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NJPW TAKATAICHI MANIA IV (2025) – THE ULTIMATE PREVIEW
May 7th, 2025 – The Biggest Night in Pro Wrestling is Here!
By [Watch Wrestling]
The air is electric. The stakes are monumental. The stage is set for NJPW TAKATAICHI MANIA IV, the most explosive pay-per-view event of the year, streaming live on May 7th, 2025. This is not just another wrestling show—this is a spectacle, a warzone, a night where legends will be made and rivalries will reach their boiling point.
For fans of New Japan Pro-Wrestling, TAKATAICHI MANIA has become the crown jewel of hard-hitting, high-flying, no-holds-barred action. This year’s edition promises to be the most intense yet, with championship clashes, grudge matches, and potential show-stealing performances that will leave the wrestling world buzzing for months.
In this exclusive, in-depth preview, we break down every confirmed match, analyze the rivalries, and predict the outcomes of what could be the most unforgettable night in NJPW history.
THE CARD: MATCH-BY-MATCH BREAKDOWN
1. IWGP World Heavyweight Championship – “The King of Darkness” EVIL (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
The Ace’s Last Stand?
The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship is on the line as EVIL, the sadistic leader of House of Torture, defends against the legendary Hiroshi Tanahashi. EVIL has dominated NJPW with an iron fist, using every underhanded tactic imaginable to retain his title. But Tanahashi, the “Ace of the Universe,” is determined to prove that heart and resilience can overcome brute force.
- Key Storyline: Tanahashi, now in the twilight of his career, is chasing one last reign as champion. EVIL, however, has made it clear he wants to end Tanahashi’s legacy for good.
- Prediction: EVIL retains—but not without Tanahashi pushing him to his absolute limit. Expect interference from House of Torture, but also a heroic near-fall that will have fans on their feet.
2. IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship – Hiromu Takahashi (c) vs. El Desperado
The Battle of the Unhinged
Two of the most unpredictable, high-risk warriors in NJPW collide as Hiromu Takahashi defends his title against El Desperado. Both men are known for their brutal, no-fear style, and this match could steal the show.
- Key Storyline: Desperado has been on a warpath, claiming that Hiromu’s “Time Bomb” persona is nothing compared to his own brand of chaos.
- Prediction: Hiromu retains in a match filled with insane spots, ladder bumps, and possibly even a table explosion.
3. NEVER Openweight Championship – Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Jeff Cobb
Power vs. Power
This is a hoss fight for the ages. Shingo Takagi, the “Dragon,” defends against Jeff Cobb, the Olympian powerhouse. Both men are known for their devastating strikes and suplexes that shake the ring.
- Key Storyline: Cobb has been on a mission to prove he’s the strongest in NJPW, while Shingo refuses to let anyone take his title without a war.
- Prediction: Shingo barely survives Cobb’s onslaught, retaining after a Last of the Dragon finisher.
4. IWGP Tag Team Championships – Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) (c) vs. TMDK (Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls)
Can the Underdogs Dethrone the Kings?
Bishamon has been the most dominant tag team in NJPW, but TMDK is hungry for gold. This match will be a hard-hitting battle of teamwork and resilience.
- Key Storyline: TMDK has been on a roll, but Bishamon’s chemistry is unmatched.
- Prediction: Bishamon retains, but TMDK proves they belong in the title picture.
5. Special Singles Match – Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay
Dream Match Revisited
Two of the greatest in-ring performers of all time clash once again. Okada, the “Rainmaker,” faces Will Ospreay, now a global megastar returning to NJPW for a marquee showdown.
- Key Storyline: Ospreay wants to prove he’s surpassed Okada, while the Rainmaker aims to remind the world why he’s the standard-bearer.
- Prediction: Okada wins with the Rainmaker, but Ospreay delivers a performance that cements his legacy.
6. KOPW 2025 Trophy Match – Taichi (c) vs. Great-O-Khan
The Holy Emperor vs. The Dominator
Taichi’s reign as KOPW Champion has been filled with theatrics and brutality. Now, Great-O-Khan looks to reclaim the trophy in a no-disqualification brawl.
- Key Storyline: O-Khan wants to restore “order” to NJPW, while Taichi thrives in chaos.
- Prediction: Taichi retains in a wild, weapon-filled war.
