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The rest of the matches for Wrestle Kingdom 11 were announced on December 12, following the conclusion of the [[G1 Tag League#2016|2016 World Tag League]].<ref name="FullCard">{{cite web | url = http://www.njpw.co.jp/76883 | archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/6mh3uRwc1 | script-title=ja:【1.4東京ドーム・全カード決定!】柴田vs後藤!タマ&タンガvs真壁&本間!オライリーvsコール!Codyはジュースと激突!タイガーマスクWは第1試合に出陣!【WK11】 | archivedate=December 12, 2016 | date=December 12, 2016 | accessdate=December 12, 2016 | work=[[New Japan Pro Wrestling]] | language=Japanese}}</ref><ref name="FullCardPWI">{{cite web | url = http://pwinsider.com/article/106500/complete-lineup-for-new-japan-wrestle-kingdom-2017-roh-final-battle-main-event-rematch-announced.html?p=1 | title = Complete lineup for New Japan Wrestle Kingdom 2017, ROH Final Battle main event rematch announced | last=Johnson | first=Mike | date=December 12, 2016 | accessdate=December 12, 2016 | work=Pro Wrestling Insider}}</ref> On December 10, [[Great Bash Heel|G.B.H.]] ([[Togi Makabe]] and [[Tomoaki Honma]]) defeated reigning [[IWGP Tag Team Championship|IWGP Tag Team Champions]] [[Guerrillas of Destiny]] ([[Tama Tonga]] and [[Tanga Roa]]) in the finals to win their second consecutive World Tag League. This marked the first time in 22 years that NJPW's top tag team tournament had been won by the same team in two consecutive years. [[Hiroshi Hase]] and [[Keiji Mutoh]] had won the tournament in 1993 and 1994, when it was known as the Super Grade Tag League.<ref name="GBHWTL" /> Following the win, G.B.H. challenged Guerrillas of Destiny to a rematch for the IWGP Tag Team Championship,<ref name="WTL2016Finals" /><ref name="GBHWTL">{{cite web | url = http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/627550/ | script-title=ja:【新日】真壁&本間がタッグリーグ連覇 1・4ドームでIWGPタッグ王座挑戦へ | date=December 11, 2016 | accessdate=December 12, 2016 | work=[[Tokyo Sports]] | language=Japanese}}</ref> which was made official two days later.<ref name="FullCard" /> Earlier in 2016, the two teams had met in two matches for the IWGP Tag Team Championship, which were both won by Guerrillas of Destiny; first on April 10 at [[Invasion Attack 2016]], where they captured the IWGP Tag Team Championship and again on May 3 at [[Wrestling Dontaku 2016]], where they successfully defended the title.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.f4wonline.com/japan/njpw-invasion-attack-live-results-kazuchika-okada-vs-tetsuya-naito-iwgp-championship-210736 | title = NJPW Invasion Attack live results: Kazuchika Okada vs. Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP Championship | last=Meltzer | first=Dave | authorlink=Dave Meltzer | date=April 9, 2016 | accessdate=December 12, 2016 | work=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.f4wonline.com/japan/njpw-wrestling-dontaku-results-super-juniors-lineups-iwgp-champ-naito-vs-ishii-212111 | title = NJPW Wrestling Dontaku results: Super Juniors lineups; IWGP champ Naito vs. Ishii | last=Rose | first=Bryan | date=May 3, 2016 | accessdate=December 12, 2016 | work=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]}}</ref> On December 16, [[Toru Yano]] returned to NJPW from a stay in Pro Wrestling Noah, requesting to be added to the IWGP Tag Team Championship match with [[Tomohiro Ishii]] as his partner,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.daily.co.jp/ring/2016/12/17/0009757723.shtml | script-title=ja:矢野通が乱入 1・4東京DでIWGPタッグ挑戦ゴリ押し要求! | date=December 17, 2016 | accessdate=December 16, 2016 | work=Daily Sports Online | publisher=[[Kobe Shimbun]] | language=Japanese}}</ref> despite the fact that Ishii had already been booked for another match at Wrestle Kingdom 11.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.njpw.co.jp/77603 | script-title=ja:【12月17日(土)後楽園のカードが一部変更】 “IWGPタッグ挑戦”を要求する矢野が石井とタッグ結成!裕二郎&Soldierと激突!!【WK11】 | date=December 17, 2016 | accessdate=December 17, 2016 | work=[[New Japan Pro Wrestling]] | language=Japanese}}</ref> The following day, Yano and Ishii attacked both G.B.H. and the Guerrillas of Destiny, stealing the latter's IWGP Tag Team Championship belts.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.njpw.co.jp/card_result/77642 | script-title=ja:戦国炎舞 -Kizna- Presents Road to Tokyo Dome | accessdate=December 17, 2016 | work=[[New Japan Pro Wrestling]] | language=Japanese}}</ref> On December 19, Yano and Ishii were officially added to the IWGP Tag Team Championship match at Wrestle Kingdom 11, turning it into a three-way.<ref name="Tag3Way">{{cite web | url = http://www.njpw.co.jp/77815 | archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/6mrXXnnU9 | script-title=ja:1.4東京ドーム・IWGPタッグ選手権試合は、矢野通&石井智宏組も加わり、3Wayマッチに! NEVER無差別級6人タッグ選手権に、邪道が参戦!【WK11】 | archivedate=December 19, 2016 | date=December 19, 2016 | accessdate=December 19, 2016 | work=[[New Japan Pro Wrestling]] | language=Japanese}}</ref>
 
