New Japan Pro Wrestling announces matches for G1 Special in USA

New Japan Pro Wrestling announced the line-up of their first two shows in America this morning.

The fallout of their event on June 11: Dominion, plays heavily into the main event. Coming off a one hour draw with Kenny Omega, IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada will defend the title again Bullet Club member Cody (Rhodes) on night 1 of the two-day event.  The rest of the show will see the beginning of the IWGP US title tournament.  Night 2 will be the finals.

Also on Night 2, coming off a big win newly crowned IWGP Intercontinental Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi will defend his title for the first time against former WWE Intercontinental Champion Billy Gunn.  That won’t be the only title on the line as IWGP Jr Heavyweight Tag Team champions the Young Bucks will defend their titles against Roppongi Vice.

Night 1 and Night 2 take place on July 1st and July 2nd.

Night 1 will air live on AXS here in the United States, with commentary by Jim Ross and Josh Barnett.

Night 2 will air live on New Japan’s streaming service New Japan World.  The event will air on AXS one week later with commentary by Ross and Barnett.

Night 1 full card:

• IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada defending against Cody
• Michael Elgin vs. Kenny Omega in a US title first round match
• Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tetsuya Naito in a US title first round match
• IWGP Tag Team Champions Guerrillas of Destiny defending against War Machine
• David Finlay, Jay White, KUSHIDA & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Sho Tanaka, Yohei Komatsu, Yoshitatsu & Billy Gunn
• Juice Robinson vs. Zack Sabre Jr. in a US title first round match
• Jay Lethal vs. Hangman Page in a US title first round match
• Titan, Dragon Lee, Volador Jr. & Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Hiromu Takahashi, BUSHI, EVIL & SANADA
• Roppongi Vice, Will Ospreay & The Briscoes vs. The Young Bucks, Marty Scurll, Yujiro Takahashi & Bad Luck Fale

Night 2 preliminary card: (outcome of Night 1 to determine the rest of the matches of the evening)

• The semifinals and finals of the US title tournament
• IWGP Intercontinental Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi defending against Billy Gunn
• IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks defending against Roppongi Vice

Source: NJPW