After one of the most shocking back to back days in New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) history, events return with a July 20th New Japan Road event — followed by Sengoku Lord on five days later on the 25th. Per usual, the New Japan Road event offers previews of headline and marquee matches that will take place at the following feature event.
Matches of note on the 20th will see Los Ingobernables de Japon (LIJ) members NEVER Openweight Champion Shingo Takagi and Sanada take on Douki and El Desperado. Shingo makes his v3 defense of the NEVER Openweight Champion on the 25th at the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium against Desperado, in what should be an intense fight.
The fourth match features CHAOS members Kazuchika Okada and Hirooki Goto teaming together once more against Bullet Club members Yujiro Takahashi and Gedo. Okada and Yujiro face off in one of the headline matches at Sengoku Lord, in what is a major opportunity for Takahashi to make a statement against the former five-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion.
The marquee match of the New Japan Road event features LIJ member Bushi, Tetsuya Naito, and IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi against Bullet Club members Taiji Ishimori, the returning Dick Togo, and IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental ‘Double Champion’ Evil.
Togo’s last match in NJPW came at Lion’s Gate Project7 on July 4, 2017. Before that match, he hadn’t wrestled in NJPW since June 23, 2011. Evil refers to Togo as ‘pareja’ which translates to partner in Spanish. Ishimori will position himself as the v2 challenge during Hiromu’s third reign as IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion if he earns the fall over him during the match.
The marquee match a Sengoku Lord see Hiromu challenging Evil for the ‘Double Championship’ in a match that has a bit of history beyond it being the first singles match between the two former unit mates.
Hiromu's IWGP Heavweight Championship challenge on 7/25/2020 at #njsengoku will be the first time a reigning IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion has challenged for the title since 7/20/2013 when Prince Devitt challenged Okada at Kizuna Road. #NJPW #njdominion
— Smooth WY (@SmoothWrestling) July 13, 2020
Of note, this match will also be only the second time where the reigning IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion has challenged for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
During a press conference, Evil blew off the title match and mocked Hiromu’s past neck injury. However, Hiromu’s mental state doesn’t seem to be at best as he blames Evil for tearing apart LIJ and everything he cared for.
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