The New Beginning in Nagoya (2021)

The New Beginning in Nagoya was a professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place on January 30, 2021 in Nagoya, Aichi at the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium (Dolphins Arena). This was the thirtieth event promoted under the NJPW The New Beginning name and the first to be held in Nagoya.

The New Beginning in Nagoya
Promotion	New Japan Pro-Wrestling
Date	January 30, 2021
City	Nagoya, Japan
Venue	Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium (Dolphins Arena)
Attendance	2,156
Event chronology
← Previous New Year Dash!! Road to The New Beginning Next → Road to The New Beginning
The New Beginning chronology
← Previous Osaka (2020) Next → Hiroshima (2021)

The event featured five matches on the card. The main event was Shingo Takagi defending the NEVER Openweight Championship against Hiroshi Tanahashi. Other matches included Hiroyoshi Tenzan of Tencozy taking on Great-O-Khan of United Empire and their teammates, Satoshi Kojima and Will Ospreay, also squared off in the semi-main event.

Production

Other on-screen personnel

Role:	Name:
English Commentators	Kevin Kelly
	Chris Charlton
	Rocky Romero
Japanese Commentators	Shinpei Nogami
	Milano Collection A.T.
	Katsuhiko Kanazawa
	Kazuyoshi Sakai
	Togi Makabe
	Miki Motoi
	Jushin Thunder Liger
	Masahiro Chono
Ring announcers	Makoto Abe
	Kimihiko Ozaki
Referees	Kenta Sato
	Marty Asami
	Red Shoes Unno

Background

Since 2020, NJPW are unable to run events with full capacity due to COVID-19 restrictions.^[1] The New Beginning is NJPW's first major show after their annual January 4 Tokyo Dome Show, which is their biggest show of the year.

Storylines

The New Beginning in Nagoya featured five professional wrestling matches that involve different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portray villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in the scripted events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches.^[2]

On night two of Wrestle Kingdom 15, Shingo Takagi successfully defended the NEVER Openweight Championship against Jeff Cobb.^[3] At New Year Dash!!, Takagi issued a challenge to Hiroshi Tanahashi for the championship, the match was scheduled for The New Beginning in Nagoya.^[4][5]

On night one of Wrestle Kingdom 15, both Great-O-Khan and Will Ospreay from the stable The Empire lost their matches.^[6] At New Year Dash!!, The Empire defeated Satoshi Kojima, Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Yota Tsuji in a match. Post-match; Ospreay, Great-O-Khan and Cobb attacked Kojima and Tenzan, Ospreay proclaims that The Empire will take over 2021 and the stable will now be called United Empire.^[4] Ospreay and Great-O-Khan was scheduled to face Kojima and Tenzan in single matches.^[5] During the Road to New Beginning on January 25, Ospreay challenged Kojima to a No Disqualification match which Kojima accepted.^[7] NJPW confirmed the No Disqualification stipulation for Ospreay vs. Kojima after the event, they also announced that the loser of Great-O-Khan vs. Tenzan must stop using the Mongolian chop.^[8]

Results

No.	Results[9][5]	Stipulations	Times
1	Chaos (Kazuchika Okada and Toru Yano) defeated Bullet Club (Evil and Yujiro Takahashi)	Tag team match	7:40
2	Kota Ibushi, Tomoaki Honma, Sho, and Master Wato defeated Los Ingobernables de Japón (Sanada, Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi, and Bushi)	Eight-man tag team match	11:32
3	Great-O-Khan defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan	Singles match Since Tenzan lost, he must stop using the Mongolian chop[8]	12:45
4	Will Ospreay defeated Satoshi Kojima	No Disqualification match[8]	16:57
5	Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Shingo Takagi (c)	Singles match for the NEVER Openweight Championship	35:40
(c)  – the champion(s) heading into the match

See also

• 2021 in professional wrestling
• List of major NJPW events

References

1. Satin, Ryan (June 8, 2020). "NJPW To Resume Operations This Month, First Show With Fans Again Announced". Pro Wrestling Sheet. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
2. Grabianowski, Ed. "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks, Inc. Discovery Communications. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
3. Powell, Jason (January 5, 2021). "1/5 NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 results: Powell's review of Kota Ibushi vs. Jay White for the IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental Championships, Taiji Ishimori vs. Hiromu Takahashi for the IWGP Jr. Hvt. Championship, Evil vs. Sanada, Shingo Takagi vs. Jeff Cobb for the Never Openweight Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
4. Radican, Sean (January 6, 2021). "1/6 NJPW NEW YEAR DASH RESULTS: Radican's results and analysis of LIJ vs. Ibushi & Tanahashi & Wato & Sho & Romero, Bullet Club vs. Chaos 10 Man Tag". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
5. Renner, Ethan (January 11, 2021). "NJPW Reveals Cards for New Beginning Nagoya and Hiroshima". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
6. Powell, Jason (January 4, 2021). "1/4 NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 results: Powell's review of Tetsuya Naito vs. Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental Championships, Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay, Hiromu Takahashi vs. El Phantasmo for a shot at the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
7. Renner, Ethan (January 25, 2021). "NJPW Road to New Beginning Result: Final Build to Nagoya". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
8. Currier, Joseph (January 25, 2021). "Stipulations Set for Two NJPW Beginning in Nagoya Matches". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
9. NJPW. "2021.01.30 THE NEW BEGINNING in NAGOYA | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW. Retrieved 2021-01-12.

External links

• New Japan Pro-Wrestling Official website