Wrestle Kingdom Week

[Defrost]

Bushiroad seems to want to make Wrestle Kingdom week into a big deal.

Here is the schedule announced

Stardom in Sumo Hall on December 29th

A fan festival on January 2nd

A Wrestle Kingdom Kick off show on January 3rd

Stardom New Year Dream in the Tokyo Garden Theater on January 3rd

Wrestle Kingdom 19 in the Tokyo Dome on January 4th

Wrestle Dynasty in the Tokyo Dome on January 5th

New Year Dash on January 6th in the Ota Ward Gym




Not to mention All Japan has their big New Years shows in Korakuen. NOAH is going to run a big arena show in the first few days of the year and with AEW being heavily involved with the Dome you have to think WWE is going to be sending guys to that show. So big first week of the year over there.

[Morrison]

the biggest news i heard is that kingdom and dynasty are set to start at 11pm est instead of 2am, which is fucking awesome.

[MTR]

the biggest news i heard is that kingdom and dynasty are set to start at 11pm est instead of 2am, which is fucking awesome.

That is interesting.

[Morrison]

That is interesting.

right? i haven't watched the last couple WK live because only a match or two was super interesting to me and i didn't wanna have to stay up until 6am to watch them. I'm a night owl but even that was pushing it.

[MTR]

I tend to take off work and then take a nap at some point before the show and even then the last couple years I have missed parts of the main event.

[Defrost]

By Virtue of winning the 34th G1 Climax....

Wait what's that?

Huh.

Currently there is no #1 Contender for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom.

[Morrison]

very curious to see what they do come october. i gotta imagine they're doing this to get the title off naito.

[Defrost]

Yeah with the show in England happening right after the title match and ZSJ outright saying his first title defense is going to be there it would be very stupid booking for him to lose that title challenge.

Consensus seems to be, and I agree with it, that this means Naito vs Hiromu is happening on 1/4.

[Psycho666Soldier]

Yeah with the show in England happening right after the title match and ZSJ outright saying his first title defense is going to be there it would be very stupid booking for him to lose that title challenge.

Consensus seems to be, and I agree with it, that this means Naito vs Hiromu is happening on 1/4.

Is Hiromu finally gonna get his heavyweight push?

[Defrost]

Is Hiromu finally gonna get his heavyweight push?

Depends on if you count beating Henare for the NEVER belt as a heavyweight push

[MTR]

Nice to see ZSJ win the G1

[Defrost]

Shinsuke was announced for NOAH's New Year's Day show in the Budokan.


For 1/4 in the Dome after today I am thinking

ZSJ vs either Shota or Shingo
Naito vs Hiromu
Finlay vs Yuya
Yota vs Ren
Tanahashi vs EVIL

1/5

We know Tanahashi and Kenny are teaming up and the Young Bucks are announced. Kinda think it turns into Tanahashi/Kenny/Ibushi vs Okada/Bucks.

[Defrost]

The first match for Wrestle Kingdom is official

Hiroshi Tanahashi's retirement road begins with a singles match against EVIL


The replies on twitter in English bitching about this and the replies in Japanese being all about this match are hilarious

[MTR]

What was the set up for this match? Just seems like an odd ball match.

[Morrison]

evil has been calling himself 'president' for months, mocking tanahashi. tana announced his retirement tour, and evil says he's gonna retire him before it can even begin.

[MTR]

Okay got it. Well that is a good set up. Just not a match up I would have expected on Wrestle Kingdom. maybe another show but not the big one. But maybe that is just me. Or maybe not it would seem lol

[Defrost]

evil has been calling himself 'president' for months, mocking tanahashi. tana announced his retirement tour, and evil says he's gonna retire him before it can even begin.

Yeah EVIL and Tanahashi have been cutting promos on each other since Summer and EVIL and the House of Torture have been jumping and beating down Tanahashi.

[Defrost]

So after Power Struggle this is where the two Domes seem headed at the moment

January 4

Zack Sabre Jr vs Shota Umino
David Finlay vs Yota Tsuji
DOUKI vs El Desperado
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs EVIL
Catch 2/2 vs Jet Setters vs Moloney/Connors vs Fujita/Eagles

January 5

Zack Sabre Jr vs Ricochet
Shota Umino vs Jon Moxley
DOUKI vs Sammy Guevara
Kenny Omega vs Gabe Kidd

[MTR]

I thought Omega and Tanahashi were going to take on the Bucks?

[Defrost]

I thought Omega and Tanahashi were going to take on the Bucks?

Plans changed I guess. Or maybe Kenny was going to do both shows, but doesn't think he can physically handle it so they decided to go with the Kidd match of the two.

[MTR]

Yeah I can't imagine he is ready to do both shows. You would think a tag match with those guys would be the best option but hey at least he is on the way back.

[Defrost]

Kenny using Brawl Out to build to his match with Gabe

[Defrost]

Takeshita vs Shingo added for 1/4. The winner wrestles Ishii on 1/5.

