COVID-19 forced many wrestling promotions to go on a prolonged break. We saw it in the American and European independent wrestling scenes, and especially in Japan.
This morning, New Japan Pro Wrestling returned to action for the first time since the beginning of March. The three-month hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic halted their scheduled shows. No one was sure when New Japan would be able the come back.
Through everything, it was announced last week that NJPW would be returning on June 15.
The show went off without a hitch. The familiar young lion match to start the show to the Choas versus Los Ingobernables de Japon main event featuring the legendary Kazuchika Okada and the current IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental champion, Tetsuya Naito – it was fantastic.
Together Project Special(6/15)を公開‼️
— njpwworld (@njpwworld) June 15, 2020
メインは #CHAOS ? #LIJ の6人タッグマッチ‼️@rainmakerXokada & @njpwShowT & @njpwyohei_k ? @s_d_naito & @Takagi__Shingo & @TIMEBOMB1105 ‼️
両軍入り乱れる激しい攻防?‼️
果たして勝者は⁉️#njpwworld pic.twitter.com/J35EE9XLp6
Strong style has been missed by many wrestling fans over the pandemic. Finally, it has returned.
New Japan Cup
Once New Japan announced they would be returning, they announced that the New Japan cup has extended to 32 competitors for the second year in a row and will be held from June 16 to July 11.
The first round match ups include:
- Kota Ibushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
- Kazuchika Okada vs. Gedo
- Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Taichi
- Satoshi Kojima vs. EVIL
- Minoru Suzuki vs. Yuji Nagata
- Shingo Takagi vs. SHO
The winner will face Tetsuya Naito at Dominion for the IWGP Heavyweight championship.
See the full bracket below:
Be sure to follow @BellyUpSports on Twitter as well as myself @TruaxBarkley.
