Power Struggle (2024) was professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event will took place on November 4, 2024, in Osaka, Japan, at the Edion Arena Osaka. It was the thirteenth event under the Power Struggle name. The event was headlined by Zack Sabre Jr. defending the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Shingo Takagi.
The event also feature a special appearance by Kenny Omega following his last appearance at Wrestle Kingdom 17.
Background[]
Storylines[]
Power Struggle featured professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storyline. Wrestlers portrayed villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in the scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.
Zack Sabre Jr., who faced Shingo Takagi
Power Struggle will be main evented by Zack Sabre Jr., SANADA or Shingo Takagi defending the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Shota Umino. On September 29 at Destruction in Kobe, Shingo Takagi challenged the winner of the title match for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship between Zack Sabre Jr. and Tetsuya Naito at King of Pro-Wrestling to a title match. At the event, on October 14, Sabre defeated Tetsuya Naito to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. After the match, Sabre received a title challenge from SANADA as they converted their match from Royal Quest IV, which was initially scheduled to be a singles match into a match disputed for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. Afterwards, Takagi and Shota Umino also demanded a title shot from Sabre, who stated that they would all receive their title shots one after another. The following day, in a press conference, Sabre addressed the title match with SANADA. Shortly after, he decided to draw lots to figure out his next challenger, if he defeated SANADA at Royal Quest. NJPW then gave them two envelopes for the lottery (each containing a promotional photo of Umino or Takagi), and Sabre and SANADA each chose and opened one. Sabre opened Takagi and SANADA opened Umino, leading Takagi to be the next challenger, and if SANADA won the title, Umino would be the next challenger. On October 16, NJPW announced two matches; Sabre would face Takagi and Umino would face SANADA. The winner of the match at Royal Quest would determine the title match for the event. NJPW then scheduled two matches at Power Struggle on November 4, with Sabre facing Takagi, and SANADA facing Umino potentially in a title match, depending on the result at Royal Quest IV. At the event, Sabre defeated SANADA to make his first successful title defense, setting up his next title defense against Takagi, with Umino facing SANADA in a singles match.
David Finlay, who defended the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship
Also at King of Pro-Wrestling, David Finlay defeated Hirooki Goto to successfully defend the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship. After the match, Finlay nominated Yuya Uemura as his next challenger, (Uemura defeated him in the 2024 G1 Climax), knowing that Uemura was not medically cleared. Finlay's challenge brought out Taichi to defend his Just 5 Guys stablemate, and proclaiming himself as the next challenger. Finlay tried to attack him, but Taichi managed to overpower him.
In the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship match, DOUKI will make his fourth title defense against Master Wato. At King of Pro-Wrestling, DOUKI successfully defended the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against Sho in just 14 seconds, despite an earlier attack from him, before the match. Shortly after, his House of Torture stablemate Yoshinobu Kanemaru attacked him, only to be saved by Master Wato, who made his return from injury, before challenging him to a title match.
Also at King of Pro-Wrestling, TMDK (Mikey Nicholls and Shane Haste) successfully defend the IWGP Tag Team Championship against Rogue Army (Bad Luck Fale and Caveman Ugg). Afterwards, United Empire (Great-O-Khan and HENARE) challenged them to a title match, which they accepted.
EVIL, who teamed with Ren Narita
The event also featured the finals of the 2024 Super Jr. Tag League. The tournament matches took place during the Road to Power Struggle tour between October 24 to November 2.
At King of Pro-Wrestling, NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi, announced that he was going to retire from professional wrestling on January 4, 2026. Afterwards, he was attacked by House of Torture's EVIL and Dick Togo. El Phantasmo tried to save Tanahashi, only to overpowered by House of Torture, after Ren Narita attacked Phantasmo. On October 29, Phantasmo announced he would be taking indefinite leave due to health concerns, after a tumor was found in his body. This led to NJPW changing the match card and replacing him with Boltin Oleg.
Results[]
| # | Matches | Stipulations | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1P | Ninja Mack, The DKC and Yoh defeated Shoma Kato, Tigre Suicida (Capitan Suicida and Tiger Mask) | Six-man tag team match | 6:55 |
| 2 | Bullet Club (Gabe Kidd, Clark Connors, Drilla Moloney, Taiji Ishimori & Robbie X) defeated Intergalatic Jet Setters (KUSHIDA and Kevin Knight), Katsuya Murashima, Paris De Silva and Jude London | Ten-Man Tag Team Match | 6:14 |
| 3 | Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Yota Tsuji, BUSHI and Hiromu Takahashi) defeated Dragon Dia, Ryusuke Taguchi, Tomoaki Honma and Toru Yano by submission | 8-Man Tag Team Match | 7:02 |
| 4 | House of Torture (EVIL and Ren Narita) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi and Boltin Oleg | Tag Team match | 7:26 |
| 5 | Shota Umino defeated SANADA | Singles match | 16:41 |
| 6 | United Empire (Great-O-Khan and HENARE) defeated TMDK (Mikey Nicholls and Shane Haste) (c) | Tag Team match for IWGP Tag Team Championship | 11:11 |
| 7 | Ichiban Sweet Boys (Robbie Eagles and Kosei Fujita) defeated Catch 2/2 (TJP and Francesco Akira) | 2024 Super Junior Tag League finals | 15:20 |
| 8 | DOUKI (c) defeated Master Wato by referee stoppage | Singles match for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship | 22:07 |
| 9 | David Finlay (c) defeated Taichi | Singles match for the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship | 23:22 |
| 10 | Zack Sabre Jr. (c) defeated Shingo Takagi | Singles match for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship | 29:28 |
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