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ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NEW JAPAN'S REAL WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2020

New Japan Pro Wrestling’s annual World Tag League tournament will begin on November 15 in Aichi.

The company announced the full field for this year’s tournament at its Road to Power Struggle show in Korakuen Hall today, including some new faces, old favourites and fresh combinations.

Below, we'll cover the history of the tournament, offer analysis of all the teams announced and transcribe the full schedule for this year’s tournament.

Tournament history

The Real World Tag League was founded in 1991, although New Japan began holding an annual tag team tournament in 1980. The original tournament was named the Super Grade Tag League.

Antonio Inoki and Bob Backlund won the first tournament in 1980. Inoki won the tournament fives times; with Backlund in 1980, Hulk Hogan in 1982 and 1983, Tatsumi Fujinami in 1984 and Yoshiaki Fujiwara in 1986.

The tournament is held under round-robin rules. Two points are awarded for a win, one point is awarded for a draw and zero points are awarded for a loss. The winner earns the right to challenge for the IWGP Tag Team Championships at the next year’s Wrestle Kingdom.

Teams announced

David Finlay and Juice Robinson
David Finlay – 4th appearance
Juice Robinson – 5th appearance
As a team – 2nd appearance

David Finlay is returning to Japan for the first time since the Manabu Nakanishi’s retirement event in February as he and Juice Robinson look to repeat as World Tag League winners.

Finlay and Robinson won the IWGP Tag Team Championships on the first night of Wrestle Kingdom 14 but did not mange a single successful defense.

Finlay and Robinson won last year’s tournament by defeating EVIL and SANADA on the last day of block competition.

Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr.
Taichi – 4th appearance
Zack Sabre Jr. – 3rd appearance
As a team – 3rd appearance

Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. enter the tournament as the holders of the IWGP Tag Team Championships.

Taichi teamed with Milano Collection AT in 2008 and did not compete in the tournament again until teaming with Sabre Jr. in 2018.

If the Suzuki-gun duo won the tournament, they would be able to select their next challengers at Wrestle Kingdom 15.

Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa
Tama Tonga – 9th appearance
Tanga Loa – 5th appearance
As a team – 5th appearance

Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa are returning to Japan for the first time since Manabu Nakanishi’s retirement event in February.

The brothers have teamed in the tournament for the past four years, advancing to the final in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

The brothers have also held the IWGP Tag Team Championships six times, tied for the most ever with Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima.

Hiroshi Tanahashi and Toa Henare
Hiroshi Tanahashi – 13th appearance
Toa Henare – 3rd appearance
As a team – 2nd appearance

Hiroshi Tanahashi and Toa Henare reprise their team from last year’s tournament as Henare returns to Japan for the first time since New Japan’s final New Japan Road show on February 26 before the company shut down due to ongoing the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Henare also teamed with Togi Makabe in 2018. Tanahashi has an interesting list of former partners, such as Kenzo Suzuki, Yutaka Yoshie, Koji Kanemoto, TAJIRI, Captain New Japan and Yoshitatsu.

Tanahashi and Henare finished with a 3-12 record last year for 6 points.

Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI
Hirooki Goto – 12th appearance
YOSHI-HASHI – 7th appearance
As a team – 2nd appearance

Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI unsuccessfully challenged for the IWGP Tag Team Championships on a Road To Power Struggle show on November 2, but will enter the tournament to seek a second opportunity at Wrestle Kingdom 15.

YOSHI-HASHI was previously Kazuchika Okada’s regular partner in the World Tag League. However, New Japan has shifted to leave its biggest stars out of the World Tag League in recent years.

Goto has won the tournament twice before, with Karl Anderson in 2012 and Katsuyori Shibata in 2014.

Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano
Tomohiro Ishii – 14th appearance
Toru Yano – 14th appearance
As a team – 4th appearance

Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano lead the entire field with 13 past appearances in the World Tag League each.

Ishii and Yano’s first World Tag League was teaming with each other in 2006. They have also teamed together in 2017 and 2018.

Yano’s partner last year, Colt Cabana, teased teaming with Yano again this year on Twitter, but likely was not able to travel to Japan due to current travel restrictions and his contractual obligations to All Elite Wrestling.

