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What a night.
If you aren't on board with New Japan yet, you better get along. This what wrestling is. Gedo's unbelievable insight and craft in building a narrative have resulted in a year-long story unfold into a shocking semi-main event between the Ace Hiroshi Tanahashi and the Switchblade Jay White.
That's not all though, the stunning events that unfold result in greatest character arcs moving forward as they have for years on end. From the Golden Lovers tryst to Tanahashi's capability of still being the Ace, to the breaking of Okada's arrogance to questions of Naito's redemption.
There's so much to unpack about New Japan's latest event, setting the road to Wrestle Kingdom 13. Factions bolstered their ranks in many ways, while friends came to clash. Even in the lower card tag matches, a lot of interesting threads developed. So let's see what notes we have scribbled down after this epic King of Pro Wrestling.
#11. This is How Veterans Should Be
It might come as a culture shock for incoming fans of New Japan, that not just Jushin 'Thunder' Liger but Tiger Mask have a reputation as two of the best Junior Heavyweights in New Japan history. This is because despite giving a hell of a fight to Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru, they fell to them relatively easy.
It might even come as a further shock, that Liger heads into next years Wrestle Kingdom without a championship or key match in his 30th year in pro-wrestling. All this would come as a shock because most fans have come to expect down and out veterans (which Liger is far from) to hog the spotlight when they return to the squared circle.
This expectancy comes from how WWE treats it's over the hill veterans, with just two days of a gap between the events of WWE's glorified house show in Australia and this event as proof. Here the veterans take a low-key position in the opening match and even manage to shine.
Over there, the veterans hog another main event (sure due to the love by fans) and stink the joint up, building towards something else. One day that bubble will burst on WWE when they will no longer have part-time stars to save them. Meanwhile, New Japan looks to an even brighter future while paying enough homage to the past.
#10. This Might Be The Last Big Shot for Great Bash Heel
Great Bash Heel is as popular as ever, if not more so since the return of Tomoaki Honma. Of course, questions persist of Honma's health and ability to go in the ring. He proved he has still got it, far more than the oft lazy Togi Makabe; in fairness, he only takes it cool in these meaningless tag team contest.
Up against a fired Juice Robinson and their trainee Toa Henare, the two men gave a by the numbers match. The fans lapped it up as they played their greatest hits, with a rousing cheer for Honma once he got the pin and managed to get up from the canvas. Honma's paralysis has been a touch and go issue, so Makabe and the referee's concerns felt right. He took time to get up and rightly so, remarking how long GBH will keep up for at least on a higher level in New Japan.
For all purposes, the duo is New Japan dads so it might be time to slowly climb down the card. Of course with the occasional big push, since they are so popular. It would also allow Honma to take it slowly, even though the hard man wouldn't want to. It's still fun to see GBH play to the crowd, but with a dud match like this things might be better for a cool down for Honma to engage crowds a while longer. For now, World Tag League awaits.
#9. Bullet Club OG Finds Their Sky Sniper
A great tag match between the Bullet Club OG's and The ELITE continued a civil war that seems like it is spinning its wheels. That is until a shocking moment later in the night. For now, this was a serviceable tag match to once more place the Firing Squad front and center in a brewing war.
The Bullet Club OG's, of course, had greater concerns with the need to shore up their ranks. GOD is more than likely headed for a World Tag League run, while Ishimori is in need for a partner for the Juniors side of the equation. Luckily Bad Luck Fale found him one and too from their neck of the woods, with Australian Robbie Eagles joining the Club as another fast and furious Juniors addition.
Robbie Eagles is a talented Australian prospect, adding a nice touch for Bullet Club and as a partner to Ishimori. The duo could just as well go all the way and now have natural rivals in CHAOS's own Juniors team of Sho and Yoh. It's a very interesting time for Bullet Club OG and Robbie Eagles is just the beginning.
#8. Ospreay Creates A Bridge to the Heavyweights
With each passing event, Will Ospreay's march towards the heavyweight division becomes clearer. In a six-man tag match pitting him and his CHAOS partners against Suzuki Gun, it is Ospreay who picked up the big win over Taichi. This secures him a future title show at the NEVER Openweight championship, most likely at November's Power Struggle event.
