Wrestle Kingdom 13

Wrestle Kingdom 13 in Tokyo Dome is an upcoming professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event will take place on January 4, 2019, at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. It will be the 28th January 4 Tokyo Dome Show, which is NJPW's biggest annual event and has been called "the largest wrestling show in the world outside of the United States" and the "Japanese equivalent to the Super Bowl". The event will air live on Fite TV and NJPW World streaming services, and was later made available for on demand viewing on the AXS TV network.

The show was headlined by Kenny Omega defending the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against the winner of the 2018 G1 Climax, Hiroshi Tanahashi, in a rematch from The New Beginning in Niigata in 2016. The second match of the show's "double main event" will see Chris Jericho defending the IWGP Intercontinental Championship against Tetsuya Naito in a rematch from Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall. Another high-profile match scheduled for the show will see Kazuchika Okada facing Jay White.

As part of a partnership between NJPW and the British Revolution Pro Wrestling (RPW) promotion, the Undisputed British Heavyweight Championship will also be defended at the event with Tomohiro Ishii facing Zack Sabre Jr.

Six other title matches will also take place on the show with Chris Jericho defending the IWGP Intercontinental Championship against Tetsuya Naito, KUSHIDA defending the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against Taiji Ishimori, Suzuki-gun (El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru) defending the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship in a three-way match against Roppongi 3K (Sho and Yoh) and Los Ingobernables de Japon (BUSHI and Shingo Takagi), Kota Ibushi defending the NEVER Openweight Championship against Will Ospreay, Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa defending the IWGP Tag Team Championship in a three-way match against The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) and Los Ingobernables de Japon (EVIL and SANADA) and Cody defending the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship against Juice Robinson. All in all, the event will feature ten matches (including one on the pre-show).

Background
Wrestle Kingdom 13 was officially announced on August 12, 2018, during the finals of the 2018 G1 Climax. On October 9, NJPW held a press conference to announce further details for the shows. This included the official theme song for the event was "Lions Den" by SiM, the tagline for the event and a fan festival being held from January 3 until January 5 at New Year Dash!!. During this day, Global Force Entertainment and Wrestling Travel announced they were putting together travel packages for the event.

NJPW had previously partnered with Global Force Wrestling (currently known as Global Force Entertainment), to air Wrestle Kingdom 9 live on American pay-per-view television market on January 4, 2015, featuring English language commentary from Jim Ross and Matt Striker.

Pre-sale tickets for the show were put on sale on September 18 for "Team NJPW" fan club and October 7 from October 24, while general sale tickets for were put on sale on October 25 and travel packages for the event were sold; with individual tickets costing from ¥3,000 to ¥50,000. On October 17, 2018, NJPW announced that part of the tickets for the event was sold out. On October 25, NJPW confirmed that Don Callis would be on commentary for the event. AXS TV network will cover part of the event on the same day, with commentary provided by NJPW World commentators Don Callis and Kevin Kelly. The rest of the event will air on tape delay between January 11 and January 18. Part of the event will be available for on-demand viewing on AXS TV network, shortly after airing, with rest of the event airing on January 25, 2019.

On November 28, it was announced that Wrestle Kingdom 13 would be broadcasted worldwide on Fite TV, a mobile app that allows streaming through Wi-Fi to a smart TV or a set-top box such as Roku or Chromecast and also has a channel directly on digital media players. On December 10, it was announced the full card of the event containing nine title matches and the event would also be sponsored by ''BanG Dream! Girls Band Party!''. On December 17, NJPW announced the match pre-show including a Lion's Gate Special at the night before the event.

Storylines
Wrestle Kingdom 13 will feature professional wrestling matches that involve different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portray villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in the scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.

Wrestle Kingdom 13 will be main evented by Kenny Omega defending the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Hiroshi Tanahashi. The storyline behind the match dates back to 2016, after the IWGP Intercontinental Championship was vacated by Shinsuke Nakamura after he departed NJPW, leading to a match on February 14, 2016, at The New Beginning in Niigata, where Omega defeated Tanahashi to become the new champion. Before the title match, Tanahashi had dislocated his shoulder, which led to an angle at The New Beginning in Osaka on February 11, where Omega led a Bullet Club assault on Tanahashi's shoulder. Over the next months, Omega and Tanahashi faced off in many matches, began exchanging the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship, resulting in three title matches between March 20 and May 3, where Omega and his Bullet Club stablemates The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) became two-time champions after regaining the titles from Tanahashi, Michael Elgin and Yoshitatsu. Tanahashi had originally challenged Omega to an IWGP Intercontinental Championship rematch on April 27, but was turned down by the champion. After the match at Wrestling Dontaku 2016, Tanahashi repeated his challenge. Initially, Omega again turned down the challenge, but then added that if Tanahashi agreed to a ladder match, he would grant him the title shot. On May 21, Omega and Bullet Club attacked Tanahashi with a ladder and chairs, after which Tanahashi was pulled from the rest of the tour with a left shoulder avulsion fracture and a biceps tear. The angle was set up to cover for a legitimate injury Tanahashi had suffered earlier in the month and give him time to recover before Dominion 6.19 in Osaka-jo Hall. However, on June 3, Tanahashi announced he would be forced to miss Dominion 6.19 due to his injury. Tanahashi would be replaced by Michael Elgin, who had been working opposite Omega in Tanahashi's absence, and went on defeating Omega in NJPW's first ever ladder match to become the new IWGP Intercontinental Champion.

