NJPW Planning Surprises For Wrestle Kingdom 17

Wrestle Kingdom 17 is set to go down at the Tokyo Dome on January 4th, and the company is looking to start 2023 off with some surprises. Sasha Banks is reportedly set for the event, but she might not be the only shocking appearance during the show.

Rocky Romero has promised that Wrestle Kingdom 17 will be full of surprises. While the card for the January 4th, 2023 event is already stacked, many fans are keeping an eye on the event for moments that NJPW has yet to announce for the Tokyo Dome show.

Several sources have confirmed that Mercedes Varnado, better known as Sasha Banks to WWE fans, will make an appearance at Wrestle Kingdom 17. There is no official word on it yet.

On The Sessions podcast, Renee Paquette asked Rocky Romero if any currently unannounced names would appear on January 4th. There are speculations that someone will return to wrestling.

I’ve heard a lot of rumors, but I can’t confirm nor deny at this moment. Fingers crossed, you never know what could happen. There will definitely be surprises at the Tokyo Dome.

Varnado is expected to face KAIRI, who will be defending her IWGP Women’s Championship against Tam Nakano at the event. WWE and AEW stars will appear at the Tokyo Dome show.

On the card, WWE Superstar Karl Anderson will defend his NEVER Openweight Championship against Tama Tonga. FTR of AEW will defend their IWGP Tag Team Title against Bishamon of World Tag League 2022.

Former AEW World Champion Kenny Omega will compete for Will Ospreay’s IWGP US Title in the co-main event. The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship will be on the line in the show’s final bout, which will pit champion Jay White against challenger Kazuchika Okada. You can check out the full card below.

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship

Jay White (c) vs Kazuchika Okada

IWGP United States Championship

Will Ospreay (c) vs Kenny Omega

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship

Taiji Ishimori (c) vs Hiromu Takahashi vs El Desperado vs Master Wato

Keiji Muto, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Shota Umino vs Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI: Keiji Muto’s Last NJPW Match

NEVER Openweight Championship

Karl Anderson vs Tama Tonga

NJPW World TV Championship

Ren Narita vs Zack Sabre Jr

IWGP Tag Team Championship

FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) (c) vs Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI)

IWGP Women’s Championship

KAIRI (c) vs Tam Nakano

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship

Catch 2/2 (Francesco Akira & TJP) (c) vs CHAOS (Lio Rush & YOH)

Yuji Nagata, Satoshi Kojima & Togi Makabe vs Tatsumi Fujinami, Tiger Mask & Minoru Suzuki – Antonio Inoki Memorial Match

KOPW 2023 Qualifier New Japan Ranbo: Kickoff Match 2

Ryohei Oiwa vs Boltin Oleg: Kickoff Match 1: Three Minute Exhibition

Are you excited about the NJPW show? Sound off in the comments.