Who will take the KOPW 2022 trophy into WrestleKingdom 17?

As NJPW prepares for WrestleKingdom 17, TAKATaichi puts on an extra special special event to celebrate the company’s 50th anniversary!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• 8 Man Tag: Ren Ayabe, Akira Jumonji, Eagle Mask & Fire Katsumi VS Yoshitatsu, Genta Yubari, Ichiha, Ryuya Takekura; Ayabe, Jumonji, Eagle Mask & Katsumi win.
• Six Woman Tag: Misa Kagura, Yuu Yamagata & Sumika Yanagawa VS Hisoka, Rhythm & Aoi; Kagura, Yamagata & Yanagawa win.
• Tomoka Inaba VS Suzu Suzuki; Inaba wins.
• Minoru Suzuki & DOUKI VS Tomoaki Honma & Jun Kasai; Suzuki & Douki win.
• El Desperado & Lance Archer VS Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Po; Desperado & Archer win.
• Best 2 out of 3 Falls Million Yen Match: Taka Michinoku VS Hiromu Takahashi; Hiromu wins the match, no one wins ¥1,000,000.
• KOPW 2022 Takagi Style Last Man Standing Lumberjack Match: Shingo Takagi VS Taichi; Takagi wins and is THE Mr. KOPW 2022.

PLAY BY PLAY

Best 2 out of 3 Falls Million Yen Match: Taka Michinoku VS Hiromu Takahashi!

The Blue Playmaker and the Ticking Timebomb have really raised the stakes on this one! And if you survive the Michinoku Driver or “Unnamed” Hiromu-Chan Roll, you get a guaranteed ONE MILLION YEN! Who hits the jackpot just in time for Christmas?

Both men brings their fat stacks to the ring, and the referee makes sure both men brought the proper amount. Hiromu wants the ref to be careful not to lose any of it! The money is entrusted to a NJPW official but Hiromu is even suspicious of him. The bell rings and fans rally up as the two circle. Taka has them calm down, and he offers a handshake to Hiromu. Hiromu doesn’t trust that, either! They circle, Taka and the ref shake hands. Fans rally for “HI-RO-MU!” and Taka offers the handshake again. Hiromu asks if he can trust Taka and fans say yes. Hiromu is still very skeptical, but they circle again as fans rally up.

Taka still offers the handshake, Hiromu wants everyone to know he is trusting their judgment. Hiromu shakes Taka’s hand, and then Taka pokes Hiromu in the eyes! Roll-up, TWO! Backslide, TWO! Hiromu blocks the finger poke! But Taka kicks the leg out! Oklahoma Roll, TWO!! Hiromu escapes out of the ring and is furious with the fans! Fans applaud as Hiromu goes around the ring blaming them for falling for Taka’s tricks. Taka offers Hiromu a chance to get in the ring and fans all chant for “HI-RO-MU! HI-RO-MU!” Hiromu says no, he’s not falling for another trick. Hiromu gets himself in, he spins Taka, and he cradles! TWO, Taka has it, TWO!

Hiromu has it, TWO! Taka has it, TWO! Hiromu, Taka, they’re in a ROLLING CRADLE! They go around and around, Hiromu ends up on top, TWO!! Taka has it again, TWO!!! Hiromu escapes, and he blocks the eye poke to make Taka poke himself in the eye! Pump handle, UNNAMED HIROMU-CHAN ROLL!! Hiromu scores!!

Hiromu: 1; Taka: 0 (Hiromu wins Taka’s ¥1,000,000)

Ka-ching! The Timebomb just cashed in! Taka is upset, but he has a chance to win it back with the second fall! Hiromu rallies up the fans and Taka catches his breath. Hiromu wants more, but Taka CLUBS him down! The second round starts as Taka kicks Hiromu out of the ring! Taka whips Hiromu hard into railing! Hiromu writhes and flounders away but Taka pursues. Taka drags Hiromu up, wrenches the arm, and whips him hard into more railing! Hiromu bounces off and flounders towards the entryway. Taka CHOKES him, and digs his knuckles into Hiromu’s face! The ref counts and Taka lets off at 4.

