NJPW is racing towards the New Year!

Before WrestleKingdom, Kazuchika Okada and his dream trio defend their NEVER Openweight Six Man titles against The United Empire! Will the Rainmaker be ready for the American Dragon?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Masked Horse & Masked Boltin VS Tiger Mask & Toru Yano; Horse & Boltin win.
• Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita VS Yuto Nakashima & Oskar Leube; ZSJ & Fujita win.
• Six Man Tag: Catch 2/2 & Callum Newman VS Bullet Club; Catch 2/2 & Newman win.
• Six Man Tag: Shota Umino, Master Wato & Tomoaki Honma VS The House of Torture; The House of Torture wins.
• El Desperado & Satoshi Kojima VS Hiromu Takahashi & Shingo Takagi; Hiromu & Takagi win.
• Six Man Tag: Just5Guys VS Los Ingobernables de Japon; Just5Guys win.
• KOPW Championship Whiskey Bottle Ladder Match: Taichi VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Taichi wins and is Mr. KOPW 2023.
• NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships: Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomohiro Ishii VS Great-O-Khan, Henare & Jeff Cobb; Okada, Tanahashi & Ishii win and retain the titles.

PLAY BY PLAY

KOPW Championship Whiskey Bottle Ladder Match: Taichi VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru!

In a landside victory at the polls, the Holy Emperor’s idea has the Heel Master’s favorite drink/weapon up in the air. The man who climbs up and brings down the bottle gets to use the bottle and all the whiskey inside! Will Taichi make this a landside victory in the ring? Or will nothing keep Uncle Nobu away from his liquid courage?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised but the bottle is high above, and we see who toasts their victory at the end of the night!

But wait, before the bell, Kanemaru gets the mic to talk to Taichi. He doesn’t quite get the rules. He has to climb up to get the bottle to use it, right? Yes, and only the person that gets the bottle can use it. The bell rings and Kanemaru kicks Taichi, tosses him out, then pursues to whip him into railing! Kanemaru then hurries to fetch the ladder, put it in, and he hurries to set it up! Kanemaru climbs but Tatichi CLUBS him down! Taichi tosses Kanemaru out now, and uses the ladder for himself! But Kanemaru returns to CLUB him down! Kanemaru tosses Taichi back out, goes out after him, and whips him, only for Taichi to reverse!

Kanemaru uses the post to swing around and get back in! Taichi hurries in to CLUB Kanemaru, but Kanemaru claws Taichi’s face! The ref reprimands, Kanemaru lets off and shoves Taichi into the ladder! Kanemaru SMACKS Taichi off the ladder, then does it again! Taichi staggers away, Kanemaru folds up the ladder, and Kanemaru aims. Kanemaru RAMS Taichi down with the ladder! Fans are torn but the ref checks Taichi. Taichi clutches his face, and Kanemaru unties a buckle pad! Kanemaru clears a white corner but the fans rally with “Let’s Go, Taichi!” Kanemaru puts a ladder in the other white corner, then gets Taichi up.

Taichi throws hands, Kanemaru rakes eyes! Kanemaru whips and sends Taichi into buckle pads! Taichi writhes, Kanemaru stomps him down. Kanemaru drags Taichi up, and whips him at the ladder! Taichi stops himself, baits Kanemaru in, but Kanemaru blocks the boot to SLAM it into the ladder! Fans boo while Taichi clutches his leg, but Kanemaru just waits a moment. Kanemaru then drags Taichi to the apron to SLAM the leg on the edge! Kanemaru steps back in while Taichi writhes, and Kanemaru stomps Taichi down. Kanemaru stomps Taichi more, then grabs the ladder. Kanemaru waits on Taichi but the ref has him hold on.

The fans rally for Taichi, the ref checks on Taichi but Taichi refuses to quit. So Kanemaru runs in at the corner, but Taichi KICKS the ladder in time! Taichi and Kanemaru tug-o-war with the ladder, or rather push-o-war, and Taichi RAMS Kanemaru into a corner! Fans fire up as Taichi puts the ladder down, then fetches a second one. Taichi stands one ladder up to then SHOVE into Kanemaru! Taichi runs up to BOOT the ladder into Kanemaru! Taichi then takes that second ladder, stands it up, and then climbs! But Kanemaru gets free of the corner, to RAM Taichi’s bad leg with the ladder!! Taichi falls and clutches the knee!