The rest of the matches for Wrestle Kingdom 11 were announced on December 12, following the conclusion of the [[G1 Tag League#2016|2016 World Tag League]].<ref name="FullCard">{{cite web | url = http://www.njpw.co.jp/76883 | archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/6mh3uRwc1 | script-title=ja:【1.4東京ドーム・全カード決定!】柴田vs後藤!タマ&タンガvs真壁&本間!オライリーvsコール!Codyはジュースと激突!タイガーマスクWは第1試合に出陣!【WK11】 | archivedate=December 12, 2016 | date=December 12, 2016 | accessdate=December 12, 2016 | work=[[New Japan Pro Wrestling]] | language=Japanese}}</ref><ref name="FullCardPWI">{{cite web | url = http://pwinsider.com/article/106500/complete-lineup-for-new-japan-wrestle-kingdom-2017-roh-final-battle-main-event-rematch-announced.html?p=1 | title = Complete lineup for New Japan Wrestle Kingdom 2017, ROH Final Battle main event rematch announced | last=Johnson | first=Mike | date=December 12, 2016 | accessdate=December 12, 2016 | work=Pro Wrestling Insider}}</ref> On December 10, [[Great Bash Heel|G.B.H.]] ([[Togi Makabe]] and [[Tomoaki Honma]]) defeated reigning [[IWGP Tag Team Championship|IWGP Tag Team Champions]] [[Guerrillas of Destiny]] ([[Tama Tonga]] and [[Tanga Roa]]) in the finals to win their second consecutive World Tag League. This marked the first time in 22 years that NJPW's top tag team tournament had been won by the same team in two consecutive years. [[Hiroshi Hase]] and [[Keiji Mutoh]] had won the tournament in 1993 and 1994, when it was known as the Super Grade Tag League.<ref name="GBHWTL" /> Following the win, G.B.H. challenged Guerrillas of Destiny to a rematch for the IWGP Tag Team Championship,<ref name="WTL2016Finals" /><ref name="GBHWTL">{{cite web | url = http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/627550/ | script-title=ja:【新日】真壁&本間がタッグリーグ連覇 1・4ドームでIWGPタッグ王座挑戦へ | date=December 11, 2016 | accessdate=December 12, 2016 | work=[[Tokyo Sports]] | language=Japanese}}</ref> which was made official two days later.<ref name="FullCard" /> Earlier in 2016, the two teams had met in two matches for the IWGP Tag Team Championship, which were both won by Guerrillas of Destiny; first on April 10 at [[Invasion Attack 2016]], where they captured the IWGP Tag Team Championship and again on May 3 at [[Wrestling Dontaku 2016]], where they successfully defended the title.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.f4wonline.com/japan/njpw-invasion-attack-live-results-kazuchika-okada-vs-tetsuya-naito-iwgp-championship-210736 | title = NJPW Invasion Attack live results: Kazuchika Okada vs. Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP Championship | last=Meltzer | first=Dave | authorlink=Dave Meltzer | date=April 9, 2016 | accessdate=December 12, 2016 | work=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.f4wonline.com/japan/njpw-wrestling-dontaku-results-super-juniors-lineups-iwgp-champ-naito-vs-ishii-212111 | title = NJPW Wrestling Dontaku results: Super Juniors lineups; IWGP champ Naito vs. Ishii | last=Rose | first=Bryan | date=May 3, 2016 | accessdate=December 12, 2016 | work=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]}}</ref> On December 16, [[Toru Yano]] returned to NJPW from a stay in Pro Wrestling Noah, requesting to be added to the IWGP Tag Team Championship match with [[Tomohiro Ishii]] as his partner,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.daily.co.jp/ring/2016/12/17/0009757723.shtml | script-title=ja:矢野通が乱入 1・4東京DでIWGPタッグ挑戦ゴリ押し要求! | date=December 17, 2016 | accessdate=December 16, 2016 | work=Daily Sports Online | publisher=[[Kobe Shimbun]] | language=Japanese}}</ref> despite the fact that Ishii had already been booked for another match at Wrestle Kingdom 11.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.njpw.co.jp/77603 | script-title=ja:【12月17日(土)後楽園のカードが一部変更】 “IWGPタッグ挑戦”を要求する矢野が石井とタッグ結成!裕二郎&Soldierと激突!!【WK11】 | date=December 17, 2016 | accessdate=December 17, 2016 | work=[[New Japan Pro Wrestling]] | language=Japanese}}</ref> The following day, Yano and Ishii attacked both G.B.H. and the Guerrillas of Destiny, stealing the latter's IWGP Tag Team Championship belts.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.njpw.co.jp/card_result/77642 | script-title=ja:戦国炎舞 -Kizna- Presents Road to Tokyo Dome | accessdate=December 17, 2016 | work=[[New Japan Pro Wrestling]] | language=Japanese}}</ref> On December 19, Yano and Ishii were officially added to the IWGP Tag Team Championship match at Wrestle Kingdom 11, turning it into a three-way.<ref name="Tag3Way">{{cite web | url = http://www.njpw.co.jp/77815 | archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/6mrXXnnU9 | script-title=ja:1.4東京ドーム・IWGPタッグ選手権試合は、矢野通&石井智宏組も加わり、3Wayマッチに! NEVER無差別級6人タッグ選手権に、邪道が参戦!【WK11】 | archivedate=December 19, 2016 | date=December 19, 2016 | accessdate=December 19, 2016 | work=[[New Japan Pro Wrestling]] | language=Japanese}}</ref>
   