Fans rally up but Taka digs his knees into Hiromu’s neck! The ref reprimands, Taka lets off and Taka drags Hiromu up. Taka CHOKES Hiromu right in front of the timekeeper! Hiromu grabs for the money he won but the ref keeps the stacks away. Taka lets off the choking to put Hiromu in the ring. Taka stomps away on Hiromu, drags him up, and knees low. Taka wrenches and whips Hiromu corner to corner, then runs in for a SHINING WIZARD! Fans fire up as Taka snapmares Hiromu and covers. TWO, but Taka sits Hiromu up for a SHINING WIZARD! Cover, TWO! Taka has a headscissor hold!

Hiromu endures while fans rally, and Taka pulls on one of Hiromu’s arms! KIMURA HEADSCISSOR COMBO! Hiromu endures more, flails around, kicks around, and gets the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, fans cheer, but Taka doesn’t let go until 4. Hiromu bails out again but Taka pursues. Taka kicks Hiromu down, then wraps the bad arm around the post! The ref reprimand and counts, Taka YANKS the arm! Taka then wraps the bad arm around the railing! Hiromu fights but Taka pokes him in the eye! Then Taka BOOTS the railing to jam the arm! Hiromu flops down and Taka leaves him behind in the ring.

Taka wants the ring count and it begins, but fans rally up for Hiromu. Hiromu sits up at 4 of 20, shakes out his arm as he stands, and he takes a moment. The count is 12 of 20, Hiromu slides in at 14, and Taka stomps Hiromu down! Taka throws a knee, then whips Hiromu to ropes. Hiromu ducks ‘n ‘dodges to RAN- NO, Taka shoves Hiromu down to get JUST FACELOCK! Hiromu endures, crawls, reaches out, but Taka shifts and rolls Hiromu away from the ropes! But Hiromu rolls Taka up, TWO! JUST FACELOCK! Taka pulls back on the hold but Hiromu fights all the same! Hiromu crawls his way over, reaches out, but Taka CLUBS away on him!

Taka pulls way back on the lock! Hiromu reaches out, Taka grabs that arm and shifts around, OG KILLER!! Hiromu endures and flails with the other arm, to get the ROPEBREAK! Taka lets go but he drags Hiromu back up. Scoop and- NO, Hiromu slips out to UPPERCUT! Hiromu runs, Taka redirects and BOOTS Hiromu down! Fans fire up, Taka aims from a corner as he tunes up the band! Hiromu rises, Taka rushes in, but into a kick! Taka still ROLLING SOBATS, then SUPERKICKS! Cover, TWO!! Hiromu survives but Taka vows to end this! Taka drags Hiromu up, scoops and- NO, Hiromu slips free again!

Hiromu pump handles but Taka pokes Hiromu’s eyes! Taka wrenches, pump handles, and STEALS the Unnamed Hiromu Roll!! Cover, TWO!?!? Hiromu escapes the “Michinoku Roll” with nanoseconds to spare! The loophole keeps Hiromu from losing a million. Taka scoops, MICHINOKU DRIVER!!! Cover, TWO!?!?!? Hiromu survives Taka’s best shot?!? Taka doesn’t get his million back!! Taka is furious and argues with the ref! The ref says that was a fair count, so Taka says he’ll just cash-in this time! But Hiromu wrenches and pump handles! But Taka rolls through! Taka swings but Hiromu blocks the eye poke! But then Taka blocks the self-poke! Fans fire up as the two fight for control!

Taka starts to over power Hiromu! Hiromu can barely hold Taka back, so Hiromu pokes Taka’s eyes himself! Pump handle, Hiromu-chan Roll!!! TWO!?!?! Taka gets his million back!!

(Taka wins back ¥1,000,000)

Hiromu can’t believe it! He’s freaking out from losing what he won! SUPERKICK!! Taka goes down, but Hiromu drags him back up. Dragon sleeper, suplex, TIMEBOMB MKII!!! Cover, Hiromu wins!

