Among the main matches is the double header Korakuen Hall shows on the 18th & 19th. These two events will feature the final prelude shows for the headlining matches for the big show at the Tokyo Dome. Also announced is Tiger Mask IV defending the NWA World Junior belt against Jushin Thunder Liger on 12/18 and Mascara Dorada defending the CMLL World Welterweight against BUSHI on 12/19.


New Japan announced that 2 new rookies will be making their debut’s on the “Big Pro-Wrstling Festival 2016” at the day before WRESTLE KINGDOM at the Differ Ariake in Tokyo.

Teruaki Kanemitsu [178cm, 90kg, Born January 24, 1993 from Kobe]
~ Kanemitsu was especially noted as he has 11 years of amateur wrestling experience as well as being a 66kg class champion. He passed the introductory test in December of 2014 and began training in the dojo in March of this year.
Hirai Kawato [176cm, 80kg, Born March 13, 1997 from Ikeda, Osaka]
~ Kawato has experience in Mixed Martial Arts and more specifically in judo. He initially passed the public tryout in October 2013, but due to his age at the time he had to wait until he graduated from high school. He joined the dojo in April of this year following his graduation.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling presents “Big Pro-Wrestling Festival 2016”, 1/3/2016 [Sun] 12:00 @ Differ Ariake in Tokyo

(1) Hirai Kawato’s Debut Match: Yohei Komatsu vs. Hirai Kawato
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(2) Teruaki Kanemitsu’s Debut Match: Sho Tanaka vs. Teruaki Kanemitsu
(3) Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask IV & Jay White vs. Ryusuke Taguchi, Mascara Dorada & David Finlay Jr.
(4) Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Juice Robinson vs. Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi & Captain New Japan

Among the previously announced double main event, featuring the IWGP Heavy and IWGP IC belts, as well as the junior belt matches being in defense the rest of the card has been announced to fill out New Japan’s largest show of the new year.

Katsuyori Shibata earned himself a chance against the NEVER Openweight Champion following a win over Ishii during the final day of the “World Tag League” on 12/9. Shibata took no time in calling out for a match against Ishii and the match has been made official.
Then the winners of the “World Tag League” in Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma will get their title challenge match on the big show as they take on Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows.

A special grudge match has been set as well as Hirooki Goto and Tetsuya Naito face off in the only “potential” non-title singles match. Naito has been a thorn in Goto’s side for most of the later part of this year and this match could lead to the winner being the next rightful contender for the IWGP Heavy belt as well.

The potential part being the match between Jay Lethal and Michael Elgin. The match is currently billed as just a special singles as Lethal currently has a defense set in place for the ROH belt in its own promotion. Though if he retains the match at the Dome will be changed for the belt to be on the line.

Toru Yano will once more find himself in a tag match featuring mystery partners, this is becoming a tradition for him as of late, as his team is set to take on Bad Luck Fale, Yujiro Takahashi & Tama Tonga.

The full event card for “WRESTLE KINGDOM 10” is as follows…



New Japan Pro Wrestling “WRESTLE KINGDOM 10 in Tokyo Dome”, 1/4/2016 [Mon] 17:00 @ Tokyo Dome in Tokyo

(0) New Japan Rumble:

(1) IWGP Junior Tag Team Championship 4 WAY Match: [43rd Champions] “reDRagon” Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish vs. [Challengers] “High Flyers” Ricochet & Matt Sydal vs. [Challengers] “ROPPONGI VICE” Rocky Romero & Barreta vs. [Challengers] “Young Bucks” Matt & Nick Jackson
~ 3rd title defense.


(2) Special 6 Man Tag Match: Toru Yano, X & X vs. Bad Luck Fale, Yujiro Takahashi & Tama Tonga
(3) Special Single Match: Michael Elgin vs. Jay Lethal
~ Potential ROH World title defense.

(4) IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Match: [72nd Champion] Kenny Omega vs. [Challenger] KUSHIDA
~ 2nd title defense.

(5) IWGP Tag Championship Match: [68th Champions] Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows vs. [Challengers] Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma
~ 2nd title defense.

(6) Special Single Match: Hirooki Goto vs. Tetsuya Naito

(7) NEVER Openweight Championship Match: [9th Champion] Tomohiro Ishii vs. [Challenger] Katsuyori Shibata
~ 2nd title defense.

(8) IWGP Intercontinental Championship Match: [12th Champion] Shinsuke Nakamura vs. [Challenger] AJ Styles
~ 2nd title defense.

(9) IWGP Heavyweight Championship Match: [63rd Champion] Kazuchika Okada vs. [Challenger] Hiroshi Tanahashi
~ 2nd title defense.