NJPW Tokyo Dome show happening with fans despite Japan’s latest COVID lockdown

Japan and the country’s COVID response are in the headlines again this week.

With cases rising on the eve of the rescheduled dates for the 2020 Summer Olympics, the government announced another State of Emergency, the country’s fourth. This one will have the international athletes mostly competing in empty arenas at The Games, causing many to again question if they should be happening at all.

The lockdown, which goes into effect on Monday (July 12) and stretches until Aug. 22, had many wrestling fans wondering if New Japan would have to again postpone its Wrestle Grand Slam event, or hold it in an empty Tokyo Dome. The company announced today that the show will go on. Fans who purchase tickets by Sunday will be able to attend.

Thank you for your continued support of New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

On July 25, ‘Godzilla vs Kong presents: Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome’ will proceed as planned, with NJPW continuing its commitment to safe events as held across Japan with fans for the past year.

However, in light of the recent announcement of another state of emergency across Tokyo and the subsequent restrictions this enforces on live events, we regret to announce that ticket sales for Wrestle Grand Slam will end at midnight JST on July 11.

We deeply apologize for the inconvenience this causes. We look forward to welcoming fans on July 25, with fan safety given the utmost priority.

It’s good news for fans looking forward to seeing Shingo Takagi defend his newly won IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against former champ Kota Ibushi. It’s also evidence of Japan’s, and the world’s, scattershot approach to handling the pandemic.

Stay safe, everybody.