Women’s match added to Wrestle Kingdom for first time ever

When NJPW parent company Bushiroad purchased Stardom, the pre-eminent joshi (women’s) wrestling promotion in Japan, word was they would be kept separate. The possibility Stardom talent could be used for North American shows was mentioned, but the notion of New Japan suddenly adding a women’s division was dismissed.

This still isn’t that. But it was announced on Stardom’s year-end show earlier today (Dec. 24) that there will be a women’s match during the first night of Wrestle Kingdom 14 at the Tokyo Dome on Jan. 4, 2020.

This is doubly surprising, as Stardom already has a show happening Jan. 4 at Ryogoku KFC Hall. That event will run before Wrestle Kingdom, and was seen by many as being the joshi portion of NJPW’s version of WrestleMania.

Now, the women have made the card.

There’s nothing yet on who will compete in the match. And it does not look like fans outside the Tokyo Dome will be able to see it, anyway. Word is this is a dark match (likely because Stardom and NJPW’s rights are owned by different television networks in Japan). But it’s still a step.

Women are still a ways away from receiving equal time/billing as men in the world of wrestling. But they continue making big strides.

Thoughts on this news from Japan?