South Auckland Hosts Global Wrestling Milestone: Inaugural NJPW TAMASHII Tag Team Champions To Be Crowned At COLD WAR

From the shadow of Māngere Mountain, New Zealand’s place in global wrestling history will be cemented at COLD WAR, where four elite tag teams will battle to become the first-ever NJPW TAMASHII Tag Team Champions.

Held at the Māngere Arts Centre; South Auckland’s cultural hub, COLD WAR marks a major turning point for New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Oceania brand. The event combines international prestige with strong local roots, showcasing the power of Pacific identity and Japanese Strong Style in one high-stakes tournament.

“COLD WAR tells people what we’ve known for a long time,” says Toks Fale, founder of the NZ Dojo, also known domestically as Fale Dojo. “The next generation is already here. And they’re ready.”

What makes this event historic:

• The majority of wrestlers competing are NZ Dojo / Fale Dojo students and graduates, representing different intakes over the past decade.

• These athletes have trained under the same system that produced NJPW stars, living proof of how far South Auckland’s wrestling scene has come.

• TAMASHII’s core roster has been shaped entirely through this pathway, making COLD WAR a true celebration of homegrown talent on a global stage.

Among them are Oskar Leube (Germany) and Yuto Nakashima (Japan): two returning graduates who began their journey at Fale Dojo in 2019, then sharpened their craft at the NJPW Dojo in Japan and across Europe. They now return to South Auckland not as students, but as contenders. Both are tipped to be future stars of NJPW and TAMASHII.

EVENT DETAILS

Māngere Arts Centre, South Auckland

Friday 4 July 2025

Doors open 6:30 PM

Tickets available via Eventfinda: https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2025/cold-war-is-coming/auckland/mangere

ABOUT NJPW TAMASHII

NJPW TAMASHII is the Oceania territory of New Japan Pro-Wrestling, operated by the NZ Dojo. TAMASHII blends Japanese Strong Style with South Pacific discipline, offering a direct pathway from New Zealand and Australia to the global wrestling scene.

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