The opening round of the 2023 New Japan Cup concluded on Friday.
Aaron Henare advanced in the tournament after defeating Shingo Takagi in the main event of NJPW’s show from Yamanashi. The United Empire member countered Last of the Dragon and delivered a headbutt followed by Streets of Rage for the win. He’ll now face Tama Tonga in the second round on Sunday, March 12.
The semi-main event of the evening saw Aussie Open’s Kyle Fletcher and Bishamon’s YOSHI-HASHI square off. Fletcher finished off his opponent with a running knee followed by Grimstone for the win. He’ll now move on to face the other member of Bishamon, Hirooki Goto, in the second round of the tournament on Sunday, March 12.
The 2023 New Japan Cup continues Saturday with a show from Aichi. Tetsuya Naito vs. Chase Owens and KENTA vs. SANADA are the tournament matches scheduled for the show.
Full results from the 3/10 New Japan Cup event from Yamanashi:
The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship is on the line on the final night of the NJPW New Beginning tour in Osaka.
In the main event, Kazuchika Okada defends the IWGP World title against Shingo Takagi. It will be the fifth career singles meeting between the two, who have split their previous four meetings 2-2.
In the semi-main, Tama Tonga defends the NEVER Openweight Championship against El Phantasmo.
Jay White faces Hikuleo in a “loser leaves Japan” match on the show.
The NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team titles are also on the line, with EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, and SHO defending against Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado, and Ren Narita.
In a special singles match, Hiroshi Tanahashi faces KENTA.
In another singles contest, Master Wato takes on Taiji Ishimori.
Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, BUSHI, and Hiromu Takahashi will take on Shota Umino, Tomoaki Honma, Tiger Mask, and Ryusuke Taguchi in an eight-man tag.
In the opener, Great-O-Khan and Aaron Henare face Toru Yano and Oskar Leube.
Leube and Henare opened the match with a test of Leube’s will. Yano and O-Khan tagged in and had a slightly less intense sequence. UE quickly isolated Yano, eventually leading to a Leube hot tag.
UE rushed Leube, but Yano was close behind, helping Leube maintain his control. After clearing the ring of O-Khan, Leube locked Henare in the Boston crab. Henare escaped, dropped Leube with the rampage, and won the match.
After some playful back and forth with the veterans, LIJ lost the lead to Umino, who ran through his opposition. Eventually, Naito, with an assist from BUSHI, reversed Umino’s momentum, forcing a tag to Taguchi.
LIJ overwhelmed Taguchi, landing a quadruple dropkick for a nearfall. After a short stint of chaos, Hiromu hit Taguchi with Timebomb 2, winning the match for LIJ.
After the match ended, the lights dimmed, and a video package from Lio Rush played. Rush challenged Hiromu for the junior title, and Hiromu was quick to accept the match.
Taiji Ishimori defeated Master Wato
Wato gained the upper hand early, but Ishimori used an exposed corner to steal control. After an extended struggle, Wato hit a dive to the floor to challenge Ishimori’s advance.
Ishimori and Wato continued to go back and forth for some time before Ishimori cemented control with a sliding German, slam into the exposed corner, and a shoulder-breaker. Ishimori secured the bone lock, but Wato survived. Ishimori tried for bloody cross, but Wato escaped, leading into a slick sequence ending with a Wato German.
Ishimori hit a quick knee and lariat to turn things back in his favor. Ishimori hit bloody cross and pinned Wato to win the first singles match of the night.
Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated KENTA
This was a great outing from this pair.
As the match opened, both men fought for admiration from the crowd. KENTA rushed Tanahashi while he had his back turned, taking momentum early. KENTA worked Tanahashi on the mat, establishing a long period of control.
As Tanahashi reversed the flow of the match, he won over the previously split crowd, but a referee bump allowed KENTA to steal the lead back. Without an official, KENTA grabbed a chair and went to town on Tanahashi. Tanahashi avoided any significant damage from the chair, leading to a strike exchange. KENTA dropped Tanahashi with a rope-assisted DDT before landing the double foot stomp for a near fall.
KENTA tried for the GTS, but Tanahashi reversed into twist and shout. KENTA responded with two running knees, but Tanahashi held on. KENTA tried for GTS again, but Tanahashi reversed into a sling blade. After a second sling blade, Tanahashi climbed to the top and hit high fly flow, winning the match.