[[File:Katsuyori Shibata NEVER Openweight Champion.JPG|thumb|left|upright|[[Katsuyori Shibata]], who defended the [[NEVER Openweight Championship]] at Wrestle Kingdom 11]]
+
[[File:Shibatanever2.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Katsuyori Shibata]], who defended the [[NEVER Openweight Championship]] at Wrestle Kingdom 11]]
 
The [[NEVER Openweight Championship]] would also be defended at Wrestle Kingdom 11 with defending champion [[Katsuyori Shibata]] taking on Hirooki Goto.<ref name="FullCard" /> Shibata and Goto were high school classmates, who started a storyline rivalry against each other following Shibata's September 2012 return to NJPW.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/214557/ | script-title=ja:柴田1・4洋央紀倒しタイトル戦線殴りこむ | date=December 16, 2013 | accessdate=December 12, 2016 | work=[[Tokyo Sports]] | language=Japanese}}</ref> The rivalry lasted until January 2014, when the two came together to form a tag team, eventually winning both the [[G1 Tag League#2014|2014 World Tag League]] and the IWGP Tag Team Championship.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=90478 | title = Previewing this weekend's New Japan WrestleKingdom PPV | last=Macklin | first=Matthew | date=December 30, 2014 | accessdate=December 12, 2016 | work=Pro Wrestling Insider}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/otherppvs/article_82579.shtml | title = Caldwell's NJPW Tokyo Dome show results 1/4: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of live Wrestle Kingdom PPV – Tanahashi vs. Okada, Bullet Club, Nakamura, Jim Ross, more | last=Caldwell | first=James | date=January 4, 2015 | accessdate=December 12, 2016 | work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> The team disbanded in March 2016, when Goto joined the Chaos stable.<ref name="ShibataGotoBG" /> Shibata and Goto did not face each other until the 2016 World Tag League, where, on December 5, Shibata and his tag team partner [[Yuji Nagata]] defeated Goto and Tomohiro Ishii with Shibata pinning Goto for the win.<ref name="ShibataGotoBG">{{cite web | url = http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/625608/ | script-title=ja:【新日本】同級生対決が新展開!柴田と洋央紀の遺恨再燃 | date=December 6, 2016 | accessdate=December 12, 2016 | work=[[Tokyo Sports]] | language=Japanese}}</ref> Five days later, Goto avenged the loss by pinning Shibata in a non-tournament tag team match and afterwards made a challenge for Shibata's NEVER Openweight Championship.<ref name="WTL2016Finals" /><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/627545/ | script-title=ja:【新日】後藤洋央紀 1・4ドームでNEVER王者・柴田に挑戦へ | date=December 11, 2016 | accessdate=December 12, 2016 | work=[[Tokyo Sports]] | language=Japanese}}</ref> The match was made official two days later.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/628296/ | script-title=ja:【新日本】1・4東京ドーム全10試合決定 NEVER王座戦は柴田と洋央紀同級生対決 | date=December 13, 2016 | accessdate=December 13, 2016 | work=[[Tokyo Sports]] | language=Japanese}}</ref> Prior to the match at Wrestle Kingdom 11, Shibata brought up the possibility of retiring the NEVER Openweight Championship.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/630093/ | script-title=ja:【新日本】柴田が木谷オーナーに激怒!NEVER王座封印辞さず | date=December 17, 2016 | accessdate=December 17, 2016 | work=[[Tokyo Sports]] | language=Japanese}}</ref>
 
