January 4, 2026 – Tokyo Dome
I’m writing this opening section about 30 minutes before the pre-show is scheduled to start. I wanted to get some last-minute thoughts down before the show begins.
Throughout the day, I’ve been watching and listening to previews and breakdowns of this card. It’s not that I wasn’t excited for this show before (you can read my previous article to see that), but something got into me today that put me over the edge.
Not only am I excited for this show, I’m also nervous. I don’t think I’ve felt this way about a wrestling show since maybe a WrestleMania when I was young. There’s just something in the air, not only the emotion of Tanahashi retiring, but also the possible dawn of a new era.
I know this sounds hyperbolic and maybe a little ridiculous, but as I sit here waiting for the pre-show to start, I can’t help but feel giddy. It feels like I’m about to take a long-awaited breath of fresh air as we (hopefully) take the first step into the next New Japan Pro Wrestling boom.
If you read my last article here on Backbreakr, I went into more detail on why this show feels so important, even though the company itself hasn’t really framed it that way (English commentary team excluded). Despite the lacklustre card on paper, there are several key things I hope happen tonight to help launch the next generation:
- Aaron Wolf showing promise, or even early signs of greatness. He doesn’t need to be the next coming of Jun Akiyama (though we can hope), but he needs to show fire and give us something that suggests he can be a real player sooner rather than later. New Japan may be hoping for this more than most.
- Yota Tsuji definitively beating Konosuke Takeshita and putting NJPW on his back. This feels like a do-or-die moment. I don’t think there are many chances left to crown Tsuji in a way that meaningfully changes the company’s trajectory. He needs to pin Takeshita and then cut a career-defining promo.
- Kosei Fujita winning the No. 1 contenders match and eventually the title. Again, the theme here is fresh and new heading into 2026.
- The mystery “X” in the 10-man tag is intriguing on paper — but this match could also be used to elevate Newman or Andrade.
- The next generation in the Rambo stepping up. Can they turn what’s usually a cluster into something fiery and memorable? I would have preferred Shota, Yuemura, and Oiwa in their own matches, but this is what they’ve been given.
It’s time. I’ve said it incessantly at this point, but I just want fresh. I want them to catch the wave. If they miss it and we walk away feeling the same way we have for most of the past few years, I genuinely don’t know what the path forward is.
I’ll be writing this live as the show progresses, with a summary at the end.
Let’s go.
Shoma Kato & Tatsuya Matsumoto vs. Katsuya Murashima & Masatora Yasuda
Young Lions open the show. I’m going to pick one wrestler from this match to really focus on going forward, my pick for the next Young Lion to move up the ranks and make some noise.
As a disclaimer: I am a terrible talent scout. Nearly every Young Lion I’ve ever predicted big things for hasn’t quite panned out, so take this with a grain of salt… but fingers crossed.
As for the match itself, I loved it. Young Lion matches are always fun to watch, and this was tight, hard-hitting, and full of strong fundamentals. This felt like a match from a bygone era, when wrestlers were still trying to make the audience believe it was real.
As expected, the match ended with a great-looking Boston Crab, with Murashima and Yasuda picking up the win.
I’m choosing Kato as my Young Lion to watch, although Matsumoto may have been my personal favourite. I loved the finish where he was jumping to add pressure to the Boston Crab.
El Phantasmo (c) (with Jado) vs. Chris Brookes
Singles match for the NJPW World Television Championship
Both wrestlers worked really well here, and everything they did looked good. This match is at a bit of a disadvantage for me personally, though, as I struggle to really connect with either wrestler on an emotional level. They’re both highly skilled, they’ve just never fully grabbed me.
Brookes looked confident heading into what is undoubtedly the biggest match of his career exposure-wise, and he maintained that confidence throughout. ELP continues to have a great connection with the NJPW crowd and delivered another dependably solid performance.
