Destruction (2018)

Destruction is an upcoming professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) annually since 2007. In 2018, NJPW produced three events under the Destruction name; Destruction in Hiroshima  on September 15, Destruction in Beppu on September 17, and Destruction in Kobe on September 23. These were eighteen to twentieth events under the Destruction name.

Background
The 2018 were the third consecutive year in which NJPW holds three events under the Destruction name. From 2007 to 2013, NJPW held one Destruction event per year, expanding to two shows in 2014 and 2015 and to three shows in 2016.

Storylines
The Destruction shows featured professional wrestling matches, each of which 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.

Destruction in Hiroshima will be headlined by Kenny Omega making his second defense of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Tomohiro Ishii in a rematch from 2018 G1 Climax. From July 14 and August 11, both Omega and Ishii entered NJPW's annual premier tournament, the G1 Climax, where they wrestled on block B. Omega started the tournament with a record of six wins streak, but Ishii handed him his first loss in the tournament. Despite defeating Omega, Ishii was already eliminated from the tournament. Omega entered his final round-robin match with a chance to advance to the finals of the tournament, but was eliminated after losing to his tag team partner Kota Ibushi. On August 12, the final day of the tournament, Omega and Ishii faced off in a six-man tag team match, where Omega teamed with his Bullet Club Elite stablemates Chase Owens and Yujiro Takahashi and Ishii with his CHAOS stablemates Jay White and Toru Yano. Ishii won the match for his team by scoring a pinfall over Owens and afterwards Ishii grabbed Omega's IWGP Heavyweight Championship belt and challenged him to a title match. On August 20, NJPW announced a title rematch between Omega and Ishii for the event.