New Japan Professional Wrestling Sturdy
Windy Metropolis Riot
April 12, 2024
Wintrust Enviornment
Chicago, Illinois

Watch: NJPW WORLD (PPV)

Meet our previewers:

John Carroll: John apologizes for skipping one in all these New Japan previews for the primary time in ages, however they have been busy seeing the New York Rangers win one more recreation, this time in a 4800-seat school area in the course of the desert. Fairly enjoyable! You may comply with them on Twitter @toshanshuinla as a result of it’s nearly playoff time child.

Warren Hayes: Warren spent the whole lot of penning this overview listening to a pleasant playlist of The Smiths. We promise you, he’s doing nice. He’s human and he must be cherished similar to everyone else does. Take a look at his podcast on YouTube or your favourite podcast app, or comply with him on BlueSky.

Sturdy Survivor Match
Matt Vandagriff vs. Zane Jay

John: We’ve received two pre-show matches earlier than the principle card at Windy Metropolis Riot, kicking off with what’s develop into a conventional Sturdy Survivor match on these US exhibits. Identical to the final Sturdy present I attended reside (final October in Las Vegas), it’s as soon as once more Matt Vandagriff collaborating on this. He really picked up the win again in Vegas, so we’ll see if he can go 2-for-2 in entrance of me right here. Matt had been round for a short time on the US indies, really going again to 2017 or so, earlier than becoming a member of up with the Sturdy academy final 12 months. In the meantime, I can’t actually discover a lot information on Zane Jay who doesn’t actually have a Cagematch profile but, however he did principal occasion the final Academy Showcase in opposition to Dangerous Dude Tito a couple of weeks in the past (in a dropping effort). Vandagriff additionally has an Academy Showcase principal occasion beneath his belt (he misplaced to Rocky Romero in the principle occasion of the ten/11/23 present), so I feel we are able to type of assume these are two college students they’re just a little greater on than a number of the others. Anyway, let’s go along with Zane Jay to win this one, why not. Prediction: Zane Jay

Warren: Matt Vandagriff is de facto the one one in all these two opponents who I’m conversant in and that’s solely due to his win within the final Sturdy Survivor Match within the Battle within the Valley pre-show the place beat Goldy. And he’s additionally on a profitable streak with these matches it appears. Prediction: Matt Vandagriff

Pre-Present Match
Mina Shirakawa & Viva Van vs. Trish Adora & Alex Windsor

John: Our different pre-show match is a girls’ encounter, that includes STARDOM’s Mina Shirakawa, two wrestlers who just lately frolicked within the Academy in Viva Van & Trish Adora (and Trish has clearly been getting plenty of TV time in AEW & ROH this 12 months as properly), and Revolution Professional’s Alex Windsor. Truthfully, this can be a fairly nice assortment of worldwide girls’s expertise for a pre-show match! I’d be stunned if this wasn’t a reasonably strong contest at minimal. I’ll go along with the group of Trish & Alex to choose up the win simply because they’re each just a little extra established than Viva, who looks like the most probably fall taker to me. Prediction: Trish Adora & Alex Windsor

Warren: We’ve got a STARDOM champion, a RevPro stalwart and two Academy-trained and well-traveled girls all coming collectively on this match. It’s fairly the lineup, and I’m just a little shocked it’s on the pre-show, frankly. I’ve lengthy been a fan of Trish Adora and it’s nice to see how far she’s come. Am I overthinking this by assuming they’ll doubtless need to maintain Shirakawa trying sturdy in Western markets seeing she may need Forbidden Door aspirations with Toni Storm? Cross-promotion reserving, child! Prediction: Mina Shirakawa & Viva Van

