New Japan Pro-Wrestling has officially revealed the complete lineup for the upcoming New Japan Soul event, set to take place this Sunday, July 6, at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
Main Event: El Desperado Defends IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
Capping off the night will be reigning IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion El Desperado as he puts his title on the line against Kosei Fujita, the 2024 Best of the Super Juniors tournament winner. Fujita’s breakout run in the BOSJ has cemented him as one of the brightest young stars in NJPW, but he’ll face his toughest test yet against the battle-hardened veteran Desperado.
Junior Tag Titles on the Line
In another title match, SHO and DOUKI of the House of Torture will defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships against the team of Master Wato and YOH. This will be a key test of cohesion and resilience for both teams, with Wato and YOH looking to end House of Torture’s underhanded dominance in the division.
G1 Climax Last Chance Gauntlet
After Hirooki Goto was forced to withdraw from the upcoming G1 Climax tournament due to injury, NJPW has announced a special gauntlet match to fill his spot. Four contenders — Chase Owens, Satoshi Kojima, Taichi, and Tomohiro Ishii — will battle it out for the final slot in the tournament.
Tiger Mask’s 30th Anniversary Celebration
Tiger Mask will celebrate 30 years in professional wrestling with a special singles match against Hiroshi Tanahashi. Though Tanahashi is coming off a failed IWGP Global Championship challenge against Gabe Kidd, this match is less about rankings and more about respect, legacy, and honoring Tiger Mask’s iconic career.
LIJ Alumni vs. TMDK
A six-man tag will see former Los Ingobernables de Japon standouts Hiromu Takahashi, Yota Tsuji, and Shingo Takagi take on TMDK’s Zack Sabre Jr., Ryohei Oiwa, and Hartley Jackson.
House of Torture vs. NJPW’s Rising Stars
A ten-man tag team match will see the House of Torture—EVIL, SANADA, Ren Narita, Yujiro Takahashi, and Yoshinobu Kanemaru—square off against a team of NJPW’s rising stars and veterans: Shota Umino, Tomoaki Honma, Yuya Uemura, Ryusuke Taguchi, and Boltin Oleg.
Undercard Matches:
The show will also feature two undercard matches spotlighting NJPW’s future talents:
- Masatora Yasuda & Shoma Kato will team up to face Katsuya Murashima & Daiki Nagai.
- In singles action, Zane Jay will square off with Tatsuya Matsumoto.
With two titles on the line, a G1 Climax berth at stake, and a legendary anniversary bout scheduled, New Japan Soul is shaping up to be a must-see event for NJPW fans worldwide. The event will stream live on NJPW World.
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