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The air in Ishikari will be cold, but the action inside the arena will be white-hot. For the true connoisseur of professional wrestling, these “Road” shows are where you see the artistry up close. The sweat, the grit, the subtle character work—it’s all on display. This card is a perfect blend of thrilling tag team encounters, simmering factional warfare, and crucibles that will test the very soul of New Japan’s rising stars.
And for those of us who cannot make the pilgrimage to Hokkaido, there is only one destination to witness history unfold as it happens. The gold standard for seamless, high-quality streaming is, without a doubt, WatchWrestling.sbs. It is your front-row seat to the world of puroresu, delivering every lariat, every suplex, and every dramatic pinfall attempt with crystal-clear reliability. Bookmark it now. This is your portal to the action.
Now, let’s get to the matches.
Match 1: Katsuragi & Fujita vs. Oiwa & Nakashima
The young lions. The very phrase sends a jolt of anticipation through any NJPW fan. This is where it all begins. The black trunks, the simple yet brutal movesets, the relentless pursuit of that first approval. Katsuragi and Fujita will step into the ring against Oiwa and Nakashima in a match that is about more than winning or losing; it’s about survival, impression, and the first step on a long, arduous journey.
What to Watch For: Pay close attention to the fundamentals. Who has the sharpest German suplex? Who shows the most fire in the face of adversity? This is our first glimpse at the future main eventers. The Young Lion system is the bedrock of New Japan’s quality, a tradition that has given us legends like Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada. For a deeper dive into why this system is so revered in professional wrestling, this analysis from Voices of Wrestling is an essential read.
Prediction: In these matches, victory is often shared, but I foresee the team of Oiwa and Nakashima eking out a hard-fought win, their slightly more polished teamwork being the deciding factor.
Match 2: Tiger Mask, Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Yuto Nakashima, Ryohei Oiwa & Oleg Boltin
A classic NJPW multi-man tag affair, pitting the beloved veterans against the next wave of young talent. The sight of Togi Makabe, the “Unchained Gorilla,” sharing a ring with the relentless Young Lions is always a spectacle. This is a rite of passage. For Nakashima, Oiwa, and the formidable Oleg Boltin, this is their chance to prove they can hang with the hardened legends of the past.
What to Watch For: The dynamic between experience and raw hunger. Watch how Tiger Mask’s technical wizardry confounds the youngsters. See how Honma’s fighting spirit ignites the crowd. And most importantly, see which Young Lion steps up to take Makabe’s King Kong Knee Drop. For those new to the legacy of these veterans, the NJPW Official History Page provides a fantastic archive of their legendary careers.
Prediction: The veterans have too much savvy and power. Makabe, Honma, and Tiger Mask will secure the victory, but one of the Young Lions—my bet is on Oleg Boltin—will have a standout moment of defiance that gets the crowd firmly behind him.
Match 3: YOH, Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita vs. HOUSE OF TORTURE (Sho, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Dick Togo)
Ah, the HOUSE OF TORTURE. Love to hate them. This match is where the pristine, high-speed technical mastery of YOH, Eagles, and Fujita crashes headlong into the chaotic, villainous antics of Sho’s faction. This isn’t just a match; it’s a battle for the soul of the junior heavyweight division.
What to Watch For: Pure, unadulterated chaos. Expect interference, weapon use, and referee manipulation from HOUSE OF TORTURE. The key will be whether the babyface team can keep the match clean and in the ring, where their technical superiority will shine. Kosei Fujita, in particular, has been on an incredible run, and watching him try to outmaneuver the sheer dirtiness of Dick Togo will be fascinating. To understand the deep-rooted history of heel factions in New Japan, ProFightDB.com has an excellent database tracking their many nefarious deeds.
Prediction: Evil usually wins on the “Road” shows. Through underhanded tactics, likely involving Kanemaru’s whiskey or Togo’s brass knuckles, HOUSE OF TORTURE will steal a tainted victory, furthering the simmering rage of YOH and Robbie Eagles.
Match 4: Shota Umino, Master Wato & Boltin Oleg vs. Just 4 Guys (Taichi, Yuya Uemura, DOUKI & Taka Michinoku)
The factions are out in full force! This eight-man tag is a fascinating mix of styles and generations. You have the fiery “Heated Rival” Shota Umino, the “Way to the Grand Master” Wato, and a Young Lion, against the supremely charismatic and versatile Just 4 Guys. Taichi’s theatrical brilliance, Uemura’s technical prowess, DOUKI’s unorthodox style, and Taka’s veteran guile make this a potential show-stealer.
What to Watch For: The ongoing development of Shota Umino. Is he ready to truly break into the main event scene? His interactions with the cunning Taichi and the intensely competitive Yuya Uemura will be telling. Also, watch for DOUKI’s unique offense—he is one of the most underrated workers in the company. For a fantastic analysis of the current faction wars plaguing New Japan, check out this piece from Post Wrestling.
