For the second year in a row, Kazuchika Okada has been named Tokyo Sports MVP (Most Valuable Player). Only Antonio Inoki, Jumbo Tsuruta and Genichiro Tenryu have achieved that before. Is Okada a legend in the making?

The IWGP Heavyweight Champion has become the leader of New Japan this year, his legendary win over Hiroshi Tanahashi at Sumo Hall in October seen as a transition of leadership.

And also for the second year running, a New Japan bout won Match of the Year, with Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kota Ibushi from the G1 Climax being named Best Bout.

Who is El Desperado?

One day after the 1/4 Tokyo Dome show, New Japan will debut a new masked man by the name of El Desperado. A logical choice might be Kyosuke Mikami, who has been away in CMLL for almost two years as Namajague. But that isn’t definite.

Also on the show, one day after Kojima challenges Rob Conway for the NWA World Heavyweight Title at the Dome, TenKoji challenge Conway & Jax Dane for the NWA World Tag Team Title.

NJPW “NEW YEAR DASH!!”, 1/5/14 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. El Desperado (debut) vs. X
2. NWA World Tag Team Title: Rob Conway & Jax Dane (c) vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima

Before the Dome show comes a low key tour to close out 2013, building up matches. A rare tour without a single foreign wrestler, that will conclude with the two 1/4 Tokyo Dome main events played out in tag form.

NJPW, 12/11/13
Yamagata Sports Center #2

1. Sho Tanaka vs. Yohei Komatsu
2. KUSHIDA vs. Takashi Iizuka
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Tiger Mask vs. Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi & BUSHI
4. Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Minoru Suzuki & Taichi
5. Togi Makabe & Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Jado
6. Elimination Match: Tetsuya Naito, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomoaki Honma & Captain New Japan vs. Kazuchika Okada, Shinsuke Nakamura, YOSHI-HASHI & Gedo

NJPW, 12/12/13
Yamagata Sports Center #2

1. Sho Tanaka vs. Yohei Komatsu
2. Tiger Mask vs. Takashi Iizuka
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Tiger Mask vs. Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi & BUSHI
4. Togi Makabe & KUSHIDA vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Jado
5. Toru Yano & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Minoru Suzuki & Taichi
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Captain New Japan vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Tomohiro Ishii
7. Tetsuya Naito & Tomoaki Honma vs. Kazuchika Okada & Gedo

NJPW, 12/14/13
Akita Terrsa Hall

1. Sho Tanaka vs. Yohei Komatsu
2. Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Takashi Iizuka
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Captain New Japan vs. Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi & BUSHI
4. Togi Makabe & Tiger Mask vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Jado
5. Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Minoru Suzuki & Taichi
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomoaki Honma vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & YOSHI-HASHI
7. Tetsuya Naito & KUSHIDA vs. Kazuchika Okada & Gedo

NJPW, 12/15/13
Shizukuishi Sports Park Gymnasium

1. Sho Tanaka vs. Yohei Komatsu
2. Captain New Japan vs. Takashi Iizuka
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Tiger Mask vs. Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi & KUSHIDA
4. Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Tomohiro Ishii & Yujiro Takahashi
5. Toru Yano & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Minoru Suzuki & Taichi
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Jado
7. Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI vs. Kazuchika Okada & Gedo

NJPW, 12/21/13 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Sho Tanaka vs. Yohei Komatsu
2. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask vs. Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi, KUSHIDA & BUSHI
3. Togi Makabe & Kota Ibushi vs. Takashi Iizuka & Yujiro Takahashi
4. Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii & Jado vs. Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi
5. Road to TOKYO DOME I: Tetsuya Naito vs. Gedo
6. Road to TOKYO DOME II: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. YOSHI-HASHI
7. Road to TOKYO DOME III: Captain New Japan vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
8. Road to TOKYO DOME IV: Tomoaki Honma vs. Kazuchika Okada

NJPW, 12/23/13 (TV Asahi ch2)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Sho Tanaka vs. Yohei Komatsu
2. Super Jr. 3WAY Tag Match: KUSHIDA & BUSHI vs. TAKA Michinoku & Taichi vs. Jado & Gedo
3. Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask vs. Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka
4. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Captain New Japan vs. Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi & Tomoaki Honma
5. Togi Makabe & Kota Ibushi vs. Tomohiro Ishii & Yujiro Takahashi
6. YOSHI-HASHI vs. Minoru Suzuki
7. Road to TOKYO DOME FINAL: Tetsuya Naito & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada & Shinsuke Nakamura