Second of four night run in Korakuen to round out 2021
The Road to the Tokyo Dome continues on December 22, with more previews of Wrestle Kingdom 16.
Watch Road to Tokyo Dome live or in English on demand on NJPW World!
Main event: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Robbie Eagles & Tiger Mask vs BULLET CLUB (KENTA, Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo)
2021 records:
Hiroshi Tanahashi: 64-53-1 (54.2%) of which singles 12-9 (57.1%), championship matches 4-3 (57.1%)
Eagles: 24-22 (52.2%) of which singles 9-7 (56.3%), championship matches 3-1 (75%)
Tiger Mask: 25-40 (38.5%) of which championship matches 1-0 (100%)
KENTA: 28-32 (46.7%) of which singles 11-6 (64.7%), championship matches 1-2 (33.3%)
Taiji Ishimori: 51-54 (48.6%) of which singles 7-9 (43.8%), championship matches 3-5 (37.5%),
El Phantasmo: 50-43-1 (53.2%) of which singles 12-9-1 (54.5%), championship matches 3-5 (37.5%)
The main event tonight sees KENTA return to action as he stands opposite his January 5 Tokyo Dome opponent in Hiroshi Tanahashi. The Ace brings backup in the form of IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Flying Tiger, presenting ample opportunity for a double championship preview, as BULLET CLUB’s Cutest Tag Team stand on the opposite side. who will deliver the stiffest first shot before a pair of championship matches January 5 in the Tokyo Dome?
6th Match: Los Ingobernables De Japon (Shingo Takagi & Hiromu Takahashi) vs Kazuchika Okada & Ryusuke Taguchi
2021 records:
Takagi: 72-39-2 (63.7%) of which singles 21-5-1 (77.8%), championship matches 5-2 (71.4%)
Takahashi: 38-15-3 (67.8%) of which singles 14-5-1 (70%), championship matches 2-1 (66.7%)
Okada: 54-43-1 (55.1%) of which singles 17-4 (81%) championship matches 0-1 (0%)
Taguchi: 35-40 (46.7%) of which 7-6 (53.8%), championship matches 0-2 (0%)
24 hours after he enlists Robbie Eagles to face Shingo Takagi and Hiromu Takahashi, December 22 sees IWGP World Heavyweight number one contender Kazuchika Okada team up with Ryusuke Taguchi to face the LIJ duo. With just three more events before the big January 4 championship clash, what will the next step be between Okada and Shingo? And with an on again off again, but always heated issue between Hiromu and Taguchi playing out once more in Korakuen, who emerges victorious?
5th Match: Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI) vs United Empire (Jeff Cobb, Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare)
In the Tokyo Dome on January 5, Tetsuya Naito and SANADA go into singles matches with Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan respectively. But while Cobb and O-Khan have yet to amass the singles success in the Dome that their opposition can boast, tonight sees them walk into a six man tag environment where they have a comfortable advantage, and where they will seek to make a significant mark on LIJ before Wrestle Kingdom.
4th Match: Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Master Wato vs Suzuki-Gun (Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & TAKA Michinoku)
On January 4, the CHAOS side of Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI will face Dangerous Tekkers for the IWGP Tag Team Championships. One of the last previews of the year will see the two teams collide, as CHAOS enlist Master Wato, and TAKA Michinoku joins Suzuki-Gun.
3rd Match: Tomohiro Ishii, Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma & YOH vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Dick Togo & SHO)
A complete HOUSE OF TORTURE squad will be in eight man action tonight, meaning at least the numbers game will not be a factor as they face a mixed CHAOS and Hontai squad. As we get set for YOH vs SHO and Ishii vs EVIL for the NEVER Championship on January 4, can a blow be struck to H.o.T?
2nd Match: Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Toru Yano vs Suzuki-Gun (Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Minoru Suzuki & DOUKI)
Before this six man preview, voting will be closed for the final KOPW 2021 match of the year. The Year End Party Match will see Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Toru Yano face off in a bout where participants must take a drink every two minutes, with the fans deciding whether the poison du jour will be whiskey or sake. More serious business tonight though will see Suzuki-Gun try to rack up one of their last wins of the year.
1st Match: Yuto Nakashima, Kosei Fujita & Ryohei Oiwa vs BULLET CLUB (Bad Luck Fale, Chase Owens & Jado)
A Young Lion trio will kick off the night opposite BULLET CLUB. Yet to win a match in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, can Oiwa Fujita and Nakashima muster up a seasonal miracle in the opener?
