NJPW 53rd Anniversary Show - March 6, 2025

[Chris]

Akira vs Desperado set for Anniversary!​

IWGP Junior Heavyweight title match official for March 6

After an explosive challenge was made on February 4 in Korakuen Hall, Francesco Akira will take on IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion El Desperado March 6 at NJPW's 53rd Anniversary.

Desperado had just completed his second successful defence of the IWGP gold when he was confronted by the Nova Fireball. Akira recounted how their singles meeting during the 2023 Best of the Super Jr. in Korakuen Hall ended in painful and humiliating defeat. The Italian declared that he was coming for revenge and the junior title, in a place that meant a lot to him- the Ota Gymnasium at Anniversary.

On June 26 2021, Akira captured All Japan Pro-Wrestling's World Junior Heavyweight title in Ota, and four years on, he seeks to claim the IWGP gold. Akira's journey in the intervening years has seen him progress significantly in the cerulean blue. Yet Desperado is a formidable champion, and when reminding Akira of how TJP had to help him out of the building two years ago sent the new challenger into a fiery rage, the champion showed that he has the ability to get inside Akira's head. In the first IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship defence at an Anniversary Event since 2019, who will leave with the gold March 6?

That's not all, as Akira and Desperado will face off in preview tags for the remainder of the New Beginning series. That all starts at live events through the week, with a major stop coming as a freshly added kickoff match for New Beginning in Osaka next Tuesday. El Desperado and Katsuya Murashima will take on Akira and Jeff Cobb in an immense added attraction, live in English on NJPW World, with the special new start time of 2:30PM JST!​

 

[Sky]

why must NJPW schedule their major shows outside of weekends? it makes predictions kind of difficult

 

[Comrade Khan]

why must NJPW schedule their major shows outside of weekends? it makes predictions kind of difficult

this is not really a major show , this is a yearly anniversary show, not a ppv

 

[Sky]

If it's the anniversary of the company founding it's a major show to me

 

[Comrade Khan]

New Beginning is the PPV

 

[Comrade Khan]

If it's the anniversary of the company founding it's a major show to me

I mean it's still not a ppv regardless of your personal opinion

 

[Comrade Khan]

its always been booked like a glorified house show as well afaik

 

[Sky]

Sounds like a Nooj problem, not acknowledging their anniversary properly

The New Beginning is on a Tuesday or some shit so I guess it's moot

 

[Comrade Khan]

Sounds like a Nooj problem, not acknowledging their anniversary properly

The New Beginning is on a Tuesday or some shit so I guess it's moot

confusing statement but aiight

 

[Roy Mustang]

I mean it's still not a ppv regardless of your personal opinion

Tbf not being a PPV doesn't stop something being major ala grand slam

 

[Comrade Khan]

Tbf not being a PPV doesn't stop something being major ala grand slam

Agreed but this is more like dynamite at home in Jacksonville than Grand Slam. It's traditionally like a feel good show

 

[Chris]

The date is the same every year too bc it's the legit anny date I think.

I have no answer for why some shows are randomly on Mondays or Thursdays but I do believe most cases are bc it's a holiday in Japan or something, but certainly not all. G1 finals are always randomly Thursdays lol

 

[Roy Mustang]

Agreed but this is more like dynamite at home in Jacksonville than Grand Slam. It's traditionally like a feel good show

I think it means slightly more than that but that is an apt comparison

 

[Comrade Khan]

I don't think Japan is as married to shows being at certain times if the week unless they in big ass stadiums right?

 

[Chris]

Doesn't even seem like that matters. The only consistency is no Sunday night shows, if a show is on Sunday it's afternoon regardless of how big or small it is