Legends, invaders and a special ceremony highlight extravagant 50th anniversary celebration

March 1 will see a grand celebration of 50 years for New Japan Pro-Wrestling in the Nippon Budokan. The historic venue will be a fitting site for some intriguing matches, as stars from the past, and those outside of New Japan Pro-Wrestling combine with the very best of today as New Japan Cup looms. 

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Things will be special even before the first bell rings on the night, as the festivities will start with a special ceremony celebrating the anniversary. Legends are sure to make a special appearance, including the special guest ring announcer, the legendary Kero Tanaka!

Main Event: 50th Anniversary Match: Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tatsumi Fujinami vs Minoru Suzuki, Zack Sabre Jr. & Yoshiaki Fujiwara

A special anniversary match will see past meet present in the historic Nippon Budokan, with a lot connecting all six participants. IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada teams with Hiroshi Tanahashi, and the first man to ever step into a NJPW ring in anger in Tatsumi Fujinami. In the early years of Tanahashi made in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Fujinami was president of the company, and Fujinami’s influence on the in ring style of the Ace, and all those who step onto the cerulean blue, is always evident. 

In the opposite corner, Zack Sabre Jr. returns to NJPW competition alongside Minoru Suzuki, and one of Suzuki’s many trainers and influences, Yoshiaki Fujiwara. Fujiwara was one of what could be called the ‘first generation’ of Young Lion competitors, joining the NJPW Dojo back in November of 1972, and facing Fujinami in his first ever match. Fujiwara would quickly gain a mean spirited edge that saw him wrestle against NJPW in violent battles as part of UWF in the 1980s. in the ’90s, Fujiwara would establish his own promotion in Pro-Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi, with Suzuki one of its key stars; the organization’s take on marital arts themed professional wrestling would inform Suzuki’s own PANCRASE, and in turn Japanese Mixed Martial Arts. The legend now wrestles in his first NJPW match since New year’s Dash in 2016, reunited with his one time protege in the face of his very first opponent. 

6th Match: Champion vs Champion Tag: Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) vs Six or Nine (Master Wato & Ryusuke Taguchi)

The NJPW Anniversary tradition of heavyweight versus junior heavyweight champions this year sees tag team champions from both divisions face off. IWGP Tag Team Champions Bishamon are fresh off a satisfying victory over HOUSE OF TORTURE at New year’s Golden Series, and Team Six or Nine appropriately became the 69th IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions in Sapporo after a wild four way battle. With the added wrinkle of Taguchi and Goto being former partners at the start of their career as part of the 2002 NJPW Dojo class, which team will prove stronger in this special exhibition? 

5th Match: Shiro Koshinaka, Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii, Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe vs Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, BUSHI, SANADA & Hiromu Takahashi)

Special referee: Norio Honaga

A classic Great Bash Heel reunion will see Shiro Koshinaka return to a NJPW ring for the first time since 2016, joining Togi Makabe, Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii and Tomoaki Honma. The violent antiheroes of 2000s NJPW will take on their modern counterparts in Los Ingobernables De Japon, and completing the lineup will be junior heavyweight legend Norio Honaga; an all star tag exhibition indeed!

4th Match: Yuji Nagata, Satoshi Kojima, Yuto Nakashima & Kosei Fujita vs United Empire (Aaron Henare, Jeff Cobb, Great-O-Khan & Will Ospreay)

 After Kota Ibushi and Hiroyoshi tenzan were not cleared to return at Anniversary, a pair of living legends in Nagata and Kojima will team with future legends in Yuto Nakashima and Kosei Fujita. Opposite will be the returning Will Ospreay, making his return to Japanese rings for the first time since January 5, and set to lead a United Empire contingent into the New Japan Cup. Ospreay will want to establish strong potential for back to back cup victories, but the Commonwealth Kingpin’s own partners tonight will be just as hungry, as will the Young Lions and veterans. 

3rd Match: #STRONGHEARTS (El Lindaman, T-Hawk & CIMA) vs Suzuki-Gun (El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI)

When El Desperado successfully completed his second defence of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship in Sendai earlier this month, he was quick to list off potential challengers; and NJPW’s wrestlers were not at the top of the list. Rather, the charismastic and dynamic names of STRONGHEARTS’ El Lindaman and T-Hawk were on the champion’s lips, and as if summoned, STRONGHEARTS form a trio to take on Suzuki-Gun tonight. T-Hawk and Lindaman both appeared at Wrestle Kingdom in support of their leader CIMA, who makes his first entry into the New Japan Cup opposite TAKA Michinoku on March 2. Tonight though, they are sure to plant a target on Desperado’s back. 

2nd Match: Minoru Tanaka, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi vs BULLET CLUB (El Phantasmo, Taiji Ishimori & Bad Luck Fale)

For the first time since October 2012, Minoru Tanaka returns to a New Japan ring to represent GLEAT alongside TAKA Michinoku and Taichi. Taichi and Minoru’s history goes back to Taichi’s first steps in New Japan, where he and Unione partner Milano Collection A.T. were stablemates with Tanaka in the RISE faction. Minoru’s considerable achievements include five IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag team Championship reigns, and four singles reigns, including a record V10 streak under the masked HEAT persona. Ishimori, Phantasmo and the returning Fale are no strangers to heat in themselves, and will want to make a statement win over noteworthy competition.

1st Match: Ryohei Oiwa, YOH & Tiger Mask vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (SHO, Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL)

A night that celebrates the finest of New Japan Pro-Wrestling over 50 years will stand in stark contrast to HOUSE OF TORTURE in the first matchup. With Tiger Mask, YOH and Ryohei Oiwa, a team of past, present and future heroes will seek to make the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag team Champions regret their actions since their inception.