Written by: Super Mastodon @SuperMastodon
Since 2012 King of Pro-Wrestling has been one of the staple events for New Japan. As per tradition, it’s back at the Ryogoku Sumo Hall at October 14th this year with a stacked lineup in the match card.
With the calendar year only having two and a half months left, we are getting closer and closer towards on our way to Wrestle Kingdom. A lot is at stake for every match and some stories could find their conclusion, while some are only brewing before the bigger picture takes off.
So without further ado, let’s get straight into action and take a look at KOPW 2019!
Match #1 – Six Man Tag: El Desperado Comeback
Desperado, Kanemaru, & DOUKI vs. SHO, YOH, & Taguchi
After several months being out of action due to a jaw injury he suffered at the hands of Jun Kasai in an independent show, El Desperado is back in NJPW. He will be teaming up with his fellow Suzuki-Gun members: Yoshinobu Kanemaru, whom he is former Jr. Tag-Team Champions with and their newest recruit DOUKI, who replaced Desperado at the BOSJ tournament this year.
He will be going up against familiar foes in SHO & YOH of Roppongi 3K and they will be teamed up with veteran Ryusuke Taguchi. RP3K and Suzuki-Gun have a long standing feud with one another. Seems like those flames will be reignited once again since SHO & YOH failed to capture the Heavyweight Tag-Team titles off of Guerrillas of Destiny during the Fighting Spirit Unleashed tour in the US.
Match #2 – Tag Team Match: Tanahashi’s 20th Anniversary Match IV
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomoaki Honma vs. Most Violent Players (Makabe & Yano)
This one is an interesting matchup for sure. It will be the fourth installment in the set of matches celebrating Hiroshi Tanahashi’s two decades of his professional wrestling career. The first three matches took place at the New Japan Road shows (basically house shows.) It all concludes at KOPW where he teams up with Tomoaki Honma up against the reunited duo of Togi Makabe and Toru Yano.
A lot of history in this one. For the unfamiliar, before CHAOS was a thing, there was first Great Bash Heel (GBH) led by Togi Makabe. Him and Yano were once known as the Most Violent Players and were a formidable tag-team, being former IWGP Tag-Team Champions themselves. But since CHAOS was co-founded by Shinsuke Nakamura and Toru Yano, they betrayed Makabe and all of GBH left him behind except for one man, that being Honma. The two best friends however will be on the opposite corners for this match so the dynamic between them is something I personally look forward to seeing.
As for Tanahashi, the man has done it all. He is arguably the greatest IWGP Heavyweight Champion of all time and New Japan’s greatest star. Although with the rumor mill going around, he is potentially going to face someone he has never fought before at Wrestle Kingdom, a certain World Champion for a new wrestling company… we have to wait and see if those rumors were to come to fruition during this match.
Match #3 – Six Man Tag:
Naito, Shingo, & BUSHI vs. ZSJ, Archer, & Taichi
A lot of fans (including yours truly) got upset at the ending of Destruction in Kobe, with Tetsuya Naito dropping the IWGP Intercontinental Championship to Jay White. It is the opposite for Zack Sabre Jr. though having regained the RevPro British Heavyweight Championship, defeating his rival Tanahashi and now on his fourth reign as champion. Same goes for other members of LIJ such as Shingo Takagi and BUSHI not seeing much wins recently, with the former losing in a special singles match to Hirooki Goto. Lance Archer recently made his return since his stellar run at the G1 in the FSU tour, destroying his competition there. We missed out on a matchup between him and Shingo during the G1 but now we’re finally getting at least a glimpse of it. Then you got Taichi doing his thing. Not much else can be said about him really.
To me this match is really between Naito and ZSJ. I think whoever wins here, could potentially challenge Switchblade for the IC Title, or better yet for Ibushi’s IWGP Heavyweight Championship contract. Honestly, Naito’s road towards Wrestle Kingdom is a little murky, let’s see what he goes after, if any at all. I just hope for the best being an LIJ fan myself.