The ref checks Taichi while fans rally for him, but Kanemaru climbs! Kanemaru grabs at the little bag the bottle is in, and he pulls out the bottle!! Now Kanemaru can use it! He takes a swig to verify it’s fresh, then he SPITS whiskey in Taichi’s face! And then FLYING BOTTLE- NO, Taichi body shots Kanemaru out of the air! The bottle tumbles away, Taichi goes outside and hobbles. Taichi grabs the bottle, hobbles into the ring, but Kanemaru reminds the ref that ONLY Kanemaru can legally use the bottle! Taichi says fine, but then Kanemaru dropkicks his legs out! Kanemaru takes the bottle from the ref to then splash whiskey in Taichi’s face!

Taichi tumbles out of the ring, Kanemaru goes out after him, and commentary confirms from the smell, that ain’t sports drink. Kanemaru RAMS Taichi into railing, then trips him to pull at the legs! Kanemaru SMASHES the leg on the floor! Taichi writhes, fans rally, but Kanemaru goes back to get his bottle. Kanemaru waits on Taichi, the ref checks, and Kanemaru gets impatient. Taichi crawls in, Kanemaru drags him up and whips. Then Kanemaru dropkicks the legs out! Kanemaru grabs the bad leg to step over, HALF CRAB! Taichi endures, the fans rally, and Taichi snarls as he reaches around.

Taichi moves over, reaches out, ROPEBREAK! Kanemaru lets go, but he paces around. Kanemaru stomps Taichi, eggs him on, then stomps him more. Taichi gets mad, and glares up at Kanemaru even as Kanemaru stomps him more. Kanemaru gives mocking kicks but Taichi stands to CHOP! And KICK! Kanemaru rakes eyes! Kanemaru whips but Taichi reverses to DANGEROUS HOOK KICK! Both men fall given Taichi’s bad leg, and Kanemaru crawls back towards his bottle. Taichi crawls to the red corner, but Kanemaru runs in. Taichi avoids the dropkick, Kanemaru BOOTS but Taichi ENZIGURIS Kanemaru down!

Fans fire up while Taichi huffs and puffs and pushes back up. Taichi stands, the fans rally, and OFF COME THE PANTS! Taichi stands between Kanemaru and the bottle, then BUZZ- NO, Kanemaru blocks the kick to dropkick the bad leg! Taichi falls over, Kanemaru drags him around, then steps through to FIGURE FOUR! Wait, Taichi holds off the locking leg! Kanemaru grabs his bottle, pulls on the bad leg, but Taichi reaches for ropes! Kanemaru takes another swig! And he SPITS it in Taichi’s face again! Taichi falls back, flailing from burning eyes and burning knee joints! Taichi powers up, reaches out, and has the ROPEBREAK!

The ref counts, Kanemaru lets off in frustration, but he then talks trash on Taichi. Kanemaru drags Taichi up, suplexes, but Taichi fights it! Taichi suplexes but Kanemaru fights it! They fight for suplex control, and Taichi powers up! But Kanemaru slips free, another dropkick to the leg! Taichi falls and Kanemaru goes back to the bottle. Kanemaru makes Taichi take a drink, like a weird mercy before the end. Kanemaru has the legs and steps through, Taichi SPITS the whiskey in Kanemaru’s face!! Only Kanemaru can use the bottle, but once the whiskey’s out of it, that’s fair game! Fans fire up as Kanemaru now flounders around!

Taichi crawls to a corner while Kanemaru goes to the other. Taichi stands, Kanemaru runs in, but Taichi sends him into bare buckles! And then GAMANGIRI! Fans fire up as Kanemaru flops over! Taichi shakes the bad leg out then stands back up. Taichi again grabs the bottle but the ref reminds him of the rules. Taichi says that doesn’t matter, he wants to hit Kanemaru! The ref warns him not to, that’s a disqualification! Taichi sits Kanemaru up, but throws the bottle away! Fans cheer, and Taichi gets around to DANGEROUS SAIDO!! The fans are fired up with Taichi as he hauls Kanemaru back up, but then the lights go out!!