SANADA and Shingo Takagi
SANADA – 5th appearance
Shingo Takagi – 2nd appearance
As a team – 1st appearance

This year will be the first time SANADA has entered the World Tag League with a partner other than EVIL.

Shingo Takagi made his tournament debut last year teaming with CMLL’s Terrible.

SANADA and Takagi do not regularly team together. They have teamed seven times in 2020.

EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi
EVIL – 6th appearance
Yujiro Takahashi – 11th appearance
As a team – 1st appearance

After unsuccessfully challenging Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and IWGP Intercontinental Championship at Power Struggle, EVIL enters the World Tag League alongside Yujiro Takahashi.

EVIL has been kept separated from many members of Bullet Club, largely due to travel restrictions. He most commonly teams with Dick Togo and Takahashi.

With the growing dissension between EVIL and Jay White, EVIL’s matches against the other two Bullet Club teams in the tournament will be something to keep an eye on.

Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens
Bad Luck Fale – 7th appearance
Chase Owens – 4th appearance
As a team – 3rd appearance

Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens are the third and final Bullet Club team in this year’s tournament.

Fale is returning to Japan for the first time since the Manabu Nakanishi’s retirement event in February. Owens returned on a Road To Power Struggle show on November 1.

Fale and Owens previously teamed together in 2017 and 2019.

Great-O-Khan and ‘X’
Great-O-Khan – 1st appearance

Great-O-Khan will make his World Tag League debut with a mystery partner.

The partner will be the third member of Will Ospreay’s new faction; The Empire.

Other than his loss to Okada at Power Struggle, Great-O-Khan is undefeated since returning from excursion in England.

Full schedule

November 15 in Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Aichi
• Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens vs. Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano
• Great-O-Khan and ‘X’ vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi and Toa Henare
• Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI vs. Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr.
• EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi vs. SANADA and Shingo Takagi
• David Finlay and Juice Robinson vs. Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa

November 16 in Komatsu City Suehiro Gymnasium, Ishikawa
• Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens vs. Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa
• Great-O-Khan and ‘X’ vs. Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI
• David Finlay and Juice Robinson vs. EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi
• SANADA and Shingo Takagi vs. Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano
• Hiroshi Tanahashi and Toa Henare vs. Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr.

November 19 in Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
• Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens vs. Great-O-Khan and ‘X’
• David Finlay and Juice Robsinon vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi and Toa Henare
• EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi vs. Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa
• Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI vs. Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano
• SANADA and Shingo Takagi vs. Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr.

November 22 in Saku City General Gymnasium, Nagano
• Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens vs. SANADA and Shingo Takagi
• Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi and Toa Henare
• EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi vs. Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano
• David Finlay and Juice Robinson vs. Great-O-Khan and ‘X’
• Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa

November 24 in Big Palette Fukushima, Fukushima
• Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens vs. David Finlay and Juice Robinson
• EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi and Toa Henare
• Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa vs. Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano
• Great-O-Khan and ‘X’ vs. Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr.
• Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI vs. SANADA and Shingo Takagi

November 28 in Fujisawa City Akibadai Cultural Gymnasium, Kanagawa
• Great-O-Khan and ‘X’ vs. Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano
• Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi and Toa Henare
• EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi vs. Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr.
• David Finlay and Juice Robinson vs. SANADA and Shingo Takagi
• Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI vs. Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa

November 30 in Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
• EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi vs. Great-O-Khan and ‘X’
• Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens vs. Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI
• Hiroshi Tanahashi and Toa Henare vs. Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano
• SANADA and Shingo Takagi vs. Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa
• David Finlay and Juice Robinson vs. Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr.

December 4 in Beppu B-Con Plaza, Oita
• Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens vs. Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr.
• EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi vs. Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI
• David Finlay and Juice Robinson vs. Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano
• Great-O-Khan and ‘X’ vs. Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa
• Hiroshi Tanahashi and Toa Henare vs. SANADA and Shingo Takagi

December 6 in Fukuoka Convention Center, Fukuoka
• Hiroshi Tanahashi and Toa Henare vs. Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa
• David Finlay and Juice Robinson vs. Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI
• Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano
• Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens vs. EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi
• Great-O-Khan and ‘X’ vs. SANADA and Shingo Takagi

 

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