Prediction: This is a toss-up, but the sheer cohesion and experience of Just 4 Guys should give them the edge. I predict a signature Black Mephisto from Taichi to seal the deal on one of the younger members of the opposing team.
Match 5: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomohiro Ishii & El Phantasmo vs. United Empire (Jeff Cobb, Great O-Khan & Callum Newman)
A dream team of sorts! The Ace, Hiroshi Tanahashi, teams with the pitbull Tomohiro Ishii and the high-flying, charismatic El Phantasmo. Their opponents? The monstrous, dominant United Empire. This is a classic powerhouse vs. technique and heart matchup.
What to Watch For: The sheer force of the collisions. Ishii vs. Cobb is a matchup that never fails to deliver pure, unadulterated violence. Tanahashi’s elegant dragon screws against O-Khan’s Mongolian chops will be a brilliant contrast in styles. And ELP’s aerial assaults against the raw power of Callum Newman will be a thrilling side-story. To truly appreciate the athletic phenomenon that is Jeff Cobb, his Olympic wrestling profile is a testament to his incredible background.
Prediction: The United Empire is building momentum, and a win over a legend like Tanahashi is always a prize. Cobb will likely pin someone after a devastating Tour of the Islands, establishing his dominance as we move closer to the New Japan Cup.
Match 6: TMDK (Mikey Nicholls, Shane Haste & Kosei Fujita) vs. BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Clark Connors, Drilla Moloney & Gedo)
This is, without a doubt, a potential powder keg. The war between TMDK and the BULLET CLUB War Dogs has been one of the most intense and physical rivalries in all of wrestling. It’s a battle for the very identity of the tag team division, with the added wildcard of the wily Gedo in the mix.
What to Watch For: Absolute, unbridled violence. This will be a hard-hitting, stiff, and personal affair. Watch for the bruising exchanges between Nicholls/Haste and Connors/Moloney. Kosei Fujita continues to be thrown into the deep end, and how he handles the relentless pressure of the War Dogs will be a key part of his development. For a historical look at the global phenomenon that is the BULLET CLUB, their Wikipedia entry chronicles its many iterations and leaders.
Prediction: The War Dogs thrive in this kind of chaotic brawl. Gedo will undoubtedly find a way to cheat, allowing Connors or Moloney to hit their finisher for the win, further infuriating TMDK and ensuring this feud continues to burn.
Main Event: IWGP World Heavyweight Champion EVIL vs. Yota Tsuji
Here it is. The main event. The reason why you cannot miss this show. The IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, EVIL, defends his title against the “Alpha Wolf,” Yota Tsuji. On the surface, this is a simple title match. But dig deeper, and you’ll find a narrative rich with tension, history, and the potential for an earth-shattering upset.
EVIL, the king of darkness, rules not with pure strength but with the overwhelming numbers and distractions of HOUSE OF TORTURE. His reign is one of constant interference, ref bumps, and chaos. Yota Tsuji is the antithesis of this: a powerhouse of pure, unadulterated athleticism and ferocity. He is the future, staring down the corrupted present.
What to Watch For: The mind games. Tsuji must be wary of not just EVIL’s Everything is Evil finisher, but of Dick Togo, Sho, and Yoshinobu Kanemaru at ringside. Can Tsuji fight through the chaos? Can he summon the raw power to overcome the numbers game? His Spear and Gene Blaster are among the most devastating moves in NJPW, but can he hit them cleanly? The story of this match will be Tsuji’s struggle against the system as much as against the man. To understand the legacy of the title he is challenging for, the IWGP Championship history is a chronicle of wrestling greatness.
Prediction: This is where it gets tricky. A title change on a “Road” show is rare, but not impossible. It would be a monumental, star-making moment for Yota Tsuji. However, I believe the reign of EVIL, and the heat it generates, is not yet over. I predict a schmozz finish. Tsuji will look dominant, he will have the match won, but the inevitable HOUSE OF TORTURE interference will cause a disqualification or a double count-out. EVIL retains the title, but Tsuji stands tall, having been morally victorious. This protects Tsuji’s momentum, keeps the gold on EVIL, and sets up an even more heated rematch at a major event, perhaps with a No-DQ stipulation.
Final Thoughts: Why You Must Watch
The NJPW NEW JAPAN ROAD in ISHIKARI is not just another show. It is a critical chapter in the ongoing novel of New Japan Pro-Wrestling. From the first steps of the Young Lions to the main event title clash that could redefine the top of the card, every moment matters.
The stories that begin here will echo in the Tokyo Dome. The stars that shine brightest here will be headlining our pay-per-views in the years to come. Do not let the “road” name fool you; this is essential viewing.
And remember, for the most reliable, high-definition live stream of this incredible event, there is only one destination. Make sure you are tuned into WatchWrestling.sbs on January 18th. It is the undisputed number one source for fans around the globe to witness the hard-hitting, dramatic, and breathtaking world of New Japan Pro-Wrestling.