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Pro Wrestling

Wrestle Kingdom 18 was a professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place on January 4, 2024, in Tokyo, Japan at the Tokyo Dome. It was the 33rd Tokyo Dome show held on January 4 and the 18th event under the Wrestle Kingdom name. It was broadcast on NJPW World and TV Asahi.

Production[]

Background[]

Held annually each year, New Japan Pro Wrestling's Tokyo Dome event on January 4 is the company's biggest and most prestigious event. On July 5, 2023, on night two of the Independence Day event, it was confirmed that Wrestle Kingdom 18 would take place on January 4, 2024, at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan.

Storylines[]

On November 4, at Power Struggle, former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Catch 22 (Francesco Akira and TJP) defeated SHO and Yoshinobu Kanemaru to win the Super Junior Tag League. Thanks to their win, Catch 22 secured a title match with reigning IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Clark Connors and Drilla Moloney) at Wrestle Kingdom 18.

After defeating Mike Bailey at Lonestar Shootout, NJPW WORLD Television Champion Zack Sabre Jr. issued a challenge to Hiroshi Tanahashi. NJPW would later announce that Sabre Jr. would defend his title against Tanahashi at Wrestle Kingdom 18.

On October 28, at Fighting Spirit Unleashed, Shingo Takagi defeated Tama Tonga to capture the NEVER Openweight Championship. The following month, at Lonestar Shootout, Takagi successfully made his first defence against Trent Beretta. After, Takagi issued an open challenge, which was answered by Tonga, who sought a rematch. Takagi accepted, announcing he would defend his title against him at Wrestle Kingdom 18.

On December 10, reigning IWGP Tag Team Champions Bishamon (Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI) defeated NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Team Champions Guerrillas of Destiny (El Phantasmo and Hikuleo) in the final of the 2023 World Tag League. Due to Bishamon winning the tournament, they were able to select their challengers at Wrestle Kingdom 18. Bishamon would elect to face Phantasmo and Hikuleo in a rematch, with both championships on the line.

At Power Struggle on November 4, IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi retained his title against Taiji Ishimori. Following this, Takahashi nominated El Desperado as his challenger at Wrestle Kingdom 18, which Desperado accepted.

At Power Struggle on November 4, Will Ospreay successfully retained the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship, which he had dubbed the IWGP United Kingdom Heavyweight Championship, against Shota Umino. After, Ospreay called out the former mentor of Umino, Jon Moxley of All Elite Wrestling (AEW). However, both Ospreay and Umino would be attacked by David Finlay, the leader of BULLET CLUB. Finlay would then destroy the United States Heavyweight Championship belt and Ospreay's custom IWGP United Kingdom Heavyweight Championship belt. It was later announced that Ospreay, Moxley, and Finlay would compete in a three way match at Wrestle Kingdom 18. On November 6, NJPW chairman Naoki Sugabayashi revealed that a new title would replace the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship. The following month, it was revealed that the new title would be the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship, with the winner of the three way match becoming the inaugural champion.

On June 25, at Forbidden Door, an event co-produced by NJPW and AEW, Bryan Danielson defeated Kazuchika Okada in the main event, with Danielson suffering an arm injury during the match. Later, on the October 25 episode of AEW Dynamite, Danielson teamed up with his Blackpool Combat Club stablemate Claudio Castagnoli to face Okada and Orange Cassidy. During the match, Danielson would suffer another injury, breaking his orbital bone. On November 4, at Power Struggle, after Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Tomohiro Ishii retained the NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championship, Danielson appeared in a video, challenging Okada to a singles match at Wrestle Kingdom 18. Okada would accept, making the match official.

On August 13, Tetsuya Naito defeated Kazuchika Okada in the final of G1 Climax 33, securing an IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match at Wrestle Kingdom 18. At Destruction In Ryogoku on October 9, IWGP World Heavyweight Champion SANADA successfully retained his title against EVIL, confirming that SANADA would defend the championship against Naito at Wrestle Kingdom.

Results[]

Numbers in parentheses indicate the length of the match.
(c) refers to the champion(s) heading into the match.

External links[]