NEVER 6-Man Tag Team Championship: Ren Narita, El Desperado, & Minoru Suzuki defeated EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, & SHO (House of Torture) (c)
Before the match could begin, HoT attacked Narita on the ramp. As Suzuki and Desperado came to his aid, HoT continued the attack, using their belts to beat down the challengers.
After the opening bell, the lawless attack continued. For quite some time, HoT broke every rule in the book, beating down Suzuki and Desperado.
Suzuki began a rally late in the match, landing a forearm before tagging in Narita for the first time. Narita led a firey comeback, but a low kick let HoT maintain their advantage. HoT tried rushing the ring, but Suzuki and Desperado made the save and helped Narita retake their newfound lead.
Just as Narita had the win in sight, a referee distraction allowed HoT to rush the ring again. Again, Suzuki and Desperado made the save. Desperado, Suzuki, and Narita secured submissions, forcing HoT to tap out. Narita, Suzuki, and Desperado are 6-man champions.
After the match, Suzuki cut a promo, naming the trio “Strong Style.”
Loser Leaves Japan: Hikuleo defeated Jay White
White played chicken with Hikuleo early. White’s early bait attempts failed as Hikuleo hit a big boot which he followed with strikes in the corner to establish control. On the floor, Hikuleo continued making advances, throwing White into barricades and ringside tables.
A distraction from Gedo bought White a moment to breathe. White whipped Hikuleo into the barricade violently, buying more time and nearly stealing a count-out win.
Back in the ring, White mocked Hikuleo with demeaning chops; Hikuleo responded with a violent whip of his own into the corner. Hikuleo furthered this lead with a scoop slam.
Hikuleo forced White into the corner, but a swift shot to the knee allowed White to slide back into the lead. White targeted the knee relentlessly before hitting a blade buster. White’s legwork grounded Hikuleo long enough for some chair shots after a Gedo distraction.
White ripped off Hikuleo’s top and returned to the mocking strikes. Hikuleo responded with chops that sent White to the floor before hitting a powerslam. White blocked the chokeslam by bumping the referee and hitting a low blow. Hikuleo responded with a lariat.
Hikuleo tried for another powerslam, but White reversed into a Bladerunner. White tried for a second, but Hikuleo reversed into a giant powerbomb; White kicked out. Hikuleo then grabbed White by the neck. Before finishing the job, Hikuleo too sweeted White. After the gesture, Hikuleo hoisted White up, hit him with a chokeslam, and won the match. Jay White must leave Japan.
NEVER Openweight Championship: Tama Tonga (c) defeated El Phantasmo
This was needlessly long and painfully dull.
This match opened with an extended feeling-out process. ELP took control of the match first from the floor. Tama turned things around eventually, however, much to the delight of the Osaka crowd.
ELP caught Tama with a tope after he tried to catch a breath on the floor. On the way back into the ring, Tama connected with three dragonscrew leg whips to ground ELP. Tama continued to work the legs from this point on.
The pair traded strikes in the middle of the ring. Tama dropped ELP and hit supreme flow. After a back and forth, ELP answered with a styles clash.
After failing to close, ELP grabbed the NEVER belt; understandably, the referee stopped ELP from using the belt, buying Tama enough time to attempt some rollups. ELP reversed the gun stun, but failed to close again. Tama tried for gun stun again, and hit it, but ELP kicked out. Finally, to close, Tama hit the Jay driller and pinned ELP to retain the belt.
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada (c) defeated Shingo Takagi
The match opened with a textbook feeling-out process. After the grappling and chops, Okada hit a dropkick that sent Shingo tumbling to the floor.
Back in the ring, the pair traded heavy blows. Shingo dropped Okada and advanced with powerful drops and a lariat that sent Okada to the floor. On the outside, Shingo whipped Okada into the barricades, threw him onto the apron, and dropped him on the concrete. Once inside the ropes, Shingo hit a superplex and a sliding lariat for a nearfall.
After being on the back foot for some time, Okada hit a piledriver on the floor. Okada then locked in the money clip after returning to the ring. Okada hit the dropkick, but Shingo reversed the rainmaker with a lariat of his own.
