NJPW The New Beginning In Osaka 2023 was a professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place on February 11, 2023 in Osaka, Japan at the EDION Arena Osaka. It was broadcast on NJPW World and TV Asahi.
Production[]
Background[]
NJPW held the inaugural New Beginning event on February 15, 2011, with future events going on to take place annually in January and/or February. In 2022, New Beginning events were absent, aside from The New Beginning USA. With the return of the New Beginning in January 2023, NJPW announced that the tour would conclude with The New Beginning In Osaka on February 11.
Storylines[]
At New Year Dash on January 5, 2023, Ren Narita teamed up with Tiger Mask and Tomoaki Honma in a losing effort against Dick Togo, EVIL, and Yujiro Takahashi of House Of Torture. Narita would be attacked by House Of Torture after the match, however, Minoru Suzuki and El Desperado would make the save. Narita, Suzuki, and Desperado would go on to issue a challenge to NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions EVIL, SHO, and Takahashi, with a match being made official for The New Beginning In Osaka.
After BULLET CLUB members Jay White, KENTA, El Phantasmo, and Taiji Ishimori lost to Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tama Tonga, Hikuleo, and Master Wato at New Year Dash, White would attack Hikuleo with a chair after the match. Blaming Hikuleo for his loss to Kazuchika Okada at Wrestle Kingdom 17, White challenged Hikuleo to a Loser Leaves Japan Match, which was made official for The New Beginning In Osaka.
Following his victory over Jay White to regain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 17, Kazuchika Okada was confronted by Shingo Takagi, who challenged Okada to defend the title against him at The New Beginning In Osaka. The match would later be confirmed. At The New Beginning In Nagoya on January 22, Takagi defeated Great-O-Khan in a Mixed Martial Arts Match to defend his Provisional KOPW Championship and his championship opportunity.
Results[]
- Numbers in parentheses indicate the length of the match.
- (c) refers to the champion(s) heading into the match.
- United Empire (Aaron Henare & Great-O-Khan) defeated Oskar Leube & Toru Yano (6:38)
- Los Ingobernables de Japón (BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi, SANADA & Tetsuya Naito) defeated Ryusuke Taguchi, Shota Umino, Tiger Mask & Tomoaki Honma in an Eight Man Tag Team Match (8:43)
- Taiji Ishimori defeated Master Wato (11:18)
- Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated KENTA (13:57)
- El Desperado, Minoru Suzuki & Ren Narita defeated House Of Torture (EVIL, SHO & Yujiro Takahashi) (c) (w/Dick Togo) in a Six Man Tag Team Match to win the NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championship (12:51)
- Hikuleo (w/Jado) defeated Jay White (w/Gedo) in a Loser Leaves Japan Match (25:08)
- Tama Tonga (c) (w/Jado) defeated El Phantasmo to retain the NEVER Openweight Championship (27:07)
- Kazuchika Okada (c) defeated Shingo Takagi to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (32:07)
