NJPW Owner, Takaaki Kidani, spoke to Tokyo Sports about some future goals he has with NJPW. @STRIGGA of Purolove.com provided the translations. Kidani hopes to continue filling out the Tokyo Dome, eventually filling the seats in the outfield, but to do that he’ll need more young Japanese stars, and a heavyweight star in his twenties. Between a rising fan base and sales in 2018, Kidani continued that NJPW will have more money to pay wrestlers and are looking to continue to bring in wrestlers who had a relationship with WWE until “the other side” says “let’s get along.” Clearly, bringing in Chris Jericho had a positive impact on the company’s bottom line and overseas exposure as NJPW has already lined him up to face Tetsuya Naito.
In Toyko Sports Takaaki Kidani said that in two years time he wants to fill the seats in the outfield of the Tokyo Dome and mobilize even more fans. Therefore he says New Japan needs young japanese stars, specifically a heavyweight star in his 20s.
Kidani furthermore said that he remembers how the New Japan fan club had 1,890 members in 2012 and now membership figures are at 12,000. Kidani: "The base is rising. Various synergies are occurring. New Japan's sales are also rising."
With rising numbers Kidani said NJPW will be able to pay more money to wrestlers and he wants to get more wrestlers with a relationship WWE involved in New Japan. He says he's going to do that until "the other side" says: "Let's get along."
NJPW is already rolling out their schedule for a majority of their major shows in the first half of 2018. Among the dates, the biggest news is for the three finals shows of the G1 Climax, NJPW will return to Budokan Hall for the first time in over 15 years. Budokan Hall can hold around 15k fans. Below is a list of the noted shows:
* The New Beginning in Sapporo (January 27 and 28)
* The New Beginning in Osaka (February 10)
* NJPW 46th Anniversary (March 6)
* New Japan Cub Final 2018 (March 21)
* USA: Strong Style Evolved (March 25)
* Sakura Genesis 2018 (April 1)
* Wrestling Hi No Kuni 2018 (April 29)
* Wrestling Dontaku 2018 (May 3 and 4)
* Best of the Super Juniors – Opening Show (May 18)
Nagata, Tenzan, Nakanishi & Kojima def. Oka, Yagi, Umino & Narita @ 7:10 via Kojima lariat on Umino
The young lions tried to start their 2018 on the right foot with a win. The attacked all the veterans from behind and dumped all but Tenzan to the outside. Unfortunately, once all the veterans gained their composuer, the young lions paid the price. Fine match but wasn’t anything different than we saw from this pairing last year.
Iizuka, Taichi, Kanemaru, Deperado & Taka def. Liger, Tiger, Makabe, Henare & Kawato @ 8:49 via Desperado Pinche Loco on Kawato
Lots of the same ‘ol typical Suzuki-Gun brawling on the outside. Makabe tried to maintain order but was unable. Tiger, Liger and Kawato hit a series of their finishers onto Desperado but the pin was broken up, leading to Suzuki-Gun isolating Kawato and picking up the win. Post-match, Kawato is hit with Iizuka’s Iron Fingers from Hell. New year, same match.
Jay White def. Katsuya Kitamura @ 7:31 via Blade Runner
Alright, something new to sink our teeth into. They started off great by having White cut off Kitamura’s offense by attacking the leg to a great amount of jeers. Ultimately they ended up going about two minutes longer than they should have. Kitamura had one more comeback than he should have and they resulted in a flat finish. White gave the young lion a little too much offense.
Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks def. Cheeseburger & Roppongi 3K @ 11:19 via Meltzer Driver on Cheeseburger
The goofy comedy match you’d expect out of Kenny and the Bucks at Korakuen. Matt and Yoh played up their back injuries from yesterday and Kenny was all bandaged up. Silly little match, nothing significant but the type of thing fans of the Bucks get a kick out of seeing. I’ve become increasingly impressed with Sho. The way he carries himself like a big deal is awesome.
