33 comments

1. Absolutely amazing night. So grateful to have been here in person.

2. Great show. The last two matches….nothing less than stellar in my book. 

   I remember NJPW due to WCW. Jushin Lyger & Great Muta introduced me to Japanese wrestling. However, years later, WK 9 was the show that got me back into NJPW. I bought it to hear Jim Ross on commentary. That was when Jarrett had his Global Gold company going on. So, in his defense, he’s the reason I bought WK 9.

   That was my introduction to Tanahashi. I remember being enthralled with Tana v Okada. Immediately drew me right back in. Been an even more massive NJPW supporter ever since. Went to shows anytime they were in the US. Even did a M&G with Tana, himself. Naito grew to be my favorite guy, but Tana was just that dude. He deserves his flowers, accolades, all that, and then some. And that man’s hair. Always on point. lol 

   Salute. 🫡 

3. I just wanna say, whoever’s idea it was to let Jay be the first person to give Tanahashi their flowers, they deserve a raise. 

   The japanese commentary was absolutely paranoid that he was gonna give him a Bladerunner.

4. Ah, apologies for jumping the gun on the post-show thread u/EvanDeadlySins , didn’t think we’d have one.

   I was really, really pleased with that show. All the big matches did EXACTLY what they needed to do. The undercard was fine – UE vs War Dogs wasn’t blowaway but it set up everything it needed to set up, so mission accomplished there. The women’s title match was great with a surprise winner. I wish Fujita had gotten his moment, but Despy getting some revenge on DOUKI is also totally okay. The only outright bad match was the Ranbo, but tbh I kinda expect it to be at this point.

   Aaron Wolf passed his first test flawlessly. And Tsuji/Takeshita was the first 5 star match of 2026 for me, so that’s classic WK vibes even if it’s not the same.

   Did everything it needed to do. Now let’s keep this shit up in 2026.

5. I get that there were so many multi man matches to ensure everyone got a payday on the best drawing WK of recent times, but I do feel like it was maybe short sighted to not consider a two day dome event.

   Tana’s send off was perfect. You could nitpick it, but he ultimately delivered and the ceremony was excellent.

   Yota getting the title was well overdue and thank god there was no second guessing, but they could’ve just let him have his moment instead of reheating a dead Jake Lee right there and then. I’m hopeful for the new gen doing their thing but moments like this it’s like… ugh just let it breathe a little bit.

   I think Aaron Wolf had the best opponent to have a high profile match with at the dome and I really enjoyed it ultimately. It’ll be interesting to see long term how he does now that the newness will begin to wear off, but I think he can produce if given the time and space.

   More stardom matches. Please dear lord.

   Overall, I’m feeling optimistic. Maybe a bit more than I was last year. NYD might be a key night to pop shit off.

6. The ending was unique. A once in a century moment. Goodbye Ace.

7. My first New Japan show was KOPW 2012. Of all the guys on that show only Goto, Ishii, and Yano remain. That’s actually not bad considering how long it’s been and that they take bumps for a living.

8. Love love loved the retirement segment. Legit the best sending off I’ve seen in wrestling.

9. Very happy with the show. Think they got most of the booking right. Not a huge fan of the state of the junior division. It’s a bit of mess. So they need to fix that..

   The rest I’m cautiously optimistic on. I think they’ve gone through a good period of booking. Not perfect but good. Obviously it’s going to take sustained good booking and not them panicking the second something happens but yes keep this up.

   The tanahashi v okada match was very very special

10. As we commented over the past month, this card was underwhelming for a Wrestle Kingdom, but for all that is worth, the show itself more than overdelivered. Tsuji vs Takeshita is the year’s first MOTY Contender, the main event was amazing as well, Aaron Wolf’s debut was all you could ask for the guy (specially with match layout this one had, although it probably helped him in regards to showcasing his strengths and hiding his weaknesses), the women put on a show that was probably the best match on the entire show aside for the other double title bout and even the United Empire and Wardogs tag was very fun, specially with Jake Lee coming back and later on being the KENTA to Tsuji’s Naito.

