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New Japan Pro Wrestling has certainly kick-started the new year with a bang, as it is safe to say that the first-ever two-day annual Wrestle Kingdom event was a major success for the Japanese promotion. With the crowning of their first-ever Double Champion in the form of Tetsuya Naito, NJPW is all set for a New Beginning (no-pun intended) as the promotion will be looking to book a few highly exciting matches within the coming few weeks.
As seen on both nights of Wrestle Kingdom and at the 2019 New Year's Dash event, NJPW teased several new feuds surrounding their top champions and also teased several interesting and exciting singles, non-title matches as well. With the likes of Jay White, Hiroshi Tanahashi, SANADA, and Kota Ibushi currently without any championship gold around their waist, it will be interesting to note what New Japan has in store for their top stars as they get set for the 2019 New Beginning Tour.
With that being said, let us take a look at the 5 highly anticipated matches New Japan Pro Wrestling could book after Wrestle Kingdom 14, presumably for the upcoming New Beginning Tour.
#5 Jon Moxley vs Minoru Suzuki- IWGP US Championship
Having won back the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship on Night 1 of Wrestle Kingdom 14 by defeating Lance Archer in a brutal Texas Deathmatch, Jon Moxley has certainly been at the centre of attraction in NJPW, all thanks to his massive brawl against Minoru Suzuki on the second night of WK 14.
Following his successful title defense over Juice Robinson on Night 2 at the Tokyo Dome, MOX was attacked by the leader of Suzuki Gun, as the latter got retribution for being attacked in the finals of the World Tag League by 'The Death Rider'.
At New Year's Dash, MOX once again got under Suzuki's skin, as he got the better off the latter and hit him with a Death Rider DDT and it now looks like we're all set for an exciting US Championship clash between the two.
#4 KENTA vs Tetsuya Naito- IWGP Intercontinental and Heavyweight Championships
Ticking off another obvious option from my list, as I feel that it is just a matter of time before New Japan Pro Wrestling officially confirms a match between the Double Champion Tetsuya Naito and Bullet Club sensation KENTA as the main event of one of the New Beginning shows.
At Wrestle Kingdom 14, Naito shocked the world when he defeated Kazuchika Okada to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Having already beaten Jay White for the IWGP IC Championship, the leader of Los Ingobernables de Japon was riding at an all-time career-high as he finally got his hands on two of New Japan's most prestigious belts at the same time.
However, in the final segment of the night, Naito was attacked by KENTA, as the former WWE star set up a future match between him and Naito and it remains to be seen when NJPW will book the pair in a Double Title match.
#3 Shingo Takagi vs Hirooki Goto- NEVER Openweight Championship
Hirooki Goto has truly redefined himself as one of the hardest-hitting workers in New Japan Pro Wrestling, as the CHAOS lieutenant put up a performance of a lifetime at Wrestle Kingdom 14 in order to capture the NEVER Openweight Championship once again, this time by beating his arch-nemesis KENTA.
Goto and KENTA certainly put together a match for the ages, as the two men exchanged some brutal shots and slaps across each other's faces and torsos in a Wrestle Kingdom instant classic.
Another man, however, who is also known for working hard-hitting, stiff matches is non-other than Shingo Takagi of Los Ingobernables de Japon. The former IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champion entered the G1 Climax in 2019 and went toe-to-toe with some of New Japan's finest in the form of Tomohiro Ishii, Jon Moxley, and even Tetsuya Naito. Therefore, a match between Takagi and Goto for the NEVER Openweight Title will be one to watch out for.
#2 Will Ospreay vs Zack Sabre Jr.- (RevPro British Heavyweight Championship)
Zack Sabre Jr. and Will Ospreay have a long history along with each other. The two men have previously worked alongside each other in the UK and have also faced each other on a lot of occasions back in their home country, as well.
The two men also collided at the 2019 G1 Climax Tournament and with ZSJ retaining the RevPro British Heavyweight Title at Wrestle Kingdom 14, it is finally time for a Brit to step up to the plate and challenge ZSJ for his belt.
Ospreay and ZSJ recently teased a potential feud/match against each other at New Year's Dash and it could very well be a matter of days before ZSJ vs Ospreay is confirmed in a rematch for the British Heavyweight Title.
Honorable Mention: Dragon Lee vs Hiromu Takahashi- IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship
Hiromu Takahashi captured the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 14 when he defeated now-former champion Will Ospreay and on Night 2, 'The Ticking Time Bomb' pinned Jushin 'Thunder' Liger in his final match.
With Hiromu teaming up with his arch-rival at The Dome, it is only a matter of time before we get a rematch between the former and 'Ryu' Lee.
#1 Goldes Aces vs FinnJuice
At New Year's Dash 2019, the pair of Kota Ibushi and Hiroshi Tanahashi teamed up with the new IWGP Tag Team Champions Juice Robinson and David Finlay.
With the four men beating the Bullet Club in a tag team match, the exciting pairing of Ibushi and Tana (two men who also lost their matches at The Dome) eventually challenged FinnJuice for the IWGP Tag Team Championship in the aftermath to the match.
The challenge definitely felt fresh and it certainly added factor to the fact that NJPW is indeed looking to strengthen their tag team division, as officials are letting two of the promotion's biggest star in the form of Ibushi and Tana challenge for the IWGP Tag Team Championship.
With the New Beginning Tour almost upon us, so expect FinnJuice to defend their gold straps against the newly formed duo of Kota Ibushi and Hiroshi Tanahashi.
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