Cody, Scurll, Yujiro, Owens & Leo def Ibushi, KUSHIDA, Juice, Taguchi & Finlay @ 13:18 via Cody American Nightmare on Finlay
The match was good but this was all about the post-match. As for the match, this was clearly the best of the show to this point. There was a lot of goofiness mixed with strong, fun wrestling. Now for the post-match. After Cody got the win, he and Bullet Club went after Ibushi. Just as Cody was about to use a chair, Omega rushed in for the save. He sent his stable to the back and took the mic. His message was that he was tired of the in-fighting occurring within Bullet Club and the solution to their problems is Jay White. He invited Jay to come out and join the Bullet Club. Without much hesitation, Jay put the shirt on and gave Omega a hug. He then transitioned the hug into the Blade Runner and took the shirt off. Omega was unable to recruit the Switchblade, who is now the next challenger for the US Championship. These are the types of moments that make people tune into New Year Dash. Real good, memorable moment.
NEVER 6-Man Tag Team Championship Match
Fale, Tama & Tanga def. Ishii, Yano & Beretta (c) @ 14:39 via Tama Gun Stun on Beretta
A rematch of yesterday’s gauntlet finals, the titles swap yet again. Typical of this championship, this is just a filler title to make shows feel more significant than they truly are. The match itself was good, on par of yesterday’s match, not special but a good match when compared to anything else on this show. Beretta and Tama have now traded pins on back-to-back nights. This may signal a New Japan Cup match between the two in March.
Suzuki, Sabre, Archer & Smith def. Tanahashi, Elgin, Hanson & Rowe @ 11:36 via Killer Bomb on Hanson
Suzuki debuted his newly clean-shaved head, a real bizarre sight to see. It looks like his next target is Tanahashi and let me tell you, I’m ALL IN on that one. For the second straight night War Machine are defeated, meaning those NXT rumors are likely true and this was their last tour with New Japan. Another good match, this show has hit a groove after the White/Kitamura match. Nothing has been blow away but plenty of matches good enough to make the show pass with relative ease. Post-match Suzuki-Gun beat down Tanahashi as Suzuki holds the IC belt high. Sign me up!
Naito, EVIL, SANADA, Hiromu & BUSHI def. Okada, Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, Ospreay & Gedo @ 13:50 via Naito Destino on YOSHI-HASHI
Hell of a post-match in this one to close out the show. Once Naito picked up the win, Hiromu delivered Time Bomb to Ospreay, EVIL gave EVIL to Goto and SANADA locked Skull End on Okada. Those very well end up being the feuds to come in the near future. BUT THAT’S NOT ALL! After his speech, Chris Jericho attacks Naito from behind. The two have a big pull apart brawl to end the show. People were wondering where Naito goes after the loss to Okada and now we have the answer. Both of Wrestle Kingdom’s unsuccessful main event challengers are destined to have a meeting. Very cool ending to this year’s New Year Dash.
Each year the purpose of the New Year Dash is to reset from the year previous and set up the current year’s feuds. This year we got the set up of Naito/Jericho, Tanahashi/Suzuki, Omega/White, Ospreay/Hiromu as well as possible Goto/EVIL and Okada/SANADA matches.
Check out the full results for Wrestle Kingdom 12 below:
Wrestle Kingdom 12
January 4, 2018
Tokyo Dome
Tokyo, Japan
Pre-Show
New Japan Rumble
Masahito Kakihara pins Cheeseburger to win the Rumble
Main Card
IWGP Junior Tag Team Championship The Young Bucks defeat Roppongi 3K (SHO and YOH) to become 7-time IWGP Junior tag team champs
The Bucks hit a Meltzer Driver before Nick forced YOH to tap with a sharpshooter.
NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship Chaos (Beretta, Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano) defeat Bullet Club (Toma Tonga, Bad Luck Fale and Tanga Loa) (c), War Machine and Michael Elgin, Suzuki-gun (Zack Sabre Jr., Taichi and Takashi Iizuka) and Taguchi Japan (Juice Robinson, Ryusuke Taguchi and Togi Makabe)
Suzuki-gun moves on after Sabre Jr. gets the technical submission on Rowe with a triangle choke to eliminate the team of War Machine and Elgin. Yano is responsible for eliminating Suzuki-gun immediately. Yano eliminates Taguchi Japan. Beretta hits the Dudebuster on Toma Tonga and we have new 6-man tag team champs.