Minoru Suzuki vs. Ren Narita

John: Opening up the principle card will probably be a shocking match that was simply added to the present a couple of days in the past. When Ren Narita turned on his World Tag League associate Shota Umino to hitch Home of Torture final December, it nearly appeared like an afterthought that he was additionally turning his again on his fellow STRONG STYLE members Minoru Suzuki & El Desperado. Each Suzuki & Despy voiced their displeasure on the time, however the warmth was clearly on Narita turning on his good friend and dojo classmate Umino, not the opposite members of his bizarre little Hontai sub-unit. Within the months that adopted, Desperado appeared reverse Narita in some multi-man tags however by no means received a singles match with him, whereas Suzuki really vanished from New Japan totally. His final NJPW look was means again on December tenth, 2023, teaming along with his World Tag League associate Yuji Nagata and the Monstersauce group of Lance Archer & Alex Zayne to beat BULLET CLUB in an 8-man tag on the final evening of that tour. Since that remaining NJPW look Suzuki has saved greater than busy: he appeared on the DDT/BJW New 12 months’s Eve six-man event, did a handful of AJPW & different impartial exhibits in Japan to start out 2024, confirmed up on AEW TV to face Adam Copeland of all individuals, did a fast European weekend swing via the UK & France, confirmed up in MLW to problem Satoshi Kojima for his or her World title, wrestled Maki Itoh on Tokyo Joshi’s huge Wrestle Princess present, and at last got here again to the US once more for appearances in ROH & GCW on Wrestlemania weekend. He’s actually been all over, however once more, not a single New Japan look in 2024 thus far. Till now!

Whereas Suzuki was off globe-trotting, Desperado quietly introduced that STRONG STYLE was formally ending (after briefly making an attempt to forcibly recruit SHO from Home of Torture- if SHO had misplaced his junior title problem to Desperado again at New Starting, he would have been compelled to hitch the “unit”, however everyone knows what occurred there). So along with his sub-unit formally over and Suzuki seemingly having fun with his time as a real freelancer once more (versus a freelancer who principally works NJPW apart from the occasional outdoors date), it in some way made it all of the extra stunning when this match was all of the sudden introduced. Suzuki is not going to solely lastly reappear in New Japan, however he’ll do it stateside, and he’ll do it reverse his once-protégé Narita. This fully out of nowhere match is all of the sudden one in all my most anticipated of the evening. Who wins it doubtless comes all the way down to a easy query: have they got future plans for Suzuki, even when simply within the US? Or is that this going to be a one-and-done for him for now? I’ll go along with Suzuki getting a shocking win right here in his reappearance (particularly with Narita not having lots of his HoT mates to again him up, with many of the remainder of the unit on the Taiwan present later in the identical weekend), if solely to set him up doing one thing else on the upcoming Resurgence present in Los Angeles subsequent month. Prediction: Minoru Suzuki

Warren: Congratulations to Minoru Suzuki for touchdown his first NJPW reserving of 2024! Now he will get to beat up somebody who appeared positioned to be his protogé again when that Sturdy Type faction was a factor (did you blink? You missed it!). Whereas I’ll detest Home of Torture, it’s onerous to argue that Ren Narita’s shitheel persona has given him that spark of character that deeply eluded him because the “Son of Sturdy Type.” His days of being a Shibata facsimile could also be over (no less than, for now), however his anointment as one of many Reiwa Three (plus Uemura) nonetheless covers him greater than that Spirit Halloween cloak he wears. Even when his alignment with HoT implies that he rejects NJPW’s branding, I nonetheless really feel he’s one of many elected, with the expectations that go together with it. In that sense, this match could possibly be a chance to “do one thing” with Narita in his place as one of many younger guys entrusted with carrying the way forward for the promotion. A win in opposition to the plane-hopping Suzuki can be place to start out. It’s no actual pores and skin of NJPW’s lion-marked butt as they clearly haven’t any plans for the King of Professional-Wrestling and it could be accomplished in entrance of a crowd who actually do love Suzuki. Gotta begin someplace, gotta begin easy. Prediction: Ren Narita

