Aegis Wrestling Entertainment (AEW) stars are set to feature prominently in the main event of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s (NJPW) Wrestle Kingdom 20, scheduled for early next year. This January marks a historic moment for NJPW as Wrestle Kingdom 20 takes place at Tokyo Dome on January 4th, anticipated to be the first sold-out event in the promotion’s history, with the full match card already revealed.
The official NJPW website confirmed that the main event will showcase the retiring Hiroshi Tanahashi facing AEW’s Kazuchika Okada, culminating in a special retirement ceremony for Tanahashi. This bout is steeped in history, as Tanahashi and Okada have had numerous iconic clashes since 2012, with a rivalry defined by memorable moments such as Okada’s shocking victory over Tanahashi’s championship reign. Despite Okada’s overall lead in their head-to-head encounters, Tanahashi holds an edge in their matches at the Tokyo Dome, which adds significant weight to this final showdown before Tanahashi’s retirement.
Other AEW representatives will also compete at Wrestle Kingdom 20. Konosuke Takeshita will contest for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against the reigning champion Yota Tsuji in a high-stakes winner-takes-all match, placed as the penultimate bout. Additionally, the event will kick off with a NEVER Openweight Six-Man Championship Tornado Rambo featuring Toru Yano and Spiritek defending their titles.
The card also includes a double title match between IWGP Women’s and NJPW STRONG Women’s Champions Shuri and Saya Kamiya, and a tag team contest featuring United Empire versus a team including David Finlay and Hiromu Takahashi. Other highlights include a Four-Way IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship number one contender’s match, and a significant bout featuring Olympic judo gold medalist Aaron Wolfe against NEVER Openweight Champion EVIL.
This event is set to be a landmark in wrestling, bringing together top talents from AEW and NJPW on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
Fan Take: The inclusion of AEW stars in Wrestle Kingdom 20 is a groundbreaking moment that signifies growing collaboration between major wrestling promotions, offering AEW fans thrilling exposure and high-caliber matches. This crossover could elevate the wrestling industry by blending distinct styles and expanding global storytelling, ultimately enriching the sport for fans worldwide.
