What is the World ⁣Tag League?

The NJPW World Tag League is an annual tag team tournament held by New Japan Pro-Wrestling. ⁣Established in 1989, it’s a cornerstone of the NJPW calendar, showcasing both established teams and rising⁤ stars. The tournament format⁢ involves ⁢a ‍round-robin group ⁤stage followed by a knockout stage, culminating in a final match to⁢ determine the World Tag League champions.

Tournament Overview

NJPW has officially confirmed⁢ the lineup for this year’s World Tag League, unveiling all ⁤16 teams set to compete in the annual tag team tournament.

The 2025 edition kicks off on Thursday, November 20, at Tokyo’s⁣ Korakuen Hall and wraps up in Kumamoto⁤ on December 15. The field is⁣ divided into two blocks of eight teams,⁣ with the top two from each advancing to the knockout stage. In the semifinals,each block’s winner⁣ will⁢ face the runner-up from the opposing side to earn a place in the finals.

A Block Lineup

A block features a strong mix of returning champions and intriguing new pairings. Former three-time winners Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) return to reclaim their crown,⁢ while‍ Toru Yano teams again with boltin Oleg for their second⁣ consecutive appearance. ⁣The rest of the block is filled⁤ with debuting duos including Yota Tsuji & Gabe Kidd,EVIL & Don Fale,Taichi & Satoshi Kojima,El Desperado & Shuji Ishikawa,Shingo ⁢Takagi & Drilla Moloney,and Yujiro Takahashi & Chase owens.