NJPW Sturdy Girls’s Championship
Stephanie Vaquer © vs. AZM

John: Giulia had reigned because the Sturdy Girls’s Champion from all the way in which again on July fifth, 2023 (when she defeated the doubtless unintentional first champion Willow Nightingale, following the freak damage within the Willow/Mercedes event remaining), racking up 9 profitable title defenses throughout STARDOM & NJPW exhibits alike. However with Giulia lastly leaving the Bushiroad orbit and now seemingly on her option to NXT (gotta study the place that tough cam is sister!), her reign as champion was ended by the hands of CMLL’s Stephanie Vaquer on Evening 2 of STARDOM’s Cinderella Match, on March tenth at Korakuen Corridor. Stephanie will now try and make her first protection of the title in opposition to one other STARDOM wrestler in AZM, who has already unsuccessfully challenged for this belt as soon as earlier than (dropping to Giulia on the 12/2/23 STARDOM present in Nagoya). I don’t see the second time being the appeal for AZM, as Stephanie will doubtless get to carry onto this belt for some time on condition that she’s been a mainstay on these Sturdy exhibits for nearly a 12 months now. Prediction: Stephanie Vaquer

Warren: The one true winner from that Sturdy Girls’s Championship event final 12 months was, and continues to be, Stephanie Vaquer. Her knockout match in opposition to the freshly-Fed-freed Mercedes Moné was a true-to-form breakout second for American followers. The luchadora enamored the bottom together with her onerous hitting, fast-paced, gritty fashion, elevating her profile as followers to at the present time demand to see her on TV extra (psst… she wrestles most Fridays and it’s straightforward to observe). Whereas there’s definitely buzz round Vaquer, STARDOM’s excessive velocity stalwart AZM appears to be taking advantage of her little tour of the US and maximizing her personal publicity right here. Working with a present (dare I say) Web Darling solely has the potential to boost her inventory, even when I don’t see her defeating Vaquer. Apart from, Vaquer continues to be destined to carry the Sturdy Girls’s title, and that is likely to be taking place prior to later. Prediction: Stephanie Vaquer

NJPW Sturdy Openweight Tag Crew Championship 4-Approach Open Problem Match
Guerillas of Future (ELP & Hikuleo) © vs. TMDK (Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls) vs. West Coast Wrecking Crew vs. Tom Lawlor & Fred Rosser

John: I stay firmly on Crew “I don’t see the purpose of getting three separate units of two-man tag titles” (nevermind the truth that this promotion additionally has a 6-man tag title on prime of that!), however no less than when the Sturdy Tag Titles are defended on Sturdy exhibits they appear rather less misplaced than they do on normal Japanese occasions. Right here we’ve got a four-way tag match that features the brand new Lawlor/Rosser group of former rivals, Lawlor’s (I assume?) now-former Crew Filthy mates Nelson & Isaacs, the traditional TMDK duo of Haste & Nicholls and the one GOD group left standing in ELP & Hikuleo. There’s actually no scarcity of the way they may go right here, however personally I wish to see Haste & Nicholls win the belts. They’ve been extraordinarily strong collectively since reforming their group in New Japan and seemingly can’t catch a break of their limitless tag title challenges, so it could be good to see them win the Sturdy belts no less than. I’m fairly over ELP & Hikuleo as a group too. Prediction: TMDK

Warren: I’m making an attempt my greatest to search out causes to care about this match. Let me strive some gratitude journaling to see if it helps. 

• I’m grateful for Lawlor and Rosser who’re nice staples of Sturdy and ought to be rewarded as such. 
• I’m grateful that the o.g. TMDK is on this match. 
• I’m grateful for Royce Isaac’s sideburns. 
• And I’m grateful for… um… puppies? 

Man, I’m undecided I really feel higher. The stuff that I don’t care about overwhelms me: I don’t care in regards to the fourth-rung NJPW tag titles, I don’t need to see Hikuleo anymore, I’m not a fan of multi-man matches for titles, and I need ELP to crack the code and free the celebrity wrestler that’s in there someplace. I’m tremendous aggravated at this match. Prediction: Tom Lawlor & Fred Rosser

