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Dominion

We started this second half of the year with an IWGP World Heavyweight title defense at Dominion for the incoming IWGP World Heavyweight champion, Hirooki Goto. Goto came into Dominion with a stellar record. He had already put together a 4-month title reign in his first run with an IWGP Heavyweight title, and he had already broken the record for most defenses in a single title reign, while also matching the record for total successful defenses of this incarnation of the title (6 defenses, previously held by Kazuchika Okada). He’s looking to break another record at Dominion, but to do that, he’ll have to get through Shingo Takagi.

A former IWGP World Heavyweight champion himself, Takagi is no stranger to the belt or Goto himself. The two had battled several times in the past when Takagi first moved to the Heavyweight division, and history favors Takagi. He’s 3-1 over Goto, including a NEVER title win where he dethroned Goto. However, on this occasion, history would not repeat itself, and Goto would be able to defeat Takagi, successfully defending his championship, and adding another notch in his title reign.

Tanahashi Jam

Goto wasted little time in naming his next challenger. It seems the double-pin result from his match with Zack Sabre Jr. Resurgence has left Goto unsatisfied. Not wanting to let that outcome weigh over his title reign, Goto sought to have one more title match with ZSJ. The title match would come quickly, just two weeks after Dominion, at the Tanahashi-produced Tanahashi Jam show, the two would battle for the third time this year. The match was a battle, but thanks to a relentless assault by ZSJ on Goto’s right arm, a referee’s decision ended the Goto Revolution, awarding ZSJ his second reign as IWGP World Heavyweight champion. The aftermath of this match would also see Goto out of action for an extended period of time, with ZSJ’s offense causing lasting damage to Goto’s right elbow.

G1 Climax

This result threw the G1 Climax scene all out of whack. Goto was expected to compete in the G1 Climax as IWGP World Heavyweight champion, but not only did ZSJ take the title from him, the injury to his elbow forced him out of the tournament entirely. This changed the landscape of the G1, and added a bit of uncertainty to the tournament. Nevertheless, the show must go on, and ZSJ entered as champion.

Things didn't start very well for ZSJ. He lost his first match to Ren Narita, and while an injury to Gabe Kidd granted ZSJ two points, he would then lose his next match to Shota Umino. With no wins in the opening nights of the tournament, it was not looking good for the new IWGP champion, but Zack would not be deterred, rallying back, and going on to win his next 6 matches in a row, clinching the top spot in B Block, and earning himself a bye into the semi-finals. 

There, he would meet Konosuke Takeshita. The two had met in the block phase, where Takeshita finished #3, just managing to make the playoffs. He defeated David Finlay in the Quarter-Finals, and now faces the IWGP champion. With the previous loss on his mind, Takeshita got his win back, eliminating ZSJ from the playoffs, and going on to beat Evil in the finals to win the G1 Climax.

Forbidden Door

While falling short of a G1 win may have been disappointing for ZSJ, he had to press on and carry out his duties as IWGP World Heavyweight champion. His first challenge would come at the AEW crossover show Forbidden Door, which took place in his home country of the UK. How fitting then it was that his challenger would be one Nigel McGuinness.

While McGuinness isn’t exactly a top guy in AEW, this match was still a fairly significant one. McGuinness was a phenom of the indie wrestling scene in the 00s, having significant reigns with both the ROH World and Pure Championship, and being a featured act in TNA. However, for various reasons, he stepped away from the ring in 2011, which coincidentally was around the time Zack Sabre Jr. began rising in prominence. The two are very similar wrestlers, both being British wrestlers with a strong technical skillset and a taste for punk rock. 

The two had never met in the ring, and it seemed like this would forever be relegated as a dream match. However, this occasion gives both men the opportunity to put on a so-called dream match, especially for a London crowd, and so the match was set, and it would be Zack Sabre Jr. vs Nigel McGuinness for the IWGP World Heavyweight title at Forbidden Door London. The match was as much of a technical masterpiece as you would expect from these two, and while a valiant effort was put up, Zack would ultimately triumph over the older Nigel.

