COVID-19 protocols force changes to NJPW New Year’s Golden Series
For the second consecutive day, COVID-19 protocols have forced changes to NJPW’s New Year’s Golden Series tour.
Toru Yano, Satoshi Kojima, Tomoaki Honma, Minoru Suzuki, Taichi, and TAKA Michinoku will miss their second straight show on Saturday, after one of the six presented with a fever prior to Friday’s event at Korakuen Hall.
NJPW made the announcement on their website.
【お知らせ】
1.20後楽園に出場した選手に発熱症状が見られたため、1月22日（土）Gメッセ群馬大会の一部カードが変更へ https://t.co/0Z24EX2tPa#njgolden #新春黄金シリーズ pic.twitter.com/YNyHMz0CxE— 新日本プロレスリング株式会社 (@njpw1972) January 22, 2022
The match card for Saturday’s show has been reduced from seven matches to six following the announcement, and four matches have had the participants changed.
Saturday’s event is essentially a house show in Gunma with no broadcast on NJPW World. Thursday’s tour opener aired live, while Friday’s event will be available on demand sometime Saturday.
New Year’s Golden series is a 19-show tour. The tour is scheduled to conclude with three title bouts on Sunday, February 20, including a Kazuchika Okada vs. Tetsuya Naito IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match.
The tour’s penultimate night on February 19 will also feature three title matches, headlined by a Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. SANADA IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship bout.