Power Struggle (2018) was a

professional wrestling Professional wrestling, often shortened to either pro wrestling or wrestling,The term "wrestling" is most often widely used to specifically refer to modern scripted professional wrestling, though it is also used to refer to Real life, real- ...

event promoted by

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) is a Puroresu, Japanese professional-wrestling Professional wrestling promotion, promotion founded on January 13, 1972, by Antonio Inoki, and based in Nakano, Tokyo. It is currently majority owned by card-game company Bushiroad, with TV As ...

(NJPW). It took place on November 3, 2018, in

Osaka is a Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan, designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the List of cities in Japan, third-most populous city in J ...

, at the

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium is an indoor sporting arena located in Namba, Osaka, Japan. It first opened in 1952 and the current building was constructed in 1987. It is the venue of a professional sumo tournament ( honbasho) held in March every year. The capacity of the ...

. It was the eighth event under the Power Struggle name.

Storylines

Power Struggle featured

professional wrestling matches Many types of wrestling matches, sometimes called "Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Gimmick, gimmick matches" in the Glossary of professional wrestling terms, jargon of the business, are performed in professional wrestling. Some gimmick m ...

that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portrayed

villains A villain (also known as a " black hat", "bad guy" or "baddy"; The New Oxford Dictionary of English (1998) – p.126 "baddy (also baddie) noun (pl. -ies) ''informal'' a villain or criminal in a book, film, etc.". the feminine form is villai ...

, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in the scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches. At Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall,

Chris Jericho Christopher Keith Irvine (born November 9, 1970), better known by the ring name Chris Jericho, is an American-Canadian professional wrestler, rock musician, and actor. As a wrestler, he has been signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) , where he ...

defeated

Tetsuya Naito is a Japanese Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is best known for his 20-year run in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he served as the leader of the ''Los Ingobernables de Japon'' stable, and was a multi-time world champion. ...

to win the

IWGP Intercontinental Championship The was a professional wrestling championship owned by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion. "IWGP" is the acronym of NJPW's governing body, the . The title was officially announced on January 5, 2011, and the Inaugural Champion MVP wa ...

. After the match Jericho continued to attack Naito until Naito's '' Los Ingobernables de Japón'' stablemate

Evil Evil, as a concept, is usually defined as profoundly immoral behavior, and it is related to acts that cause unnecessary pain and suffering to others. Evil is commonly seen as the opposite, or sometimes absence, of good. It can be an extreme ...

interfered. Jericho wouldn't be seen at NJPW events until King of Pro-Wrestling where right before Evil's match against

Zack Sabre Jr. Lucas James Uggles Eatwell (born 24 July 1987), known by his ring name and its abbreviated form ZSJ, is an English-born professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). In NJPW, he is the second and current leader of the ...

, Jericho attacked Evil causing the match to be called a no contest. Backstage, Jericho challenged Evil and the match was made official. At King of Pro-Wrestling,

Will Ospreay William Peter Charles Ospreay (born 7 May 1993) is an English professional wrestler. , he is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he is a former two-time AEW International Champion. He is also known for his eight year tenure with New Japa ...

got the pinfall victory over the NEVER Openweight Champion Taichi in a 6-Man Tag Match. With this victory Ospreay was meant to challenge Taichi for the NEVER Openweight championship, however, the match was cancelled due to Ospreay suffering an injury. Ospreay was replaced by Hirooki Goto, who Taichi beat to win the NEVER Openweight Championship. In the 2018 New Japan Cup, Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Tetsuya Naito in a first round match. On the final night of B Block action for the G1 Climax 28, Sabre Jr. defeated Naito. At King of Pro-Wrestling, Sabre Jr. attacked Evil after he was unable to compete in his match against him, Naito then came to the aid of Evil. A match between Naito and Sabre Jr. was made. At King of Pro-Wrestling, Jay White,

Gedo Gedo (, , , or ''Ghedu'') is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in Jubaland, southern Somalia. Its regional capital is Garbahaarreey. The region was formed during 1974 and is bordered by the Ogaden in Ethiopia, the North Eastern Province ...

, and

Jado (born September 28, 1968) is a Japanese professional wrestler, manager and booker better known by the ring name . He is best known for his work in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) as part of a tag team with his partner Gedo. Jado and Gedo's care ...

turned on

Chaos Chaos or CHAOS may refer to: Science, technology, and astronomy * '' Chaos: Making a New Science'', a 1987 book by James Gleick * Chaos (company), a Bulgarian rendering and simulation software company * ''Chaos'' (genus), a genus of amoebae * ...

and joined Bullet Club OGs. Because of this, at Power Struggle, Jay White and Bad Luck Fale took on

Kazuchika Okada (born November 8, 1987) is a Japanese professional wrestler. , he is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) where he is a member of the Don Callis Family stable and is the current AEW Continental Champion in his first reign. Known as the , he is b ...

and Barreta of Chaos. At King of Pro-Wrestling,

Hiroshi Tanahashi is a Japanese professional wrestler, sports executive and Podcast, podcaster. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he serves as the president and representative director of the promotion, and is also an active wrestler. Widel ...

successfully defended his Tokyo Dome IWGP Heavyweight Championship challenge rights certificate against Jay White and at the end of the night he confronted

IWGP Heavyweight Champion The was a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship owned by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion. "IWGP" is the acronym of NJPW's governing body, the . The title was introduced on June 12, 1987, in the final of an IW ...

Kenny Omega Tyson Smith (born October 16, 1983), better known by the ring name , is a Canadian-born professional wrestler. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he is the current AEW International Champion in his first reign. He also works as an ...

. At Power Struggle, Omega teamed up with his Golden Lovers teammate Kota Ibushi to face Tanahashi and David Finlay. The Super Junior Tag Tournament 2018 was a thirteen-night professional wrestling tournament, with the final to be held at Power Struggle. Eight teams competed in a single block in order to qualify. The first team to qualify were the reigning IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions,

Yoshinobu Kanemaru is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he is a member of House of Torture and a former member of Bullet Club. He also works as a backstage producer for NJPW. Professional wrestling career ...

and El Desperado, winning five out of their seven block matches, followed by ''Los Ingobernables de Japón'' ( Bushi and

Shingo Takagi (born 21 November 1982), known by the ring name Shingo Takagi (鷹木信悟, ''Takagi Shingo''), is a Japanese professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). He is a former member of the ''Los Ingob ...

) and Roppongi 3K ( Sho and Yoh), who qualified with the same number of wins.

Results

References

External links

The official New Japan Pro-Wrestling website
{{New Japan Pro Wrestling events, Power Struggle

2018 Events January * January 1 – Bulgaria takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, after the Estonian presidency. * January 4 – SPLM-IO rebels loyal to Chan Garang Lual start a raid against Juba, capital of ...

2018 in professional wrestling November 2018 in Japan Professional wrestling shows in Osaka Events in Osaka