Summer Struggle in Osaka Night 2 ~ IWGP US Heavyweight Championship: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Bryan Danielson (c)

To open up our second part, we go to the second Summer Struggle show of the tour, where in one of the top matches of the night, we see Bryan Danielson defeat Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP US Heavyweight belt. Despite the Ace's best, Danielson would get the better of Hiroshi Tanahashi after a grueling 20 minute technical bout. Tanahashi would quickly exit to the back for his post-match comments, feeling very down about the whole situation. While making his comments, a very familiar face would show up: KENTA.

"Ace is down on his luck, huh? How about this. I pity you just this once and give you a shot at this belt. But if you lose this shot, you're not getting this belt again. Deal?" Tanahashi nods, and KENTA walks off after a quick slap on the back of The Ace.

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Summer Struggle in Nagoya Night 2 ~ NEVER Openweight Championship: KENTA (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

Although not nearly as brutal as their Wrestle Kingdom 16 encounter from earlier in the year, this match would still be as hard hitting as they come for the NEVER Openweight Championship. Tanahashi did his best to work down the legs of KENTA to prevent the main facet of his offense from being effective. However this still didn't work in the end, with the stones they call KENTA's legs still proving powerful despite the huge amount of damage done by Hiroshi Tanahashi. A huge kick to the head followed by a Go 2 Sleep from KENTA would spell the end of Tanahashi's night, and the end of his NEVER Openweight Championship Pursuits.

KENTA would sit cross-legged right behind Hiroshi Tanahashi to finish the night, as journalists and other camerapeople converged close to the ring to see this sad sight: Hiroshi Tanahashi, the Ace of New Japan, bested once more by KENTA.

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Part 2.B: Split and The G1

At Wrestle Dynasty Night One, KENTA would defend his NEVER Openweight Championship against one of many visiting wrestlers that night: Big Japan's Strong Division Standout Daichi Hashimoto, son of the sadly deceased Shinya Hashimoto. That wouldn't be the biggest thing to happen between nights one and two, however. On Night 2, a split would occur following a tag match between BULLET CLUB's EVIL and Jay White challenging Great-O-Khan and Jeff Cobb of The Empire for the IWGP Tag Team Titles. Following a big mis-communication between the two, EVIL would attack Jay White from behind and allow Cobb to pin him! Many non-House of Torture members of BULLET CLUB would rush the ring, including KENTA. This would lead to a split between BULLET CLUB and House of Torture officially.

As the G1 Blocks were announced, KENTA would be facing off with both EVIL and SHO of House of Torture in the B-Block. Now, while I would like to write the full G1, I am pressed on time. Therefore, I will give a brief overview of the losses that KENTA took in his block to end up with 10 points - 5 wins, and 4 losses.

Loss #1: vs. Tetsuya Naito on Night 1

This loss would open up KENTA's 2022 G1 run with a little less than a bang, following a near time-limit draw. Naito would hit the Destino to put the NEVER Openweight Champion away in his first match. Naito would express disinterest in challenging for the belt after the G1 concluded, wanting to keep his eyes on the prize that matters the most: the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.

Loss #2: vs. Shingo Takagi on Night 2

Another loss caps off KENTA's second night, this time against a man who had nothing but ill words for him last year, LIJ's Shingo Takagi. This time, however, the match didn't go close to 30, instead going closer to 20, KENTA obviously still beat from Naito, Shingo was able to finish him with large shots galore. Shingo, as opposed to Naito, stated that he's always interested in fighting for championships, especially when it's KENTA holding them.

Loss #3: vs. EVIL on Night 5

There's not much special about this loss. EVIL showed more of his brutish side during the match, constantly slamming down KENTA with authority throughout the match. However, it would still be the antics of Mr. Dick Togo that ended the match for EVIL, allowing him to get a win over the NEVER champion.

Loss #4: vs. SHO on Night 9

In a match that many were excited for, KENTA took on the Jr. standout SHO on the final night of the G1. This time there was no help at ringside for SHO, SHO having made it clear that he didn't want the help and wanted to show he could beat KENTA on his own despite an otherwise disappointing G1 run. And he did just that; SHO would pin the NEVER champion clean on the final night of block competiton and prove that he is one of the brightest future stars of New Japan.

With KENTA's G1 run over, and the people that he was bested by clamoring for a title shot, we now look ahead only a month to his first title match: A rematch with his second loss, Shingo Takagi.

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Part 2.C: Power Struggle and Beyond

Power Struggle 2022 ~ NEVER Openweight Championship Match: KENTA (c) vs. Shingo Takagi

A fight in the same style as their G1 encounter, these two would give each other hell once again, but with Shingo having gone through an extra, more grueling match than KENTA: the G1 Finals. This match would see a different result however, as Shingo did what KENTA thought he would: choked. KENTA would walk out victorious after consecutive Go 2 Sleeps, and retain his tiitle. EVIL would come out after the match and claim his stake to be the next challenger for KENTA, saying he would end BULLET CLUB's reign of terror forever.

WINNER: KENTA - Time: 23:32

Best of the Super Juniors/World Tag League Final Night: NEVER Openweight Championship: KENTA (c) vs. EVIL

KENTA came out prepared for this one. Having reviewed their previous match in the G1, KENTA was ready for whatever EVIL could throw at him, and was absolutely ready to demolish the man who had betrayed not only two stables, but more importantly, had betrayed KENTA. And he did just that, with EVIL falling in even less time than Shingo due to the unbridled rage of KENTA. After the match concluded, KENTA would call SHO on his bluff and call him out to the ring to officially give him his Wrestle Kingdom title Match.

WINNER: KENTA - Time: 12:54

WRESTLE KINGDOM 17 NIGHT 2 - NEVER OPENWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP: KENTA (c) vs. SHO

And now, our story ends. With both men going even harder than their first match, with SHO taking KENTA to his physical limits, doing everything in his power to defeat KENTA, to bring the NEVER title back to House of Torture, and to prove himself as not just a Jr. Tag participant. And by the end of it, he had done it: SHO defeated KENTA for the NEVER Openweight Championship.

WINNER: SHO - Time: 24:11

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With that, there's a lot you can do from here. Many names have been elevated past where they once were, you have a new Jr./Heavyweight combination fighter ala Koji Kanemoto, and most of all: The NEVER belt is a big deal.