So what's Wrestle Kingdom looking like for everybody? In ascending order I've got:
- ??? ??? & ??? ??? (c) vs. ??? ??? & ??? ??? [IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team]
I don't even know if the Junior Tag belts make the card at this point. It feels like they have to but how many teams are there that could even hold the belts here? DOUKI's occupied with the Junior belt, same possibly goes for Desperado/Fujita/Wato/YOH. Maybe a War Dogs combo could hold it?
- ??? ??? vs. El Phantasmo (c) [NJPW World Television]
With World Tag League coming up and ELP usually missing the Power Struggle stretch of shows, I think Phantasmo's heading into the Dome as champion, although with no obvious challengers. For me, I'd put Oiwa here to get revenge for being pinned in the four-way last year with maybe a win over ELP in WTL to set it up.
- Syuri (c) vs. ??? ??? [IWGP Women's]
I don't really watch Stardom so I couldn't tell you who would be good here. I just hope they give them more than 10 minutes to show out as it never really feels like these matches get going.
- EVIL (c) vs. Aaron Wolf [NEVER Openweight]
I didn't predict this one but it'll be good to get the crowd behind Wolf even more than they already are. I don't think they'll change the belt on debut but Wolf might get a win back in the Cup.
- K.O.B. (OSKAR & Yuto-Ice) (c) vs. Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura [IWGP Tag Team]
It definitely did not feel like either team had finished their business with each other at KOPW and I wouldn't mind one more match between the two. In this situation Shota & Yuya would be winning the World Tag League (which I also can't really see any other obvious choices for winners). Going off track-record, I think Shota & Yuya will win here and K.O.B. will get their Wrestle Kingdom win next year over whoever's holding the belts at that point.
- Hirooki Goto vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
I did try to order the card with the tag title match here but that's putting way too much faith into how much New Japan cares about those titles. Otherwise, these two have a pretty heated rivalry I could see it carrying over into the Dome, and just having them in the Rambo would feel like a waste of two pretty popular wrestlers.
- DOUKI (c) vs. El Desperado vs. Kosei Fujita vs. YOH [IWGP Junior Heavyweight]
Last time there was a four-way title match at Wrestle Kingdom the competitors were the last four challengers for the title previous, but I guess you could put Master Wato in for YOH. I feel like this one has way too many gimmicks in it and a 1 vs. 1 would've been fine (especially considering the Junior Tag scene is at it's lowest depth since whenever Taguchi & Rocky were challenging for the belts). I also think Fujita not winning would be a mistake considering they are on TV Asahi, but it depends on which route they go with him.
- ??? ??? vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
I was convinced this would be Tsuji's match building into another New Japan Cup win or a World title match at Dominion. Now that his match is set for the Gifu show I have no idea who's even left.
- Konosuke Takeshita (c) vs. Yota Tsuji (c) [IWGP World Heavyweight / IWGP Global Heavyweight]
Not really thrilled with the double title aspect, and again it really feels like they're putting too may gimmicks into what could be a pretty straight-forward match, but I guess the destination is the same? I was convinced it would be Goto this year and Tsuji the next. Either way, I hope Tsuji doesn't end up like the last double champion and he just vacates the Global title before The New Beginning (if he wins, don't want to jinx it).
Big omissions would be: Shingo, Boltin, Finlay, Gabe & Hiromu (but he's probably working the NOAH New Year show three days before). Everyone not included in the main card would be in the Rambo which might be for a World title shot again, and I would say Shingo would be a good winner and first defense for Tsuji.
Also after writing this out I've realised I've only got 9 matches as opposed to the usual 10, so there's one more spot there for a match.
Overall it's looking pretty good and them potentially giving a new-gen guy that big push is exciting. I guess we just have to see if the crowds stick around after the Tanahashi run.
by jufiv