Wrestle Kingdom 14 Preview

JUSHIN “THUNDER” LIGER, TATSUMI FUJINAMI, THE GREAT SASUKE & TIGER MASK W/ EL SAMURAI VS. NAOKI SANO, SHINJIRO OTANI, TATSUHITO TAKAIWA & RYUSUKE TAGUCHI W/ KUNIAKI KOBAYASHI
SPECIAL REFEREE: NORIO HONAGA

While I don’t know much about many of the men in this match, I know that this is a who’s who of legendary foes and allies of Liger. I’m sure this match will be a great nostalgia attraction. I only hope that we don’t get stuck in Taguchi comedy and instead keep the focus on what’s important: the second to last match in the illustrious career of Jushin “Thunder” Liger.

EVIL, SANADA, SHINGO TAKAGI & BUSHI VS. MINORU SUZUKI, TAICHI, ZACK SABRE JR. & EL DESPERADO

The war between Los Ingobernables de Japon and Suzuki-Gun has been told throughout this whole year. This match is mainly used to serve as a preview for the next night’s Sabre vs. Sanada clash for the British Heavyweight Championship. I want to see Shingo and Suzuki lock it up for a bit and tear into each other. If they want to build Shingo up for the heavyweights, then going through Minoru at some point is needed.

HIROOKI GOTO, TOMOHIRO ISHII, TORU YANO & YOSHI-HASHI VS. BAD LUCK FALE, CHASE OWENS, KENTA & YUJIRO TAKAHASHI

Like the previous match, this is warfare style between two feuding factions: Chaos and Bullet Club. This match will preview the next night’s NEVER Openweight clash between Goto and Kenta, which will likely be excellent. Something will happen here to set the tone for the next night and maybe we get a Shibata involvement.

IWGP TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP:
TANGA LOA & TAMA TONGA (C) VS. JUICE ROBINSON & DAVID FINLAY

FinJuice earned this match by virtue of winning the 2019 World Tag League. The Guerrillas of Destiny have dominated a lackluster division in NJPW all year, even spending almost half the year in Ring of Honor. Tag wrestling hasn’t been a priority lately due to the loss of Young Bucks, Best Friends and the Golden Lovers. I hope that this bout can reignite New Japan’s tag team scene as two standout graduates of the New Japan Dojo go for the gold.

IWGP UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP: TEXAS DEATH MATCH:
LANCE ARCHER (C) VS. JON MOXLEY

This is going to be really good. We’ve been wondering since October how NJPW would play out the Moxley title situation after he was stripped for missing a scheduled title defense at King of Pro Wrestling. He was set to face Juice Robinson that night, but Lance Archer subbed in and won his first singles title in New Japan. The “Murder Hawk” is now set to face “The Nightrider” in a Texas Death Match. This is going to be violent, just knowing Moxley’s tendencies alone. I expect a new champion here since the winner has Juice the next night and we all want that rematch.

IWGP JR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP:
WILL OSPREAY (C) VS. HIROMU TAKAHASHI

It was in July of 2018 that Hiromu suffered what many thought was a career-ending neck injury. We didn’t know if “The Timebomb” would ever return. At Power Struggle in November, Ospreay had just defended the championship against Bushi and asked who was left to face since he has turned away all challengers since winning the crown again in June at Dominion. Hiromu shockingly returned and accepted Ospreay’s challenge for Jan. 4. Leading up to the show, Ospreay and Robbie Eagles have bested Hiromu in tag matches, fueling speculation that he may be a step behind now. If the old Hiromu from 18 months ago returns, then expect an early “Match of the Year” candidate.

IWGP INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP:
JAY WHITE (C) VS. TETSUYA NAITO

Let’s keep in mind here that White already beat Naito for the Intercontinental Title back in October at King of Pro Wrestling. Naito was the first to bring up becoming “Double Champion” and claimed that it was his “Destino.” Fast forward one year later and Naito is two steps away from fulfilling that claim. However, “The Switchblade” wants to claim everything himself for Bullet Club and prove that he is the future of New Japan. I’m calling for a new champion; knowing how NJPW likes to book, this story is likely to come full circle for Naito regardless if he wins or not on the second night.

IWGP HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP:
KAZUCHIKA OKADA (C) VS. KOTA IBUSHI

When Ibushi won the G1 back in August, fans immediately wanted the match between Ibushi and Okada for the title. During the tournament, Ibushi defeated Okada in 25:07. My prediction is that this match will likely have a similar finish with Ibushi achieving his dream finally, but it’s going to take longer than their G1 time. I wouldn’t be shocked if we go into the 46-minute range like Okada did with Kenny Omega three years ago. This is going to be an amazing match between two of the best in the world today.

