Summary

United Japan Pro-Wrestling announced its next umbrella event, FACE THE NEXT, for May 12 at Shinjuku FACE in Tokyo. The show is set to spotlight younger talent across multiple promotions.

The date also lands in the final stretch before the planned September 2026 closure of Shinjuku FACE, giving this card extra weight for fans who have followed the venue’s role in the scene.

The participating promotions announced are: - New Japan Pro-Wrestling - Big Japan Pro Wrestling - Pro Wrestling NOAH - DDT Pro-Wrestling - Dragongate Japan Pro-Wrestling - Kyushu Pro-Wrestling - Pro Wrestling FREEDOMS - Ganbare Pro Wrestling

United Japan Pro-Wrestling also stated that talent announcements will be released daily at 10 PM EST.

What FACE THE NEXT Means for NJPW and NOAH Prospects

With NJPW and NOAH both involved, FACE THE NEXT creates a clear platform for younger wrestlers to gain visibility in front of fans who follow multiple promotions, and that can raise expectations for future inter-promotional opportunities.

Because the event is centered on emerging names rather than established headliners, each daily talent reveal becomes an early signal of which prospects United Japan Pro-Wrestling wants to position more prominently going forward.

Sources

As reported by Fightful.