Fans boo, aisle lights come up, but the ref is down and the House of Torture is here! As if cheating to win against Shota, Wato & Honma wasn’t enough, they gotta help Kanemaru cheat here! Sho & Evil stomp Taichi while Dick Togo puts a ladder in the ring. Dick props that ladder up in the corner, Sho & Evil whip Taichi into it! Dick then stands the ladder up and he climbs. Because now Evil & Sho set Taichi up! SUPER DICK CHOP!! Fans boo as the House puts the ladder away. Kanemaru waves Yujiro & Narita in, and they both have an extra large bottle!! Dick gets a bucket, and they pour the whiskey into it!

Fans boo as Kanemaru drags Taichi over to the bucket! WHISKEY SWIRLEY!! WHISKEY WATERBOARDING!! The fans boo while Taichi sputters and coughs! WHISKEY DROWNING!! But then JUST5GUYS rushes out here! Sanada, Douki, Taka Michinoku & Yuya Uemura go after the House and toss them out! The fans cheer the QUADRUPLE PLANCHA! Kanemaru looks all around, calls for someone to help him, but J5G drags the House away! And Taichi is up to AX BOMBER! Taichi staggers, sputters, the ref is back, and Taichi runs to AX BOMBER!! The fans are thunderous and Taichi vows to end this!

Taichi drags Kanemaru for the SAIDO!! Bridging cover, TWO!! Kanemaru survives, perhaps the bad leg holding Taichi back. But the fans rally up and Taichi roars! Taichi drags Kanemaru up, Alabama Lifts, but Kanemaru sunset flips! TWO! Kanemaru shoves Taichi into bare buckles! Victory roll, TWO! Kanemaru stands Taichi up, Taichi reels him in! But Kanemaru fights the saido and grabs at the ref! LOW BLOW!! Kanemaru gets away with that one, and then the BRAINBUSTER!! Both men are down but Kanemaru crawls to the cover! TWO!!!! Taichi just gets that arm up in time! Kanemaru drags Taichi to a drop zone and gets the ladder.

Kanemaru brings the ladder around, drags Taichi onto it, and then Kanemaru goes up the corner! MOONSAULT onto the ladder! A double-edged move but Kanemaru still covers, TWO?!?!? Taichi survives and the fans fire up again! Kanemaru snarls, grabs the ladder again, and he stands it up. Kanemaru climbs up, and up, and up to about three rungs from the top! Kanemaru aims at Taichi as he stands, to SUPER- ATOMIC DROP!! Taichi turns things around to give Kanemaru a deep impact of his own! Wait, Dick returns and he finishes filling the bucket? The ref tells Dick to back off but Kanemaru crawls his way over.

Kanemaru reaches out for the bucket, brings it over, and then he scoops Taichi, BRITISH FALL! Cover, TWO!! Taichi is still in this but Kanemaru goes back for the bucket! But Taichi KICKS the bucket into Kanemaru! The whiskey goes flying! Taichi CHUCKS the bucket at Dick, then SMACKS Kanemaru with it! Fans fire up again as Taichi staggers around! Taichi focuses, TENSHO JUJIHOU!! And then drags Kanemaru up, Alabama Lift for the BLACK MEPHISTO!!! Cover, TAICHI WINS!!

Winner: Taichi, by pinfall (still KOPW Champion)

Revenge is sweet for Taichi as he uses Kanemaru’s drink of choice against him! And with this, Taichi finishes out the year to go down as Mr. KOPW 2023! He is awarded the trophy to commemorate the moment, his name to be put on the belt’s side plate. But with a new year comes a new reign, will Taichi make it back to this moment again in one year’s time?

NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships: Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomohiro Ishii VS Great-O-Khan, Henare & Jeff Cobb w/ The United Empire!

The American Dragon returns to NJPW at WrestleKingdom 18, but the Rainmaker still has business to handle. Will he, The Ace of the Universe and the Stone Pitbull stay golden to close out 2023? Or will the United Empire conquer the Dream Trio?

The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who takes these titles into the New Year!

