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JAN.23.2023

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Road to New Beginning Night 2 (January 25) Preview

Second night of Korakuen double header

 

 

In the midst of a busy news week to say the least, the Road to the New Beginning continues on Wednesday. The second night of a Korakuen Hall double header will see the last matches broadcast on NJPW World before the big events February 4 and 5 in Sapporo and then 2/11 in Osaka. Key moves will be made as definitive statements look to be lodged.

Watch live in English on NJPW World!

Main event: YOH, Ryusuke Taguchi & Kazuchika Okada vs Los Ingobernables De Japon (Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI)

After New Beginning in Nagoya, Shingo Takagi climbed the first half of a steep mountain to start his 2023. Having won the KOPW 2023 belt at new Year Dash, he faced Katsuhiko Nakajima and Great-O-Khan in a 24 hour span, and though he was successful, perhaps the true test starts now. Kazuchika Okada awaits on February 11 in Osaka, before a potential extra challenge the very next week on February 18. Conversely, Okada looks to get to V2 in his second world title reign in a mere seven day span, a performance, Okada will likely point out, far more representative of the strongest in professional wrestling than would accepting a speculative booking for himself and Kaito Kiyomiya in the Tokyo Dome on February 21. 

Both champion and challenger carry much on their minds as they come into Korakuen, but will be focused on what is right in front of them tonight, as will be Hiromu and YOH before their own IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship match just days away from February 5 in Sapporo.

7th Match: Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma vs Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito & SANADA)

Another man with a busy schedule is Tetsuya Naito this February. Officially set to face Keiji Muto in the Wrestling Genius’ last ever match February 21 in Tokyo Dome, Naito has become the center of the wrestling world once again. Yet starting the New Beginning tour was Shota Umino in victory over LIJ in Nagoya. As Umino feels the narrative in New Japan Pro-Wrestling should be entirely focused on him, he will continue to try and take attention away from El Ingobernable through the coming nights, before looking to take the wheels off the Naito bus altogether February 4 in Sapporo. First though, tag team action that also sees a somewhat wayward SANADA needing a big win in the Hall.

6th Match: United Empire (Francesco Akira & Will Ospreay) vs Just Two Guys (Taichi & DOUKI)

With February 4 seeing Catch2/2 defend IWGP Junior Tag Team Championship gold against DOUKI and Yoshinobu Kanemaru, and Taichi battling Will Ospreay, spirited competition from New Year Dash carried forward to the tour opener in Nagoya Sunday night. With a week and a half to go before Taichi returns to his home town to face Ospreay, the back and forth continues in Korakuen Hall Wednesday.

5th Match: United Empire (TJP & Great-O-Khan) vs Just Two Guys (TAKA Michinoku & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)

The other half of Just Two Guys meet TJP and Great-O-Khan Wednesday. Having lost his chance at the KOPW 2023, and a natch with Kazuchika Okada that would follow, O-Khan was full of rage and frustration in Nagoya at the tour opener, and will be working to re-establish himself for the rest of the tour.

4th Match: Yuto Nakashima, YOSHI-HASHI, Tomohiro Ishii & Hirooki Goto vs TMDK (Kosei Fujita, Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls & Zack Sabre Jr,)

Before big title matches for Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls and Zack Sabre Jr. in Sapporo, eight man action will also see Kosei Fujita’s continued development. It’s been a new technique and a new English word every day for Fujita, who’s growing more diverse and experienced by the day, but the group has also been focused on success with only wins thus far. Can they keep the momentum going into next weekend?

3rd Match: Master Wato & Togi Makabe vs BULLET CLUB’s Cutest Tag Team (El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori)

BULLET CLUB’s Cutest reunite as a duo Wednesday, as Ishimori gets set to face Master Wato one on one on February 11. That same night, ELP goes for NEVER Openweight gold against Tama Tonga, and has heavyweight opposition across from him in Togi Makabe in what’s sure to be a hard hitting encounter.

2nd Match: Be-Bop Tag Team (Toru Yano & Hiroshi Tanahashi)) vs BULLET CLUB (KENTA & Gedo)

In the seven matches between KENTA and Hiroshi Tanahashi, some of their most violent encounters in the last four years have taken place in Osaka. It seems like their February 11 meeting will be just as heated, with KENTA stating he’s more than willing to fight the Ace for 60 minutes in the EDION Arena. That may be what it takes to get a result between the two stubborn competitors, and we’ll be seeing more of both men’s will to win tonight. After KENTA brawled with Tanahashi at ringside in nagoya Sunday, what happens this week?

1st Match: Oskar Leube vs Aaron Henare

Kicking us off will be Oskar Leube and Aaron Henare in singles action. With both men having come up from the harsh confines of the New Zealand Dojo, there is more connecting Henare and Leube than one may think, but that won’t stop the Ultimate Weapon from dealing some violent lessons to the German Young Lion.

 

 

 

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