On August 12, 2018, Tanahashi defeated Kota Ibushi in the finals to win the 2018 G1 Climax. Following the win, Tanahashi gained possession of the Tokyo Dome IWGP Heavyweight Championship challenge rights certificate, which granted him a shot at the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 13. Hiroshi Tanahashi defended his status as the number one contender against Kazuchika Okada and Jay White,  Meanwhile, Kenny Omega successfully defended the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Tomohiro Ishii, Cody and Kota Ibushi,  leading to the match between Omega and Tanahashi being made official for the Tokyo Dome in a press conference on October 9. Both wrestlers criticized their wrestling philosophies, with Omega defending a modern, more western, newer style of wrestling, while Tanahashi represents a more conservative, more classic and a traditional wrestling style, which NJPW was based on. Tanahashi claimed that Omega's style was inelegant and only satisfied himself, leaving fans behind and he didn't like it. On December 10, Tanahashi received the NJPW's MVP Award and three days later Tokyo Sports magazine awarded Tanahashi the 2018 MVP Award for the fourth time in four years, citing his comeback and winning the 2018 G1 Climax as the factor for receiving the award. In their final confrontation before Wrestle Kingdom 13 on December 15, Golden☆Lovers (Omega and Kota Ibushi) defeated Tanahashi and Will Ospreay, before their respective matches at Wrestle Kingdom 13.

In the IWGP Intercontinental Championship match, Chris Jericho will make his second title defense against Tetsuya Naito. On December 12, NJPW announced that Wrestle Kingdom 12 would feature a double main event with the IWGP Heavyweight and United States Heavyweight Championship matches, which Jericho faced Kenny Omega in the United States Heavyweight Championship match and Naito faced Kazuchika Okada in the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Tetsuya Naito stated that he was disappointed with the decision, adding that NJPW would never become the number one promotion in the world as long as they were humouring WWE. In an out-of-character interview, Jericho would criticize his comments about the Wrestle Kingdom 12 double main event and that tickets were selling well because of his match against Omega. Following Wrestle Kingdom 12 on January 5 at "New Years Dash!", Jericho made a surprise attack on Naito. Afterwards, it was rumored that was his last appearance in NJPW, which Jericho later confirmed on Twitter on March 5. However the rumours were false, and at Wrestling Dontaku on May 4, Jericho disguised as a fan in the crowd, made another surprise attack on Naito, leading Jericho receiving a title match on to a match between them on June 9 at Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall, in which Jericho defeated Naito to win the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. On November 3, at Power Struggle, Jericho successfully defended the IWGP Intercontinental Championship against Naito's Los Ingobernables de Japon stablemate EVIL. Following the match, Jericho attacked EVIL, until Naito made the save. Afterwards, Naito announced himself as Jericho's next challenger of the IWGP Intercontinental Championship and Jericho refused to give Naito a rematch, but two days later, NJPW made the title match official. On November 6, Naito revealed in an interview at the Tokyo Sports newspaper that he had been contacted by WWE following his match with Jericho at Dominion 6.9 about is NJPW status and offered him a deal, when is NJPW contract expired, which Naito refused the offer. As part of the build-up to the title match, Naito would mock Jericho's face paint and his nickname "international superstar", while sarcastically asking if he wouldn't rip-off someone's t-shirt and no one was interested in facing him. At a press conference days later, Naito would spit water on Jericho's face to provoking him intentionally. Jericho tried to attack his Wrestle Kingdom 13 opponent but was separated by Young Lions and after Naito left, Jericho promised that their match at Wrestle Kingdom would be his last match. Jericho would later get his revenge at the December 15 show, attacking Naito and his Los Ingobernables de Japon stablemates BUSHI and Shingo Takagi following their match. On December 17, NJPW officially announced that Wrestle Kingdom 13 would feature a double main event with the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championship matches.