Shota Umino vs. Jack Perry

John: This feels shockingly low on the cardboard for a match that has been constructed up as a lot as Umino vs. Perry, with the very first angle taking place all the way in which again on January thirteenth at Battle within the Valley, Perry beating Umino of their first assembly to knock him out of the New Japan Cup within the very first spherical (with just a little assist from Home of Torture after all), and Umino & Perry being at one another’s throats in tag matches ever since. All that to go on sixth from the highest? Form of shocking to me! However anyway, hopefully they’re in a position to have a greater encounter right here than they did again in that aforementioned NJC match, which was very a lot only a baseline competent skilled wrestling encounter. With Perry’s AEW return seemingly more and more imminent (the Younger Bucks maintain namedropping him on TV and apparently will probably be airing the precise, honest-to-god footage of Perry’s backstage battle with CM Punk from All In final 12 months on this week’s Dynamite, so I anticipate him to be launched because the fourth member of the brand new Elite any day now), he doubtless will probably be giving Umino his win again right here on his means out of the territory. Although his in ring output has been nothing particular, I for one will miss the primary and thus far solely white man to ever be within the Home. Godspeed, Scapegoat. Godspeed. Prediction: Shota Umino

Warren: Looks as if we’re about to get the massive climax to the continuing rivalry between these two guys that has permeated Perry’s suspension in NJPW. I’m with John, I feel his return to AEW is imminent and this is likely to be his NJPW swan music. At the very least, for now. However what a second it’s going to be when he steps out in entrance of a Chicago crowd per week after CM Punk vilified him whereas on the MMA Hour. Chicago shouldn’t be going to face for El Hijo de Dylan McKay one bit. Which is sweet, in return, for ol’ Shooter, who might completely use a sizzling crowd to prop him up and proceed his ascension. I actually favored their NJ Cup match and felt it was constructing to one thing very nice till the Home of Torture reared their silly faces and did silly issues which might be silly. Because the Japanese contingent isn’t round, possibly the match gained’t be mired in nonsense and these guys can flex their expertise correct? However who is aware of, they could have recruited six new guys by this time within the present. In any extent, Jack Perry is probably going leaving the territory, placing a man over prefer it ought to, and Shota comes out of the feud trying like a winner. Prediction: Shota Umino

Mustafa Ali vs. Hiromu Takahashi

John: This was one of many authentic two matches introduced for Windy Metropolis Riot means again in January, together with the principle occasion after all, and I’ve little doubt that the Chicago native making his New Japan debut in opposition to the virtually universally beloved Hiromu helped promote some tickets too (for individuals who don’t know this present has bought over 6,000 tickets thus far, making it NJPW’s largest US success since G1 Supercard by fairly a large margin). In fact, there actually isn’t a lot backstory to this one apart from Mustafa doing his politician gimmick in a problem video (which Hiromu gave a reasonably humorous mocking response to, mentioning fairly precisely that Ali mentioning Darryl & Naoru was actually outdated on his half). Apart from some teases from Hiromu that he’d like an X Division title shot in opposition to Ali, who gained the belt in TNA on February twenty third, there hasn’t actually been a lot else to talk of in means of buildup right here. Generally that’s okay although, so let’s simply sit again and luxuriate in a primary time ever match. Does Hiromu win this one to arrange a future X Division title shot in spite of everything? Or does he proceed his current chilly streak in singles matches in opposition to Ali? I do are inclined to lean towards Hiromu profitable, if for no different purpose than to throw the LIJ followers a bone given how the principle occasion is prone to go. Prediction: Hiromu Takahashi

Warren: I actually had excessive hopes for the liberated Mustsafa Ali to tear the world asunder along with his unchained expertise. I had these X Previously Twitter movies of him sparring on the health club proper on the entrance of my thoughts, excited to see him unhitch the wagon and let it barrel headlong. However he’s not fairly catching fireplace, is he? His TNA work is… nice and properly accomplished and competent, however not in contrast to one other of his friends in an identical scenario (see Nemeth, Nic), it looks like shaking the WWE home fashion is trickier than anticipated. I’m hoping a keen and motivated Hiromu exhibits as much as shake one thing out of Ali. However that relies on Takahashi, who is usually a little on-and-off generally. Although he did have an incredible 2023, so possibly I’m simply projecting some insecurities (rattling you, Morrissey!). These are two wrestlers who I personally actually, actually like, so the idea of their first encounter is de facto attractive. It might’t not be good, however I need it to be nice. Prediction: Hiromu Takahashi

Riot Guidelines Tag Match (No DQ Twister Tag, Companions to be revealed on entrance)
Eddie Kingston & X & X & X vs. Gabe Kidd & X & X & X

