As previously reported TNA Stars, Kevin Nash, Motor City Machine Guns, Kurt Angle & Team 3D have been booked for the New Japan Wrestling Super Show on January 4, 2009 at the Tokyo Dome.
Also booked is CMLL Star, Mistico.
The Event is called “Wrestle Kingdom III”. Last year TNA vs New Japan was the theme of “Wrestle Kingdom II”, and led to a TNA Spike Special and the Global Impact DVD. Not sure if TNA is getting footage again this year from New Japan.
The IGWP Title is currently held by the Great Muta and will be defended against Hiroshi Tanahashi who has been appearing for TNA on Impact over the last month or so including teaming with Sonjay Dutt in the most recent episode. New Japan sending him to TNA was a way to set him up for this title match, and it is expected he will defeat Muta for the Title. TV-Ashai in a recent article in a Japan newspaper credited Muta’s title reign with bringing the New Japan TV Show’s rating back to 1998 levels.
Team 3D is undefeated in New Japan having beaten G.B.H. (Yano & Makabe) at Wrestle Kingdom II, and are undefeated in Japan in general. There was interest in Team 3D returning to New Japan to set up a return match with G.B.H after Wrestle Kingdon II, but that never happened, so it will interesting to see if the two teams are rematched with G.B.H. going over or whether Team 3D continues it’s undefeated streak in Japan.
