Fighting Spirit Unleashed (2018)

Fighting Spirit Unleashed was professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). The show will take place on September 30, 2018, in Long Beach, California, United States at Walter Pyramid. This is the fourth NJPW show that the promotion produced independently in the U.S. and the second NJPW show to be held in the Walter Pyramid.

Background
On July 5, Wrestling Observer Newsletter journalist, Dave Meltzer reported that New Japan Pro Wrestling would run another show on September 30 in Long Beach, California. It was rumored that AXS TV was triyng to convince NJPW to make another show in the United States following the G1 Special in San Francisco. The following day, during the press conference of the G1 Special in San Francisco, NJPW President Harold Meij announced NJPW would return another time to the Walter Pyramid on September 30 at Fighting Spirit Unleashed. The event was later advertised during the G1 Special in San Francisco. On July 26, NJPW announced that tickets would go on sale August 1, costing from $50 to $300 with Premium Gold and Silver tickets will include a limited-edition premium gift.

NJPW had previously run a event on the Walter Pyramid the Strong Style Evolved on March 25, which tickets sold out in less than twenty minutes. NJPW also previously partnered with Jersey All Pro Wrestling (JAPW) for the NJPW Invasion Tour 2011 and since 2014 they have been partnered with Ring of Honor (ROH), co-producing shows annually in North America. The show marked the fourth time NJPW presented shows in the United States independently, as opposed to partnering up with an American promotion.

Storylines
Fighting Spirit Unleashed will feature professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portray villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in the scripted events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches.