News

NJPW Star Retires Championship

By Craig Ballantyne • Published 23rd December 2024
NJPW logo over blurred background

NJPW has decided to retire one of the championships, with big ramifications for Wrestle Kingdom 19.

The King of Pro-Wrestling, better known as KOPW Championship was introduced by Kazuchika Okada in 2020 and has become one of the stranger titles in pro wrestling. Unlike a regular title, matches during the year only crown a “provisional champion,” with the true champion being decided by whoever holds the gold at the end of the year. Not only that, but every title bout is a gimmick bout voted on by fans. Over the years this has included everything from brutal ‘I Quit’ matches to eating contests.

At New Japan’s December 22nd show, Great-O-Khan and Taichi went to war in a 2 Out Of 3 Falls Match to determine the 2024 KOPW Champion. Things started with a No-Sumo Rules match won by Taichi, O-Khan then evened things up in a match with Special Guest Referee Yoshinobu Kanemaru (who O-Khan had bribed at an earlier show). The final bout was a Last Man Standing match, but after brawling around the arena and using any weapons they could get their hands on, the pair finished with a double KO. The match was ruled a draw, with O-Khan being named the 2024 KOPW due to holding the gold going into the show.

Great-O-Khan Announced Huge Stipulation For NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19 Match

After retaining the title, O-Khan announced his decision to retire it, but there was a twist. The star proclaimed that the annual Battle Royal at Wrestle Kingdom 19 – known as the Ranbo – that has crowned the provisional KOPW Champion in recent years, would now determine the Number 1 Contender for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.

Zack Sabre Jr captured the IWGP World Heavyweight Title at NJPW King Of Pro Wrestling in October by defeating Tetsuya Naito and is set to put the gold on the line against Shota Umino at Wrestle Kingdom. Now, both champion and challenger will have to keep a close eye on the Ranbo at the beginning of the show.

Regardless of the outcome of the main event in the Tokyo Dome on January 4th, the following night Zack Sabre Jr. will face AEW star Ricochet at Wrestle Dynasty.