New Japan Pro Wrestling is currently riding a wave of popularity outside of Japan that the promotion has never experienced before. For the past couple of years, they’ve been riding a rising groundswell of buzz and fan passion, and it all came to a head last week at Wrestle Kingdom 12.
NJPW isn’t slowing down any time soon. Chris Jericho is still in the thick of things and is gearing up for an impending match against Tetsuya Naito. In March, the company will return to Long Beach, California, where they presented two extremely well-received shows last summer.
Things also seem to be proceeding with New Japan’s plans for North American expansion, but they’ll be heading to another continent entirely. On Tuesday, the company announced an upcoming Australian tour, where they’ll present four shows and will bring some of the biggest names in the promotion along (as you’d expect).
This is the first tour New Japan has ever presented in Australia, which itself is becoming a hotbed of independent pro wrestling. From the NJPW press release:
The Australian Tour will be led by IWGP Heavyweight Champion “The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada and he will be joined by “The Ace of New Japan”, current IWGP Intercontinental Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi and Current IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions (members of Los Ingobernables de Japon), Sanada & “King Of Darkness” Evil.
Also taking part in the NJPW Australian Invasion are some of the biggest and best names in Professional Wrestling today – The hottest faction in professional wrestling The Bullet Club: ‘’The American Nightmare’’ Cody, the hottest tag team on the planet & new IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson), Bad Luck Fale and former 3x IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa, known as G.O.D. will be bringing a special brand of havoc down under!
You will also see former five-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion KUSHIDA, legendary MMA Fighter & veteran professional wrestler Minoru Suzuki, Juice Robinson, “The Stone Pitbull” Tomohiro Ishii, Suzuki-Gun’s Lance Archer & British sensation and new IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion * Will Ospreay (* Sydney and Perth Only).
These events will assuredly send shockwaves through the world of professional wrestling. NJPW is coming to Australia because the fans have demanded it! This is the company’s first full international tour! The hottest brand in professional wrestling New Japan Pro Wrestling continues is global branding in 2018 and it kicks off in Australia!
It might have just set on their biggest event of the year, but The Rising Sun is now headed Down Under and there is sure to be plenty of FALLOUT! This is one event you will not want to miss.
New Japan Pro Wrestling Fallout Down Under
Tour Dates:
Friday 16th February – ADELAIDE, Titanium Arena
Saturday 17th February – MELBOURNE, Festival Hall
Sunday 18th February – SYDNEY, Quay Centre
Monday 19th February – PERTH, HBF Stadium
Tickets can be purchased at this link beginning on Friday, January 12, if you’re either in Australia or are planning to be in February. It’ll likely be a hot ticket, and it seems like there’s really no slowing New Japan down now.