The trios sort out, and while Cobb mocks Tanahashi’s jacket opening, Ishii and Henare stare down. Okada has Ishii back down and Tanahashi opens his jacket. The fans cheer the muscles, and finally, we get Okada starting against Cobb. Crowns up for the Empire, and the bell rings. The fans rally behind “O-KA-DA!” as he and Cobb circle. They tie up, are in a deadlock as Okada can’t move Cobb, but then Cobb pushes Okada to ropes. Red Shoes counts, Cobb lets off slowly, but he copies Okada with the fake out and pat on the shoulder. Cobb does his own Rainmaker pose, but Okada shrugs that off.

Okada and Cobb tie up again, but again Cobb doesn’t budge. Cobb powers Okada back again, but Okada turns things around. Okada lets off slowly, but he also fakes Cobb out to pat shoulders. The fans cheer and Cobb says okay, let’s play. “YES! YES! YES!” Cobb copies the American Dragon but then realizes to translate it. “HAI! HAI! HAI!” But Okada kicks low! Okada headlocks, Cobb powers out and they RAM shoulders! Cobb doesn’t budge and fans fire up! Okada runs again, RAMS Cobb, but Cobb still doesn’t budge. Okada says okay, and he dares Cobb to run. Cobb does run, and he runs Okada over!

Cobb keeps moving, Okada drops then hurdles, but Cobb catches him! Pop up to the suplex and TOSS! Fans fire up for the showing of strength! Cobb then drags Okada up, lifts him and hits a BACKBREAKER! Cobb strums Okada as a guitar to mock Tanahashi, then he pushes Okada down. Cobb taunts Tanahashi then fireman’s carries Okada. Okada slips free to shove Cobb into Tanahashi’s dropkick! Ishii runs in to dropkick the other leg! Okada runs Cobb over! Ishii & Tanahashi then BLAST Henare & Khan! Fans fire up and Okada grabs a leg. Okada drops an elbow on the knee, then drops another elbow!

Okada traps the leg in a toehold but Cobb endures. Cobb fights back with a chinlock, Okada pulls on the leg, then he tags in Tanahashi. Tanahashi stomps Cobb’s leg, drags Cobb up to wrench and wrench and wrench the arm, then he reels Tanahashi into the COBRA TWIST! Tanahashi strums Cobb like a guitar, then digs his elbow in. Cobb endures, powers up, but Tanahashi CLUBS him! Tanahashi fires a forearm, bumps Cobb off buckles, then tags in Ishii. Ishii fires forearms on Cobb, but Cobb swings. Ishii dodges and RAMS Cobb, but Ishii staggers back! Ishii RAMS Cobb again, then fires forearms! Ishii whips, Cobb reverses, but Ishii comes back to RAM Cobb!

Fans fire up, Cobb throws a forearm but Ishii hits back! Ishii tries to suplex but Cobb’s too big! Cobb suplexes but Ishii slips free. Cobb elbows Ishii, then short arm LARIATS! And FALLING AX HANDLES! Henare & Khan run in to BLAST Okada & Tanahashi! Henare & Khan keep after them on the outside while Cobb stomps Ishii. Henare sends Okada into railing while Cobb CLUBS away on Ishii. Cobb throat chops Ishii into the corner, then tags in Khan. Khan gives Ishii a Mongolian Chop! And another Mongolian Chop! And then another Mongolian Chop! Fans fire up as Khan hops up, to sit on his throne!

The fans cheer but Red Shoes counts. Khan pulls Ishii’s arms, but hops down at 4. Khan hip tosses Ishii, then covers, TWO! The fans rally up while Khan drags Ishii up. Khan has a facelock and he drags Ishii back. Cobb tags in, they mug Ishii, but Ishii hits Henare! Henare ROCKS Ishii, Cobb kicks Ishii around. Ishii snarls but Cobb slaps Ishii around. Cobb pie faces Ishii, throws hands, btu Ishii stands up. Ishii glares at Cobb as he leans into the shots! The fans fire up as Ishii backs Cobb down like that, only for Cobb to finally ROCK him! Cobb suplexes, but Ishii fights free! Ishii tries but Cobb is still too big to suplex!

