The first major event in New Japan after one of the best G1 Climax tournaments in history will take place this Tuesday, October 9th as New Japan brings you “King of Pro Wrestling”. It’s headlined by Kazuchika Okada making his 8th defense of the IWGP Heavyweight title in his 4th reign. It could be historic as he is only 94 days away from topping Hiroshi Tanahashi as having the most days with the IWGP Heavyweight title. On the semi-main event, Tetsuya Naito has his first defense of the IWGP Heavyweight Title Certificate Briefcase and his shot at main eventing Wrestle Kingdom 12 at the Tokyo Dome against “The Stone Pitbull” Tomohiro Ishii.
“The Wrestling Brain” Callum Owen and I (Curtain Jerker) break down the 4 main events and give you our predictions.
Kazuchika Okada vs Evil (IWGP Heavyweight Championship Match)
Wrestling Brain: To be honest I think this is a very easy match to predict, I can’t see Okada dropping his title here against Evil. With Wrestle Kingdom 12 just 3 months away, I anticipate Okada to yet again be a main focal point of that show, so Okada goes over in this match no doubt.
Winner and still champion – Kazuchika Okada
Curtain Jerker: This is a nice little bridge feud for Okada before Wrestle Kingdom season picks up and the hype for Okada-Naito becomes real. EVIL got this matchup by having a great G1 Climax, even going over Okada cleanly. However, this time Okada retains and gets a clean victory over EVIL in a great match.
Winner and still champion-Kazuchika Okada
Tetsuya Naito vs Tomohiro Ishii (Naito’s G1 climax winners trophy and Wrestle Kingdom 12 Heavyweight Title Shot on the line)
Wrestling Brain: So this is my first proper year of following NJPW and I must admit I’m not overly sure why this match is happening, and in particular why Naito would put his Wrestle Kingdom main event spot on the line especially against Tomohiro Ishii. Now I can give a reason why both men ought to win, first if Naito wins it would confirm his match up against presumably Okada at Wrestle Kingdom for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, and it would also be a clash between the two leaders of 2 of the main factions in NJPW (Los Ingobernables and CHAOS). However if Ishii were to win, it would set up a match between 2 CHAOS members, so both options would lead to nice intertwining storylines whatever the result is. But just because he came through a gruelling G1 Climax I expect Naito will win.
Winner – Tetsuya Naito
Curtain Jerker: Naito won the G1 Climax in 2013 and became so horribly booked that he lost his main event slot with Okada to Hiroshi Tanahashi and Shinsuke Nakamura for the secondary IWGP Intercontinental Title. Naito chose Ishii because outside of Okada he is the most powerful force in CHAOS. Expect a dominant Naito victory and for the remainder of the fall for Naito to mow down every member of CHAOS until he reaches Okada at the Dome for Wrestle Kingdom.
Winner-Tetsuya Naito
Kushida vs Will Ospreay (IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Match)
Wrestling Brain: Before I make my prediction, I think it’s safe to say that this match will probably be the Match Of The Night. Kushida defeated Ospreay in the final of the Best of the Super Juniors and is undefeated in all matches against his opponent. However I think Ospreay will pull off a win here and become the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion. Here’s why, Will Ospreay is arguably one of the best wrestlers in the world right now, and the fact he’s only 25 is mind blowing The things he does in the ring are scary and dangerous and I don’t see him wrestling at this style for another 10 years mainly because I don’t think his body will be able to take the sort of bumps that he currently takes. Hopefully, NJPW cash in on Ospreay’s gaining popularity and give him a run with the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, also coming from the UK I’ll be happy to see a British wrestler holding a major title in Japan. If Ospreay doesn’t win, I wouldn’t mind seeing him pushed to the Heavyweight division and maybe take on Kenny Omega down the line.
Winner and new champion – Will Ospreay
Curtain Jerker: I am a major fan of KUSHIDA and I agree with Callum that this will likely be Match of the Night. While Callum knows all about Ospreay and I know all about KUSHIDA, you’d think we would differ on this prediction. We won’t as I believe Ospreay will finally defeat KUSHIDA (he’s 0-4 against him all-time) and bring a new style to the New Japan Jr. Heavyweight division. My hope is that KUSHIDA will move up to the heavyweight division, he does it in ROH, as I can see him perhaps as a future U.S. or Intercontinental Champion.
Winner and new champion-Will Ospreay
Funky Future (Taguchi and Ricochet) vs Roppongi 3K (IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Match)
Wrestling Brain: Currently we are not aware who Roppongi 3K are but we do know that Rocky Romero is involved, now is he bringing in a tag team to manage or is he just bringing in a new tag team partner for himself? I’m going to go for the latter, and make a bold risk and say his tag team partner will be Austin Aries. I honestly can’t give a logical answer to aside from his 90 days non compete clause is expiring 3 days before this show, and it would be a massive debut and a massive signing for NJPW if A double joined their promotion. As for the result of the match I’ll say that Roppongi 3K will become you’re new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champions
Winners and new champions Roppongi 3K (Rocky Romero and Austin Aries)
Curtain Jerker: Funky Future will be facing a team that Rocky Romero picked and will likely begin his transition to the managing and announcing ranks. I believe this will be a team that we’ve seen on New Japan undercards, The Tempura Boyz. They’ve been “in excursion” in ROH and have fared quite well in a stacked tag team division. New Japan likes to shock people and a title change here would shock many.
Winners and new champions: Roppongi 3K a.k.a. The Tempura Boyz
That’s what we think will happen at NJPW – King of Pro-Wrestling, but what are your predictions?
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