Below are my raw statistical notes and nuances for New Japan Pro Wrestling’s 2019 King of Pro Wrestling card. With five singles matches in a historical venue, this promises to be one of the most interesting and important NJPW cards of the year.

IWGP HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
KAZUCHIKA OKADA(C) VS SANADA

NOTES

-SANADA defeated Okada in 29:47 during this year’s G1. The only wrestler to ever defeat Okada in a one-fall singles match with a longer duration is Hiroshi Tanahashi, who has done so three times (35:43, 30:57, 33:34)

-This will be SANADA and Okada’s fourth singles match in 2019. The previous three have averaged a duration of 33:39.

-Kazuchika Okada has defended the IWGP Heavyweight Title eight times (7-1) at Ryogoku Sumo Hall, four of these defenses were at King Of Pro Wrestling (4-0)

-The IWGP Heavyweight Championship has been defended seven times at King Of Pro Wrestling. It changed hands once, in 2014, when Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated AJ Styles

TOKYO DOME RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
KOTA IBUSHI VS. EVIL

NOTES

-EVIL and Ibushi’s only singles match was during this year’s G1 Climax tournament when EVIL defeated Ibushi in 19:11.

-Kota Ibushi has a 9 match winning streak in singles matches since losing to EVIL on July 14th during the G1.

IWGP UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
JON MOXLEY(C) VS. JUICE ROBINSON

NOTES

-Juice Robinson is 5-3 in US Championship matches.

– Robinson defeated Moxley in 16:26 on the last night of G1 Climax B Block competition.

-Jon Moxley made his NJPW debut at Ryogoku Sumo Hall on June 5th, defeating Juice Robinson in 24:14

IWGP JR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
WILL OSPREAY(C) VS.  EL PHANTASMO

NOTES

-Ospreay’s career victories in Ryogoku include his first IWGP Jr Heavyweight Championship at King Of Pro Wrestling 2017 and his Best of The Super Juniors finals victory earlier this year.

-Only Ren Narita (33) has competed in more NJPW singles matches in than Will Ospreay (31)

-El Phantasmo is on a 7 match winning streak in NJPW singles competition. His last loss was on May 30th to Ryuske Taguchi in the Best Of The Super Juniors tournament.

SPECIAL SINGLES MATCH
MINORU SUZUKI VS. JUSHIN THUNDER LIGER

NOTES

-Liger and Suzuki have only faced each other once in singles competition. Suzuki defeated Liger at Korakuen Hall in December of 2012.

-Liger has participated in an incredible 132 matches at Ryogoku Sumo Hall.