Hi guys,
Another month, another New Japan tournament which is always exciting. This time, we've got Power Struggle aka the Jr Tag League which is my favourite of the two tag league's because #JrPride. Over the past few months, we've seen the Jr tag division thin out slightly, but that doesn't stop the talent from being out of this world. As always, the league is bringing together some of the best Jr tag teams from NJPW, ROH and CMLL. As always, I'm here with a preview of the upcoming tour and specifically looking at all the teams involved this year.
TJP and Clark Connors
After teasing his appearance for the Jr tag league, it's nice to see TJP back in NJPW and the Jr heavyweight division. I know there's always grumblings, but TJP is home. For any of you who don't know, he was part of the original LA Dojo under Inoki with the likes of Rocky Romero and Bryan Danielson. You're putting the old with the new as he teams with LA Dojo Captain Clark Connors who has something to prove after losing the Young Lion Cup. As odd as a team it might seem, both guys have a lot more in common than you think in terms of styles. Both have an amazing mat foundation and are well versed in submissions and mat based wrestling. However, like all Jrs, there smaller frames mean they can fly and go high risk. With Clark Connors in the team as a Young Lion, I can't see them winning the tournament, but it'll be great exposure for both in Japan.
Tiger Mask and Yuya Uemura
I was slightly surprised to see Tiger Mask not teaming with Jushin Thunder Liger this year, but it was nice to see a young lion appearing in the tag league. If I was happy to see Clark Connors on the list, I was literally jumping for joy seeing Uemura's name. What can I say about Tiger Mask that people don't already know - it's a legend and this incarnation is no different. Wearing the mask for the longest, Tiger Mask may be the eldest in the tournament, but he's still as active and talented as anyone else. He perfectly combines old school Japanese style whilst still trying to adapt to this new high flying style. You pair that with the up and coming Uemura and that's a whole lot of diversity. Since Narita's excursion, Yuya Uemura is the perfect person to take the role as the Jr of the group. He has this lean frame, but also the strength needed in any wrestler. I can't see these guys getting many points, especially with a Young Lion but it's going to be so good for Uemura and get him some well needed experience. Matches to look out for has to be the one against Team Coach and also TJP and Clark Connors, it's the battle of the Dojo's!
Volvador Jr and Titan
CMLL have a great history with NJPW and they always give us some of the best talent for the jr tournament's. Even with the omission of guys like Soberano Jr and of course Dragon Lee, we have two amazing athlete's representing CMLL. Volador Jr is probably one of my favourite guys to watch in the ring because he is literally a premier athlete *sorry Tony Nese*. He has these amazing abs which means he's mega strong, but he's also one of the most athletic and high flying guys in the tournament. Throwing himself across the ring and taking risks, it's like a spectacle to watch. Team him with the equally talented and badass Titan, it's a CMLL dream. Titan really proved himself in this year's Super J Cup and has consistently put on amazing matches in the BOSJ tournament's. It will be great to see what these two can do and they might be the dark horses. A match to look out for has to be their bout against fellow masked wrestler El Desperado, because when Despy see's another masked man, there's danger on the horizon.
Yoshinobu Kanemaru and El Desperado
It was only a year and a bit ago that this Suzuki Gun duo were the second longest IWGP Jr tag champs and since then, the duo have been through ups and downs. First they lost the titles at the Tokyo Dome and failed to win their rematch. Then El Desperado was taken out of the BOSJ due to injury and Kanemaru didn't do that well in terms of points either. Despy is back and its great to see both of them back for this years tag league. Together, they work as an impeccable heel duo which is always helped by Kanemaru's whiskey. However, that shouldn't shadow the fact that both guys are amazing athletes that combine the style and flair of Jr's and the strength of heavyweights. It's easy to forget that Kanemaru is a veteran in this trade with so many titles across promotions and, with El Desperado, they have a great chance at winning this thing. Matches to look out for are always bouts with Roppongi 3k as both teams have so much history and also how they're going to fare against the Bullet Club heels. Suzuki Gun haven't had a great few months so this team will be out to prove that Suzuki Gun Ichiban!
Ryusuke Taguchi and Rocky Romero
After weeks of pleas and insisting that they will make the girls scream *shakes head dramatically* we have finally got team Coach. Neither Taguchi or Romero are strangers to the tag league or the Jr tag titles with historic reigns and a number of teams under their belts, especially in Rocky's case! I think, out of all the teams, this duo is going to be the most fun to watch in any of the matches. We already know the alternative style from Taguchi with his hip attacks and Funky Weapon and Rocky also has great fun in the ring with is Forever Closelines and shimmying. However, don't underestimate two Jr Heavyweight veterans in NJPW because they've proved that they can get the big W's. We saw it with Big Match Taguchi challenging Ishimori for the Jr title and Rocky's win over ELP in the BOSJ. After their long battle for coach supremacy, they've put their issues aside and made a team that we could only dream about. The match to look out for is definitely their bout with Rocky's RPG teammates Sho and Yoh but also the match against fellow Taguchi Japan member Tiger Mask.