I still love the concept of the TV title: a 15-minute time limit and every match available for free online. While it was originally intended to spotlight younger wrestlers, something that they drifted from immediately with champions like Jeff Cobb and Zack Sabre Jr. The match quality has always remained consistently strong.
Brookes was accompanied by his DDT stablemates, bringing a bit of DDT-style hijinks, though it was thankfully kept to a minimum. Jado also got involved on ELP’s side, and I love how he looks like a broken-down old boxing trainer at ringside.
A solid match overall, even if my personal investment wasn’t quite there. A good way to wrap up the pre-show.
Rambo for the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship
Unfortunately, this was mostly what you’d expect and not what I was hoping for. A lot of standing around on the outside, waiting for turns to get involved, with brief flashes of action interrupted by standard House of Torture and comedy spots. Nothing really had time to breathe or stand out.
I was really hoping for strong showings from Shota Umino, Yuya Uemura, and Kaisei Takechi (DDT). Shota looked bigger and stronger than before, noticeable having put on some size and Takechi’s entrance, complete with full J-pop idol theatrics, genuinely made him look like a star. Unfortunately, neither had much of a lasting impact once the bell rang.
Even the Knockout Brothers, another exciting fresh presence, only felt involved for a few fleeting minutes.
At least ZSJ, Oiwa, and Hartley Jackson came out on top, meaning Oiwa walks away with a championship, and could very well add another tomorrow night. One of the next generation leaving with gold does count for something.
And hey, Hartley Jackson winning a title in 2026? At least it’s different. That counts as fresh… right?
Saya Kamitani (STRONG) vs. Syuri (IWGP)
Winner Takes All – IWGP Women’s Championship & STRONG Women’s Championship
Both women worked incredibly hard here and laid in their strikes with intensity. Syuri in particular was outstanding, an armbar from a top-rope arm drag looked fantastic, as did a later armbar with her calf draped over Saya’s head to limit movement. Those little touches make a huge difference.
The crowd was invested, and the work rate was high throughout. That said, similar to the ELP match earlier, I didn’t connect with this as much as I’d hoped.
Still, this was my favourite match of the show at this point, and the action was undeniably high-level.
Bullet Club War Dogs (David Finlay, Gabe Kidd, Drilla Moloney) and Unaffiliated (Shingo Takagi & Hiromu Takahashi) (with Gedo) vs. Andrade El Ídolo, United Empire (Callum Newman, Great-O-Khan, Henare, and Jake Lee)
News broke a few days ago that the War Dogs’ contracts (Finlay, Kidd, and Moloney) are up, with all three reportedly exploring their options. That possibility alone added intrigue, as this could be their final NJPW appearance for the foreseeable future.
Beyond the War Dogs, my main interests going into this match were:
- Callum Newman, who feels on the verge of a major step up. He has the size and in-ring ability, but still seems to be searching for that final piece of crowd connection.
- Henare, who has had an unfortunate stop-start run due to injuries. I’ve always had a soft spot for him, he works hard, looks intimidating, and I’m hoping this is the beginning of a sustained run.
- Andrade, who, despite ongoing contract turbulence elsewhere, I’m excited to see him in an NJPW environment again.
- The mystery X, which unfortunately turned out to be Jake Lee. Maybe fifth time’s the charm? I was a supporter during his early All Japan run and Triple Crown matches with Kento Miyahara, but everything since, across AJPW, NOAH, and NJPW, has been deeply uninspiring.
Jake Lee’s entrance did nothing to change that perception. It was flat and lifeless, completely draining the atmosphere before the match even began. No fire, no urgency, no charisma. I hope this run turns things around, but first impressions matter, and this was a poor one.
Thankfully, Gabe Kidd and Andrade kicked things off at a frantic, hard-hitting pace, immediately restoring some energy. Henare, Shingo, and Great-O-Khan all looked excellent as well.
Watching Callum Newman more closely, I wonder if it’s his facials that need refinement. His wrestling is strong and he has the physical presence, he just hasn’t fully connected with the crowd yet.
