While the dust from the Tokyo Dome and Wrestle Kingdom 18 is starting to settle, New Japan Pro Wrestling isn't even taking a breath before charging into the future. The King of Sports returning to San Jose, CA this Saturday for the 2024 Battle in Valley, live on Triller TV!
For decades, NJPW has captivated fans across the globe with their hard-hitting patented style of combat sports action, bringing forth the most ferocious fighting spirit imaginable and now, under new NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi, the promotion that has helped shape expectations for the best professional wrestling internationally will once again plant their flag and set the stage for what the most die-hard professional wrestling aficionados should expect for greatness inside the squared circle.
This Saturday on TrillerTV the top combatants from New Japan converge upon San Jose, CA for the second-ever Battle in the Valley. Emanating from the San Jose Civic, New Japan will once again present some of the most explosive, historic battles imaginable, shattering all expectations as their championship battles and colossal clashes once again set the stage for the ultimate in professional wrestling.
Will Ospreay's Farewell Clash
New Japan has always been the destination for fighters seeking to push themselves to perfection and if there is one man who has lived up to that expectation, it is certainly Will Ospreay. With the announcement that Ospreay has signed with All Elite Wrestling, he is seeking to exit his full-time tenure with NJPW by pushing himself beyond the max, facing perhaps the greatest NJPW competitor of all time, Kazuchika Okada this Saturday in San Jose.
Ospreay went from being one of the most talked about young talents in the world to a fully matured main event superstar with wins over Kenny Omega, Shingo Takagi, Zack Sabre Jr., Chris Jericho and countless over top echelon fighters and has even defeated Okada in the past, including their most recent meeting in G1 Climax 33, but as he seeks to exit NJPW, Ospreay wants to leave no question as to who the better man is - and after a loss at Wrestle Kingdom to David Finlay, Ospreay wants to erase any blemishes.
To unlock that achievement, Ospreay will have to once again figure out the riddle of defeating Kazuchika Okada, who is one of the best prize fighters of this or any other generation, who has defeated every major star in his way over the course of his career. The Rainmaker is truly the definitive star of this generation, the gatekeeper of NJPW and he enters the ring with one goal in mind - to remind the entire world, but especially Will Ospreay, that Okada is the alpha and omega of New Japan - and everyone else is a step below. To the winner this Saturday on TrillerTV goes the spoils and the legacy.
Giulia vs. Trish Adora: Strong Women's Championship Showdown
A year ago, Battle in the Valley's hype was built around the former Sasha Banks, Mercedes Moné, making her mark in New Japan Pro Wrestling. A year later, the eyes of the professional wrestling world have been focused on the present and future of NJPW Strong Women's Champion Giulia, who's exploits in STARDOM and beyond have brought her great international acclaim and predictions about her future in New Japan and beyond. Before any of that can be revealed, Giulia will step into the ring Saturday against Trish Adora, who has challenged her for the Strong Championship.
Adora, seen regularly in New Japan Strong, AEW and Ring of Honor, has built an impeccable track record since exploding on the scene after training under WWE Hall of Famers The Dudley Boyz. A former member of the United States Army, Adora has shown incredible resilience and fighting spirit with victories over Emi Sakura, Mola Miyamoto, Shoko Nakajima and other international stars. If there was ever someone poised for championship greatness, it is Adora and this match has to be seen as the biggest moment in her career to date. Indeed, this could be her moment, but she'll have to upend a Giulia who has been at the top of her game. With Giulia recently disbanding her Donna Del Mondo faction in STARDOM, is the defending champion trying to refocus her attention to her singles exploits or a sign of a crack in her armor? The world will find out at Battle in the Valley, live on TrillerTV this Saturday!
Moxley vs. Takagi: No Disqualification Brawl
If there is someone angry coming out of Wrestle Kingdom, it has to be Jon Moxley. After all, the pride of Dayton came out empty-handed when seeking to earn the IWGP Global Championship and this Saturday live on TrillerTV, he's seeking to take his anger out on former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi in a No Disqualification Match. With the rules obviously relaxed, this environment plays into Moxley's insane sensibilities as a brawler and fighter, but Shingo should never be overlooked as his massive power and pugilistic ground and pound hybrid style has broken the spirits of many proud fighters. With the entire year of New Japan Pro Wrestling before us, Battle in the Valley looks to be the battlefield where everyone will be making their stand for supremacy and the man who walks out of this war of attrition with his arm raised may prove to be the first real threat for Tetsuya Naito's IWGP World Heavyweight Championship reign.
Eddie Kingston's Championship Defense Against Gabe Kidd
One fighter who has had a banner 2023 is AEW Continental Classic tournament winner Eddie Kingston, who emerged with not only the New Japan Strong Openweight Championship but the Ring of Honor World Championship and the AEW Continental Classic title as a result of defeating Jon Moxley at AEW Worlds End in New York last month. Now, Kingston strides into California, a world away from NYC as he seeks to retain his championships against British star Gabe Kidd. The pride of Nottingham, England looks to shock the world live on Triller TV this Saturday by stopping the onslaught of Eddie Kingston, but to do so, he'll have to someone quench the unending rage and fighting spirit of a man who has been punching people since the eventful day he charged out of womb. Over the last several years, Kidd has leveled up in New Japan Pro Wrestling, taking the best of his brawling abilities to Will Ospreay, Orange Cassidy and many others, but this Saturday is the biggest test of his career. If he can avoid the spinning backfist and the lariat, Kidd may change the entire trajectory of 2024 with a championship win….
Finlay vs. TJP: A Clash of Styles
One fighter who has already changed the entire trajectory of the year is fourth-generation superstar and Bullet Club leader David Finlay, who walked out of Wrestle Kingdom as the first IWGP Global Champion. The son of "Fit" Finlay has channeled all the fighting swagger one would expect from someone carrying that legacy and this Saturday at Battle in the Valley, he faces in-ring wrestling wizard TJP. For TJP, this match represents a moment to grab the attention of the world by shocking Finlay, who is in the middle of his zeitgeist moment. If Finlay scores the victory, it's just another notch in his ever-impressive list of accolades. If TJP wins, it's a world-changing moment, live on TrillerTV.
These main events are just the beginning of what this historic broadcast has to offer this Saturday on TrillerTV. NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions El Phantasmo and Hikuleo will defend their championships against top American stars Alex Coughlin and Clark Connors. Former MLW World Champion Jacob Fatu will make his official NJPW debut as part of a six man tag team extravaganza alongside Shota Umino and Fred Rosser as they battle the fearsome six man combination of Tom Lawlor, Royce Isaacs, and Jorel Nelson. Lucha Libre will be unleashed as Mascara Dorado and Volador Jr. take to the ring and the air against Rocky Romero and Soberano Jr.
There will also be several Kickoff Matches with AppleTV+ star Goldy from The Monster Factory battling Matt Vandagriff and rising international women's stars Viva Van and Stephanie Vaquer will collide center-ring!
This Saturday, the road to Wrestle Kingdom 19 in January 2025 begins live on TrillerTV as New Japan Pro Wrestling presents Battle in the Valley 2024 emanating live from The Golden State across the world to wherever your TrillerTV FITE devices are!
Mike Johnson is the lead reporter for PWInsider.com and has been writing about professional wrestling since 1996. He can be found on Twitter @MikePWInsider and MikeJohnsonWrites.com.
