NJPW has announced it’s latest run of shows following their record-breaking 2-night Wrestle Kingdom event.
The Road to New Beginning tour begins in Korakuen Hall on January 17th. This is followed by 11 more nights of action before New Beginning then takes place over 3 nights in Nagoya and Hiroshima.
The full line-ups have been announced for New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s ‘Road To’ events as has what will take place at New Beginning itself. The main event for the 30th January show in Nagoya will see NEVER Openweight Champion Shingo Takagi defend against Hiroshi Tanahashi. The full card for this show can be found below:
NJPW New Beginning in Nagoya – January 30th
– Toru Yano & Kazuchika Okada vs. Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL
– Master Wato, SHO, Tomoaki Honma, Kota Ibushi vs. BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA
– Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Great-O-Khan
– Satoshi Kojami vs. Will Ospreay
– NEVER Openweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
Takagi successfully defended his championship on night 2 of Wrestle Kingdom against Jeff Cobb. On night 1, Tanahashi defeated Cobb’s Empire team-mate Great-O-Khan.
Following this will be a 2-night event in Hiroshima on February 10th and 11th. Night one’s main event will see newly-crowned IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi defend his title against SHO. Night 1’s card is below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TFL5EjrrBU
NJPW New Beginning in Hiroshima Night One – February 10th
– Gabriel Kidd, Yuya Uemura, Yota Tsuji vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru, El Desperado, Minoru Suzuki
– Master Wato vs. BUSHI
– YOSHI-HASHI, Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto, Toru Yano, Kazuchika Okada vs. El Phantasmo, Taiji Isjimori, Dick Togo, Yujiro Takahashi, EVIL
– Tomoaki Honma & Kota Ibushi vs. Tetsuya Naito & SANADA
– IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Tanga Loa & Tama Tonga (c) vs. Zack Sabre Jr & Taichi
– IWHP Junior Heavyweight Championship:Hiromu Takahashi (c) vs. SHO
IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Champion Kota Ibushi and SANADA will headline night 2. The full card for night 2 is below:
NJPW New Beginning in Hiroshima Night Two – February 11th
– YOSHI-HASHI, Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto vs. Gabriel Kidd, Yuya Uemura, Yota Tsuji
– Yoshinobu Kanemaru, El Desperado, Minoru Suzuki vs. El Phantasmo, Taiji Ishimori, Yujiro Takahashi
– Master Wato, SHO, Tomoaki Honma vs. BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi, Tetsuya Naito
– Toru Yano & Kazuchika Okada vs. Dick Togo & EVIL
– DOUKI, Zack Sabre Jr, Taichi vs. Jado, Tanga Loa, Tama Tonga
– IWGP Heavyweight And Intercontinental Championships:Kota Ibushi (c) vs. SANADA
Both Ibushi and SANADA had big wins on night 2 of Wrestle Kingdom. SANADA defeated former ‘Los Ingobernables de Japon’ teammate EVIL. In the main event, Ibushi successfully defended both of his titles against Bullet Club’s Jay White. It should be noted that White is not involved in this tour at all. There has been speculation surrounding his contract status although he is currently advertised to take part in events for NJPW in March.