Wrestle Kingdom 16

Promotional poster featuring various NJPW wrestlers

**Wrestle Kingdom 16** was a professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The shows took place on January 4 and 5, 2022, at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan and on January 8, 2022 at Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan. This was the thirty-first January 4 Tokyo Dome Show and the sixteenth promoted under the Wrestle Kingdom name, which is NJPW's biggest annual event and has been called "the largest wrestling show in the world outside of the United States" and the "Japanese equivalent to the Super Bowl". This was the first time that the Wrestle Kingdom was held on three nights, instead of taking place solely on January 4.

The first night of the show was headlined by Shingo Takagi defending the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against the winner of the 2021 G1 Climax Kazuchika Okada, in a rematch from the Dominion 6.6 in Osaka-jo Hall, while the second night was headlined by Kazuchika Okada defending the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Will Ospreay. As part of a partnership between NJPW and Pro Wrestling Noah (Noah) promotion, wrestlers from Noah also appeared at the event, featuring an "inter-promotional" rivalry between NJPW and Noah, which saw wrestlers from the promotions face off in a series of matches. It marked the first Wrestle Kingdom event in fourteen years since 2007's Wrestle Kingdom I to be co-produced with another wrestling promotion. As part of Bushiroad's acquisition wrestlers from the Japan based *Joshi* promotion Stardom also appeared at the event.

The first night of the event featured three other title matches with Tomohiro Ishii defending the NEVER Openweight Championship against EVIL, Dangerous Tekkers (Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr.) defending the IWGP Tag Team Championship against the winners of the 2021 World Tag League CHAOS (Hirooki Goto and Yoshi-Hashi) and El Desperado defending the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against the winner of the 2021 Best of the Super Juniors Hiromu Takahashi. The second night featured three other title matches with Flying Tiger (Robbie Eagles and Tiger Mask) defending the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship against Bullet Club Cutest Tag Team (El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori) and Mega Coaches (Ryusuke Taguchi and Rocky Romero) in a three-way tag team match, House of Torture (EVIL, Sho and Yujiro Takahashi) defending the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship against CHAOS (Hirooki Goto, Yoh and Yoshi-Hashi) and KENTA defending the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship against Hiroshi Tanahashi in a no disqualification match.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event had some restrictions in the attendance, after the Japanese Government lifted the State of Emergency. At the end of February 2021, NJPW began canceling events, before starting to hold shows with no audience and only essential staff present in June. The following month, NJPW began holding shows with an limited audience starting with the finals of the 2020 New Japan Cup on July 11.

The event first and second nights aired live on NJPW's streaming service NJPW World and on FITE TV, and the third night aired exclusively on AbemaTV online linear television service, NJPW World on demand and CyberFight's streaming service Wrestle Universe on tape delay in both English and Japanese commentaries.

## Production

### Background

Since 1992, NJPW began annually producing shows on January 4 in the Tokyo Dome, becoming NJPW's premier annual event and the biggest event in Japanese wrestling, similar to what WrestleMania is for WWE and American professional wrestling. Since 2007, when the event was renamed "Wrestle Kingdom in Tokyo Dome", the Dome shows have been broadcast on pay-per-view (PPV). Wrestle Kingdom 16 was officially announced on September 4, 2021, at Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome. Wrestle Kingdom 16 took part in three nights for the first time in its history on January 4 and 5 at the Tokyo Dome and on January 8, 2022 at Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan, marking the first time that a Wrestle Kingdom event was held outside of Tokyo. Pre-sale tickets for the shows were put on sale on October 13 for the "Team NJPW" fan club, while general sale tickets were put on sale on November; with individual tickets costing from ¥6,500 to ¥30,500.

On November 20, NJPW and Pro Wrestling Noah (Noah), held a joint press conference, annoucing the return of their partnership, with Noah's participation at the third night of the event, featuring an "inter-promotional" rivalry between NJPW and Noah, which will see wrestlers from both promotions face off in a series of matches, marking the first time in five years that both promotions worked together. It was also announced that the third night of Wrestle Kingdom would be broadcasted exclusively on AbemaTV online linear television service, NJPW's streaming service NJPW World and CyberFight's streaming service Wrestle Universe on tape delay and part of the proceeds from the event would be donated to the Japanese Red Cross Society. At the end of 2016, NJPW ended their relationship with Noah, pulling all of its wrestlers, including the entire Suzuki-gun stable, from Noah with reports stating that the relationship between the two promotions had turned "extremely sour". Behind the scenes, NJPW and Noah's bookers Dick Togo, Nosawa Rongai and CyberFight Vice-President Naomichi Marufuji became part of a group of people that started pushing for Noah's participation at the show, with some crediting Togo and Rongai for resolving the previous issues between both promotions. At the start of 2021, NJPW president Takami Obari had pitched the idea of the cross promotional show to NJPW chairman Takaaki Kidani, who accepted, feeling that all promotions should come together, following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in professional wrestling.

