10 Ups & 4 Downs From NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14

79-and-a-third stars in the Tokyo Dome, etc.

by Andy H Murray
Tetsuya Naito KENTA
NJPW

New Japan Pro Wrestling's biggest show of the year, Wrestle Kingdom 14, dominated 2020's first major wrestling weekend.

A two-nighter for the first time in history, it attracted over 70,000 fans as Kazuchika Okada, Tetsuya Naito, Jay White, and Kota Ibushi contested another new concept: the Double Gold Dash tournament. The winner would walk away with both the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental championships to their name. A divisive idea that split the fanbase prior to the event, though there were few complaints after the weekend had unfolded.

Elsewhere, WK14 saw Chris Jericho put an AEW World Championship shot on the line against the legendary Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hiromu Takahashi returning to his blitzkrieg best versus IWGP Junior Heavyweight kingpin Will Ospreay, Jushin Thunder Liger's last stand, Jon Moxley's overdue New Japan return, and a night two closing angle that brought more heat than an atomic bomb.

Wrestle Kingdom 14 is supposed to be the workrate show of the year. It is to be held to the highest in-ring standards, so this review (which combines both nights) will endeavour to do just that.

Get your "nine stars in the Toky Dome" jokes at the ready. Let's go...

Advertisement
Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.