NJPW held a press conference to announce plans on when and how they plan to return to action. NJPW Chairman Naoki Sugabayashi announced that NJPW will be returning on June 15, with shows held on June 15-17, June 22-24 and July 1-3 with no fans in attendance and streamed on NJPW World. June 15 will be a Together Special Project with matches to be announced at the beginning of the show.
NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING IS BACK!
We return to action on Monday June 15 with a mystery card for Together Project Special, LIVE on @njpwworld!
Details: https://t.co/gYIZLpOGfe#njpw #NJPWTogether pic.twitter.com/7PpEmGVjEa
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) June 9, 2020
The previously cancelled New Japan Cup will now be taking place from June 16 to July 3. For the first time ever, 13 of the 32 entrants in the New Japan Cup will be junior heavyweights, all still competing with the ultimate goal of facing Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships at Dominion in Osaka Jo Hall July 12. That creates some incredible opening-round matchups. Find out below the participants and the bracket of the Cup.
The New Japan Cup finals will be on July 11 at Osaka Jo Hall and the winner will challenge Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships at Dominion on July 12. The Osaka Jo Hall shows will run at one-third audience capacity.
NJPW is set to welcome back our fans with two incredible nights in Osaka Jo Hall this July!
Saturday July 11: New Japan Cup final!
Sunday July 12: Dominion in Osaka Jo Hall!
Details: https://t.co/4gdC68vyWr#njpw #njcup #njdominion pic.twitter.com/TRvRqZtIet
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) June 9, 2020
A strict set of guidelines will be adhered to for all forthcoming events in order to ensure maximum fan, staff and wrestler safety. These guidelines will be made available to the public later this week.
The revised NJPW schedule is now as follows:
- Together Project Special – Monday, June 15 7:00 PM JST (10 AM BST)
- New Japan Cup 2020 – Tuesday June 16 7:00 PM JST – Wednesday June 17 7:00 PM JST – Monday, June 22 7:00 PM JST – Tuesday, June 23 7:00 PM JST – Wednesday, June 24 7:00 PM JST – Wednesday, July 1 7:00 PM JST – Thursday, July 2 7:00 PM JST – Friday, July 3 7:00 PM JST
- New Japan Cup 2020 finals- Saturday, July 11 5:00 PM JST – Osaka Jo Hall (1/3 capacity)
- Dominion in Osaka Jo Hall – Sunday, July 12 3:00 PM JST – Osaka Jo Hall (1/3 capacity)
From unpredictable to unprecedented!
New Japan Cup 2020 starts next week, with junior heavyweights and heavyweights in the mix!
FIRST ROUND: June 17 on @njpwworld!
Okada vs Gedo!
Nagata vs Suzuki!
Uemura vs Kanemaru!
Kidd vs Ishimori!https://t.co/klB5pzUcZF#njpw #njcup pic.twitter.com/q4aeaYW579— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) June 9, 2020
NJPW held their last event on February 26, so 110 days ago. Subabayashi apologized to fans for the cancellations of shows. He announced that the July Hokkaido tour will be cancelled. He also said that all wrestlers, talent, staff etc. have taken COVID-19 anti-body tests to ensure the safety of all involved.
IWGP Tag Team Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi also made a brief appearance apologizing to fans for the cancelled shows. He also sent a message on behalf of all NJPW talent that they plan on returning with a strong effort saying, “we’re going to create and deliver a fresh NJPW to everyone. Everyone, let’s get ready to have some fun.
All pics and videos courtesy of NJPW