On November 22, NJPW announced that all the tickets for third night were sold out, with more seats soon to be released on December 9. On December 11, during an interview for *Tokyo Sports*, NJPW president Takami Obari revealed he was looking to add ten matches for both nights of the event. Later that day, it was later announced that Stardom wrestlers would be competing at the event, for the third consecutive year, with a draw being held to determine the competitors for the event. After drawing straws, it was announced that Mayu Iwatani and Starlight Kid would be facing Tam Nakano and Saya Kamitani.

#### Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, other wrestling promotions began to cancel or postpone their shows in an attempt to prevent further spreading of the COVID-19 virus. At the end of February 2021, following recommendations by the Japanese Ministry of Health regarding the coronavirus outbreak, NJPW canceled the events between March 1 and March 15 including the promotion's Anniversary Event and the first and the second round of New Japan Cup.  On March 23, NJPW also canceled the 2020 Sakura Genesis event, which was originally scheduled to take place on March 31. On April 8, NJPW canceled more events from April 11 through May 4, leading to the cancelation of both nights of 2020 Wrestling Dontaku and would also cancel the whole Best of the Super Juniors tournament as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on May 6. Various wrestlers such as David Finlay, El Phantasmo, KENTA, the Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa), Jay White, Juice Robinson, Will Ospreay, Rocky Romero, and Robbie Eagles were unable to work on NJPW events due to travel restrictions because of the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, NJPW wrestlers and staff created the *NJPW Together* project in order to do bring content to NJPW World with interviews and old archived matches. On May 6, NJPW announced that their Wrestle Dynasty event would be postponed to 2021, due to the effects of the 2019-20 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. On June 8, during an online press conference, NJPW Chairman Naoki Sugabayashi announced that the promotion would start to held shows on June 15, starting with the *Together Project Special* and the return of the 2020 New Japan Cup between June 16 and July 11, with all shows being held behind closed doors. It was also that the finals of the New Japan Cup and the Dominion in Osaka-jo Hall would be the first shows to allow fans into the arena, but only a third of the venue's normal capacity, after the Japanese Government lifted some restrictions on many regions in Japan. On August 11, NJPW announced that all G1 Climax show would have a limited number of wrestlers participating on the tour, with B block wrestlers not competing on A block shows throughout the tour, due to prevention measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On October 6, it was announced that the 2020 Best of the Super Juniors would be resumed alongside the 2020 World Tag League, due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic, with the tounaments taking place between November 15 until December 11. With both tournaments consisting of ten nights, taking place on alternate days opposed to each other with the exceptions being the first round on November 15, final round on December 6 and the finals on December 11.

On November 29, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced that foreigners would be banned from entering Japan, due to the COVID-19 Omicron variant from South Africa, with those being permitted woud be forced to abide by a 14-day quarantine. The following day, NJPW President Takami Ohbari, in an interview with *Tokyo Sports*, addressed the situation stating that new travel restrictions implemented in Japan due to the COVID-19 Omicron variant would not apply to talent that already had visas. On January 7, 2022, it was announced that KENTA had suffured multiple injuries, during his match with Hiroshi Tanahashi, leading him to be pulled out of third night of the event and replaced by a mystery partner.

### Storylines

Wrestle Kingdom 16 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 built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.

