The New Beginning in Osaka (2020)

The New Beginning in Osaka (2020) is an upcoming professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). The event will take place on February 2, 2020, in Osaka at Osaka-jō Hall. The event will feature eight matches, four of which were contested for championships. In the main event, Tetsuya Naito will defend the IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental Championships against KENTA. This was the nineth event under the New Beginning name and the seventh under the New Beginning in Osaka name. The event is the first The New Beginning in Osaka to be held in the Osaka-jō Hall and will also feature Manabu Nakanishi's last match in the Osaka-jō Hall.

Background
The event aired worldwide on NJPW's internet streaming site, New Japan Pro Wrestling World, with English commentary provided by Kevin Kelly and Chris Charlaton, the latter of whom replaces Kelly's previous broadcast partner Don Callis. The event was announced on January 4, 2020 in the first night of Wrestle Kingdom 14 in Tokyo Dome and it was also announced that the event would be held in the Osaka-jō Hall in the event's history. On January 7, 2019, Manabu Nakanishi announced during a press conference that he was going to retire on February 22, leading NJPW to announced that he would make his last match in the Osaka-jō Hall at the event.

Storylines
The New Beginning in Osaka featured eight 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 build tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches.

The New Beginning in Osaka will be main evented by Tetsuya Naito making his first defense of the IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental Championships against KENTA. On January 5, 2020, in the second night of Wrestle Kingdom 14 in Tokyo Dome, Naito successfully defended the IWGP Intercontinental Championship and won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, after defeating Kazuchika Okada, to become the first double champion in NJPW history. Afterwards, Naito was attacked by KENTA, who lay him out with the PK followed by the Go 2 Sleep. He would then seat on top Naito posing with both IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental Championship belts. The following day, at New Years Dash, Naito and Los Ingobernables de Jápon stablemate SANADA faced KENTA and his Bullet Club stablemate Jay White in a winning effort. Afterwards, KENTA and White attacked Naito and SANADA, and KENTA began mocking Naito and challenged him for his titles. In a post-match interview, Naito accepted KENTA's challenge. The main event was officially announced on January 8.

Also at New Years Dash, during the match between Bullet Club and L.I.J, Jay White was pinned by SANADA. Afterwards, White attacked SANADA and proclaimed him to be his next target. The match was announced on January 8.

In the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship match, Jon Moxley will make his second title defense against Minoru Suzuki. On December 8, Moxley returned to NJPW attacking Suzuki and his Suzuki-gun] stablemte Lance Archer. On January 5, 2020, in the second night of Wrestle Kingdom 14 in Tokyo Dome, after Moxley successfully defended the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship against Juice Robinson. Minoru Suzuki came to the ring and both Suzuki and started a brawl, leading Suzuki to lock in the Sleeper Hold followed by the Gotch-Style Piledriver, before proclaiming himself as the next challenger for his title. The following day, at New Years Dash, Moxley returned the favor to Suzuki laying him out with the Death Rider. The title match was announced on January 8.