Wrestle Kingdom 13 will feature a singles match between Kazuchika Okada and Jay White. On January 5, 2018, Okada announced during a press conference that White would be joining CHAOS. During the press conference, White warned Okada to "not get too comfortable" and that at some point he would face him and he wasn't to fall behind like the other members of CHAOS. In response, Okada didn't take White seriously and he "wasn't on his level". Shortly after, White would try to manipulate members of CHAOS to pursue singles goals, instead of thinking about the stable itself. From July 14 until August 10, Okada and White took part in the 2018 G1 Climax. During the tournament, White and Okada faced each other in their head-to-head match, with White coming out victorious after cheating to defeat Okada with tactics such as attacking him with a chair, ref bumps or low blows. White followed up the win, defeating Okada's rival Hiroshi Tanahashi using the same tactics, two days later. In the undercard matches of the tournament, White would try to convince his CHAOS stablemates to use is tactics especially Yoh, who White almost convinced, but Rocky Romero was against White's tactics throughout the tournament. Okada and White were unable to make into the finals of the tournament, after Okada's match against Tanahashi ended in a time limit draw, while White's loss against, respectively cost one them a spot in the finals. On August 12, Okada ended his association with his manager Gedo, who managed him since 2012. Following the tournament, Okada was nominated by Tanahashi as his first challenger for the Tokyo Dome IWGP Heavyweight Championship match contract. White would also criticize Okada's leadership of CHAOS, after Okada accidentally attacked their CHAOS stablemate Yoshi-Hashi during a match on September 15 at Destruction in Hiroshima. On September 23 at Destruction in Kobe, Okada unsuccessfully challenged Tanahashi for his contract. After the match, White would lay out Tanahashi with a Blade Runner and immediately Okada attacked Okada. Yoshi-Hashi tried to make the save, but White overpowered him, Gedo came into the ring and turned on Okada, before laying him out with a Blade Runner. Afterwards, Gedo nominated White to face Tanahashi for his contract due to White previously defeating Tanahashi in the G1 Climax. On October 8 at King of Pro-Wrestling, unsuccessfully challenged Tanahashi for his contract. Following his match, White attacked Tanahashi, but Okada made the save and tried to attack Gedo, but Bullet Club OG appeared in the ring and Jado also turned on Okada, and Gedo, Jado and White joined the Bullet Club OG, before laying him out with another Blade Runner. On October 17, during the Road to Power Struggle, White led a Bullet Club OG assault on Okada, but Okada's rival Tanahashi made the save and Okada left the ring. On October 27, White led another assault on Okada, promoting another save by Tanahashi. Afterwards, the two worked together to counter White's attack, but he managed to leave the ring and Okada and Tanahashi shook hands. On November 3, at Power Struggle, Okada and White faced off in a tag team match, where Okada and his CHAOS stablemate Beretta defeated White and his Bullet Club OG stablemate Bad Luck Fale. After a brawl between the two following their match, White challenged Okada to a match with no seconds at ringside, anytime and anywhere. Two days later, NJPW made the match official. On November 5, during the Wrestle Kingdom 13 press conference, Okada said the match wasn't worth being put on Wrestle Kingdom and he preferred the match to happen at Road to Tokyo Dome tour. During the 2018 World Tag League, Okada and Tanahashi faced White in multiple eight-man tag team matches, were Okada and Tanahashi failed to defeat White. On January 14, at Road to Tokyo Dome tour, Okada faced Gedo. Initially, Gedo tried to deceive everyone telling he had a car accident, to escape the match, but Okada managed to prove Gedo was lying and the match continued. White would try to help Gedo win the match, but was unsuccessful and Okada managed to win the match, despite White's interference. On December 15, in their final confrontation before Wrestle Kingdom 13, Okada tried to attack White, but White laid him out with the Blade Runner.

On October 27, Taiji Ishimori pinned KUSHIDA in their match in the Super Jr. Tag League. On November 1, Ishimori was scheduled to compete on the November 1 show of the Road to Power Struggle, but he suffered a kayfabe ankle injury. Ishimori made his return on November 3, at Power Struggle, during a match a between his Bullet Club OG stablemates Robbie Eagles, Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa) against KUSHIDA, Togi Makabe and Tomoaki Honma, where he attacked KUSHIDA with his cruth, costing him the match against his Bullet Club OG stablemates. Afterwards, Ishimori posed with the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on top of KUSHIDA. Ishimori revealed that he was never hurt and challenged KUSHIDA to a match. Two days later, NJPW made the title match official.  Ishimori and KUSHIDA had previously faced each other in the 2016 Super J-Cup, where Ishimori lost to KUSHIDA in the first round of the tournament, who eventually won the tournament.

