Toru Yano defeated Bad Luck Fale in a bodyslam or last corner pad match at today’s Road to Tokyo Dome event to win the NJPW KOPW 2020 Championship.
Yano won with a bodyslam. Fale had slammed Yano earlier in the match, but the referee missed it after a sequence that featured interference from Chase Owens and multiple low blows by Yano.
Yano also sprayed hand sanitizer in Fale’s face and attempted to conceal a backpack that he was wearing. The backpack contained a bag of sand in an attempt to make himself too heavy for Fale to slam.
Yano won the provisional title at Summer Struggle in Jingu on August 29th, beating Kazuchika Okada, SANADA and El Desperado in a four-way. He defended it once before today, on November 7th at Power Struggle. Yano defeated Zack Sabre Jr. by countout in a no corner pads match on that show.
The provisional KOPW 2021 will be decided at night two of Wrestle Kingdom on January 5th in a four-way. The final four competitors in the New Japan Rambo on January 4th will advance to that match.