John: Gabe Kidd has been in an on-and-off feud with Eddie Kingston for fairly a couple of months now, however you’d be forgiven if you happen to forgot about it on condition that each males have been fairly busy elsewhere recently. In Eddie’s case it was dropping two-thirds of his triple crown, as he dropped the Continental title to AEW newcomer Kazuchika Okada (yeah, keep in mind that man?) in a totally odd title match on Dynamite (odd in that the Continental belt had by no means been defended individually from the opposite two since Eddie gained the league, we had no thought it even might be defended individually, and AEW itself supplied completely no in-canon clarification as to why Okada was solely difficult for one of many three titles that actually everybody else had beforehand challenged for collectively) after which additionally misplaced the ROH World title to Mark Briscoe this previous weekend. In order that leaves him with only one belt, as sure, he’s in some way nonetheless the NJPW Sturdy Openweight Champion after profitable that title all the way in which again on July fifth, 2023. In Gabe’s case, he was busy dropping his longtime tag group associate to an obvious retirement after which difficult Shingo Takagi for the NEVER Openweight Title final weekend at Sakura Genesis, delivering a scathing shoot-style promo within the process- one that will have hit some of us just a little too near house.

Kidd had challenged for all three of the then-Continental Crown (sure, for some purpose Gabe Kidd was allowed to problem for all three titles however Kazuchika f’n Okada wasn’t- like I mentioned, it is unnecessary!) at Battle within the Valley in January in a wild match that in the end went to a double depend out. Regardless that he’s received one other goal now as properly, presumably he nonetheless has his sights set on taking the Sturdy title from Eddie (he had beforehand mentioned fairly clearly he didn’t care in regards to the different two belts anyway- which once more, he nonetheless challenged for, for some purpose!), however reasonably than getting a championship rematch in Chicago we’re getting an eight-man thriller tag as an alternative. So, who exhibits up right here? Who is aware of? Will Eddie herald any unannounced buddies from AEW/ROH? One would assume Kidd’s companions will probably be BC guys (Chase Owens you may keep house please), however possibly that’s even assuming an excessive amount of? It’s awfully onerous to foretell a match once we solely know 1 / 4 of the individuals, however I’ll go along with group Kidd to get the victory right here as we construct to a different Eddie vs. Gabe title match, doubtless for Resurgence in LA subsequent month. Prediction: Crew Kidd

Warren: Generally, I really feel like I’m on an island relating to Gabe Kidd. It’s a pleasant little island. Not too sizzling or humid, good cool nights, perpetually chilly fizzy drinks to get pleasure from, a PS5 and unimaginable wifi. I get pleasure from this island I’m on. Identical to I get pleasure from Gabe Kidd’s work. I really benefit from the intense, unhinged thug. There’s plenty of guys on the market in professional wrestling who might do with only a fraction of the depth and fierceness that he brings. I imply, you don’t should threaten to stab your boss, per se, however I’ll be damned if it doesn’t perk up my ears. I’ve felt that his feud with Eddie had this actually attention-grabbing vibe to it, seeing that these are two wrestlers who don’t have a lot of a filter and converse from the center in their very own alternative ways. It’s as if Kidd is what Eddie could possibly be if he have been to succumb to the darkness inside him. Kingston teeters on this darkness as he usually reminds us, and 2024 is likely to be the 12 months Kingston dips nearer to it, as he appears doomed to lose all of the titles he labored onerous to win in 2023 (however that’s okay, Kingston is healthier within the chase than being the chased). Perhaps dropping the Sturdy championship in 2024, to Gabe Kidd no much less, is likely to be a catalyst for this decline.