A strike exchange left Shingo in strong control. He hit made in Japan for a near fall. Okada tried to answer with a lariat, but Shingo ate it, reversing into a Takagi driver, followed by a massive elbow. Shingo tried for Last of the Dragon, but Okada escaped, hitting a sudden rainmaker.
Okada tried for another rainmaker, but Shingo ducked. Okada was quick to respond with a landslide. When Okada tried for rainmaker again, Shingo reversed, hitting Last of the Dragon; Okada kicked out.
Shingo hit a dragon suplex, but Okada responded with a sudden dropkick. Shingo didn’t stay down, though, answering with a lariat. Shingo tried for a pumping bomber, but Okada caught him with a lariat of his own. Okada then set up for and hit the rainmaker, winning the match and retaining his belt.
After the match, Okada cut a show-closing promo, thanking Shingo and the crowd. Okada asked Tanahashi, who was seated at the commentary desk, to challenge him in San Jose. Tanahashi threatened to return the favor of the rainmaker shock at Battle in the Valley.
NJPW kicked off The New Beginning series Sunday in Nagoya.
The provisional KOPW Championship was on the line in the main event as Shingo Takagi successfully defended against Great-O-Khan. The match was contested under modified MMA rules, including lumberjacks on the outside. Victory could only come via KO or submission and both competitors wore a martial arts gi.
Not only was Takagi defending his KOPW Championship against Khan, his title shot against Kazuchika Okada at The New Beginning in Osaka was on the line as well.
Takagi put Khan to sleep with a katahajime to retain the title.
Following the match, Okada came to the ring to confront his upcoming challenger. Takagi suggested that their match on February 11 in Osaka be a title vs. title bout contested under KOPW stipulations. Okada responded that IWGP competition is “wrestling as it should be” and declined the offer. Their match will be for just the IWGP World title and will be contested under traditional rules.
Okada was also asked backstage about a recently announced match between him and GHC Champion Kaito Kiyomiya at Keiji Muto’s retirement show on February 21. Kiyomiya and Okada were disqualified for continued brawling on the outside during Saturday’s show in Yokohama. Okada would later say he won’t take part in the match and that NJPW scheduled it without his consent.
The rule set has been determined for Shingo Takagi and The Great-O-Khan’s KOPW title match at The New Beginning in Nagoya.
Takagi will defend the provisional KOPW title against O-Khan in an MMA rules match at the Sunday, January 22 event. The stipulation was proposed by O-Khan and beat Takagi’s proposed stipulation (cumulative 30-count pinfall match) in a fan vote. The voting was 60.7 percent for O-Khan’s stipulation to 39.3 percent for Takagi’s.
In the MMA rules match, each wrestler may wear a martial arts gi and the bout can only be won by knockout, TKO, or submission. There will also be wrestlers serving as lumberjacks outside of the ring for the match.
We shall both wear martial arts gi, which can be used for submissions. The only way to win is via KO, TKO or tapout. And in case you are so scared that you attempt to escape the ring, let’s use lumberjacks as well, shall we? Bring anybody you wish. [My] United Empire teammates will of course be present. So let us have a proper fight, one on one with a clear winner like men.
Because O-Khan’s stipulation won the fan vote, Takagi’s number one contendership status for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship will also be on the line in the match. Takagi is scheduled to challenge Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP World title at The New Beginning in Osaka on Saturday, February 11.
Takagi ended 2022 as NJPW’s official KOPW champion. He became the provisional champion for 2023 by defeating Toru Yano, SHO, and O-Khan in a four-way match at New Year Dash earlier this month.
Takagi vs. O-Khan will be the main event of The New Beginning in Nagoya. The show is airing live on NJPW World.
NJPW The New Beginning in Nagoya (Sunday, January 22) —
MMA rules match: Provisional KOPW 2023 Champion Shingo Takagi defends against The Great-O-Khan
Shingo Takagi and Great-O-Khan have picked stipulations for their upcoming KOPW match.
Takagi will defend the KOPW belt against Khan on Sunday, January 22, 2023 at The New Beginning in Nagoya. They both presented their chosen stipulations on Thursday and voting is currently underway to determine which set of rules will be used.
Takagi has proposed a “Takagi style 30 count pinfall match.” The winner of this contest would be the first to get a cumulative 30 count on their opponent. A one count is worth one point, a two count is worth two points and so on until one wrestler has accumulated a total of 30 points on their opponent.
