranui, then elbows Eagles away to reel him in.

Eagles trips Bushi, goes for the figure four but Bushi makes it a cradle! TWO!! ROUNDHOUSE, SUPERKICK but no Pele! Bushi gets around to kick, Eagles ducks the enziguri but not the HEEL KICK! But Eagles PELES! Both men are down and fans fire up! Eagles and Bushi crawl, hot tags to Okada and Takagi! Okada BOOTS, Takagi swings but Okada dodges to BOOT again! Okada fires off forearms, whips corner to corner but Takagi reveres. Okada boots but Takagi blocks to LARIAT! Takagi reels Okada in for a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up again, Takagi drags Okada up to Gory Especial! But Okada blocks with all his might!

Okada gets around, wrenches the arm, and has the MONEY CLIP! But Takagi stays standing and arm-drags free! Takagi runs into the corner, but Okada pops him up to the Alabama! REVERSE NECKBREAKER! Eagles DECKS Bushi! Okada gets Takagi’s arm again, MONEY CLIP! Fans rally as Takagi endures, and he throws haymakers on Okada. Okada cranks on the arm, Takagi crawls forward but Okada drags him away! Takagi keeps trying, and he gets the ROPEBREAK! Okada lets Takagi free and fans rally up as they both go outside. Okada stalks Takagi, kicks low, and hits a DDT! Fans rally back up while Okada rests against the railing.

Okada stands, drags Takagi up and into the ring. Okada climbs up the corner but Bushi goes after him! Eagles goes after Bushi and whips him, but Bushi reverses to send Eagles into railing! Takagi hits Okada up top, then climbs up after him. Okada and Takagi brawl, but Takagi fires up! Takagi hits the SUPERPLEX! Cover, TWO!! Okada survives but Takagi fires up with “OI! OI! OI!” Fans clap along, Takagi sits Okada up and runs, but Okada ducks the sliding lariat! Okada runs but into the ELBOW! JAB! But he blocks the Yukon lariat, only to get a DISCUS PUMPING! Fans fire up with Takagi as he drags Okada back up.

Okada fights out of the torture rack but Takagi whips him to ropes. Okada reverses and dropkicks Takagi down! Okada drags Takagi back up, ripcords, but Takagi dodges the lariat! But Takagi runs into Okada’s dropkick! Both men are down and fans are fired up again! Takagi and Okada stir, Takagi tags Bushi in! Bushi stomps Okada, brings him up and throws forearms. Bushi whips corner to corner, runs in but Okada boots. Bushi blocks, puts the leg in the ropes and hits a DRAPING BACKSTABBER! Bushi drags Okada up to FISHERMAN SCREW! Cover, TWO! Fans fire up as Okada survives! Bushi aims from a corner, runs at Okada, but no Code Breaker!

Okada dodges and Eagles missile dropkicks Bushi’s leg out! Eagles DECKS Takagi off the apron then jumps to ax handle Takagi down! Okada wraps on the MONEY CLIP! Bushi endures, fans rally up, Bushi fights up to claw Okada’s face! Eagles is sent into railing, but Okada dropkicks Bushi down! Okada goes to the corner, climbs up top, MACHO ELBOW! Rainmaker Pose! But he has to dodge Takagi! Okada gets Takagi for a ripcord, but Takagi dodges the lariat to waistlock and ripcord back. Okada ducks Pumping Rainmaker, and gets Takagi with a DISCUS LARIAT! Fans fire up as Bushi runs, into a gut wrench and TOMBSTONE!

Okada ripcords to RAINMAKER on Bushi! Eagles keeps Takagi down as Okada high stacks Bushi, Chaos wins!

Winners: Kazuchika Okada & Robbie Eagles, by pinfall

Just like the WTL x BOSJ finale, Okada and Eagles stand tall! The Junior Heavyweights head to the back to give the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion and the G1 Climax Champion the ring. But then, before either Takagi or Okada can get the mic, the lights dim and the titantron has WILL OSPREAY! He has his copy of the IWGP World Heavyweight title with him as he says, “Did you miss me? I’ve missed you. Long time no see. I’m back in Japan! Feeling great, actually. Feeling fantastic.” Ospreay wonders who’ll be feeling good on January 5th. He knows on the 4th, it’s Takagi VS Okada for the “interim” world title. And then they will face the REAL champion on the 5th!

Ospreay has traveled the world while injured, and he faced the world’s finest. “Still unpinned, still unsubmitted, still undefeated!” And this whole time, Ospreay’s been staring at the logo on the belt. Fans around the world just think it’s a cute little lion head, one synonymous with NJPW. But for Ospreay, it is a prophecy! “For 50 years, NJPW has been looking for that lion. And here I am! I am that lion! I have been waiting my whole career to main even at WrestleKingdom and it is finally going to happen!” It doesn’t matter if it’s Takagi or Okada, because Ospreay is finally fulfilling his destiny!