2024 New Japan Pro Wrestling events

Wrestle Kingdom 18New Year Dash !! 2024Battle In The Valley 2024The New Beginning In Nagoya 2024Road To The New Beginning 2024 - Night 1Road To The New Beginning 2024 - Night 2Road To The New Beginning 2024 - Night 3BOAT RACE MIYAJIMA Presents STRONG SPLASH - Night 1BOAT RACE MIYAJIMA Presents STRONG SPLASH - Night 2Road To The New Beginning 2024 - Night 4Road To The New Beginning 2024 - Night 5Road To The New Beginning 2024 - Night 6Road To The New Beginning 2024 - Night 7Road To The New Beginning 2024 - Night 8Road To The New Beginning 2024 - Night 9The New Beginning In Osaka 2024Presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2024 - Night 1Presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2024 - Night 2Presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2024 - Night 3Presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2024 - Night 4Presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2024 - Night 5Presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2024 - Night 6Presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2024 - Night 7The New Beginning In Sapporo 2024 - Night 1The New Beginning In Sapporo 2024 - Night 252nd Anniversary Event & New Japan Cup 2024 - Night 1New Japan Cup 2024 - Night 2New Japan Cup 2024 - Night 3New Japan Cup 2024 - Night 4New Japan Cup 2024 - Night 5New Japan Cup 2024 - Night 6New Japan Cup 2024 - Night 7New Japan Cup 2024 - Night 8New Japan Cup 2024 - Night 9New Japan Cup 2024 - Night 10New Japan Cup 2024 - Night 11New Japan Cup 2024 - Night 12Academy Showcase 3Road To Sakura Genesis 2024 - Night 1Road To Sakura Genesis 2024 - Night 2Road To Sakura Genesis 2024 - Night 3Road To Sakura Genesis 2024 - Night 4Sakura Genesis 2024Sakura Genesis 2024Windy City Riot 2024Wrestling World 2024 In TaiwanRoad To Wrestling Dontaku 2024 - Night 1Road To Wrestling Dontaku 2024 - Night 2Road To Wrestling Dontaku 2024 - Night 3Road To Wrestling Dontaku 2024 - Night 4NJPW Road To Wrestling Dontaku 2024 - Night 5Road To Wrestling Dontaku 2024 - Night 5Road To Wrestling Dontaku 2024 - Night 6Road To Wrestling Dontaku 2024 - Night 7Wrestling Satsuma no Kuni 2024Road To Wrestling Dontaku 2024 - Night 8Road To Wrestling Dontaku 2024 - Night 9Wrestling Dontaku 2024 - Night 1Wrestling Dontaku 2024 - Night 2STRONG Resurgence 2024Best Of The Super Junior 31 - Night 1Best Of The Super Junior 31 - Night 2NJPW Best Of The Super Junior 31 - Night 3Best Of The Super Junior 31 - Night 4TAMASHII IXBest Of The Super Junior 31 - Night 5TAMASHII IXBest Of The Super Junior 31 - Night 6Best Of The Super Junior 31 - Night 7Best Of The Super Junior 31 - Night 8Best Of The Super Junior 31 - Night 9Best Of The Super Junior 31 - Night 10Best Of The Super Junior 31 - Night 11Best Of The Super Junior 31 - Night 12Best Of The Super Junior 31 - Night 13Dominion 6.9 In Osaka-Jo Hall ~ Best Of The Super Junior 31 Final ~Despe InvitacionalNew Japan Soul 2024 - Night 1New Japan Soul 2024 - Night 2New Japan Soul 2024 - Night 3New Japan Soul 2024 - Night 4New Japan Soul 2024 - Night 5AEW-NJPW Forbidden Door 2024New Japan Soul 2024 - Night 6New Japan Soul 2024 - Night 7NJPW Presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2024 - Lucha Libre USAG1 Climax 34 - Night 1G1 Climax 34 - Night 2G1 Climax 34 - Night 3G1 Climax 34 - Night 4G1 Climax 34 - Night 5G1 Climax 34 - Night 6G1 Climax 34 - Night 7G1 Climax 34 - Night 8G1 Climax 34 - Night 9Academy Showcase 4G1 Climax 34 - Night 10G1 Climax 34 - Night 11G1 Climax 34 - Night 12G1 Climax 34 - Night 13G1 Climax 34 - Night 14G1 Climax 34 - Night 15G1 Climax 34 - Night 16G1 Climax 34 - Night 17TAMASHII Oceania Cup - Night 1G1 Climax 34 - Night 18G1 Climax 34 - Night 19Capital Collision 2024Road To Destruction 2024 - Night 1Shingo Takagi's 20th Debut Anniversary EventRoad To Destruction 2024 - Night 2Road To Destruction 2024 - Night 3Road To Destruction 2024 - Night 4Road To Destruction 2024 - Night 5Road To Destruction 2024 - Night 6Road To Destruction 2024 - Night 7Road To Destruction 2024 - Night 8Road To Destruction 2024 - Night 9Road To Destruction 2024 - Night 10Road To Destruction 2024 - Night 11NJPW Destruction In Kobe 2024Road To King Of Pro Wrestling 2024 - Night 1Wrestling Life 40th Anniversary Yuji Nagata Produce Blue Justice XIVRoad To King Of Pro Wrestling 2024 - Night 2Road To King Of Pro Wrestling 2024 - Night 3Road To King Of Pro Wrestling 2024 - Night 4Road To King Of Pro Wrestling 2024 - Night 5King Of Pro Wrestling 2024Royal Quest IVSuper Junior Tag League 2024 ~ Road To Power Struggle ~ - Night 1Super Junior Tag League 2024 ~ Road To Power Struggle ~ - Night 2Super Junior Tag League 2024 ~ Road To Power Struggle ~ - Night 3Super Junior Tag League 2024 ~ Road To Power Struggle ~ - Night 4Super Junior Tag League 2024 ~ Road To Power Struggle ~ - Night 5Super Junior Tag League 2024 ~ Road To Power Struggle ~ - Night 6Super Junior Tag League 2024 ~ Road To Power Struggle ~ - Night 7Super Junior Tag League 2024 ~ Road To Power Struggle ~ - Night 8Power Struggle ~ Super Junior Tag League 2024Fighting Spirit Unleashed 2024New Japan Road In AnjoSuper Hero Taiji Ishimori Gets RidiculousTAMASHII Oceania Cup - Night 4NJPW-Stardom Historic X-over II

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