Wrestle Kingdom 13 will feature the first-ever three-way tag team match for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship where Suzuki-gun (El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru) will defend their titles against Roppongi 3K (Sho and Yoh) and Los Ingobernables de Japon (BUSHI and Shingo Takagi). Following multiple matches of cheating by Suzuki-gun, including winning the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship between March and October 2018,     Suzuki-gun, Roppongi 3K and L.I.J, took part in the Super Jr. Tag League. The three teams finished the tournament with a record of five wins and two losses, making a three-way match between the three teams at the finals. During the tournament, BUSHI and Takagi defeated Sho and Yoh, while Sho and Yoh defeated Desperado and Kanemaru, and Desperado and Kanemaru defeated BUSHI and Takagi in their head-to-head match. On November 3, at Power Struggle, Roppongi 3K defeated Desperado and Kanemaru, and BUSHI and Takagi to win the Super Jr. Tag League for the second time. After the match, Sho and Yoh challenged Kanemaru and Desperado to a match for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, this time "fair and clean". BUSHI and Takagi made their intentions of wanting a rematch due to defeating Sho and Yoh during the Super Jr. Tag League, while Desperado and Kanemaru also wanted a rematch for the loss. Two days later, NJPW made the title match official. The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship has previously been defended in a three-way match, with reDRagon (Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly) defending the titles against The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson), Matt Sydal and Ricochet and Roppongi Vice (Beretta and Rocky Romero) at Wrestle Kingdom 10, but this will mark the first three-way for the title.

The Undisputed British Heavyweight Championship will also be defended at Wrestle Kingdom with Tomohiro Ishii defending the title against Zack Sabre Jr. On April 6 at Revolution Pro Wrestling's WrestleCon Sabre lost the British Heavyweight Championship to Ishii. Over the next months, Ishii feuded with Sabre Suzuki-gun stablemate Minoru Suzuki, trading the British Heavyweight Championship, between July and October, with their ending on November 3 at Power Struggle, after Ishii defeated Suzuki to retain his title. On November 9 at Revolution Pro Wrestling's Uprising, after Ishii successfully defended the British Heavyweight Championship against David Starr, Sabre led a Suzuki-gun assault on Ishii and challenged him for a rematch at Wrestle Kingdom. On November 18, after Sabre along with Taichi attacked Ishii, Sabre would pose with Ishii's British Heavyweight Championship belt, whilst mocking him. The match was officially announced on December 10.

In the NEVER Openweight Championship match, Kota Ibushi will make his first title defense against Will Ospreay. On December 9, Will Ospreay made his in-ring return to NJPW, after suffering a rib injury, defeating Taichi in a 1º contenders match to the NEVER Openweight Championship. Later that night, Ibushi defeated Hirooki Goto to win the NEVER Openweight Championship. After the match, Ospreay came out and challenged Ibushi to a match, billed as a "dream match" at Wrestle Kingdom. The two shook hands and confirmed the title match. Ospreay had previously showed interest facing Ibushi during the Road to Destruction tour. He was scheduled to challenge Taichi for the NEVER Openweight Championship on November 3 at Power Struggle, but was replaced by his CHAOS stablemate Hirooki Goto due to a rib injury. The match was officially announced on December 10. In their final confrontation before Wrestle Kingdom 13 on December 15, Golden☆Lovers (Ibushi and Kenny Omega) defeated Will Ospreay and Hiroshi Tanahashi, before their respective matches at Wrestle Kingdom 13.

On December 9, Los Ingobernables de Japon members EVIL and SANADA defeated reigning IWGP Tag Team Champions Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa) to win the 2018 World Tag League. Traditionally, the winners of the tournament have earned a shot at the IWGP Tag Team Championship at the January 4 Tokyo Dome Show. However, following the win, The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) confronted EVIL and SANADA claiming them to be "the best team in the tournament", but they are "the best team in the world" and challenged the Guerrillas of Destiny to a rematch for their titles, due to not receiving a rematch after losing the titles to them. Afterwards proposed a three-way match between the three teams. The match was officially announced on December 10. NJPW also announced on December 10, a five-team gauntlet match to determine the 1º contenders to the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship, since the Guerrillas of Destiny and Taiji Ishimori had already title matches scheduled at Wrestle Kingdom 13. On December 20, it was announced that Michael Elgin, who was scheduled to take part of the match, would be forced to pull out of the match due to a knee injury and was replaced by Yuji Nagata.

On August 12, the final day of the 2018 G1 Climax, Cody returned to NJPW, teaming with his Bullet Club Elite stablemate Hangman Page and Robinson with his Taguchi Japan stablemate David Finlay. Following the match, Cody put the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship belt on his shoulder and challenged Robinson to a title match. Cody had previously defeated Robinson in his debut match at Wrestle Kingdom 11 in Tokyo Dome. On September 30 at Fighting Spirit Unleashed, Cody defeated Robinson to win the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship. On November 11 during the Global Wars tour, Robinson defeated Beretta, who had previously scheduled to face Cody for his title, but pulled out due to an injury. After the match, Robinson announced his intentions of pursuing the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship. During the 2018 World Tag League, Robinson again challenged Cody to a match for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship. The match was officially announced on December 10.