The [[NEVER Openweight Championship]] would also be defended at Wrestle Kingdom 11 with defending champion [[Katsuyori Shibata]] taking on Hirooki Goto.<ref name="FullCard" /> Shibata and Goto were high school classmates, who started a storyline rivalry against each other following Shibata's September 2012 return to NJPW.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/214557/ | script-title=ja:柴田1・4洋央紀倒しタイトル戦線殴りこむ | date=December 16, 2013 | accessdate=December 12, 2016 | work=[[Tokyo Sports]] | language=Japanese}}</ref> The rivalry lasted until January 2014, when the two came together to form a tag team, eventually winning both the [[G1 Tag League#2014|2014 World Tag League]] and the IWGP Tag Team Championship.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=90478 | title = Previewing this weekend's New Japan WrestleKingdom PPV | last=Macklin | first=Matthew | date=December 30, 2014 | accessdate=December 12, 2016 | work=Pro Wrestling Insider}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/otherppvs/article_82579.shtml | title = Caldwell's NJPW Tokyo Dome show results 1/4: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of live Wrestle Kingdom PPV – Tanahashi vs. Okada, Bullet Club, Nakamura, Jim Ross, more | last=Caldwell | first=James | date=January 4, 2015 | accessdate=December 12, 2016 | work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> The team disbanded in March 2016, when Goto joined the Chaos stable.<ref name="ShibataGotoBG" /> Shibata and Goto did not face each other until the 2016 World Tag League, where, on December 5, Shibata and his tag team partner [[Yuji Nagata]] defeated Goto and Tomohiro Ishii with Shibata pinning Goto for the win.<ref name="ShibataGotoBG">{{cite web | url = http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/625608/ | script-title=ja:【新日本】同級生対決が新展開!柴田と洋央紀の遺恨再燃 | date=December 6, 2016 | accessdate=December 12, 2016 | work=[[Tokyo Sports]] | language=Japanese}}</ref> Five days later, Goto avenged the loss by pinning Shibata in a non-tournament tag team match and afterwards made a challenge for Shibata's NEVER Openweight Championship.<ref name="WTL2016Finals" /><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/627545/ | script-title=ja:【新日】後藤洋央紀 1・4ドームでNEVER王者・柴田に挑戦へ | date=December 11, 2016 | accessdate=December 12, 2016 | work=[[Tokyo Sports]] | language=Japanese}}</ref> The match was made official two days later.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/628296/ | script-title=ja:【新日本】1・4東京ドーム全10試合決定 NEVER王座戦は柴田と洋央紀同級生対決 | date=December 13, 2016 | accessdate=December 13, 2016 | work=[[Tokyo Sports]] | language=Japanese}}</ref> Prior to the match at Wrestle Kingdom 11, Shibata brought up the possibility of retiring the NEVER Openweight Championship.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/630093/ | script-title=ja:【新日本】柴田が木谷オーナーに激怒!NEVER王座封印辞さず | date=December 17, 2016 | accessdate=December 17, 2016 | work=[[Tokyo Sports]] | language=Japanese}}</ref>
   