The first night of the Wrestle Kingdom 14 was main evented by Shingo Takagi defending the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against the winner of the 2021 G1 Climax Kazuchika Okada, in a rematch from the Dominion 6.6 in Osaka-jo Hall, while the second night will be main event by the winner of the first night defending the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Will Ospreay. The storyline behind the match dates back to February 27, 2021, at Castle Attack, when Kazuchika Okada announced he was re-entering the IWGP Heavyweight Championship picture and was looking to win the upcoming New Japan Cup in March. However, his plans were derailed by Shingo Takagi, after losing to him in the first round in the 2021 New Japan Cup. On April 4 at Sakura Genisis, Will Ospreay defeated Kota Ibushi to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. Following the match, Ospreay nominated Okada to be his first challenger, as revenge for his loss against him at Wrestle Kingdom 15 in Tokyo Dome. However, before Okada could answer Shingo Takagi challenged Ospreay to a title match, claiming that he had defeated Okada in the first round of the 2021 New Japan Cup, while also seeking revenge for losing to Ospreay in the finals of the tournament. This led to Ospreay accepting Takagi as his first challenger, with Okada being next in line. On May 4, on the second night of Wrestling Dontaku, Ospreay defeated Takagi to make his first successful title defense, setting up his match against Okada at Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome. However, due to an extension of Japan's State of Emergency, Ospreay's title match with Okada was cancelled. Later that month, after Will Opsreay vacated the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship due to a neck injury, both Okada and Shingo Takagi laid claims to take part in the title match to crown the new champion. Ahead of a match to crown a new champion at Dominion 6.6 in Osaka-jo Hall, Okada in an interview, on June 4, claimed that the title was cursed, with the spirit of the former IWGP Heavyweight Championship lineage affecting the new title, which Okada dubbed the "**IWGP Curse**" (IWGPの呪い *IWGP no Noroi*). At the event on June 6, Takagi defeated Okada to win the vacant title.

On August 14 at Resurgence, Will Ospreay made his return from injury, proclaiming himself to be the "real IWGP World Heavyweight Champion", before stating that he would be appearing on *NJPW Strong* defending his title. On October 22, Okada defeated Kota Ibushi to win the 2021 G1 Climax via stoppage, after Ibushi dislocated his right shoulder. He also earned a shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 16 on January 4, 2021. The following day, during a press conference, instead of receiving a briefcase containing a contract for a title shot at the new IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom, Okada asked NJPW Chairman Naoki Sugabayashi to be awarded the fourth version of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship which Ibushi had retired in March, to represent the contract, which he would have to defend for the rest of the year. His requested was accepted by Sugabayashi on October 25, leading Okada to appear with the title.

On November 6 at Power Struggle, Okada successfully defended of his contract against Tama Tonga, setting up the main event of the first night of Wrestle Kingdom 16 between Okada and Shingo Takagi. On November 13 at Battle in the Valley, after Okada defeated Buddy Mathews, Will Ospreay confronted him and invited him to challenge for his ‘real’ IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, but Okada declined, stating that it should be Ospreay challenging him. This led to Ospreay proclaim that he would face the winner of the main event in the first night of Wrestle Kingdom 16 for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at the second night on January 5. The match was oficially announced on November 15.

On December 15, 2021, Katsuyori Shibata announced his return to in-ring competition at Wrestle Kingdom, marking his first official match since April 2017. On April 9, 2017 at Sakura Genesis, Shibata suffered a subdural hematoma during his match against Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. On April 13, Dave Meltzer reported that it was believed that Shibata would never be cleared to wrestle again. It was later reported that while Shibata was "probably" never going to wrestle again, NJPW were looking to sign him full-time as a coach. During his hiatus, Shibata became the head trainer at NJPW's LA Dojo in Los Angeles, where he trained and recruited new wrestlers for the promotion. He would be engaged in physical wrestling from the first since his injury on August 12, in the finals of G1 Climax 29 and on November 3 at 2019 Power Struggle. On October 21, 2021, in the finals of the 2021 G1 Climax, Shibata made an unannounced return to in-ring competiton facing Zack Sabre Jr. in a 5-minute UWF Rules Exhibition match that ended in a time limit draw. On December 27, it was announced the match would be held under the Catch Wrestling Rules with strikes being prohibited.

On August 14, 2021, at Resurgence, Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Lance Archer to win the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship. Tanahashi looked to make the title international again, defending it in both the United States and Japan, but his plans were derailed, when he lost the title to KENTA on November 6 at Power Struggle. On December 12, in a post-match interview, Tanahashi challenged KENTA to a rematch for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship, but KENTA was reluctant to accept. This led to Tanahashi to offer KENTA to chose his stipulation for the match. On December 15, KENTA appeared in a video, accepting Tanahashi's challenge, while also reminding that Tanahashi had sent him through a table during at Power Struggle, leading him to announce a no disqualification match as the stipulation for their title match. The title match was announced on December 17. Both wrestlers had previously faced each other on July 24. During the match, KENTA tried to attack Tanahashi with his IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship challenge rights certificate briefcase, but Katsuyori Shibata, made the save, helping Tanahashi win the match.