    They should have still loaded the card more than they did, cause there was no reason not to have Zack and Oiwa vs KOB today, or to have guys like Goto, Umino and Uemura relegated to the Rambo, and it would have probably put this show up there with the Wrestle Kingdoms of the mid and late 2010s. But aside of that, this was a near perfect show, both in regards to the action, to give Tanahashi his deserved send-off and in showcasing who are the people leading the company into the new era. I don’t know how things are gonna look for New Japan moving forward, specially in the short term business wise, but either way I’m excited to see how they follow up, how they book Tsuji now that they’ve finally given him the ball, how they take care of Aaron Wolf in his first year as he’s set to be in a title picture that forces you to step up or get eaten, how the women of Stardom continue the momentum they’re on both there and here and how those who also have to be part of this era and have had a secondary role today rise up into the roles they can and should fulfill.

11. Aaron Wolf and Tanahashi save the show. I stay in my position that it’s almost a shame they run that card for a Sold Out Dome.

    TMDK winning the Never Tag is great. They will elevate the titles, but i’m scared that spoil the tomorrow title match.

    Im not that happy with Despe winning the title shot, they should have mix it up with Ishimori or Fujita.

    Wolf debut was way way better than I expect, now wait and see what program they give him.

    I’m happy for Tsuji, but I remain mainly bored to his matches. I feel they always the same. Some spots like the Avalanche Raging Fire save the match.

    Tanahashi was perfect and save the day.

12. What a night. What a weird Wrestle Kingdom!!

    The early parts of the card were odd, but the final three matches banged and obviously the hour-long retirement ceremony hit hard.

    With that timing now clear the early card made sense. Not a lot of “new star” moments for the returning fans to get behind though Wolf was awesome. Would have been good to see Fujita really shine in the Jr match.

    Overall 10/10, just a shame Nakamura couldn’t be there.

13. Tsuji saved the world and Tana made It cry

14. Not great overall. I get that time was at a premium so they had plenty of time for that amazing retirement ceremony, but a lot of matches really suffered because of the very short time restrictions (especially the junior 4 way and the Kamitani/Syuri match). Need to go back and watch Wolf/EVIL after some rest as I needed to bring my wife into work during that match, but Tsuji/Takeshita saved, and I use that word loosely, a very disappointing show.

    Wasn’t expecting a five star classic out of the main event by any means. The fact that Okada dragged a Hiroshi Tanahashi whose broken body has been running on fumes for years now to a 3 star match (from in ring quality) is a goddamned miracle.

    Overall, my top 3 matches of the night are:

    1. Tsuji/Takeshita (a 4.25/5 for me)

    2. Kamitani/Syuri (3.25/5)

    3. ELP/Brooks(3.25/5)

    After such a lackluster showing, I’m probably giving NJPW a break for a little bit. Maybe I’ll pick back up around BOSJ if they can get things back in order, but even the Tsuji win couldn’t make up for such a rough start (especially how abruptly the UE vs War Dogs/Unaffiliated and the junior 4 way ended)

15. Gotta love how Ibushi made it to the ring faster than Naito while rawdogging an obliterated leg

16. Aaron Wolf has IT and should be booked strongly. The idea that NJPW needs to stick to its “20-30 minute epics” lmao. Aaron would be a fresh and unique wrestler who has short power matches instead of needing to go epic. After all, freaking Takada vs Hashimoto went 12+ minutes in the dome main event.

    Give Aaron the rocket push especially when he’s so over.

17. Tonight they did everything right, can’t complain

18. I thought it was a much better show than expected. The women’s match had an surprising finish, but I’m happy with Syuri winning because she rules.

    Credit to EVIL and to Aaron Wolf for making the latter’s debut another welcome surprise. They had the crowd firmly on Wolf’s side, cheering him on and making that a fun watch. Intrigued to see how Wolf develop from here on.