While Ishii heads on to face Minoru Suzuki for the RPW Heavyweight title this week, Ospreay can look to a likely future as the new NEVER Openweight championship. Taichi for all purposes is a lower card heel in a higher position than worthy. Hopefully once Ospreay puts his stamp on the clear Openweight tile, he shall have a heavyweight clash against Kota Ibushi.
A Wrestle Kingdom dream match between the two would get intriguing stakes with the NEVER title on the line. It'd be a showcase for CHAOS's best member with upside potential (he can bring the British eyes to the product) and to Ibushi's gestating frustrations with Omega that he should know his place.
Regardless of story or clashes, the Openweight bracket is the best bridge to build Ospreay's heavyweight aspirations. Taichi is gone for.
#7. The Dragon Gates Open Into The Lion's Den
An apt quote by Kevin Kelly sums up the latest addition to the ranks of Los Ingobernables de Japon. It's also apt that this latest addition joins them at King of Pro Wrestling, where EVIL and Sanada made their debuts in the past years. LiJ is stronger for the inclusion of the Dragon known as Shingo Takagi.
Completing his farewell tour with Dragon Gate in fine fashion, the bullish Takagi joins his former sparring partner Naito at LiJ. It's the perfect position for Takagi, who's lost a slight bit of weight to function in the Juniors division as a partner for Bushi. With his fluctuating position, Takagi is the perfect candidate for not just a Juniors run but his own run as NEVER Openweight champion.
While his stay in LiJ is permanent, it's well expected that in maybe a year or so Takagi might head to the heavyweights once Hiromu makes his return. For now, viewers can salivate at the idea of Takagi running roughshod over the Juniors division with a likely clash against Kushida at Wrestle Kingdom 13.
Why wouldn't fans want that, after the amazing showcase they got of Shingo in his New Japan debut? This night, a star is born.
#6. EVIL is Jericho!
Zack Sabre Jr. is wrestling's preeminent heel, yet Chris Jericho one-upped him at King of Pro Wrestling with an attack on EVIL before their match began. This forced an EVIL forfeit, giving Zack another win over LiJ. It primes him for an even bigger 2019 after a New Japan cup win this year and two pinfalls over Tetsuya Naito.
EVIL's woes with Chris Jericho continue as well. The free agent has travelled the world in the past year, with shock appearances at New Japan to ALL IN building his own brand. His Jericho cruise promises highlights as he takes on Kenny Omega, builds to a feud with Sami Callihan. Jericho is enjoying his moment in the sun away from WWE and New Japan has another platform set up for him.
This includes a likely match against EVIL and his first title defence at Power Struggle. This will create a slow build for Naito to take him on at Wrestle Kingdom 13 it seems, once the Tranquilo leader finishes business with Sabre at the former event.
While a part of New Japan might Breathe with Switchblade, you can bet they'll all drink it in with Y2J.
#5. Death, Taxes, and Kushida Beats Marty Scurll is a Guarantee
Marty Scurll felled perennial rival Will Ospreay in the semi-finals of this four-man tournament, but he couldn't take out the Ace of the Juniors division Kushida. This is the third time Marty has been unable to beat Kushida, drowning any chances that he may get his match at Wrestle Kingdom 13. More likely is Marty taking a back seat in the Juniors division for his eventual promotion to heavyweights alongside Ospreay next year.
They will fight forever. While it's increasingly seeming that Kushida will be a Junior forever to be the leading light of a division, on the levels of Jushin 'Thunder' Liger. It's great, Kushida is the perfect man to carry the division with the instability of Hiromu's health. Now once more the champion, for the sixth time Kushida can look to a fresh slate of opponents for a division building back up.
Kushida's likely headed to Wrestle Kingdom 13 with the title in tow, after a thriller with Scurll. He has Taiji Ishimori and more chasing him, but there's no doubt that a match against Shingo is one hell of a treat that the dome fans deserve to see live. This is a bright moment for the Juniors.
#4. The Ace-Switchblade Trilogy Ends on A High
It's an intriguing time as Ace for Hiroshi Tanahashi. The arc of his relevance builds as he cedes the ring to younger competitors while also seeing New Japan float into a different direction, under new leadership. This year, therefore, finds him on an intriguing crossroads, heading into the main event at the Tokyo Dome (spoilers!).
Within the year he has had two trilogies to signify it, bridging to a feud with Kenny Omega. The first is the reaffirmation of his rivalry with Okada that saw his rival surpass his title reign to a thrilling draw and finally beating him for the first time in over three years. It vindicates Tanahashi that he can still go.
