Wrestle Kingdom 20

Wrestle Kingdom 20
Official logo
Promotion	New Japan Pro-Wrestling
Date	January 4, 2026
City	Tokyo, Japan
Venue	Tokyo Dome
Wrestle Kingdom chronology
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Wrestle Kingdom 20 is a upcoming professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event will take place on January 4, 2026 at the Tokyo Dome, in Tokyo, Japan. It will be the 35th January 4 Tokyo Dome Show and the 20th promoted under the Wrestle Kingdom name.

This will be the first January 4 Tokyo Dome show to be aired on TV Asahi in Japan since 2004 and will be also broadcast live on the NJPW World streaming service. Wrestle Kingdom 20 will feature the retirement match of Hiroshi Tanahashi and the professional wrestling debut of former gold medalist judoka Olympian Aaron Wolf. ^[1]

Production

Background

The January 4 Tokyo Dome Show is NJPW's biggest annual event and has been called "the largest professional wrestling show in the world outside of the United States" and the "Japanese equivalent to the Super Bowl". ^{[2] [3]} The show has been promoted under the Wrestle Kingdom name since 2007. ^[4]

Wrestle Kingdom 20 was announced on October 14, 2024. ^{[5] [6]}

Storylines

Wrestle Kingdom 20 will feature professional wrestling matches that involve different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers will portray villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in the scripted events that builted tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches. ^[7]

Matches

No.	Matches*	Stipulations
1	Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. TBA	TBD match [8] This will be Tanahashi's retirement match.
2	Aaron Wolf vs. TBA	TBD match [9]
*Card subject to change

References

1. Lambert, Jeremy (June 23, 2025). "TV Asahi To Broadcast NJPW Wrestle Kingdom For First Time Since 2004". Fightful. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
2. "GFW News: New Japan Pro Wrestling "Wrestle Kingdom 9" press conference details". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. December 23, 2014. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
3. Keller, Wade (December 13, 2016). "New Japan's WrestleKingdom 11 to air on AXS TV starting Jan. 13 in four weekly special episodes with Ross & Barnett on commentary". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
4. Hoops, Brian (January 4, 2017). "Daily Pro Wrestling History (01/04): NJPW Tokyo Dome cards". Wrestling Observer Newsletter . Retrieved August 25, 2017.
5. Rose, Bryan (August 17, 2025). "NJPW G1 Climax 35 finals notes: Excursion returns, Wrestle Kingdom 20". Wrestling Observer . Retrieved August 21, 2025.
6. Lambert, Jeremy (October 14, 2024). "Hiroshi Tanahashi Announces His Final Match Will Be At NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20 On January 4, 2026". Fightful. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
7. Grabianowski, Ed (13 January 2006). "How Pro Wrestling Works". Discovery Communications . Retrieved October 9, 2017.
8. 「ゴールを決めました」 なんと棚橋弘至選手が、2026年1.4での“レスラー引退”を決意…！. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). 2024-10-14. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
9. Swinton, Lyric (June 24, 2025). "NJPW Signs Olympic Gold Medalist Judoka Aaron Wolf, Announces Debut Event". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved September 10, 2025.

External links

• Official website