Within the meantime we’ve got this group match and we’re undecided who’s going to be becoming a member of up. One can assume the Conflict Canines will probably be aspect by aspect with Kidd, however the truth that that is being booked as surprises implies that it could be extra than simply, say, Finlay and Connors and Moloney. As for Eddie’s aspect, your guess is pretty much as good as mine. However I feel we want just a little extra fuel on this hearth as we head in the direction of an inevitable 1-on-1 between our two principal protagonists at Resurgence. Prediction: Crew Kidd

NJPW WORLD TV Championship
Matt Riddle © vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

John: This one actually feels prefer it got here out of left area, as I feel most individuals assumed Zack Sabre Jr. was shifting as much as larger and higher issues after he dropped the NJPW WORLD TV title to Hiroshi Tanahashi at Wrestle Kingdom. However right here he’s once more just some months later, difficult the person who beat Tanahashi for the belt that Zack helped placed on the map. Riddle hasn’t appeared in New Japan for the reason that weekend the place he beat Tanahashi for the TV title again in Sapporo, and has not precisely acquired a heat reception from plenty of the Western NJPW fanbase, so one would assume Zack would be the strong crowd favourite right here. With some rumblings that New Japan isn’t totally happy with Riddle in the mean time, maybe Zack takes his outdated belt proper again from Riddle in Chicago. Prediction: Zack Sabre Jr.

Warren: The dubiousness of Matt Riddle being fully absent from NJPW programming up till this level can’t be understated. I do know it’s common for wrestlers to have unexplained absences from programming (see Nemeth, Nic), however Riddle’s is conspicuous if solely as a result of the NJPW WORLD TV title fills a task of making content material for NJPW’s numerous social media endeavors. Like John mentioned, followers right here within the West haven’t embraced the arrival of Riddle and far much less his title win, and what little performances he’s had, whereas nice, aren’t tearing the home down both.

So far as ZSJ goes, I used to be beneath the impression that dropping the NJPW WORLD TV title was an indication of him “dropping up” on the cardboard. I had dedicated to my thoughts that he didn’t have to win the NJ Cup to problem for the title as a result of he was going to be slotted in a greater spot. A shot at Dominion, maybe? A G1 win? Because it stands, these situations are onerous, very onerous maybes. Now it appears he’s again to 15-minute land, able the place he has a strong likelihood to win the title again. Frankly, on reflection, he was an ideal decide to be the inaugural champ as a result of he actually outlined the title and what it might symbolize. His predecessors don’t fairly fill the footwear. Prediction: Zack Sabre Jr.

Nic Nemeth vs. Tomohiro Ishii

John: Nic Nemeth is one more wrestler who gained a belt on the New Starting tour after which instantly vanished from our sights in NJPW (boy, aren’t all of us clamoring for an additional absentee white particular person champion in the principle occasion too??), as he defeated David Finlay to win the just-established International title for, uh, some purpose. Critically, what was the purpose in constructing Finlay up in addition to they did over the course of MONTHS simply to have him instantly lose his new title?! He was your complete catalyst behind the creation of the brand new white belt when he destroyed the outdated US & UK belts in a memorable angle all the way in which again at Energy Battle in November, he pinned Will Ospreay clear within the center in a three-way match with Jon Moxley at Wrestle Kingdom (a surprisingly superior three-way match, I’d add!), after which in the end ran Ospreay out of the corporate in an especially memorable faction warfare cage match. It lastly felt like this man had some actual momentum for the primary time for the reason that begin of his huge heel singles push, after which they instantly put him again off the rails by having him lose his new title to the artist previously referred to as Dolph Ziggler. 

And, I ask, for what? Nemeth hasn’t even appeared in New Japan since that weekend in mid-February! He’s not defending his title right here, since he nonetheless owes Hiroshi Tanahashi a title shot that was apparently imagined to occur at Sakura Genesis, however didn’t as a result of Tanahashi having an ankle damage. So right here we’ve got only a regular singles match with Nemeth and Ishii. Will or not it’s good? In all probability, it’s a Tomohiro Ishii singles match in spite of everything. However did Nemeth have to win the International title and destroy David Finlay’s momentum to arrange a standard ass singles match with Ishii? And even to arrange one other title shot for our barely-duct-taped-together firm President? No, no he didn’t. However anyway. Prediction: Nic Nemeth

Warren: I, for one, welcomed the arrival of Nic Nemeth in NJPW earlier this 12 months. Pigeonholed for years in WWE regardless of being a really succesful wrestler, him leaping on the chance to work NJPW received a slight fist pump and an approving nod out of me. I used to be able to see what this man, who is probably going financially set-up for all times, might do in a puro atmosphere. Clearly he determined to take this path as a result of he had one thing to show, proper? He should have wished to point out all of the doubters again in Stamford and the nerds on-line that he nonetheless had “it.” I might solely applaud that type of choice. Thus far, he’s solely had two matches and so they’ve each very WWE-ish in execution. I can’t blame the man who’s been working the identical home fashion for 20 years to want a while to shake it off and adapt to NJPW’s methods, however then he’d really have to, you understand, wrestle in NJPW from time to time. His absenteeism has not accomplished him any favors, particularly contemplating the truth that he’s at present a champion within the firm.

