New Japan Pro-Wrestling is several weeks out from the biggest show of their calendar year in Wrestle Kingdom. This year’s event will once again be a two-night special with an IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Title match headlining both nights. The most recent addition to the card came about during today’s Road to Tokyo Dome show. After Jay White, Gedo and KENTA scored a win over SHO, Kota Ibushi and Juice Robinson, KENTA cut a promo backstage and accepted the challenge Juice Robinson issued for a match at Wrestle Kingdom.
The match will be for KENTA’s briefcase which gives him the right to challenge for the U.S. Heavyweight Championship. The current holder of the title is former AEW World Champion Jon Moxley. Moxley has not defended the title since February at the New Beginning show against Minoru Suzuki.
Over the past several months on NJPW Strong, KENTA has been calling out Moxley. AEW President Tony Khan stated earlier this month during the ‘Winter Is Coming’ media call that Moxley is not working the forthcoming Wrestle Kingdom show.
The match card for Wrestle Kingdom 15 is taking shape and as of this writing, here’s the lineup:
January 4
* IWGP Heavyweight & Intercontinental Championships: Tetsuya Naito (c) vs. Kota Ibushi
* Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay
* IWGP Tag Team Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi (c) vs. Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa)
* Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. The Great O-Khan
* Winner Becomes #1 Contender to IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title: Hiromu Takahashi vs. El Phantasmo
January 5
* IWGP Heavyweight & Intercontinental Championships: TBD (c) vs. Jay White
* IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Taiji Ishimori (c) vs. TBD
* NEVER Openweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Jeff Cobb
* EVIL vs. SANADA
* IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Title Shot Briefcase: KENTA (c) vs. Juice Robinson
* Dark Match (STARDOM): TBA vs. TBA
