New Japan Showdown (2019)

Promotional poster featuring various NJPW wrestlers

**New Japan Showdown (2019)** was a two-day professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). The shows took place on November 9, 2019 in San Jose, California, U.S. at the San Jose Civic for the first night and on November 11, 2019 in Los Angeles, California, U.S. at the Globe Theatre for the second night. These were the first and second shows under the New Japan Showdown name.

## Production

### Background

On August 24, 2019, in the second night of the 2019 Super J-Cup, NJPW announced they would produce a show in San Jose, California, U.S. on November 9 at the San Jose Civic. On September 9, NJPW announced they would add a second night for the event on November 11 in Los Angeles, California at the Globe Theatre. Tickets went on sale on September 13, costing from $30 to $300. On September 13, NJPW announced the first group talent that would take part of the event; Kota Ibushi Jushin Thunder Liger, Juice Robinson, Bullet Club (Chase Owens and Jay White), CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada and Will Ospreay), *Los Ingobernables de Japon* (Tetsuya Naito, EVIL, and SANADA) and Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki and Lance Archer). On October 18, NJPW announced the meet-and-greets for event, costing from $25 to $100. Also, it was announced that Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano and Taiji Ishimori would be part of the event, while also it was announced that event would feature Jushin Thunder Liger's last match in the U.S. On November 5, it was announced the full card of the event, containing nine matches in the first night and seven matches in second night, which two were contested for championships.

### Storylines

New Japan Showdown featured professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portray villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in the scripted events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches.

In the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship match, Lance Archer defended his title against David Finlay. On October 14 at King of Pro-Wrestling, Jon Moxley vacated the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship, after being unable to wrestle in a scheduled championship defense, due to travel issues arising from Typhoon Hagibis. At the event on October 14, Lance Archer defeated Juice Robinson in a no disqualification match to become the new champion. After the match, Archer attacked Robinson until his partner David Finlay made the save. On November 3 at Power Struggle, Archer challenged Finlay to a match for his title. Finlay had been sidelined with an shoulder injury since February.

El Phantasmo and Sho, who were set to take part in a tag team match for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 14 in Tokyo Dome, met in a match, where Phantasmo was set to defend his British Cruiserweight Championship against Sho.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Thomas, Jeremy 2019-11-14. NJPW News: Jon Moxley Still Expected to Work Wrestle Kingdom 14, Early WK Ticket Sales, San Jose Show Does Good Attendance  (in English). *411Mania*. Retrieved on 2019-11-15.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 New Japan Showdown  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro-Wrestling* (2019-11-11). Retrieved on 2019-11-15.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 New Japan Showdown in San Jose 1  (in English). *New Japan Pro-Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2019-08-25.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 New Japan Showdown in San Jose 2  (in English). *New Japan Pro-Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2019-08-25.
5. ↑ NJPW coming to San Jose for New Japan Showdown  (in English). *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Retrieved on 2019-08-24.
6. ↑ New Japan Showdown in Los Angeles set for November  (in English). *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Retrieved on 2019-09-09.
7. ↑ Ticket details confirmed for San Jose November 9!  (in English). *New Japan Pro-Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2019-09-11.
8. ↑ Huge names set for New Japan Showdown!  (in English). *New Japan Pro-Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2019-09-13.
9. ↑ NJPW announces talent for New Japan Showdown events  (in English). *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Retrieved on 2019-09-13.
10. ↑ Meet and greet details set for Showdown in San Jose & LA!  (in English). *New Japan Pro-Wrestling* (2019-10-18). Retrieved on 2019-10-19.
11. ↑ Showdown in San Jose to see Liger’s FINAL US MATCH! More talent announced!  (in English). *New Japan Pro-Wrestling* (2019-10-18). Retrieved on 2019-10-19.
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Stacked card for Showdown in San Jose revealed!  (in English). *New Japan Pro-Wrestling* (2019-11-05). Retrieved on 2019-11-06.
13. ↑ Grabianowski, Ed. How Pro Wrestling Works . *HowStuffWorks, Inc.*. Discovery Communications. Archived from the original on 2013-11-18. Retrieved on 2017-06-12.
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Rose, Bryan 2019-10-14. Moxley, Sabre off NJPW KOPW due to travel issues, US title now vacant . Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved on 2019-10-14.
15. ↑ New Japan Pro-Wrestling 2019-11-03. Archer is coming for Finlay at Showdown in San Jose! .
16. ↑ Moxley, Sabre off NJPW KOPW due to travel issues, US title now vacant . New Japan Pro-Wrestling Newsletter (2019-11-05). Retrieved on 2019-11-05.
17. ↑ New Japan Showdown  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro-Wrestling* (2019-11-09). Retrieved on 2019-11-15.