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Posted (edited)

Feels like the biggest King of Pro-Wrestling show in a while as Zack Sabre Jr, winner of the G1 Climax 34 gets the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship title match at Wrestle Kingdom tradition but wants it here instead. Usually the period from the end of the G1 Climax to December is the least interesting of the year in NJPW because the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship or the superior IWGP Heavyweight Championship before it rarely changes hands nor the defend the Wrestle Kingdom title shot either. It'll be beyond stupid if Zack Sabre Jr doesn't beat Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, it's long overdue and the Japanese fans are right behind ZSJ.

Edited by The Natural
  • Like 2
  • The Natural changed the title to NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling 2024. Contains G1 Climax 34 spoilers.
Posted

I'm also thinking Tetsuya Naito is even more knackered than he looks and is dropping the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at King of Pro-Wrestling 2024 rather than Wrestle Kingdom 19.

  • 1 month later...
Posted

 

Really great interview.  What will really blow you away though are the comments from the Japanese fans.  Yes, for once I am actually recommending reading some Youtube comments.  Quite moving.  

  • Like 2
Posted

I can't remember the exact wording but when I watched that video a couple of days ago I had auto-subs on and it interpreted 'Ogawa-san' as 'that girl I like' which I thought was very fitting.

  • Haha 1
Posted

I forgot this, probably because it wasn't on a weekend. Zack Sabre Jr has to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship today.

Posted
1 hour ago, Ace said:

Hiroshi Tanahashi will retire on January 4, 2026.

Well there goes my tentative 2025 Dominion plans, looks like I know where I'll be in January 2026 instead.

Tanahashi is my all time greatest/all time favourite, having just about followed his entire career in real time there is no way I could miss this.  

  • Like 4
Posted
1 hour ago, Ace said:

Hiroshi Tanahashi will retire on January 4, 2026.

 

16 minutes ago, Horangi said:

Well there goes my tentative 2025 Dominion plans, looks like I know where I'll be in January 2026 instead.

Tanahashi is my all time greatest/all time favourite, having just about followed his entire career in real time there is no way I could miss this.  

Hiroshi Tanahashi is in my top ten GOAT list. Big reason why I became a fan of NJPW. Thank you, Ace.

  • Like 1
Posted

KoPW Spoilers

Spoiler

Intergalactic Jet Setters won the IWGP Jr. Tag Championship.

Douki was unmasked, but had kishin face paint underneath. Douki won in 23 seconds.

Finlay retained the title. Taichi challenged.

ZSJ defeated Naito. His next defense is against SANADA at Royal Quest this upcoming weekend. Shota Umino and Shingo Takagi also made challenges.

 

  • Like 3
Posted
Spoiler

Chuffed Zack Sabre Jr is the new IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. Should have happened years ago with the superior IWGP Heavyweight Championship V4. Be interesting to see who ZSJ faces at Wrestle Kingdom 19. Someone from NJPW? AEW outisider? Bryan Danielson perhaps? ;).

 

Posted
Spoiler

Having everyone and their mother come out to cover for the fact that it's hard to cut a long NJPW big show main event promo in another language will work a few times but it will get tiring after a while.

Interesting how the crowd started to turn on Umino when he came out. SANADA and Shingo were expected but it sure seems like putting Umino on top right now might be a bad idea.

 

  • Like 1
Posted
Spoiler

Douki vs Sho is my 2024 MOTY

NJPW REALLY needed a fresh title scene and now they have it.

 

I will go WAY out on a limb and predict that his reign will even be better than Sanada's and EVIL's reigns.

 

ZSJ becoming champ just after Bryan retires brings balance to the Universe.

 

Jr. Tag match was f'n aces, too 

 

Ren beating Cobb was the WORST. BUT ZSJ winning heals all wounds.

 

Oiwa is the f'n future!

 

  • Like 4
Posted
Spoiler

I wonder if they would ever actually do a mascara contra cabellera between Hiromu and Mistico.

