New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) has a plan for the first-ever night three of Wrestle Kingdom and it will be in partnership with Pro Wrestling NOAH. It was announced in a special press conference that on Jan. 8, 2022, it will be NJPW vs NOAH at Wrestle Kingdom 16 night three in Yokohama Arena. It was revealed that a portion of the proceeds will be going to the Japanese Red Cross as NJPW vs NOAH is a chance to come together for professional wrestling, as referenced with the #ProWrestlingPower both promotions will be using.
ROUNDUP
January 8, 2022
Wrestle Kingdom 16 in Yokohama Arena: NJPW vs NOAH
A live English Pay-per-view presentation on @ABEMA
https://t.co/msS4jsCOLcVOD on @njpwworld after 7 days
Portion of proceeds donated to Japanese @RedCross#prowrestlingpower #njpw #noah_ghc pic.twitter.com/LapubV2VjA
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) November 20, 2021
The press conference featured both NJPW president Takami Ohbari and NOAH’s parent company CyberFight director Akhiro Takeda along with NOAH’s Kaito Kiyomiya and NJPW’s Hiroshi Tanahashi. Ohbari discussed that this was the beginning of many “dream events” to celebrate NJPW’s 50th Anniversary. The PPV will be presented live and in English on ABEMA pay-per-view with it going to NJPW World seven days later.
Kiyomiya made it known that his prior feelings remain. He stated that he wants NOAH to be recognized as the best in-ring and added the following.
“I want the Rainmaker.”
It has been Kiyomiya’s goal to get a match with Kazuchika Okada and this may be his opportunity to do so. Hiroshi Tanahashi then explained that he believes every match on the card should mirror NJPW vs NOAH. There was no card announced at the press conference. Tanahashi and Kiyomiya shared a face-off before the press conference concluded.
Wrestle Kingdom 16 nights one and two can be watched worldwide on January 4 and 5 via NJPW World. The main events for those events will see Shingo Takagi defend his IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against G1 Climax winner Kazuchika Okada. The winner of that match will go on to face Will Ospreay on night two.
The press conference is able to be viewed in the YouTube video below.
NJPW also uploaded the video above featuring IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi, GHC Heavyweight Champion Katsuhiko Nakajima, Kazuchika Okada, Kaito Kiyomiya, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Keiji Mutoh discussing the event:
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