Revision as of 21:04, 4 January 2017

Wrestle Kingdom 11 in Tokyo Dome was a professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place on January 4, 2017, at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. It was the 26th January 4 Tokyo Dome Show, which is NJPW's biggest annual event and has been called "the largest wrestling show in the world outside of the United States" and the "Japanese equivalent to the Super Bowl".[3][4]

The event featured eleven matches, eight of which were contested for championships. In the main event, Kazuchika Okada defended the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against 2016 G1 Climax winner Kenny Omega. Other featured matches included Tetsuya Naito defending the IWGP Intercontinental Championship against Hiroshi Tanahashi, Katsuyori Shibata defending the NEVER Openweight Championship against Hirooki Goto and KUSHIDA defending the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against Hiromu Takahashi. As part of a partnership between NJPW and the American Ring of Honor (ROH) promotion, the ROH World Championship would also be defended at the event with defending champion Kyle O'Reilly taking on Adam Cole.

Production

Background

Wrestle Kingdom 11 aired worldwide through NJPW's internet streaming site, New Japan Pro Wrestling World, with both Japanese and English language commentaries. The English commentary was provided by Kevin Kelly and Steve Corino.[5] The event would also air in four parts on the American AXS TV network, starting January 13, 2017, with commentary provided by Jim Ross and Josh Barnett.[4][6] A shortened version of the event would also air on tape delay after midnight on January 5 on the Japanese TV Asahi network with special guests Ken Yasuda, Masahiro Chono, Suzuko Mimori and Yasutaro Matsuki.[7]

Storylines

Wrestle Kingdom 11 featured eleven professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. 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.[8]

Kenny Omega Tokyo Dome IWGP Heavyweight Championship challenge right certificate

Kenny Omega holding the briefcase containing a contract for a shot at the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 11

Wrestle Kingdom 11 was main evented by Kazuchika Okada defending the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Kenny Omega.[9] Okada won the title on June 19, 2016, by defeating Tetsuya Naito at Dominion 6.19 in Osaka-jo Hall.[10] Meanwhile, Omega became the number one contender at the Tokyo Dome by winning the 2016 G1 Climax the following August, defeating Hirooki Goto in the finals to become the first foreign winner of NJPW's premier tournament.[11] Afterwards, Okada successfully defended the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Pro Wrestling Noah representative Naomichi Marufuji, avenging a loss suffered during the 2016 G1 Climax,[12] while Omega defended his status as the number one contender against Yoshi-Hashi and Hirooki Goto,[13][12] leading to the match between Okada and Omega being made official for the Tokyo Dome in a press conference on October 11.[9] Omega stated that his goal as champion was to take the IWGP Heavyweight Championship abroad and defend it in countries like the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand in direct opposition to WWE and their global strategy.[14] Okada and Omega were the heads of the CHAOS and Bullet Club stables, respectively, and the match at Wrestle Kingdom 11 marked the first singles match between the two.[9] The match also marked Omega's first ever shot at the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.[15]

