Great-O-Khan retires KOPW title, sets stipulation for Wrestle Kingdom match

  • Ian Carey
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The era of NJPW’s KOPW Championship has possibly come to an end.

The Great-O-Khan retained the title on today’s Road to Tokyo Dome show at Korakuen Hall after going to a draw against Taichi. Following the match, the champion said he is retiring the belt.

O-Khan said the annual New Japan Rambo match at Wrestle Kingdom, which has been for a shot at the KOPW title in recent years, will now be a number one contenders match for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship instead.

“Has great o khan really just retired the KOPW title to make the Jan 4 Rambo an IWGP number one contenders match? What a chaotic end to a chaotic night!” Chris Charlton wrote.

O-Khan later released a statement on social media:

A Google translation of the comments above reads, “Taichi has done a great job of livening up KOPW so far, and I think this is the culmination of his efforts. I commend him and send him off. Despite competing in seven title matches this year with KOPW alone, one of the top title matches in New Japan, there is one thing he has not been able to achieve. It’s my lack of ability. I’ll admit it. However, regardless of whether I could do it or not, I continued to choose what I wanted to do. Therefore, I have no regrets. [Boosting pro wrestling from the local area] [Increase sales and revive a strong New Japan Pro-Wrestling] Even now, there is no wavering in that goal. So just change the way you do things and work towards the same goal. I may not be able to come true again and regret saying it, but I’ll declare it anyway. To rule the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. Good work, KOPW. Did you have fun?”

O-Khan and Taichi’s match on Monday was contested under Best two out of three fall rules. Taichi claimed the first fall in a sumo match by forcing O-Khan to the outside. The champion then picked up the second fall despite questionable officiating by special referee Yoshinobu Kanemaru. The final fall was a Last Man Standing match, and it was declared a draw when neither competitor could make the referee’s count.