Winner: Hiromu Takahashi, 2-0 (net gain: ¥0)

Hiromu wins the match, but he only gets back the million he put up as the ante. Taka gets back his million, so at least he didn’t lose more than a match. Hiromu offers a handshake to Taka to show no hard feelings. Taka accepts, but then Hiromu says he was asking for the million. Taka wants Hiromu’s million. Well, that’s not happening. The two leave it at this. Will Hiromu use this momentum going into his IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Fatal 4 Way to cash in on some gold?

KOPW 2022 Takagi Style Last Man Standing Lumberjack Match: Shingo Takagi VS Taichi!

The Rampaging Dragon and Holy Emperor went back and forth over this trophy before, and then reignited their rivalry during the World Tag League X Super Jr. Tag League tour! Repeated count outs and draws got on both men’s nerves, so in the end, we have a match where no one can escape and quick pins won’t finish it! You gotta pin then keep your opponent down for ten! Who will be the Last Man Standing to be Mr. KOPW 2022?

Naturally among the Lumberjacks is Suzuki-Gun’s Douki. The introductions are made, the trophy is raised, and we have our huge finale for TAKATaichi 50!

The bell rings, fans cheer and rally up as the two stare down. Taichi and Takagi circle, neither in any rush. The fans seem to be on Taichi’s side, and he and Takagi tie up. Taichi powers Takagi to ropes, the ref calls the break, and Taichi pats Takagi on the shoulder as he lets off cleanly. Takagi keeps cool as he and Taichi reset. Hiromu returns to be one of Takagi’s lumberjacks! Takagi and Taichi tie up again, Takagi puts Taichi on ropes now, and the ref counts the break. Takagi lets off slowly but Taichi pulls hair! The ref reprimands, Taichi kicks at Takagi and Takagi hits back! They grapple and Taichi pulls hair! Takagi pulls hair back!

The ref reprimands, both men let off the other and they argue. Fans fire up as the two RAM shoulders! And again! Takagi runs, RAMS Taichi, but Taichi BOOTS Takagi down! Takagi’s right up to run Taichi over! Taichi bails out, the Young Lion Lumberjacks hustle him back in! Fans cheer but Taichi is upset! Taichi kicks Takagi and throws him out! Douki attacks! But he doesn’t get more than a kick as the Young Lions throw Takagi back in the ring. Takagi is annoyed at Douki so Hiromu gets at him. Takagi and Taichi grapple, but Taichi is CHOKING Takagi! Taichi uses that to drag Takagi out with him!

The Young Lions hurry but Douki tries to attack again. Hiromu goes after Douki so now they’re brawling! The Young Lions get Takagi and Taichi in the ring, and Douki throws someone’s water at Hiromu! Takagi runs at Taichi but Taichi dumps him out! Young Lions hurry to get Takagi in before Douki can attack! Taichi runs at Takagi, but into a Ground Cobra Twist! Cover, THREE! And now the ten count starts! Taichi is all confused, but this is how a Takagi Style Last Man Standing Match happens! Taichi stands at 8 of 10, but runs into an ELBOW! JAB! YUKON LARIAT! Fans fire up as Taichi is down again!

Fans fire up, Takagi steps on Taichi, then drops an elbow! And another elbow! And then a SENTON! Takagi stands on Taichi at the ropes, but the ref counts. Takagi lets off at 4 to stomp away on Taichi! The ref counts again, and Takagi lets off again. Takagi kicks Taichi out, the Young Lions hurry, and Douki is upset they weren’t faster about it. Takagi drags Taichi up, snapmares and then jumps for a BIG knee drop! Cover, TWO! Takagi tests the fans and they seem louder for Taichi than for him. Takagi drags Taichi up but Taichi kicks at him. Takagi eggs him on, Taichi gives more kicks, then stands.