Fans fire up as Ishii powers through, he DOES suplex Cobb up and over!! The fans fire up as Cobb and Ishii crawl, hot tag to Tanahashi! Tanahashi dropkicks a leg out, runs, and forearms Cobb down! Tanahashi BLASTS Henare & Khan, then runs back in at Cobb. Cobb boots but Tanahashi blocks it! Cobb wants mercy but he gets a DRAGON SCREW instead! Tanahashi catches Henare in the ropes, says bye and hits a DRAGON SCREW! Henare falls, the fans fire up, and Tanahashi stalks Cobb. Tanahashi drags Cobb up, fires fast hands, then runs. Cobb scoops Tanahashi for the ATHLETIC PLEX! Fans fire up while both men are down!

Cobb crawls, hot tag to Khan! The Dominator gets Tanahashi’s legs for a DEATHLOCK, then pulls! Tanahashi reaches out, but Khan reels him back into a waistlock. Tanahashi fights the lift, elbows free, and avoids the Mongolian Chops to TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Fans fire up while both men are down, and Tanahashi crawls. Hot tag to Okada! Okada storms up to fire forearms! Okada whips, Khan reverses but Okada ducks ‘n’ dodges to ELBOW Khan down! Fans fire up with Okada, he BLASTS Henare! Okada drags Khan back up, whips him to the corner, then runs in to ELBOW! Okada kicks and DDTS! Cover, TWO!

Okada keeps cool and clamps on with the MONEY CLIP! But Henare runs in, so Okada lets Khan go to FLAPJACK the Face of Fury! Okada BLASTS Cobb off the apron, then drags Khan back up. Okada scoops and SLAMS Khan, then goes to the corner. Standard formula as Okada leaps, but Khan avoids the elbow! Okada comes back, Khan BOOTS him, then hits a three point stance. Khan runs in, Okada dodges, then Okada runs, but into a SAYANAGI! Khan DECKS Ishii then stalks Okada. HEAD ‘N’ ARM TRIANGLE! Okada endures but Khan squeezes tight! Khan then SHOVES Okada into Ishii, and follows with a BELLY2BELLY! Cover, TWO!

Okada is still in this and the fans fire up. Khan calls to his team, and both Henare and Cobb step in. Khan ROCKS Okada, he and Cobb whip Okada corner to corner, then Khan runs in to clothesline! Cobb ELBOWS, then Henare KNEES low. Henare then feeds Okada to Khan’s PANCAKE PLEX! Cover, Ishii breaks it! Henare & Khan mug Ishii but Ishii fires off forearms on them and Khan! But Cobb ROCKS Ishii, Khan MONGOLIAN CHOPS, and the Empire coordinates, TRIPLE KICK COMBO! Ishii flops out of the ring and Khan rallies the trio. Cobb & Henare hoist Okada up but Tanahashi CLUBS them down!

Khan gets Tanahashi’s leg, Henare KICKS the other leg out! Then they set Tanahashi up for the GACHIMUCHI MOONSAULT! Tanahashi flops out of the ring and the Empire waits on Okada. Okada staggers up into the IRON CLAW! And the ELIMI- NO, Okada fights free! Okada ROCKS Khan with forearm after forearm, but Khan shoots around, IRON CLAW SLEEPER! Okada reaches out but he’s fading! Khan drags Okada around, BOW ‘N’ ARROW RACK! Okada endures but Khan swings him! Okada slips free, UPPERCUTS, but Khan IRON UPPERCUTS! Khan runs, but Ishii intercepts with a LARIAT!

Henare runs in to ROCK Ishii, ROCK him again and again! Henare runs, into Okada’s DROPKICK! The fans are thunderous as now Tanahashi joins in. The Dream Trio fires up and they BOOT, SHOTEI and LARIAT Khan! Then the DREAM DDT!! Cover, TWO?!? Khan survives and the fans fire up! Okada stays focused and he drags Khan back up. Okada reels Khan in, scoops and SLAMS him, then standard formula. Okada goes up top for the MACHO ELBOW! And that means Rainmaker Pose! Okada drags Khan up while Ishii keeps Cobb out. Ripcord and- Khan ducks it! IRON CLAW SLEEPER, BOW ‘N’ ARROW RACK, SWINGING SLAM!!

