4 Ups & 5 Downs From NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 (Night 1)

Downs...

5. The KOPW 2022 New Japan Ranbo

Toru Yano
NJPW

There's little value in picking the New Japan Ranbo apart in detail. An annual pre-show screw-around for the older wrestlers, Young Lions, special guests, and anyone else without a spot on the main card, it is typically a crowded, clunky affair devoid of significance. It isn't trying to be anything more than that, but rarely is it fun.

This year's was no different. STRONGHEARTS leader CIMA and company legend Tatsumi Fujinami were fun guests in a bout that concluded with CIMA, Toru Yano, Minoru Suzuki, and Chase Owens victorious, advancing to contest the KOPW 2022 trophy on tomorrow's second night.

A farcical format for a farcical prize to be decided in what will likely be a farcical four-way, this featured a couple of nice moments, like the Young Lion squad entering and three, four, and five to battle evildoers Owens and Aaron Henare, but little more than that. Hard skip.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. 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.