On the other end is a trilogy that has grown in quality with the future of New Japan in Switchblade Jay White. With each successive match not only has White improved, but he's got a stronger grasp of his character that has also gripped NJPW with a together choke hold.
The back and forth match was there best yet with White psychologically trumping Tanahashi even in defeat, entering to gear paying homage to Ace's former great rival Shinsuke Nakamura. The end saw Tanahashi claim victory but a bigger story overshadows it, spoken about late.
#3. The Golden Lovers Honeymoon Comes to An End
Before we get to the big twist of the night, let's skip ahead to the main event. A somewhat disjointed but entertaining bout between three members of the ELITE for the IWGP World Heavyweight championship. The main event saw some intriguing strings pulled at of the year-long tale of the ELITE breakdown and reconciliation.
Cody after bringing together the Golden Lovers earlier in the year through his machinations became a factor of resolution and disturbance for the two men seeking not to destroy one another. In the process, they did just that and in a way that builds to the story the company not only is telling for Omega but wishes to tell for Ibushi, if he sticks around.
Late into the match, Kota Ibushi struck Cody with a Kamagoye and an assured victory at hand, but Omega stole it by doing the one thing that he shouldn't have. He deliberately stopped the referee count, he interfered in an unfair manner. Post that Omega had the audacity to tell Ibushi to know his place.
Clearly, Tama and Cody are/have been right, this is not a leader but an emotional fool. Kota struck, destroying Omega and sending their partnership to the near brink of extinction. Thankfully Cody's interjections once more found the two men united but eventually, Ibushi fell to Omega.
So now with his ego somewhat patted down, Omega and the Golden Lovers remain strong but this story has just begun. Love has a way of turning sour before we even know it, this breakup will be slow and brutal.
#2. Will The Real ACE Please Stand Up?
Despite a hectic semi-main event, Tanahashi hasn't forgotten that he is going to headline Wrestle Kingdom against Kenny Omega. The intriguing thing to note is that he hasn't yet addressed the peeking fractures within the love of Omega and partner Ibushi, once a prodigy Tanahashi believed in and to some extent still does.
The main event provides an intriguing tale of two men tied by destiny in interesting ways. New Japan would not be the promotion it is today if Tanahashi hadn't carried it out from the darkness. Just as the Ace receded to that very same darkness, Omega rose like a phoenix to breathe fire into New Japan's global expansion.
This is a clash of generations and of ideas, it is once again another narrative bump and possibly the biggest in Omega's arc of realizing New Japan's future beyond Japan. For Tanahashi, it's about reminding the company its roots, despite the internal changing guard.
Hilariously, despite being about the stake of the future of NJPW; this also functions as merely a subplot in the war for Ibushi's soul. If Ibushi is to fulfill being 'Kami beyond God' and surpass Tanahashi, he must according to the Ace find his soul in New Japan and rip his heart away from a distracting Omega.
The layers unfold as a chapter comes to an end and new beginning at the Tokyo Dome.
#1. Switchblade Was Always Bullet Club 4 Life!
Now we return to the semi-main event, where a post-match twist births another incredible masterstroke by Gedo. This man does not get praised enough, paying off an intriguing number of stories with the birth and rise of Jay White. What a year it has been for the Switchblade.
The day after Wrestle Kingdom, Kenny Omega offered him a spot in Bullet Club but he spat on the ELITE's face. Intriguingly Tama Tonga mentioned that maybe the wrong man asked White. The use of this easter egg, this set up justifies Gedo's wild twist making it both a shock and plausible. This is as White joins the Bullet Club OG's towards domination.
All of this a tale ages in the making, as Gedo realized slowly but surely with a breaking Okada; that the Rainmaker just couldn't do the one thing White has done destroy and reassemble the poison of Bullet Club for New Japan's own benefit. This Bullet Club, the original Club is one worth fearing.
As White beat on Tanahashi, Okada came to his aid and felt the wrath of this new alliance. From the fragments of CHAOS and Bullet Club has birthed the greatest monster yet that New Japan has seen.
The poetic image of Tanahashi ruing over a fallen Okada says it all, rivals and foes will have to put aside all difference to bring back the adrift soul of New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Because for now, it breathes the Switchblade, who is Bullet Club for life!
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