New Japan will this year run the annual “DESTRUCTION” major show at Kobe World Hall in late September instead of at Sumo Hall in October. This is because the scheduled Sumo Hall show in October is going to be called “KING OF PRO WRESTLING” this year and possibly in the future. Before “DESTRUCTION ’12″ will be a tour directly building up to it.

NJPW 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR ~ ROAD TO DESTRUCTION
- 9/7 @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall J SPORTS
- 9/8 @ Saitama Asukaru Satte
- 9/9 “YUJI NAGATA 20TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW ~ BLUE JUSTICE IV” @ Togane Arena
- 9/12 @ Toyama Techno Hall
- 9/13 @ Nagano Sports Park Gymnasium
- 9/15 @ Matsusaka City Gymnasium
- 9/17 @ Saitama Kusunoki Hall
- 9/22 @ Takamatsu City Gymnasium

- 9/23 “DESTRUCTION ’12″ @ Kobe World Hall WPW

Below is the updated schedule for what is left of 2011 in New Japan. The big news is that following Tenzan’s successful 20th anniversary show, Satoshi Kojima will have his own on 12/14 at Korakuen, so his official return to New Japan couldn’t have come at a better time. With a big Osaka show in November this year, there won’t be one on the final tour, so the customary Aichi show will be the last major event of 2011 for New Japan.

NEW JAPAN ALIVE 2011 (11/18/11 to 12/4/10)
- 11/18 @ Sun Village Shibata
- 11/19 @ Odawara Arena
- 11/20 @ Tatebayashi Citizen Gymnasium
- 11/23 @ Tottori Industrial Gymnasium
- 11/24 @ Onohara Hall
- 11/26 @ ITEM Ehime
- 11/27 @ Tex Port Imabari
- 11/28 @ Yamaguchi Butterfly Arena
- 11/29 @ Wakayama Arita Municipal Gymnasium
- 12/4 @ Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium WPW/PPV

- 12/14 “SATOSHI KOJIMA 20TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW ~ RUSH!!” @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall SAMURAI!
- 1/4/12 “NJPW 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR ~ WRESTLE KINGDOM VI IN TOKYO DOME” @ Tokyo Dome WPW/PPV

New Japan has a busy July, with the schedule having been announced. It is largely Hokkaido-based with the traditional summer tour, then a small two day mini-tour to follow. The big show is on July 20th at the Tsukisamu Alpha Court Dome (formerly named Tsukisamu Green Dome) where we could see an IWGP Heavyweight Title defense if the chain of big title matches at big shows continues.

CIRCUIT 2009 NEW JAPAN SOUL
- 7/5 @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall
- 7/10 @ Chiba Port Arena Sub Arena
- 7/12 @ Green Dome Maebashi Sub Arena
- 7/14 @ Fukushima City Gymnasium
- 7/15 @ Miyako City Gymnasium Sea Arena
- 7/16 @ TONYAMACHI Big Sight
- 7/18 @ Muroran City Gymnasium
- 7/20 @ Tsukisamu Alpha Court Dome

NEW JAPAN LIVE 2DAYS ~2NIGHT’S THE NIGHT~
- 7/22 @ Asahikawa Local Industry Promotion Center
- 7/23 @ Hakodate Citizen Gymnasium

AKIRA is off New Japan’s 37th anniversary show on March 6th. Why? Because, with the reunion of Heisei Ishingun he has decided to go back to the name he used in those days — his real one — Akira Nogami, for this match only. Nogami will team with the returning Koshinaka and old mainstay, now NOAH regular Masashi Aoyagi against Choshu, Super Strong Machine & Hiro Saito. Meanwhile, New Japan has announced an offer match from Osaka Pro offshoot Okinawa Pro for the 3/29 Okinawa landing.

