NJPW cancels New Japan Cup night one card due to broken ring post

Night one of New Japan Cup 2025 didn’t exactly go as planned.

The tournament was scheduled to begin with its first matches taking place on Friday, but that didn’t end up happening. NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi appeared at the start of the show and announced that, due to a ring post breaking while the ring was being set up, there would be no matches today. Tickets for the show are being refunded, but NJPW still presented a talk show with stars from the promotion appearing.

“Thank you for supporting New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Due to a broken ring post tonight’s event in Korakuen Hall has been forced to be canceled,” NJPW wrote. “A talk show will take place in place of matches, with tickets to be refunded. NJPW deeply apologizes for the abrupt cancelation of tonight’s event and the disappointment and inconvenience caused.”

Yota Tsuji vs. EVIL and Yuya Uemura vs. SANADA were set to be today’s tournament matches. Those bouts will now happen tomorrow (March 8) in addition to the Gabe Kidd vs. Ren Narita and Ryohei Oiwa vs. Chase Owens matches that were already scheduled. A different ring will be used for tomorrow’s show.

New Japan Cup 2025 runs through March 20 with the winner receiving an IWGP World Heavyweight Championship shot in the main event of Sakura Genesis on April 5. Hirooki Goto is the current champion.