New IWGP U.S. champion crowned at Wrestle Kingdom 16

Originally published at New IWGP U.S. champion crowned at Wrestle Kingdom 16

The second night of Wrestle Kingdom 16 took place from the Tokyo Dome featuring a new IWGP U.S. champion crowned.

Prior to the main event, where Kazuchika Okada defended his newly won IWGP world heavyweight championship successfully against Will Ospreay, the IWGP United States title was defended.

Champion KENTA was defeated by Hiroshi Tanahashi in a violent match that climaxed with the “Highest Fly Flow” off a gigantic ladder with Tanahashi putting the outgoing champion through a table.

Prior to the end of the match, KENTA fell off the ladder and smashed his face into a trash can on the mat cut KENTA and there was a fair amount of blood.

The win kicks off Tanahashi’s second reign as IWGP U.S. champion, after holding the title from, August 14th until November 6th last year.