The fact that DOUKI handled HOT on his own is pretty indicative that New Japan believes in him..to a point. Because I can't see a returning Master Wato not finally getting his moment at Wrestle Kingdom.

 

Posted
Spoiler

They were flat out teasing Hiromu v Mistico - Mask vs Hair.

Kosei Fujita challenged Gabe Kidd for the NJ Strong title.

Posted
Spoiler

Teasing is one thing. But I guess Hiromu is crazy enough to get his head shaved just because.

Storyline - Hiromu loses his hair to Mistico sometime next year. Maybe during Fantastica Mania in the states. No longer champion, Naito has too much free time and constantly makes fun of Hiromu, leading to a mini-LIJ civil war where BUSHI is on both sides so he can lose every single match. This will lead to Hiromu and Naito finally having their singles match at Wrestle Kingdom 2026.

 

  • Haha 1
Posted (edited)

I'm particularly interested in the Wrestle Kingdom card next year because the next day we have the first ever Wrestle Dynasty with AEW, Stardom and CMLL. We'll have to see who gets the coveted singles matches spots.

Edited by The Natural
Posted (edited)
Spoiler

So happy for Zack! He's deserved a run at the top for the longest time. As an Aussie wrestling fan, it's surreal to see TMDK at the top of New Japan...I want one of those towels they had at the end with all the past and present members on it (get Slex over New Japan to team with either Robbie or Fujita and let the other go after singles!)

Kishin DOUKI was great, Wato without the whole blue boy thing looks like a star, I think he wins at WK.

Oiwa looked great, only result I got wrong though.  Strangely would love to see him to a Fujita mini-Aus tour and have a match with Ugg who I hope does come back to New Japan again. 

As a Goto fan I am used to disappointed but his daughter crying hit on a whole different level. He's somehow become one of the most over guys on the roster and hope he gets one more shot at the big one, even if it's another failure. 

Finlay with another great showing, but the guy is a terrible promo. That's what he is missing compared to Devitt, Jay and even Kenny. If the Goto fan in me was disappointed, the Taichi fan is preparing to be crushed but glad he's in a featured spot for now.

YOH was fucking around doing something before the show, I'm guessing he's back soon too

 

Edited by Horangi
Pre show thing
  • Like 2
Posted
Spoiler

Who do you think ZSJ defends the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against at Wrestle Kingdom 19? Naito's probably still the most popular NJPW wrestler. Tanahashi trying to win one of the only things he hasn't in his NJPW career? Shingo Takagi? An outsider from AEW? Bryan Danielson? I think it might be Yota Tsuji you know.

 

  • Like 1
Posted
Spoiler

Hirooki Goto loses again. Sucks he never won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Goto, Minoru Suzuki and Zack Sabre Jr all should have had reigns with it.

 

Posted
2 minutes ago, The Natural said:
  Reveal hidden contents

Who do you think ZSJ defends the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against at Wrestle Kingdom 19? Naito's probably still the most popular NJPW wrestler. Tanahashi trying to win one of the only things he hasn't in his NJPW career? Shingo Takagi? An outsider from AEW? Bryan Danielson? I think it might be Yota Tsuji you know.

 

Spoiler

I would have said Shota but with how unmercifully he was booed I'm not sure anymore. Maybe pivot to Takagi with Naito vs Hiromu under it as the dream draw match until they figure out what to do with Shota?

 

  • Like 1
Posted
Spoiler

Getting a Global title shot is a good consolation for TAICHI after having to sit out the G-1.

I'm getting kind of tired of the War Dogs constant swearing and giving people the finger. It's just cheap heat. And while doing it to Goto's kids was a heel thing to do, it was a bit excessive. Other than that, I think match-wise, Finlay is a fine champion.

 

Posted
29 minutes ago, Gordi the recovering AEW f said:
  Hide contents

ZSJ becoming champ just after Bryan retires brings balance to the Universe.

 

This comment above is everything at this particular moment.  If you believe pro wrestling is art.  Which I do.  

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