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Title Bouts, Dogpound Cage Highlight Dontaku Weekend
Annual festival headlined by shock IWGP bout
The Dontaku festival is an annual highlight of the Fukuoka event calendar, a celebration of the port town's international leaning history. That festival also coincides with Wrestling Dontaku every year, with Fukuaoka's International Center the traditional home of two big events each May. This year, turbulent and tumultuous scenes have led to big matchups on both nights, and some special guests as well.
Watch Wrestling Dontaku live in English on NJPW World!
May 3: BULLET CLUB's Bloody Birthday, Takeshita's secret partner!
Wrestling Dontaku has a significant place in the memories of fans for the 2013 birth of BULLET CLUB. 12 years on from its founding, the Club has been shaken to its foundations with a civil war between the War Dogs and HOUSE OF TORTURE, a war that will see its final battleground set as the Dogpound Steel Cage.
David Finlay issued the challenge for the violent bout after SANADA turned his back on an already shaky alliance with the War Dogs, joining H.O.T. This violent, dangerous bout sees entrants from each side join the ring until all ten members are involved, and one pinfall or submission ends the anything goes bout. The only other Dogpound Steel cage match saw the War Dogs emerge victorious over United Empire in a bout that permanently changed all involved in it. Finlay was victorious that night and Will Ospreay left NJPW in the aftermath; who will score the decisive final shot in this war?
Special singles action will see Shota Umino take on Shingo Takagi. Windy City Riot saw Umino challenge Hirooki Goto for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, but the New Japan Cup runner up struggled in the face of champion Goto in Chicago. Having to rebuild once again, the Roughneck will take on Takagi, having defeated the Dragon in the New Japan Cup semifinals. For Umino, victory is essential in a year of hot and cold; for Takagi a win could propel himself into top title contention ahead of Resurgence later in May and Dominion in June.
Hiroshi Tanahashi's Final Road will continue with a Kinship match against Zack Sabre Jr. Tanahashi vs ZSJ has been one of the Ace's most significant rivalries in recent years, and this is one of a very significant few matches that has graced both Madison Square Garden and the Tokyo Dome. When it did take place in the Tokyo Dome back at Wrestle Kingdom 18, Tanahashi upset Sabre for the NJPW World TV Championship; will the Briton get his win back in likely his last match against the NJPW President?
Night one of Dontaku will also see El Phantasmo and Jado face Konosuke Takeshita and a mystery partner. Backstage at Windy City Riot, ELP issued a challenge to NEVER Openweight Champion Takeshita for Resurgence on may 9 in Ontario California. No sooner had the challenge been issued though then Rocky Romero, who'd had a tough time teaming with rival Phantasmo earlier in the night, jumped ELP from behind. Will this lead to an alliance with the Alpha, or will Takeshita bring a different partner to Fukuoka?
May 4: World, Global titles! Kyushuu pro, STARDOM hit Dontaku!
A surprise main event will see Hirooki Goto put the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship on the line against Callum Newman. With a challenge issued at Sakura Genesis, and using a shot at the IWGP Tag titles as collateral, it seemed like Jeff Cobb's adopted home of Fukuoka would see him gunning for Goto and the gold. Yet as Cobb shockingly departed NJPW, Newman declared that he wanted the shot that Cobb had demanded, and the match has been made official.
There is no doubt Newman is the extreme underdog in this title matchup, but a pinfall win over Tetsuya Naito in Ryogoku made him the youngest ever IWGP Tag Team Champion, and the opportunity is on the table to become the youngest IWGP World Heavyweight title holder by some margin. With more than a puncher's chance, could Dontaku be the site of one of NJPW's biggest ever upsets?
Yota Tsuji and Yuya Uemura will battle over the IWGP Global heavyweight Championship in the semi main event on May 4. A long rivalry for Uemura and Tsuji that started at the very beginning of both men's careers has persisted and grown since both returned from excursion, leading to a trilogy of matches for the two in 2024. Uemura struck first with a win in the Tokyo Dome at Wrestle Kingdom 18, but Tsuji would take his win back together with Uemura's pride and hair just one month later. That put Uemura on a quest for redemption that was paying off in G1 Climax 34, but although he was victorious against Tsuji in tournament action, he tore his triceps int he process, missing a six month span that saw Tsuji to the Global gold in the meantime. Now they pick up their rivalry with the richest stakes yet.
Day two of Dontaku will also see action from outside NJPW. Kyushuu Pro-Wrestling is a favourite indie staple in the area, and brings with it local favourites like Batten Burabura, Jet Wei, and the Mentai Kid. The highlight of their participation though will see promotion leader Ryota Chikuzen and, for the first time in NJPW for 15 years, TAJIRI, who teams with one time rivals in Toru Yano and Hiroshi Tanahashi to face TMDK.
With El Phantasmo and Boltin Oleg facing Konosuke Takeshita and his new partner, STARDOM bringing their representation as well and more besides, both nights of Dontaku look red hot!
The Dontaku festival is an annual highlight of the Fukuoka event calendar, a celebration of the port town's international leaning history. That festival also coincides with Wrestling Dontaku every year, with Fukuaoka's International Center the traditional home of two big events each May. This year, turbulent and tumultuous scenes have led to big matchups on both nights, and some special guests as well.
Watch Wrestling Dontaku live in English on NJPW World!
May 3: BULLET CLUB's Bloody Birthday, Takeshita's secret partner!
Wrestling Dontaku has a significant place in the memories of fans for the 2013 birth of BULLET CLUB. 12 years on from its founding, the Club has been shaken to its foundations with a civil war between the War Dogs and HOUSE OF TORTURE, a war that will see its final battleground set as the Dogpound Steel Cage.
David Finlay issued the challenge for the violent bout after SANADA turned his back on an already shaky alliance with the War Dogs, joining H.O.T. This violent, dangerous bout sees entrants from each side join the ring until all ten members are involved, and one pinfall or submission ends the anything goes bout. The only other Dogpound Steel cage match saw the War Dogs emerge victorious over United Empire in a bout that permanently changed all involved in it. Finlay was victorious that night and Will Ospreay left NJPW in the aftermath; who will score the decisive final shot in this war?
Special singles action will see Shota Umino take on Shingo Takagi. Windy City Riot saw Umino challenge Hirooki Goto for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, but the New Japan Cup runner up struggled in the face of champion Goto in Chicago. Having to rebuild once again, the Roughneck will take on Takagi, having defeated the Dragon in the New Japan Cup semifinals. For Umino, victory is essential in a year of hot and cold; for Takagi a win could propel himself into top title contention ahead of Resurgence later in May and Dominion in June.
Hiroshi Tanahashi's Final Road will continue with a Kinship match against Zack Sabre Jr. Tanahashi vs ZSJ has been one of the Ace's most significant rivalries in recent years, and this is one of a very significant few matches that has graced both Madison Square Garden and the Tokyo Dome. When it did take place in the Tokyo Dome back at Wrestle Kingdom 18, Tanahashi upset Sabre for the NJPW World TV Championship; will the Briton get his win back in likely his last match against the NJPW President?
Night one of Dontaku will also see El Phantasmo and Jado face Konosuke Takeshita and a mystery partner. Backstage at Windy City Riot, ELP issued a challenge to NEVER Openweight Champion Takeshita for Resurgence on may 9 in Ontario California. No sooner had the challenge been issued though then Rocky Romero, who'd had a tough time teaming with rival Phantasmo earlier in the night, jumped ELP from behind. Will this lead to an alliance with the Alpha, or will Takeshita bring a different partner to Fukuoka?
May 4: World, Global titles! Kyushuu pro, STARDOM hit Dontaku!
A surprise main event will see Hirooki Goto put the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship on the line against Callum Newman. With a challenge issued at Sakura Genesis, and using a shot at the IWGP Tag titles as collateral, it seemed like Jeff Cobb's adopted home of Fukuoka would see him gunning for Goto and the gold. Yet as Cobb shockingly departed NJPW, Newman declared that he wanted the shot that Cobb had demanded, and the match has been made official.
There is no doubt Newman is the extreme underdog in this title matchup, but a pinfall win over Tetsuya Naito in Ryogoku made him the youngest ever IWGP Tag Team Champion, and the opportunity is on the table to become the youngest IWGP World Heavyweight title holder by some margin. With more than a puncher's chance, could Dontaku be the site of one of NJPW's biggest ever upsets?
Yota Tsuji and Yuya Uemura will battle over the IWGP Global heavyweight Championship in the semi main event on May 4. A long rivalry for Uemura and Tsuji that started at the very beginning of both men's careers has persisted and grown since both returned from excursion, leading to a trilogy of matches for the two in 2024. Uemura struck first with a win in the Tokyo Dome at Wrestle Kingdom 18, but Tsuji would take his win back together with Uemura's pride and hair just one month later. That put Uemura on a quest for redemption that was paying off in G1 Climax 34, but although he was victorious against Tsuji in tournament action, he tore his triceps int he process, missing a six month span that saw Tsuji to the Global gold in the meantime. Now they pick up their rivalry with the richest stakes yet.
