NJPW presented their biggest show of the year for the 18th time.
Taking place inside The Tokyo Dome on January 4th, Wrestle Kingdom 18 saw multiple title changes take place along with many match-of-the-year contenders.
In a surprising result early on, Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Zack Sabre Jr. to become the new NJPW World Television Champion, ending Sabre Jr’s lengthy reign as the inaugural champion.
The early title changes would set the precedent for the evening as new champions were crowned throughout the night. In a highly anticipated 3-way match, David Finlay would defeat Jon Moxley and Will Ospreay to become the first-ever IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion.
In a rematch from Forbidden Door, Kazuchika Okada would defeat Bryan Danielson to bring their rivalry to one victory apiece, setting up an inevitable rubber match at some point in the near future.
Capping off a newsworthy night in Tokyo, Tetsuya Naito defeated SANADA in the main event to become a 4-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, bringing SANADA’s reign to an end after 270 days.
The Following Results Took Place At NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18:
Pre Show:
- Great-O-Khan, Taiji Ishimori, Toru Yano and Yoh won the New Japan Ranbo
Main card:
- Catch 2/2 [TJP and Francesco Akira] defeated Bullet Club War Dogs [Clark Connors and Drilla Moloney] to become the new IGWP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions
- Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Zack Sabre Jr. to become the new NJPW World Television Champion
- Yuya Uemura defeated Yota Tsuji
- House of Torture [Evil and Ren Narita] defeated Shota Umino and Kaito Kiyomiya
- Tama Tonga defeated Shingo Takagi to become the new NEVER Openweight Champion
- Hikuleo and El Phantasmo defeated Hirooki Goto and Yoshi-Hashi to win a winner-take-all match for the IWGP and Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships
- El Desperado defeated Hiromu Takahashi to become the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion
- David Finlay defeated Jon Moxley and Will Ospreay to become the inaugural IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion
- Kazuchika Okada defeated Bryan Danielson
- Tetsuya Naito defeated SANADA to become the new IWGP World Heavyweight Champion