Shingo Takagi Wins KOPW 2023 Title At NJPW New Year Dash!!

Shingo Takagi is the Provisional KOPW 2023 Champion following his win at New Year Dash!! on January 5.

The Dragon faced SHO, Great-O-Khan, and Toru Yano in a Four-Way at the post-Wrestle Kingdom 17 event and after a match filled with House of Torture antics, O-Khan hit Toru Yano with the Eliminator. Takagi broke up the pin, though, and followed up with Last of The Dragon to Yano for the victory.

Shingo and Great-O-Khan then had a staredown after the match, hinting at a future match between both wrestlers. All four men earned a spot in the Four-Way as they were the final competitors standing in the New Japan Rambo at Wrestle Kingdom.

Takagi wasn't done for the night after his win as he confronted Kazuchika Okada for the second night in a row after The Rainmaker and Kenny Omega defeated Jeff Cobb and Aaron Henare in the main event of New Year Dash!!. The Rampage Dragon will take on Okada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at an upcoming show.

Shingo has been closely linked to the KOPW Title since he lost the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 16. He competed for the KOPW Trophy for much of 2022 and he ended the year as the KOPW 2022 Champion after a long feud with Taichi.