On December 11, Hiromu Takahashi defeated El Desperado in the finals to win 2020 Best of the Super Juniors, before winning the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on January 5, 2021, on the second night of Wrestle Kingdom 15 in Tokyo Dome. He would vacate the title on February 25, due to being sidelined for six months, after a torn pectoral muscle. Meanwhile on February 28 at Castle Attack, El Desperado won the vacant title by defeating El Phantasmo and BUSHI in a three-way match and went on to hold the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on two different occasions. On November 21, Hiromu Takahashi and reigning IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion El Desperado faced each other in a draw in their head-to-head match of the 2021 Best of the Super Juniors. Afterwards, both vowed to make the finals, but only Takahashi managed to reach it. On December 15, Takahashi defeated Yoh to win the 2021 Best of the Super Juniors. Traditionally, the winners of the tournament have earned a shot at the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship and following the win, Takahashi challenged Desperado to a rematch for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom. The match was officially announced on December 17.

On December 12, CHAOS members Hirooki Goto and Yoshi-Hashi defeated reigning IWGP Tag Team Champions Dangerous Tekkers (Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr.) in the head-to-head match between the teams, to advance to the finals of the 2021 World Tag League. Afterwards, Taichi offered them a rematch for the IWGP Tag Team Championship at Wrestle Kingdom, if they won the tournament. Three days later, Goto and Yoshi-Hashi defeated House of Torture (EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi) to win the 2021 World Tag League, setting up the match at Wrestle Kingdom. Following the match, Goto and Yoshi-Hashi also made an challenge for the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship. During the final, EVIL's House of Torture stablemate Dick Togo interfered in the match. However, Tomohiro Ishii, who was at ringside made the save, causing the House of Torture to lose the final. Afterwards, in a post-match interview, EVIL reignited his rivalry Ishii, challenging to a title match for the NEVER Openweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom.

Later that night, during the finals of the 2021 Best of the Super Juniors, House of Torture's Sho interfered in the match, between his former partner Yoh and Hiromu Takahashi attacking both finalists, before declaring the match a no-contest, only for the referee to ignore his declaration and continue the match, with both CHAOS and *Los Ingobernables de Japon* making the save. After Takahashi won the final, he declare that it was Yoh’s responsibility to stand up against Sho. Afterwards, in a post-match interview, Sho attacked Yoh, setting up their match for the event. On December 17, NJPW announced their match and the NEVER Openweight Championship match in the first night. In the second night, NJPW announced that EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi and Sho would defend the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship against Hirooki Goto, Yoshi-Hashi and Sho. Since August 2020, Roppongi 3K (Sho and Yoh began persuing their singles career, following Yoh's injury. After losing the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship in June 2021, Sho and Yoh took part in the 2021 Super Jr. Tag League in August, entering a losing streak, which culminated on August 16, Sho turning on Yoh, to effectively disband the team. Their rivalry culminated into a match on September 4 at Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome, where Yoh was defeated by Sho. Yoh made his return to the promotion on November 6 at Power Struggle, saving Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii and Yoshi-Hashi from an attack by Sho, EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi, who had recently won the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship.

Also on December 15, following a tag team match, Bullet Club Cutest Tag Team (El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori) began attacking one-half of the reigning IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Tiger Mask, before his partner Robbie Eagles tried to make the save, only to get overpowered by them. Afterwards, Phantasmo and Ishimori challenged Eagles and Mask to a title match for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, only for Ryusuke Taguchi to make the save. Shortly after, Taguchi attacked Eagles and Mask and also challenged them to a title at Wrestle Kingdom alongside his partner Rocky Romero. The title match was announced on December 17.

During the event, United Empire (Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan) faced *Los Ingobernables de Japon* (Tetsuya Naito and SANADA) in a losing effort, with Naito pinning Cobb. Afterwards, Cobb tried to attack Naito, but failed, leading on post-match, Cobb, who was furious with the result, challenging Naito to a match at Wrestle Kingdom, which he accepted. Both wrestlers had previously faced each other during the 2019 G1 Climax on August 8, which Naito was victorious. The United Empire and L.I.J angle also led to another match at Wrestle Kingdom between O-Khan and SANADA, after the latter mocked O-Khan following their match, drawing the ire of O-Khan, who declared that he had found "a new toy", setting up their match for the event.

