English Commentary Confirmed For NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 10, Who's Calling The Show? ROH Title Match?
Last year's Wrestle Kingdom 9 show was a major success with American audiences, and New Japan Pro Wrestling is looking to continue that success with their annual January 4 show. However, there will be major differences to this year's broadcast.
The show looks like it won't be running on traditional pay-per-view, as Global Force Wrestling's Jeff Jarrett has confirmed that they won't be helping NJPW promote the show in America. Instead, New Japan, who doesn't yet have an English-language version, will air the broadcast on New Japan World, as they did with King of Pro Wrestling earlier this fall.
See Also: NJPW Implies That WWE Has Reached Out To Them To Be On The WWE Network
Ring of Honor's Kevin Kelly announced on his podcast this week that he and Matt Striker would be returning to the broadcast booth. Jim Ross handled commentary duties for Wrestle Kingdom 9, while apparently NJPW on AXS announcers Josh Barnett and Mauro Ranallo won't be working overseas with the company for the show as Ranallo told me that he wasn't even approached about working it.
The King of Pro Wrestling broadcast was a far cry from the production of Wrestle Kingdom 9, as the show was plagued with buffering issues throughout.
PWInsider speculated earlier this week that the word backstage at the last Ring of Honor TV tapings that there would be a Ring Of Honor World Title match at Wrestle Kingdom 10, with Michael Elgin taking on the winner of AJ Styles vs. Jay Lethal.
Wrestling Inc will have full, live coverage of the show as it airs. The current card is as follows:
IWGP Heavyweight Championship
Okada (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
IWGP Intercontinental Championship
Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. AJ Styles
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
Kenny Omega (c) vs. KUSHIDA
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
reDRagon (c) vs. Matt Sydal & Ricochet vs. Roppongi Vice vs. Young Bucks