[Defrost]

If Takeshita is still International Champion then the match with Shingo will be title for title.

[Defrost]

Also the winner of Shingo vs Takeshita wrestles Ishii on 1.5. Also announced for 1.5 Yota Tsuji vs Jack Perry and Shota Umino vs someone other than Jon Moxley from Moxley's crew in AEW.

[Defrost]

Mayu Iwatani vs AZM for the IWGP Women's Title on 1.4

[Defrost]

I think the show on 1/5 is the worst Tokyo Dome card of all time

[MTR]

Only half assed paid attention lately.

What is the card so far for it?

[Defrost]

Only half assed paid attention lately.

What is the card so far for it?

ZSJ vs Ricochet
Shota vs Claudio
Kenny vs Gabe
O-Khan and Henare vs The Bucks
Random women's four way match
Tsuji vs Jack Perry
Ishii vs the winner of the Takeshita vs Shingo match from the night before

[Defrost]

That card is dire.

Even the shitiest Domes like the Crush shows had something like Kobashi vs Chono on them.

[Tainted Eclipse]

ZSJ vs Ricochet
Shota vs Claudio
Kenny vs Gabe
O-Khan and Henare vs The Bucks
Random women's four way match
Tsuji vs Jack Perry
Ishii vs the winner of the Takeshita vs Shingo match from the night before

Sheesh that does suck.

[MTR]

Only match I am interested in would be the ZSJ vs Ricochet. Ishii vs the winner from the night before might be fine. But yeah I agree not the best card.

[Defrost]

This is the lineup for 1.4 just to be complete. I should note that after the IWGP Tag Title announcement it is almost certain now that Naito vs Hiromu will happen on that show it is just not announced yet

ZSJ vs Shota for the IWGP Title
Finlay vs Tsuji for the Global Title
Tanahashi vs EVIL to determine the real President of NJPW
Narita vs Oiwa vs Cobb for the TV Title
Douki vs Desperado for the Jr Title
Mayu vs AZM for the Women's Title
Shingo vs Takeshita for both the NEVER Title and AEW International Title
KUSHIDA and Kevin Knight vs Robbie Eagles and Kosei Fujita vs TJP and Francesco Akira vs Clark Connors and Drilla Maloney

And most likely Naito vs Hiromu

[Defrost]

Naito and Hiromu won the World Tag League. In the post match promo Naito challenged Hiromu to a match at Wrestle Kingdom.

[MTR]

Don't they get a title shot at Wrestle Kingdom though? I know the Bucks challenged the champs for Dynasty but I figured winners of tag league challenge champs and then champs face Bucks.

I know there is a chance the champs vacate but still just seems odd to have them win if they are just going to do a singles match at Wrestle Kingdom. Don't get me wrong I want to see that match but just wondering what is going on with the tag titles

[Psycho666Soldier]

Don't they get a title shot at Wrestle Kingdom though? I know the Bucks challenged the champs for Dynasty but I figured winners of tag league challenge champs and then champs face Bucks.

I know there is a chance the champs vacate but still just seems odd to have them win if they are just going to do a singles match at Wrestle Kingdom. Don't get me wrong I want to see that match but just wondering what is going on with the tag titles

I could be mistaken as I haven't been caught up on the smaller details, but I believe the World Tag League shot was announced to not have to be used at Wrestle Kingdom, similar to ZSJ with the G1

[Defrost]

Don't they get a title shot at Wrestle Kingdom though? I know the Bucks challenged the champs for Dynasty but I figured winners of tag league challenge champs and then champs face Bucks.

I know there is a chance the champs vacate but still just seems odd to have them win if they are just going to do a singles match at Wrestle Kingdom. Don't get me wrong I want to see that match but just wondering what is going on with the tag titles

Henare is injured and there are no tag champions at the moment because he had to vacate. Maybe they do Bucks vs Naito/Hiromu on the 5th for the vacant titles.

[Psycho666Soldier]

I could be mistaken as I haven't been caught up on the smaller details, but I believe the World Tag League shot was announced to not have to be used at Wrestle Kingdom, similar to ZSJ with the G1

This maybe might have just been someone theorizing on Twitter or something and since I haven't been following I just absorbed it into "Things that happened" or something lol

[MTR]

Looking at New Japan's site and looks like O Khan and a new partner will take on the Bucks at Dynasty for the tag titles.

So guess LIJ can take a shot at the winners at later date.

[Defrost]

Looking at New Japan's site and looks like O Khan and a new partner will take on the Bucks at Dynasty for the tag titles.

So guess LIJ can take a shot at the winners at later date.