Special Singles Match Kota Ibushi defeats Cody
Kota got the pinfall after hitting a Kamigoye and a Phoenix Splash.
IWGP Tag Team Championship SANADA and EVIL defeat Killer Elite Squad (Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Lance Archer) (c)
SANADA and EVIL hit the Magic Killer and SANADA hit a Muta moonsault to get the pinfall on Davey Boy Smith. Three title changes so far in three title matches.
NEVER Openweight Championship (Hair vs. Hair Match) Hirooki Goto defeats Minoru Suzuki (c)
Goto hits Goto Revolution to get the victory and we have a new champ. Goto sets up a chair for Suzuki to cut his hair but Suzuki wants his own chair and he wants to shave his head himself. He does just that and slams his shaven hair on the chair before exiting the ring.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship (Four-Way Match) Will Ospreay defeats Marty Scurll (c), KUSHIDA and Hiromu Takahashi
Ospreay hits the OsCutter on Scurll to get the pin and become a 2-time IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion.
IWGP Intercontinental Championship Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) defeats Jay White
Tanahashi becomes the first champion to retain on the show after hitting High Fly Flow.
IWGP United States Championship Kenny Omega (c) defeats Chris Jericho
Omega hits the One Winged Angel on a steel chair to get the pinfall. This match delivered on so many levels. Jericho put on the performance of a lifetime at 47-years-old and Kenny, well, he just continues to be the Best Bout Machine as advertised.
Okada retains after hitting a Rainmaker that appeared to KO Naito. He countered a Destino in a jumping Tombstone piledriver before the final Rainmaker to seal the deal. Okada’s historic reign as IWGP Heavyweight Champion continues.
In the U.S., the event starts with the pre-show late Wednesday night (11 p.m. PT) / early Thursday morning (2 a.m. ET) depending on your time zone. The pre-show match should start around 11:30 p.m. PT/2:30 a.m. ET with the main show kicking off shortly after.
IWGP Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito
IWGP United States Championship: Kenny Omega (c) vs. Chris Jericho
IWGP Intercontinental Championship: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Jay White
IWGP Jr Heavyweight Championship: Marty Scurll (c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi vs. KUSHIDA vs. Will Ospreay
NEVER Openweight Championship – Death Match – Hair vs Hair/ Nobody at Ringside: Minoru Suzuki (c) vs. Hirooki Goto
IWGP Tag Team Championship: Killler Elite Squad (Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr.) vs. EVIL & SANADA
Cody vs. Kota Ibushi
NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship – Gauntlet Match: Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Bad Luck Fale (c) vs. Ryusuke Taguchi, Juice Robinson & Togi Makabe vs. Beretta, Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii vs. War Machine (Hanson & Raymond Rowe) & Michael Elgin vs. Taichi, Takashi Iizuka & Zack Sabre Jr.
IWGP Jr Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Roppongi 3K (c) vs. The Young Bucks
(Pre-Show) New Japan Rumble
AXS TV will air Wrestle Kingdom 12 starting this Saturday night with a WK 12 special that will showcase the event’s three headlining championship matches: IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Champion Kenny Omega vs. Chris Jericho, IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada vs. G1 CLIMAX 27 Tournament Champion Tetsuya Naito, and IWGP Intercontinental Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Jay White.
AXS TV will continue its coverage of Wrestle Kingdom 12 following the special over five episodes Friday nights starting Jan. 12 at 8pE/5pP.
I won’t post the Wrestle Kingdom 12 results until Monday.
AXS TV announced that Jim Ross will continue calling the action for NJPW programming in 2018, despite also being under contract with WWE.
The announcement was made via press release and it notes that he and Josh Barnett will kick off the new year doing commentary for the Wrestle Kingdom 12 special on January 6.
Good Ole JR was quoted saying, “I’m excited to be returning to AXS TV and with my partner Josh Barnett we look forward to another exciting year with AXS TV and their NJPW programming. NJPW has some of the finest athletes in the world performing for them and it’s an honor to be able to add a narrative to their bouts.”
