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Preview: NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19 (1/4/25)

Preview: NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19 (1/4/25)

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19 starts the 2025 year off with a bang. Taking place on Saturday, January 4 live from the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, this is NJPW’s marquee event.
Wrestle Kingdom 19 kicks off a busy three days of wrestling events set to take over Japan. Wrestle Kingdom 19 is set to feature 10 matches, with seven of those having championships on the line.

Wrestle Kingdom 19 is set to start at 5 pm JST/3 am ET. The event is available to watch on NJPW World.

Full NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19 Card:

  • IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Match: Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Shota Umino
  • IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship Match: David Finlay (c) vs. Yota Tsuji
  • IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship Match: Douki (c) vs. El Desperado
  • IWGP Women’s Championship Match: Mayu Iwatani (c) vs. AZM
  • Winner Takes All Match: Shingo Takagi (Openweight) vs. Konosuke Takeshita (International)*
  • NJPW World Television Championship Four-Way Match: Ren Narita (c) vs. Jeff Cobb vs. Ryohei Oiwa vs. El Phantasmo
  • IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Four-Way Tokyo Terror Ladder Match: Intergalactic Jet Setters (Kevin Knight & Kushida) (c) vs. Ichiban Sweet Boys (Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita) vs. Catch 2/2 (TJP & Francesco Akira) vs. Bullet Club War Dogs (Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney)
  • Lumberjack Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. EVIL**
  • Singles Match: Tetsuya Naito vs. Hiromu Takahashi
  • New Japan Ranbo

*For the NEVER Openweight Championship and AEW International Championship.

**If Tanahashi loses, he must retire from in-ring competition.

Zack Sabre Jr. Defends IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom

Zack Sabre Jr., the reigning IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, is set to defend his title against the rising star Shota Umino in the main event of Wrestle Kingdom 19. Known for his unparalleled technical pedigree, Sabre Jr. is quickly growing into one of the most dominant champions in recent NJPW history. With Sabre Jr.’s methodical style clashing against Umino’s fiery determination, the match promises to be a thrilling combination of strategy and passion.

For Umino, this is more than just a title shot; it’s a chance to solidify his place among NJPW’s elite and fulfill his potential as one of the company’s future cornerstones. However, standing in his way is a champion who has systematically dismantled his challengers with his phenomenal in-ring approach. As Wrestle Kingdom remains NJPW’s grandest stage, this showdown represents a battle between an established champion and a hungry contender eager to claim his moment of glory.

The question is who will walk away with the top gold in NJPW?

Tetsuya Naito and Hiromu Takahashi’s Special Dream Match

Wrestling fans will witness a historic clash at Wrestle Kingdom 19 as Tetsuya Naito faces Hiromu Takahashi in a special dream match. Both pillars of Los Ingobernables de Japon (LIJ), the pair shares a storied history as allies, making this contest all the more captivating.

For years, fans believed this matchup would remain a fantasy, with Naito and Hiromu standing united under the LIJ banner. However, Wrestle Kingdom’s grand stage is set to bring this seemingly impossible confrontation to life.

Naito, the charismatic leader of LIJ, brings his signature tranquilo demeanor and unrivaled big-match experience to the bout. Takahashi, the explosive and unpredictable former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, steps up as an underdog eager to prove he can go toe-to-toe with his faction leader. Will LIJ remain united when it’s all said and done or will the stable’s foundations be tested beyond measure at the Tokyo Dome?

Shingo Takagi and Konosuke Takeshita Put It All On The Line

A monumental clash awaits at Wrestle Kingdom 19 as Shingo Takagi, the reigning NEVER Openweight Champion, takes on AEW International Champion Konosuke Takeshita in a high-stakes, winner-takes-all match. The winner of this encounter will leave the Tokyo Dome as a double champion, holding both prestigious titles.

Takagi, known for his brute strength and relentless fighting spirit, is a proven force in NJPW, while Takeshita’s dynamic blend of power and agility has made him a standout on the global wrestling stage. With their explosive styles and immense stakes, this showdown promises to be one of the highlights of Wrestle Kingdom this year.

Adding even more intrigue, the victor will face the daunting task of defending both championships against the legendary Tomohiro Ishii just one day later at Wrestle Dynasty on Sunday, January 5. Ishii’s approach presents a challenge unlike any other, ensuring that the winner of Takagi vs. Takeshita must immediately prove their dominance. As the Tokyo Dome crowd watches history unfold, the wrestling world will crown a double champion destined to carry the weight of two titles into a new chapter with an intense start.

Four-Way Tokyo Terror Ladder Match For The Ages

The stakes will literally be sky-high at Wrestle Kingdom 19, as the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship will be contested in a four-way Tokyo Terror ladder match. The reigning champions, The Intergalactic Jet Setters (Kevin Knight and KUSHIDA), are over 80 days into their impressive second reign and now face their toughest challenge yet.

Knight and KUSHIDA defend their gold against three elite teams: The Ichiban Sweet Boys (Robbie Eagles and Kosei Fujita), Catch 2/2 (TJP and Francesco Akira), and Bullet Club War Dogs (Clark Connors and Drilla Moloney). While the Ichiban Sweet Boys are the only team yet to ever claim the titles, their hunger to capture gold and elevate TMDK’s dominance adds a compelling layer to this chaotic bout.

The Tokyo Terror ladder match takes the intensity of traditional ladder matches to another level. With the unpredictable nature of these four dynamic teams and the high stakes involved, the match promises to deliver jaw-dropping moments and shocking drama. For the Intergalactic Jet Setters, retaining the titles would cement their legacy but, with three hungry teams looking to dethrone them, their reign could be one spectacular misstep away from ending.

More From LWOS Pro Wrestling

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About Chinyere Okafor

Chinyere is a combat sports writer since 2021, fueled by a lifelong love and interest for the industry. She became a member of the Last Word On Pro Wrestling editing team in 2024. With dreams of worldwide travel and adventure, I embrace combat sports and writing as my thrilling avenues of exploration for now.