Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome
Promotional poster featuring several NJPW wrestlers
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateJuly 25, 2021
CityTokyo, Japan
VenueTokyo Dome
Attendance5,389[1]
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MetLife Dome

Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place on July 25, 2021, at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. The event was originally scheduled to take place on May 29 but was postponed to July 25 due to the state of emergency in Japan because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The main event saw Shingo Takagi successfully defend the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Hiroshi Tanahashi. Other prominent matches were Los Ingobernables de Japón's Tetsuya Naito and Sanada defending the IWGP Tag Team Championship against Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. of Dangerous Tekkers, and Kazuchika Okada faced Jeff Cobb.

Production

Other on-screen personnel
Role: Name:
English Commentators Kevin Kelly
Chris Charlton
Rocky Romero
Japanese Commentators Shinpei Nogami
Milano Collection A.T.
Katsuhiko Kanazawa
Kazuyoshi Sakai
Togi Makabe
Miki Motoi
Jushin Thunder Liger
Masahiro Chono
Ring announcers Makoto Abe
Kimihiko Ozaki
Referees Kenta Sato
Marty Asami
Red Shoes Unno

Background

Since June 2020, NJPW has been unable to run events with a full arena capacity due to COVID-19 restrictions.[2] Wrestle Grand Slam was announced on March 4, 2021 as a two-day event which was originally planned take place on May 15 at Yokohama Stadium in Yokohama and May 29 in the Tokyo Dome.[3] On May 7, NJPW postponed the event due to the state of emergency in Japan.[4] On June 16, NJPW revealed the rescheduled date to be July 25, as well announcing that the Yokohama event would be cancelled with a two event being held at the MetLife Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama which is scheduled to be held on September 3 and 4.[5][6] NJPW stopped selling tickets for Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome on July 11, due to the second state of state of emergency in Tokyo, although the event will still go ahead as planned.[7]

Storylines

Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome 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 built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.[8]

At Dominion 6.6 in Osaka-jo Hall on June 7, Shingo Takagi defeated Kazuchika Okada to win the vacant IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, and afterwards challenged Kota Ibushi to a match for the championship.[9] On June 17, the match between the two was scheduled for Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome.[10] However, Ibushi was sidelined after being diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia.[11] On the day of the event, Hiroshi Tanahashi was named as Ibushi's replacement.[12]

The first match of the main card saw El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori controversially defend their IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship with success against Ryusuke Taguchi & Rocky Romero. In the last minute of the confrontation, Taguchi took off one of El Phantasmo's boots where it seemed like a banned item was resting. However, the referee did not notice Taguchi's remark as El Phantasmo low-blowed the latter and hit him with a CR2 to end the match.[13]

After Shingo Takagi retained the world title over Hiroshi Tanahashi in the main event, Evil returned and laid Takagi down, as he stated that he was the next challenger for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.

Results

No.Results[15][16]StipulationsTimes[17]
1PChase Owens won by last eliminating Toru Yano (c)22-man New Japan Ranbo with handcuffs for the provisional KOPW 2021 Trophy[a][b][14]35:36
2Bullet Club (El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori) (c) defeated The Mega Coaches (Ryusuke Taguchi & Rocky Romero)Tag Team Match for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship20:56
3Robbie Eagles defeated El Desperado (c) by submissionSingles Match for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship19:56
4Kazuchika Okada defeated Jeff CobbSingles Match19:23
5Dangerous Tekkers (Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi) defeated Los Ingobernables de Japón (Tetsuya Naito & Sanada) (c)Tag Team Match for the IWGP Tag Team Championship37:58
6Shingo Takagi (c) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi[c]Singles Match for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship37:26
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match
P – the match was broadcast on the pre-show

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Eliminations can also happen when a participant is handcuffed to the ropes or at ringside.
  2. ^ The other participants in the match were Great-O-Khan, Tomoaki Honma, Togi Makabe, Douki, Tigers Mask, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Minoru Suzuki, Sho, Yoh, Yuji Nagata, Satoshi Kojima, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Bushi, Master Wato, Dick Togo, Tomohiro Ishii, Yujiro Takahashi, Yoshi-Hashi, Hirooki Goto, and Kenta.
  3. ^ Initially, Takagi was set to defend the title against Kota Ibushi but the latter pulled out due to not being cleared to compete.

References

  1. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (July 25, 2021). "NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam In Tokyo Dome". cagematch.net (in German). Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  2. ^ Satin, Ryan (June 8, 2020). "NJPW To Resume Operations This Month, First Show With Fans Again Announced". Pro Wrestling Sheet. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  3. ^ Defelice, Robert (March 4, 2021). "NJPW Announces Two 'Wrestle Grand Slam' Events In May, 5/29 Show To Be Held Inside Tokyo Dome". Fightful. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  4. ^ Rose, Bryan (May 7, 2021). "NJPW Postponed Wrestle Grand Slam Events Due To State Of Emergency". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  5. ^ Renner, Ethan (June 16, 2021). "NJPW Sets New Date, Main Event Set For Wrestle Grand Slam In Tokyo Dome". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  6. ^ Renner, Ethan (June 16, 2021). "NJPW Announces Two Grand Slam Shows For September". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  7. ^ "Wrestle Grand Slam to proceed July 25; ticket sales to end July 11". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  8. ^ Grabianowski, Ed (13 January 2006). "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks, Inc. Discovery Communications. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  9. ^ Renner, Ethan (June 7, 2021). "NJPW DOMINION LIVE RESULTS: OKADA VS. SHINGO IWGP WORLD TITLE MATCH". F4WOnline.com. Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  10. ^ "Shingo Takagi vs Kota Ibushi Official For Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome【WGS】| NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. June 17, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  11. ^ "Kota Ibushi diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia, to miss July 22-24. Tokyo Dome status TBC【WGS】| NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. July 21, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  12. ^ "Ibushi absent from Wrestle Grand Slam: Tanahashi to challenge Takagi【WGS】| NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. July 25, 2021. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  13. ^ Gagnon, Joshua (July 25, 2021). "Wrestle Grand Slam Results: NJPW Returns To The Tokyo Dome". wrestlinginc.com. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  14. ^ "New Japan Ranbo with Handcuffs set for Wrestle Grand Slam after fan Vote!". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. July 20, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  15. ^ "NJPW Reveals Full Card For Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. July 11, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  16. ^ Renner, Ethan (July 25, 2021). "NJPW WRESTLE GRAND SLAM IN TOKYO DOME LIVE RESULTS: IWGP TITLE MATCH". f4wonline.com. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  17. ^ "2021.07.25 WRESTLE GRAND SLAM In TOKYO DOME". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
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