## References

1. ↑ SapporoBeer [@SapporoBeer] 2021-12-23. 新日本プロレス50周年を盛り上げるべく、黒ラベルが参戦★ 年明けはWRESTLE KINGDOM 16の熱い戦いに、熱い声援を！！ 熱狂の時間を黒ラベルと共に過ごしましょう！ #njpw #njwk16 #丸くなるな星になれ .
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52. ↑ Kazuchika Okada appears at NJPW Road to Wrestle Grand Slam  (in English). *Wrestling Observer Newsletter* (2021-05-26). Retrieved on 2021-11-20.
53. ↑ Kazuchika Okada On The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Match (English Subs)  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. NJPW World (2021-06-04). Retrieved on 2021-11-20.
54. ↑ Reign of the Dragon: Takagi crowned new IWGP World Heavyweight Champion  (in English). *New Japan Pro-Wrestling* (2021-06-07). Retrieved on 2021-11-20.
55. ↑ New IWGP World Champion crowned at NJPW Dominion  (in English). *Wrestling Observer Newsletter* (2021-06-07). Retrieved on 2021-11-20.
56. ↑ Night 21 Results .
57. ↑ 57.0 57.1 NJPW G1 CLIMAX 31 FINALS LIVE RESULTS: OKADA VS. IBUSHI  (in English). *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Retrieved on 2021-10-28.
58. ↑ Post G1 Climax 31 Press conference .
59. ↑ Fritts, Chico 2021-11-06. NJPW POWER STRUGGLE LIVE RESULTS: SHINGO VS. SABRE IWGP TITLE MATCH . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Retrieved on 2021-11-06.
60. ↑ Shingo Takagi vs Kazuchika Okada Official for January 4! 【WK16】 . *New Japan Pro-Wrestling* (2021-11-08).
61. ↑ Klyn, Parker 2021-11-13. NJPW BATTLE IN THE VALLEY LIVE RESULTS: NEVER TITLE MATCH . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Retrieved on 2021-11-13.
62. ↑ Will Ospreay to Challenge IWGP World Heavyweight Champion January 5 【WK16】 . *New Japan Pro-Wrestling* (2021-11-15).
63. ↑ Katsuyori Shibata to wrestle January 4 2022 in the Tokyo Dome 【WK16】  (2021-12-15).
64. ↑ *ja:新日本プロレス柴田勝頼「硬膜下血腫」で緊急手術 前日にオカダと激闘* (in ja). *Tokyo Sports* (2017-04-10).
65. ↑ Meltzer, Dave (June 12, 2017). "June 12, 2017 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Extreme Rules and Best of the Super Juniors finals reviewed, tons of news". *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Campbell, California: 65. ISSN 1083-9593.
66. ↑ Katsuyori Shibata to be Head Coach of New Japan Dojo in Los Angeles!  (2018-03-05).
67. ↑ 2019.08.12 G1 CLIMAX 29 Night 19 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en). *New Japan Pro-Wrestling*.
68. ↑ Rules set for Katsuyori Shibata’s Wrestle Kingdom Bout 【WK16】  (in English) (2021-12-27).
69. ↑ 2021.08.14 "Card Fight!! VANGUARD overDress" presents RESURGENCE . New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2021-08-15).
70. ↑ Powell, Jason 2021-08-14. 8/14 NJPW Resurgence results: Lance Archer vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP U.S. Championship, Jay White vs. David Finlay for the Never Openweight Championship, Jon Moxley and a mystery partner vs. Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson, Tomihiro Ishii vs. Moose . *Pro Wrestling Dot Net*.
71. ↑ Woodward, Hamish 2021-11-08. KENTA pins Hiroshi Tanahashi to win IWGP US Championship  (in en-GB).
72. ↑ 72.0 72.1 72.2 72.3 72.4 72.5 72.6 72.7 Wrestle Kingdom 16 night 2 (January 5) full card, preview 【WK16】 . New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2021-12-17).