I feel that’s what irks essentially the most, actually. This belt, as convoluted as its genesis could also be, does discover its roots in one of the crucial electrical rivalries of 2023 with Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay, delivering two all-time nice matches, and a terrific angle with David Finlay to really deliver the title into being. Finlay defeated two of essentially the most well-known wrestlers on this planet to develop into the inaugural champ. There was an try at giving the brand new title some gravitas, solely to have it whisked away with a right away altering of the guard to a milk-carton champion. If the reasoning behind the change was to get in on a well known American wrestler to bump up curiosity within the upcoming American dates, it’s a thought course of I don’t perceive. Putting deal with North American wrestlers for NJPW exhibits is lacking your complete level, as I might assume most individuals who purchase tickets for a NJPW present need to see the Japanese staff who seldom cross the Pacific for reside appearances.

Getting again on observe right here, I’m nonetheless hoping for the massive Nic Nemeth puro breakout second. Exterior of getting on the highway and hitting a tour to essentially shake the WWE fashion, if there was one man it might occur with, it’s with top-tier employee and Combating Spirit embodiment Tomohiro Ishii. It’s type of a make-it-or-break-it in my thoughts for Nic. If it’s not gonna occur with Tom Ish, I don’t know if it’ll. It’s not as a lot in regards to the title as it’s about Nemeth embracing this new atmosphere. Prediction: Nic Nemeth

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
Tetsuya Naito © vs. Jon Moxley

John: Tetsuya Naito has been IWGP World Heavyweight Champion for just a bit over three months now. He gained the belt at Wrestle Kingdom, the place he drew 27,422 followers to see him face SANADA in the principle occasion (outdrawing the earlier 12 months’s Kazuchika Okada vs. Jay White principal occasion by greater than 1400 followers). He’s since made two defenses, in opposition to SANADA at New Starting in Sapporo (a present that drew 5,355, outperforming 2023’s New Starting in Osaka tour-ender with Okada defending the identical title in opposition to Shingo Takagi by about 1300 followers) and in opposition to New Japan Cup winner Yota Tsuji at Sakura Genesis (a present that drew 6,632, outperforming the earlier 12 months’s 6,510 for Okada defending in opposition to SANADA- and possibly might have outdrawn it by much more in the event that they hadn’t used a brand new smaller seat set-up). So right here we’ve got a champion whose numbers are barely up from final 12 months’s numbers on exhibits the place he’s headlined, even though New Japan Professional Wrestling has- you might have heard- misplaced two of its absolute prime stars within the firm, Okada & Ospreay, to their “associate” promotion in America within the final two months. It will have been onerous accountable Naito if attendance had suffered a slight drop given these extraordinarily difficult circumstances, however as an alternative he’s not simply sustaining the identical numbers thus far, he’s really drawing just a little higher.

And but, for some purpose, individuals appear satisfied that Jon Moxley taking the title off of Tetsuya Naito right here isn’t just prone to occur (and to not spoil my prediction, however simply based mostly on the truth that Naito doesn’t appear to have any apparent challengers lined up for not simply Wrestling Dontaku but additionally Resurgence in Los Angeles, the place the promotion has already promised one more title match, I agree it’s fairly doubtless), however that it’s a good suggestion and ought to occur. Why? On what foundation? Once more, you’ve got the preferred wrestler within the firm who’s lastly the champion once more after one other three lengthy years of ready, and his title reign is drawing sturdy crowds in two international locations (once more, this present with Naito on prime has already bought nearly 6,200 tickets in Chicago, and Resurgence in LA has a good advance for subsequent month of 1,821 already though no precise matches have been introduced thus far), and it’s apparently a good suggestion to hurry the belt off of him? To place it on an AEW man, when god is aware of what sort of schedule you’re going to have the ability to get out of him? 

