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With this year's historic Wrestle Kingdom taking place over two days, New Japan Pro Wrestling prepares for a bumper start to the Japanese new year with a stacked card for night two. The Gold Rush tournament to crown the company's first double champion concludes, as does the career of Jyushin Thunder Liger.
NJPW is pulling out all the stops, including the intriguing additions of Chris Jericho as well as possibly Jon Moxley to night two. Considering their affiliation to upstarts AEW and in particular Jericho as its champion, there is a rumble in the air as to what else NJPW might have in store for their fans at the Dome as well as New Years Dash after the event.
Meanwhile, there are big championships and future implications on the undercard, but also some unfortunate apathy over NJPW's resistance to balk at their card tradition. Regardless of night two being the grand weekend finish to Wrestle Kingdom 14, this one is stacked and a difficult road to predict to a new year for New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Yet, here we try and predict the
A Star-Studded Pre-Show
Gauntlet Match for the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championships: The Most Violent Players (Togi Makabe and Toru Yano) and Ryosuke Taguchi (c) vs. CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii, Yoshi Hashi, and Robbie Eagles) vs. Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale, Chase Owens, and Yujiro Takahashi) vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi, Bushi, and EVIL) vs. Suzuki Gun (Taichi, El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru)
When it was announced at Wrestle Kingdom 13 last year that their annual Tokyo Dome event would be two nights in 2020, it felt like vindication for superstars left out of the big card. Unfortunately out of habit despite the expanded card as well as the absence of the ELITE that dominated 2019, NJPW has once again left some of its big stars in a lurch.
With the kind of year Shingo has had, the effort to improve put in by Taichi and Robbie Eagles, not to mention the fact that EVIL and especially Ishii are beyond the pre-show, this is disappointing. Still at least this year they are competing for the titles unlike last year, at least NJPW remembered the championships after all this time.
This one will excite the crowd for a good portion, particularly if Ishii and Shingo come to blows. The real question remains how big the win will go over for their teammates later on the card, with the most convenient account allowing for a clean LiJ sweep to end the night on a perfect roll call. NJPW meanwhile has to consider to do more or at least do right by its stars if not this paperweight championship.
Result: Los Ingobernables de Japon break CHAOS's gauntlet streak with Shingo getting the pin to win the match and become the NEW NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champion
Liger comes a full circle
Liger Retirement Match: Jyushin Thunder Liger and Naoki Sano (with Yoshiaki Fujiwara) vs. Ryu 'Dragon' Lee and Hiromu Takahashi
Night two raises the curtain with an absolute banger, bringing to close the iconic career of Jyushin Thunder Liger where it began in the Tokyo Dome. This in many ways is the passing of the torch, a battle of the past and future with Liger captaining alongside career rival Naoki Sano against Ryu 'Dragon' Lee and Hiromu Takahashi.
Takahashi has yet to address the injury sustained at the hands of Lee. With his eyes dead set on a night one victory, Takahashi will compose his cool but not the energy to creating a dazzling piece. Liger will fight tooth and nail before falling as he should be to the better man, the era of rivals taking a change.
Liger leaving the ring is going to be hard to adjust to, but the two men on his opposite end are just at capable of getting the company and world to a new golden age of Junior Heavyweights. Look to Hiromu still risking it all, Lee matching him step for step and finally downing Liger and his career amidst a content but a tearful crowd.
Result: Hiromu Takahashi pins Jyushin Thunder Liger one last time to get the win for his team and send Liger into retirement
Juniors Tag Classic
For the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Bullet Club (Taiji Ishimori and El Phantasmo) vs. Roppongi 3K (Sho and Yoh)
It is finally time for NJPW to reconsider the structure of its barren tag team divisions or at least merge them to make full use of the thinned roster at hand. NJPW's tag team scene is woeful, especially as the resilient Roppongi 3K have netted their third consecutive Super Jr. Tag tournament. Even then, this one has the potential for fireworks with the challengers out for revenge.
The champions have been particularly effective over the summer in a heated rivalry against the Birds of Prey (Will Ospreay and Robbie Eagles). The contest is no doubt going to heat the Tokyo Dome, especially with the flashy 3K and rabid Bullet Club boys at each other's throats. It's hard to imagine 3K not injecting some urgency into division by capturing the titles, yet they're just as ready to dominate in singles competition.
