New Japan Pro Wrestling's WRESTLE KINGDOM - An Annual Extravaganza!

What Is NJPW’s Flagship Event “Wrestle Kingdom”?

There are numerous Japanese pro wrestling organizations, but among them, New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) has one of the longest histories. NJPW got its start in Tokyo Dome, one of the biggest sports stadiums in the country, by holding a pro wrestling event there on April 24th, 1989. This was called “the Tokyo Dome show” at the time, and the shows at the Tokyo Dome would later become the flagship event of NJPW.

Even now, the Tokyo Dome show is held once a year, and in 2007, it was renamed Wrestle Kingdom. The event has become a familiar fixture to many fans.

Since 1992, the Tokyo Dome show has been held every year on January 4th, and fans are now so accustomed to the date that “1.4” is taken as a reference to NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom show. Wrestle Kingdom 12 will be held on January 4th, 2018! This important show will serve as a culmination of the whole year, as well as a new beginning. 

The show is distinct for having special matches booked in addition to championship contests. Let’s take a look at the match card! For more on the allure of NJPW and information on how to buy tickets, read these articles: A Must For Wrestling Fans: Complete Guide To New Japan Pro-Wrestling! and Japanese Wrestling Report: A New Japan Pro-Wrestling Match!

The Mightiest Clash in NJPW: the IGWP Heavyweight Championship Match

A previous meeting between Kazuchika Okada (left) and Tetsuya Naito (right)

This year’s main event is a title match for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, pitting Kazuchika Okada versus Tetsuya Naito. Okada, the 65th champion, defeated Naito to win the belt on June 19th, 2016. Naito, the challenger, won the G1 Climax league series in the summer of 2017, and aims to take back the belt from Okada.

However, Okada cannot afford to lose. While he beat Naito to become the 65th champion, he was also the 63rd champion before losing to Naito at Ryogoku Hall on April 10th, 2016. Okada certainly does not want to lose the belt to Naito twice. For Naito, this is a golden opportunity to win the belt from Okada. What conclusion awaits for these men, whose destinies have been entwined over these past two and a half years?

See Many of NJPW’s Feature Matches!

The IWGP Heavyweight Championship is not the only throne contested in NJPW.

A previous NEVER Openweight Championship bout

The other belts up for grabs in singles matches are the IWGP Intercontinental Championship, where the wrestlers will battle for what is known as the “white belt,” and the NEVER Openweight Championship. 

There will also be matches for the 30-year-old IWGP Tag Team Championship as well as the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship, a new championship created in 2016.

A previous IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship bout

In the lighter weight class, there will be matches for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship and the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Championship, known for showcasing wrestlers’ spectacular high-flying techniques.

A previous IWGP Jr. Tag Team Championship bout

At Wrestle Kingdom on January 4, 2018, you can see all of these matches at one event!

Details about the match card will be released on the Wrestle Kingdom official site, Facebook, and the NJPW World on demand service, so check them for information. A portion of seats are already sold out, so we recommend making reservations as soon as possible! The Ticket sales agency websites are in Japanese, so ask a friend to help you.

Special Guests in the Pre-Show New Japan Rumble!

In addition, there is a ‘hidden’ match on the show, held before the main card, known as the New Japan Rumble. It begins as a singles match, but new wrestlers enter one after another as the match continues, turning it into a massive free-for-all. The last man standing is the winner. Unexpected surprise guests will join the fray! If you're curious about who will show up, by all means, check it out!

SKE48 Idol Jurina Matsui Will Be Heading to the Tokyo Dome on January 4th!

There is a special ‘ambassador’ for Wrestle Kingdom, who is there to hype up the matches. The 2018 ambassador is Jurina Matsui, a member of the Japanese idol group SKE48! 

You might think to yourself, “Why does an idol care about pro wrestling?” However, Ms. Matsui is a huge pro wrestling fan, to the point that she actually stepped into the ring at Korakuen Hall as a wrestler on August 29th, 2017. At Wrestle Kingdom 12 at the Tokyo Dome (doors open at 15:30, show starts at 17:00), you will be able to enjoy many heated bouts.

 If you visit Tokyo for the new year, come to the show! The heart-pounding battles between the wrestlers and the venue’s enthusiastic atmosphere are sure to leave an impression on you!

NJPW Official Site：https://www.njpw1972.com/
Wrestle Kingdom 12 at the Tokyo Dome Official Site：http://www.wrestlekingdom.jp/(Japanese)

Photos and text by Yuichiro Hotta.
Sponsored by New Japan Pro Wrestling Co., Ltd.