I’m not even arguing this anymore as a notion factor as a result of, as Gabe Kidd himself very astutely identified in his controversial promo final weekend, any battle for New Japan to be seen as something greater than All Elite Wrestling’s little brother (and bonafide farm system) has principally been misplaced at this level. So in the event that they need to put their World title on an AEW man now on prime of it, properly, no less than Moxley is definitely a protected principal eventer in that firm. It could possibly be worse. What I take situation with right here is why you’d need to finish Naito’s title reign that’s drawing so properly on the gate, at a time when A) you actually haven’t any different headliners by yourself roster to talk of besides possibly Tanahashi, who’s much more beat up than Naito is & B) you actually don’t know how for much longer you’re going to have the ability to get out of Naito at something near a prime stage, all for one more part-time white particular person champion. What number of of these do we want in NJPW directly? Did we not all have sufficient of a white man holding the highest belt in New Japan and barely exhibiting up on the excursions when it was Kenny Omega and Jay White doing it? I actually don’t know anymore. No matter, get pleasure from your reign as IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Mox. I actually don’t have anything in opposition to the man (though it could have come off like I did within the final three paragraphs- I like Mox, actually!), I simply discover this complete factor perplexing. However it all feels as inevitable because it feels fully misguided. Although I’ll add that in the event that they’re simply doing this to arrange placing the belt again on Naito in a rematch at Dominion or one thing, that may make just a little extra sense to me I assume. Prediction: Jon Moxley

Warren: I’m including my bit after John wrapped up their ideas, so I’ll keep away from re-litigating the astute factors they make, lots of which I agree with. For the sake of our little collaborative get-together right here and protecting issues attention-grabbing for you, our gentlest of readers, I’ll satan’s advocate this a tad.

What if placing the title on Jon Moxley is the best thought? I’m not arguing that Naito was a foul thought within the slightest, because the metrics present it’s removed from being a bomb, nor am I difficult Naito’s unparalleled recognition. However Moxley can also be a preferred presence to the NJPW crowds. He’s proven to get actually good reactions from the gang, he’s all the time positioned excessive on the cardboard, and has proven love for Japan and NJPW, to the purpose that he has a resident card. I’m fairly positive he didn’t get that simply because he actually loves visiting the shinto shrines in Wakayama. Mox’s relationship all the time appeared to run deeper than the AEW and NJPW partnership. In the event that they have been to “belt him up,” it wouldn’t be as left-field of a scenario than in the event that they did it to, say, Samoa Joe or MJF. Whereas I do discover validity within the “NJPW is AEW’s little bro” emotions, Mox’s relationship doesn’t really feel like that. It’s extra genuine, extra natural. He comes throughout much less like an AEW star in NJPW however extra of a giant time gaijin who’s a part of the household.

The “occasional” side of it’s a reliable concern, as properly, notably contemplating the statuses of Riddle and Nemeth. Nevertheless, Mox isn’t at present concerned in any AEW program, as focus has primarily shifted to Swerve, Joe, Ospreay, Moné, the Bucks and Danielson’s Dream Match Parade. It appears believable that he could possibly be free to do excursions unfettered, house life obligations however. May he do higher or no less than equal enterprise as Naito? Couldn’t be any worse than SANADA!

And maybe, simply maybe, NJPW sees worth in having their prime belt being held by a beloved professional wrestler who’s ceaselessly on American TV. As I posited earlier, the corporate nonetheless desires to make entryways into america and it sees AEW as the way in which to go. It’s not as if their numbers on AXS TV are setting the scores world afire. They don’t have the mindshare they as soon as had in pre-AEW days. It’s secure to imagine NJPW acknowledges that its development lies in fascinating followers in North America since they nonetheless haven’t given up on NJPWoA or STRONG or no matter they need to label it. Wrestle Kingdom subscription spikes. NJPW might do quite a bit worse than belting up Moxley. Prediction: Jon Moxley

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