NJPW releases six-match card for Power Struggle in Osaka

Originally published at https://www.postwrestling.com/2020/10/19/njpw-releases-six-match-card-for-power-struggle-in-osaka/

New Japan Pro Wrestling has released the card for Power Struggle next month headlined by a rematch between Tetsuya Naito and EVIL for the Double Championship.

The event was Edion Arena in Osaka will feature six singles matches.

The main event is the latest match between Naito and EVIL that came out of EVIL’s win against Naito during the G1 Climax and largely confirmed on Sunday’s G1 Final when EVIL and Dick Togo attacked Naito. EVIL defeated Naito for the Double Championship this past July at Dominion and lost it back to Naito on August 29th at Summer Struggle in Jingu.

After winning the G1 Climax on Sunday, Kota Ibushi will put his title shot on the line against Jay White. At last year’s Wrestle Kingdom, Ibushi lost to Jay White on the second night at the Tokyo Dome and then, lost again to White during the G1. Ibushi’s path to winning the G1 was only marred by two losses to White and Shingo Takagi.

KENTA defends his briefcase against Hiroshi Tanahashi with the winner having the right to challenge for the IWGP United States Championship held by Jon Moxley. The championship has been idle throughout the pandemic due to the travel restrictions and quarantine period that would be necessary for Moxley to travel to Japan.

Kazuchika Okada will take on The Great O-Khan (Tomoyuki Oka), who attacked Okada during Friday’s A Block card at Sumo Hall leading to Will Ospreay pinning Okada and eliminating him from the G1. This is easily the biggest match of Oka’s career as he returns from his two-year excursion.

Minoru Suzuki defends the NEVER Openweight Championship against Shingo Takagi in their rubber match. Suzuki beat Takagi for the title at Summer Struggle in Jingu this past August while Takagi won a non-title match defeating Suzuki this past Friday at Sumo Hall in the G1 Climax.

The card will open with KOPW 2020 holder Toru Yano facing off with Zack Sabre Jr. The two had a very entertaining match during the G1, which Sabre won.

The six-match card airs Saturday, November 7th at 3 am Eastern on New Japan World:
*Provisional KOPW 2020: Toru Yano (holder) vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
*NEVER Openweight Championship: Minoru Suzuki (champion) vs. Shingo Takagi
*Kazuchika Okada vs. The Great O-Khan
*IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Right to Challenge Contract: KENTA (holder) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
*Double Championship Right to Challenge Contract: Kota Ibushi (holder) vs. Jay White
*Double Championship: Tetsuya Naito (champion) vs. EVIL

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