Takagi KNEES Taichi, KNEES him against ropes, then whip Taichi to ropes. Takagi KNEES Taichi against the ropes to then run and run Taichi over! Fans fire up, Takagi brings Taichi back up. Takagi suplexes high and hard! Takagi then rains down elbows into Taichi’s shoulder! And then SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Taichi is still in this but Takagi fires up the fans! “There’s more to come! OI! OI! OI!” Fans clap along with “OI! OI! OI!” and Takagi nods. Takagi drags Taichi up, but Taichi fights the saido with elbows! Taichi staggers away but Takagi stands up. Taichi kicks low, CHOPS Takagi, then CHOPS again!

Takagi ROCKS Taichi with a forearm! Fans rally for Taichi and Takagi pie faces him. Taichi shoves, kicks, and CHOPS! Takagi gets in Taichi’s face! They pie face and shove, then they CHOKE each other! The ref counts, both men let off, and then they clinch! Taichi wants the waistband! Taichi throws Takagi out of the ring! The Young Lions gets him right back in, into GEDO CLUTCH! THREE!! And then the ten count begins! Taichi holds onto the hold to keep Takagi down!! Takagi kicks and flails but he’s stuck! Takagi gives one more strock kick and he’s out at 6 of 10! Takagi is upset about that, but he turns around into an AX BOMBER!

Fans fire up and Taichi gets them to get louder! And then OFF COME THE PANTS! Taichi aims at Takagi from the corner as he powers out. But Takagi blocks the superkick! Takagi CLUBS the bad leg, ROCKS Taichi with a forearm, but Taichi just sneers. Taichi KICKS Takagi’s leg, Takagi throws a forearm! Taichi gives another KICK, Takagi CHOPS! Fans rally up as Taichi KICKS and Takagi ROCKS! Taichi KICKS, Takagi CHOPS! KICK! ROCK! KICK! CHOP! Takagi sticks to forearms but then he JABS, JABS, and CHOPS! Taichi wrenches and HEEL KICKS! Fans fire up as Takagi DOUBLE CHOPS!

Taichi SOBATS! Taichi runs, but into a clothesline! Takagi runs, into a choke grip! CHOKE SLAM!! But Takagi’s right up!? SAIDO!! Taichi is right up!! DANGEROUS SAIDO!! Fans fire up as Takagi staggers, rebounds, and PUMPING BOMBERS!! But Takagi hits Taichi so hard that he falls out of the ring! And then Taichi flops out the other side! The Young Lions on all sides of the ring hurry to get each man back in the ring! Fans rally up as both men stir. Hiromu coaches Takagi, Douki coaches Taichi, and the fans are still leaning towards Taichi. Takagi goes to one corner, Taichi goes to the other.

Takagi and Taichi stand, they shout at each other, and then run in to DOUBLE BOMBER!! Neither man falls, and fans fire up more! DOUBLE BOMBERS collide again! They both stay standing, and they DOUBLE BOMBER again! Taichi drops to a knee! Takagi fires up as he runs, but into a clinch! They fight for control, Takagi shifts his weight to throw Taichi! Taichi springs up, rushes in, but into a half nelson and pump handle! MADE IN JAPAN!! Cover, TWO!?! Takagi hurries to haul Taichi back up, SNAP MADE IN JAPAN!! THREE!! And now the real count begins! Douki, Miho and even Desperado on commentary shout for Taichi to get up!

The count rises to 5 of 10, then 7! Taichi sits up at 8, drags himself with the ropes, and stands at 9!! Fans are thunderous and Taichi is untying the buckle pad! Takagi runs in, and he clotheslines Taichi against the corner! Takagi keeps moving, but Taichi falls over! Takagi has to stop, and he takes a moment to catch his breath. Fans rally up for Taichi but Takagi decides to do some buckle pad checking. The Young Lions untie it for him! Takagi kicks Taichi around. Takagi eggs Taichi on, he stands Taichi up, and Taichi CHOPS! Takagi shakes his head so Taichi CHOPS again! And CHOPS again! Takagi fires off boxing elbows!

