Wrestle Kingdom is a professional wrestling event produced annually by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), a Japan-based professional wrestling promotion.
| Wrestle Kingdom | |
|---|---|
| Promotions | New Japan Pro-Wrestling |
| First event | Wrestle Kingdom I |
Since 1992, NJPW has held the January 4 Tokyo Dome Show. The January 4 Tokyo Dome Show became NJPW's premier annual event and the biggest event in Japanese wrestling, similar to what WrestleMania is for WWE and American professional wrestling. It has been described as "the largest professional wrestling show in the world outside of the United States" and the "Japanese equivalent to the Super Bowl".[1][2] From 1992 to 2006, the event was promoted under different names. In 2007, the event was rebranded as Wrestle Kingdom which has been the event name ever since.
From 2007 until 2019, Wrestle Kingdom was held on January 4 on Tokyo Dome, but the show expanded to two nights in 2020. Wrestle Kingdom 14 was the first one to include matches on January 5, and further expanded to include a third night (January 8) in 2022.
Wrestle Kingdom VI drew the highest single-day attendance since the annual event was branded as Wrestle Kingdom, at 43,000.[3] Counting events held over two nights, Wrestle Kingdom 14 had the highest overall attendance, with 40,008 announced for night one[4] and 30,063 for night two,[5] a total of 70,071 attendees.
The lowest attendance was for Wrestle Kingdom 15, held under attendance restrictions due to COVID-19; NJPW announced an attendance of 12,689 for the first night and 7,801 for the second.[6] Prior to COVID-19, the Wrestle Kingdom I and Wrestle Kingdom V events drew the lowest unofficial gates, with only 18,000 in attendance.[7]
- ^ "GFW News: New Japan Pro Wrestling "Wrestle Kingdom 9" press conference details". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. December 23, 2014. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
- ^ Keller, Wade (December 13, 2016). "New Japan's WrestleKingdom 11 to air on AXS TV starting Jan. 13 in four weekly special episodes with Ross & Barnett on commentary". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
- ^ NJPW 40th anniversary Tour. レッスルキングダムVI in 東京ドーム. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ "2020.01.04 WRESTLE KINGDOM in TOKYO DOME night 1". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. January 4, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ "2020.01.05 WRESTLE KINGDOM in TOKYO DOME night 2". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. January 5, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ Rose, Bryan (2021-01-05). "NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 Notes; Jay White, SANADA, Stardom". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
- ^ Meltzer, Dave (January 16, 2012). "Jan 16 Observer Newsletter: Cyborg busted for steroids, all the details, Edge and Horsemen going into WWE Hall, New Japan Dome Show review, 30 year Muchnick retrospective, TNA and Strikeforce shows, more". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, California. pp. 14–16. ISSN 1083-9593.