This weekend New Japan Pro Wrestling brings their roster to the United States for two nights of incredible action in Long Beach, California. The excitement for these events has been building for months, as tickets for the events sold out in just under two hours with no matches announced at that time.
For those looking to watch or follow along with the NJPW G1 Specials, Wrestlezone will be providing complete and detailed live coverage on 7/1 and 7/2. For those in the United States, the only way to watch Saturday’s event (night one) live will be on the AXS network, with commentary from WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross and UFC legend Josh Barnett. Those in Canada or Japan can watch live via New Japan World, and more than 30 countries around the world will have access through The Fight Network. Sunday’s event (night two) will only be available live through New Japan World in the United States.
For those in the U.S. without access to AXS, both Sling TV and DIRECTV NOW are online streaming services that include the network in their most basic packages. Both offer free trails so you can catch Saturday’s show live, plus you’ll have access to USA for WWE Monday Night Raw and Smackdown Live.
These G1 Specials will be true pay-per-view quality showings, meant to emulate the feel of an authentic New Japan Pro Wrestling major event for an American audience. The majority of the roster’s main event talent will be on hand, including Kazuchika Okada, Kenny Omega and Bullet Club, Tetsuya Naito and Los Ingobernables de Japon, Hiroshi Tanahashi, KUSHIDA and more. This is the first test in the company’s long-term plan to establish a foothold in the United States and create a permanent base in Southern California.
Below is the final match card for night one on July 1st…
IWGP Heavyweight Championship
Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Cody Rhodes
IWGP US Heavyweight Championship Quarter Final Matches
– Michael Elgin vs. Kenny Omega
– Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tetsuya Naito
– Juice Robinson vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
– Jay Lethal vs. Hangman Page
IWGP Tag Team Championship
Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa (c) vs. Hanson & Raymond Rowe
Hiroshi Tanahashi, KUSHIDA, Jay White & David Finlay vs. Billy Gunn, Yoshitatsu, Yohei Komatsu & Sho Tanaka
Jushin Thunder Liger, Volador Jr., Dragon Lee & Titan vs. Hiromu Takahashi, BUSHI, EVIL & SANADA
The Briscoes, Roppongi Vice & Will Ospreay vs. The Young Bucks, Bad Luck Fale, Yujiro Takahashi & Marty Scurll
Night two on July 2nd will feature the semi-finals and final round of the IWGP US Heavyweight Championship tournament, plus Hiroshi Tanahashi defending the IWGP Intercontinental Championship against Billy Gunn, and the Young Bucks defending the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Championships against Roppongi Vice.
