The card for this month’s Jumbo Tsuruta Memorial Anniversary show has been released including talent from All Japan, New Japan, and DDT among the promotions represented.
The main event will be a six-man tag involving past holders of the Triple Crown.
Current champion Kento Miyahara will team with Minoru Suzuki and Jun Akiyama to face Jake Lee, Takao Omori, and a mystery partner.
New Japan Pro Wrestling will be represented by Yuji Nagata teaming with Suwama against Taichi and Taka Michinoku. The promotion is also sending LIJ member Shingo Takagi to team with T-Hawk of GLEAT against Yuma Aoygai & Atsuki Aoyagi.
They have announced that legendary figures Stan Hansen, Genichiro Tenryu, The Great Kabuki, Toshiaki Kawada, Akira Taue, and Kenta Kobashi will be appearing as special guests on the anniversary of Tsuruta’s passing.
Atsushi Onita will wrestle on the card in a Street Fight Tornado Bunkhouse Hardcore match.
The card will take place from Korakuen Hall on Tuesday, May 31st.
Card for Jumbo Tsuruta's 23rd Anniversary Memorial Service on May 31st, produced by the @nph_2020, Kyohei Wada & Fumihito Kihara:#ジャンボ鶴田 #ajpwtv #njpw #gleat #bjw #ddtpro #pw_jto #basara_pw pic.twitter.com/RUKt3oc38T
— Eastern Lariat (@EasternLariat) May 4, 2022
Tomomi “Jumbo” Tsuruta, died in May 2000 at the age of 49 after problems following a kidney transplant procedure.
Tsuruta represented Japan in Greco-Roman wrestling in the 1972 Summer Olympics and was recruited by Giant Baba, who sent the Olympian to train under Dory Funk Jr.
Tsuruta was the first to hold the Triple Crown when the NWA International Heavyweight Championship, PWF Heavyweight, and NWA United National Championships formed the Triple Crown in 1989.
He held the Triple Crown three times with the final reign ending in January 1992 when he was defeated by Stan Hansen.
He was instrumental in the succession of Mitsuharu Misawa into a top position with the company including a famous match from June 1990 where Baba made the call to have Misawa go over based on the feeling in the building that night and that it was the right time.
Tsuruta announced his retirement in 1999 and was diagnosed with liver cancer and cirrhosis of the liver.
He died May 13, 2000, in the Philippines.
