No matter what happens at Royal Quest, NJPW has guaranteed that the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship will be defended at the promotion’s November 4 Power Struggle show in Osaka.
Newly-crowned NJPW king Zack Sabre Jr. and former champ SANADA have both been booked for matches at Power Struggle, which will take place a few weeks after they meet in the main event of Royal Quest IV in London.
A recent announcement from the promotion has noted that whoever emerges victorious at the U.K. show will put the IWGP title on the line when they appear at the Osaka show early next month in their respective singles bout.
Sabre Jr. is expected to face Shingo Takagi at Power Struggle, pitting him against another Los Ingobernables de Japon member shortly after he dethroned faction leader Tetsuya Naito last weekend to capture the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. Sabre Jr. has historically won in three of his five meetings against Takagi but has never won in a title bout between them.
SANADA will try to keep his undefeated streak against Shota Umino alive through three matches. The Just 5 Guys member has gotten past Umino in their two previous singles matchups, both emerging in G1 Climax tournaments.
Here’s a look at the current Power Struggle lineup, which has grown significantly over the past few days:
- Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Shingo Takagi
- Shota Umino vs. SANADA
- Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls vs. HENARE & Great-O-Khan (IWGP Tag Team Championships)
- Super Junior Tag League 2024 Final
- DOUKI vs. Master Wato (IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship)
- Taichi vs. David Finlay (IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship)
- El Phantasmo & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Ren Narita & EVIL