Match #4 – Six Man Tag:
Goto, Ishii, & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Jay White, KENTA, & Yujiro
I have mentioned Destruction in Kobe in the previous match, Jay White having won the IC Championship and was challenged by Hirooki Goto. The Fearless Warrior did have a win over Switchblade during the G1 and the two are pretty much familiar with one another by this point, having a rivalry themselves. Jay wouldn’t be the only one carrying gold in this match as KENTA was recently victorious defending the NEVER Openweight Championship against YOSHI-HASHI in New York. Although it is likely a match that will be forgotten. Tomohiro Ishii is also on the CHAOS corner, with Yujiro Takahashi a former member of the aforementioned stable, completing the six man competition.
More than anything, this serves as a preview for the upcoming White vs. Goto match that will probably take place at Power Struggle. Goto is on a roll lately, having won his G1 match against Jay then also avenging his defeat to Shingo Takagi at Kobe. We’ll see if the momentum continues in his favor this night.
Match #5 – Special Singles Match:
Jushin “Thunder” Liger vs. Minoru Suzuki
Both men have been enemies their entire careers. Two of the greatest legends not only in Japan, but the entire professional wrestling industry. They’ve been building up this eventual matchup for months, starting earlier this year. Suzuki has been messing with Liger multiple times in different occasions. Often viciously attacking him, especially since he announced he is going to retire by Wrestle Kingdom next year. It seems like Suzuki would always have the upper hand, being the more cruel of the two. However the lines were drawn at Hiroshima, where Suzuki managed to unmasked Liger in front of the entire crowd, looking like he beheaded the hero the fans have been cheering for three decades! Then we get to Kobe, this time it was Liger who attacked Suzuki in the entrance ramp and later on unmasked himself only to reveal the darker side appearing once more. It’s no longer Jushin Liger, but the feared Kishin Liger. A persona that has only appeared a total of three times before this. Everyone was in awe and fear, including Suzuki himself who was visibly rattled after being misted in the face and almost got spiked in the head.
Will we see Kishin Liger again at Sumo Hall? Are we going to witness a clash between two demons? This match is going to be insane regardless. Although let me state this, I find its placing a little odd. I get that championship bouts are important, but this is literally two of the greatest ever, they are deserving of the main event spot with all the build and heat behind this match. So it makes me think, this isn’t the last time we might see these two faceoff. At least properly. We could see some shenanigans during the end that will lead us to another proper match. But if this is truly how this rivalry ends, I’m sure both Liger and Suzuki will make the most of it and it could be the most memorable match of the night.
Match #6 – IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship:
Will Ospreay (c) vs. El Phantasmo
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, in terms of matches there is no one who could even top Will Ospreay’s catalogue in 2019. Without a doubt the Wrestler of the Year. But all that recent success might get halted by one of his rivals in recent time, El Phantasmo.
This is Ospreay’s second defense in his third reign as IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion. His first one was against Robbie Eagles at the New Japan Australian tour. Him and Robbie used to be on different stables, but have since then reunited at CHAOS due to a common foe. Ever since debuting in NJPW at the BOSJ this year as a part of Bullet Club, El Phantasmo has been one of the top heels of the junior heavyweight division. He was quite on a streak during that run but would end up taking his first defeat ever in an NJPW ring against Rocky Romero, since then ELP has a long standing rivalry with members of CHAOS.
Him and “Bone Soldier” Taiji Ishimori defeated Roppongi 3K at Kizuna Road 2019 for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag-Team Championships. The duo would lose to Ospreay & Eagles at Royal Quest in a non-title match but getting back the win at Destruction in Kagoshima, this time it was for the belts and they successfully retained.
Now this time, it is only up between Ospreay and ELP. These two had faced already before in RevPro, in which ELP also represents being the reigning British Cruiserweight Champion. Will he add more gold in his repertoire by pulling an upset and beat The Aerial Assassin who is having the best time of his career right now.
