Okay, bit of an alternative universe here, but what if Naito beat Ibushi at Castle Attack 2021 to split the Intercontinental Title away from the Heavyweight belt, but future results stay the same?
Naito enters the New Japan Cup, losing the first round to Great O'Khan. Sakura Genesis six man match happens like it did (Henare pins Sanada), or have O'Khan get the pin instead.
Naito had to defend the belt against O'Khan at Wrestling Dontaku night 1, which probably means the two singles matches between Dangerous Tekkers & G.O.D. don't happen (including the Iron Finger from Hell Ladder match). They just have their Tag Title match from Road to Dominion night 1 here instead (maybe in a Ladder match instead?). Naito has to lose here to O'Khan for the storylines to line up (Naito moving to the Tag belts). Wrestling Dontaku night 2 six man tag happens like it did (maybe with Ibushi coming out to challenge O'Khan for Dominion).
This is where I'd have to make a change, and have Ibushi v O'Khan at Dominion, not Jeff Cobb. The result goes the same way though, Ibushi beats O'Khan for the belt.
Obviously what comes next is a bit unfortunate, with Ibushi missing both nights at Summer Struggle in Sapporo with fever staying the same, as well as Ibushi missing the World title match with Shingo Takagi at Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome (just for the World Title, Shingo not interested in IC belt just keep this going and not have Ibushi vacate the belt because of injury).
Finally we move to Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome where Tanahashi beats Ibushi in the official unification match between the US and IC belts, creating the Global belt.
In short it would have been a bit messy, but all hail Great O'Khan!
by Ro83rto