Best of luck to Takagi and Okada, they’re going to need it. Then the world will see there is only ONE IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. “And his name is Will Ospreay.” Ospreay’s message ends and the lights come back up. Takagi is annoyed but Okada gets the mic first. “Takagi, you saw that, right? Ospreay, I heard you faced the best, but there’s no one around better than us.” Takagi gives a thumbs up in agreement. “Everyone’s a nobody compared to us. Takagi, on January 4th, let’s show the world what a battle between the IWGP World Heavyweight and G1 Champions can be.” Fans cheer for that one.

Okada continues to say, “We guarantee a hot fight for you all on January 4th. And on January 5th, I will go on to face Ospreay. Let me say this to you, Takagi. You’ve put in a lot of work over the last year, but you can’t carry NJPW into its 50th Anniversary. A wrestler with one hot year can’t carry NJPW for the next 50 years. Only I can carry NJPW into the next 50 years, into the next 100 years, and beyond!” Takagi gets a bit annoyed again but fans rally. “But now, I’ll let the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, Takagi, talk.” Okada drops the mic and takes his exit so Takagi can close this out.

“Hold on a second. I don’t need the big talk anymore. On January 4th, bring me the serious Okada, the strongest Okada. That’s the guy I wanna crush! And one more thing. Nobody’s making it rain in the Tokyo Dome. Money isn’t falling. Okada’s tears will!” Fans rally behind that one! Takagi continues to say, “That damned Ospreay ruined the atmosphere again. But it’s down to me to end the year. A lot happened this year, in the world and here in NJPW. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for all your support through everything. I’ve gone through a lot myself. I took the title in June, and then caught COVID in August. Then straight back to a title match. And managed to keep this belt for the year.

“One more one more thing. I’m the Tokyo Sports 2021 MVP!” Fans applaud but he asks they be a little louder. They do get louder and he thanks them for that. “Ospreay and Okada both called me interim? That ticks me off. I need to crush them both to prove a point! January 4 may come next year, but it’ll be the culmination of this year for me! No need for fakes, no need for retired belts. Just the best fighting for this belt! On January 4th and 5th, the Rampage Dragon will soar in the Tokyo Dome!” Fans cheer the current IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, but can he survive WrestleKingdom 16’s first two nights to be the UNDENIABLE best wrestler in NJPW?

My Thoughts:

A great event from NJPW on Christmas Eve, especially as a go-home to the big WrestleKingdom events they have planned this time around. That opening Triple Threat was very good, and ELP winning would make me think the cutest Tag Team actually take the loss in the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team title Triple Threat. I feel like the champions will retain, as Rocky Romero has been busy going back and forth between Japan and the USA, so he and Taguchi won’t be able to properly defend the titles. I figured the United Empire would win, I almost skipped that match, but I did like seeing the Empire calling out LIJ throughout.

The next Six Man Tag was also great, as it helped build Tanahashi VS Kenta. Them going No Disqualifications really opens things up, as it’s not really something NJPW does that often, so I bet these guys come up with some really fun stuff. Who wins could go either way, but Kenta’s been the one going between Japan and the USA, maybe he retains so he can keep things going on NJPW Strong, give some guys over there a title shot. And then I just loved the KOPW match. It was great comedy, especially with the countdown having an actual noise. Yano retaining was a bit of a surprise, but him going back to back to set the pace for this trophy is a great nod to Yano’s comedy genius.

The 8 Man Tag was very good, and given all that’s going on for the first two nights of WK16, Chaos winning makes sense. The math means Sho probably wins against Yoh to also avenge his BOSJ loss, and I think House of Torture keeps the NEVER Openweight Six Man titles. Ishii VS Evil could go either way, but many times there have been NEVER Openweight Double Champions, and Evil could be the next one. Goto-Hashi might have a good chance at those IWGP Heavyweight Tag titles after Suzuki-Gun stood tall against LIJ, which was also a great match. Hiromu VS Desperado still feels like it could go either way, but it’d be pretty big if Hiromu won the title right after winning BOSJ.

And then the main event was very good, a step up from the last time I saw this one. Chaos winning hear gives Eagles momentum so he and Tiger can retain their tag titles, but there’s a good chance Takagi defeats Okada on night one. I figured Ospreay was returning for WK16 to then have this “undisputed” IWGP World Heavyweight Champion story, Takagi VS Ospreay could go either way. Either way, WK16 is going to be huge, fitting of NJPW’s 50th year.

My Score: 8.4/10