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Although for a brief period it seemed as if WWE's Day 1 would be the new event to mark the start of a new year, that show has already been scrapped and normal service has been resumed. NJPW's Wrestle Kingdom is once again the first big show of the year, and on January 4, 2023, the 17th annual edition of the show will take place. Effectively New Japan's answer to WrestleMania, Wrestle Kingdom includes huge title matches, and also a little crossover from other brands. 2023's Wrestle Kingdom takes place on January 4, starting at the early hour of 3 am EST for fans in the US. All of the action will air live on New Japan World, and everything announced for the card so far can be found below.
Jay White vs. Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
It doesn't get bigger than the IWGP Heavyweight Title in NJPW, and right now in the promotion it doesn't get bigger than Jay White and Kazuchika Okada. White and Okada have stood across the ring from each other multiple times in 2022, including at AEW's Forbidden Door, but this will be their first singles match since the champ beat The Rainmaker for the title back in June.
White hasn't actually defended the title much at all in the past six months, making this match an even bigger deal. Okada has already held NJPW's top prize for more days than anyone in history. Odds are he beats White and continues to open up that gap between himself and the chasing back at Wrestle Kingdom.
Will Ospreay vs. Kenny Omega for the IWGP United States Championship
There always tends to be two matches at Wrestle Kingdom that can potentially close the show, and this is the match that might well take top billing over the World Title match. A huge cross-promotional match between Will Ospreay and Kenny Omega with the IWGP US Title on the line.
If Wrestle Kingdom was happening closer to Forbidden Door 2, which will presumably happen in the summer of 2023, then Omega winning this and losing the title back to Ospreay in AEW would make a lot of sense. Since there will be at least a five-month gap between those shows, then Ospreay will probably retain here.
Kairi vs. Tam Nakano for the IWGP Women's Championship
Kairi, formerly Kairi Sane in WWE, made history in November by winning a tournament to become the first-ever IWGP Women's Champion. Usually an event reserved for men's matches, Kairi defending that title against Tam Nakano at Wrestle Kingdom 17 is a very big deal.
Kairi is yet to defend the title at the time of typing this, and it's unlikely she will lose the championship at the first time of asking. The former WWE Superstar to win this one and Sasha Banks to emerge after the bell to solidify herself as Kairi's next challenger.
Karl Anderson vs. Tama Tonga for the NJPW Never Openweight Championship
When Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows showed up in WWE, fans wondered what would become of the Never Openweight Title. After a back-and-forth between Anderson and New Japan, the WWE Superstar kept the title and will defend it at Wrestle Kingdom.
Some pretty cool business proving WWE is willing to peek through the Forbidden Door. Tama Tonga really has to win this one though and bring the championship, which hasn't been seen for months, back to where it belongs.
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Ren Narita for the IWGP Television Championship
Speaking of tournaments to crown new champions, the finals of the IWGP TV Title tournament will take place at Wrestle Kingdom. Zack Sabre Jr. and Ren Marita have battled through a 16-man tournament but only one of them can be named NJPW's first-ever TV Champion on January 4.
Both men have had grueling runs to get to the final, but it feels like Sabre Jr. will be the one who gets over the line to become the first TV Champion. A mainstay in Japan recognized by wrestling fans the world over and the perfect candidate to try and get people outside of Japan watching the product more regularly.
FTR vs. Bishamon for the IWGP Tag Team Championships
What a 2022 FTR have had. Holding three sets of Tag Titles at one point, despite not appearing much in AEW, the pair competed in a number of bouts that could have been match of the year. The IWGP Champs will try to kick off 2023 in similar fashion against Bishamon.
It feels like FTR is in a transitional period in their careers and this will be the next big step. Another set of Tag Titles lost with just the AAA ones left after this. Bishamon to win gold in this one.
Taiji Ishimori vs. El Desperado vs. Hiromu Takahashi vs. Master Wato for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
Taiji Ishimori hasn't exactly been the greatest champion in NJPW history. Ducking title defenses at every possible opportunity, The Bone Soldier has the unwanted accolade of going longer between matches in which his title has been on the line than anyone in the belt's history.
All that dodging comes to a head at Wrestle Kingdom when Ishimori will be forced to defend the title against three people at the same time. It's highly unlikely he leaves with the championship, and my pick to win this one is Master Wato.
Keiji Muto, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Shota Umino vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon
There is a lot of NJPW talent in this match. Talent you would normally see in big title matches at Wrestle Kingdom. There's a reason the likes of Hiroshi Tanahashi and Sanada aren't competing for gold this year, though. It's because this will be Keiji Muto's last match ever.
Even though wrestlers often do the honors on the way out, it doesn't feel like this is what's on the cards here. Team Muto to win this one and give the legend the sendoff he deserves.
Catch 2/2 vs. LiYoh for the IWGP Junior Tag Team Championships
A lot of wrestling fans only watch NJPW once a year, tuning in for Wrestle Kingdom. This match will likely grab the attention of those very casual fans as it features two former WWE Superstars. Lio Rush on one side, and TJP, the Junior Tag Team Champion alongside Francesco Akira, on the other.
On a night where there will be a lot of great action, this match will be no different and likely add a slightly different flavor to Wrestle Kingdom. As for who wins, Catch 2/2 gets my vote in this one.
Yuji Nagata, Satoshi Kojima, and Togi Makabe vs. Tatsumi Fujinami, Minoru Suzuki, and Tiger Mask in the Antonio Inoki Memorial Six-Man Tag Match
Back to a match that is absolutely loaded with big names, and for very good reason. Japanese wrestling lost an icon in 2022 in the form of Antonio Inoki. This match has been dubbed his memorial, and hopefully it will become a regular fixture of Wrestle Kingdom moving forward.
As for who wins, it really doesn't matter. This match will be a chance for the wrestling world to really remember Inoki. If forced to pick a winning side, I'd go for Team Tiger Mask.
Opening Matches
While Wrestle Kingdom doesn't tend to have pre-shows in the same way as WWE and AEW, it will have a couple of bouts that have been dubbed "opening matches" this year. An exhibition match between Ryohei Oiwa and Oleg Boltin, and also the New Japan Ranbo to determine who will compete for the KOPW 2023 Championship at New Years Dash.
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