NJPW New Beginning Tour Preview

After a whirlwind two days of Wrestle Kingdom, New Japan Pro Wrestling is back with its New Beginning Tour.

These shows continue the fallout of New Year’s Dash where feuds started and upcoming title matches were set.

Throughout the end of January and start of February, there is a mixture of elimination, special singles and title matches. These will happen during the Road to shows alongside the New Beginning shows in Nagoya and Hiroshima.

Here is a look at all of the title matches you will see during the NJPW New Beginning Tour.

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El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru v Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo – IWGP Jr Heavyweight Tag Championship – January 23

During his last few matches, El Phantasmo’s boot has caused some issues in the ring. At New Year’s Dash, this boot earnt Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori an IWGP Jr tag title shot against champions El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru.

Many expect that this title match will be chaotic. These four men are different athletes with different styles ranging from high-flying, mat-based and strength orientated. On top of that, these are two teams that are not afraid to break the rules. Fans will need three sets of eyes to keep up with the action.

However, as dastardly as both teams are, this alone will not be enough to gain the advantage. The teams will have to rely on their wrestling skills and their ability to work well as a team. With this in mind, Desperado and Kanemaru will have the edge despite ELP’s boot. It is a team that has worked together for years.

They have also fought through endless competitors with more tag experience than their opponents.

This match is all going to be about gaining the upper hand in any way possible. With anything possible between four unpredictable men, it will be a close match between four men with a distinct hatred towards each other.

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Shingo Takagi v Hiroshi Tanahashi – NEVER Openweight Championship – January 30

Since the belts conception, apart from very few instances, the NEVER title has never really been seen as important and relevant within New Japan. However, since Shingo Takagi took back the title from Minoru Suzuki late last year, fans have found a new sense of respect for the belt.

Nothing shows this more after the Ace and former IWGP Heavyweight champion Hiroshi Tanahashi accepted an invitation to challenge for the belt. It has been a long time since a former champion has fought for this title as it has never been seen as anywhere on the same level as those top tier IWGP belts.

Aside from being the first singles meeting between the two, this bout is a dream match between two of the best wrestlers in the promotion. Despite having similar wrestling mentalities, their styles inside the ring are different. Shingo bases his offence on his strength and power.

On the other hand, Tanahashi varies his offence between traditional Japanese style and a higher-risk style. However, with both men always wanting to fight clean, it will no doubt be a wrestling spectacle.

Tanahashi and Shingo are two athletes that embody the NEVER division’s determination and the fighting spirit of a New Japan wrestler. Win or lose, having Tanahashi challenge for this belt is a step towards raising the position of the division.

• NEW BEGINNING
• kota ibushi
• Hiromu Takahashi
• NJPW

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