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. September saw HOUSE OF TORTURE make major plays on the Road to Destruction.
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Key cards
Road to Destruction (September 9 Korakuen Hall, 1457 sellout attendance)
The NEVER 6 Man Tag Championships defended against legendary competition, while Zack Sabre Jr becomes the winningest champion of the modern era.
Blue Justice XIII (September 10 Togane Arena, 1332)
Yuji Nagata’s home town of Togane sees the start of a fated Best of Seven trios series.
Destruction in Kobe (September 24 Kobe World Hall, 4212 no vacancy)
A shock turn by Yoshinobu Kanemaru, and an incredible main event showing for Ospreay and Tsuji.
Match of the month
IWGP US (UK) Championship Will Ospreay vs Yota Tsuji (Destruction in Kobe)
If Yota Tsuji showed against SANADA that he could be the guy in future, against Will Ospreay he proved that it was a sure bet. An incredible high octane bout would doubtless have seen a new champion crowned if only a mammoth Gene Blaster hadn’t taken Ospreay a hair too close to the ropes.
Moment of the month
Heel Master lives up to his name (Destruction in Kobe)
EVIL and SHO had stolen away the IWGP World Heavyweight and KOPW titles heading into Destruction in Kobe, where Taichi had vowed to regain control of the belt that was rightfully, if provisionally his. In the middle of a bout where interfering forces were supposedly handcuffed at ringside, the thought injured Kanemaru hit the ring and turned his back on a seven year friendship with a whiskey mist.
MVP of the month
EVIL
Fans won’t have liked EVIL’s actions in the month of September, but everything from stealing the world title belt to making T-shirts proclaiming himself the real world champion, even to recruiting away Yoshinobu Kanemaru from Just Five Guys certainly made himself the center of attention. Just Five Guys and HOUSE OF TORTURE’s collisions through the month packed out houses on the Destruction tour, mainly with fans who badly wanted to see EVIL get his just desserts.
