NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12 draws 34,995 paid at Tokyo Dome

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12 was seen by 34,995 paying fans and 43,000 total at the Tokyo Dome. Based on the stage and configuration, that’s a near-sell out and the biggest crowd for a Japanese pro wrestling event in about 15 years.

The 2017 event drew 26,192 paid to watch Kazuchika Okada successfully defend his IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Kenny Omega in the first of three outstanding matches the two had throughout the year. This year’s show was co-headlined by Okada vs. Tetsuya Naito and Chris Jericho vs. Omega.

2015 was headlined by a Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Okada IWGP title match, a Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kota Ibushi Intercontinental title match, and AJ Styles vs. Naito.

Here are the paid attendance figures for Wrestle Kingdom over the last three years. Prior to that, NJPW didn’t announce the actual paid number.

2018: 34,995
2017: 26,192
2016: 25,204

Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez discussed the show for subscribers on a special Thursday afternoon edition of Wrestling Observer Radio. 

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