NJPW Unveils New KOPW Championship
The trophy is gone.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling announced that the King of Pro Wrestling trophy has been replaced with a new championship belt.
First established in 2020 by Kazuchika Okada, the KOPW title has seen its holders defend their status through the year before the new calendar sees a new champion contested for. From Toru Yano in 2020 and 2021, to Shingo Takagi in 2022, its holders have seen fans vote on stipulations never before seen in NJPW, and often never anywhere else either!
Yet the trophy that represents the KOPW holder status has not always been treated with prestige an respect! From spray paintings to utter demolition and DIY recreation, it’s fair to say that the KOPW holder was in need of something longer lasting. From 2023, the holder will have the KOPW Championship belt!
A New Japan Ranbo on January 4 will determine who qualifies to be the first holder of this new belt. Who will emerge as its first holder, and what happens to KOPW in 2023?
–電撃決定–
2023年より、KOPW王座の“ベルト”が誕生
登録不要–視聴無料–
https://t.co/CcdQ1XrpWA#njwk17 #NJPW #njpwworld pic.twitter.com/dHnuSYAeFG— njpwworld (@njpwworld) December 22, 2022
Shingo Takagi laid claim to the KOPW 2022 trophy, last defending it against Taichi in a last man standing lumberjack match at the JTO 50th Anniversary event.
Fans can find results from past NJPW events at Fightful’s results section.
