New series kicks off in Nagoya

After the drama of Wrestle Kingdom 17, and the twists and turns of New Year Dash, it’s time for a New Beginning, as the first full series of 2023 kicks off with what is sure to be a red hot, loud crowd in Nagoya’s Dolphins’ Arena January 22. 

Watch New Beginning in Nagoya LIVE IN ENGLISH on NJPW World!

Main event: KOPW 2023 Shingo Takagi vs Great-O-Khan

singles record: 1-0 Takagi

A mere 17 days after winning a four way match at new Year Dash to become the first holder of the new KOPW 2023 belt, Shingo Takagi puts his provisional holder status on the line against Great-O-Khan. During the aforementioned four way, Shingo and O-Khan formed an alliance of sorts to take care of SHO and his cheating ways, but when it got to the end game, it was O-Khan who felt cheated, an Eliminator on Toru Yano not doing the job as Shingo made the break and then struck Yano with Last of the Dragon. 

That led to O-Khan lording his British Championship status over Takagi, and issuing a backstage challenge, saying that ‘if this belt is for fighters, then we should dominate’. That could be a hint as to the rules the Dominator may bring forth when it comes to this KOPW bout. His first challenge to KOPW status back in November 2022 was in the form of an amateur wrestling rules match, and it could be that Nagoya will see another callback to his extensive combat sports background. What will the stipulations be, and who leaves Nagoya with the KOPW status?

6th Match: YOH, Ryusuke Taguchi, Shota Umino & Kazuchika Okada vs Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI)

A double preview for later in the series, LIJ do battle with YOH, Shota Umino, Ryusuke Taguchi and IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada. After months of giving Shota Umino the cold shoulder, Tetsuya Naito can no longer ignore the Roughneck in Sapporo as the two will do battle in a special singles match. Meanwhile, after a pinfall victory over the freshly crowned five time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, YOH will challenge Hiromu Takahashi on February 5. With Kazuchika Okada set to face the challenge of Shingo Takagi at the tour closer in Osaka, there’s plenty connecting him to LIJ in this opening event as well. 

5th Match: United Empire (Francesco Akira, TJP, Aaron Henare & Will Ospreay) vs Just Four Guys (TAKA Michinoku, DOUKI, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Taichi)

At New Year dash on January 5, TAKA Michinoku led Taichi, Yoshinobu Kanemaru and DOUKI to action, with the explanation that this alliance in the wake of Suzuki-Gun’s dissolution was one without leaders and hierarchy; that they are Just Four Guys. While the team name might need some workshopping, they instantly produced results, as DOUKI scored victory in the ensuing six man tag match and instantly challenged for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships, that match with Catch 2/2 taking place in Sapporo. 

Also in Sapporo, a special singles bout will see Will Ospreay collide with hometown boy Taichi. After being defeated by Kenny Omega in the Tokyo Dome on January 4 and losing the IWGP United States Championship, Ospreay was an emotional wreck as he set himself a one year time limit to get back to where he feels he needs to be. Singling out Taichi as the first step in that journey, Ospreay headed to Ota with intimidating fury, and the two men would brawl during and after their bout. Now, a pair of previews in this eight man bout.

4th Match: Jado, Master Wato & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs BULLET CLUB (KENTA, Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo)

Osaka on February 11 is set to be a big date for Taiji Ishimori, KENTA and El Phantasmo. While ELP challenges Tama Tonga for the NEVER Openweight Championship, KENTA and Ishimori will face Master Wato and Hisoshi Tanahashi in a pair of special singles matches that could well bear consequences in junior, heavy and openweight divisions. With plenty of previous connecting Tanahashi to KENTA, and Wato to Ishimori, this is sure to be a heated six man bout.

3rd Match: Ryohei Oiwa, Tomohiro ishii, YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto vs TMDK (Zack Sabre Jr., Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls & Kosei Fujita) 

TMDK underwent major shifts at the start of this year. Zack Sabre Jr. would capture the NJPW World TV Championship on January 4, and would be congratulated by Shane Haste and Mikey Nicholls, who welcomed ZSJ as the new group ‘frontman’. The next night at New Year Dash, a Tankbuster secured Haste and Nicholl’s IWGP Tag Team Championship challenge to Bishamon, while ZSJ shrugged off a confrontation from Tomohiro Ishii to recruit a new member to the group in 20 year old Young Lion Kosei Fujita. Now, this new TMDK look to make a show of force in the face of future opposition.

2nd Match: Tomoaki Honma, Ren Narita, El Desperado & Minoru Suzuki vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (Dick Togo, EVIL, SHO & Yujiro Takahashi)

After Suzuki-Gun dissolved at the end of 2022, many of its former members may have already found homes, or set up ones for themselves, but Minoru Suzuki and EL Desperado are still conspicuous free factional agents. The intrigue around the two further deepened when first Suzuki and then Desperado made the save for Ren Narita at New Year Dash. Whether this is a unity against a common foe in HOUSE OF TORTURE, or something more concrete remains to be seen, but for the time being at least the three will be joined by Tomoaki Honma to take on H.O.T tonight.

1st Match: Toru Yano & Togi Makabe vs Oskar Leube & Yuto Nakashima

Young Lion ‘frenemies’ in Oskar leube and Yuto Nakashima will team up in the opening bout of the evening, against intimidating Most Violent Players Toru Yano and Togi Makabe. a big test for the two young prospects gets us going; how will they fare in this heavyweight tag team opener?