Like many fans, I expected Hiromu Takahashi to move to heavyweight years ago. He has the size, and the heavier style would have suited him well after his neck injury. With his immense fanbase, he could have been a major stabilising force during NJPW’s recent struggles. The connection is still there, even if the timing may have passed.
This match featured one of my least favourite modern wrestling tropes: the dive-to-the-floor spot where everyone conveniently gathers to catch the person jumping. It’s one of the fakest-looking elements in contemporary wrestling and completely pulls me out of the moment. It happened twice here.
If the choice is between that spot and eliminating dives to the floor entirely, I’ll happily take the latter.
The match ended with Jake Lee pinning Hiromu, a finish that sadly matched Lee’s overall performance. Still, Henare looked rejuvenated, and Kidd, O-Khan, Shingo, and Andrade all delivered strong performances.
El Desperado vs. Kosei Fujita vs. Taiji Ishimori vs. SHO
Four-Way Match to Determine the No. 1 Contender for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
I was genuinely worried this would be overrun with House of Torture interference, especially with the following match expected to lean heavily into that style. For a brief moment, it looked like my fears might be unfounded, until they weren’t.
Not only did House of Torture interfere, but so did the partners of the other competitors. Robbie Eagles, Robbie X, and KUUKAI all got involved, ensuring everyone got at least one big spot before El Desperado picked up the win and earned a future title shot against DOUKI.
This was a huge letdown. Easily my least favourite match of the show, and unfortunately very representative of modern New Japan’s worst tendencies.
EVIL (c) (with Dick Togo & Don Fale) vs. Aaron Wolf
Singles Match for the NEVER Openweight Championship
Aaron Wolf’s entrance was a brilliant piece of symbolism. He removed his gi to reveal Young Lion black trunks and a newly shaved head, a visual stripping away of his Olympian status to return to the foundations of professional wrestling. A fantastic touch.
In the lead-up, EVIL had claimed he would force Wolf to do exactly that if he lost, so Wolf beating him to the punch added another layer.
This was a textbook House of Torture match, interference, weapons, and chaos throughout. Ideally, I would have preferred a straight singles contest to better evaluate Wolf in a traditional NJPW setting, but within this framework, the match mostly worked.
The key question was simple: how did Aaron Wolf look?
The answer: promising.
He wrestled with purpose, focusing on impactful offense delivered with conviction. After a slightly nervous start, he settled in quickly, showcasing judo throws, submissions, and eventually defeating EVIL to win the NEVER title.
More importantly, he showed fire. There was an old-school competitiveness to him, a sense that he wanted to prove something through wrestling itself. His selling and facials were strong, and he never looked lost.
I can’t wait to see him in a standard singles match.
The crowd seemed to agree, this was the loudest and most animated they’d been all night.
That said, taken alongside the rest of the card, this still felt like more of the same. While there were clear positives, the continued reliance on House of Torture-style presentation left me exhausted.
Others may have walked away more positive than I did, but for me, this match reinforced how stale this formula has become.
Konosuke Takeshita (World) vs. Yota Tsuji (Global)
Winner Takes All – IWGP World Heavyweight Championship & IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship
I’ve watched this match twice now — once live, and once the following morning. On first viewing, I struggled to connect. I could tell both men were wrestling exceptionally well, but for whatever reason, it didn’t fully register.
The second viewing, however, changed everything.
Watching fresh, with Japanese commentary, the importance of the match came into sharp focus. I cared deeply about Tsuji’s pursuit of the title, and I was completely invested.
This felt like an IWGP title match from a bygone era, a brutal battle of attrition, with both men throwing everything they had at each other in a desperate attempt to win.
Every strike echoed through the Tokyo Dome, each blow landed with intent and ferocity. I’m not sure what accounted for the drastic difference between viewings, but by the end of the second watch, this quickly became one of my favourite matches of the past 12 months.
