Knockout Brothers

[9.0] "The only reason I'm not giving them a 10 is because I think I like Ice even more as a singles guy than in a tag team. But if their first Tag Team Championship reign was this era-defining, imagine what they'll be like when they get those belts back."

[10.0] "Best tag team in the world right now. If you've seen a KOB match then you know the magic they make. When your worst title defense is still an absolute blitz of a match against Tomohiro Ishii and Taichi of all fucking people then you really are wrestling wizards. Both men are currently going through their G1 debuts so time will tell on each man's single prowess but as a team they are unmatched. Big Up!"

[6.0] "The hype around this team is absolutely insane and, to my eye, totally unjustified. If not for Yuto's (admittedly impressive) commitment to this 'hip-hop gangster' character of his, I'm pretty certain KOB's facade would be far more obvious. When you have dudes like Kawato come back as a kungfu 'master', Oka come back as some sort of Mongolian monk, and then the far more generic (though certainly acceptable) straight-laced characters of Shota, Uemura, and Oiwa, it sort of makes sense that audiences would gravitate towards a weirder and 'cooler' character like Yuto-Ice's, given it's one that traditionally exudes violence and confidence. The issue I have is that it feels totally put on. I heard a comparison somewhere that it feels like Yuto is doing an Ali G impersonation, and that's pretty accurate. It wouldn't be so bad if he wasn't CONSTANTLY doing those forced mannerisms and facial expressions and instead allowed his character to more naturally exist as an extension of himself, but it instead feels like he has a strict quota of stereotypical 'hip-hop gangster' things to do in a very strict order every time he makes an appearance, which makes that character feel artificial. When it comes to his in-ring work itself, he's far less annoying (and actually decent for the most part) but still nothing remotely as exciting as I've seen him propped up to be. His strikes are good but often way too 'chippy' for my liking, usually lacking the proper intensity and stiffness to match his 'tough guy' bravado. His stuff can still be good, but he will often lack the explosiveness or urgency I'd like to see. A Shibata or a Kawada, this guy certainly is not, and I don't even think he's in the same planet as his contemporaries like Shota or Oiwa (who are far more obliterating with their strikes and have far more convincing, no-nonsense fighter's attitudes). Yuto is lucky he got gifted an easily accessible gimmick, and I unironically give him full credit for playing it with such conviction, but it feels clear to me that he relies on his charisma to make up for his otherwise merely decent in-ring work. A final positive I can give Yuto is that in all of KOB's best matches -- which have all been highly overrated but some of which have still managed to be good or even really good -- he's clearly been the one to carry their team, because Oskar is a far more 1-dimensional wrestler. Oskar always tries to play up his size and his intimidation factor, but he simply doesn't have the personality or the look. Sure, he's 6"7, but he doesn't have anywhere near the mass to actually have an imposing presence, especially when guys in the company like Boltin and Hartley are likewise 'big' but actually look like monsters who could (and do) crush their opponents. Oskar, meanwhile, is too wirey, and as a result all his big-man offence requires most of the effort to come from his opponents' selling and bumping, since Oskar really doesn't have the ability to present a properly destructive offence on his own. His few big-man attacks that *do* manage to look decent are always carefully orchestrated spots, since when trying to be more spontaneous with his work he just resorts to generic offence that anyone on NJPW's roster can do. He's got a bit more mobility and agility than other big guys in wrestling, but that never lends itself into any offence that looks truly monstrous. It often just feels like the mere visual of Oskar's height is relied on to put him over rather than anything he himself is physically or athletically capable of. Then there's issue where it looks like he must've been hanging with Gabe Kidd too extensively back stage, because he gets absolutely goofy with his raging 'tough guy' attitude, with the assumption that sneering and bug-eyed facial expressions is how you come across as intimidating. Ideally he would've been a cool contrast to Yuto's more laid-back 'tough guy' character, but Oskar's own 'tough guy' character is even worse than Yuto's because there's zero moderation, just embarrassingly cheesy attempts at acting like you'd see from a dorky theatre kid. Oskar should thank his lucky stars every morning that NJPW decided to pair him up wth Yuto, because this dude is otherwise just a better Hikuleo at best. The best KOB matches have all been carried by their opponents -- namely their fellow new-generation guys like Oiwa, Shota, and Uemura -- who have far more variety and intensity in their work and who are without any cumbersome and hokey character work dragging them down, but I'll end this rating by saying that KOB as a team is certainly better than either guy individually, since despite all my above criticisms, I do still appreciate the intention behind their team, with Yuto as the more upbeat and cocky swift striker while Oskar is the cold and dark heavy hitter, since that's at least a nice contrast in styles and allows for a variety in the action of their matches (even if I think that action is often just okay or good at best). They certainly also benefit from their booking, since they are quite unique in not just being young lions who went on excursion together and then re-debuted on the main roster as a heavyweight tag team, but by being booked so insanely strongly at the same time. Their dominance seems to have run out of meaningful direction at the time of my review, since they've beaten every team of note already (some multiple times), so I can't see any interesting directions from here, but I appreciate how this has nonetheless made the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Titles feel important for the first time in a very long time. It seems such dominance and such distinct character work is what has allowed this team to stand out and gain such a following, but I need a lot more than that from my wrestling, so I can only see these guys as an acceptable tag team at best."

