Wrestle Kingdom main event & BOSJ field announced, Naito return set

New Japan started the week with a frenzy of news. Let’s catch you up.

As expected coming out of Sat., Nov. 6’s Power Struggle show in Osaka, G1 winner Kazuchika Okada will challenge IWGP World Heavyweight champion Shingo Takagi at Wrestle Kingdom 16. That match will take place on night one of this year’s three night event, Jan. 4 in the Tokyo Dome.

Regarding the v4 IWGP Heavyweight strap Okada’s been carrying around to represent his G1 win, the champ continued to mock New Japan’s decision to allow the Rainmaker to do that. Shingo didn’t name the legend, but made it clear that when he beats Okada at Wrestle Kingdom, he’ll give the v4 belt to Antonio Inoki as part of New Japan’s 50th anniversary celebrations in 2022.

The line-up for this year’s Best of the Super Juniors (BOSJ) tournament was revealed. BOSJ 28 will be a single block round robin format, with the two wrestlers with the most points facing off in the finals on Dec. 15. Action starts this Saturday (Nov. 13). There should be a ton of great action throughout this one, as usual. Count on that Dec. 11 clash between former Roppongi 3K teammates SHO and YOH being important.

The World Tag League is also coming up on the Road to the Tokyo Dome. We don’t have the line-up for that tournament yet, but it will include the return of Tetsuya Naito. Los Ingobernables de Japon’s leader exited the G1 Climax tournament after one match back in August due to a knee injury. He revealed today that he didn’t need surgery, and will team with faction-mate Sanada when World Tag League starts on Sunday (Nov. 14).

Excited for the next couple months of NJPW action?