NEVER Openweight Title Bout, Keiji Muto’s Last NJPW Match, And More Added To NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17
New Japan Pro-Wrestling has confirmed the card for NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling has confirmed the card for NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17.
During a press conference on December 15, the company added several more matches to the show, which will be held at the Tokyo Dome on January 4.
WWE star Karl Anderson will defend the NEVER Openweight Championship against Tama Tonga following their brawl at the World Tag League and Super Junior Tag League Final event on December 14. By competing at Wrestle Kingdom, Anderson will become the first wrestler under WWE contract to do so.
Plus, Keiji Mutoh will compete in his last NJPW match; the legend will join forces with Hiroshi Tanahashi and Toru Yano to face Tetsuya Naito, SANADA , and of Los Ingobernables De Japon.
Additionally, NJPW has announced an Antonio Inoki Memorial Match in honor of the late legend; the trio of Yuji Nagata, Satoshi Kojima, and Togi Makabe will take on Tatsumi Fujinami, Minoru Suzuki & Tiger Mask.
The full card, which was confirmed on NJPW’s website, is below.
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 (1/4)
- IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Jay White (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada
- IWGP United States Championship: Will Ospreay (c) vs. Kenny Omega
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Taiji Ishimori (c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi vs. El Desperado
- Keiji Muto’s Last NJPW Match: Keiji Muto, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Shota Umino vs. Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI)
- NEVER Openweight Championship: Karl Anderson (c) vs. Tama Tonga
- NJPW World TV Championship: Ren Narita vs Zack Sabre Jr.
- IWGP Tag Team Championships: FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) (c) vs. Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI)
- IWGP Women’s Championship: KAIRI (c) vs. Tam Nakano
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Catch 2/2 (Francesco Akira & TJP) (c) vs. CHAOS (Lio Rush & YOH)
- Antonio Inoki Memorial Match: Yuji Nagata, Satoshi Kojima & Togi Makabe vs. Tatsumi Fujinami, Minoru Suzuki & Tiger Mask
- KOPW 2023 Qualifier: New Japan Rambo
- Exhibition Match: Boltin Oleg vs. Ryohei Oiwa
Fightful will have coverage of the show as it airs.
Catch up on past NJPW shows using Fightful’s results section.