NJPW “STRONG STYLE 37TH ANNIVERSARY”, 3/6/08 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Super Strong Machine 25th Anniversary Match: Riki Choshu, Super Strong Machine & Hiro Saito vs. Shiro Koshinaka, Akira Nogami & Masashi Aoyagi
2. Yuji Nagata, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt vs. Takashi Iizuka, Jado & Gedo
3. Manabu Nakanishi, Yutaka Yoshie , Wataru Inoue & Koji Kanemoto vs. Togi Makabe, Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii & Tomoaki Honma
4. Shinsuke Nakamura & Hirooki Goto vs. Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson
5. 37th Anniversary Special Tag Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tiger Mask vs. Masahiro Chono & Jushin Thunder Liger

NJPW “EXCITING BATTLE IN OKINAWA 2009″, 3/29/09
Okinawa Prefectural Budokan

1. Okinawa Pro Offer Match: Super Delfin , Kaijin Habu Otoko & Menso~re Oyaji vs. Shisaou , Captain “Churaumi Pirates” Zack & Mil Mongoose
2. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Karl Anderson
3. Shinsuke Nakamura, Hirooki Goto & Milano Collection AT vs. Togi Makabe, Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka
4. Riki Choshu & Kazuchika Okada vs. Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi

The schedule for April’s “CIRCUIT 2009 NEW JAPAN BRAVE” has been announced. This bridges the April Sumo Hall and May Fukuoka International Center super-shows, so is likely to focus around the New Japan Cup winner’s quest for momentum leading into his challenge against the winner of Tanahashi vs. Angle

- 4/11 @ Twin Messe Shizuoka
- 4/18 @ Kuwana City Gymnasium
- 4/19 @ Iwade Municipal Townsman Gymnasium
- 4/21 @ Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium #2
- 4/22 @ Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium #2
- 4/24 @ Shunan Sports Center
- 4/26 @ Oita Daihatsu Arena
- 4/27 @ Nagasaki Prefectural Gymnasium
- 4/29 @ Hiroshima Trade Center West Pavillion
- 4/30 @ Oita Event Hall
- 5/1 @ Kagoshima Citizen Gymnasium

More matches for the upcoming “CIRCUIT 2009 NEW JAPAN ISM” tour have been announced, which each card headed by Tanahashi vs. Nakamura preliminary skirmishes. You may notice that after 1/31 (contract cut-off day), RISE’s Minoru is nowhere to be found. There has been a lot of speculation about his future, and this may (or may not!) be the writing on the wall.

NJPW, 1/30/09 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Wataru Inoue, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt vs. Jado, Gedo & Tomohiro Ishii
2. Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito vs. Milano Collection AT & Taichi Ishikari
3. Tiger Mask & Koji Kanemoto vs. Jushin Thunder Liger & Minoru
4. Riki Choshu, Mitsuhide Hirasawa, Kazuchika Okada & Nobuo Yoshihashi vs. Togi Makabe, Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Tomoaki Honma
5. Masahiro Chono & Manabu Nakanishi vs. Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Yuji Nagata vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Hirooki Goto

NJPW, 1/31/09 (SXW)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Nobuo Yoshihashi vs. Minoru
2. Milano Collection AT & Taichi Ishikari vs. Jado & Gedo
3. Manabu Nakanishi, Koji Kanemoto, Mitsuhide Hirasawa & Kazuchika Okada vs. Takashi Iizuka, Giant Bernard, Karl Anderson & Tomoaki Honma
4. Riki Choshu, Masahiro Chono & Wataru Inoue vs. Togi Makabe, Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii
5. Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask vs. Hirooki Goto & Jushin Thunder Liger
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt

NJPW, 2/1/09
Tomi Fureai Gymnasium

1. Milano Collection AT & Taichi Ishikari vs. Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson
2. Manabu Nakanishi & Wataru Inoue vs. Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii
3. Riki Choshu & Masahiro Chono vs. Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma
4. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Yuji Nagata, Tiger Mask & Kazuchika Okada vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Hirooki Goto, Jushin Thunder Liger & AKIRA

NJPW, 2/7/09 (Samurai! TV)
Tochigi Bunka Center Sub Hall

1. Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt vs. Milano Collection AT & Taichi Ishikari
2. Manabu Nakanishi, Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito vs. Giant Bernard, Jado & Gedo
3. Riki Choshu, Masahiro Chono & Wataru Inoue vs. Togi Makabe, Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii
4. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Yuji Nagata, Tiger Mask & Koji Kanemoto vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Hirooki Goto, Jushin Thunder Liger & AKIRA