Takagi had the following to say on his chosen stipulations:
I had a lot of KOPW title matches in 2022, and one that I thought really helped elevate the status of the title was in April, a match that really showed how hard fought this title can be- the Takagi Style 30 Count Pinfall Match. In Hiroshima, Taichi and I fought it out in a match that really represented what KOPW should be. No countouts, no submissions. Whoever gets a total of 30 counts wins.
Great-O-Khan has proposed an MMA style match. Each wrestler would wear a martial arts gi, lumberjacks would be stationed outside the ring, and the match can only end via TKO or submission. Additionally, if Khan’s stipulations are chosen, Takagi must put his future shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship on the line as well.
Great-O-Khan had the following to say on his chosen stipulations:
We shall both wear martial arts gi, which can be used for submissions. The only way to win is via KO, TKO or tapout. And in case you are so scared that you attempt to escape the ring, let’s use lumberjacks as well, shall we? Bring anybody you wish. Our United Empire teammates will of course be present. So let us have a proper fight, one on one with a clear winner like men. Whether you peasants choose to vote or not? Do as you wish.
Voting is currently underway now on Twitter and will close on January 15.
The full card for NJPW’s The New Beginning in Osaka has been announced.
The show, which takes place on February 11, will have Kazuchika Okada defend the IWGP World Heavyweight title against Shingo Takagi after Takagi issued a challenge at the end of Wrestle Kingdom 17. Other top matches include Tama Tonga defending the NEVER Openweight title against El Phantasmo, Hikuleo vs. Jay White in a loser leaves Japan match, and Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. KENTA.
Three of those matches stem from an eight man tag that took place at NJPW New Year Dash, where Tanahashi, Tonga, Hikuleo, and Master Wato defeated Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo, KENTA, and White. However, the Bullet Club immediately attacked their opponents, with White laying out Hikuelo with steel chair shots. He cut a promo blaming Hikuleo for his loss against Okada at Wrestle Kingdom 17, setting the stage for the match next month.
Here is the full card for The New Beginning in Osaka:
IWGP World Heavyweight title: Kazuchika Okada defends against Shingo Takagi
NEVER Openweight title: Tama Tonga defends against El Phantasmo
Loser leaves Japan: Jay White vs. Hikuleo
Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado, and Ren Narita vs. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, and SHO
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. KENTA
Master Wato vs. Taiji Ishimori
Tomoaki Honma, Shota Umino, Tiger Mask, and Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, Hiromu Takahashi, and BUSHI
Toru Yano and Oskar Leube vs. Great-O-Khan and Aaron Henare
The KOPW trophy in NJPW is being replaced with a title belt.
New Japan unveiled the new belt at Friday’s Road to Tokyo Dome event. The winner of the 2023 New Japan Ranbo at Wrestle Kingdom 17 on January 4 will be the first to hold the KOPW title belt rather than a KOPW trophy. The unique rules the title is defended under will stay the same.
“First established in 2020 by Kazuchika Okada, the KOPW title has seen its holders defend their status through the year before the new calendar sees a new champion contested for. From Toru Yano in 2020 and 2021, to Shingo Takagi in 2022, its holders have seen fans vote on stipulations never before seen in NJPW, and often never anywhere else either!”
“Yet the trophy that represents the KOPW holder status has not always been treated with prestige an respect! From spray paintings to utter demolition and DIY recreation, it’s fair to say that the KOPW holder was in need of something longer lasting. From 2023, the holder will have the KOPW Championship belt!”
Shingo Takagi defeated Taichi in a Last Man Standing Lumberjack match on December 19 to be crowned the official 2022 champion. He becomes just the second wrestler to close out a calendar year with the title after Toru Yano did so in 2020 and 2021. Minoru Suzuki, Chase Owens, and Taichi have all held the provisional KOPW trophy but never closed out a year as champion.
NJPW has announced the stipulation for the final KOPW 2022 bout set for December 19 at the TAKATaichi pay-per-view.
In a fan vote held on NJPW’s social media channels, Shingo Takagi’s proposed lumberjack last man standing match defeated Taichi’s 30-minute high score proposal by a 52 percent to 48 percent margin.
Shingo will defend the KOPW trophy against Taichi on the TAKA Michinoku and Taichi-produced PPV on Monday, December 19. The show will be available on NJPW World pay-per-view. The winner will be crowned NJPW’s official King of Pro Wrestling for 2022.
