A look back at the key matches, moments and players of the year
As 2024 looms closer, and along with it Wrestle Kingdom 18, it’s time to take a look back at some of the moments that shaped the year that has been 2023. As is traditional, we start with January, and a month of great change.
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Key cards
January 4, Wrestle Kingdom 17 in Tokyo Dome (Tokyo Dome, 26,085 in attendance)
A tribute to Antonio Inoki saw the first cheering crowd in the Tokyo Dome since 2020.
January 5 New Year Dash (Ota-ku, 2713)
Kosei Fujita joins TMDK, Just Four (of Five) Guys formed, and a main event nobody thought possible.
January 21 Wrestle Kingdom 17 in Yokohama Arena (Yokohama Arena, 5533)
LIJ vs Kongo in a best of five series, and Kaito Kiyomiya rattles off a kick felt around the world.
January 22 New Beginning in Nagoya (Dolphins Arena, 1650)
MMA main event and Strong Style pursue HOUSE OF TORTURE.
Match of the month
IWGP United States Championship Will Ospreay vs Kenny Omega (Wrestle Kingdom 18)
With needling from a returning Kenny Omega and Don Callis stirring the pot, an emotional fire was stoked in Will Ospreay heading into what many have regarded in the months since as one of the best matches of all time. Omega put Ospreay through hell, but although the Aerial Assassin’s heart was beating hard enough to fight back despite that blood flowing from his head, Omega was too much, capturing the US gold.
Moment of the month
The OmegaPowers Unite (New Year Dash)
Nobody knows a New Year dash card until the matches hit the ring, and that meant for a stunned reaction from Ota when they realised two of the greatest rivals of the 2010s would be on the same side in 2023. Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada formed an incredible tag team of IWGP World Heavyweight and United States Champions, defeating the United Empire side of HENARE and Jeff Cobb.
MVP of the month
Shingo Takagi
Despite being the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion heading into Wrestle Kingdom 16, SHingo Takagi was not factored into plans for the next year on January 4. Taking matters into his own hands, the Dragon saw to it that he made his own mark. Takagi challenged new IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada immediately following the Tokyo Dome main event, before one day later capturing the KOPW 2023 belt in a four way match. The Dragon bested someone who he felt he had been jinxed against for years in Katsuhiko Nakajima in Yokohama Arena, and one day after that in Nagoya, bested Great-O-Khan in O-Khan’s choice of MMA rules, all a worthy resume to gain MVP of the month.
