Background The January 4 Tokyo Dome Show is NJPW's biggest
annual event and has been called "the largest professional wrestling show in the world outside of the United States" and the "Japanese equivalent to the
Super Bowl". The show has been promoted under the Wrestle Kingdom name since
2007. Wrestle Kingdom 19 was announced on July 3, 2024.
Storylines Wrestle Kingdom 19 featured
professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and
storylines. Wrestlers portrayed
villains,
heroes, or
less distinguishable characters in the scripted events that builted tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.
Event The event started with the preshow
New Japan Ranbo won by
Hirooki Goto by last eliminating
Great-O-Khan to become the number one contender for the
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. Next up,
Robbie Eagles and
Kosei Fujita defeated reigning champions
Kevin Knight and
Kushida to win the
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship in a
Tokyo Terror ladder match which also involved the teams of
TJP and
Francesco Akira, and
Clark Connors and
Drilla Moloney. The third bout saw
Mayu Iwatani defeating
AZM to secure the ninth consecutive defense of the
IWGP Women's Championship. In the fourth bout,
El Phantasmo defeated reigning champion
Ren Narita to win the
NJPW World Television Championship in a four-way match which also involved
Jeff Cobb and
Ryohei Oiwa, ending Narita's reign at 82 days and no defenses. Next up,
Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated
Evil in a bout which was disputed for Tanahashi's in-ring career. Next up,
Konosuke Takeshita defeated
Shingo Takagi in a winner takes all bout to successfully defend his
AEW International Championship and win Takagi's
NEVER Openweight Championship. The seventh bout saw
El Desperado defeating
Douki via referee stoppage to win the
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship after the latter executed a jump, subsequently suffering a legitimate shoulder injury which rendered him unable to continue the match. Next up,
Yota Tsuji defeated
David Finlay to win the
IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship, ending the latter's reign at 245 days and four defenses. In the semi main event,
Tetsuya Naito defeated
Hiromu Takahashi in singles competition. In the main event,
Zack Sabre Jr. defeated
Shota Umino to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. ==Results==