Takagi winds up to ROCK Taichi!! Taichi sets up, YOKOZUNA ELBOW!! Cover, TWO!!! Takagi survives that shot and Taichi is stunned! Taichi roars and fans fire up with him! Taichi reels Takagi in but Takagi fights the bomb lift! Taichi and Takagi fight for control, but then Taichi fires off Kawada Kicks! Taichi stands Takagi up for even more Kawada Kicks! He KICKS Takagi in the head, but Takagi ENZIGURIS! Fans fire up, Takagi runs in, but Taichi dodges to GAMANGIRI! Taichi BLINDSIDE AX BOMBERS, then DANGEROUS HIGH KICKS!! Fans are thunderous as Taichi drags Takagi up!

Taichi Alabama Lifts, but Takagi fights his way back down! He tucks Taichi’s arms, but Taichi fights the driver! Taichi back drops Takagi away, but Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! YUKON- TENSHO JUJIHOU!! Taichi brings Takagi in, for the LAST RIDE!! High stack cover, THREE!! And now, the standing count begins! The count reaches 5 of 10 but neither man is up! Takagi stirs at 7, drags his way over to ropes at 8, and drags himself up to stand at 9.9!! But Taichi runs in to Alabama Lift! BLACK- NO, Takagi slips off to backslide! TWO, but Takagi hits a SLIDING FOREARM!! Both men are down again and fans fire up. Takagi drags himself to a corner as fans rally back up.

Takagi headbutts the blue buckle pad and then shouts, “OI! OI! OI!” Fans clap along, Takagi staggers over to Taichi and drags him up. Pump handle, torture rack, but Taichi fights free! Choke grip, and Taichi shoves Takagi into the bare buckles! Then he SLAM DUCKS Takagi on them!! Takagi sputters, Taichi climbs the corner! Taichi stands Takagi up again, brings him up to the top to join him, and choke grips! But Takagi fights the lift! Fans are thunderous, Takagi throws down chops! Taichi HEAD CHOPS Takagi, but Takagi throws back elbows! Takagi throws HEADBUTT after HEADBUTT! Takagi shifts position but Taichi throws elbows!

Takagi still fireman’s carries Taichi and tucks the arm!! STAY DREAM!!! But Takagi can’t make the cover from that crash landing!! Fans rally, Takagi crawls his way over but Taichi rolls to his stomach. Takagi drags Taichi up, but Taichi Alabama Lifts! BLACK MEPHISTO!! DOUBLE COVER!? DOUBLE THREE!!! Now the standing count is on both men!! Fans are thunderous and everyone ringside is cheering them on! Taichi and Takagi both grab at the ref, and they end up bringing him down! They use each other to stand! Takagi says he’s not done! He gives short headbutts, then a POINT-BLANK BOMBER!

Taichi paces around and he SHORT-ARM BOMBERS! Fans fire up, Takagi BOMBERS! Taichi staggers, and BOMBERS! Both men are still standing, so Takagi BOMBERS! Taichi shakes his head and BOMBERS! Takagi wobbles and wavers, but he BOMBERS! Taichi grits his teeth, and he BOMBERS again! Takagi staggers back against the ropes! Takagi comes back to BOMBER!! Taichi wobbles, Takagi stands him up to BOMBER! And BOMBER! Taichi staggers away to ropes, but he scowls as he comes back. Taichi KICKS Takagi in the chest! Takagi BOMBERS! Fans fire up more and more as Taichi comes back again!

Takagi eggs Taichi on so Taichi KICKS! Takagi staggers to ropes, but he comes back again. Fans are thunderous for Taichi but Takagi BOMBERS! Taichi roars to stay standing, and he KICKS Takagi down!! Taichi sits Takagi up again, to KICK! But Takagi just glares at him defiantly! Takagi blocks a kick, JABS, HEADBUTTS, and PUMP- NO! Taichi clinches!! They fight for control, and Taichi throws Takagi! Takagi runs back in, but Taichi dodges to DROPKICK!! Off comes the armband, DANGEROUS SAIDO!! Bridging cover, THRE!! Takagi is down and the standing count begins! Takagi’s down past 5 of 10! Hiromu shouts but we’re at 8! Takagi staggers up at 9.999!!!