73. ↑  *棚橋 弘至「KENTAが言う条件を何でも一つ、受け入れます。そんだけ有利な状況であれば受けてくれるんじゃないかな」12.12 #njwtl Backstage comments: 4th match*. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FStXwLs\_e7w&ab\_channel=NJPWWorldOfficial.
74. ↑ Renner, Ethan 2021-12-15. KENTA VS. HIROSHI TANAHASHI IWGP US TITLE NO DQ MATCH SET IN NJPW . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*.
75. ↑ 75.0 75.1 75.2 【1月5日（水）東京ドームの全カードが決定！】メインでIWGP世界ヘビー王座にオスプレイが挑戦！ セミはKENTAvs棚橋のUSヘビー王座戦！　内藤vsコブ！ SANADAvsオーカーン!! NEVER6人タッグ、IWGPジュニア3WAY戦も実現!!【WK16】 . New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2021-12-17).
76. ↑ 76.0 76.1 76.2 【1月4日（火）東京ドームの全カードが決定！】メインは、鷹木vsオカダのIWGP世界ヘビー戦！ セミはデスペラードvsヒロムのIWGPジュニア戦！　タイチ＆ザックvs後藤＆YOSHIのIWGPタッグ戦！ 石井vsEVILのNEVER戦！ “復活”柴田がXとシングル戦!!【WK16】 . New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2021-12-17).
77. ↑ 77.0 77.1 77.2 77.3 77.4 77.5 77.6 77.7 Wrestle Kingdom 16 Night 1 (January 4) Full card, preview 【WK16】 . New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2021-12-17).
78. ↑ デスペラード「楽しいんだぜ、プロレスはよ！お前ら楽しんでるか、プロレス？」11.21 #njbosj Backstage comments: 7th match . New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2021-11-21). Retrieved on 2021-12-19.
79. ↑ 79.0 79.1 79.2 79.3 79.4 Fritts, Chick 2021-12-15. NJPW BOSJ & WORLD TAG LEAGUE FINALS LIVE RESULTS: TOURNAMENT FINALS . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*.
80. ↑ 80.0 80.1 80.2 高橋 ヒロム「俺はこれからもスゲェ試合をするぞ、今いる新日本プロレスの選手全員、1人1人がライバルだ」12.15 #njwtl #njbosj Backstage comments:8th match . New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2021-12-15). Retrieved on 2021-12-19.
81. ↑ 後藤 洋央紀「俺たちが、新日本プロレスのタッグの歴史を、動かします！」12.12 #njwtl Backstage comments: 7th match . New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2021-12-12). Retrieved on 2021-12-19.
82. ↑ 82.0 82.1 YOSHI-HASHI「未来は俺が創る、生きたいように生きる、なりたい自分になる」12.15 #njwtl #njbosj Backstage comments: 7th match . New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2021-12-15). Retrieved on 2021-12-19.
83. ↑ YOH『膝について』  (in ja).
84. ↑ NJPW. YOSHI-HASHI, YOH injured; to miss forthcoming events | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en).
85. ↑ NJPW. Noppongi 3K: Super Jr. Tag League Update (night 5) | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING  (in en).
86. ↑ 2021.09.04 WRESTLE GRAND SLAM In MetLife Dome . New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Retrieved on 2021-09-04.
87. ↑ 2021.11.06 Power Struggle | New Japan Pro-Wrestling  (in ja).
88. ↑ 88.0 88.1 ジェフ・コブ「イエスかノーか、答えろクソ野郎！」内藤「イングリッシュ、ヨクワカラナイ！」12.15 #njwtl #njbosj Backstage comments: 5th match . New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2021-12-15). Retrieved on 2021-12-19.
89. ↑ Renner, Ethan 2021-12-15. NJPW's Katsuyori Shibata Announces Wrestle Kingdom 16 In-ring Return . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*.
90. ↑ Shingo Takagi vs Kazuchika Okada Official for January 4! 【WK16】 . *New Japan Pro-Wrestling* (2021-11-08).
91. ↑ 【対戦カード発表】12・29両国決戦★林下詩美vs朱里、中野たむvs上谷沙弥ほか決定！！ . *World Wonder Ring Stardom* (2021-12-12).
92. ↑ STARDOM to be a part of Wrestle Kingdom 16 night 2! 【WK16】 . *New Japan Pro-Wrestling* (2021-12-10).
93. ↑ Will Ospreay to Challenge IWGP World Heavyweight Champion January 5 【WK16】 . *New Japan Pro-Wrestling* (2021-11-15).
94. ↑ NJPW Adds Three Matches to Wrestle Kingdom 16 Night Two Pre-show  (2022-01-04).

## External links

* The official Wrestle Kingdom 16 website