With no challengers beyond Suzuki Gun to look forward to, Roppongi 3K will eke out of this one with the gold continuing the hot shotting of this rivalry. It's not like anyone can complain about the kind of expected matches. Yet once again, maybe NJPW just needs one tag team division; a NEVER Openweight version as it is.
Result: Roppongi 3K come back from behind to secure the win and become the NEW IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions!
Sanada revs up the Dome
For the Rev Pro British Heavyweight Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Sanada
Zack Sabre's near-annual British Heavyweight championship match sees him defend the title this year against LiJ's Sanada. The Cold Skull is close to falling off the radar into Goto levels of irrelevancy, especially in his inability to put away Okada just yet. Yet here we are, with Sanada placed far better off than his Dome partner of two years; EVIL, and with a real shot to broaden his career in the United Kingdom.
With some easy chemistry between two opponents and a very technical mat clinic up for the toss, this is a variant the card will need. There is still high octane drama to have with Sabre in particular set to prove his mettle in singles competition. A back and forth contest will elevate the two duos, allowing Sabre to move onto New Years Dash as master of Suzuki Gun or Sabre Gun.
Meanwhile, Sanada's big win here could put him on the map, to finally become the next big explosive star that Gedo has failed to book just yet. Sanada's small championship rise is a perfect way to run the underccurent of LiJ members surpassing their leader, onto bigger things. For Sanada there is no bigger and this is definitely his time.
Result: Sanada wraps Zack in the Skull End to make him tap and win the match, becoming the NEW Rev Pro British Heavyweight Champion.
The redemption of Robinson?
For the IWGP United States Championship: Lance Archer (c) vs. Juice Robinson
Despite the hefty star power of Jon Moxley, the NJPW US title scene needs strong stability in its ranks. For the past few years since its introduction, the belt has hopped around but been in constant orbit of Robinson. It is his baby in many ways and defines his position in the company.
Yet Juice's redemption (now for the second time in a year) requires a bit of rethinking and reinvention, beyond a simple haircut. Lance Archer is the perfect monster Gaijin to hitch NJPW's bandwagon on, for a lengthy fruitful reign and rivalry with Juice. Having the babyface chase the title for a prolonged period will create a better narrative and bring some prestige back onto the title, once the co-main event of Wrestle Kingdom 12.
Similarily it will pay off the goodwill turn by Archer in the past year and give Suzuki Gun a strong foothold if their king is truly leaving the roost. A hard-fought but an aided win for Archer on night one and dominance on night two will make him this star. Meanwhile, an empty-handed Juice Robinson by night two will have to question his abilities, furthering his newfound edge.
Result: Lance Archer beats Juice Robinson as everybody is beaten to win and retain the IWGP United States Championship
Unannounced and Unsanctioned
Unsanctioned Singles Match: Jon Moxley vs. Minoru Suzuki
Of course, New Japan cannot allow Jon Moxley to walk away with just one night of action. If there is some residual tension between AEW and NJPW, then look to the former locking down its exclusive talent (or restricting them) as their programming heats up in the coming year. As such New Japan would do the right thing to utilize the best of Moxley in a hardcore dream match, especially if Suzuki is set to leave as well.
The king is conspicuous by his absence on night two of the Dome show, this might be due to Gedo's waning faith in the aging Suzuki. Yet there is a legitimate chance here to get a titanic collision going, while letting Suzuki to also walk away from the company in a big way even in a loss. Moxley has clamored desperately for this one especially since he came to the G1 Climax. There was even a near confrontation at the end of World Tag League, as Moxley went after Suzuki's partner Lance Archer.
Speaking of which, it'll be in night one amidst the Suzuki Gun shenanigans that Moxley's slighted loss will earn Suzuki his ire. The two will brawl post match, setting up a wild unannounced contest for night two. Last minute ticket sales might not get a boost or need it, but this one should be a crowd pleaser considering the middling undercard.
Result: An elevated Deathrider later, Jon Moxley will put away Minoru Suzuki and win the match.
Two Warriors and A Shibata
For the NEVER Openweight Championship: KENTA (c)/w Bullet Club vs. Hirooki Goto/w Katsuyori Shibata
One needs to question NJPW and Gedo's constant teasing of Shibata's return in the build of this contest. Was he legitimately awaiting a comeback before things fell through, or did Gedo know he couldn't but needed to give this a boost? With Goto rallying to defend his school friends' honor, it creates for a tough prediction.
