The early months of 2025 are shaping up to be monumental for professional wrestling fans, featuring two major events from NJPW and WWE. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) will kick off the year with its flagship spectacle, Wrestle Kingdom 19, set to take place on January 4 at the iconic Tokyo Dome. This year’s event is especially significant as it is poised to be the penultimate Wrestle Kingdom for the legendary Hiroshi Tanahashi, who is expected to retire following Wrestle Kingdom 20 in 2026.
For his final appearances, Tanahashi will face off against the formidable EVIL, marking the first confirmed match for Wrestle Kingdom 19. This bout is anticipated to be electric as it sets the tone for Tanahashi’s farewell tour. EVIL, known for his underhanded tactics and strong presence in the ring, promises to be a formidable opponent.
The Wrestle Kingdom 19 card is packed with exciting matchups. Fans can expect the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship to be on the line as Zack Sabre Jr. defends his title against rising star Shota Umino. Another highlight includes the IWGP Heavyweight Championship clash between Hiroshi Tanahashi and EVIL. David Finlay will defend his IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship against Yota Tsuji, and Douki is set to take on El Desperado for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.
The event also features the Intergalactic Jet Setters, Kevin Knight and Kushida, defending their IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship against TMDK (Robbie Eagles and Kosei Fujita), Catch 2/2 (TJP and Francesco Akira), and Bullet Club War Dogs (Clark Connors and Drilla Moloney) in what promises to be an unforgettable ladder match.
Shingo Takagi will defend the NEVER and International Championships against Konosuke Takeshita, setting the stage for high stakes and high drama if both champions maintain their titles leading up to the event. Women's wrestling will also take center stage as Mayu Iwatani vies for the IWGP Women's Championship against AZM. Other matches include Tetsuya Naito facing Hiromu Takahashi and Ren Narita defending the NJPW Television Title against Jeff Cobb, Ryohei Oiwa, and El Phantasmo.
To kick off the event, there will be a Ranbo Battle Royal allowing one lucky competitor to earn a shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, creating yet another layer of anticipation for fans.
Meanwhile, WWE is also gearing up for significant events as the year turns. Just last night, WWE aired the final episode of 2024, advancing storylines for the upcoming New Year's Evil event. Scheduled for January 7 at the Shrine Expo in Los Angeles, California, New Year's Evil will showcase several thrilling matches and title defenses.
The event's lineup includes Lexis King defending the Heritage Cup against Charlie Dempsey under sudden-death rules. King won the Heritage Cup just days earlier during WWE's Christmas Eve episode, with the match ending controversially due to interference from William Regal. This sets up King for immediate action as he must defend his title against Dempsey, the former champion.
Women’s wrestling will also shine at New Year's Evil with a four-way match to determine the number-one contender for the NXT Women's Championship. Stephanie Vaquer, Cora Jade, Lola Vice, and Kelani Jordan will battle it out for the opportunity to challenge Fallon Henley for the title. Henley, alongside Jacy Jayne and Jazmyn Nyx, will face off against Shotzi, Gigi Dolin, and Tatum Paxley in what promises to be an exciting six-woman tag team match.
With these major promotions like NJPW and WWE both ramping up their wrestling events, fans should prepare themselves for thrilling action as the dawn of 2025 approaches. With major storylines developing and top talent competing, the early wrestling calendar is set to be exhilarating. Both Wrestle Kingdom 19 and NXT New Year's Evil are expected to provide fans with unforgettable moments as they showcase the best of professional wrestling.