NJPW VS. NOAH
FOR THREE DECADES, New Japan Pro-Wrestling has thrilled fans with its annual January 4 show at the world-famous Tokyo Dome. Since 2007, the yearly event has borne the name “Wrestle Kingdom,” and it has drawn intense interest from grappling diehards in every part of the world. After two straight years of spreading out Wrestle
Kingdom over two nights—an approach that WWE was likely inspired by as it expanded WrestleMania across a full weekend—NJPW opted to triple down this year by adding a third night to its annual festivities. Night three of Wrestle Kingdom, later dubbed “Pro Wrestling Power,” would emanate from the Yokohama Arena on Saturday, January 8, 2022, with a card that boasted Forbidden Door-style showdowns between athletes from New Japan and longtime rival (and sometimes friend) Pro Wrestling NOAH. But, first, there were a few major match-ups set for nights one and two.
Night one was memorably headlined by Shingo Takagi defending the recently minted IWGP World heavyweight title belt against Kazuchika Okada, who recaptured New Japan’s top prize and is set to lead the company forward as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. “It’s the first time I’ve worn this IWGP World heavyweight championship, but as soon as I wore it, it felt right,” Okada later told PWI. “I think this belt and I are ready to write the next 50 years of history together.”
Okada went on to defend the strap successfully against Will Ospreay at Wrestle Kingdom, night two. Mere moments earlier, “The Ace” Hiroshi Tanahashi had claimed the IWGP United States title for a second time, winning a no-DQ melee with the obnoxious, yet determined, KENTA. “The U.S. title is distinct from the IWGP World heavyweight championship because like the name says, it’s themed around matches in the U.S. and with U.S. wrestlers,” Tanahashi reflected. “So, of course, I hope to defend this title in America. Right now, it’s difficult to travel regularly to and from the U.S., but I’ll keep this title hot until I can have regular matches over there, on and wherever else I can.”