7. Special Six-Man Tag – Los Ingobernables de Japon (Naito, SANADA, BUSHI) vs. United Empire (Henare, Callum Newman, Gideon Grey)
Faction Warfare
A high-energy six-man tag that will showcase NJPW’s future stars. LIJ’s chemistry vs. United Empire’s raw power.
- Prediction: LIJ wins, setting up future singles rivalries.
FINAL THOUGHTS: WHY YOU CAN’T MISS TAKATAICHI MANIA IV
This year’s TAKATAICHI MANIA is stacked from top to bottom. With championship clashes, dream matches, and potential show-stealers, May 7th will be a night that reshapes NJPW’s landscape.
- Will EVIL solidify his reign of terror?
- Can Tanahashi defy the odds one more time?
- Will Ospreay vs. Okada deliver another instant classic?
There’s only one way to find out. Tune in LIVE on May 7th, 2025, and witness history in the making.
Very good show
I think his Ic run being so long hurt him as a credible world champion. It’s like he fought all the same guys and crushed them for a mid card belt now we are supposed to believe they are an actual challenge to him as a world champion? Lol when they took the intercontinental title off of him they should have moved him to SmackDown and put a new list of challengers in front of him. And moved Cody and the WWE championship to raw
Very good episode,
imagine being deluded enough to think a multi billion dollar company with guys who literally have wrestling in their blood hot shoted a heel turn storyline because they booked themselves into a corner. are you serious dude? that is the most ridiculous thing i have read in a minute lol. good luck bro.
Great episode.
Punk/Cody was there for the taking and Cena could’ve gone up against Gunther.
They knee jerked a heel turn because they booked themselves into a nepotism corner
Very good show
honestly don’t get the hate. like sure, there’s no major story here YET. But Punk/Rollins/Reigns has a lot of potential to be a high quality match. I’m legit looking forward to it and love that these three have wound up in a match together.
Great episode.
The triple threat match between them at Wrestlemania is gonna be awesome. Super stoked for this match
Great show
Let’s mention the women’s match in every live/hate challenge. Easiest task for this group of “journalists” ever. Each one of these love/hates are more embarrassing than the last. We get it, women’s wrestling is amazing and should main event every show and if a women’s match is bad it’s because where it is on the card or the booking it’s never the talent, all the women are top tier wrestlers.
Very good show
You wanna find out who the real simps and shills are? Mark down anybody who defends that main event match! Even the diehard AEW fans are crapping on that main event. It was terrible.
This Moxley stuff is stinking out the entire show and the dude seems to think he is Brock Lesnar.
The sad part is that this wasn’t a terrible show overall and with all things taken into an account. But at the end of the day, a bad ending can ruin a whole show for a lot of people. “Game of Thrones season 8” style.
Great show
So the crux of it all is that the PLE started strong…then ended with a sour belch.
The fans most remember how you left them and the fans are going to remember this show with a resounding “bleh”!
And any casual fan who watched with their buddies who are more diehard fans, may have left the viewing saying aloud, “That guy was pretty good. He should go to WWE”.
Great show.
I’ve said before but I think one of the issues here is that Tony is a massive fan of NJPW and often looks to emulate their PPV card structure. NJPW cards typically build to a climax with the big matches back to back and tend not to feature cool down matches or spots. Problem is western audiences haven’t been conditioned for that over the last 40 years, so often results in burnout. Personally I would have laid out the card like below giving breathing spaces, opening with the Steel Cage match and building to the Hollywood Ending as the main event.
Storm vs. May
Mox vs. Cope
Hangman vs. MJF
Hurt Syndicate vs. Outrunners
Takeshita vs. Omega
Swerve vs. Ricochet
Okada vs. King
Mone vs. Watanabe
Ospreay vs. Fletcher
Great episode.
Very good show, but the ending is what people remember. WWE ended Elimination Chamber with a huge heel turn. AEW ended Revolution with that abominable ending.
it doesn’t totally undo a great show, but it might have done more harm than good.
Very good show
I can already see Trips the mark statues, Trips the mark with a 20 minutes speech, the camera focusing onTrips the mark every 30 seconds when he is on the crowd.
Great show.