NJPW, 2/8/09 (SXW)
Zepp Sendai

1. Manabu Nakanishi, Wataru Inoue & Koji Kanemoto vs. Togi Makabe, Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii
2. Yuji Nagata, Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito vs. Hirooki Goto, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt
3. Riki Choshu & Masahiro Chono vs. Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson
4. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tiger Mask vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Jushin Thunder Liger

NJPW, 2/10/09
Ota City Nitta Gymnasium Ex Arena

1. Manabu Nakanishi, Milano Collection AT & Taichi Ishikari vs. Takashi Iizuka, Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson
2. Wataru Inoue & Koji Kanemoto vs. Togi Makabe & Tomohiro Ishii
3. Riki Choshu & Masahiro Chono vs. Toru Yano & Tomoaki Honma
4. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Yuji Nagata & Mitsuhide Hirasawa vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Hirooki Goto & Kazuchika Okada

NJPW, 2/11/09 (Samurai! TV)
Act City Hamamatsu

1. Manabu Nakanishi, Milano Collection AT, Taichi Ishikari & Mitsuhide Hirasawa vs. Jado, Gedo, Karl Anderson & Tomoaki Honma
2. Wataru Inoue & Koji Kanemoto vs. Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii
3. Riki Choshu, Masahiro Chono & AKIRA vs. Togi Makabe, Toru Yano & Giant Bernard
4. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Hirooki Goto & Jushin Thunder Liger

NJPW, 2/12/09
Toyohashi City Gymnasium #2

1. Wataru Inoue & Mitsuhide Hirasawa vs. Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii
2. Riki Choshu, Masahiro Chono & Manabu Nakanishi vs. Togi Makabe, Toru Yano & Tomoaki Honma
3. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Yuji Nagata & Nobuo Yoshihashi vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Hirooki Goto & Kazuchika Okada

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The late February to late March schedule has been announced, with the New Japan Cup returning, plus a series of special Korakuen Hall shows.

- 2/29 “NEW DIMENSION” @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall
- 3/6 “STRONG STYLE 37TH ANNIVERSARY” @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall

CIRCUIT 2009 NEW JAPAN CUP ~SOUL ON THE RING~
- 3/8 @ Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium
- 3/14 @ Kuki City Gymnasium
- 3/15 @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall
- 3/16 @ Tsubame Citizen Gymnasium
- 3/17 @ Kumagaya Citizen Gymnasium
- 3/20 @ Takamatsu City Gymnasium
- 3/21 @ Fukuyama Big Rose
- 3/22 @ Amagasaki Memorial Park Gymnasium

- 3/29 “EXCITING BATTLE IN OKINAWA 2009″ @ Okinawa Prefectural Budokan

New Japan has its tradition Sumo Hall show in February next year, with the winner of Muto vs. Tanahashi likely to have a big defense there. It will conclude the “CIRCUIT 2009 NEW JAPAN ISM“, which starts with a Korakuen Hall double header on 1/30-31. New Japan also returns to the island of Okinawa next March for “EXCITING BATTLE IN OKINAWA 2009″, the continuation of an old tradition to visit the region early in the year.

CIRCUIT 2009 NEW JAPAN ISM
- 1/30 @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall SAMURAI!
- 1/31 @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall SXW
- 2/1 @ Tomi Fureai Gymnasium
- 2/7 @ Tochigi Bunka Center Sub Hall SAMURAI!
- 2/8 @ Zepp Sendai SXW
- 2/10 @ Ota City Nitta Gymnasium Ex Arena
- 2/11 @ Act City Hamamatsu SAMURAI!
- 2/12 @ Toyohashi City Gymnasium #2
- 2/15 @ Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan WPW

- 3/29 “EXCITING BATTLE IN OKINAWA 2009″ @ Okinawa Prefectural Budokan