Royal Quest[1] is an upcoming professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). The show will take place on August 31, 2019 at Copper Box Arena in London, England, United Kingdom at the Copper Box Arena. This is the first NJPW show that the promotion had produced independently in the United Kingdom. Wrestlers from Revolution Pro Wrestling (RPW) – with whom NJPW has a partnership – will also appear at the event.
Production
Background
On January 14, 2019, during Wrestle Kingdom 13 in Tokyo Dome, NJPW officially announced the show for August 31, 2019, taking place at the Copper Box Arena.[2][3] The event was officially named "Royal Quest" on February 14, 2019, also confirmed where three NJPW wrestlers.[1][4][5][6] It was later reported by Wrestling Observer Newsletter journalist Dave Meltzer, that Kazuchika Okada would be one of the wrestlers taking part of the event.[6] On February 22, 2019, NJPW officially announced that Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Tetsuya Naito would be taking part of the event.[7][8][9]
The show will mark the first time NJPW presented shows in the United Kingdom independently, as opposed to partnering up with a British promotion. NJPW had previously partnered with Revolution Pro Wrestling (RPW) since 2015, co-producing shows annually in the United Kingdom as part of the he "New IWGP Conception", a global expansion strategy centered on their international partnerships.[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] NJPW had previously partnered with Revolution Pro Wrestling for the 2015 Uprising event, while also co-producing the Global Wars UK and Strong Style Evolved UK in 2018.[19][20][21][22][23][24]
Tickets for the show were put on sale on March 14, with pre-sale tickets being sold on March 12, costing from £30 to £120.[25][26] Through NJPW working relationship with RPW, on July 17, RPW announced they would host a tournament in August, were the winners would receive an oppurtunity for the IWGP Tag Team Championship.[27] The full match card was announced on August 13.[28]
Storylines
Royal Quest featured 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.[29]
The Royal Quest will be main evented by Kazuchika Okada defending the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Minoru Suzuki. On August 12, Okada and Suzuki faced each other in a tag team match, where Okada teamed with his longtime rival Hiroshi Tanahashi and Suzuki with his Suzuki-gun stablemate Zack Sabre Jr., with Suzuki scoring a direct pinfall over Okada.[30] Afterwards, Suzuki reminded Okada that he didn't took part in the 2019 G1 Climax, while Okada took part of it and challenged him to a title match for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.[30][31] In a post-match interview, Suzuki stated that he had planned to challenge Okada before the G1 Climax started.[31] The title match was announced on August 13.[28]
As part of a working relationship with Revolution Pro Wrestling (RPW), the British Heavyweight Championship will be defended at the event with Zack Sabre Jr. making his seventh title defense against Hiroshi Tanahashi. On April 6 at G1 Supercard, Sabre defeated Tanahashi to retain the British Heavyweight Championship.[32][33] Afterwards, Tanahashi was sidelined with an elbow injury until June 5, because of Sabre.[28] On July 18, Tanahashi and Sabre faced each other for a second time, during the 2019 G1 Climax, which Tanahashi won. On August 11, Tanahashi and Sabre faced each other for a third time in a six-man tag team match, where Sabre teamed with his Suzuki-gun stablemates Lance Archer, Minoru Suzuki and Yoshinobu Kanemaru, while Tanahashi teamed with Kazuchika Okada, Will Ospreay and Yoshi-Hashi. Afterwards, in a post-match interview, Sabre offered Tanahashi a title match at the Royal Quest.[31] The title match was announced on August 13.[28]
In the NEVER Openweight Championship match, Tomohiro Ishii will make his first title defense against KENTA. On August 12, KENTA and Ishii and Yoshi-Hashi in a match against Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale, Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa). During the match, KENTA turned on his partners and joined the Bullet Club.[30][34] Afterwards, Ishii vowed revenge against KENTA.[34] The title match was announced on August 13.[28] The event will also include another championship match for the IWGP Tag Team Championship against the winners of a tournament held by Revolution Pro Wrestling (RPW), as part of a working relationship between the two promotions.[35]
Matches
# | Results | Stipulations | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Ryusuke Taguchi, Shota Umino and Ren Narita vs. Roppongi 3K (Yoh, Sho and Rocky Romero) | Six-man Tag Team match | |
2 | Kota Ibushi and Juice Robinson vs. Bullet Club (Yujiro Takahashi and Hikuleo) | Tag Team match | |
3 | Los Ingobernables de Japón (Tetsuya Naito and SANADA) vs. Bullet Club (Jay White and Chase Owens) | Tag Team match | |
4 | Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa) vs. The Winners of the RPW Road to Royal Quest tournament | Tag Team match for the IWGP Tag Team Championship | |
5 | Tomohiro Ishii (c) vs. KENTA | Singles match for the NEVER Openweight Championship | |
6 | Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi | Singles match for the British Heavyweight Championship | |
7 | Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Minoru Suzuki | Singles match for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship | |
See also
External links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Royal Quest announcement (in Japanese). New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Retrieved on 2019-02-14.
- ↑ 【衝撃!なんと2020年は1月4日(土)&1月5日(日)東京ドーム“2連戦”!】2019年上半期の“ビッグマッチ”スケジュールも決定!【WK13】 (in Japanese). New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Retrieved on 2019-01-04.
