Shingo Takagi vs. Tama Tonga Set For NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18

Shingo Takagi will defend the gold at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18 on January 4.

At NJPW Lonestar Shootout on November 10, Shingo Takagi defeated Trent Beretta to retain the NEVER Openweight Championship. After the bell, Takagi issued an open challenge, and Tama Tonga responded by stating that he wanted a rematch. Takagi named NJPW Wrestle Kingdom in Tokyo as the place.

Takagi is in his third reign as the champion. He beat Tonga to win the gold at NJPW Fighting Spirit Unleashed on October 28. Tonga is a three-time champion as well.

The updated card for NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18 is as follows:

• IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: SANADA (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito
• IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Bullet Club War Dogs (Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney) (c) vs. Catch 2/2 (TJP & Francesco Akira)
• IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Hiromu Takahashi (c) vs. El Desperado
• IWGP United States Championship: Will Ospreay (c) vs. Jon Moxley vs. David Finlay
• NEVER Openweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Tama Tonga
• Kazuchika Okada vs. Bryan Danielson

Catch up on our coverage of NJPW Lonestar Shootout here.