On November 20, New Japan Pro Wrestling and STARDOM will collaborate for the first time to present a combined show. Historic X-Over takes place within Ariake Arena in Japan.
Bushiroad bought World Wonder Ring STARDOM, an all-promotion women’s making it NJPW’s sister business. STARDOM wrestlers will appear at NJPW Strong events in the United States and various Wrestle Kingdom events.
One of The Great Muta’s final matches will be featured at the event. Keiji Muto is considered one of the best and most influential wrestlers. He has held world titles with New Japan Pro Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Noah, Wrestle-1, and other organizations. Muto has held nearly 30 titles in all. Sting and Masahiro Chono are two of his most formidable opponents.
Will Ospreay, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Utami Hayashishita, Syuri, Tomohiro Ishii, and others are also on the card.
Everything you need to know about Historic X-Over is right here, including the start time, matches, and more.
How can I watch NJPW x Stardom Historic X-Over 2022 online?
Live Stream: NJPW Historic X-Over 2022 Live (try it free)
The event will be broadcast live on iPPV via NJPWWorld.com.
When will NJPW x Stardom Historic X-Over 2022?
- Date: Sunday, November 20
- Start time: 2 a.m. ET | 7 a.m. GMT | 6 p.m. AEDT | 4 p.m. JST
The NJPW x Stardom Historic X-Over takes place on November 20th. The opening match is scheduled to begin at 2 a.m. ET | 7 a.m. GMT | 6 p.m. AEDT | 4 p.m. JST.
How much does the NJPW x Stardom Historic X-Over cost?
Fans must pay $27 to purchase an NJPW World PPV (or 2,980 Yen).
Where is NJPW x Stardom Historic X-Over?
The event is produced by New Japan Pro Wrestling and Stardom and occurs at Ariake Arena in Japan. The arena has a capacity of 15,000 people.
NJPW x Stardom Historic X-Over 2022 match card
- KAIRI vs. Mayu Iwatani for the IWGP Women’s Tile
- Will Ospreay (c) vs. Shota Umino for the IWGP United States Title
- Chaos (Kazuchika Okada and Toru Yano) and The Great Muta vs. United Empire (Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb, and Aaron Henare)
- Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, Sanada, Hiromu Takahashi, and Bushi) vs. United Empire (Kyle Fletcher, Mark Davis, TJP, Francesco Akira, and Gideon Grey)
- Hiroshi Tanahashi and Utami Hayashishita vs. Hirooki Goto and Maika
- Suzuki-gun (Taichi and Yoshinobu Kanemaru) and meltear (Tam Nakano and Natsupoi) vs. Suzuki-gun (El Desperado and Douki) and Black Desire (Momo Watanabe and Starlight Kid)
- Tom Lawlor and Syuri vs. Zack Sabre Jr. and Giulia
- Queen’s Quest (Saya Kamitani, AZM, and Lady C) vs. Donna Del Mondo (Thekla, Himeka, and Mai Sakurai)
- Chaos (Tomohiro Ishii, Yoshi-Hashi & Yoh) and Lio Rush vs. House of Torture (Evil, Yujiro Takahashi, Sho, and Dick Togo)
- Stardom Rambo match
- Oskar Leube, Yuto Nakashima, Ryohei Oiwa, and Kosei Fujita vs. LA Dojo (Clark Connors, Alex Coughlin, Gabriel Kidd, and Kevin Knight)
Full Historic X-Over Card Preview:
The tournament finals to determine the first IWGP Women’s Champion will feature KAIRI (the former Kairi Sane in WWE) vs. Mayu Iwatani as the main event. KAIRI and Mayu, two of today’s top female wrestlers, will attempt to make a match that no one will forget.
“It was always a mixed environment while I was with WWE,” KAIRI remarked at the NJPW x STARDOM Historic X-Over press event. “On a men’s card, there might be one or two women’s matches.” But we women were determined not to fall behind the males. We were working hard to find the greatest possible matches.
On off days, we were in the ring training and doing everything we could to get into the main event. I believe STARDOM has the same mindset. It has nothing to do with mixed, women’s, or men’s wrestling. It’s about professional wrestling. That is what we enjoy, and that is what we will present. I don’t want anyone to go beyond the semi-finals! Make sure you stick around for the main event!”