JR reportedly signed a two-year deal with WWE for a “specific number of dates” when he returned for WrestleMania this year. He also did commentary for the Mae Young Classic.
Former ROH Tag Team Champions and NJPW’s IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions “War Machine” Hanson and Raymond Rowe are currently going through medical testing to be signed by WWE, according to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio.
No word yet on when Hanson and Rowe may debut for WWE but word is that they will be working the WWE NXT brand, setting up another potential showdown with Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish.
Meltzer noted that War Machine finished up with Ring of Honor this past weekend but they are still scheduled to work New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Wrestle Kingdom 12 event from the Tokyo Dome on January 4th, 2018. If all goes well with the WWE medical tests, we could see the former IWGP Tag Team Champions in NXT before WrestleMania 34 Season gets going.
Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega took part in a press conference earlier this morning, which you can watch in the video below, to promote their upcoming match at WrestleKingdom 12 on January 4th at the Tokyo Dome. Omega addressed the media first, and spoke for about 18 minutes before leaving.
Jericho made his way out next. Jericho only got to speak for about 3 minutes before he was attacked by Omega. They brawled briefly before being pulled apart as Jericho cursed. Jericho finally regained his composure and addressed the crowd again.
“This is going to be a match that you have never seen in New Japan,” Jericho said while breathing heavily. “This is not about five stars, seven stars, this is not about how many times you can go for your finishing move. This is a fight, it’s a war, it’s Alpha vs. Omega and Kenny, you are going to get the s–t kicked out of you, do you understand me?
“I’ve been to Japan sixty times,” Jericho continued. “This match is the most important match I’ve ever had in Japan!”
An irate Jericho also cursed at someone in the crowd, calling him “f–kface” before saying that he would prove that he’s the best in the world at Wrestle Kingdom 12. He finished by saying that their bout would be Omega’s last match ever in New Japan.
As noted, Jericho made a surprise appearance and attacked Omega at the NJPW World Tag League Final on Monday in Fukuoka. After Omega and The Young Bucks had defeated YOH, SHO & Rocky Romero, the lights went out and a video from Jericho aired, who congratulated Omega on his victory. When the lights came back on, Jericho was in the ring and planted Omega with a Code Breaker. He then hit Omega in the face with the U.S. title belt. By the time the melee was over, he had also a referee and announcer Don Callis. Jericho continued his attack on Omega and busted him open before the Young Bucks finally hit the ring and Jericho retreated to the back.
Earlier today, the finals in the NJPW World Tag League took place with EVIL and SANADA defeating The Guerrillas of Destiny to win the tournament for the first time in their careers. Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks were also in action defeating YOH, SHO, and Rocky Romero.
After the match, the lights went down and Chris Jericho appeared, giving Omega a Code Breaker in the ring, and eventually busting open the IWGP US Champion. Jericho also gave NJPW Announcer, Don Callis, a Code Breaker in the ring. The two wrestlers will meet at Wrestle Kingdom 12 for the IWGP US Championship.
* EVIL and SANADA defeated The Guerrillas of Destiny (World Tag League Final)
* Hiromu Takahashi and Tetsuya Naito defeated Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada
* The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega defeated YOH, SHO, and Rocky Romero
* Marty Scurll and Cody defeated KUSHIDA and Kota Ibushi
* Yuji Nagata, Satoshi Kojima, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Manabu Nakanishi, and Jushin Thunder Liger defeated Togi Makabe, David Finlay, Henare, Hirai Kawato, and Katsuya Kitamura
* Michael Elgin, Jeff Cobb, and War Machine (Hanson and Raymond Rowe) defeated Bullet Club (Hangman Page, Yujiro Takahashi, Chase Owens, and Leo Tonga)
* Bad Luck Fale defeated BUSHI
* Best Friends (Beretta and Chuckie T) defeated Death Juice (Juice Robinson and Sami Callihan)
* CHAOS (Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano, and YOSHI-HASHI) defeated Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki, Lance Archer, Davey Boy Smith Jr., and El Desperado)
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