NJPW Castle Attack Championship Match Previews

Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) vs CHAOS (YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto) – IWGP Tag Team Championships – February 28

During last year’s World Tag League, fans were shocked when YOSHI HASHI managed to pin Tama Tonga in their match. There was even more surprise when HASHI then pinned Tanga Loa during their NEVER Openweight 6-man title bout during the New Beginning Tour. With this, he rightly demanded a shot at the Guerrillas of Destiny’s titles teaming with fellow CHAOS member Hirooki Goto.

In the past, YOSHI HASHI has unsuccessfully challenged for these titles several times with various partners. As brothers, G.O.D has held the titles seven times and are the most successful team in New Japan history. It means that Tama and Tanga Loa very confident, but this might be their downfall. Since winning the NEVER title, YOSHI HASHI has a newfound confidence and works very well with Goto who is talented.

The presence of Jado on the outside will be a game-changer in the match giving G.O.D an advantage over the CHAOS duo. However, YOSHI HASHI has pulled bigger upsets in the passed and Tama and Tanga should remember this before underestimating their opponents.

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Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Great-O-Khan – NEVER Openweight Championship – February 28

Despite losing to Hiroshi Tanahashi at Wrestle Kingdom 15, Great O-Khan is out for the Ace’s newly won NEVER Openweight Championship. In the past, the NEVER title has been passed from wrestler to wrestler. It has only recently gained any sort of stability. Yet, O-Khan will be out to ruin that and add yet another defenceless title reign after the Ace’s last IWGP Heavyweight rein.

The two men are as different as possible in both personalities and styles. Tanahashi is a fair fighter who has a diverse style mixing high-flying and Japanese Strong Style. Whereas, O-Khan is ruthless with a power-based offence willing to break some rules. It will be a battle of generations with O-Khan trying to prove that Tanahashi is no longer fitting to be the face of the company.

Going into the match, Tanahashi will have the experience advantage and the support of the crowd. However, with the NEVER division created for the newest stars of New Japan like O-Khan, it could be destiny for the Empire member to win his first New Japan title.

• Tetsuya Naito
• kota ibushi
• Castle Attack
• NJPW

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