NJPW Cancels Shows Through May 4, Including Wrestling Dontaku
NJPW has continued to cancel shows as a result of COVID-19, including the next big event planned for early May.
The promotion announced that all shows until May 4 have been canceled. The shows affected by the announcement are the Road To Wrestling Dontaku tour and the aforementioned Wrestling Dontaku shows on May 3 and May 4.
In response to the continuing Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, and in light of state of emergency measures across Japan announced on April 7, New Japan Pro-Wrestling has arrived at the decision to cancel all events that were scheduled up to and including Wrestling Dontaku 2020 on May 3 & 4.
We deeply apologize to fans who were looking forward to these events. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the disease. As eager as everyone at New Japan Pro-Wrestling is to return to the ring as soon as possible, the health and safety of our fans, wrestlers and staff, as well as society at large is our utmost concern.
We will make announcements about events scheduled after May 4 upon careful monitoring of this developing situation. We will soon announce refund procedures for the affected events.
NJPW is currently exploring the possibility of presenting matches without fans in attendance; this would only happen if staff and wrestler health and safety can be protected to the highest possible standard.
Meanwhile, programs like the NJPW Together Project will continue to see wrestlers and staff come together to bring the best possible content to fans while we eagerly await the opportunity to entertain live crowds once more.
The following events are covered by today’s and earlier cancellations:
Road to Wrestling Dontaku 2020
- Saturday April 11 Sagamihara City Gymnasium (Sagamihara Gion Arena), Kanagawa (Refund procedure)
- Sunday April 12 Act city Hamamatsu, Shizuoka
- Monday April 13 Aimesse Yamanashi
- Wednesday April 15 Fukui Prefecture Industrial Hall・ #1 Hall
- Thursday April 16 Ishikawa Prefecture Industrial Pavilion Hall 3 (Refund procedure April 12-16)
- Saturday April 18 Tokkei Security Hiratsuka General Gymnasium, Kanagawa (Refund procedure)
- Sunday April 19 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
- Monday April 20 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
- Tuesday April 21 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
- Thursday April 23 Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium #2 (EDION Arena Osaka)
- Friday April 24 Kobe Sanbo Hall, Hyogo
- Saturday April 25 Uwajima City Overall Gymnasium, Ehime
- Road to Wrestling Dontaku 2020 Aki no Kuni Sengoku Emaki
- Monday April 27 Uwajima City Overall Gymnasium, Hiroshima
Wrestling Satsuma no Kuni
- Wednesday April 29, Kagoshima Arena
Road to Wrestling Dontaku 2020
- Thursday April 30 Grand Messe Kumamoto
- Friday May 1 Beppu B-Con Plaza, Oita
Wrestling Dontaku 2020
- Sunday May 3 Fukuoka Convention Center
- Monday May 4 Fukuoka Convention Center
Earlier this week, Stardom, as well as other wrestling promotions, announced that it has canceled shows taking place in the next few weeks.