Following last year's expansion, Wrestle Kingdom will continue to take place over two consecutive days: January 4th and January 5th 2021. Due to the pandemic the cards are limited, with six featured matches on each show.

January 4




In addition to the above there is a Battle Royale to determine the four participants in the King of Pro Wrestling trophy match on January 5th.

January 5




In addition to the above there are two exhibition matches from Stardom - NJPW's all-female sister promotion.

One has to admit that Wrestle Kingdom is a little underwhelming this year, added to the fact that Juice Robinson suffered an orbital bone fracture a couple of weeks ago, taking him off the card. His replacement is Satoshi Kojima.

However, there is potential for some great matches to kick off the year. Takahashi vs Phantasmo should be a banger of an opener. Okada vs Ospreay and Naito vs Ibushi should both be excellent. Jay White vs the winner of Naito/Ibushi should be phenomenal, especially if his opponent is Naito. Takagi vs Cobb is an exciting undercard match for January 5, and the Junior Tag Team Championship match may surprise everyone.

The biggest question is: who will leave the Tokyo Dome as the Double Champion? I could see arguments in favour of all three men. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that this is Ibushi's year. I'm partially influenced by recent events around Kenny Omega. It wouldn't surprise me at all if Omega and Ibushi have some long-term story in mind and they've managed to convince their company's decision makers that it's a good idea.

Another prediction: someone new joins Ospreay's stable The Empire. I'm thinking Robbie Eagles.

I would like to see Ibushi win. I know I’m in the minority, but Naito just doesn’t do it for me and it would be cool to see ibushi and omega as champions at the same time.

I actually like the smaller card, I barely watched any of last year as I found the two day thing a bit overwhelming.

Who is likely to be in the fatal four way Emperor ?

Fatal Four Way is a crapshoot. For context, the King of Pro Wrestling trophy was introduced last year. It's booked as a fun lower card title, the trophy being defended in stipulation matches. Last year's four way was Okada, Sanada, El Desperado and the winner Toru Yano. Completely random.

Only reasonable guess I can make is that Toru Yano will make the match. Anyone else is random. I'll pick Ishii, Suzuki and YOSHI-HASHI. Who knows.

Takahashi vs Phantasmo, Okada vs Ospreay and Naito vs Ibushi all should be great. Stardome should give a good match too.

I got Ibushi as double champ coming out of this in night one and retaining night two.  It is his time.

Time for them to shit or get off the pot with Kota. I know they do it constantly, but I just can't take people seriously when they win tournaments and then choke. I guess it puts over the main belt where just getting the shot is tough enough, but give it a rest.

Further I've always liked the concept behind xth champion. Really puts it over as important while not diminishing the past.

Jan 2, 2021 16:14:54 GMT @ness said:

Further I've always liked the concept behind xth champion. Really puts it over as important while not diminishing the past.

Ditto this. As well as the number defense it is. Even if I don't love everything Japan does, I love a lot about what they do do.

El phantasmo is gonna be a double night winner!

Jan 2, 2021 17:04:03 GMT nazzer said:

El phantasmo is gonna be a double night winner!

Got no problem with the pride of Canada El-P going 2-0 this weekend.

...

Tin foil hat time: Ibushi is going to win it all and after Kenny Omega claims the Impact and NWA titles, he's going to face Ibushi for the Heavyweight Championship.

Is there going to be an audience?

It will be strange after all these months seeing a packed Tokyo Dome.

There is a pretty big crowd there.  Floor is full, looks like not all of the decks are being used.

Preshow on now - not sure if I will see the whole show or not, as I likely will want sleep at some point, but will catch what I want to see tomorrow at a more reasonable hour.

Jan 4, 2021 7:30:50 GMT c said:

There is a pretty big crowd there.  Floor is full, looks like not all of the decks are being used.

Preshow on now - not sure if I will see the whole show or not, as I likely will want sleep at some point, but will catch what I want to see tomorrow at a more reasonable hour.

I thought this was meant to start on the next hour, is this the “pre show” ?

They did the Rambo Rumble. Fale, Bushi, Owens and Yano proceed to day 2. Yano did not even get into the ring. Show starts now in 15 minutes.

Jan 4, 2021 7:10:57 GMT NATH45 said:

Is there going to be an audience?

It will be strange after all these months seeing a packed Tokyo Dome.

Yeah it’s packed, everyone in attendance is wearing a mask.

Silly asians not knowing the value of FREEDOM~!!!

Damn getting a better look at the arena now, yeah it is packed. Upper decks opened and all.

The no cheering rules give this show an eery feeling.

Potentially this crowd make headlines around the world, I can't recall any other big shows, whether it's wrestling, sporting or music since the beginning of 2020.

Man el p looks weird with long hair, always seen him with the short hair. Shame he lost.

I totally forget about KENTA, prob the biggest wasted talent they signed to NXT.

KENTA ready to cash in at the royal rumble!!!

That Tanahashi match was PAINFUL.

That was an incredible match! Okada and Ospreay killed it

Okada/Ospreay was incredible and was so story focused that I imagine it would only be better if you followed NJPW more than I do. Glad my first exposure to the money clip was Okada giving up on it.

Kinda related, kinda not, but... I would love it if System got big time enough to take his Make Kingdom Great Again gimmick to Wrestle Kingdom 16.

Ibushi/Naito was a good match, but not one that will stay with me long. As much as it’s fun getting two days of wrestling, night two still coming did take away from Ibushi’s win, as it only felt like the halfway through an event. And then I have the horrible feeling that Jay White will take it off him tomorrow, so his big final win will actually come two years from now knowing Gedo.

Jan 4, 2021 13:58:34 GMT 🤯 said:

Kinda related, kinda not, but... I would love it if System got big time enough to take his Make Kingdom Great Again gimmick to Wrestle Kingdom 16.

So big that they were forced to do Wrestle Kingdom in Australia, Souled Out style.

Emperor, stop posting in Off-Topic and Entertainment and tell us what you thought?

Jan 4, 2021 13:58:34 GMT 🤯 said:

Kinda related, kinda not, but... I would love it if System got big time enough to take his Make Kingdom Great Again gimmick to Wrestle Kingdom 16.

I briefly talked to Robbie Eagles a few times, I have contacts! 🥴

What an amazing match, loved Jay White’s kick out of the pin where he just barely got his shoulder up.

I still preferred Ospreay/Okada, but White/Ibushi was very good. I could have done with a little less Gedo but it did help build the tension. Just an incredible effort from Ibushi to put those two performances on over two nights - he must be so exhausted right now. Hopefully we at least get Kenny and Ibushi teasing a match even though it’s very unlikely to actually happen. It was so good because there was a real chance that Jay White would win, so you really bought into a lot of the near-falls. Really good match.