Fans fire up with the Monster Rage and Khan IRON CLAWS Okada again! Then the ELIMIN- NO, Okada slips free, DISCUS LARIAT!! Both men are down and the fans are thunderous! Okada and Khan stir, they crawl their way around, hot tag to Ishii! Ishii runs to BLAST Henare first, then he rushes Khan. Khan gets around, gut wrench to GUT BUSTER, then the GUT WRENCH SUPLEX! Khan and Ishii are down, Henare is back up! Fans fire up as Khan crawls, hot tag to Henare! He BLASTS Tanahashi, then aims at Ishii. KICK! KICK! And KICK! Henare whips, scoops, BERSERKER BOMB!! Cover, TWO!!

Ishii is still in this but Cobb says to finish this! Henare nods and drags Ishii up. Henare clinches, but Ishii slips free of the urenage! Ishii reels Henare in, Henare suplexes first! Ishii fights that to reel Henare back in, SAIDO!! Both men are down and the fans fire back up! Ishii and Henare stir, Henare goes to a corner, and Ishii runs in. Ishii clotheslines, runs, and- POP-UP SAMOAN DROP! But Ishii rises?! And he POUNCES Henare! Henare rises up to SPINNING WHEEL KICK!! The fans fire up as we pass 20 minutes! Henare aims from the corner as Ishii rises, and Henare runs in to RAMP- NO, Ishii CLUBS free!

Tanahashi dropkicks legs out! Tanahashi runs, into an ELBOW! But he SHOTEIS in return! Cobb runs up to ROCK Tanahashi but Tanahashi SHOTEIS! So Cobb DROPKICKS Tanahashi! Okada runs in to scoop Cobb! Cobb slips free, body shots and scoops again. Okada slips free, Cobb elbows him away, but runs into the DROPKICK! Khan torture racks, Okada slips free, and Okada gut wrenches! Khan slips free, IRON RIGHT HAND! Then a BOOT for Ishii! Mongolian Chop! Regular chop! UPPERCUT! IRON- NO, Ishii gets around to GERMAN SUPLEX! Henare BOOTS, KICKS, but Ishii ducks the heel kick to DRAGON SUPLEX!

All six men are down and the fans are electric! Okada, Tanahashi, Cobb and Khan all flop out of the ring while Ishii and Henare stir. Ishii goes to ropes to drag himself up, but so does Henare. They run in, RAM, CHOP, CHOP and CHOP! Henare ELBOW JABS! Ishii staggers back, Henare fires up, and Ishii turns around, to stop the Shining Wizard! POWERBOMB! High stack, TWO!! Henare survives but Ishii is too sore to be stunned. The fans rally as hard as they can for Ishii and he roars! Ishii runs, but Henare blocks the lariat, ROCKS Ishii, but Ishii SWATS the roundhouse to ENZIGURI! Henare wobbles but shakes his head!

Henare runs up, Ishii LARIATS him down!! Cover, COBB BREAKS IT! Khan DECKS Okada, and the Empire regroups. Ishii roars but Cobb ROCKS him! Khan & Cobb stand Ishii up, UPPERCUT and then Henare is in the corner. Khan & Cobb pick Ishii up, ASSISTED SIT-OUT POWERBOMB!! Cover, OKADA BREAKS IT! Fans fire up again while Cobb pushes Okada out of the ring. Khan & Henare have Ishii now, HITSUJIGOROSHI and the leg lift, FUBUKI! But Ishii kicks free! Henare ROCKS Ishii, but Ishii dodges and the BOOT hits Henare! Khan tries again, but Ishii blocks to DRAGON SCREW!

Henare runs up bit Ishii waistlocks! Henare fights the lift, he BOOTS Tanahashi, ELBOWS Ishii, but Tanahashi bobs ‘n’ weaves around the haymakers. Ishii waistlocks, but Henare ducks and Ishii takes the SHOTEI! Khan shoves Tanahashi into Ishii, then hits a BIG back suplex! The fans are frantic as Henare sees Ishii in the corner. Henare slaps his legs to get them working, and Ishii rises. The fans rally up, Henare runs in, SHINING WIZARD! And then snapmare, RUGBY- NO, Ishii dodges, but runs into the URENAGE!! Cover, TWO!?!? Ishii survives and the fans are electric again while Henare is shocked!