- ↑ Big matches in 2019 are now announced!! 【WK13】 (in English). New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Retrieved on 2019-01-04.
- ↑ NJPW Royal Quest will take place on 31st August 2019 in London! (in English). New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Retrieved on 2019-01-04.
- ↑ NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING IS COMING TO LONDON (in English). 'Pro Wrestling Insider'. Retrieved on 2019-02-14.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 NJPW RETURNING TO UK FOR ROYAL QUEST (in English). 'Pro Wrestling Insider'. Retrieved on 2019-02-14.
- ↑ 現地時間・8月31日(土)にイギリス・ロンドン大会に棚橋、オカダ、内藤の参戦が決定!! (in Japanese). New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Retrieved on 2019-02-22.
- ↑ NJPW Royal Quest will take place on 31st August 2019 in London! (in English). New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Retrieved on 2019-01-04.
- ↑ TANAHASHI, OKADA & NAITO CONFIRMED FOR NJPW ROYAL QUEST (in English). 'Wrestling Observer Newsletter'. Retrieved on 2019-02-22.
- ↑ 新日本プロレス3~5年後上場目指す (in Japanese). Daily Sports Online. Kobe Shimbun (2015-07-18). Retrieved on 2018-01-05.
- ↑ 木谷オーナーが「ファーム設立プラン」「21世紀のIWGP構想」、そして「新日本プロレスは株式上場を目指す」と宣言! 【7.18戦略発表会】 (in Japanese). New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2015-07-18). Retrieved on 2018-01-05.
- ↑ Caldwell, James 2015-07-18. NJPW news: New Japan announces big int'l expansion plans, including expanded N. America partnerships & NXT-like program . Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved on 2018-01-05.
- ↑ F4W Staff 2017-11-11. REVPRO GLOBAL WARS UK RESULTS: MINORU SUZUKI VS. MATT RIDDLE . Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved on 2017-01-05.
- ↑ RevPro Global Wars UK . Retrieved on 2018-01-05.
- ↑ RevPro/NJPW Global Wars UK 2016 - Tag 1 . Retrieved on 2018-01-05.
- ↑ RevPro/NJPW Global Wars UK 2016 - Tag 2 . Retrieved on 2018-01-05.
- ↑ RevPro/NJPW Global Wars 2017 - Tag 1 . Retrieved on 2018-01-05.
- ↑ RevPro/NJPW Global Wars 2017 - Tag 2 . Retrieved on 2018-01-05.
- ↑ F4W Staff 2017-11-11. REVPRO GLOBAL WARS UK RESULTS: MINORU SUZUKI VS. MATT RIDDLE . Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved on 2017-01-05.
- ↑ RevPro Global Wars UK . Retrieved on 2018-01-05.
- ↑ RevPro/NJPW Global Wars UK 2016 - Tag 1 . Retrieved on 2018-01-05.
- ↑ RevPro/NJPW Global Wars UK 2016 - Tag 2 . Retrieved on 2018-01-05.
- ↑ RevPro/NJPW Global Wars 2017 - Tag 1 . Retrieved on 2018-01-05.
- ↑ RevPro/NJPW Global Wars 2017 - Tag 2 . Retrieved on 2018-01-05.
- ↑ 現地時間・8月31日『NJPW Royal Quest』ロンドン大会のチケット概要が決定!! (in Japanese). New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Retrieved on 2019-03-07.
- ↑ Tickets on sale for NJPW Royal Quest from March 14th (Pre-sale from March 12th) (in English). New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Retrieved on 2019-03-07.
- ↑ The Road To Royal Quest Begins (in English). Revolution Pro Wrestling. Retrieved on 2019-07-17.
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 NJPW REVEALS FULL CARD FOR ROYAL QUEST (in English). 'Wrestling Observer Newsletter' (2019-08-13). Retrieved on 2019-08-13.
- ↑ Grabianowski, Ed. How Pro Wrestling Works . HowStuffWorks, Inc.. Discovery Communications. Archived from the original on 2013-11-18. Retrieved on 2017-06-12.
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 NJPW G1 Climax 29 finals live results: Kota Ibushi vs. Jay White (in English). 'Wrestling Observer Newsletter'. Retrieved on 2019-08-12.
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 Minoru Suzuki's plans are revealed! He wants Okada! on YouTube Cite error: Invalid
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tag; name "IWGPH" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Powell, Jason. 4/6 ROH and NJPW G1 Supercard at MSG pre-show: The Honor Rumble . Pro Wrestling Dot Net.
- ↑ Powell, Jason. 4/6 ROH and NJPW G1 Supercard results: Powell’s live review of Jay White vs. Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Hvt. Championship, Jay Lethal vs. Matt Taven vs. Marty Scurll in a three-way ladder match for the ROH Title, Tetsuya Naito vs. Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship, and more . Pro Wrestling Dot Net.
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 KENTA is in BULLET CLUB, and SHIBATA is FURIOUS! (G1 Climax 29) on YouTube
- ↑ The Road To Royal Quest Begins (in English). Revolution Pro Wrestling. Retrieved on 2019-07-17.