NJPW resurrected its King of Pro-Wrestling PPV for the first time since 2019 and made sure it was an event people would talk about. NJPW crowned a new IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, said goodbye to a legend, and revealed two former stars would return.
Here’s our rundown of the most talked-about moments from the October 14, 2024 NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling at Ryogoku Sumo Hall.
NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling – Top Moments
Zack Sabre Jr Wins IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
Zack Sabre Jr. won the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship in a hard-fought victory over Tetsuya Naito. Sabre Jr. had earned a title shot at Naito after winning the G1 Climax 34. Sabre Jr was set to face Naito next year at Wrestle Kingdom 19 in January 2025.
But Sabre Jr wanted to make history by winning the G1 Climax and the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship in the same year. So he chose to take his shot today at the Sumo Hall.
It paid off and Sabre Jr is now the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. But, for Sabre Jr to walk into the Tokyo Dome on January 4, 2025 as champion, he’s got a lot to do.
Sabre Jr will face SANADA on Sunday at Royal Quest IV in London. Shota Umino and Shingo Takagi have also both challenged Sabre Jr to a shot at his newly-won gold.
⚔️KING OF PRO-WRESTLING 2024⚔️
IWGP GLOBALヘビー級選手権試合‼️
13度目のシングルマッチ…
真夏の覇者か、現IWGP世界ヘビー級王者か、果たして勝つのは…⁉️🆚 @s_d_naito × @zacksabrejr#njpwworld で配信中📡
視聴＆登録⏩https://t.co/9iZJzPgCfN#NJPW #njpwworld #njkopw pic.twitter.com/JCDNfvtWrB
— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) October 14, 2024
Hiroshi Tanahashi To Retire in 2026
NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi announced he will retire from active competition at Wrestle Kingdom 20 on January 4, 2026. Tanahashi competed in a special 25th Anniversary match.
The Ace teamed with Shota Umino and El Phantasmo to defeat HOUSE OF TORTURE’s EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru. After the victory, Tanahashi said he would embark on a final year in pro wrestling. Start fantasy booking those final matches now!
Tanahashi has held every title in NJPW, including the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship a record eight times. He has won the G1 Climax three times and the New Japan Cup twice.
⚔️KING OF PRO-WRESTLING 2024⚔️
棚橋弘至デビュー25周年記念試合‼️
棚橋がHoTを相手に躍動‼️🆚 新日本本隊🦁 × HOUSE OF TORTURE😈#njpwworld で配信中📡
視聴＆登録⏩https://t.co/9iZJzPgCfN#NJPW #njpwworld #njkopw pic.twitter.com/NURV7Tg2Xj
— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) October 14, 2024
DOUKI Unmasked at NJPW KOPW
DOUKI successfully defended his IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against SHO in 14 seconds. But it was what happened next that really shocked everyone.
SHO unmasked DOUKI. DOUKI sprayed red mist from his creepy face into the eyes of SHO. Topping a bad night for SHO.
.@DoukiPerros …….👀⁉️
Sign up Now & Stay tuned to https://t.co/CcdQ1X9P52#NJPW #njpwworld #njkopw pic.twitter.com/22hiAOZ6xg
— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) October 14, 2024
Young Bucks To Return To Tokyo Dome
The Young Bucks (Nicholas and Matthew Jackson) appeared via a video promo to reveal they would return to the Toyko Dome next year. The Young Bucks will appear at Wrestle Dynasty on January 5, 2025.
NJPW, AEW, CMLL, ROH, and STARDOM co-promote Wrestle Dynasty at the Toyko Dome just 24 hours after Wrestle Kingdom 19.
The Young Bucks are making their return at Wrestle Dynasty on January 5th‼️#wrestledynasty pic.twitter.com/2mShzQZEVo
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) October 14, 2024
More From LWOS Pro Wrestling
Header photo – NJPW. Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. You can rewatch all 2021 NJPW events and plenty more tremendous wrestling content from New Japan Pro-Wrestling on NJPWWorld.com; The King of Sports Streaming.
