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.
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.
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.
Guerillas of Destiny v Dangerous Tekkers – IWGP Heavyweight Tag Championship – February 10
The Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa) finally broke their Wrestle Kingdom curse to win the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Championship at Wrestle Kingdom. However, Dangerous Tekkers (Zack Sabre Jr and TAICHI) declared that they want their rematch as soon as possible and that is February 10.
Although it is a bout we have seen several times in the past few months, each time has been different. It will be the case again. On top of the battle for the titles, there is the added anger from TAICHI after G.O.D stole the Iron Glove passed down to him by Iizuka. It feels like this battle has suddenly become personal.
On top of this, as both teams are pure heels, it means the match will be unpredictable. Rules will be broken in different ways. It could be from outside interference or the weapons that both teams like to use. However, there will also be some wrestling. There is the speed of Tama Tonga, the submission skills of ZSJ and the strength of Tanga Loa and TAICHI.
With so many factors, it almost seems impossible for one team to stand out as the favourites. It is a match between two men who have run the tag division for the last few years and a duo who have made the division their own and injected new life into it during a pandemic. Both teams have a lot to prove.
Hiromu Takahashi v SHO – IWGP Jr Championship – February 10
During last year’s Best of Super Jr, fans were shocked when Roppongi 3k’s SHO beat Hiromu Takahashi during the block matches. So, when Hiromu beat Ishimori for the title at Wrestle Kingdom, he named SHO as his first challenger for the belt.
On the surface, both men are as different as they come. Hiromu is high-risk and high-flying in the ring throwing caution to the win. Whereas, SHO is much more methodical using a power-based offence. However, if you look deeper, there are more similarities than first expected. They are two men who are very emotional and think with their hearts rather than their minds.
These are two men who also have a long history dating back to their young lion days. After both returned from excursion, the two have met on several on occasions. In particular, they have regularly met in titles matches for the IWGP Jr Tag Championship in the past with equal success. With both men knowing each other so well, it will make the match even more interesting.
There is a lot on the line in this match for both men. Hiromu needs to prove that he is worthy of being the champion and is the best in the division. SHO needs to prove that he is capable of being a strong singles competitor and his win against Hiromu was not just a one-off. With so much to prove, this match will be an explosive and unpredictable bout between two very complex athletes.
Kota Ibushi v SANADA – IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championship – February 11
Many fans were surprised and delighted when SANADA came out at the end of the second night of Wrestle Kingdom to challenge Kota Ibushi for his double titles. Both men are top athletes and have won the hearts of New Japan fans over the years. They are also two athletes whose journeys to the top of the company have been much slower than other members of the roster.
The match itself will be a bout between two extremely talented wrestlers with their unique style. SANADA has a style combining speed, athleticism and submissions and Ibushi utilises his fearlessness, strikes and agility. In the past, these contrasting styles have worked harmoniously together.
However, the stakes this time are much higher than their previous meetings. For Ibushi, he has finally achieved his dream to win the IWGP Heavyweight title to become ‘God’. Now, it is a matter of how long he can stay at the top. In SANADA’s case, it is a matter of always the bridesmaid and never the bride. He has been given opportunity after opportunity, but will this finally be his chance to go all the way?
This bout is another chapter in the saga between the two men after their stand-out match a few years ago in the G1. Even though many did not think that their bout during last year’s final matched up to this standard, this will be a chance to show the world their world-class in-ring chemistry. The two men are phenomenal athletes and, despite the results, it should be an amazing match.
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