    Takeshita and Tsuji tore the house down. Fantastic match worthy of the main title in NJPW. I only really have a very minor nit-pick and that is them telegraphing the spot where Tsuji got his foot on the rope after the Falcon Arrow. Loved that finish. The initial struggle before the crab was truly cinched in for the win. Didn’t expect it, but popped for it.

    Loved Okada’s gear for Tanahashi’s retirement match. Just really liked how his black gear contrasted the white of Tanahashi. Popped for the rainmaker pose-fake out to the finger and how the crowd booed. Heelish Okada is always a delight and I enjoyed him playing with his food a little by breaking up a few of is own pins. The tombstone on the ramp was brutal. Loved Tanahashi using the PK and the Boma-Ye. Popped for Jay White and then everyone who followed. Just wish that Nakamura could have been there. He was the one missing piece that would have truly capped it all off.

19. Tanahashi got like a full hour, as he damn well deserved. That’s a retirement.

    EVIL’s best match of the year was against someone having their first match ever, that’s so EVIL.

20. How long until the main event is added to World?

21. The energy in the stadium was amazing. Bonus points to seeing my other favorites Jay White, BUSHI, Naito and Osprey and dap up Kenny and Ibushi.

22. MasaTORA Yasuda was born to be the next Tiger Mask.

23. Based upon many avid NJPW fans reaction to the brief showcase of woman’s wrestling potential in Japan, I would love to see one show this year given a 30+ minute showcase when right

    I think it’ll be beyond meaningful for audiences across the globe

24. This truly felt like not just Tana’s retirement, but the official goodbye to that glorious era of Prime New Japan. 

25. I didn’t enjoy most of the show. I thought it was just fine. But loved those last 2 matches. The post match with all those guys coming out to pay respects to Tanahashi was special.

26. It is a shame that Shinsuke Nakamura didn’t get a chance to walk the Dome ramp one more time. That was about the only disappointing thing I have.

27. Disappointed Nakamura didnt come out.

28. still can’t believe, after the greatest run in professional wrestling history, it’s finally over: Master Wato is no longer NEVER 6-Man Champion.

29. Ranbo felt entirely pointless and I hope it’s back to the pre show next year

    10 man tag was fun. Liked all the WTL callbacks

    Despe winning is also cool. Would have preferred Fujita, but that’s not a big deal. Fooj can take it off Despe after he beats Douki 🙂

    Wolf – I gotta say I had the lowest expectations watching him come out and look completely starstruck. But I was *very* impressed with his selling in that match, and had a fair bit more charisma in the ring than I expected (which was nothing at all because he has none outside of the ring). Crowd reactions for him were insane. NJPW would be wise to slap a red headband on this dude and push him to the moon in the next year

    Double title match – 5 stars. If any NJPW fan still doesn’t get Takeshita after that match, I don’t know what to say. Amazing performance by Tsuji, loved him working the midsection the entire match given his finisher. Also liked the Boston Crab finisher, nice reference to Takeshita not being a Noge Dojo graduate

    And the main event, what can you say that hasn’t been said

    For the first time in a long time, I have hope for NJPW

30. Does anybody now what song were they playing when Tana got into that mobile golden platform for the victory lap?

31. First half of this show was a dumpster fire, but the last two matches and retirement ceremony made up for it. I hope NJPW gets it together in 2026. They do have some solid foundation to bring the company back to greatness if they play their cards right.

32. Top of the card delivered, below that was pretty underwhelming.

    The front end of this absolutely did not feel like Wrestle Kingdom and I would perhaps argue nothing on the show did until the final two matches.

    However this will be remembered for a tremendous retirement match at the end. They absolutely nailed the finish, so in essence the rest probably doesn’t matter.

    Here’s hoping for some new ideas in 2026. I’m cautiously optimistic.

33. Poor Tana could barely move at the end getting back to the stage. He’s given his body to the company and I’m happy he can now enjoy his health in retirement.

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