As 2025 comes to a close, anticipation builds for New Japan Pro Wrestling’s biggest annual event, Wrestle Kingdom 20, set for 2026. This year’s show features several noteworthy moments, including the pro wrestling debut of Olympic gold medalist Aaron Wolfe, a high-stakes winner-take-all match between Konosuke Takeshita and IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji defending the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, and the final career bout of wrestling legend Hiroshi Tanahashi against his longstanding rival, current AEW Unified Champion Kazuchika Okada.
Despite financial struggles and declining attendance following the pandemic, Wrestle Kingdom 20 is set to break records. Dave Meltzer from Wrestling Observer Newsletter revealed that this event will be NJPW’s largest Tokyo Dome show in almost 25 years and is already sold out. This sellout is a major milestone, making Wrestle Kingdom 20 the biggest NJPW tournament event ever. When compared to past landmark events like Antonio Inoki’s retirement show in 1998, which drew an estimated 70,000 fans, and the NJPW vs. UWFI crossover in 1995 that attracted nearly 67,000 spectators, Wrestle Kingdom 20’s attendance is estimated to be close to 50,000. From a Japanese fan viewpoint, this event ranks among the top three most in-demand NJPW shows in history.
Fan Take: This milestone highlights the growing influence of NJPW on the global wrestling scene and signals exciting cross-promotional possibilities for AEW fans, especially with stars like Kazuchika Okada participating. As NJPW continues to draw massive crowds, it raises the bar for wrestling worldwide, promising fresh storylines and heightened competition that benefit the sport as a whole.
