CIMA, Minoru Suzuki, Chase Owens, Toru Yano final four to face off on night two.

The KOPW 2022 four way bout is set, after a Ranbo kicked off January 4 that saw surprises and favourites make the grade.

For the third time in a one year span, Chase Owens’ music played to start the Ranbo proceedings, Aaron Henare joining him at number two as the pack filled up. With three Young Lions hitting the ring, Minoru Suzuki was happy to deliver some new year greetings, a trio of submissions giving him the first eliminations.

Middle of the pack at 11 was the surprise appearance of Strong Hearts’ CIMA, in an NJPW ring for the first time in 13 years and representing GLEAT. CIMA picked up a speedy elimination over TAKA Michinoku with the Meteora and continued to stay in the mix as Owens similarly avoided elimination.

Another surprise entrant, the legendary Tatsumi Fujinami hit the ring, becoming the one and only man who could boast spots on the first ever NJPW card and the first of its 50th Anniversary year. With Dragon Screws all around, Fujinami got the assist on major eliminations, and closed in on one more with a figure four on Togo Makabe. Toru Yano would round out the field though, and joined a pile on with a double pin, sending the Dragon and Makabe packing.

That left Owens, Yano, Suzuki and CIMA the final four. As they got set to head to January 5’s four way, a fragile alliance seemed to brew between CIMA and Suzuki as they stomped away at Yano, while Owens decided discretion was the better part of valour and beat a hasty retreat.