Will Ospreay and Robbie Eagles (Birds of Prey)
After failing to win the Jr tag belts at Destruction, Birds of Prey are out for retribution and to get another shot at those titles (and win a damn big trophy as well). After leaving Bullet Club, Robbie Eagles has really been able to flourish in Chaos putting on some amazing matches and really showcasing why he was the pioneer in the Aussie wrestling scene. Although prides himself on targeting a body part and sticking to it, Robbie flies with such ease and really is the Sniper of the Skies. Teaming with IWGP champ Will Ospreay seemed like the perfect fit for Eagles with their history and similar wrestling styles. Ospreay has really made NJ his home and has achieved so much this year from participating in the New Japan Cup, BOSJ and the G1 whilst being the Jr champ. Putting two amazing athletes together has to be a recipe for success. Matches to watch has to be their bout against tag champs and Eagles' former tag partner Ishimori because I sense there's still a connection there, but there's also a lot of unfinished business.
Sho and Yoh (Roppongi 3k)
Two time winners of the Jr Tag League and three time IWGP Tag Champions, Roppongi 3k are out to get the triple win in their third year in the tournament. After losing the title earlier in the year, the team have struggled from not being able to win the BOSJ and picking up losses on the way. However, recently, the winds have very much been in their favour. In the BOSJ, Yoh picked up a win over ELP and Sho pinned Taiji Ishimori is the Super J Cup. That's also not forgetting those pins on G.O.D by Yoh which got them a heavyweight title tag. Even though they couldn't get the win, it's given them some great momentum and experience in dealing with strength and some good ol' heels. Maybe Rocky Romero's classes in sneaky style will have rubbed off and we can see another side to RPG 3k which will get them another win. Out of all the teams, these two have the best chemistry and combining Sho's strength and Yoh's agility, it's a team made in heaven! The match to definitely look out for is their bout against fellow RPG teammate Rocky Romero and Taguchi - we've seen inter-faction matches, but will this be the first inter-team match? Whatever it is, it's going to be on the top of my list to make sure I watch!!
Taiji Ishmori and El Phantasmo
Going into a tournament like this, there is always a huge target on the champions back and it's no different here. After winning the titles of Roppongi 3k, Bullet Club's Taiji Ishimori and ELP are out to show why they're the best team in NJPW. Although a really new team, both guys have shown that they can work together really well and it comes down to that tiger instinct and the willingness to break the rules. Since his NJPW debut, ELP really has made a huge splash with his cheekiness and his amazing in ring offence that's sometimes jaw dropping. With a shot at the Jr title next week, ELP hoping to get all the gold and keep it, along with the Rev Pro title. However, we can't overlook his partner and former Jr champ Ishimori. Poor Ishimori has been overlooked since ELP's debut, but we can't forget how talented he is. Small in size compared to the other competitors but the perfect combination of speed, strength and agility compacted into a very handsome man. Can the duo get through the tournament unbeaten and pick their opponent's? Well who knows but I am definitely looking forward to the heel-off between them and Suzuki Gun's Kanemaru and Despy, who is the better bad guys?
I know a lot of people have complained about this line up and the lack of depth within the Jr Tag division. Even with omissions of Dragon Lee, ACH, Kushida and Chris Sabin, it's still a very strong tournament with very strong competitors. It's also nice to see some new faces and a push on young lions being in the tournament. However, the one big gaps is a team from Los Ingobernables de Japon. With Shingo Takagi moving to the Heavyweight division and Hiromu still on the injury list has left poor Bushi without a partner - they will definitely be missed!
In the end, there's only going to be one team winning and the question is: who are going to be the next challengers for current champs Taij Ishimori and El Phantasmo? Will we see Roppongi 3k get their third win? Will the champs get to pick their opponents? Is Suzuki Gun on a rampage? All will be revealed this tour and I'll be there to keep you up to date.
For me, I can never just pick one winner... so I'm going to cheat. My winner's are either going to be Roppongi 3k or, more specifically, Kanemaru and El Desperado! #SuzukiGunIchiban
As always, talk to me, let me know what you think! You can do that, and up to date with all things wrestling and be first to know when I post something new on here, with my social media at:
(
@Wrestling_Chat on Twitter and
Wrestling Chatter on FB and
WrestlingChatter96 on IG)! I also have a new podcast on MixCloud
https://www.mixcloud.com/WrestlingChatter/ which I post fortnightly and will use to keep you up to date with everything on this tour in between the start and end, as well as all the other promotions you love!
Bye
Comments
Post a Comment