NJPW Cancels Shows Due To State Of Emergency

Tokyo's newly-announced state of emerged has forced New Japan Pro Wrestling to scrap three events scheduled for Korakuen Hall in May.

NJPW released the following statement earlier today, confirmed that the 8, 10, and 11 May Road to Wrestle Grand Slam shows have been cancelled:-

As a result of the State of Emergency declared across Tokyo, New Japan Pro-Wrestling has arrived at the decision to cancel three events on the Road to Wrestle Grand Slam tour on May 8, 10 and 11 at Korakuen Hall.We deeply apologise to fans who were looking forward to these events. Though matches with no fans in attendance were considered, NJPW has decided that, in order to act in the best interests of staff and wrestlers as they prepare for Wrestle Grand Slam in Yokohama Stadium May 15 and Tokyo Dome May 29, cancellation was the correct course of action.

New Japan currently has events scheduled outside of Tokyo until 4 May, before hitting Yokohama Stadium for an open-air show on 15 May. The promotion returns to Tokyo's Korakuen Hall on 24 May.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced last week that Tokyo's latest state of emergency would commence on 25 April and run until 11 May. It has been implemented due to a spike in COVID-19 infections.