Wrestle Kingdom 17 will be held in honor of Antonio Inoki.
Following the passing of Antonio Inoki, New Japan Pro-Wrestling announced that they had reached a deal with Inoki to be chairman for life and now, they have announced that the upcoming Wrestle Kingdom 17 event in Tokyo, Japan will be held in honor and memory of Antonio Inoki.
Declaration of Power on October 10 saw Ryogoku festivities start with a formal tribute to Antonio Inoki, and an emotional final farewell to an icon.
Watch the Declaration of Power replay
The entire NJPW roster gathered around ringside as legendary former ring announcer and close friend of Inoki, Kero Tanaka addressed the crowd. A special video of Inoki’s career highlights aired, before words of tribute from Tanaka before a ten-bell salute.
‘On October 1, the world lost the founder of New Japan Pro-Wrestling, the very image of professional wrestling in Japan and a legend and superstar in and out of the ring at the age of 79.
On March 6 1972, Antonio Inoki raised the curtain on New Japan Pro-Wrestling. In response to his career rival in ring and in promotion, Giant Baba, Inoki promoted NJPW under the banners of ‘Strong Style’ and the ‘King of Sports, bringing about an unprecedented boom period with himself at the forefront.
Whether in the Japanese dream match with Strong Kobayashi, or defending national pride against Tiger Jeet Singh, Stan Hansen or Hulk Hogan, Inoki was the superstar of superstars in Japan Golden Age.
On June 26 1976, the impossible was made possible when the Nippon Budokan hosted Inoki vs Ali, resonating worldwide, and starting an entire MMA movement. All this in the early years of NJPW’s half-century, celebrations of which starting on January 4 2022 with a special message from Inoki at Wrestle Kingdom 16 in the Tokyo Dome.
On September 1, Mr. Inoki graciously accepted the position of Honorary Lifetime Chairman of NJPW, and we had planned on making that announcement to you tonight. Instead we will announce that on January 4 2023, Wrestle Kingdom 17 will be held in honor and memory of Antonio Inoki.
Inoki’s philosophy of standing up to adversity and injustice, and never to give in is something that will forever be ingrained in the DNA of all professional wrestlers and wresting fans. Inoki’s influence is indelible and his spirit indomitable. We once again express our profound grief at Antonio Inoki’s passing, but will continue to march forward in the professional wrestling world with him as our spiritual guide.
RELATED: NJPW Named Antonio Inoki ‘Honorary Lifetime Chairman’ Before His Death
In addition to that news, the main event is also official and will be between Jay White and Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
The main event is set for Wrestle Kingdom 17, with G1 Climax 32 winner Kazuchika Okada set to challenge IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Jay White.
Both champion and challenger advanced from Ryogoku Sumo Hall after epic encounters, with the first being the semi main event of the evening, Kazuchika Okada surviving the Top Dog JONAH. TMDK’s super heavyweight set the pace early, making Okada pay the price for a plancha to the floor; the dive connected, but in receipt, so did Okada with the ringside steel, and then backfirst into the ring post with a terrifying powerbomb like move.
Okada would battle back by trying to cut at JONAH’s base, but the Australian was still able to land powerful offense on one good knee. Okada instead had to use JONAH’s momentum against him for a massive dropkick, a body slam and a signature top rope elbow.
JONAH responded with a Vader like German suplex followed by a brutal lariat for a near two. Closing in on victory, JONAH got the Black Forest Bomb, and went soaring off the top with a Torpedo, but thanks to the work of Okada on the knee, the Rainmaker was able to avoid a certain end. Instead, Okada was able to land a near impossible German suplex, a Landslide, and then the Rainmaker for three.
In the main event, Tama Tonga challenged IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Switchblade Jay White. The champion tried as ever to draw his challenger into an emotionally charged unforced error, but Tama had control of the situation in the ring, all until an Exploder suplex saw Tonga make rough contact with the ring apron.
Thus began the Switchblade gameplan, White determined to draw the air out of Tama’s lungs. The champion retained control of the bout for the bulk of the match, with his challenger just able to get a few offensive breaks. A Tongan Twist would hit one minute and offense was curtailed the next; SRC connecting but Supreme Flow finding nothing but the champion’s knees.
Each time White would exploit the error with agonizing offense and even more stinging humiliation. A Boston Crab was denied to mock Tonga’s return to the Hontai side with fundamental offense, but the challenger didn’t give in, and hit Supreme Flow on his second try for a near two. When Tonga looked to go for Gunstun, White sensed the danger and sent the referee down, but a chair attack was denied with a low blow as the challenger stayed in the hunt.
With the match nearing the 30 minute mark, White landed a high and tight German suplex, but Bladerunner was countered with Bloody Sunday for two. Moments later, White would fire back with a Bloody Sunday of his own, but rather than try for the Bladerunner, he wanted to beat Tama with his own move. Tama met White’s Gunstun with a huge Gunstun of his own, but still only got two; as he went for another off the second rope, he was caught into the Bladerunner for three.
Post match, Jay White was almost uncharacteristically gracious in his victory, stating that ‘at any other day and time, Tama Tonga would be a fine champion to lead New Japan, but it was this day, and my time.’ As he was finishing his speech, though, he would be confronted by Okada. Stating that Antonio Inoki’s passing ended an era, January 4 2023 will be about who will lead the next era of professional wrestling history. The main event was set for an unbelievable Wrestle Kingdom 17.
