NJPW announces lineups for Wrestling Dontaku, other events

  • Ian Carey
  • By 

New Japan Pro Wrestling has announced several matches for upcoming shows.

This year’s Wrestling Dontaku on May 3 & 4 will mark the 12th anniversary of Bullet Club forming at the event in 2013. Two rival sub-groups of the faction will headline night one of the event this year in a Dogpound Steel Cage match — the second such match in NJPW history.

“This violent, dangerous bout sees entrants from each side join the ring until all ten members are involved, and one pinfall or submission ends the anything goes bout,” NJPW1972.com describes the bout’s rules.

The only other Dogpound Steel Cage match in NJPW took place at New Beginning in Osaka last year, where the Bullet Club War Dogs defeated United Empire in the War Games-style bout.

Also announced, IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Hirooki Goto will defend his title against Callum Newman on night two of Wrestling Dontaku. Newman recently vacated one-half of the IWGP World Tag Team titles after Jeff Cobb announced he’s departing the company following his match against Hiroshi Tanahashi on April 19. Cobb had been calling for a shot at Goto, but with him now stepping away, Newman has called for the opportunity to challenge for the title.

Other upcoming title matches include Bishamon vs. The United Empire to crown new IWGP World Tag Team Champions following Newman & Cobb vacating the belts.

Konosuke Takeshita is also scheduled for both nights of Wrestling Dontaku, teaming with a mystery partner. This follows Don Callis stating that the Callis Family is recruiting new members due to injuries to Mark Davis and Brian Cage.

Below are the newly announced cards:

Road to Wrestling Dontaku – April 19 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan:

  • Elimination Tag Match- Yuya Uemura, Shota Umino, Taichi, YOSHI-HASHI & TAKA Michinoku vs Los Ingobernables De Japon (Yota Tsuji, Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI)
  • Ryusuke Taguchi, El Desperado & Hirooki Goto vs United Empire (Callum Newman, Templario & Jakob Austin Young)
  • War Dogs (Drilla Moloney, Taiji Ishimori & Gedo) vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (SANADA, Ren Narita & SHO)
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Jeff Cobb (Cobb’s final match in NJPW)
  • Master Wato, YOH, Boltin Oleg & Toru Yano vs TMDK (Ryohei Oiwa, Hartley Jackson, Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita)
  • Tiger Mask, Yuji Nagata, Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, Katsuya Murashima & Daiki Nagai 

NJPW Wrestling Redzone – April 26 at The Hiroshima Sun Plaza in Hiroshima, Japan:

  • IWGP World Tag Team Championships: Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) vs. United Empire (Callum Newman & Great-O-Khan)
  • Tomohiro Ishii & Taichi vs. Hiromu Takahashi & Tetsuya Naito

NJPW Hizen no Kuni – April 29 at the Saga Arena in Hizen, Saga, Japan:

  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions The Ichiban Sweet Boys (Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita) defend against Master Wato & YOH
  • NJPW World TV Champion Great-O-Khan defends against El Phantasmo
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Masatora Yasuda

NJPW Wrestling Dontaku – May 3 at the Fukuoka International Center in Fukuoka, Japan

  • Dogpound Steel Cage Match: WAR Dogs (David Finlay, Gabe Kidd, Drilla Maloney, Clark Connors & Taiji Ishimori) vs. House of Torture (EVIL, SHO, SANADA, Ren Narita, & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)
  • Shingo Takagi vs. Shota Umino
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Jado & El Phantasmo vs. Konosuke Takeshita & A Mystery Partner
  • Ryusuke Taguchi, YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto vs. Jakob Austin Young, Great-O-Khan & Callum Newman
  • TAKA Michinoku, Taichi, Tomohiro Ishii & Yuya Uemura vs. BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi, Tetsuya Naito & Yota Tsuji
  • Master Wato, YOH, Boltin Oleg & Toru Yano vs. Kosei Fujita, Robbie Eagles, Hartley Jackson & Ryohei Oiwa
  • Katsuya Murashima vs. Daiki Nagai

NJPW Wrestling Dontaku – May 4 at the Fukuoka International Center in Fukuoka, Japan

  • IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Hirooki Goto defends against Callum Newman
  • IWGP Global Champion Yota Tsuji defends against Yuya Uemura
  • TAKA Michinoku, Taichi, Tomohiro Ishii & Shota Umino vs. BUSHI, HIromu Takahashi, Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi
  • TAJIRI, Chikuzen Ryota, YOH, Toru Yano & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Hartley Jackson, Kosei Fujita, Robbie Eagles, Ryohei Oiwa & Zack Sabre Jr.
  • El Phantasmo & Oleg Boltin vs. Konosuke Takeshita & A Mystery Partner
  • Stardom showcase: Wrestlers from Stardom face each other
  • Master Wato & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Jakob Austin Young & Great-O-Khan
  • Batten Burabura & Mentai Kid vs. Gedo & Taiji Ishimori
  • Katsuya Murashima & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Jet Wei & Hitamaru Sasaki