Takeshita is genuinely one of the best wrestlers in the world right now. No one does this style better. Tsuji was outstanding as well, buoyed by the full support of the New Japan faithful.
The finish was perfect, both men going for their killing blows simultaneously, only for Tsuji to connect, before submitting Takeshita with the Boston Crab, the defining hold of Young Lions and New Japan itself.
I was riding a high after this match… until Jake Lee appeared, attacking Tsuji and positioning himself as the next challenger.
This is not what I meant when I said I wanted something fresh and new.
A true monkey’s paw wish.
Still, I’ll try to remain optimistic.
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada
Setting aside the emotion, Okada’s return, Tanahashi’s retirement, there is simply something magical about Tanahashi vs. Okada. From the opening lock-up, they had me completely captivated.
Throughout his retirement year, Tanahashi had visibly slowed, often a step behind where he once was. But on his final night, in the Tokyo Dome, on January 4, 2026, Tanahashi was back in his prime.
“I ain’t as good as I once was, but I’m as good once as I ever was.”
There was debate about who Tanahashi’s final opponent should be, but this match made it clear, Okada was the only choice. He can still perform at the highest level, and together they’ve produced some of the greatest matches in wrestling history. You can’t talk about one without mentioning the other.
The match unfolded slowly and deliberately, every movement carrying weight. The crowd was firmly behind Tanahashi as Okada gradually took control, beating him down while Tanahashi fought back in brief, hopeful bursts, the perfect structure for a retiring hero.
When Tanahashi kicked out of the Rainmaker, I cheered like a 10-year-old. With Sling Blade, Twist and Shout, and High Fly Flow, Tanahashi gave everything he had left, before finally falling to one last Rainmaker.
Tanahashi is THE hero, THE good guy, fighting to the very end
This was my match of the night, and very likely my match of the year. Honestly, it may be my favourite match of the last five years. This is why I love professional wrestling. This is why pro wrestling is so special. Through the whole match, I forget everything else, I didn’t care about anything else, I was just mesmerised by what was unfolding.
Tanahashi and Okada defined the greatest era of wrestling in my lifetime, and this match placed a perfect bow on it, standing proudly alongside their all-time classics.
This was truly special.
Thank you, Tana.
Hiroshi Tanahashi Retirement Ceremony
Following the match, New Japan dignitaries presented Tanahashi with flowers. Jay White, Will Ospreay, Kenny Omega, and Kota Ibushi appeared. Shibata locked up with Tana. Mutoh and Fujinami made appearances.
The ceremony is essential viewing. Tanahashi wept as each guest arrived, everyone desperate to pay their respects to the Ace.
Things briefly went off the rails when Naito arrived, took an eternity to enter, and cut a promo that ultimately led nowhere. It was a strange detour that unnecessarily shifted focus away from Tanahashi.
Finally, through tears, Tanahashi thanked the sold-out Tokyo Dome. One last air guitar solo followed, a massive crowd wave, and an emotional ten-bell salute.
A perfect farewell.
Final Thoughts
If this show had ended with the IWGP title match, my overall feelings would be far more negative. Okada vs. Tanahashi alone elevated Wrestle Kingdom 20.
Still, outside of a few highlights, the card largely reflected modern New Japan’s ongoing issues. Aaron Wolf’s promise and Takeshita vs. Tsuji weren’t enough to offset the House of Torture excesses and worrying creative directions, particularly Jake Lee’s positioning.
The part of the show that reminded me why I love wrestling is now gone. Okada returns to AEW. Tanahashi is retired. I had hoped this would mark the beginning of a new upswing.
Instead, I fear we may be treading familiar ground.
I want to finish on a positive, the Tanahashi v Okada match was incredible, I loved it. The Takeshita v Tsuji match and finish rivalled the classics, Tsuji, Wolf, Oiwa, Shota, and Uemura all showed something to varying degrees. They just need the chance.
There is still hope, I think I still have hope. I just want New Japan to reward it.
Thank you, Tanahashi.