Bucks are probably winning so that might be a FD thing

[Defrost]

Full card and match order for Wrestle Kingdom

NJPW "WRESTLE KINGDOM 19 IN TOKYO DOME", 04.01.2025 (WPW/TV Asahi Ch. 2/NJPW World)
Tokyo Dome

1. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title, 4 Way Match: KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight (c) vs. Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita vs. TJP & Francesco Akira vs. Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney
2. IWGP Women's Title: Mayu Iwatani (c) vs. AZM
3. NJPW World TV Title, 3 Way Match: Jeff Cobb (c) vs. Ren Narita vs. Ryohei Oiwa
4. Hiroshi Tanahashi Final Road Special Singles Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. "King of Darkness" EVIL
5. NEVER Openweight Title: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. KONOSUKE TAKESHITA
6. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: DOUKI (c) vs. El Desperado
7. IWGP Global Heavyweight Title: David Finlay (c) vs. Yota Tsuji
8. Special Singles Match: Tetsuya Naito vs. Hiromu Takahashi
9. IWGP World Heavyweight Title: Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Shota Umino

[MTR]

They added a luchadore gauntlet and Mercedes defending her title to the Dynasty show I see

[Defrost]

Yeah. Also tickets started going a little faster for 1/4 after Naito vs Hiromu was announced.

[Defrost]

The KOPW Title has been retired. The winner of the Rambo will get a shot at the IWGP World Title.

[MTR]

Wait the winner of the pre show rambo which is just basically people that were not able to get on the show gets a title shot?

[Defrost]

Yes

[Defrost]

[Defrost]

[Defrost]

The Wrestle Kingdom poster is fucking awesome

[MTR]

New Japan subscription started up. Ready for the weekend.

[Defrost]

[Tainted Eclipse]

The Wrestle Kingdom poster is fucking awesome

that is pretty nice.

i may make an effort to attend WK next year. would be cool to see a tokyo dome show.

[Defrost]

that is pretty nice.

i may make an effort to attend WK next year. would be cool to see a tokyo dome show.

I feel like I have to go next year for Tanahashi's retirement

[Defrost]

[Defrost]

[MTR]

Saw Nakamura's entrance at the NOAH show. Pretty cool. Not so cool is that Omos is tag champ there now...

[Defrost]

Saw Nakamura's entrance at the NOAH show. Pretty cool. Not so cool is that Omos is tag champ there now...

If they do things right, and it's NOAH so that is not a given, I can see Omos becoming a big deal there.

[MTR]

He has a great look and all but he just didn't seem to improve much. Lets see what they are able to do with him.

[Defrost]

[Defrost]

[Defrost]

[Defrost]

Josh Barnett vs Oleg vs O-Khan, Inokiism is back baby.

[Defrost]

Hirooki Goto wins the Rambo and gets a shot at the IWGP Title

[Defrost]

Mayu vs AZM was fucking awesome

[Defrost]

4 Way was fun. This EVIL entrance is fire.

[Defrost]

Tanahashi vs EVIL was really good. And now Tanahashi vs Shibata tomorrow.

[Defrost]

I'm still gutted for Douki. Having a hard time getting back into this.

[MTR]

Great show. Hate what happened to Douki.

Cobb joining O’Khan against Bucks and now a three way match as Naito and Hiromu join

[Defrost]

Kenny vs Kidd. Wow.

[Defrost]

Maybe the key to NJPW/AEW crossover shows is for them to be shitty on paper. The first Forbidden Door and now this.

[Fanny Batter]

I know it can't happen due to the AEW relationship, but a Cena vs. Tanahashi match at the Tokyo Dome during their respective retirement tours is something that needs to be willed into the world. Whether it would be good or not is irrelevant, giving Tanahashi a Dome sellout and proper US notoriety on his way out seems the absolute right thing to do and would get more buzz for New Japan than sending Naito to AEW every June.

[MTR]

Kenny vs Kidd. Wow.

That was fucking brutal and brilliant and just wow

[Tainted Eclipse]

omega/gabe was very very good. the one-winged angle into the abdominal stretch was awesome.

[Defrost]

Takeshita has signed a deal with New Japan. So he now has deals with AEW, DDT, and New Japan.

[Defrost]

There be a lot of heat going around

[Matthew]

what is it

[Defrost]

Obviously the Charlton suspension is public

But a couple of other things the NJPW did not like dealing with Tony Khan at all in the lead up to Wrestle Dynasty.

Khan did not want Kenny and the Bucks on the show, but they have clauses in their contracts that they can take any NJPW dates they want and went despite his disapproval.

[Defrost]

Wow Gabe gets the cover over Zack

https://x.com/shupromobile/status/18...EixxCroYw_UZrA

[Psycho666Soldier]

Just now catching up on stuff and finished Wrestle Kingdom today. Absolutely heartbroken for DOUKI, especially considering it felt like those two were getting ready to give an all-timer.

Overall this was a great Wrestle Kingdom. All the big matches delivered. ZSJ/Shota is one of my favorite Dome main events since I've been watching New Japan, with Zack really looking like a true champion. Shota unlocking more of that shithead side will do him so many favors in my opinion.

Excited for the immediate future of New Japan. Hopefully I can finish Wrestle Dynasty this weekend.