The four finalists set for the KOPW 2022 match on January 5th.
Kicking off night one of Wrestle Kingdom 16 was the New Japan Ranbo pre-show match and the final four participants would secure their spot in the KOPW four-way match on night two.
Outlasting the remainder of the field were Minoru Suzuki, Toru Yano, Chase Owens and surprise entrant CIMA from the GLEAT promotion.
There were 19 talents in the Ranbo and 68-year-old Tatsumi Fujinami along with CIMA were surprise entrants. Fujinami is still active in the ring on a consistent basis. He had been out of action for a period of time during the fall of 2021 after being diagnosed with cellulitis. Fujinami was inducted into the Japan Wrestling Hall Of Fame in September alongside the likes of Antonio Inoki and Riki Choshu.
Yano was the 2021 KOPW winner. For the last two years, he has ended the year as the holder of the trophy.