NIGHT 2

RETIREMENT MATCH:
JUSHIN THUNDER LIGER & NAOKI SANO VS. RYU LEE & HIROMU TAKAHASHI
This needed to be a simple three-way match. If this is Liger’s finale, he should actually be challenging one last time for the Jr Heavyweight Championship. I know nothing about Sano, but if you listen to Dave Meltzer, he speculated that he’ll likely slow down the match severely, which sucks for how Lee and Takahashi like to go. I’m sure this match will be good for being a farewell for Liger, but sadly, NJPW missed the mark on this one.

IWGP JR. TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP:
TAIJI ISHIMORI & EL PHANTASMO (C) VS. SHO & YOH

Sho and Yoh earned this title shot by winning Jr. Tag League back at Dominion. During their celebration, they were jumped by the champs, who then stole the trophies and claimed they won the tournament. Roppongi 3k has won the tournament three years in a row and look to be the golden goose of New Japan, so expect a title change and subsequent rematch by end of the month. Regardless, this will be a great matchup between four young talents who will all be future singles champions and yes, I know Ishimori has already won it, but he’ll be at the top again soon enough.

BRITISH HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP:
ZACK SABRE JR. (C) VS. SANADA

This is going to be a technical clinic. When they squared off in the G1, the match was excellent and I wouldn’t be shocked if New Japan officials saw that and decided they needed this one on the big stage. Seems like Sanada could win the title to only lose it back to Sabre shortly afterwards (look back at the Sabre vs Tanahashi series this year) so once again New Japan is wasting one of its best grown talents. Sanada should be in a high-profile match for these shows. I’ll take him against Kenta for the NEVER title or him against the United States Champion. “Cold Skull” should be walking out with something, but let’s do it with a IWGP type of title. Sabre is also being underutilized and slightly stereotyped into the British title picture and nothing else in New Japan. He is a former winner of the New Japan Cup and all they do is have him defend this title. Let’s think of something else for these two after this match is done.

IWGP UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP:
WINNER OF NIGHT 1 ARCHER/MOXLEY MATCH (C) VS. JUICE ROBINSON

There are many factors to consider. Of course, who will walk in champion after Archer and Moxley kill each other on Night 1? We are looking at a Moxley vs. Juice rematch that we didn’t get at King of Pro Wrestling. The other factor is whether Juice walks in with a title already because he and David Finlay challenge for the Tag Titles. Juice is going to lose one of these two matches because how can they book him to become double champion before you crown a true double champion later in the show with the World and IC title. So, if Juice wins on Night 1 then Moxley or Archer will retain, but if Juice walks in without Night 1 gold, then expect a new United States Champion.

NEVER OPENWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP:
KENTA (C) VS. HIROOKI GOTO

This match is based off the Shibata angle that started back at the G1 finale in August. Goto is best friends with Shibata and Kenta was brought in with Shibata when he made his return to the company back in June. Kenta would turn on Shibata at the G1 and join Bullet Club en route to winning the NEVER Openweight Title from Tomhiro Ishii. I can’t call how this match will go, but I would love to see Shibata get the ultimate revenge by costing Kenta the title, only if it leads to an eventual match between “The Wrestler” and Kenta. This may be far-fetched, but that’s where this story has to eventually get to.

LOSER OF OKADA/IBUSHI VS. LOSER OF NAITO/WHITE FROM NIGHT 1

This is likely going to be Okada vs White, according to my Night 1 predictions. For the sake of that, this can be built as a rematch from last year and Okada looking to avenge the loss to White in a good 14-minute match. It’s hard to preview a match when you don’t know even one participant, but all four possibilities are great.

HIROSHI TANAHASHI VS. CHRIS JERICHO

As of a few days ago, this match is now likely for a shot at the AEW World Title should Tanahashi win. While the story out is that there is still no working relationship between AEW and New Japan, this likely spoiled the result in my eyes. If there is no relationship, then why would you tease a possible title match? Because Tanahashi is not winning this match, that why. Jericho is going to win due to the fact that the AEW title wouldn’t be defended against a New Japan talent regardless if it’s on a Dynamite episode or at a New Japan event. Jericho wins a good match, but some of its luster is gone with this recent development. Sucks to say that because I like both men and was looking forward to this a lot.

IWGP HEAVYWEIGHT & INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP:
DOUBLE GOLD DASH WINNER TAKES ALL:
WINNER OF NAITO/WHITE (IC CHAMP) VS WINNER OF IBUSHI/OKADA (WORLD CHAMP)

Based on my predictions and how New Japan has been booking this year, this will be Naito vs. Ibushi. Naito was the first to bring up the double champion idea earlier in the year and Ibushi is easily the chosen one. They had great matches earlier this year, but I hope that they don’t go back to the neck and head moves that almost killed each other. Nevertheless, if I had to pick one to win, I’m going with Naito. He started the story almost a year ago and New Japan is very good with booking their stories to a reasonable ending.

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Neal Wagner

28 years of expressing my opinion on the things I love. I express my opinion on professional wrestling to give you something to think about.

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