According to the company, the Great Muta will wrestle his farewell NJPW encounter at the NJPW x STARDOM Historic X-Over. He’ll face Great-O-Khan, Aaron Henare, and Jeff Cobb alongside Kazuchika Okada and Toru Yano. Muta previously used the mist to aid Yano in defeating O-Khan in a recent Battle Autumn program. The event takes place on November 20. The new lineup is as follows:
Historic X-Over, NJPW and Stardom’s next crossover show has been unveiled.
An IWGP United States championship bout between champion Will Ospreay and challenger Shota Umino has been added to the bill for November 20. Umino returned from his trip to NJPW Battle Autumn on Saturday morning, confronting Ospreay.
The competition’s finals to crown the first-ever IWGP Women’s Champion, with KAIRI versus Mayu Iwatami, will officially kick off the show.
A CHAOS Vs. House of Torture eight-man tag bout featuring Lio Rush, recovering from injury and making his debut for NJPW in Japan, has been announced as the kickoff match. Oskar Leube, a German who formerly trained at the Fale Academy and later at NJPW’s Noge dojo, will make his official debut in an eight-man tag with other young lions.
The full card for Historic X-Over in Ariake Arena on November 20 has been announced, with NJPW and STARDOM teaming up for a first-ever joint event that will crown the first-ever champion in the headlining match.
IWGP Women’s Championship- KAIRI vs Mayu Iwatani, presented by LEC Mizu no Gekiochikun!
IWGP Women’s Championship- KAIRI vs Mayu Iwatani, presented by LEC Mizu no Gekiochikun!
3-2 in singles competition. Iwatani
Mayu Iwatani, or KAIRI, will make history in the main event by becoming the first-ever IWGP Women’s Champion. Iwatani will represent the ‘domestic’ and, because of KAIRI’s massive global base, ‘international’ brackets, respectively, in what is more than a chance meeting in a tournament final.
Iwatani and KAIRI, two of the ‘three daughters of STARDOM,’ along with Io Shirai, helped define the promotion through a difficult period and elevated the group to global fame in the mid-2010s. Without the efforts of all three, STARDOM would not be where it is on November 20 in the Ariake Arena; executive producer Rossy Ogawa has claimed that without ‘The Icon’ Iwatani, there may not be a STARDOM at all.
As Iwatani and KAIRI squared off in the competition finals late last month, Iwatani declared that this match would “blow away a five-year hole” in their relationship, as it would be their first singles confrontation since 2017.
Iwatani stayed with STARDOM while KAIRI advanced her career and women’s wrestling throughout her tenure in WWE. Her position as Icon made her one of only a few women to perform in the Tokyo Dome and Madison Square Garden. On November 20, a new chapter in a historic rivalry is written, and altogether new ground in IWGP history is broken.
Will Ospreay vs. Shota Umino in the eighth match of the IWGP United States Championship.
Will Ospreay vs. Shota Umino in the eighth match of the IWGP United States Championship.
Ospreay has a 2-0 singles record.
Will Ospreay wasn’t about to rest on his laurels after defending the IWGP United States Championship for the third time against Tetsuya Naito in a spectacular match at Battle Autumn in Osaka. After wrestling probably the most intensive schedule in professional wrestling in 2022, Ospreay issued an open challenge for Historic X-Over, which the returning Roughneck, Shota Umino, accepted.
Umino travelled to the United Kingdom in 2019 and almost immediately became involved with Gideon Grey’s Legion, which we now know is financially related to the United Empire. Those linkages became clearer when Umino contended for the Rev Pro British heavyweight Championship last autumn while also dealing with the Commonwealth Kingpin and the Aussie Open. Umino pledged to chase Ospreay to the ends of the Earth, and during Royal Quest II, he faced the US Champion in non-title combat, falling barely short in dubious circumstances.
Referee (and Shota’s father) Red Shoes Unno swiftly called for the bell as 12-6 elbows reigned from Ospreay to Umino. Umino was undoubtedly in a precarious situation, but he could say that he had not been totally defeated that night in London and that he deserved another chance, which came his way on November 5. Can Umino capitalize on his opportunity in Ariake on November 20 to win the 17th US Champion?