Match #7 – IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Championship – No DQ:
Jon Moxley (c) vs. Juice Robinson
If there is any wrestler who has the most spotlight this year, it’s arguably Jon Moxley. Ever since leaving the WWE, he has made multiple headlines across the world including of course in New Japan Pro Wrestling. At the Best of the Super Juniors finals this year, Moxley made his debut in Japan in a hellacious match against Juice Robinson, which saw him winning the IWGP US Heavyweight Championship. Moxley then surprised the world once again by announcing himself in entering the G1 Climax. He had a phenomenal run during the tournament, to this day my favorite match not only of the G1, but the entire year is his bout against Ishii. Just two wild dogs ferociously going at each other. What’s not to love? During the G1 we also saw Moxley form a “teacher-student” connection with young lion Shota Umino, but unfortunately we wouldn’t be seeing Shooter in Mox’s side this time around as he is now having his excursion in RevPro.
Juice got his win over Mox in the latter part of the G1, earning himself a title shot in the belt he once held. While Moxley is surely on fire everywhere, Juice also had a decent year and it would be even greater if he re-captures the belt over his arch nemesis. Nothing is going to stop these two now, especially with the stipulation of the match being No Disqualification! They can use all the tables, chairs, and other foreign objects they want as they please, fight everywhere across the Sumo Hall, but in the end there must be a winner inside the squared circle. Another thing is also for certain, it will be a bloody and crazy brawl! We should be in for another treat.
Match #8 – IWGP Heavyweight Championship Contract Match:
Kota Ibushi (c) vs. EVIL
He is alone yet he has been successful so far. Kota Ibushi has been taking the term “independent wrestler” on a quite different meaning. Kenny is gone in New Japan, he is not really affiliated with any faction, and yet he is still having one of the best years of his career. The highlight of course by finally winning the G1 Climax and earning himself a main event spot at the Tokyo Dome for Wrestle Kingdom. But once again, before he can get there, he must go through some challengers first.
He has already defeated KENTA at Destruction in Beppu. Now he is up against another tough opponent in “The King of Darkness” EVIL. During the G1, both men had a great match with EVIL sealing the victory over Ibushi. This earned him a shot for Ibushi’s contract once he won the tournament. After the match with KENTA, EVIL came out to challenge Ibushi and this match was made official.
EVIL has been somewhat overshadowed by Naito and SANADA within the ranks of LIJ. He is someone looking to prove that he is capable of being main event caliber talent as well. He has the skills to back it up too and has challenged previously for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, although unsuccessful. If he wins here, it would be the biggest victory of his career yet but it wouldn’t be easy as Ibushi isn’t just going to simply lie down and take the pin, it will be a fight. After all, a lot is at stake, not only their pride, but to headline the biggest event in Puroresu today.
Match #9 – IWGP Heavyweight Championship:
Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. SANADA
It seems to me the running theme throughout this entire event is “familiar foes” and if we’re talking about that, look no further than Kazuchika Okada and SANADA. These two men hace faced each other multiple times before in both singles and tag-team action. The Cold Skull was yet to capture a single victory over The Rainmaker in all of their single bouts, that is until this year’s G1 Climax where Okada suffered his first defeat at the hands of SANADA after a near 30 minute match! It was a beautiful story that was told and in my opinion, SANADA’s best match of his career yet.
Okada is having one of the best years of his career. Ever since winning back the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Madison Square Garden, nobody was able to stop his momentum. In his fifth reign with the belt he has already defeated three challengers. His first one was against SANADA earlier this year at Wrestling Dontaku 2019. Then he won over Chris Jericho at Dominion in a controversial match. Finally being victorious over another rival of his, Minoru Suzuki at Royal Quest.
SANADA on the other hand had a somewhat up and down year. He reached the finals of the New Japan Cup but loss to you guessed it, Okada. Then him and EVIL wrestled in MSG for the first time, in a four way tag-team match for both the IWGP and ROH World Tag-Team Championships which saw GoD winning. He would then capture multiple victories in the G1 and it all leads him back to the Rainmaker at the Sumo Hall.
This is now the third match between the two this year alone. Some fans have been vocal about their opinions that they’re tired of this matchup, I personally don’t mind it. Whenever these two are in the ring, it’s always guaranteed to be great. Plus this could be their last match in a while. I’m interested to see where SANADA goes from here as well, I don’t see any chance of him winning the belt, a 60 minute draw is certainly possible to keep his stock and momentum. I’m just certain that Kazuchika Okada will enter Tokyo Dome as IWGP Heavyweight Champion.
