So Power Struggle was the last major Japan show before heading to the Dome and I think we've started to decode where some titles are heading. Let's talk about them and the potential problems in whatever order i remember the belts/matches exist. Also not gonna look at Dynasty for now but might make a couple of predictions.
IWGP WHC: Sabre vs Umino
Jesus, this match is the wrong match right now. I think the crowd is very much not into Umino being in the main event and Sabre is proving himself as a gaijin face-ace, putting it in a weird spot. Tradition says Umino will win the big one but it feels like NJ have noticed the reactions and are being very careful.
My head currently says they can't go with Umino now, there's clearly a dissonance and Sabre is too big right now to strike him down. Hopefully they don't make a big mistake and spend a year trying to fix it. Sabre is on the run of a lifetime and is clearly so big with every crowd that I reckon they'll keep him as Champ for now; he'll probably lose to NJC winner or at Dominion, at least in my eyes, but Tokyo Dome feels like it should belong to The Front Man.
Winner: Zack Sabre Jr
IWGP Global: Finlay vs Tsuji.
Yeah, this is the right step for this.
Finlay has quietly been one of the most consistent wrestlers this year in Japan, never quite being a mega star but fine-tuning his character and feeling like a bigger villain than ever. He's helped the new title feel like it means something, but his challenger needs to win.
Tsuji is clearly the man; he has everything he needs to be a main event guy, apart from the big wins. It feels like he needs to win one of the big ones soon or he'll become another nearly man, a-la Goto in the early-mid 2010s.
Logic dictates a new Champ, but Tsuji is also 2-0 against Finlay, making it feel like it's time for him to lose fo complete a simple narrative. Head says Finlay but I'm going with my heart here – give Tsuji the belt and let the Gene Blast go to the top… yeah, that nickname still feels wrong.
Winner: Yota Tsuji
IWGP JrHWC: DOUKI vs Desperado
I'm so glad that DOUKI has had the run he has with the Jr belt. I remember him winning and being genuinely shocked over it, but he's proven he deserves to hang in the upper echelons, having great title defenses and showing so much heart. Still, his challenger might be the right choice… kinda.
Despy being back is nice, but does he need the title? Much like Hiromu, it feels like he's done everything he can in the Jr division and winning the title would be another feather in the cap, but he's running out of challengers he hasn't faced yet. Some repeats are nice, but I feel like he'd do better as an openweight-style wrestlers, letting him have some bigger matches with different people.
I don't know really. I feel like Despy is back to win, but it feels like the wrong choice. We'll wait and see.
Winner: El Desperado
IWGP Tag Titles: UE vs WTL winners
Hey, UE have belts, that's cool.
Right now, this is hard to predict without the WTL teams, but I'm placing bets on the winners of the league winning the belts. My head currently says Natio/Hiromu stand a decent chance to do a tag-title Champ vs to get the fabled match, but we'll see.
Bit too far out to guess now, but screw it. WTL winners are my guess.
Winners: WTL Winners
NEVER Openweight Title: Shingo vs ???
The NEVER belts currently feel in limbo. Shingo is genuinely a great Champ and embodies the feel of the NEVER belt, but slinging it back to him feels like they don't know what to do with it.
Personally, I feel like merging it with the STRONG openweight belt is a good move; one universal openweight belt, plus it would give us Kidd vs Shingo, which could be great.
I'm predicting whoever challenges Shingo will win, but no idea who yet. Maybe we'll get something in the US shows
Winner: whoever the challenger is
NJPW TV Title: Narita vs Oiwa vs Cobb
Meaty men slapping meat? My kind of match.
Cobb and Oiwa are the kind of guys who I envision with the TV Title. Big guys who can have great sprints, but it's believable that they could be beaten as well. Cobb had a great run and Oiwa has a lot of potential, but there's a push-up bar freak in the way.
Narita is odd. He's always had the potential but the HoT stuff has helped and hindered hin
him. These days, with less interference, it's kinda working for him, gives him personality while also not making him straight-cut meat. Still needs a new finisher tho, I hate the Double Cross. Also feels like it'll be too early to cut him off; he's only just won the title and he has some good potential to be an interesting champion.
Head says Narita will retain, if anything for one major heel win, but my heart wants Oiwa to have a chance. We'll see what happens.
Winner: Ren Narita
Small note: I originally had ELP in this spot, winning the belt for the home team. Get well soon brother.
IWGP Jr Tag Titles: Jet Setters vs TMDK vs War Dogs vs 2/2
The Jr tag scene is arguably at the most interesting it's been in a while, with a lot of teams circling around and waiting for a shot. Something tells me we're gonna see a title change tho.
Kushida and Knight are good as champs (and Knight has a lot of upside) but they're not full-time with the company and something tells me they're not destined for a massive reign, more something to avoid a massive clean loss for the war dogs.
2/2 and War Dogs have been at the top of the card for a while for the division and it feels like a change is needed. I wouldn't be surprised to see Drilla tease a heavyweight move (or hell, put the NEVER belt on him, Drill Killa everyone) but it feels like these two teams don't need the belt, unlike TMDK.
The TMDK boys are in a great spot right now, at the peak of popularity and with so much momentum. Fujita also is a huge rising star and Eagles is consistent as hell. More importantly, it feels like their time to win the big one.
No question, TMDK needs to win this one.
Winners: TMDK.
Special Singles Match: Tanahashi vs EVIL
Yeah, Tanahashi is winning this.
The retirement tour starts on January 4th 2025 and EVIL seems to be determined that he'll take over the company when all is said and done. Tanahashi can still have a great match when he tries but something says this match will struggle with how both of them are now.
Tanahashi is winning this 100%. The final year of the Ace begins. Oh boy is it gonna be emotional.
Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi
KOPW: lol it's KOPW
Who knows what will happen with this belt. It certainly has a charm and O-Khan has really been a fun Champ, but I feel like we're gonna get someone new on top this year. No idea who though.
Winner: Who knows
NEVER 6-Man Titles: Unknown/unlikely
I don't see the 6-man belts being defended at WK or Dynasty. If it is defended, it'll probably be in a interpromotional match at Dynasty that I don't see the champs losing. Feels like Oleg needs something bigger to do as he's kinda been quiet since the G1. Plus, Yano.
STRONG titles (singles and tag belts): can't tell yet…
Right now, I don't have anyone challenging the STRONG tag titles unless it's at Dynasty and even then, I don't see the titles changing at this point. As for the singles belt, it seems like Kidd is heading towards a match with Kenny Omega that I doubt he'll won but it'll be a good return for him.
That's all I can think of for now. Looks like a very interesting card for now, with a few matches left to lock in. Here's hoping it's a good end for what's been a rocky year for NJPW and the start of a good one.
by BenTheHopeless