7th Match: Great Muta’s final NJPW match vs United Empire- Great Muta, Toru Yano, and Kazuchika Okada (Great-O-Khan, Aaron Henare & Jeff Cobb)
7th Match: Great Muta’s final NJPW match vs United Empire- Great Muta, Toru Yano, and Kazuchika Okada (Great-O-Khan, Aaron Henare & Jeff Cobb)
Great Muta, the mythical monster, will make his farewell appearance in an NJPW ring on November 20 in Ariake Arena, teaming up with Kazuchika Okada and Toru Yano to face Jeff Cobb, Aaron Henare, and Great-O-Khan of the United Empire. Muta resurfaced in a Japanese NJPW show for the first time in eight years during O-NJPW Khan’s World TV Tournament match with Toru Yano. Back in 2014, it was also against Suzuki-Gun alongside Yano, with whom Muta seemed to have an odd relationship; today, in 2022, it is against another formidable faction on the rise.
On the other hand, Muta has a specific target in mind rather than the United Empire in general. Wrestling’s ultimate demon desires to rip apart Great-O-Khan in particular. After O-Khan allied with Muta and NOSAWA Rongai at Pro-Wrestling NOAH in September, Muta sprayed mist into the Dominator’s eyes after the bout. With two blinding strikes, O-Khan is determined to exact retribution, and the United Empire will attempt to hasten Muta’s retirement in Ariake.
Los Ingobernables De Japon (Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi, SANADA, & BUSHI) vs United Empire in the sixth match (Mark Davis, Kyle Fletcher, TJP, Francesco Akira & Gideon Grey)
Los Ingobernables De Japon (Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi, SANADA, & BUSHI) vs United Empire in the sixth match (Mark Davis, Kyle Fletcher, TJP, Francesco Akira & Gideon Grey)
Tetsuya Naito must now develop a fresh narrative heading into the Tokyo Dome on January 4 after coming up just short against Will Ospreay in Osaka on November 5. This narrative might focus on World Tag League. The Aussie Open appear to be a lock to compete in the annual tag team tournament, which begins two days after the historic X-Over, while the Catch 2/2 will be carrying the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships into their own Super Junior Tag League the night before. There are a lot of explosive ingredients in this ten-man tag fight in Ariake, as KOPW 2022 holder Shingo Takagi also enters the mix.
5th Match: Utami Hayashishita and Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Maika and Hirooki Goto in a mixed tag match.
5th Match: Utami Hayashishita and Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Maika and Hirooki Goto in a mixed tag match.
Mixed tag rules apply, meaning a tag on one side demands a tag on the other. Women compete against other women, and men compete against other men.
The ‘Itsuzai connection’ of Hiroshi Tanahashi and Utami Hayashishita struggle against the traditional Japanese stylings and obvious might of Maika and Hirooki Goto at the top of the Ariake card.
Hayashishita’s dominant reign with the World of STARDOM Championship in 2021 gave her the nickname of ‘itsuzai,’ or master talent,’ one that Hiroshi Tanahashi has borne as’master of the century for many years despite being only 24 and only four years into her as wrestling career. Opposite Hiroshi and Hayashishita, Goto and Maika are the ideal matches; they share a profound respect for Japanese culture and legacy, which is visible in their ring gear, entrances, and presentation as a straightforward, no-nonsense, and very hard-hitting ring style.
4th Match: MelTear (Tam Nakano & Natsupoi) & Suzuki Gun (Taichi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) against Black Desire (Starlight Kid & Momo Watanabe) & Suzuki-Gun (Taichi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) (El Desperado & DOUKI)
4th Match: MelTear (Tam Nakano & Natsupoi) & Suzuki Gun (Taichi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) against Black Desire (Starlight Kid & Momo Watanabe) & Suzuki-Gun (Taichi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) (El Desperado & DOUKI)
Mixed tag rules apply: women compete against women and men compete against males.
Just as the World Tag League and Super Junior Tag League are set to begin in New Japan, STARDOM is now in the thick of its own Godesses Tag League. Natsupoi and Tam Nakano’s MelTear tag team soon seized the Godesses Tag Team Championships after forming this summer out of mutual respect following a nasty singles feud. Along with it came recognition from Taichi, who took part in the duo’s title presentation at a STARDOM event earlier this year.
El Desperado was also present that day, and he delivered his presentation to the Artist of STARDOM trios champions, two-thirds of which are the Black Desire combo of Momo Watanabe and Starlight Kid. Kid’s dark-hearted charisma shares many similarities with El Desperado’s attitude, making this pairing rather evident to STARDOM and NJPW fans when Historic X-Over was initially announced. The question is how this effects a peculiar one-night-only schism among Suzuki-Gun for this eight-person tag, which will almost certainly result in Suzuki-Gun fighting at some time.
3rd Match: Syuri and Tom Lawlor against Giulia and Zack Sabre Jr.