NJPW wrote:
The last three days have seen fan voting take place for December 19, and Shingo Takagi and Taichi’s collision over the KOPW 2022 trophy at the joint TAKA+Taichi 50th Anniversary card on NJPW World PPV.
After 28,524 votes were cast worldwide, Taichi had the very narrow edge with the international vote, while Shingo Takagi captured the votes on the Japanese side.
The final results were
Taichi: 30 Minute High Score Match- 13, 695 votes (48%)
Shingo takagi: Takagi Style Lumberjack last man Standing Match- 14,829 votes (52%)
As a result, Yoyogi will see a Takagi Style Lumberjack last man Standing match! Lumberjacks will be around the ring to keep action inside, while victory will be attained by a pinfall, directly followed by a ten count KO.
NJPW has revealed the results of a fan vote to determine the KOPW 2022 stipulation for Friday’s Rumble on 44th Street pay-per-view.
Challenger El Phantasmo’s New York City Street Fight stipulation defeated KOPW 2022 holder Shingo Takagi’s “Last Daddy Standing” proposal by a 56.1 percent to 43.9 percent margin in polls held on NJPW’s social media accounts to win the voting. A total of 17,004 votes were cast, with ELP’s choice winning 9,540 votes to 7,464 votes.
The KOPW 2022 match is one of five bouts official for Friday’s event, the second of two consecutive pay-per-view nights in New York City for NJPW. Thursday’s event will be The Night Before Rumble on 44th Street: A Halloween Special, a show with a mystery lineup.
Both shows will be available for standalone purchase, or as a bundle on FITE TV.
The lineups:
NJPW The Night Before Rumble on 44th Street: A Halloween Special, Thursday, October 27, 8 p.m. Eastern time on FITE TV pay-per-view —
Mystery lineup
NJPW Rumble on 44th Street, Friday, October 28, 8 p.m. Eastern time on FITE TV pay-per-view —
Kazuchika Okada & Eddie Kingston vs. Jay White & Juice Robinson
KOPW 2022 New York City Street Fight: Shingo Takagi vs. El Phantasmo
Rocky Romero & YOH vs. Yujiro Takahashi & SHO
NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship: Aussie Open (c) vs. Motor City Machine Guns vs. Kevin Knight & The DKC
Shingo Takagi’s NJPW Strong debut is set for Saturday’s Autumn Action episode.
In the show’s main event, Shingo will take on Rocky Romero in singles competition. Shingo is the provisional KOPW 2022 trophy holder, plus a former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.
Also announced for Saturday, Christopher Daniels will take on Yuya Uemura. Daniels and Uemura had been temporarily aligned as partners in the NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team title tournament, but Daniels turned on Uemura after the pair lost in the tournament.
In Saturday’s opening contest, Jorel Nelson and Royce Isaacs of West Coast Wrecking Crew and Team Filthy will take on Jakob Austin Young and the debuting Greg Sharpe.
Strong’s Autumn Action episodes were taped in Las Vegas on September 11.
Saturday’s lineup:
NJPW Strong: Autumn Action, Saturday, October 22, 8 p.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
Shingo Takagi vs. Rocky Romero
Christopher Daniels vs. Yuya Uemura
Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs vs. Jakob Austin Young & Greg Sharpe
Shingo Takagi is set to make his NJPW Strong debut.
Shingo, the KOPW 2022 holder and a former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, will make his Strong debut as part of the Autumn Action taping in Las Vegas on Sunday, September 11. NJPW made the announcement on Wednesday.
No opponent has been announced for Shingo for the event, and no matches at all have been announced as of yet for Las Vegas.
NJPW has released a talent lineup for the show:
IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Jay White
NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Fred Rosser
KOPW 2022 Shingo Takagi
Tomohiro Ishii
Alex Zayne
Tickets for Autumn Action are on sale now, with prices ranging from $25 to $150. Sam’s Town Live will host the show in Las Vegas, with a 5 p.m. Pacific bell time.
Prior to Autumn Action, NJPW will tape the Fighting Spirit Unleashed series of Strong episodes on Sunday, August 21 at the Vermont Hollywood in Los Angeles.
Here are results from night two of the G1 Climax 32 tournament in blank.
