New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s annual Wrestle Kingdom show is their biggest event of the year. It is argued that Wrestle Kingdom is the 2nd largest yearly event behind WWE’s WrestleMania.
On January 4th, NJPW will present Wrestle Kingdom 17 at the Tokyo Dome and the full card has been revealed.
There was a debate as to whether which match should be the main event between Jay White vs Kazuchika Okada and Kenny Omega vs Will Ospreay. NJPW has announced that their will be a double main event which will include both matches at Wrestle Kingdom 17.
Keiji Muto AKA Great Muta, who is on his retirement tour, will be participating in his final NJPW match at Wrestle Kingdom 17.
It is rumored that former WWE superstar Sasha Banks will be making an appearance at Wrestle Kingdom 17. If she does appear it will most likely be to challenge the winner of the IWGP Women’s Title match between the champion KAIRI and challenger Tam Nakano.
NJPW will pay tribute to the late Antonio Inoki as they have announced an Antonio Inoki Memorial Match for Wrestle Kingdom 17. After the two kickoff matches, a special ceremony will celebrate the legendary career of Antonio Inoki and commemorate his legacy in professional wrestling.
Here is the full card for NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 on January 4, 2023:
- Main Event #1 IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Jay White (c) vs Kazuchika Okada
- Main Event #2 IWGP United States Championship: Will Ospreay (c) vs Kenny Omega
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Taiji Ishimori (c) vs Hiromu Takahashi vs El Desperado vs Master Wato
- 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 Tournament Final – 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 vs Tam Nakano
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Catch 2/2 (Francesco Akira & TJP) vs CHAOS (Lio Rush & YOH)
- Antonio Inoki Memorial Match: Yuji Nagata, Satoshi Kojima & Togi Makabe vs Tatsumi Fujinami, Tiger Mask & Minoru Suzuki
- Kickoff Match 2: KOPW 2023 Qualifier New Japan Ranbo
- Kickoff Match 1: Three Minute Exhibition- Ryohei Oiwa vs Boltin Oleg
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom will air live on NJPWWorld streaming service on January 4th.
