New Japan Pro-Wrestling will return to action on May 22.
The promotion previously canceled events due to the state of emergency in Japan and a handful of positive COVID-19 tests following NJPW Wrestling Dontaku. The May 22 event will take place in Nagoya at the Nagoya Congress Center Event Hall, with events on May 24, 25 and 26 taking place at Korakuen Hall.
Cards for the events will be announced after wrestlers and staff undergo diligent screening.
After the cancellation or postponement of five events in May, New Japan Pro-Wrestling can now announce that live events will return on May 22 in Nagoya at the Nagoya Congress Center Event Hall, with events on May 24, 25 and 26 also to take place as scheduled in Korakuen Hall.
On May 5 and 9, announcements of positive COVID-19 tests among the NJPW roster caused a great deal of concern. Infected wrestlers have all continued to display minor or no symptoms, and have isolated and received appropriate medical treatment. Additionally, wrestlers who had contact with the infected, or had any reason to be concerned, have also independently isolated and taken relevant measures. Wrestlers who have completed their isolation period are being allowed to resume training.
Wrestlers and staff will only be allowed to participate in events to follow after diligent screening, and on consultation with medical professionals and training staff, including on any after affects that may arise from a lengthy period of isolation. We ask for your understanding and patience in awaiting further announcements.
To this point, New Japan Pro-Wrestling has maintained its COVID-19 policy drawn up under expert advice and guidance. This includes daily temperature and blood oxygen saturation checks, as well as regular screening before events. At events, attendees are temperature screened on entry to venues, masks are required during training and backstage, and packaged food is provided in order to limit unnecessary movement outside. However, we have taken recent developments extremely seriously. Starting with improvements in testing frequency and methods, we are working to further strengthen our COVID-19 countermeasures in future.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s COVID-19 event policy continues to protect the health of every event attendee to the highest standard. We eagerly await fans in Nagoya and Tokyo from Saturday.
Fightful will provide more information on NJPW's return to live action when it is known.
