4 Ups & 4 Downs From NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 (Night 1)

2. The Rambo's Flat Return

Minoru Suzuki Yuji Nagata
NJPW

The New Japan Rambo returned for the first time since Wrestle Kingdom 12 in 2018, with the final four wrestlers set to compete for the KOPW 2021 Trophy on tomorrow's show. This sort of gave the bout stakes. Yes, the KOPW is a jokey gimmick title, but it's something. The Rambo is typically fun, light-hearted filler.

This year's wasn't worth the time sink.

35 long minutes elapsed before BUSHI, Bad Luck Fale, Toru Yano, and Chase Owens emerged victorious, booking their place for the four-way. Young Lions Gabriel Kidd, Yuya Uemura, and Yota Tsuji were the last three wrestlers eliminated. More exciting names like Yuji Nagata, Minoru Suzuki, and Tomohiro Ishii were dispensed with long before the business end, leaving a dull battle royal extremely front-loaded.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.