Wrestle Kingdom 11 would also feature a match for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship, where Tetsuya Naito would defend against Hiroshi Tanahashi.[16] In January 2016, Shinsuke Nakamura was stripped of the IWGP Intercontinental Championship after he announced that he was leaving NJPW for WWE,[17] which led to Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kenny Omega being put up in a match to determine the new champion.[18] Omega went on to win the match on February 14 at The New Beginning in Niigata,[19] which led to a rematch being booked in ladder match on June 19 at Dominion 6.19 in Osaka-jo Hall.[20] However, before the match, Tanahashi suffered a legitimate shoulder injury and was forced to pull out, being replaced by Michael Elgin,[21] who went on to defeat Omega to become the new IWGP Intercontinental Champion.[10] Elgin then entered a storyline rivalry with Tetsuya Naito,[22] during which Naito was backed by his Los Ingobernables de Japón (L.I.J.) stable, while Elgin had the backing of Hiroshi Tanahashi, who had started his own rivalry with L.I.J. member Sanada, after losing to him during the 2016 G1 Climax.[23] On September 25 at Destruction in Kobe, Naito defeated Elgin for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship in a match that featured outside interference from the entire L.I.J. as well as Tanahashi.[24] A rematch was booked between the two for the November 5 Power Struggle event, but Elgin was forced to pull out of the match after suffering an eye injury.[25] Naito instead went on to defeat Ring of Honor (ROH) wrestler Jay Lethal to retain the title. Following the match, Tanahashi, who had defeated Sanada earlier in the event, confronted Naito, challenging him to a title match at the Tokyo Dome, which Naito accepted.[26] The match broke Tanahashi's seven-year streak of Tokyo Dome main events, although Naito did bring up the possibility of NJPW setting up a fan vote to decide whether the Intercontinental or Heavyweight Championship match would main event the show. This harked back to the 2014 Wrestle Kingdom 8 event, where Naito and Kazuchika Okada's IWGP Heavyweight Championship match lost the main event spot to Tanahashi and Shinsuke Nakamura's IWGP Intercontinental Championship match, following a fan vote. Naito, however, claimed that he was against a fan vote, stating that he had always felt that the Heavyweight Championship should main event the Tokyo Dome and him being the Intercontinental Champion had not changed his mind.[27][28] Naito had yet to win a singles match in the Tokyo Dome, having lost all five of his previous matches.[29]

Hiromu Takahashi

Hiromu Takahashi, who challenged for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 11

Another title match would see KUSHIDA defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against Hiromu Takahashi.[16] This match was set up at Power Struggle on November 5, when, after Kushida had defeated BUSHI to regain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, he was confronted by the returning Takahashi, who challenged him to a title match. Takahashi was revealed as the surprise "time bomb", NJPW had promoted for the past months.[30] Takahashi made his debut in August 2010 and wrestled on NJPW undercards until June 2013, when he was sent on an indefinite overseas learning excursion, originally to the United Kingdom and eventually to Mexico and the Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) promotion, where he adopted a mask and the ring name "Kamaitachi".[16][31] Takahashi, as Kamaitachi, returned to Japan on January 24, 2016, wrestling Dragon Lee for the CMLL World Super Lightweight Championship at the NJPW and CMLL co-produced Fantastica Mania 2016 event.[16] Following the event, Takahashi returned to CMLL, where he remained until the following April, after which he began wrestling in the United States.[32] During his Power Struggle return, Takahashi was once again promoted under his real name and not as Kamaitachi.[30] On December 10, Takahashi attacked Kushida during a tag team match and afterwards joined Los Ingobernables de Japón.[33][34] Six days later, Takahashi wrestled his official return match, where he and Tetsuya Naito defeated Kushida and Hiroshi Tanahashi with him pinning Kushida for the win.[35]

