One of the first pro wrestling programs NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 of the year will feature numerous blockbuster matches featuring talents from all over the world. On January 4, New Japan Pro Wrestling.
The event takes place inside Japan’s Tokyo Dome. Wrestle Kingdom 17 will pay tribute to pro wrestling legend Antonio Inoki, who died earlier this year.
Jay White defends the IWGP World Heavyweight Title against Kazuchika Okada, one of the greatest champions in NJPW history. Bullet Club leader White defeated Okada for the title in June 2022. Later that year, Okada won the G1 Climax for the fourth time, vaulting him to the top spot at Wrestle Kingdom.
The two last fought at a Wrestle Kingdom event in 2019, with White defeating Okada.
Other wrestlers from AEW, WWE, Stardom, and Impact Wrestling compete in other matches at the event.
Kenny Omega (AEW) returns to NJPW to challenge Will Ospreay for the latter’s IWGP United States Heavyweight Title in a crucial match on the show. Meanwhile, Karl Anderson (WWE) defends the NEVER Openweight Championship against Tama Tonga, FTR (AEW) defends the IWGP Tag Team Championships against Hirooki Goto and Yoshi-Hashi, and Kairi (Stardom) defends the IWGP Women’s Championship against Tam Nakano.
The event will also feature Keiji Muto, aka The Great Muta, in his final match for New Japan Pro Wrestling. He fights Tetsuya Naito, Sanada, and Bushi with Hiroshi Tanahashi and Shota Umino.
Here’s everything you need to know about Wrestle Kingdom 17, including the start time,, card, and more!
How to watch Wrestle Kingdom 17:
Viewers around the world can watch the action live on the following channels and here for free:
Live Broadcast: NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 Live (it’s free)
When is Wrestle Kingdom 17?
- Date: Wednesday, January 4
- Dark match Prelims: 1:20 am ET | 6:20 a.m. GMT | 5:20 p.m. AEDT | 3:20 p.m. JST
- Start time: 3 a.m. ET | 8 a.m. GMT | 7 p.m. AEDT | 5 p.m. JST
Wrestle Kingdom 17 of New Japan Pro Wrestling takes place on January 4. The dark match preliminary round will begin at approximately 1:20 a.m. ET | 6:20 a.m. GMT | 5:20 p.m. AEDT | 3:20 p.m. JST. The event is scheduled to begin at 3 a.m. ET | 8 a.m. GMT | 7 p.m. AEDT | 5 p.m. JST.
Where Wrestle Kingdom 17:
Wrestle Kingdom 17 is held at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. The stadium, which is home to the Yomiuri Giants, has a capacity of 57,000 people. Wrestle Kingdom events have already drawn crowds of exceeding 35,000 people.
Wrestle Kingdom 17 Preview:
Kenny Omega will return to New Japan for the first time in four years next week at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17, where he will compete for the IWGP US Championship against Will Ospreay.
The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson), Omega’s Elite stablemates, will not accompany him. They were, however, set to work the show at one point, according to Dave Meltzer on the most recent Wrestling Observer Radio.
Meltzer claims that “plans alter.” It was not specified in what capacity the Bucks would wrestle at the event.
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 will be held on January 4 at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan.
WrestleMania is a WWE event, but every January 4th, New Japan Pro Wrestling puts on a show like no other with Wrestle Kingdom from the Tokyo Dome.
The 17th annual event will feature all of the NJPW gold on the line, including the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
While Wrestle Kingdom is traditionally one of the greatest events on any wrestling fan’s calendar, WWE’s Sasha Banks adds some added intrigue for viewers outside of Japan this year.
Back in 2018, at Wrestle Kingdom 12, Chris Jericho (then with WWE) battled Kenny Omega in a dream match, resulting in a massive increase in English-speaking NJPW World subscribers.
With rumours that Sasha will make her debut at Wrestle Kingdom 17, NJPW will no doubt be aiming to pique the interest of fans outside of Japan. While Sasha isn’t slated to compete, many assume she’ll make an appearance following Kari (WWE’s Kari Sane) and Tam Nakano’s IWGP Women’s Championship match.
Obtaining Sasha would be a significant coup for NJPW, which established the IWGP Women’s Championship in November. The title is NJPW’s first-ever women’s championship, with matches primarily featuring Stardom competitors.
Current WWE Superstar Karl Anderson will also defend his NEVER Openweight Championship against Tama Tonga at Wrestle Kingdom 17.
Anderson won the NEVER Openweight Championship before returning to WWE in October with tag partner Luke Gallows.
He departed NJPW before relinquishing the NEVER title, and he also backed out of their Battle Autumn show in November, where he was set to defend against Hikuleo.
Anderson eventually faced Hikuleo in December and surprisingly maintained the championship, paving the way for the Wrestle Kingdom encounter with Tama Tonga.
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Wrestle Kingdom 17 will include not just a current WWE Superstar, but also AEW when Kenny Omega takes against Will Ospreay.
Omega’s first match in NJPW since Wrestle Kingdom 13 in January 2019, after which he left Japan for AEW.
On the card, AEW’s FTR will defend their IWGP Tag Team Championship against Hirooki Goto and Yoshi-Hashi.
The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship will be on the line in the main event, as Bullet Club captain Jay White takes on Kazuchika Okada.
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 card: Complete match card for NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17?
- IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match: Jay White (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada
- IWGP US Championship match: Will Ospreay (c) vs. Kenny Omega
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship match: Taiji Ishimori (c) vs. El Desperado vs. Hiromu Takahashi vs. Master Wato
- Keiji Muto, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Shota Umino vs Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI)
- NEVER Openweight Championship: Karl Anderson (c) vs. Tama Tonga
- Tournament Final for NJPW World Television Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Ren Narita
- IWGP Tag Team Championship: FTR (c) vs. Bishamon (Hirooki Goto and Yoshi-Hashi)
- IWGP Women’s Championship match: KAIRI (c) vs. Tam Nakano
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Catch 2/2 (TJP and Francesco Akira) (c) vs. Chaos (Yoh and Lio Rush)
- Antonio Inoki Memorial Match: Yuji Nagata, Satoshi Kojima & Togi Makabe vs Tatsumi Fujinami, Tiger Mask & Minoru Suzuki
