Wrestling Toyonokuni

Promotional poster for the event, featuring various NJPW wrestlers

**Wrestling Toyonokuni** (レスリング豊の国, *Resuringu Toyonokuni*) was a professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place in late April between the larger Sakura Genesis and Wrestling Dontaku events. The event was held in Beppu, Oita to replace Wrestling Hinokuni event was canceled due to the 2016 earthquake in Kumamoto. The name of the event refers to the nickname of Oita Prefecture, "Land of Wealth" (豊の国, *Toyonokuni*).

The event featured nine matches, three of which were contested for championships. In the main event saw Tetsuya Naito make his fourth successful defense of the IWGP Intercontinental Championship against Juice Robinson. In the first title match, Hiromu Takahashi successfully defended the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against Ricochet. Several matches at the event also built to matches taking place at Wrestling Dontaku 2017 the following week. One of these matches saw CHAOS' Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano defeat Bullet Club's Kenny Omega, Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens in a six-man tag team match in the buildup to an IWGP Heavyweight Championship match between champion Okada and challenger Fale.

## Production

### Storylines

Wrestling Toyonokuni featured professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portrayed villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in the scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.

Wrestling Toyonokuni was headlined by Tetsuya Naito making his fourth defense of the IWGP Intercontinental Championship against Juice Robinson. On April 9 at Sakura Genesis 2017, Juice Robinson picked up one of the biggest wins of his career by pinning former IWGP Heavyweight, NEVER Openweight and the IWGP Intercontinental Champion Tetsuya Naito in an eight-man tag team match and afterwards challenging him to a match for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. The title match was made official on April 11.

At Sakura Genesis after Hiromu Takahashi successfully defended the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against KUSHIDA under 1 minute and 56 seconds, after the match, Ricochet challenged him to a title match. The title match was officially announced on April 11. This would mark Ricochet's second shot at the title after three years.

On March 1, during the first round of the New Japan Cup EVIL defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi. On April 11 NJPW announced that Tanahashi would face EVIL to decide the number 1º contender for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. Then on April 22, the two started to attacking each other and on April 23 Tanahashi pinned EVIL before their singles match.

EVIL under his real name Takaaki Watanabe returned to NJPW from his excursion at King of Pro-Wrestling, where he was revealed as Tetsuya Naito's associate during his match against Hiroshi Tanahashi. Watanabe's outside interference in the match was stopped by Hirooki Goto and Katsuyori Shibata, leading to Naito suffering a loss.

The official matches for the show were announced on April 11, other matches CHAOS' Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano against Bullet Club's Kenny Omega, Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens in a six-man tag team match in the before the IWGP Heavyweight Championship match at Wrestling Dontaku.

## External links

* The official New Japan Pro Wrestling website

## References

1. ↑ ja:【4月29日（土・祝）別府大会・全カード！】ジュースが内藤のIC王座に初挑戦！ 棚橋とEVILが一騎打ち！ ヒロムvsリコシェのIWGPジュニア戦も実現！ (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling* (2017-04-10). Archived from the original on 2017-04-10. Retrieved on 2017-04-10.
2. ↑ Meltzer, Dave 2016-04-18. NJPW cancels PPV due to Kumamoto earthquakes . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Retrieved on 2016-04-18.
3. ↑ Crockett, Paul 2016-04-18. New Japan PPV canceled . *Pro Wrestling Insider*. Retrieved on 2016-04-18.
4. ↑ *ja:新日　４・２９熊本大会の中止を発表* (in Japanese). *Tokyo Sports* (2016-04-18). Retrieved on 2016-04-18.
5. ↑ Oita: A land of plenty . *Tokyo Weekender* (2017-05-06). Retrieved on 2017-05-06.
6. ↑ NJPW WRESTLING TOYONOKUNI 2017 PREVIEW & PREDICTIONS  (in English). *Voices Of Wrestling* (2017-05-06). Retrieved on 2017-05-06.
7. ↑ Rose, Bryan 2017-05-06. NJPW WRESTLING TOYONOKUNI RESULTS: NAITO VS. ROBINSON FOR IC TITLE . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Retrieved on **"AMay 6, 2017" is not a valid date.**.
8. ↑ Lanza, Joe 2017-05-06. NJPW WRESTLING TOYONOKUNI 2017 RESULTS & REVIEW  (in English). *Voices Of Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2017-05-06.
9. ↑ Rose, Bryan 2017-04-08. NJPW Sakura Genesis live results: Okada vs. Shibata . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Retrieved on 2017-04-27.
10. ↑ Rose, Bryan 2017-04-08. NJPW Sakura Genesis live results: Okada vs. Shibata . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Retrieved on 2017-04-09.
11. ↑ Meltzer, Dave 2015-10-11. NJPW King of Pro Wrestling 10-11: Kazuchika Okada vs. A.J. Styles for IWGP heavyweight title . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Retrieved on 2015-10-12.