The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship would also be defended at Wrestle Kingdom 11 with The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) defending against Roppongi Vice (Beretta and Rocky Romero).[16] Roppongi Vice earned the shot at the title by winning the 2016 Super Jr. Tag Tournament on November 5 at Power Struggle. Despite entering the tournament in the midst of a storyline, where Beretta and Romero had begun showing signs of dissension,[12][36] the two went on to defeat ACH and Taiji Ishimori in the finals to win the tournament and immediately afterwards challenged The Young Bucks to a title match at the Tokyo Dome,[30] which was made official two days later.[16]

The rest of the matches for Wrestle Kingdom 11 were announced on December 12, following the conclusion of the 2016 World Tag League.[37][38] On December 10, G.B.H. (Togi Makabe and Tomoaki Honma) defeated reigning IWGP Tag Team Champions Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Roa) in the finals to win their second consecutive World Tag League. This marked the first time in 22 years that NJPW's top tag team tournament had been won by the same team in two consecutive years. Hiroshi Hase and Keiji Mutoh had won the tournament in 1993 and 1994, when it was known as the Super Grade Tag League.[39] Following the win, G.B.H. challenged Guerrillas of Destiny to a rematch for the IWGP Tag Team Championship,[33][39] which was made official two days later.[37] Earlier in 2016, the two teams had met in two matches for the IWGP Tag Team Championship, which were both won by Guerrillas of Destiny; first on April 10 at Invasion Attack 2016, where they captured the IWGP Tag Team Championship and again on May 3 at Wrestling Dontaku 2016, where they successfully defended the title.[40][41] On December 16, Toru Yano returned to NJPW from a stay in Pro Wrestling Noah, requesting to be added to the IWGP Tag Team Championship match with Tomohiro Ishii as his partner,[42] despite the fact that Ishii had already been booked for another match at Wrestle Kingdom 11.[43] The following day, Yano and Ishii attacked both G.B.H. and the Guerrillas of Destiny, stealing the latter's IWGP Tag Team Championship belts.[44] On December 19, Yano and Ishii were officially added to the IWGP Tag Team Championship match at Wrestle Kingdom 11, turning it into a three-way.[45]

Shibatanever2

Katsuyori Shibata, who defended the NEVER Openweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 11

The NEVER Openweight Championship would also be defended at Wrestle Kingdom 11 with defending champion Katsuyori Shibata taking on Hirooki Goto.[37] Shibata and Goto were high school classmates, who started a storyline rivalry against each other following Shibata's September 2012 return to NJPW.[46] The rivalry lasted until January 2014, when the two came together to form a tag team, eventually winning both the 2014 World Tag League and the IWGP Tag Team Championship.[47][48] The team disbanded in March 2016, when Goto joined the Chaos stable.[49] Shibata and Goto did not face each other until the 2016 World Tag League, where, on December 5, Shibata and his tag team partner Yuji Nagata defeated Goto and Tomohiro Ishii with Shibata pinning Goto for the win.[49] Five days later, Goto avenged the loss by pinning Shibata in a non-tournament tag team match and afterwards made a challenge for Shibata's NEVER Openweight Championship.[33][50] The match was made official two days later.[51] Prior to the match at Wrestle Kingdom 11, Shibata brought up the possibility of retiring the NEVER Openweight Championship.[52]

On December 10, during the final day of the 2016 World Tag League, Los Ingobernables de Japón members Bushi, EVIL and Sanada defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima and Yuji Nagata in a six-man tag team match with Evil pinning Kojima, one third of the reigning NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champions, for the win.[33] Following the win, Bushi called out Kojima as well as his championship partners David Finlay and Ricochet.[53] Two days later, NJPW announced that at Wrestle Kingdom 11 Finlay, Ricochet and Kojima would defend the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship not only against the L.I.J. trio, but also against the Bullet Club trio of Bad Luck Fale, Hangman Page and Yujiro Takahashi and the Chaos trio of Tomohiro Ishii, Will Ospreay and Yoshi-Hashi in a four-team gauntlet match.[37] On December 19, after Tomohiro Ishii was moved to the IWGP Tag Team Championship match, his spot in the Chaos team was taken over by Jado.[54]

