New Japan Pro Wrestling officially started their Road to Wrestle Kingdom with their Power Struggle show in Osaka. With six matches featuring some of the top wrestlers in the company, it has set up some stories going into January.
With a range of matches with different implications, here are all the Power Struggle bouts ranked.
6. Kazuchika Okada vs. Great O-Khan – Special Singles Match
As many people expected, the match between Kazuchika Okada and Great O-Khan was probably the weakest of the night. However, it was always going to be a bout more focused on storylines and the future rather than the actual wrestling which was average.
Unsurprisingly, O-Khan came out with Ospreay who was dressed in a suit and drinking champagne. Yet, that was the only time Ospreay played a part in the match choosing to sit ringside. He seemed to have assumed that O-Khan would make easy work of the Rainmaker.
Initially, that did seem to be the case with O-Khan’s power seeming to dominate in the ring. However, both Ospreay and O-Khan quickly remembered why Okada is one of the best in the world. With his athleticism and experience, the Rainmaker eventually got the win via referee stoppage using his Money Clip submission.
The main point of this match came after Okada had won. Ospreay made his way into the ring and challenged the Rainmaker for a match at Wrestle Kingdom.
5. Toru Yano vs. Zack Sabre Jr. – Provisional KOPW 2020
As expected, the match between Toru Yano and Zack Sabre Jr for the King of Pro Wrestling trophy was a bit of fun on a serious show. With the stipulation set for ‘No Turnbuckles’. It was something that was always going to be crazy.
The match seemed to start the same way as the G1 Climax. Zack and Yano seemed to be wrestling. However, things escalated very quickly. Yano soon became aware of how dangerous exposed turnbuckles are. At one point, Yano even tried to tape them back onto the ring.
In the end, Yano found yet another ingenious to pick up the win.
As both men fell to the outside, Zack managed to trap Yano through the barricade in a painful submission. However, unbeknown to ZSJ, Yano was making use of that time. After Yano dashed back to the ring, Zack tried to get up only to realise that his shoelaces were tied together. Unlike in the G1, he was unable to get free before the 20-count.
Once again, Yano had won by count-out and left the Young Lions to deal with a very angry ZSJ. With Zack chasing Uemura out of the arena with scissors in his hand frustrated, it was a fitting end for New Japan’s most unpredictable title.
4. Jay White vs. Kota Ibushi – IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Right to Challenge Contract
Jay White and Kota Ibushi have always put on some stand-out matches. Although this bout for the G1 Tokyo Dome contract was still good, it might have fallen short compared to their previous meetings.
That is not to say that it was not a good match. As always, White and Ibushi brought out both the best and worst in each other. White targeted Ibushi’s mid-section to weaken his endurance. Ibushi tried to counter this by using his speed and athleticism. We saw suplexes, chops and magnificent strikes from both men as fans saw how much of an underrated striker White is.
After an exchange where both men attempted to use their finisher, the match came to an abrupt ending. White managed to roll Ibushi up and, with the help of the top rope, got the win without the referee noticing his blatant rule-breaking.
With this win, White once again made history by being the first man to successfully beat the G1 winner for the contract since it was first introduced. Going forward, the big question is what will Ibushi do? Technically, he did not lose the match because Jay cheated. But, with Wrestle Kingdom so close, what is the Golden Star going to do?
3. Tetsuya Naito vs. EVIL – IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championship
Many people had trepidations about another EVIL v Naito match. It was something fans have been getting bored with after seeing it four times this year.
At first, there was some real wrestling from the two where they showcased strength, power and speed. Naito seemed to get the early advantage with his athleticism. However, it quickly resembled their previous bouts. Dick Togo got involved very quickly. EVIL threw all of the rules out of the window.
However, with interference from Bullet Club, Naito had some allies himself. When Yujiro came out, SANADA appeared dressed in white Louboutin’s hitting both Togo and Yujiro with a dropkick. When Jay White came out, Naito was given an angel in the form of Ibushi who had realised what Jay had done in their match.
Finally, with all the distractions gone, both men were back on equal footing. There was even some real wrestling from EVIL. However, when this happens, Naito always has the advantage with his wrestling style that has recently become more técnico. With this in mind, it was not surprising when Naito hit one last Destino to get the win.
There was a lot of interference throughout this match. However, at the core, it was much better than the previous bouts and has set up nicely for Wrestle Kingdom.
2. KENTA vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi – IWGP US Heavyweight Right to Challenge Contract
The rivalry between KENTA and Hiroshi Tanahashi has been one of the biggest draws of this tour. It was easy to get invested in the lead up to this match.
Initially, it seemed as if KENTA was going to try and win the match quickly with no regard for the rules. Tanahashi was once again hit in the head with the red briefcase. However, after another attempt at cheating led to KENTA getting hit with the briefcase, fans witnessed a great wrestling match.
It was, in essence, a combination of both men’s wrestling style with both adapting to their opponent. Tanahashi showcased a more mat-based offense, utilizing the Texas Cloverleaf and his patented Dragon Screw. KENTA mixed his submission style with speed and athleticism.
In the end, Tanahashi lost clean as KENTA trapped him in the lethal Game Over submission. Not only did Tanahashi submit, but he did it verbally showcasing the effectiveness of that move.
Even with KENTA’s few attempts at cheating, the match itself was, for the majority, clean. Fans remembered just how dangerous KENTA can be with his submission skills and why he is a veteran of the business. Unless anyone else wants to challenge him, Jon Moxley vs. KENTA might be set for Wrestle Kingdom. The future for The Ace is less certain.
1. Minoru Suzuki vs. Shingo Takagi – NEVER Openweight Championship
Unlike the case of Naito vs. EVIL, many fans happily welcomed another match between NEVER Openweight champion Minoru Suzuki and Shingo Takagi. The two always create breath-taking matches, and this was no exception.
Unlike their previous meetings, this was a lot slower pace. Throughout the tour, Suzuki had focused on targeting Shingo’s back. This time was no exception. It was a smart move as Takagi’s back has been vital to execute his power moves. From the minute the bell rang, the King of Pro Wrestling kept this in mind using chairs and the barricade to achieve this.
However, as always, it is never wise to count the Dragon out. Somehow, Shingo managed to find energy within to withstand all of the damage Suzuki was inflicting and find a way to counter it. Once again, it seemed as if both men were able to fight through everything their opponent was giving them whether it was chops, slaps or strikes.
For the majority of the match, Suzuki seemed to be firmly in control. Yet, despite the attack on his back, Shingo managed to hit Last of the Dragon for his second NEVER reign.
Takagi will hope to take the title all the way to Wrestle Kingdom and raise the prestige of this unique title.
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