The stipulation for the New Japan Ranbo is set.
Toru Yano will defend his King of Pro Wrestling Trophy in a New Japan Ranbo at Wrestle Grand Slam on July 25. As with any KOPW Trophy match, the fans got to vote on the stipulation for the bout.
The fans voted for handcuffs to be used in the Ranbo.
From NJPW:
Toru Yano has had a vise like grip on the KOPW trophies since their inception at Summer Struggle in Jingu one year ago. In his own unique way, Yano is a fighting champion, and allowed his KOPW 2021 status to be put at the most risk yet at Wrestle Grand Slam; in a New Japan Ranbo. In a twist to this pseudo Tokyo Dome tradition, Yano put KOPW stipulations to a fan vote; would it be a Ranbo with handcuffs, or with blindfolds?
Across English and Japanese social media, 15,855 votes were cast over the last week.
12,100 (76.3%) With Handcuffs
3,755 (23.7%) with Blindfolds
It will indeed be a New Japan Ranbo with Blindfolds. As in any normal New Japan Ranbo, entrants will join the match at a random order in one minute intervals. Elimination can occur by pinfall, submission, disqualification or by being thrown over the top rope. With Handcuffs means, however, that a wrestler can also be eliminated by being handcuffed to the ropes or ringside area, and must remain in place for the remainder of the match. A Toru Yano twist indeed, and it’s all coming on the kickoff to Wrestle Grand Slam Sunday!
Here is the lineup for NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam:
NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam - July 25
- IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs Kota Ibushi
- IWGP Tag Team Championships: Tetsuya Naito & SANADA (c) vs Dangerous Tekkers (Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi)
- Jeff Cobb vs Kazuchika Okada
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado (c) vs Robbie Eagles
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo (c) vs. Rocky Romero & Ryusuke Taguchi
- KOPW 2021 Trophy: New Japan Ranbo
Fightful will have coverage of NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam on July 25.
