NJPW: Knockout Brothers Reclaim IWGP Tag Titles, Jeff Cobb Revealed for King of Pro-Wrestling
New Japan Pro-Wrestling's road toward King of Pro-Wrestling officially began Tuesday, October 6, at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, and apparently the Knockout Brothers weren't interested in waiting until Ryogoku to shake things up.
Because we already have new champions.
OSKAR and Yuto-Ice defeated Great-O-Khan and HENARE in a grueling 34-minute main event to reclaim the IWGP Tag Team Championships, beginning their second reign with the titles. The victory came after weeks of escalating tensions between the two teams, and considering the punishment exchanged throughout the contest, neither side was particularly interested in playing nice.
The action erupted before the opening bell, with all four competitors brawling inside and outside the ring. Great-O-Khan and HENARE targeted OSKAR's injured knee, attempting to neutralize the powerhouse while isolating Yuto-Ice. However, the Knockout Brothers refused to stay down. After surviving United Empire's relentless offense, OSKAR and Yuto-Ice eventually connected with their devastating K.O.B. finisher on Great-O-Khan to secure the victory.
But apparently winning back the championships wasn't enough.
Following the match, Yuto-Ice revealed Jeff Cobb as the mystery third member of their team for the upcoming NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championship match at King of Pro-Wrestling on October 12. Cobb will join OSKAR and Yuto-Ice against reigning champions Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, and HENARE at Ryogoku Sumo Hall. And considering Cobb's history with United Empire, this particular reunion should be anything but friendly.
The announcement adds another layer to an already heated rivalry. Great-O-Khan and HENARE have now lost their IWGP Tag Team Championships to the very men they'll face again in six-man competition, while Cobb has an opportunity to confront his former stablemates. Meanwhile, Ospreay's involvement brings additional star power and plenty of unresolved history into the equation.
For the Knockout Brothers, the opportunity to walk out of King of Pro-Wrestling holding both the IWGP Tag Team Championships and the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championships is certainly an appealing prospect. But standing across the ring from three dangerous competitors with something to prove is another matter entirely.
One thing is certain: NJPW's heavyweight tag team division isn't slowing down anytime soon. The Knockout Brothers have reclaimed their championships, Jeff Cobb has entered the picture, and United Empire suddenly finds itself with plenty to lose.
And if this is how the road to Ryogoku begins, October 12 could get considerably more interesting.