Earlier this month, New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) was forced to postpone two major stadium shows to help protect their locker room and fans. Eleven cases of COVID-19 were found in the locker room, prompting NJPW to take a step back and get everyone tested. The infected wrestlers showed only minor symptoms at worst, and everyone would have to go into isolation because of this outbreak. However, they’re back with good news, that being that they will be getting going once again on May 22nd.
New Japan Pro Wrestling Will Start Running Live Events Again On May 22nd
While we don’t have word on the status of the postponed Wrestle Grand Slam events, we do know that NJPW will be running at least four more shows later in the month of May. They will be running the Nagoya Congress Community Center Event Hall on May 22nd, and then Korakuen Hall on May 24th, 25th and 26th.
Wrestlers and staff will only be allowed to participate in events after stricter screening processes, which could lead to some absences as NJPW looks to deliver the best and safest show possible. Up until this recent outbreak, NJPW has been handling COVID-19 well, with even their annual Wrestle Kingdom event in the Tokyo Dome going off without reported cases.
What Will Be Coming Up Soon For Major Shows?
Wrestle Grand Slam aside, there are some other major parts of the NJPW calendar coming up soon. Normally, we’d be around the start of their annual Round Robin Junior Heavyweight tournament, Best of The Super Juniors. We could see an announcement on that during these coming shows in late May, but in 2020 that tournament was done alongside World Tag League.
Dominion is generally held in June & July, and is a major event for NJPW. Following Dominion will be the G1 Climax, their Heavyweight Round Robin Tournament, which determines who will main event their annual January 4th Tokyo Dome event alongside the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. The G1 is expected to be held around August this year, but this recent shutdown could mess with the schedule. Last year the G1 Climax was held in September, with Kota Ibushi winning for his second year in a row.
Are you excited for New Japan Pro Wrestling to return? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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