On one hand, Kenta's return hasn't gone over huge, but he is in prime position as a second top heel in Bullet Club. He's also fresh and needs of boosting the NEVER championship. Meanwhile, this is the annual time to throw Goto a bone, even though at this point the Samurai's reputation seems unsalvageable.
With Goto choking on big moments and even bigger ones eluding him, it's time to admit the mistake has been done and let it go. Goto could reinvent himself once more since joining CHAOS but at this point a somewhat tainted if furious Kenta win is for best. While if they truly feel a safe future is there for Shibata, then a post-match throwdown isn't a bad idea even if to at least pop the crowd.
Result: KENTA wins with a GTS to retain the NEVER Openweight Championship
3rd place Playoff
The loser of Intercontinental Match vs. Loser of Heavyweight Match: Jay White/w Gedo vs. Kota Ibushi
A rematch from there somewhat tepid G1 Climax Final is the perfect opportunity for Jay White to once more step up. Ibushi having cost himself his title bout, will be ever furious and relentless making him suspect to the mind games of the Switchblade. Early advantages and late interferences by Gedo, can push White to cause another huge stir of boos at the Dome after last year.
Kota Ibushi still needs a lengthy journey to fulfill his destiny particularly making the Intercontinental Championship shine but also win the big one. Here the road begins in earnest with a hard war against White. Jay White meanwhile has the chance for a perfect reset to push for an even better calendar year than the last.
There's no doubt that this bout has title implications for New Beginning. It is the best moment to let Jay White be the foil to another well-loved face of the company, from his two rivals of Naito and Okada. Meanwhile, Ibushi can look to repeat his G1 Climax feat for a proper Wrestle Kingdom main event especially if it's on just January the fourth in 2021.
Result: Gedo is a distraction long enough for Jay White to hit the Blade Runner and win the contest.
The Ace and The Joker
Special Singles Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Chris Jericho
A lot is riding on this dream match of icons if challenges and rumors are to be believed. Hiroshi Tanahashi opened pandora's box when he declared he'd challenge for Jericho's AEW World Title if he won this bout. Intelligent as ever, in response, Chris Jericho accepted on behalf of Tony Khan as well.
Not only has this got eyes on both products but the contest as well. For Jericho, in particular, it seems a smart move that could either find AEW into the fold with New Japan or more importantly allow the impossible stipulation to book himself into a big win at the Tokyo Dome. In all honesty, Jericho's reputation needs it, with the novelty of his appearances wearing thin.
The rivalry that started with Jericho's post-loss beatdown on Okada will find its way back to bite Le Champion, but for now, his Painmaker can destroy Tanahashi. With his clock winding down, and Jericho no slouch in big matches this one has a chance to remain in legend for sure. Hopefully, it, will not just for infamy but the quality of performances as well.
Result: A shock Judas Effect gets Chris Jericho the big win, against "Bakahashi".
Gold Rush: Destino!
For the IWGP World Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito (c)
Finally, destiny arrives on January 5th. With Okada having been dismissive of the whole double championship quest and his being the bane of Naito's main event aspirations. This is the perfect time for Naito to dethrone his rival, in their third Wrestle Kingdom bout. The story writes itself perfectly.
In 2013, Tetsuya Naito was voted out of his own earned main event in favor of the IWGP Intercontinental Championship bout by the fans. An excursion later, he returned as the Tranquilo leader of LiJ to destroy New Japan's heroes as well as the Intercontinental title. While no longer hating the championship, he had begrudgingly come to accept it last year as a bargaining chip for his world title aspirations. His Dome main event journey has been foiled twice, after Wrestle Kingdom 12 as well and the loss with it.
Now Naito's first night has him needing to win back his hated/cherished title to make it to the Dome main event on night two. This time round no one can take this destiny from him, in a blockbuster Wrestle Kingdom finale like no other. The ending writes itself, Naito needs his ending. Who better to do it against than Okada, especially when for Naito third time is always the charm. Expect a Los Ingobernables de Japon roll call at the end of this emphatic event.
Result: A final destino puts Kazuchika Okada down for the count as Tetsuya Naito wins and becomes the FIRST IWGP World and Intercontinental Heavyweight champion.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
