NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19 and NJPW Wrestle Dynasty 1.

[The Natural]

Figure I'd start the thread as we have our first official match for NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19, 4th January 2025: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. EVIL. Yikes.

I'm very intrigued to see who gets the NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19 main event. I'd like to think Zack Sabre Jr goes into the main event as IWGP World Heavyweight Champion but he's facing Shingo Takagi at NJPW Power Struggle. I thought that was a potential headliner here. Surely NJPW won't run it back so soon? I think it'll still be ZSJ vs. An Outsider.

Wrestle Dynasty is the first ever edition on the 5th of January 2025 featuring NJPW, AEW, STARDOM, CMLL and ROH.

As both are back to back, some high level wrestlers will have to go all out two consecutive nights like the two night NJPW Wrestle Kingdom shows.

Edited November 9 by The Natural

[Evil Otto]

ZSJ vs. Konosuke Takeshita would work out really well, in my opinion.  

[The Natural]

43 minutes ago, Evil Otto said:

ZSJ vs. Konosuke Takeshita would work out really well, in my opinion.  

Great shout. I never considered that.

[The Natural]

I'd run Tetsuya Naito vs. Hiromu Takahashi at IWGP Wrestle Kingdom 19 as Naito's in rough shape. We were originally going to get that on the NJPW Anniversary Show in March 2020 but fucking covid happened.

[lostinube]

Kenny Omega announced at Power Struggle that he wants to return to the ring, and he wants to make his return in a New Japan ring and wants to have a match at Wrestle Dynasty.

He did not announce a match per se but he did apparently have a confrontation with Gabe Kidd backstage. Crowd was hyped to see Kenny though.

[lostinube]

Things definitely set for Wrestle Kingdom:

Finlay vs Tsuji for the Global Title.

DOUKI vs Desperado for the Junior title.

Things sort of set:

A four-way between the Jet Setters, War Dogs, Catch-22, TMDK.

Things set for Wrestle Dynasty:

Kenny Omega does something

ZSJ vs Ricochet apparently.

[lostinube]

It's official.

ZSJ (IWGP) vs Shota

Finlay (Global) vs Tsuji

DOUKI (Jr) vs Despy

Narita (TV) vs Oiwa vs Cobb

Jet Setters (Jr Tag) vs TMDK vs Catch 22 vs War Dogs

https://www.njpw.co.jp/533534

 

Edited November 6 by lostinube

[The Natural]

Zack Sabre Jr vs. Ricochet official for Wrestle Dynasty.

[DragonZombie]

I hope Shota Umino wins. But i sorta doubt it 50/50.

[EVA]

Man, ZSJ/Shota is at least something fresh, but that has to be the softest WK main event since…ever?

Can we vote for DOUKI/Desperado to main event?

[Horangi]

I still think Naito/Hiromu will be announced, but after Tag League. Probably a smart move, gives them a chance to see how Shota/Zach draws before announcing their biggest possible match. Otherwise what is the alternative draw? Tanahashi/EVIL to kick off the retirement year?

They're fortunate that they have until 2027 WK now to sort their main event scene.

[lostinube]

Konosuke Takeshita vs Shingo Takagi, has possibly been added to Wrestle Kingdom post Fighting Spirit Unleashed.

Jack Perry challenged Yota Tsuji to a match at Wrestle Dynasty while David Finlay issued an open challenge for the 5th. All that together means it doesn't look like Tsuji is winning on the 4th.

 

[The Natural]

On 11/6/2024 at 1:03 PM, EVA said:

Man, ZSJ/Shota is at least something fresh, but that has to be the softest WK main event since…ever?

Can we vote for DOUKI/Desperado to main event?

Zack Sabre Jr deserves to be there but this is the weakest Wrestle Kingdom main event in my time. Started with Wrestle Kingdom 6-present day.

7 hours ago, lostinube said:

Konosuke Takeshita vs Shingo Takagi, has possibly been added to Wrestle Kingdom post Fighting Spirit Unleashed.

Jack Perry challenged Yota Tsuji to a match at Wrestle Dynasty while David Finlay issued an open challenge for the 5th. All that together means it doesn't look like Tsuji is winning on the 4th.

 

Hell yeah to Konosuke Takeshita vs. Shingo Takagi at Wrestle Kingdom 19. I'd look forward to that more than anything announced so far.

