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Over the last five years or so we have come to accept that New Japan Pro Wrestling’s (NJPW) Wrestle Kingdom is by far one of the best wrestling pay-per-views of the year. While they have several noteworthy PPVs and tournaments throughout the year, NJPW’s biggest and grandest show of the year always comes up with great matches and is one of the most anticipated shows in the world of professional wrestling. Through time NJPW has built itself up as one of the true rivals to the WWE when it comes to world class level professional wrestling content and has often been hailed by critics as the better product in comparison. Extending its reach globally, outside Japan, the brand has over the last few years built a strong platform for itself, backed by their technically sound and well put together matches, strong focus on delivering wrestling as a sport over entertainment and of course a very talented roster.
NJPW does have an extremely talented roster outside of the WWE, with the likes of current heavyweight champion Kenny Omega, former 4-time heavyweight champion Kazuchika Okada, former WWE veteran Chris Jericho, NJPW veteran Hiroshi Tanahashi, local fan favourite Tetsuya Naito, Kota Ibushi, Will Ospreay, Tama Tonga, Jay White, Kushida, several talented tag teams including The Young Bucks, and many more. With all these names plus more scheduled to perform at Wrestle Kingdom 13, the excitement around the event is electric.
In anticipation of next year’s extravaganza - Wrestle Kingdom 13 which will be streamed live on NJPW World from the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on Jan 4th, 2019, here is looking at 6 matches which will ensure that the 28th edition of NJPW’s grand professional wrestling showcase can again be expected to be a blockbuster of a show.
#6 Kushida (c) vs Taiji Ishimori - For the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
Kushida is a veteran of the Junior Heavyweight division and is always expected to put on a good match whenever he steps inside the squared circle. Due to the unfortunate injury sustained by the impressive Hiromu Takahashi, who had to relinquish his title, Kushida has yet again stepped up to win the title and bring his fast-paced brand of action to the Junior division. He faces the exciting Taiji Ishimori from the newly re-formed Bullet Club, a man who has won critical appreciation for his match with Hiromu Takahashi in the finals of the Best of Super Juniors Tournament this year.
Ishimori will be gunning for the title while the 6-time champion Kushida will give it his all to retain the title, setting us up for a fast-paced exciting match for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.
#5 Kazuchika Okada vs Jay White
This is the only non-title match on this list and a match which should have been higher up on the card, had it not been for the other exciting matches in store for us at WK13, Okada vs White has been the rivalry of the year. The feud had always been teased ever since White joined Okada’s CHAOS stable and continuously questioned the erstwhile champion’s leadership skills. Things came down to a boiling point when Okada lost the IWGP Heavyweight Championship to Kenny Omega and, subsequently White managed to defeat Okada in their singles match at the G1 Climax 28 event.
Shots were eventually fired when White attacked G1 winner Tanahashi after his match with Okada at the Destruction in Kobe PPV, finally turning on Okada as well. During the assault on his former stable leader, Okada’s long-standing manager Gedo would intervene - only to turn on the former champ as well, joining forces with White. This was one of the most surprising turns of the year which shocked even the most ardent NJPW fans. White and Gedo would eventually join the reformed Bullet Club, which had just kicked out the Elite sub-faction from within its ranks.
Okada and White have been going back and forth all this while, with this grand saga of betrayal finally culminating at WK13, when Okada finally gets his hands on the backstabbing White.
#4 Guerrillas of Destiny (c) vs Los Ingobernables de Japon vs The Young Bucks - For the IWGP Tag Team Championships
Let’s face it - any match featuring The Young Bucks is guaranteed to give you a thrilling experience. Add the versatile Tama Tonga and the destructive Tonga Loa along with the dark and hard-hitting Sanada and EVIL to the mix and we have a solid match on our hands.
There is some back history to this match as well, stemming from the unceremonious ejection of the Elite sub-faction from the larger Bullet Club, at the hands of the vicious Tongans, Elite mainstays Matt and Nick Jackson will be vying for revenge and aiming to get the heavyweight tag titles back. Meanwhile Sanada and EVIL will also be on the lookout to prove their mettle to everyone, having won the World Tag League and securing their place at WK13.
Also, with the rumours that the Elite could possibly be leaving NJPW after WK13, and with the possibility that this may be the Bucks’ last match for the promotion - this definitely is a must watch bout.
#3 Chris Jericho (c) vs Tetsuya Naito - For the IWGP Intercontinental Championship
The wily veteran Chris Jericho surprised everyone last year when he attacked the then IWGP US Champion Kenny Omega on multiple occasions leading to one of the best matches of Wrestle Kingdom 12 between the two. Jericho is still at the top of his game at this stage of his career and the man just cannot stop delivering classic after classic.
He surprised many again when he captured the IWGP Intercontinental Championship from Tetsuya Naito at Dominion earlier this year, which was followed by a war between him and Naito’s Los Ingobernables de Japon faction for the remainder of the year. This epic rivalry between the two finally culminates at Wrestle Kingdom 13 and Naito will be waiting with anticipation to get his revenge on Jericho, paying him in full for all the sneak-attacks in the past as well as getting his hands back on the IWGP Intercontinental Championship in the process. All in all, a well-structured setup that will make way for a great match.
#2 Kenny Omega (c) vs Hiroshi Tanahashi - For the IWGP Heavyweight Championship
Another match that is expected to steal the show is the main event for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Hiroshi Tanahashi has been the poster boy of NJPW for a very long time. A veteran of the industry he can literally be compared to the role John Cena has played for the WWE. A decorated seven-time IWGP Heavyweight champion Tanahashi has however not been considered a major heavyweight title contender for a few years now.
Kenny Omega could be called the international face of the promotion. Having grown rapidly as a fan favourite over the years, he has progressed from being a light heavyweight contender to becoming one of the most formidable heavyweight wrestlers in the world. Omega would potentially be on most critics' 'best of' lists for the year. He has delivered bout after bout worthy of the match of the year recognition over the last few years and has always been one to watch out for in the ring.
There has been good build-up to the match as well with champion Omega calling out Japanese wrestlers for not putting in enough effort to be good enough to fight for the title. Tanahashi took on the challenge putting in substantial effort to win the G1 Climax this year with an impressive record breaking finish of 11 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss. There is also the anticipation around the fact that while the title hasn’t changed hands at the Wrestle Kingdom event since 2011 - the last person to win the title at the event was Hiroshi Tanahashi. Furthermore, there have been several rumours of The Elite, which includes incumbent champion Omega, leaving NJPW after the event. While all these facts make for an even interesting match, at the end, however, it is the quintessential fight between the old guard and the new blood, which leaves us viewers with nothing but a potentially breath-taking match that could be the match of the evening.
There is however one more match which has the potential to steal the show...
#1 Kota Ibushi vs Will Ospreay (for the NEVER Openweight Championship)
Two of the best wrestlers in the world start the event (which is a slight let-down, as this match deserves to have been higher up the card) fighting it out for the NEVER Openweight Championship. The current champion, Kota Ibushi, is one of the best high flying hard strikers in the world and has already had been featured in several 'match of the year' bouts this year. His opponent ‘The Aerial Assassin’ Will Ospreay is the world’s best high-flying superstar outside of the WWE, and has built a name as a decent grappler in the ring as well.
Any match between the two is sure to electrify audiences. However, the NEVER Openweight title has been known for hard-hitting, no-selling matches and that just adds another exciting angle to this bout. This match without a doubt, holds the potential to steal the show and while it is the first on the match-card, holds every possibility to becoming a solid match of the year contender.