Non-tournament matches:
YOSHI-HASHI and David Finlay defeated Filthy Tom Lawlor and Royce Issacs. Finlay pinned Issacs.
El Phantasmo and Bad Luck Fale defeated Lance Archer and Taka Michinoku. Phantasmo pinned Michinoku.
Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, Aaron Henare, and Jeff Cobb defeated EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, SHO, and Dick Togo. Henare submitted Togo with a full nelson.
Jay White and Chase Owens defeated Tama Tonga and Jado. Owens pinned Jado.
Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Hirooki Goto defeated Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, and BUSHI. Tanahashi pinned BUSHI.
Tournament matches:
Taichi defeated Tomohiro Ishii with the Black Mephisto.
Toru Yano defeated JONAH by count out. The finish had Yano low blowing both JONAH and Bad Dude Tito on the outside and making it in before the count of 20.
Zack Sabre Jr. defeated KENTA. Sabre won via submission after an armbar.
Juice Robinson defeated Shingo Takagi following Pulp Friction.
NJPW has revealed the stipulation for the KOPW 2022 match at Sunday’s Dominion event.
The promotion has announced that after two days of voting on the NJPW and NJPW Global Twitter account, the match will be held under title holder Shingo Takagi’s proposed 10-minute scramble rules. The wrestler with the highest total count on their pinfall attempts at the end of 10 minutes will be declared the winner.
Shingo’s option won by a 55.5 percent to 44.5 percent margin, with a total of 29,032 votes cast.
Challenger Taichi had proposed a limited finishers total 10 count match, where only certain pin attempts would be allowed, and the first wrestler to reach a total of 10 on their pinfall counts would win.
Here is the card for Dominion:
NJPW Dominion, Sunday, June 12 —
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Jay White
IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship: Juice Robinson (c) vs. Will Ospreay vs. SANADA
NEVER Openweight Championship: Tama Tonga (c) vs. Karl Anderson
KOPW 2022: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Taichi
AEW interim World Championship eliminator match: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Hirooki Goto
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens (c) vs. Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb
NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championship: EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi & SHO vs. Zack Sabre Jr., El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Toru Yano vs. Doc Gallows
Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI vs. Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo & Ace Austin
Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato vs. Aaron Henare, TJP & Francesco Akira
Takagi will put his provisional KOPW 2022 title on the line against Taichi at Dominion this Sunday (June 12). It will either be a “Ten Minute Unlimited Pinfall Scramble Match” or a “No Time Limit, Limited Finishers Ten Count Match.”
The “Ten Minute Unlimited Pinfall Scramble Match” was proposed by Takagi as his stipulation option. In the match, the wrestler who has the highest total count on their pinfall attempts at the end of 10 minutes is declared the winner.
“It’s simple as can be. Whatever happens, ten minutes to settle it. Last time, we had no time limits and a 30 count. I think in the opening moments of that we took our time a little as a result. This time, it isn’t in the main event, and I think it’s pretty appropriate to try and get the win in ten minutes,” Takagi said. “That’s what’s going to put the two of us to the test, mentally and physically. It’ll be a different side to the both of us. We’ll be throwing bombs from the get go, trying to get the win as soon as possible. And even though it won’t be the main event, it’ll be the match that everyone remembers on this card. Well, if Taichi here carries his end of things anyway. Whatcha think, Taichi?”
Taichi proposed the “No Time Limit, Limited Finishers Ten Count Match” as his stipulation option. There is no time limit for the match and the first wrestler who reaches a total 10 count on their pinfall attempts is declared the winner. But Takagi can only use the Ground Cobra for his pinfall attempts and Taichi can only use the Gedo Clutch.
“I know you’re an idiot, so I’ll explain it to you. The ‘No Time Limit’ part means that there isn’t a limit on how long the match goes. Now, ‘Limited Finishers. ‘I pinned you with a Gedo Clutch and you tried to have your little get back on me with the Ground Cobra. So that’s fine. Only my Gedo Clutch and your Ground Cobra will count. Other moves, whether it’s a lariat, a brainbuster, or a DDT, you can’t score a pin from,” Taichi said. “And the ‘Ten Count,’ whoever gets to a total of ten first wins. Last time it was thirty, and although I can humiliate you and pin you for 30 in one go, I won’t because I’m nice. So ten it is. How’s that?”
