Wrestle Kingdom 18

was a professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place on January 4, 2024, in Tokyo, Japan at the Tokyo Dome. It was the 33rd Tokyo Dome show held on January 4 and the 18th event under the Wrestle Kingdom name. It was broadcast on NJPW World and TV Asahi.
==Production==
===Background===
Held annually each year, New Japan Pro Wrestling's Tokyo Dome event on January 4 is the company's biggest and most prestigious event. On July 5, 2023, on night two of the Independence Day event, it was confirmed that Wrestle Kingdom 18 would take place on January 4, 2024, at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan.
===Storylines===
On November 4, at Power Struggle, former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Catch 22 (Francesco Akira and TJP) defeated SHO and Yoshinobu Kanemaru to win the Super Junior Tag League. Thanks to their win, Catch 22 secured a title match with reigning IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Clark Connors and Drilla Moloney) at Wrestle Kingdom 18.
After defeating Mike Bailey at Lonestar Shootout, NJPW WORLD Television Champion Zack Sabre Jr. issued a challenge to Hiroshi Tanahashi. NJPW would later announce that Sabre Jr. would defend his title against Tanahashi at Wrestle Kingdom 18.
On October 28, at Fighting Spirit Unleashed, Shingo Takagi defeated Tama Tonga to capture the NEVER Openweight Championship. The following month, at Lonestar Shootout, Takagi successfully made his first defence against Trent Beretta. After, Takagi issued an open challenge, which was answered by Tonga, who sought a rematch. Takagi accepted, announcing he would defend his title against him at Wrestle Kingdom 18.
On December 10, reigning IWGP Tag Team Champions Bishamon (Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI) defeated NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Team Champions Guerrillas of Destiny (El Phantasmo and Hikuleo) in the final of the 2023 World Tag League. Due to Bishamon winning the tournament, they were able to select their challengers at Wrestle Kingdom 18. Bishamon would elect to face Phantasmo and Hikuleo in a rematch, with both championships on the line.
At Power Struggle on November 4, IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi retained his title against Taiji Ishimori. Following this, Takahashi nominated El Desperado as his challenger at Wrestle Kingdom 18, which Desperado accepted.
At Power Struggle on November 4, Will Ospreay successfully retained the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship, which he had dubbed the IWGP United Kingdom Heavyweight Championship, against Shota Umino. After, Ospreay called out the former mentor of Umino, Jon Moxley of All Elite Wrestling (AEW). However, both Ospreay and Umino would be attacked by David Finlay, the leader of BULLET CLUB. Finlay would then destroy the United States Heavyweight Championship belt and Ospreay's custom IWGP United Kingdom Heavyweight Championship belt. It was later announced that Ospreay, Moxley, and Finlay would compete in a three way match at Wrestle Kingdom 18. On November 6, NJPW chairman Naoki Sugabayashi revealed that a new title would replace the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship. The following month, it was revealed that the new title would be the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship, with the winner of the three way match becoming the inaugural champion.
On June 25, at Forbidden Door, an event co-produced by NJPW and AEW, Bryan Danielson defeated Kazuchika Okada in the main event, with Danielson suffering an arm injury during the match. Later, on the October 25 episode of AEW Dynamite, Danielson teamed up with his Blackpool Combat Club stablemate Claudio Castagnoli to face Okada and Orange Cassidy. During the match, Danielson would suffer another injury, breaking his orbital bone. On November 4, at Power Struggle, after Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Tomohiro Ishii retained the NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championship, Danielson appeared in a video, challenging Okada to a singles match at Wrestle Kingdom 18. Okada would accept, making the match official.
On August 13, Tetsuya Naito defeated Kazuchika Okada in the final of G1 Climax 33, securing an IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match at Wrestle Kingdom 18. At Destruction In Ryogoku on October 9, IWGP World Heavyweight Champion SANADA successfully retained his title against EVIL, confirming that SANADA would defend the championship against Naito at Wrestle Kingdom. 
==Results==
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*Pre-Show: Great-O-Khan, Taiji Ishimori, Toru Yano and YOH defeated Alex Coughlin, Chase Owens, DOUKI, Fujita Hayato, Gabe Kidd, HENARE, Jeff Cobb, Master Wato, Mikey Nicholls, Shane Haste, SHO, Taichi, Takashi Iizuka, Tomohiro Ishii, Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Yujiro Takahashi in a New Japan Ranbo Match to determine the Provisional KOPW Championship challengers at New Year Dash (32:40)
*Catch 22 (Francesco Akira & TJP) defeated BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney) (c) to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship (9:38)
*Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Zack Sabre Jr. (c) (w/Kosei Fujita, Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste) to win the NJPW WORLD Television Championship (8:53)
*Yuya Uemura defeated Yota Tsuji (10:57)
*House Of Torture (EVIL & Ren Narita) (w/Dick Togo, SHO, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Yujiro Takahashi) defeated Kaito Kiyomiya & Shota Umino (w/Ryohei Oiwa) (7:06)
*Tama Tonga defeated Shingo Takagi (c) to win the NEVER Openweight Championship (13:46)
*Guerrillas Of Destiny (El Phantasmo & Hikuleo) (c) [NJPW STRONG] (w/Jado) defeated Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) (c) [IWGP] to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship and retain the NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Team Championship (9:47)
*El Desperado defeated Hiromu Takahashi (c) to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship (14:21)
*David Finlay (w/Gedo) defeated Jon Moxley and Will Ospreay in a Three Way Match to become the inaugural IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion (22:17)
*Kazuchika Okada defeated Bryan Danielson (23:24)
*Tetsuya Naito defeated SANADA (c) to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (25:42)
==External links==
* Results
* Results on NJPW
* on NJPWWorld
Category:2024 events
Category:New Japan Pro Wrestling events
Category:New Japan Pro Wrestling pay-per-view events
Category:2024 pay-per-view events
Category:Events with Battle Royal matches