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KENTA vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (IWGP US Heavyweight Right to Challenge Contract)

After pinning KENTA in their G1 match, Hiroshi Tanahashi has capitalized on his right to challenge for the IWGP US Heavyweight contract. KENTA previously won this briefcase during the New Japan Cup USA and it awards him to a chance to challenge US Champion Jon Moxley at a later date, similar to the G1 contract.

After losing the IWGP Tag titles earlier in the year, Tanahashi is out to keep proving to the world that he is still the Ace. KENTA is out to prove why he is one of the best in the world despite what the crowds think about him. With pride on the line for both men, it makes this match even more exciting.

Going into this match, the crowds will be rooting for Tanahashi, but this will make KENTA more determined to ruin their hopes. With his skills, KENTA is probably going to find a way to target Tanahashi’s knee which is his weak point. Tanahashi is going to need to use his speed to counter this. It will be a matter of who can get the advantage and manage to dictate the pace of the match throughout.

Both wrestlers are so diverse in their abilities to not only go high-risk but slow the pace down. It is just going to make the bout even more impactful. This is important for both wrestlers and might confirm their place at Wrestle Kingdom and a high-profile match against Jon Moxley.


Kota Ibushi vs. Jay White (Double IWGP Right to Challenge Contract)

Switchblade Jay White was one of the few men who managed to beat G1 winner Kota Ibushi during the tournament. So, was it any surprise that as soon as the Golden Star held the trophy, White was one of the first people not only to congratulate Ibushi but issue his challenge for the briefcase.

For Jay, this is not a matter of an opportunity, it is a right as he believes he should not even have to compete to main event the Tokyo Dome. On the other hand, Ibushi has something to prove in this match. Last year, he successfully defended his contract twice. However, he failed to win the Heavyweight title at Wrestle Kingdom. This year, he wants to go all the way.

It will be the fourth time the two have met in the past year. The current score gives the advantage to the Switchblade with two wins over Ibushi. However, many fans are excited to see this match again. These two seem to bring out the best and worst in each other. It is going to be fast, dynamic and brutal but should we expect anything different?

Could this be the first time since the contract was introduced that a G1 winner loses his Wrestle Kingdom title shot?


Tetsuya Naito vs. EVIL (IWGP Intercontinental and Heavyweight Double Title Match)

For many fans, they are hoping that this will be the last time we see Tetsuya Naito vs. EVIL for a while. However, after beating the champion during the G1, EVIL has earned this title shot. This match was inevitable.

On the surface, this should not have been a match that fans get tired of seeing. Naito is a spectacular wrestler combining athleticism, charisma and the fundamentals. EVIL was someone who used his power and strength to win matches. There is also a lot of history between the two. Some retribution seems like the perfect payback for Los Ingobernables de Japon fans.

However, since his move to Bullet Club, we’ve lost the core wrestler EVIL was. With the obvious presence of Dick Togo, we are not going to see a clean and sportsmanlike match. After all the issues they’ve had, we can only hope that Naito has some sneaky style. If not, we might see a repeat of Dominion. New Japan does not need to go back into the Darkness World so soon before Wrestle Kingdom.

With his desire to main event a second Tokyo Dome in a row, Naito will not be taking any prisoners.

What are your thoughts on the above story? Let us know in the comments on Twitter or Facebook.

3 years ago by Sonal Lad

@Wrestling_Chat

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