Taichi DECKS Takagi with the Yokozuna Elbow!! Taichi roars and vows to end this! Taichi drags Takagi up, Alabama Lifts, but Takagi fights again! Tuck and lift, TAKAGI TOMBSTONE!! Cover, TWO!?!? Taichi survives but Takagi is too tired to be upset! The fans are still thunderous and they rally back up. Taichi and Takagi stir as Douki and Hiromu coach them up. They each go to corners, Takagi runs in, but into a kick! ENZIGURI! Takagi wobbles around, Taichi hurries back to his feet! Taichi GAMAN- LARIAT! Takagi blocks the kick with a clothesline! Takagi runs, into a ROUNDHOUSE!! Taichi runs, but is sent into bare buckles!

BLINDSIDE PUMPING BOMBER! Takagi runs for a HUGE PUMPING BOMBER!!! Fans are electric as Takagi drags Taichi back up! Pump handle, torture rack, LAST OF THE DRAGONS!!! Cover, THREE!!! And once again, Taichi is under the standing count! The fans are thunderous as they implore Taichi to stand! The count is 6, Taichi flounders to ropes at 8, drags himself up but FALLS again!! TAKAGI WINS!!

Winner: Shingo Takagi (THE Mr. KOPW 2022)

The Holy Emperor could not slay The Rampaging Dragon! And so, the year will end for the KOPW Division, with Shingo Takagi on top! He is presented with a much bigger trophy to commemorate finishing out 2022 as KOPW, and he even gets a holiday bonus from NJPW. Takagi takes the mic to say, “Taichi. Taichi… You’re as good as they come.” He thought he was done for quite a few times. Taichi probably didn’t like the rules, thought they were hard to follow, but how about the fans? The fans applaud, they really liked this match.

Takagi says that while he started 2022 in WrestleKingdom 16’s main event, this match, this win, somehow feels heavier than that win. Of course, he says that now because he doesn’t have a WK match this year. Takagi also admits that he was annoyed being “dragged” into the KOPW Division, by Taichi, but now that it’s done, thanks to KOPW, or rather, thanks to Taichi, it was a good year. Taichi made Takagi grow, so Takagi thanks Taichi for that. Fans applaud that sign of respect. Takagi continues to say that whether it’s a NJPW ring, in the Tokyo Dome, or here at Yoyogi Gymnasium, “as long as we have a hot match, that’s all that matters!” Fans cheer for that, too.

Takagi says that this was his first Yoyogi event, he won the main event, that means he gets the mic, and that’s satisfying. But he knows everyone wants to hear from Taichi. Fans applaud, and Takagi says that this is the last TAKATaichi, and the last few days of Suzuki-Gun. “I’ll leave it to you then.” Fans applaud more as Takagi drops the mic in front of Taichi. Taka returns to also take part in this. Taka says, “When we started these TAKATaichi events nine years ago, we could only get a couple hundred people into places like the Shinjuku FACE, Shinkiba, Chiba Blue Field. Humble beginnings. Just a couple guppies in the Junior Heavyweight Division.

“But check it out now, Taichi. Look at all these people showing up to watch our hot matches. We’ve done a lot, all in dramatic fashion. This is proof that we had the right idea behind TAKATaichi.” Fans applaud that. Taka then sits with Taichi as he continues. “Only me and Taichi could have done this. And now we’ve done it all. I lost today. So did Taichi. But I’m pretty damn happy with how all this turned out. I’ve only made it these past nine years because of you, Taichi. Thank you.” Fans applaud that heartfelt speech from Taka as he bows to Taichi. Fans cheer and rally for Taichi, and he finally pushes himself up off the mat.

