Thursday, March 28, 2024
New Japan Pro Wrestling Wrestle Kingdom 17

New Japan Pro Wrestling Wrestle Kingdom 17

Date:
January 4, 2023
Location:
Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan

Highlights:

  • The event was heavily tributed to New Japan founder Antonio Inoki, who passed away in 2022.
  • Kenny Omega returned to New Japan for the first time in years and defeated Will Ospreay to once again become IWGP United States Champion. He used the “Sephiroth Theme” from Final Fantasy VII as his entrance music.
  • Former WWE Superstar Sasha Banks debuted as Mercedes Mone. She congratulated Kairi on her victory before attacking her with a botched move. Kairi & Tam Nakano made history by wrestling the first women’s match at the January 4 show since 1994.
  • The Great Muta wrestled his last New Japan match as himself.
  • WWE allowed Karl Anderson to wrestle on the show to lose his NEVER Openweight title to fellow Bullet Club founder Tama Tonga.
  • FTR losing their IWGP title to Bishamon leaves them with no championships to their name, after they lost the ROH & AAA titles late last year.
  • Zack Sabre Jr became the inaugural IWGP Television Champion.
  • Kazuchika Okada again claimed victory at Wrestle Kingdom by defeating Jay White in the main event. After Shingo Takagi challenged him for the title, he gave an emotional speech and thanked Antonio Inoki.

Event Card

EXHIBITION MATCH:
Ryohei Oiwa vs. Boltin Oleg ended in a draw

NEW JAPAN RANBO:
Great-O-Khan, Shingo Takagi, Sho and Toru Yano advanced to the four-way match at New Year’s Dash

ANTONIO INOKI MEMORIAL SIX-MAN TAG TEAM MATCH:
Yuji Nagata, Satoshi Kojima and Togi Makabe defeated Tatsumi Fujinami, Minoru Suzuki and Tiger Mask

IWGP JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Catch 2/2 (T.J. Perkins and Francesco Akira) (c) retained against LiYoh (Lio Rush and Yoh)

IWGP WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Kairi (c) retained against Tam Nakano

IWGP TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Bishamon (Hirooki Goto and Yoshi-Hashi) defeated FTR to become the new champions

NJPW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Ren Narita to become the new champion

NEVER OPENWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Tama Tonga defeated Karl Anderson to become the new champion

SIX-MAN TAG TEAM MATCH:
Keiji Muto, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Shota Umino defeated Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Sanada and Bushi)
* This is Muto’s last NJPW match *

IWGP JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP FOUR-WAY MATCH:
Hiromu Takahashi defeated Taiji Ishimori (c), El Desperado & Master Wato to become the new champion

IWGP UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Kenny Omega defeated Will Ospreay to become the new champion

IWGP WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Kazuchika Okada defeated Jay White to become the new champion