[10.0] "It took NJPW long enough, but this team shows that they CAN create new stars and that they CAN produce some of the best talent in the world when they can. OSKAR and Yuto-Ice fit each other perfectly, and they constantly deliver excellent matches. Yuto-Ice is also an incredible singles star, OSKAR is a little behind on that point but he's still one of the best in the world at his current role. I would be ok if these guys remain a team for a long time like the Guerrillas Of Destiny did, maybe with that EVIL/ SANADA upper midcard billing along side it. Big up"

[10.0] "Probably one of the best and most well-coordinated teams in NJPW in a long time. Literally all of their tag team matches are amazing, and I'm surprised by that. They're playing at an insane level, defeating everyone in their path. Yuto-Ice's charisma is generally among the best in Japan. He's an incredibly charismatic guy and a fantastic performer in the ring."

[10.0] "The best Tag Team in NJPW at the moment, as well as a top three in the world currently. Very excited to see how they evolve and continue to succeed as a team."

[10.0] "The Knock Out Brothers (OSKAR & Yuto-Ice) have become one of my most favorite tag teams in the world currently! The fact that they came back to NJPW last year from their European excursion and in 3 months captured the IWGP Tag Team Titles and have had banger matches on top of that is nothing short of amazing!"

[10.0] "These two are quickly becoming one of the best tag teams in the world right now. They've had multiple top tier matches with ZSJ and Oiwa, a great showing in the 2025 world tag league and mutiple other long, high quality matches in the last few months. OSKAR is a great big man that will only get better with time. Yuto is a main eventer and will go far. The 2 compliment eachother well and they'll only get better with time."

[10.0] "What an absolute revelation these guys are. A godsend for NJPW's tag team division. Yuto-Ice is a supremely charismatic fireplug and OSKAR is that rarest of all beasts - a big man who can also move and sell really well. They've got excellent timing with one another and they've been manifesting a revival of NJPW's long flagging heavyweight tag title scene through sheer malicious talent."

[9.0] "These guys are literally the first decent tag team in the new Japan in years, since Taichi and Sabre. They're truly charismatic and execute their roles perfectly, both in promos and in matches. They're literally the only reason I tune into NJPW."

[10.0] "The best tag team in the world today. These two have completely revitalised their division and continue to deliver one standout match after another. Their chemistry is undeniable, not just in their presentation and character work, but especially once the bell rings. Yuto -ce is an undeniable star who looks destined for singles greatness at some point, and that almost causes OSKAR to be overlooked. That would be a mistake. Oskar might be the best foreign big man to work in Japan in years, and his presence in these title defences adds real weight and credibility. When they face passionate babyfaces like Yuya/Shota, his physicality elevates the bout. The driving force behind a division that feels must-see right now."

[10.0] "After their last defense, I'm convinced KOB is the best tag team in the world today. They just have the IT factor that so few teams have. They might seem like an unlikely team on paper but their styles and personalities gel perfectly. Oskar's power with Yuto's fire. Yuto's stockiness with Oskar's size. There is so much contrast and yet so much chemistry between these guys, they are a truly unique and captivating duo. Their storytelling ability is also just so good. Their gimmick is very enjoyable, they have an awesome presence and look, like these two high fashion delinquent punks. The fans in Japan adore these guys, they are so over that it bleeds into their matches and helps elevate them to another level. I love KOB, they are stars already and have so much room to grow even further."

[9.0] "when oskar and yuto-ice first returned to new japan, i was not expecting to love them as much as i do, but these guys have single handedly helped to revitalize the njpw heavyweight tag scene and give it a (much needed) spark"

[10.0] "And just like that, these two have revitalized the Heavyweight tag division in NJPW. A tall, brute force German slaughterhouse and a loud mouth, hard hitting strike makes for the Knockout Brothers, Oskar and Yuto-Ice. Their debut tag match against Taichi/Ishii was awesome, as was their respective debut singles matches. I can't wait to see the magic they create in New Japan in the future."

[10.0] "Adding this one tag team to the NJPW roster gave their tag team championships meaning again. They came in red hot, and remained that way through World Tag League - and will carry the IWGP Tag Team Championships into the Tokyo Dome. They are going to be a stellar team for years to come, especially as they flesh out their look, characters and in-ring skills, but they are off to a fantastic start."

[8.0] "My favorite thing going in a very middling New Japan scene. I really like the attitude both guys bring to the ring. Oskar has the potential to be the next great wrestling giant and Yuto has great kicks. I enjoy their actual in ring work a lot, but the characters, especially Yuto, really elevate them."

[9.0] "What a fantastic team, man. They've come back from excursion with a rocket on them and have transformed the landscape of tag team wrestling in NJPW into something worth watching. Great entertainers."