During the year, New Japan Pro Wrestling holds several significant, staple events that divide the year up. In May, fans are always excited to see the annual Dontaku show, which started in 1993. Like many big shows, the main event is usually marked by a defence of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
Yet, there have been times when the main event has not been for the Heavyweight title, and here are the seven times it has happened.
1993 – Antonio Inoki and Tatsumi Fujinami vs. Genichiro Tenryu and Riki Choshu
For the first-ever Dontaku event, New Japan chose to have a star-studded tag team match to headline the show. With such a stacked match, it wasn’t surprising that the crowds seemed so into it and that it was worthy of starting Dontaku’s legacy.
Going into the match seemed like an odd match, with Choshu and Tenryu having feuded before teaming against Inoki and Fujinami. Inoki and Fujinami combined their babyface personalities with pure, technical and diverse wrestlers.
Yet, combined with Tenryu and Choshu, the pace never seemed out of control. Everything was there for a purpose. When it came to the finish, the crowds rightly embraced the result. New Japan has always shined when it comes to main events and even back in 1993, the company was full of stars.
1994 – Antonio Inoki vs. The Great Muta
When it comes to two of the biggest names in New Japan history, Antonio Inoki and The Great Muta are names that everyone knows. Even back in 1994, they were legends, and it isn’t surprising to know that they were the main event of the Dontaku show with a special singles match.
The match itself allowed both wrestlers to shine, and it also combined wrestling with psychology. Yet, for most of the match, it seemed like Inoki was on the defence struggling to gain any momentum. When Inoki eventually won with his patented sleeper hold, the crowds went even crazier.
Although it contained some of the best wrestlers in the world, the wrestling itself has received mixed opinions from current fans. Many didn’t enjoy the ending, which was deemed anticlimactic, while others didn’t like the sudden switch at the end after Inoki was beaten up for most of the match. Yet, it was a special match worthy of the main event.
2001 – Kazunari Murakami and Naoya Ogawa vs. Manabu Nakanishi and Riki Choshu
After the initial Dontaku shows seemed to be on special matches, the next few years centred around the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. It wasn’t until 2001 that a special tag match was the show’s main event. As expected, a tag match needed to include legends, and it definitely shined with Kazunari Murakami and Naoya Ogawa facing Manabu Nakanishi and Riki Choshu.
It seems like tag matches have never had the same impact in the main event as singles and those for titles. By watching the match, it appeared to be the same here. Although all four wrestlers are incredibly talented, the match seemed a bit messy.
After the match ended, everyone began fighting, and it seemed like a chaotic end to a match that confused many fans. The match was in the midst of the company’s darkest period, and it might have reflected the conditions of New Japan at the time.
2015 – Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Hirooki Goto – IWGP Intercontinental Championship
Credit: NJPW1972
Although it was the secondary title in New Japan, the Intercontinental Championship was always at its peak when Shinsuke Nakamura held it. The wrestler will forever be associated with the title, and his feud with Hirooki Goto was no exception. It was a feud that dated all the way back to their Young Lion days. Their talent and dedication to the title meant that it main evented the 2015 Dontaku Show.
As expected, the match had quality wrestling, but the storytelling was out of this world. Hirooki Goto perfectly played the underdog who had a chip on his shoulder, and Nakamura never took him lightly, bringing out the best and worst in his opponent. The war combined all the best parts of their offence with strikes, strength, and passion.
Although Shinsuke might have lost the title, he and Goto ensured to elevate the title to the status that made it so prestigious. Being the first title that wasn’t the heavyweight title to headline Dontaku proved how respected the wrestlers were.
2018 – Kenny Omega vs. Hangman Page
Credit: NJPW1972
Since the start of the Dontaku show, NJPW had only held one show for the event. Yet, in 2018, this all changed when the company did two consecutive shows. The main event was a special singles match between Kenny Omega and Hangman Page on the first night. The match was at the peak of the feud between Omega and Cody. During this time, there with a battle for leadership and control of the Bullet Club.
Compared to other main events, this was more personal. Both wrestlers were much more aggressive. considering how amazing both wrestlers are, it was a wrestling spectacular. Omega and Hangman Page are two of the most diverse wrestlers, combining speed, strength, and agility. With such animosity, they threw caution to the win and ignored any regard for safety.
In the end, Kenny hit some very aggressive V-Triggers and transitioned into the One Winged Angel for the win. For many, the reaction of the crowds was a reason it didn’t have the impact of a main event title match. Yet, it was essential for the faction’s storyline, which continued for months to come.
2019 – Dragon Lee vs. Taiji Ishimori – IWGP Jr Heavyweight Championship
Credit: NJPW1972
The main event of most of the big New Japan shows is usually dominated by heavyweight wrestlers. 2019 was an exception as the first of the two Dontaku shows was headlined by Dragon Lee defending the IWGP Jr Championship against Taiji Ishimori. The division is often overlooked, but this match combined the talents of a veteran Jr in Ishimori and the rising star in Dragon Lee.
Surprisingly, the match’s first minute was a much slower pace, showing that not all Jr wrestling is about high flying. Yet, it sped up quickly, and fans saw a match that seemed like a piece of beautiful choreography. The chemistry between Dragon Lee and Ishimori was undeniable as they made the most of their time, changed pace, and kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Dragon Lee retained the title, and the duo had a very different main event from what fans were used to. However, it was a true showcase of the junior division, showcasing the diversity of the wrestlers and their ability to put on amazing shows. For many, it was one of the best matches from both wrestlers and set the standard for Jr wrestling that year.
2021 – Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Jay White – NEVER Openweight Championship
Credit: NJPW1972
Like the previous years, 2021’s Dontaku event also saw two shows showcasing the best of New Japan. The main event was Hiroshi Tanahashi v Jay White for the NEVER Openweight Championship on the first night. The feud between the two wrestlers had been going on for what seemed like years, and it showed in the quality of the match.
As expected from two people with such a long history, the fight was brutal. Jay White tried to stall the match at the start, but Tanahashi knew his tricks and wouldn’t let White off the hook. The match combined two very different styles and personalities, but they surprisingly meshed beautifully.
In the end, White managed to beautifully reverse a dragon suplex into a Blade Runner for the win. For a championship like the NEVER title to get the main event spot at Dontaku showed how much the division was elevated at this time. The match featured two of the best wrestlers in the company and cemented that shows don’t need prestige from the titles to the main event, just amazing wrestlers.
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