On Monday, the lineups for New Japan Pro Wrestling‘s next major event, Wrestling Dontaku, were announced. Not only were those announced, but the main event for the second stadium show of the summer, Wrestle Grand Slam, was announced as well. In the main event of the Wrestle Grand Slam event inside the Tokyo Dome, it will be Kazuchika Okada challenging for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
A major announcement for Wrestle Grand Slam in the Tokyo Dome on May 29!
Kazuchika Okada will challenge the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion in the main event!https://t.co/do5oHoT0ka#njpw #njwgs pic.twitter.com/4kuXa6bfOh
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) April 5, 2021
The card for both days of Wrestling Dontaku was also announced, as the winner on Day 2 of the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match will be the man to face Okada at Wrestle Grand Slam. Here are the cards for both events:
Day 1 Match Card (5/3/21):
— Master Wato, Tiger Mask, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, & Toru Yano vs. Dick Togo, Taiji Ishimori, Yujiro Takahashi, & EVIL
— SHO, YOH, & Kazuchika Okada vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru, El Desperado, & Minoru Suzuki
— BUSHI, SANADA, Tetsuya Naito, & Shingo Takagi vs. Aaron Henare, The Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb, & Will Ospreay
— Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Tanga Loa
— Taichi vs. Tama Tonga in an Iron Finger From Hell Ladder Match
— NEVER Openweight Championship: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Jay White
Day 2 Match Card (5/4/21):
— DOUKI, Zack Sabre Jr., & Taichi vs. Jado, Tanga Loa, & Tama Tonga
— SHO & Kazuchika Okada vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Minoru Suzuki
— BUSHI, SANADA, & Tetsuya Naito vs. Aaron Henare, Jeff Cobb, & The Great-O-Khan
— Master Wato, Ryusuke Taguchi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Toru Yano, & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Taiji Ishimori, Yujiro Takahashi, KENTA, EVIL, & Jay White
— IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado (c) vs. YOH
— IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Will Ospreay (c) vs. Shingo Takagi
As seen above, a rematch will go down between the two New Japan Cup finalists, this time with the world title on the line. At Sakura Genesis, former CHAOS member and current United Empire leader Ospreay defeated Kota Ibushi to become the new IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. Ospreay earned the opportunity by winning the New Japan Cup with a win over Shingo Takagi. The same Takagi who defeated Okada in the first round of the New Japan Cup. It makes for an interesting situation as both men have a history with Okada that only adds to the match that much more.
At Wrestle Kingdom 15, Okada defeated Ospreay in singles action. Many believed this would halt the rise of The United Empire, but clearly, it only pushes Ospreay more. Can Okada stop him again and win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship for the first time? That remains to be seen.
Wrestle Grand Slam in the Tokyo Dome will take place on May 29, 2021.
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