Royal Quest II was a two-day professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). The two shows took place on October 1 and 2, 2022, in London, England, United Kingdom at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre. These were the second NJPW shows that the promotion had produced independently in the United Kingdom and it was the second event under the Royal Quest name.
Production[]
Background[]
On August 16, 2022, NJPW officially announced the return of Royal Quest for October 1 and 2, 2022, taking place at the Crystal Palace National Sports Center, following the success of the first show. The show marked the second time NJPW presented shows in the United Kingdom independently, as opposed to partnering up with a British promotion, with the first time, being the first Royal Quest on on August 31, 2019 at Copper Box Arena.
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. 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.
On August 23, it was announced the second night of the event would host the first round matches in the tournament to crown the first IWGP Women's Champion. On September 17, Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that NJPW were close to sell out both nights of the event. Two days later, NJPW announced that all tickets for the first night of the event were sold out.
On September 26, it was conformed by John Pollock of POST Wrestling that the event would not air live on FITE TV and instead would be available on demand on NJPW World on October 15. On October 1, NJPW announced that Jonah would be forced to miss the event, due to travel issues related to the Hurricane Ian.
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.
Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher, Mark Davis), who challenged for the IWGP Tag Team Championship in the first night of the event
On July 30, Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher, Mark Davis) teamed with their United Empire stablemate TJP to face Alex Zayne and FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood) in a winning effort. Afterwards, Aussie Open, who had recently became the inaugural Strong Tag Team Champions, challenged FTR to a title match for the IWGP Tag Team Championship. On September 12, despite both teams not officially debuting in Japan, FTR appeared in a pre-taped vignette, formally accepting Aussie Open's challenge at the first night of Royal Quest II.
In the months during the 2022 G1 Climax, Zack Sabre Jr. looked for another shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Royal Quest II, but his plan of obtaining title match was derailed, when he was eliminated of the tournament, after losing to Tetsuya Naito on the final day, who advanced to the semifinals in his place. On September 25, after Will Ospreay sucessfully retained the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship against David Finlay, Tetsuya Naito went on challenged Ospreay to a title match, only to be interrupted by Zack Sabre Jr., who reminded that he defeated Ospreay in the 2022 New Japan Cup, before challenging Naito to a number one contenders match in his home country in England at Royal Quest II.
Results[]
Night 1[]
| # | Results | Stipulations | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gabriel Kidd defeated Dan Moloney | Singles match | 9:19 |
| 2 | Michael Oku and Ricky Knight Jr. defeated United Empire (Great-O-Khan and Gideon Grey) | Tag team match | 12:17 |
| 3 | Ava White and Alex Windsor defeated Jazzy Gabert and Kanji | Tag team match | 6:18 |
| 4 | Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, SANADA and Hiromu Takahashi) defeated Suzuki-gun (Zack Sabre Jr., El Desperado and DOUKI) | Six-man tag team match | 14:29 |
| 5 | CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada and Tomohiro Ishii) defeated Bad Dude Tito and Zak Knight | Tag team match | 12:47 |
| 6 | Tama Tonga, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hikuleo and Jado defeated Bullet Club (Jay White, Karl Anderson, Doc Gallows and Gedo) | Eight-man tag team match | 12:15 |
| 7 | Will Ospreay defeated Shota Umino by referee stoppage | Singles match | 15:30 |
| 8 | FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood) (c) defeated Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher and Mark Davis) (with Great O-Khan) | Tag team match for the IWGP Tag Team Championship | 31:53 |
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Night 2[]
| # | Results | Stipulations | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suzuki-gun (El Desperado and DOUKI) defeated Michael Oku and Robbie X | Tag team match | 9:32 |
| 2 | Los Ingobernables de Japon (SANADA and Hiromu Takahashi) defeated Young Guns (Ethan Allen and Luke Jacob) | Tag team match | 14:02 |
| 3 | Jazzy Gabert defeated Ava White | Singles match; first round in the IWGP Women's Championship tournament | 10:33 |
| 4 | United Empire (Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, Kyle Fletcher, Mark Davis and Gideon Grey) defeated Cash Wheeler, Dax Harwood, Gabriel Kidd, Shota Umino and Ricky Knight Jr. | Ten-man tag team match | 16:56 |
| 5 | Tama Tonga, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Hikuleo (with Jado) defeated Bullet Club (Jay White, Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows) (with Gedo) | Six-man tag team match | 10:52 |
| 6 | Kazuchika Okada defeated Bad Dude Tito | Singles match | 8:13 |
| 7 | Tomohiro Ishii defeated Yota Tsuji | Singles match | 17:33 |
| 8 | Tetsuya Naito defeated Zack Sabre Jr. | Singles match to determine the #1 contender for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship | 21:03 |
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