Day two of Dontaku will also see action from outside NJPW. Kyushuu Pro-Wrestling is a favourite indie staple in the area, and brings with it local favourites like Batten Burabura, Jet Wei, and the Mentai Kid. The highlight of their participation though will see promotion leader Ryota Chikuzen and, for the first time in NJPW for 15 years, TAJIRI, who teams with one time rivals in Toru Yano and Hiroshi Tanahashi to face TMDK.
With El Phantasmo and Boltin Oleg facing Konosuke Takeshita and his new partner, STARDOM bringing their representation as well and more besides, both nights of Dontaku look red hot!
Road to Wrestling Dontaku Day 1 (April 19) Preview
Special start time sees elimination main, Cobb's final bout
The Road to Wrestling Dontaku srtarts on April 19 with a very special event and a special start time. Korakuen will see action at 11:30 AM local time, presenting a rare chance for fans in the US to catch prime time action from Korakuen Hall, live in English on NJPW World!
Watch the Road to Wrestling Dontaku live in English on NJPW World!
Tickets available worldwide in English!
Main event: Elimination Tag Match- Yuya Uemura, Shota Umino, Taichi, YOSHI-HASHI & TAKA Michinoku vs Los Ingobernables De Japon (Yota Tsuji, Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI)
Our main event sees an all star Korakuen Hall favourite in the form of an elimination tag team main event. This ten man tag will serve as the backdrop to a pair of two big time singles matches at Dontaku may 3 and 4 as Shingo Takagi is primed to face Shota Umino and Yuya Uemura gets set to challenge the IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji. In the wake of the New Japan Cup final, Hontai and Just Four Guys are on the same page, and team up officially for the first time here today; one has to wonder how the teams will gel, especially with two young top flight prospects in Umino and Uemura on the same side. How will Umino bounce back from a Chicago title match disappointment, and what who will make a statement in the Global title space?
Meanwhile, as Taichi and Tomohiro Ishii get set to tag as a duo for the first time opposite former IWGP Tag Team Champions Naito and Hiromu, will years of antagonism be the spark to a successful partnership?
5th Match: Ryusuke Taguchi, El Desperado & Hirooki Goto vs United Empire (Callum Newman, Templario & Jakob Austin Young)
Six man action will see a double preview for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight and World Heavyweight Championship matches to come in the ensuing weeks. In a shocking conference this week, it was announced that Jeff Cobb was leaving NJPW, vacating the IWGP Tag Team Championships as a result and granting his planned IWGP World Heavyweight Championship challenge to Callum Newman. For the young Pricne of Pace, an incredible opportunity has landed in his lap, but status as an extreme underdog will see him need to prove himself right from the first day of the Dontaku tour. Meanwhile Templario is set to challenge IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion El Desperado on April 29 in Saga, and will be eager to make his own mark.
4th Match: War Dogs (Drilla Moloney, Taiji Ishimori & Gedo) vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (SANADA, Ren Narita & SHO)
A war between HOUSE OF TORTURE and War Dogs seemed to be headed for a decisive match over the NEVER Openweight 6 Man tag team Championships at Sakura Genesis on April 5. Yet a guitar shot from SANADA saw the Cold Blooded one defect from the Dogs to the House, and split Moloney open in the process. Now, leader David Finlay has declared that 'the price for blood is blood', and a Dogpound Steel Cage match is now set for Dontaku on May 3. Before that though, Moloney has a more immediate bloodlust to sate, and will be gunning for SANADA specifically tonight.
3rd Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi Final Road ~Kinship~ Jeff Cobb vs Hiroshi Tanahashi
Singles record: 2-0 Cobb
After eight years in NJPW, Jeff Cobb wrestles his last match in the cerulean blue on April 19, taking on Hiroshi Tanahashi. The Ace's Final Road will continue to January 4 2026 in the Tokyo Dome, but Cobb's Final Road ends here, and potentially with a final Tour of the Islands on Tanahashi- or will it be Ace's High and a first singles win for Tanahashi over Cobb int heir last bout against one another?
2nd Match: Master Wato, YOH, Boltin Oleg & Toru Yano vs TMDK (Ryohei Oiwa, Hartley Jackson, Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita)
With Hizen no Kuni seeing the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag team Championship son the line in Saga April 29, an eight man preview sees the artistic alliance of Master Wato and YOH get their hands on champions Kosei Fujita and Robbie Eagles. Meanwhile, after both suffered hard fought losses to Konosuke Takeshita over the NEVER Openweight Championship in recent months, Boltin Oleg and Ryohei Oiwa are on their own quests to redemption and title contention again.