Henare snarls, the fans duel, and Ishii sputters. Henare powers up and he waits on Ishii. Ishii rises, Henare spins, but Ishii ducks the Uraken to HEADBUTT, HEADBUTT, but Henare JUMP KNEES! Henare roars, hauls Ishii up, and STREETS OF- NO, Ishii slips free, Okada BOOTS! Cobb returns, Okada BOOTS him! And UPPERCUTS! And ripcords, but Cobb gets around! Ripcord to TOUR- NO, Okada slips free, feed to SLINGBLADE! Okada baits Henare into the gut wrench, TOMBSTONE!! Ishii & Tanahashi DOUBLE DROPKICK Khan! The fans are thunderous and Ishii roars! Ishii aims from the corner, Henare rises, and Ishii runs to LARIAT!!! Cover, TWO?!?!?

Henare survives and this place is volcanic! Ishii grits his teeth, rises up, and he drags Henare up. Ishii reels Henare in to suplex, and BRAIN- NO, Henare fights that off! Ishii tires again, Henare still fights, and Henare wrenches, full nelsons, but Ishii fights it off! Ishii elbows free, ROCKS Henare with a forearm, but Henare URAKENS! Ishii DISCUS LARIATS, but Henare JUMP KNEES! Ishii rebounds, but into POINT-BLANK RAMPAGE!! Cover, TWO?!?!?! HOW?!? Korakuen Hall is about to go into orbit as Henare slaps sense back into himself. Henare drags Ishii up, but Ishii HEADBUTTS! Henare HEADBUTTS!!

Henare hauls Ishii up to run and RUGBY PUNT!! Henare fisherman’s for- NO, Ishii slips free to RUNNING HEADBUTT!! Cover, TWO!!!! Ishii sits Henare up to SLIDING LARIAT!! Cover, TWO?!?!? We’ve past 30 minutes, the fans can’t get any louder without losing their voices! Ishii suplexes Henare, for one more BRAINBUSTER!!! Ishii crawls to the cover, The Dream Trio wins!!

Winners: Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomohiro Ishii, by pinfall (still NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions)

Khan, Cobb & Henare threw everything they had at the Rainmaker, Ace and Stone Pitbull, but it just wasn’t enough to break through! What will it take for Dominator, Face of Fury & Imperial Unit to bring gold back to the United Empire?

As for Ishii, he doesn’t like talking so he doesn’t get the mic. He does stare down with Callum Newman, though, as both men must turn around 24 hours from now to fight each other. Will the Stone Pitbull prove to be the sturdiest man in all of NJPW? As for Okada & Tanahashi, they’re both bringing gold into their WrestleKingdom matches. Will The Ace be able to end Zack Sabre Jr’s run with the NJPW World TV Championship? Will the Rainmaker finally, finally, finally slay The American Dragon?

My Thoughts:

For an event that’s about tuning up towards WrestleKingdom, this was a great one. Just so everyone knows, of course Masked Boltin is just Boltin Oleg in a luchador mask. And Masked Horse is just Taguchi in a horse luchador mask. Good stuff in the matches I skipped, as I did still skim them. Seems Shota, Kaito & Oiwa are sticking together to take down the House of Torture, that’ll be some fun stuff. And good to see El Desperado in action ahead of his title match with Hiromu, which was in question the last time we saw Desperado.

Great match for the KOPW title, with of course the House helping Kanemaru but also J5G saving Taichi. Great win for Taichi to finish out the year, but now the title chase will begin again as I’m sure we get a New Japan Rambo to determine who fights for the KOPW title. Can’t wait to see who gets the KOPW title for 2024 and the creativity everyone brings to that “division.” And an awesome Six Man Tag title match. For just a moment, I thought the Empire was going to win that because of how much Henare was getting in against Ishii.

But given the big time matches Okada and Tanahashi are having at WrestleKingdom, they both needed momentum going in. I feel like with Okada having lost to Bryan Danielson twice already, Okada has to get this win since it’ll be on home turf. As for Tanahashi and ZSJ, it could go either way with it being a 15 minute time limit, and the one year anniversary of ZSJ winning the belt last WrestleKingdom.

My Score: 8.9/10