Two more title bouts have been added to the upcoming New Japan Pro-Wrestling Wrestle Kingdom 18 event which is the biggest show of the year for the promotion.
The NJPW World TV Title will be on the line as the current champion Zack Sabre Jr will defend the championship against Hiroshi Tanahashi.
In addition, Tama Tonga will get an opportunity to regain the NEVER Openweight Championship from the man who defeated him for it, Shingo Takagi.
NJPW made the announcement of both matches on their website today.
Here is that press release from NJPW:
“Shingo Takagi will defend the NEVER Openweight Championship against Tama Tonga. After Takagi defeated Tama to lift the NEVER Openweight Championship for a third time in Las Vegas at Fighting Spirit Unleashed, Tonga made it clear he wanted a rematch, and stepped up to go face to face wit the Dragon after Shingo retained against Trent Beretta at Lonestar Shootout. The main event at Fighting Spirit Unleashed certainly showed that Tama could bring the ‘BMF’ prestige to NEVER competition, but with only one defence between three prior reigns for the Guerrilla of Destiny, this might become his last chance to seize NEVER gold. Will he make it, or will Shingo rampage into 2024 still the champ?
Zack Sabre Jr. and Hiroshi Tanahashi’s storied rivalry will continue at Wrestle Kingdom, with the NJPW World TV Championship currently scheduled to be on the line. After Tanahashi caught Sabre with an inside cradle to retain the NEVER Openweight 6 Man tag Championships at Power Struggle, the Ace indicated that he wanted ZSJ one on one once more. Sabre has been determined to get to V20 with the TV title before year’s end, and may still be looking to extend that reign before January 4- but assuming he still holds the gold by Tokyo Dome, old foe Tanahashi will be a formidable test.“
Wrestle Kingdom 18 is set for January 4th, 2024 at the Tokyo Dome.
Here is the updated line-up for NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18:
- IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
SANADA (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito - Bryan Danielson vs. Kazuchika Okada
- IWGP United States Championship
Will Ospreay (c) vs. Jon Moxley vs. David Finlay - NEVER Openweight Championship
Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Tama Tonga - IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
Hiromu Takahashi (c) vs. El Desperado - IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships
BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Drilla Moloney & Clark Connors) vs. Catch 2/2 (Francesco Akira & TJP) - NJPW World TV Championship
Zack Sabre Jr (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi - NEVER Openweight Championship
Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Tama Tonga
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