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NJPW Sets Kazuchika Okada vs. Tetsuya Naito, Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. SANADA for Golden Series

January 11, 2022 | Posted by Jeffrey Harris
NJPW Golden Series - Kazuchika Okada vs. Tetsuya Naito

– New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) has announced it’s New Year’s Golden Series, which kicks off on January 20 and will culminate with two night’s at the Hokkai Kita-Yell in Sapporo, Japan on February 19 and 20. The February 20 show will feature three title matches with the IWGP World title, he NEVER 6-Man Tag Team Titles, and the KOPW title all on the line.

On the February 19 card, IWGP US Heavyweight champion Hiroshi Tanahashi will defend his title against SANADA in the main event. In order for CHAOS to get a shot at the NEVER Openweight 6-Man tag team titles, they will have to defend their titles against the House of Torture (EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi). Also scheduled for February 19, Robbie Eagles and Tiger Mask defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight tag titles against former champions Taiji Ishimori and El Phantasmo.

On February 20, newly crowned IWGP World Heavyweight champion also puts his belt on the line against former IWGP Heavyweight champion Tetsuya Naito. Also set for the card, Minoru Suzuki defends his KOPW 2022 status against Toru Yano. The NEVER Openweight 6-man tag team titles will feature the House of Torture (EVIL, SHO, and Yujiro Takahashi) defending the belts against CHAOS (YOH, YOSHI-HASHI and Hirooki Goto).

Here’s the updated lineup for the first NJPW Golden Series show scheduled for January 20 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan and the last two shows in Sapporo:

January 20 (Korakuen Hall – Tokyo)

Yuto Nakashima vs. Great-O-Khan
Kosei Fujita & Ryohei Oiwa vs. Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI
Tiger Mask & Togi Makabe vs. Taiji Ishimori & Jado
Toru Yano, Satoshi Kojima & Tomoaki Honma vs. Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki, Taichi & TAKA Michinoku)
Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato vs. Suzuki-gun (DOUKI, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado)
YOH, YOSHI-HASHI, Hirooki Goto & Tomohiro Ishii vs. House of Torture (SHO, EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi & Dick Togo)
Yuji Nagata, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kazuchika Okada vs. Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & Shingo Takagi)

February 19 (Hokkai Kitayell – Sapporo)

IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Championship Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. SANADA
IWGP Tag Team Championships Match: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI (c) vs. EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships Match: Flying Eagles (c) (Tiger Mask & Robbie Eagles) vs. Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo

February 20 (Hokkai Kitayell – Sapporo)

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito
NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championships: House of Torture (c) (EVIL, SHO & Yujiro Takahashi) vs. CHAOS (Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & YOH)
KOPW 2022 Trophy: Minoru Suzuki (c) vs. Toru Yano