Other matches at Wrestle Kingdom 11 included the debuting Cody taking on Juice Robinson, Tiger Mask W making his second appearance following October's King of Pro-Wrestling, and Kyle O'Reilly defending the ROH World Championship against Adam Cole in a rematch from ROH's Final Battle event on December 2, 2016, where O'Reilly defeated Cole to become the new champion.[37][55] The pre-show featured the annual "New Japan Rumble", a battle royal including both NJPW regulars and surprise entrants.[56]

Results

# Results[57][58] Stipulations Times
1P Michael Elgin defeated Billy Gunn, Bone Soldier, Cheeseburger, Hiro Saito, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Jushin Thunder Liger, Kuniaki Kobayashi, Manabu Nakanishi, Ryusuke Taguchi, Scott Norton, Tiger Mask, Yoshitatsu and Yuji Nagata New Japan Rumble 25:13
2 Tiger Mask W (with Suzuko Mimori) defeated Tiger the Dark Singles match 06:34
3 Roppongi Vice (Beretta and Rocky Romero) defeated The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) (c) Tag team match for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship 12:57
4 Los Ingobernables de Japón (BUSHI, EVIL and SANADA) defeated David Finlay, Ricochet and Satoshi Kojima (c), Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale, Hangman Page and Yujiro Takahashi) and CHAOS (Jado, Will Ospreay and Yoshi-Hashi) Gauntlet match for the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship 16:06
5 Cody defeated Juice Robinson Singles match 09:37
6 Adam Cole defeated Kyle O'Reilly (c) Singles match for the ROH World Championship 10:14
7 CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano) defeated Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Roa) (c) and G.B.H. (Togi Makabe and Tomoaki Honma) Three-way tag team match for the IWGP Tag Team Championship 12:24
8 Hiromu Takahashi defeated KUSHIDA (c) Singles match for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship 16:15
9 Hirooki Goto defeated Katsuyori Shibata (c) Singles match for the NEVER Openweight Championship 16:17
10 Tetsuya Naito (c) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi Singles match for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship 25:25
11 Kazuchika Okada (c) (with Gedo) defeated Kenny Omega (with Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) Singles match for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship 46:45
  • (c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match
  • Videoicon – refers to the video of that match
  • P – indicates the match took place on the pre-show

New Japan Rumble

Results[59]
Entry Elimination
Order Name Order By Time
1 Elgin, MichaelMichael Elgin Winner
2 Billy Gunn 2 Elgin 05:46
3 Bone Soldier 1 Cheeseburger 03:50
4 Cheeseburger 13 Elgin 25:13
5 Jushin Thunder Liger 5 Tiger Mask 12:40
6 Kuniaki Kobayashi 3 Tiger Mask 08:59
7 Tiger Mask IV 6 Taguchi 12:49
8 Manabu Nakanishi 4 Multiple wrestlers 12:00
9 Ryusuke Taguchi 9 Norton 21:02
10 Yoshitatsu 7 Nagata 16:26
11 Yuji Nagata 8 Saito 19:20
12 Hiroyoshi Tenzan 12 Elgin 23:34
13 Hiro Saito 10 Elgin 22:24
14 Scott Norton 11 Elgin 22:38

NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship gauntlet match

Elimination Wrestler Team Eliminated by Elimination move Time Ref.
1 Jado CHAOS Yujiro Takahashi Pinned after a Pimp Juice 07:30 [2]
2 Yujiro Takahashi Bullet Club SANADA Submitted to a Skull End 09:36 [2]
3 Satoshi Kojima Finlay/Ricochet/Kojima EVIL Pinned after an Evil 16:06 [2]
Winners: Los Ingobernables de Japón (BUSHI, EVIL and SANADA)

See also

References

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External links