New Japan held a press conference today regarding the Tokyo Dome doubleheader on 1/4 & 1/5. Here are some notes coming out of it-the presser can be watched on demand FOR FREE on YouTube and New Japan World.
First, President Hiroshi Tanahashi announced some more fallout from POWER STRUGGLE Monday: Gabriel Kidd has been fined an undisclosed amount for attacking Kenny Omega backstage after Omega’s appearance. This was not shown on the live broadcast. Tanahashi also apologized to All Elite Wrestling, Omega’s current promotion. Omega hopes to compete on 1/5 at WRESTLE DYNASTY but this is mot guaranteed as he recovers from surgery for diverticulitis.
The 1/4 main event is now official-IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Zack Sabre Jr vs. (to the internet’s dismay) Shota Umino for the title. Also official for 1/4: IWGP Global Champion David Finlay vs. Yota Tsuji for the title and IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion DOUKI vs. El Desperado for the title. Additionally confirmed: IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Kevin Knight & KUSHIDA vs. Kosei Fujita & Robbie Eagles, Francesco Akira & TJP and Drilla Moloney & Clark Connors in a 4-way for the titles plus NJPW WORLD TV Champion Ren Narita vs. Jeff Cobb & Ryohei Oiwa in a 3-way for the title. Both are first to score pinfall/submission wins and not elimination matches. Not yet official is an IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship match, expect that after the World Tag League which starts next week and goes into early December. The only other match confirmed so far is Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. EVIL.
The first official match for 1/5 is Sabre vs. Ricochet. At this time it is a NON-TITLE match assuming Sabre is still IWGP World Heavyweight Champion at the time.
Chairman Naoki Sugabayshi also announced broadcast plans for both events: They will both be live on New Japan World. The good news for 1/5: No PPV. 1/4 will begin tentatively at midnight PT/3 AM ET with 1/5 beginning on 1/4 at 8 PM PT/11 PM ET. 1/4 will also be a live & exclusive TV Asahi broadcast in Japan with a replay that night (meaning the Nee Japan World version will be available OUTSIDE JAPAN ONLY) while 1/5 will be a New Japan World 10th Anniversary celebration event and available to all monthly paid subscribers worldwide, so you can essentially watch both for as low as $9.99.