I’m glad they are bringing it back to a nice venue. The idea of hosting it immediately after Smackdown is insane. Why not put a highlight show or broadcast the Hall of Fame instead of airing Smackdown that week.
best of the best
Very good show tonight
clickbait
clickbait
It’s good
Yes
Loving it
Fantastic Article
Raw vs SD
The only switches from Raw vs SD were Breakker, and Jax?
Super excited about Kiana James to Raw.
Super excited about Kiana James to Raw. She’s been great on NXT so hopefully they don’t ruin her momentum.
I dunno what the Final
I dunno what the Final Testament want, but at this point I am afraid to ask.
Save yourself time and money a
Save yourself time and money and just say everyone on smackdown will stay on smackdown, everyone on raw will stay on raw. What clown wrote this episode?!
Willow should NOT lose
Willow should NOT lose to Moñe at Double or Nothing.
I love the work Mariah’s done with Toni,
I love the work Mariah’s done with Toni, but Ngl I would also love her just gal-palling around with Mina for a spell
I’m all in on joshi invasion of AEW.
I’m all in on joshi invasion of AEW. I’m kinda down for joshi invasion of all promotions honestly
Danielson is also a 21st century
That line makes me laugh like Danielson is also a 21st century wrestler
I’ve never heard of.
Uhg, some other random wrestler from a promotion I’ve never heard of.
This is going to be a squash match right?
Wait, Anna Jay isn’t in Dark Order?
not even the security guard
not even the security guard with the hogan beard is dragging me out of daily’s rn
Kurt V Bret V Perfect
Three other Ospreay dream matches
V Kurt V Bret V Perfect
I have never seen mina before.
I have never seen mina before…. But from the entrance alone i am a fan
I’ve ever seen. Good lord
Anna Jay one of the finest women I’ve ever seen. Good lord
May gets all the ladies.
May gets all the ladies.
Daily’s Place just feels right
Anna Jay match in Daily’s Place just feels right
Is Mina’s theme
Is Mina’s theme a rip of Danza Kaduro? 🕺🏻
I enjoy Fallon’s work in ring,
I enjoy Fallon’s work in ring, and her character work. I just wish she didn’t scream so much- every single move.
Was late tuning in tonight,
Was late tuning in tonight, went and watched the women’s title match, Tatum showed up and showed tf out. Sad she didn’t win but the sky’s the limit
Jensen getting back together
first step to Briggs and Jensen getting back together
I wonder if Fallon Henley gets called up,
I wonder if Fallon Henley gets called up, she’s not really in any important angles in NXT.
John Cena style
Jasmyn has that chiseled chin. John Cena style
“Thank you, Trish Jacey”
Jacey Jayne wants Thea to say “Thank you, Trish Jacey”
What a woman
Her weave fallen off and her not skipping a beat. What a woman. I’m all in on jaida parker
Jaida to get her feet
This OTM side quest was good for Jaida to get her feet wet but her ceiling is sooo much higher than Lucien, Bronco & SCRYPTS
Really don’t like that it’s the Women’s NXT North American Championship.
Really don’t like that it’s the Women’s NXT North American Championship. Besides being an awkward mouthful, it’s too derivative of Men’s midcard title.
Gratitude is not an option
“Gratitude is not an option but a debt that you will repay to me” lmao damn Jacy sounds so badass and ominous 😭
She’s got a really bright future.
Jaida’s only been doing this for a year and a half. She’s got a really bright future.
I love the implied narrative that
I love the implied narrative that it’s Nattie who is singlehandedly selling out a WWE tour of Europe
All these talks about call-ups,
All these talks about call-ups, I feel Jacy Jayne is more overdue than most. One of the best character workers around.
I feel like Jaida has been winning every week
I feel like Jaida has been winning every week for a while now but it hasn’t really gotten her anywhere lol
Booker’s about to faint during
Booker’s about to faint during the sexiest contract signing of all time.
SOMEONE CLIP THAT LEXIS KING
SOMEONE CLIP THAT LEXIS KING PART IN THE NXT SHOP COMMERCIAL AND MAKE IT A MEME
So.. Natalya had a ton of work done
So.. Natalya had a ton of work done on her face right? She had some weird angles to it when the camera followed her walking
Any recognise the photographer
Any recognise the photographer in the Baron/Lexis segment?