3rd Match: Syuri and Tom Lawlor against Giulia and Zack Sabre Jr.
Mixed tag rules apply, meaning a tag on one side demands a tag on the other. Women compete against other women, and men compete against other men.
On the surface, the first of three mixed tag bouts on the Historic X-Over event makes conceptual sense. On one side, we have former UFC combatants turned World of STARDOM and former NJPW STRONG Champions Syuri and Tom Lawlor, who have succeeded in the pro ranks. On the other hand, we have the British-born Italian-Japanese Giulia and Zack Sabre Jr., who has had tremendous international success in Japan.
While Syuri will be celebrating her MMA experience with Lawlor, and while ‘Zack Sabre Giulia’ has an obvious ring, this bout means something much more personal for Giulia and Syuri. This will preview STARDOM’s Dream Queendom tournament in Ryogoku this December when Syuri will defend her World of STARDOM Championship against 5 Star Grand Prix winner Giulia. The women were former stablemates, friends, and tag partners. Still, after winning the 5 Star GP and World of STARDOM gold around the same time last year, Syuri voiced a desire to split away from Giulia and the Donna Del Mondo group, founding her own God’s Eye stable.
Giulia had been determined to steal the red and gold from Syuri ever since, but she fell short in March at Sumo Hall. Giulia will put her heart on her sleeve in a tag match that is more than just an exhibition after being driven through an emotionally demanding 5 Star this year by the promise of taking the belt from her one-time friend.
2nd Match: Queens’ Quest (Lady C, AZM, and Saya Kamitani) against Donna Del Mondo (Mai Sakurai, Himeka & Thekla)
2nd Match: Queens’ Quest (Lady C, AZM, and Saya Kamitani) against Donna Del Mondo (Mai Sakurai, Himeka & Thekla)
With six-woman tag team action, Donna Del Mondo and Queen’s Quest will continue their feud in Ariake. The ‘My Fair Lady’ combination of Mai Sakurai and Lady C has been one of the more intriguing stories during the Goddesses of STARDOM tag league, with the two not exactly making the best of a cross-stable tag team arrangement and being at continual loggerheads. As Dream Queendom approaches, Himeka and Thekla will likely pursue one or both of High-Speed Champion AZM and Wonder of STARDOM title holders Saya Kamitani.
The first match pits CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI, YOH, and Lio Rush) against HOUSE OF TORTURE (EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, SHO & Dick Togo)
The first match pits CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI, YOH, and Lio Rush) against HOUSE OF TORTURE (EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, SHO & Dick Togo)
The main event on November 20th will feature Lio Rush joining for the first time alongside CHAOS to take on HOUSE OF TORTURE. After Yujiro Takahashi and SHO appeared to be using traditional H.O.T tactics in New York last week at Rumble on 44th Street, Lio Rush stepped in to help YOH and made a deal to partner with Direct Drive for Super Jr. Tag League. This will be a preview of the action and the Man of the Hour’s long-awaited Japanese New Japan debut.STARDOM Ranbo Kickoff 2
Historic X-Over KICK-OFF TIME: 4 PM LOCAL
The ever-unpredictable STARDOM Ranbo will compete in the second kickoff match at Historic X-Over. The timed battle royal will feature 15 wrestlers, with fresh participants arriving every minute and elimination via pinfall, submission, or over-the-top rope. Who makes an appearance, and who wins?
Kick-off: Oskar Leube Debut Match- Oskar Leube, Yuto Nakashima, Ryohei Oiwa, and Kosei Fujita vs. LA Dojo (Kevin Knight, Gabriel Kidd, Alex Coughlin & Clark Connors)
Kick-off: Oskar Leube Debut Match- Oskar Leube, Yuto Nakashima, Ryohei Oiwa, and Kosei Fujita vs. LA Dojo (Kevin Knight, Gabriel Kidd, Alex Coughlin & Clark Connors)
Historic X-Over KICK-OFF TIME: 4 PM LOCAL
Oskar Leube will make his NJPW debut in the evening’s first match. Leube, 201cm and 110 kg, comes from Hamburg, Germany, and joined the Fale Dojo in 2019 before returning to Germany to complete his training due to the COVID pandemic. He returned to the New Japan fold in May and began training at the Noge Dojo in preparation for his debut fight. However, the LA Dojo foursome opposite him tonight understands the value of hard effort, and Katsuyori Shibata’s fight squad will be dishing out some tough lessons to start the evening.