Hi guys,
Welcome to another preview post from Wrestling Chatter aka Sonal aka yours truly... When EVIL betrayed Los Ingobernables de Japon and decided to join Bullet Club, a big question being thrown around was what was going to happen to the NEVER 6-man titles. EVIL said he didn't care about defending them and even Shingo Takagi had no idea. Earlier this week, New Japan announced an 8-team tournament for the NEVER 6-Man Openweight Tag Championship to deal with that!
The tournament will take place at Korakuen Hall over three days and here is my preview of the first round matches and my predictions!
6th August
Okada/ Yano/ SHO (CHAOS) v Yujiro/ Gedo/ Jado
What I like about this first-round matchup is that there is some storyline consistency. After Okada and Yujiro's single match at Sengoku Lord, the Tokyo Pimp has made it clear that their feud is far from over and this is a nice continuation. There is also the fact that Jado and Gedo were OG Chaos members before they betrayed them and decided to join Bullet Club.
This match gives two factions who have a long history and who really hate each other a chance to let off some steam and try and prove who really is the best.
Yujiro has tag team veterans on his side with Jado and Gedo giving them a combo of heavyweight and Jr talent. However, the CHAOS team is a massively talented bunch with a diverse wrestling style. Teaming with Okada, we've got the cheeky Rogue Toru Yano and Roppongi 3K's Shock Arrow SHO. Within this team, you've got the speed, strength, submission skills and a bit of fun. Both Okada and SHO have been on a roll these past few months and Yano is just Yano. I've always loved Chaos and this trio perfectly represent everything the faction has to offer.
So, even though the cheating tactics of Bullet Club are normally enough to give them an advantage, the CHAOS team has Toru Yano and nobody does Sneaky Style like our beloved goofball. Combining this with Okada's brilliance and SHO's amazing-ness, it should be enough to give them that much-needed win! Also, as much as I love Bullet Club (mainly Jay), Chaos was my OG faction and this team combination is full of my favourites.
WINNER: CHAOS
SANADA/ Takagi/ Bushi (LIJ) v Suzuki/ El Desperado/ Douki (Suzuki Gun)
If there are another two factions who hate each other, it's definitely Suzuki Gun and Los Ingobernables de Japon. The two factions are as different as can be and have had their fair share of feuds over the last few years which have resulted in some amazing matches. In this match, in particular, you have some very strong characters with their own view on what professional wrestling is.
On one side, you have 2/3 of the previous NEVER champs in the form of Shingo Takagi and Bushi, a team who have been working well together for over two years (with a Jr tag reign under their belts). They've been joined by the uber-talented and cool as a cucumber teammate SANADA. In a faction where any combination of members is a recipe for success, this team is the perfect mix of all styles of professional wrestling.
However, whenever Suzuki Gun is in the mix, nothing is ever certain, especially when you have a mix of Suzuki, Desperado and Douki. You've got an angry dad and two rule-breaking children who also have a history with each other. It's a recipe for chaos. It will be interesting to see the interactions between the two powerhouses Suzuki and Shingo. I also wouldn't put aside the fact Suzuki might be eying Shingo's NEVER title, a belt that he will forever be linked with.
However, despite all of this, no team will ever match the standards of LIJ. The former champs are also at an advantage with two heavyweights compared to Suzuki Gun. Also, as much as I hate to say it, DOUKI doesn't have the best record in tag matches and that might just be this amazing (and my fave) team's downfall.
WINNER: Los Ingobernables de Japon
7th August
Ibushi/ Tanahashi/ Wato (Hontai) v ZSJ/ Taichi/ Kanemaru (Suzuki Gun)
Like the CHAOS/ BC match from the first night, this match is also a great example of storytelling and a continuation from what's been going on since New Japan returned in June. After the team of Dangerous Tekkers (Zack Sabre and Taichi) beat Golden Ace (Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kota Ibushi) for the Heavyweight tag titles, the teams seem to hate each other even more. So, this is going to be a fun match.
One one side we've got the Suzuki Gun trio of Taichi, ZSJ and Yoshinobu Kanemaru. As well as this team literally being best friend goals #drinkingbuds, they're all so talented. With Zack's amazing submission skills, Kanemaru's hybrid style and Taichi's beautiful voice *I really think this blog is becoming a Taichi Stan page*, it's an award-winning team. Also, they won't be scared about breaking some rules.
But then we've got the most handsome team in the world with Tanahashi, Ibushi and even the adorable Kawato. Between the three of them, they've got the size and a crazy amount of athleticism and agility. Kawato is a Jr and Ibushi and Tana have heavyweight strength with Jr offence. However, despite the Hontai team looking strong, that is far from the truth at the moment and nobody knows the state they will be in. Kawato has literally just returned from his excursion and nobody knows the relationship between Golden Ace after Ibushi walked out on Tana in the post-match comments.
So, if you combine Suzuki Gun's talent and chemistry with the fact the Hontai team seems to be in disarray, then there's an obvious winner. #SuzukiGunIchiban
WINNER: Suzuki Gun
Honma/ Makabe/ Taguchi (Hontai) v Ishii/ Goto/ Yoshi-Hashi (CHAOS)
Unlike all of the other matches, this one doesn't actually have a lot of faction animosity, especially since Hontai and Chaos became a lot closer because of Jay White. However, that won't stop this from being one crazy and brutal match between a mainly heavyweight line-up.
On one team, we have the Unchained Gorilla Togi Makabe, the Kokeshi force of Tomoaki Honma and the Funky Weapon Ryusuke Taguchi which is a combination of strength, determination and ass. There is then the more serious and almost predictable CHAOS teaming of Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii and Yoshi-Hashi. Although maybe not as charismatic, the team is well versed as a team and very diverse.
Personally, for me, the most exciting part of this matchup will be seeing the forces that are Togi Makabe and Tomohiro Ishii in the ring together. For me, they are the big men of New Japan with the same strength, heart and the fact that they hit very hard.
However, despite both teams strengths, it might be the CHAOS team with the advantage yet again. For one thing, Taguchi is the only Jr Heavyweight in the match which already puts them at a disadvantage and then there's Honma who, despite slowly recovering from his neck injury, is still nowhere near 100%. Mixing the strength of Ishii, the Samurai spirit of Goto and the determination of Yoshi Hashi, this team is going to be tough to beat.
WINNER: CHAOS
Prediction:
If everything goes the way of the fans, then the LIJ team of SANADA, Takagi and Bushi should win. However, I don't think that will be the case - yet. So, I actually have to go with the first faction I fell in love in and some of my favourite wrestlers - the CHAOS team of Okada, Yano and SHO. It's the perfect blend of wrestlers with the added sneaky style and that is a deadly combination. I also love these three with such different personalities but the ability to work perfectly together.
Overall, the tournament has a really nice mix of teams from all of the factions and with a perfect mixture of Heavyweights and Jrs, it is a fitting line-up for the NEVER titles. Hopefully, after the hope we had for the titles with LIJ was dashed because of EVIL (dammit EVIL), these titles will start to gain some respect like the NEVER singles title under Shingo.
If you liked this article, make sure you let me know because I like compliments... Also, make sure to keep an eye out for all my new content by following me on on my social media: (
@Wrestling_Chat on Twitter and
Wrestling Chatter on FB and
WrestlingChatter96 on IG)! As always, I'm going to plug my YouTube Channel so you should all subscribe to
SonalsLife96!
Until next time,
Bye
Comments
Post a Comment