NJPW: New Matches Announced for Wrestle Kingdom 18, New Title to Replace IWGP US/UK Title, Lonestar Shootout 2023 Full Card

NJPW Announced Four New Official Matches for Wrestle Kingdom 18

New Japan Pro Wrestling announced earlier today four new official matches for the card of Wrestle Kingdom 18, which takes place on January 4, 2024 at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan.

All four of these new matches were setup at their Power Struggle 2023 event this past Saturday in Osaka, Japan.

The four new matches announced are:

• Kazuchika Okada vs. Bryan Danielson
• IWGP United States (UK) Heavyweight Championship Three-way match – Jon Moxley vs. David Finlay vs. Will Ospreay (c)
• IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship – El Desperado vs. Hiromu Takahashi (c)
• IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship – Catch 2/2 (Francesco Akira & TJP) vs. Bullet Club War Dogs (Drilla Moloney & Clark Connors) (c)

Updated card for NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18:

• IWGP World Heavyweight Championship – Tetsuya Naito vs. SANADA (c)
• IWGP United States (UK) Heavyweight Championship Three-way match – Jon Moxley vs. David Finlay vs. Will Ospreay (c)
• IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship – El Desperado vs. Hiromu Takahashi (c)
• IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship – Catch 2/2 (Francesco Akira & TJP) vs. Bullet Club War Dogs (Drilla Moloney & Clark Connors) (c)
• Kazuchika Okada vs. Bryan Danielson

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NJPW Announces Creation of New Championship to Replace IWGP US/UK Title

New Japan Pro Wrestling held a Wrestle Kingdom 18 press conference earlier today in Japan.

One of the topics discussed included NJPW Chairman Naoki Sugabayashi announcing that the company will be creating a new championship to replace the IWGP United States (UK) Heavyweight Championship belts that were destroyed by David Finlay at this past Saturday’s Power Struggle 2023 event.

“Regarding the IWGP US belt, we will establish a new title. It is true that fans were confused whether it is a US belt or a UK belt, so we created a new one. We will announce the details soon.”

English translation via Fightful.com

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Full Card for NJPW Lonestar Shootout 2023

New Japan Pro Wrestling announced the full card for their Lonestar Shootout 2023 event, which takes place on November 10th at the Curtis Culwell Center in Dallas, Texas.

Lonestar Shootout 2023 will air live on FITE TV starting at 8:00PM EST.

• Pre-show: Strong Survivor match – Matt Vandergriff vs Barrett Brown
• Pre-show: Fred Rosser vs. “Filthy” Tom Lawlor
• Mascara Dorada, Tiger Mask, & Atlantis vs. Hechicero, Rocky Romero, & Ultimo Guerrero
• Toru Yano vs. Joey Janela
• Intergalactic Jet Setters (Kevin Knight & KUSHIDA) & Guerillas of Destiny (Tanga Loa & Tama Tonga) vs. Bullet Club (Chase Owens, Gabe Kidd, Alex Coughlin, & Clark Connors)
• NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship – West Coast Wrecking Crew (Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs) vs. Guerillas of Destiny (Hikuleo & El Phantasmo) (c)
• Mistico vs. TJP
• NJPW Strong Openweight Championship – Satoshi Kojima vs. Eddie Kingston (c)
• Blackpool Combat Club (Wheeler Yuta & Jon Moxley) vs BULLET CLUB (David Finlay & KENTA)
• NJPW World Television Championship – “Speedball” Mike Bailey vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (c)
• IWGP Women’s Championship – Stephanie Vaquer vs. Mayu Iwatani (c)
• NJPW Strong Openweight Championship – Trent Beretta vs. Shingo Takagi (c)