You can't have Yota Tsuji lose two nights running to David Finlay and Jack Perry.

[The Natural]

Official announcement: 

Shingo Takagi vs. Konosuke Takeshita for Takagi's NEVER Openweight Championship at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19. If Takeshita is still AEW International Champion, it's title for title.

Winner faces Tomohiro Ishii at NJPW Wrestle Dynasty.

Yota Tsuji vs. Jack Perry at NJPW Wrestle Dynasty.

---

Already looking forward to Takagi vs. Takeshita and the winner vs. Ishii.

[lostinube]

Shota vs Claudio Castagnoli for Wrestle Dynasty is set. Probably means Shota is losing to ZSJ but you never know.

[The Natural]

Looking forward to Kenny Omega vs. Gabe Kidd at Wrestle Dynasty.

[The Natural]

The Young Bucks have challenged the IWGP World Tag Team Champions to a championship match at Wrestle Dynasty.

[Evil Otto]

In World Tag League news, this year's edition is once again a tournament that has failed to keep my attention, but eventually you (and the fans in Kochi) get rewarded with a match such as last night's, TMDK: ZSJ / Oiwa vs. LIJ: Takagi / Tsuji.  When I was watching this one, it really felt without a doubt like the four guys who are truly carrying the promotion, and will carry it into the future.  

Zack and Oiwa have been instantly great as a team, but I must say, there is nothing quite like this Shingo and Yota pairing.  They work like they've been a team for years now.  Tsuji's somewhat awkward pacing is completely covered for by Takagi's masterful understanding of ring awareness.  Yota becomes a real killer when he tags in.  New Japan has something special with these two, so I really hope they see it as clearly as I do, and keep going forward with them in some way.    

[Horangi]

The small venues show how NJPW values WTL and on posts of one of the podcasts (probably Super J Cast) people are speculating Kikuchi is heavily involved in booking again based on the tour structure and thrown together teams.

Block A has had a few really good main events besides TMDK vs LiJ. Bishamon vs LiJ was great too. LiJ vs War Dogs, TMDK vs Funky Sauce, TMDK vs Umino/Honma are worth looking at. 

Block B on the other hand...I guess TMDK vs United Empire rematch was fun but yeah, mostly not good. It's a sad state of affairs when on at least two shows the Natural Classics have been in the best match (I like the Filips as Melbourne indy guys but they've not adjusted well to Japan)

[Evil Otto]

Yes indeed, there is a chasm between Block A and B in terms of overall quality.  

By the way, is this Naito vs. Hiromu storyline going anywhere?  

[Horangi]

Not really, they may have made some inroads last Block B show.

Spoiler

Hiromu "turned" on Naito by super kicking him against HoT but this was a ruse to trick EVIL and Narita. Didn't seem Naito was in on it so it was all Hiromu. Let's see if this is part of the broader Hiromu/Naito arc or just for WTL

Things could be up in the air after last nights A Block. 2 potential knee injuries to HENARE and Callum Newman that forced matches to end early (both needing assistance back, Callum was nearly stretchered out). Particularly this could cause a last minute change as depending on the winner and how bad HENARE is, the Bucks match may become a decision match.

HENARE's knee seemed to just give out after coming off the ropes, non-contact. Newman I didn't see, just heard him yell out and then both Oiwa and Cobb both looking visibly upset.

Edited Thursday at 09:27 PM by Horangi
Typo and more context.

[Pete]

6 hours ago, Horangi said:

Not really, they may have made some inroads last Block B show.

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Hiromu "turned" on Naito by super kicking him against HoT but this was a ruse to trick EVIL and Narita. Didn't seem Naito was in on it so it was all Hiromu. Let's see if this is part of the broader Hiromu/Naito arc or just for WTL

Things could be up in the air after last nights A Block. 2 potential knee injuries to HENARE and Callum Newman that forced matches to end early (both needing assistance back, Callum was nearly stretchered out). Particularly this could cause a last minute change as depending on the winner and how bad HENARE is, the Bucks match may become a decision match.

HENARE's knee seemed to just give out after coming off the ropes, non-contact. Newman I didn't see, just heard him yell out and then both Oiwa and Cobb both looking visibly upset.

HENARE and Newman are both off tonight's show. Full details here.