NJPW G1 Special in San Francisco match card, start time and more

New Japan Pro Wrestling invades San Francisco on Saturday night, July 7, and we tell you exactly what to expect at the Cow Palace.

If you haven’t already discovered why New Japan Pro Wrestling has been the hottest thing in pro wrestling for the last few years, you’ve got a fantastic opportunity to find out tonight. the G1 Special in San Francisco is exactly what it sounds like: a special full NJPW card taking place right here in the U.S., in the venerable Cow Palace right outside San Fran.

Though New Japan participates in joint cards with American promotions like Ring of Honor on a fairly regular basis, it’s less common for it to put on a whole show with all of its own talent on U.S. soil. That makes this a perfect chance to see why it’s so buzzy, with all of the main NJPW stars participating and a total of five title matches.

The headliner is Kenny Omega, otherwise known as the best wrestler in the world not signed to WWE — and maybe the best around full stop. Currently in possession of the promotion’s top prize, the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, after finally defeating Kazuchika Okada in an incredible bout last month, Omega will defend his new gold against Cody, a man U.S. wrestling fans know all too well.

Other highlights include the Young Bucks defending their IWGP Tag Team Championship against Sanada and Evil of Los Ingobernables de Japon, and an  IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship match between champion Hiromu Takahashi and challenger Dragon Lee. The show begins at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT and is being carried live in the U.S. on AXS TV.

Next: How to watch NJPW G1 Special in San Francisco online

NJPW G1 Special in San Francisco full match card

(subject to change, as with all pro wrestling cards)

• Yoshi-Hashi, Gedo, Rocky Romero, Yoh and Sho of Chaos vs. King Haku, Tamu Tonga, Tonga Loa, Yujiro Takahaski and Chase Owens of Bullet Club
• Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano vs. Minoru Suzuki and Zack Sabre Jr.
• Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kushida vs. Hangman Page and Marty Scurll
• Hirooki Goto (champion) vs. Jeff Cobb (challenger) – NEVER Openweight Championship Match
• The Young Bucks (champions) vs. Sanada and Evil (challengers) – IWGP Tag Team Championship Match
• Kazuchika Okada and Will Ospreay vs. Tetsuya Naito and Bushi
• Hiromu Takahashi (champion) vs. Dragon Lee (challenger) – IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Match
• Jay White (champion) vs. Juice Robinson (challenger) – IWGP United States Championship Match
• Kenny Omega (champion) vs. Cody (challenger) – IWGP Heavyweight Championship Match