Power Struggle (2021)

Promotional poster for the event, featuring various NJPW wrestlers

**Power Struggle (2021)** was a professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place on November 6, 2021, in Osaka, Japan, at the Edion Arena Osaka. It was the eleventh event under the Power Struggle name. The event was headlined by Shingo Takagi defending the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Zack Sabre Jr.

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the tour had some restrictions in the attendance, after the Japanese Government lifted the State of Emergency.

## Background

### Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, other wrestling promotions began to cancel or postpone their shows in an attempt to prevent further spreading of the COVID-19 virus. At the end of February, following recommendations by the Japanese Ministry of Health regarding the coronavirus outbreak, NJPW canceled the events between March 1 and March 15 including the promotion's Anniversary Event and the first and the second round of New Japan Cup. On March 23, NJPW also canceled the 2020 Sakura Genesis event, which was originally scheduled to take place on March 31. On April 8, NJPW canceled more events from April 11 through May 4, leading to the cancelation of both nights of 2020 Wrestling Dontaku and would also cancel the whole Best of the Super Juniors tournament as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on May 6. Various wrestlers such as David Finlay, El Phantasmo, KENTA, the Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa), Jay White, Juice Robinson, Will Ospreay, Rocky Romero, and Robbie Eagles were unable to work on NJPW events due to travel restrictions because of the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, NJPW wrestlers and staff created the *NJPW Together* project in order to do bring content to NJPW World with interviews and old archived matches. On May 6, NJPW announced that their Wrestle Dynasty event would be postponed to 2021, due to the effects of the 2019-20 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. On June 8, during an online press conference, NJPW Chairman Naoki Sugabayashi announced that the promotion would start to held shows on June 15, starting with the *Together Project Special* and the return of the 2020 New Japan Cup between June 16 and July 11, with all shows being held behind closed doors. It was also that the finals of the New Japan Cup and the Dominion in Osaka-jo Hall would be the first shows to allow fans into the arena, but only a third of the venue's normal capacity, after the Japanese Government lifted some restrictions on many regions in Japan.

### Storylines

Power Struggle featured nine professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storyline. Wrestlers portrayed villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in the scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.

Power Struggle will be main evented by Shingo Takagi defending the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Zack Sabre Jr. The storyline behind the match dates back to March 8, 2009, during the semifinals of Westside Xtreme Wrestling's 16 Carat Gold Tournament, where Sabre lost to Takagi, who ended up winning the tournament. Sabre would avenge his loss on September 23, 2021, defeating Takagi their head-to-head match in the 2021 G1 Climax. Afterwards, Sabre indicated that he wanted a title match for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. The title match was announced on October 23.

On October 22, Kazuchika Okada defeated Kota Ibushi in the finals to win the 2021 G1 Climax via stoppage, after Ibushi dislocated his right shoulder. He also earned a shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 16 on January 4, 2021. Afterwards, in a post-match interview, Okada was challenged by Tama Tonga to a match for his contract, due to losing to him during the tournament. The following day, during a press conference, instead of receiving a briefcase containing a contract for a title shot at the new IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom, Okada asked NJPW Chairman Naoki Sugabayashi to be awarded the fourth version of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship which Ibushi had retired in March, to represent the contract, which he would have to defend for the rest of the year. His requested was accepted by Sugabayashi on October 25, leading Okada to appear with the title.

On October 22, following an eight-man tag team match, KENTA attacked Hiroshi Tanahashi and stole the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship belt. KENTA and Bullet Club stablemate Chase Owens argued as to who was going to challenge Tanahashi, before Owens relently allowed KENTA to have the first title shot. The title match was announced on October 23.

On July 25 at Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome, El Desperado lost the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship to Robbie Eagles. Following a successful title defense on September 5 at Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome, Desperado challenge Eagles to a rematch for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, in return Desperado would defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship against Eagles, which he accepted. The title match was announced on October 23. On October 26, Eagles and Tiger Mask defeated Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.

On March 11, Great-O-Khan was eliminated from the 2021 New Japan Cup by Toru Yano at the second round. O-Khan would avenge his loss on September 23, 2021, defeating Yano their head-to-head match in the 2021 G1 Climax. Following the match, O-Khan wanted to force Yano to kiss his boot, which Yano refused, leading him to Yano hit a low blow on O-Khan, before being chased by him. On October 21, O-Khan and Yano would face each other in a tag team match, which Yano's team won, after Yano hit a low blow on O-Khan. Afterwards, in a post-match interview, O-Khan challenged Yano to a match. Two days later, NJPW announced a title match between them for the provisional KOPW 2021 trophy. Afterwards, O-Khan proposed to face Yano in a Kiss My Feet match, while Yano proposed an Amateur Rules match. On November 1, it was announced that Yano and O-Khan would face each other in a Amateur Rules match, following the result of a fan poll.

Also on October 21, House of Torture (EVIL, Sho, Yujiro Takahashi) defeated reigning NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champions CHAOS (Yoshi-Hashi, Tomohiro Ishii and Hirooki Goto) in a non-title match, before attacking them. Afterwards, EVIL on the behalf of the House of Torture, challenge them to a title match. The title match was announced on October 23.