1st Match: Tiger Mask, Yuji Nagata, Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, Katsuya Murashima & Daiki Nagai
With Young Lions and veterans mixing it up in the opening match of the card, it's a Road to Dontaku that you don't want to miss the start of on NJPW World!
The Road to Wrestling Dontaku srtarts on April 19 with a very special event and a special start time. Korakuen will see action at 11:30 AM local time, presenting a rare chance for fans in the US to catch prime time action from Korakuen Hall, live in English on NJPW World!
Watch the Road to Wrestling Dontaku live in English on NJPW World!
Tickets available worldwide in English!
Main event: Elimination Tag Match- Yuya Uemura, Shota Umino, Taichi, YOSHI-HASHI & TAKA Michinoku vs Los Ingobernables De Japon (Yota Tsuji, Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI)
Our main event sees an all star Korakuen Hall favourite in the form of an elimination tag team main event. This ten man tag will serve as the backdrop to a pair of two big time singles matches at Dontaku may 3 and 4 as Shingo Takagi is primed to face Shota Umino and Yuya Uemura gets set to challenge the IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji. In the wake of the New Japan Cup final, Hontai and Just Four Guys are on the same page, and team up officially for the first time here today; one has to wonder how the teams will gel, especially with two young top flight prospects in Umino and Uemura on the same side. How will Umino bounce back from a Chicago title match disappointment, and what who will make a statement in the Global title space?
Meanwhile, as Taichi and Tomohiro Ishii get set to tag as a duo for the first time opposite former IWGP Tag Team Champions Naito and Hiromu, will years of antagonism be the spark to a successful partnership?
5th Match: Ryusuke Taguchi, El Desperado & Hirooki Goto vs United Empire (Callum Newman, Templario & Jakob Austin Young)
Six man action will see a double preview for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight and World Heavyweight Championship matches to come in the ensuing weeks. In a shocking conference this week, it was announced that Jeff Cobb was leaving NJPW, vacating the IWGP Tag Team Championships as a result and granting his planned IWGP World Heavyweight Championship challenge to Callum Newman. For the young Pricne of Pace, an incredible opportunity has landed in his lap, but status as an extreme underdog will see him need to prove himself right from the first day of the Dontaku tour. Meanwhile Templario is set to challenge IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion El Desperado on April 29 in Saga, and will be eager to make his own mark.
4th Match: War Dogs (Drilla Moloney, Taiji Ishimori & Gedo) vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (SANADA, Ren Narita & SHO)
A war between HOUSE OF TORTURE and War Dogs seemed to be headed for a decisive match over the NEVER Openweight 6 Man tag team Championships at Sakura Genesis on April 5. Yet a guitar shot from SANADA saw the Cold Blooded one defect from the Dogs to the House, and split Moloney open in the process. Now, leader David Finlay has declared that 'the price for blood is blood', and a Dogpound Steel Cage match is now set for Dontaku on May 3. Before that though, Moloney has a more immediate bloodlust to sate, and will be gunning for SANADA specifically tonight.
3rd Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi Final Road ~Kinship~ Jeff Cobb vs Hiroshi Tanahashi
Singles record: 2-0 Cobb
After eight years in NJPW, Jeff Cobb wrestles his last match in the cerulean blue on April 19, taking on Hiroshi Tanahashi. The Ace's Final Road will continue to January 4 2026 in the Tokyo Dome, but Cobb's Final Road ends here, and potentially with a final Tour of the Islands on Tanahashi- or will it be Ace's High and a first singles win for Tanahashi over Cobb int heir last bout against one another?
2nd Match: Master Wato, YOH, Boltin Oleg & Toru Yano vs TMDK (Ryohei Oiwa, Hartley Jackson, Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita)
With Hizen no Kuni seeing the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag team Championship son the line in Saga April 29, an eight man preview sees the artistic alliance of Master Wato and YOH get their hands on champions Kosei Fujita and Robbie Eagles. Meanwhile, after both suffered hard fought losses to Konosuke Takeshita over the NEVER Openweight Championship in recent months, Boltin Oleg and Ryohei Oiwa are on their own quests to redemption and title contention again.
1st Match: Tiger Mask, Yuji Nagata, Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, Katsuya Murashima & Daiki Nagai
With Young Lions and veterans mixing it up in the opening match of the card, it's a Road to Dontaku that you don't want to miss the start of on NJPW World!
