KOPW 2024 title match set for NJPW New Year Dash

The four-way match to determine the first KOPW 2024 Champion is set for Friday’s New Year Dash event.

Great-O-Khan, YOH, Taiji Ishimori, and Toru Yano were the final four participants in this year’s Ranbo battle royal that kicked off Wrestle Kingdom 18. Chase Owens was the final participant eliminated. As a result, The four will now advance to a four-way match to determine the first KOPW Champion of 2024 at Friday's New Japan Dash show at Sumida City Gymnasium.

Two surprise entrants during the battle royal included Fujita Jr. Hayato and Takashi Iizuka, who retired back in 2019. Iizuka played a part towards the end of the match where he turned on Taichi, biting his forehead before both were eliminated. Taichi had been the champion at the end of 2023, defeating Yoshinobu Kanemaru in a whiskey on a poll match to become the official KOPW Champion of 2023.

Most of the card for New Year Dash usually isn’t announced until the start of the show. Last year's main event had Kazuchika Okada and Kenny Omega defeat Aaron Henare and Jeff Cobb.