A match between Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kota Ibushi has been set for Wrestle Grand Slam after Tanahashi issued a challenge to Ibushi.
In a post-match interview after winning the IWGP United States title this past weekend at NJPW’s Resurgence event, Tanahashi called out Kota Ibushi as his next challenger at Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome. NJPW later shared a video of Ibushi saying that the direct path for him was best, and that he must face Tanahashi, accepting the challenge. NJPW later confirmed the match for the Wrestle Grand Slam card that will take place on September 4.
Ibushi has been out of action since July 2, when he defeated Yota Tsuji in a singles match. He has been suffering from aspiration pneumonia. Despite initial reports, the pneumonia is no way related to side effects from a COVID-19 vaccine.
Wrestle Grad Slam in MetLife Dome will take place over two days, on September 4 and 5. A singles match between Jeff Cobb and Kazuchika Okada and Toru Yano vs. Chase Owens for the KOPW title has been announced for September 4.
Shingo Takagi vs. EVIL for the IWGP World Heavyweight title, Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi vs. SANADA and Tetsuya Naito vs. YOSHI-HASHI and Hirooki Goto in a three-way match for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team titles, and Hiromu Takahashi vs. Robbie Eagles for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title has been announced for September 5.