Taka hands over the mic, and Taichi sits up against the ropes to speak. “Takagi… Takagi… For coming out here today, for dealing with me all year, thanks. I made no mistake in choosing you. Today, again, you didn’t hold back. Thank you very much.” Fans applaud the sign of respect back to the Dragon. Taichi does his best to stand up as he continues with, “In the end, I’m left with nothing. And Suzuki-Gun will be no more. Now there’s no one left to fight alongside. No one to give me a hand.” Taichi thanks Taka for his years of friendship, he truly appreciates it. Fans applaud that as Taichi sits back down again.

“It’s time for us to end this, Taka. For everything you’ve done for me, since way back then, thank you. You took care of me.” Fans applaud again, and then Taichi looks to Miho. “There is no need for you to stand next to such a pathetic man anymore. I can no longer bring you to stages like this one. Miho, you’ve been good to me for so long. Thank you.” Fans applaud but Miho cries bittersweet tears. Taichi looks to commentary to thank El Desperado, and he looks to ringside to thank Douki. And he also thanks Lance Archer, Zack Sabre Jr, and “Boss” Suzuki. Then he asks Taka to bail him out, he’s at a loss for words and isn’t sure what he’s saying.

Fans cheer while Taichi rests on the mat and Taka takes the mic again. Taka asks Douki and Desperado to join them in the ring. He also asks “Boss” Suzuki and Lance Archer to come back out. Fans applaud and Miho wipes her eyes before Suzuki-Gun is all together. Taichi then gets himself to stand back up, but Suzuki takes the mic first. “I could close this the Suzuki-Gun way, but this is TAKATaichi, so you close it.” Fans applaud this show of respect from the leader to his lieutenant. Taichi takes the mic, fans cheer him on and Miho manages to smile a bit.

Taichi says, “When Suzuki-Gun started, we were slandered. Labeled a bunch of morons up to no good. It only got worse, but Taka and I had the bright idea to start this thing. I never thought we’d have such a grand stage, with so many people watching. And we both lost today. That’s so us, isn’t it? A couple o’ bums to the end. But even so, we made it this far. We’re scum, idiots and low-lifes, right? So, where do we stand? We know Suzuki-Gun is on top, ichiban, but how about us? Niiban? <Number two?>”

Taichi asks the fans, “Where do we stand?!” Fans shout but it’s hard to say what. Taichi asks what number, and he says, “For today, WE’LL be number one!” Fans like the sound of that! Taichi says that everyone at TAKATaichi thank them all very much. “TAKATaichi… ICHIBAN!” And with that emotional farewell, the book closes on TAKATaichi events. Suzuki-Gun will go until the end of the year, will they go out as number one?

My Thoughts:

Really fun stuff from this event, even though I did skip a lot. From what I saw, Suzuki, Douki, Honma and Kasai went hard in that tag match. Like, they were all bloody by the end as if they were in AEW or something. The Million Yen Match’s rules were a little hard to keep track of, but I should’ve figured that no one would leave with more money than they came in with.

The Last Man Standing Lumberjack Match was an interesting combination of rules, but I think it worked out really well here. The fans loved Taichi but I figured Takagi would retain. It would be a bit of a letdown for Takagi to lose right at the end but also for Taichi to really only be Mr. KOPW 2022 for today. The New Japan Ranbo will start the cycle all over again at WrestleKingdom, who knows if either Takagi or Taichi get in on that, let alone win it. I would love to see that, though, given the great stipulations we’ve seen to make this a somewhat more serious division.

But of course, a very emotional ending from the hosts of these events. Them striking out on their own to do these for nine years, that in itself is pretty cool stuff. Not something you’d see WWE letting their people do, at least. Between this and the Road to Tokyo Dome show on the 23rd, this is the last time Suzuki-Gun will be together as a faction, and it’s a somewhat sad moment, even with them almost always playing the Heels. Taichi also saying Miho doesn’t have to be his valet anymore was probably the most surprising thing. I can’t imagine what comes from that move, other than maybe Miho telling Taichi that she doesn’t care about his wins or losses, just that they’re a duo.

My Score: 8.6/10