Destruction in Kobe

Coming back to Japan, the next two matches for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship would be set. First, Zack would have to try and avenge his G1 opening night loss to Ren Narita at Destruction in Kobe. Then, whoever would come out of that match with the title would then face the G1 winner himself, Konosuke Takeshita, at King of Pro-Wrestling.

So first, ZSJ vs Narita. The match that the two had in the G1 would end up being one of Narita’s best. It lacked any of the House of Torture shenanigans Narita would come to be known for since joining the group, and showed that Narita still had his technical chops from his early career in the LA Dojo and his time with the Sons of Strong Style. However, since the Destruction match was announced, things between ZSJ and Narita were anything but civil. The build to Destruction in Kobe was marked by brawls between the two, with each trying to yank the other’s legs off in between pelting each other with chairs. When it came time for the match, it was of a similar quality. A technical yet brutal affair intermixed with some House of Torture interference. In the end though, Zack managed to fight off the weapons and the interferences, prevailing over Narita, and making a second successful defense of his title.

King of Pro-Wrestling

With Narita having been dispatched, Zack now had to focus his attention on Konosuke Takeshita.

Takeshita has had a fascinating history during his time here in New Japan. He made his debut for the company at last year’s G1 Climax, where he represented both AEW & DDT, but after winning the NEVER title earlier this year at Wrestle Kingdom, he officially signed for NJPW as well. Now he represents all three companies, but within the context of New Japan, he still feels like an outsider, so there’s this unspoken otherness surrounding him. It was there in the G1 Final when he faced Evil, and it follows him here in this title match with Zack Sabre Jr. It’s like a dark cloud of uncertainty hovering over him, adding some unpredictability to his matches.

When the match finally came to be, it certainly felt like a toss-up. The two were 1-1 in their G1 matches (ZSJ won in the block phase, Takeshita won in the playoffs), so even their recent history is split. The two beat the piss out of each other, putting everything on the line, but as the dust settled, the one who emerged victorious was The Alpha Konosuke Takeshita, your new IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.

Tanahashi's Final Homecoming

After the match, Takeshita celebrated his win and, without wasting time, immediately offered a challenge to anyone on the roster to challenge him for the title. It was a challenge that was answered by a very appropriate challenger: Hirooki Goto, the former IWGP champion who made his return from injury earlier on the show and wanted another shot at regaining the title he lost. Takeshita responded with a bit of disappointment, wondering why none of the younger talent stepped up. However, he accepted the challenge all the same, and the two would be set to face off at Tanahashi’s Final Homecoming show.

It was a simple set-up for a match. It was a former champion vs the new champion, the old guard vs the new blood, the leader of New Japan’s home team vs the perceived outsider whose attention is split between three companies. This was also likely to be the final major defense before Wrestle Kingdom, so a potential spot in the main event of the biggest show of the year was on the line as well. With the two being very similar stylistically, it made for a very brutal, smash-mouth kind of match. On this occasion, a second title reign would be denied for Goto, and Takeshita was able to make his first successful defense of the IWGP World Heavyweight title.

Wrestle Kingdom 20

After a show of respect to the failed challenger, Takeshita once again called for an open invitation to anyone on the roster to challenge him for the IWGP World Heavyweight title. This time, it would be one of the younger guys who accepted the call, but in a surprise turn of events, it was the IWGP Global Heavyweight champion Yota Tsuji who came out. Tsuji had been talking for a while about leveraging his position as the Global champion in order to challenge for the World title at Wrestle Kingdom, and here he followed through on his intentions. Takeshita gladly accepted, but on the condition that Tsuji put his own Global title on the line as well.

With that, our Wrestle Kingdom World Heavyweight title match is set. It will be Konosuke Takeshita vs Yota Tsuji for both the IWGP World and Global Heavyweight Championships. While it won't be the main event, as Tanahashi and Okada will be closing out the show in Tanahashi's retirement match, it's nevertheless a momentous occasion. With two such young wrestlers competing for the top title, it almost feels like a changing of the guard, like this crop of young talent in the company is ready to really take over. However, who will lead the charge? Will it be the international sensation, or the smiling face of New Japan? We’ll find out come Wrestle Kingdom 20.

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