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The 50th year of New Japan Pro Wrestling will reach the end at Wrestle Kingdom 17 at the Tokyo Dome on January 4, 2023.
Thank you to everyone who have followed my New Japan reports for the past year. Thank you to Mike Johnson and Dave Scherer for allowing my reports to contribute to the content of PWInsider.com.
Below is the scheduled card and my quick predictions:
KOPW 2023 - New Japan Rambo
No participants have been announced at this time. However, I would expect Shingo Takagi, Toru Yano, Taichi and El Phantasmo to be in the mix for the 2023 KOPW Title Belt.
Anotonio Inoki Memorial 6 Man Tag Match: Yuji Nagata, Satoshi Kojima and Togi Makabe vs. Tiger Mask, Minoru Suzuki and Tatsumi Fujinami
No prediction here as this is an exhibition match.
IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Match: Lio Rush and YOH vs. Francesco Akira and TJP
Lio Rush and YOH have done well as a tag team. Last week, Francesco Akira attacked YOH in Korakuen Hall. I see Rush and YOH winning the belts and getting revenge for the attack. Akira will be back in time for the Best of the Super Jr. 2023 and start to climb up in the Jr. Singles Rankings.
IWGP Women's Championship Match: Tam Nakano vs. KAIRI
This is KAIRI's first defense of the Women's Title. I believe KAIRI will retain her title. She cannot lose in her first defense yet, especially if they want to build a women's division. I expect both women to try and steal the show.
IWGP Tag Team Championship Match: YOSHI-HASHI and Hirooki Goto vs. Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood
My preference would be for FTR to retain, just to build their reputation in New Japan as the best tag team in the world. They are not used in AEW as a tag team, so at least New Japan can showcase their skills on a big international stage.
However, what is the status of FTR in AEW? Will FTR return to WWE? These questions will affect where New Japan wants to go with the Titles. The World Tag League winners usually advance to Wrestle Kingdom to challenge and win the Tag Belts. It makes better business sense for Goto and YOSHI-HASHI to win this match and the titles to keep the belts in Japan.
NJPW World TV Championship Tournament Final: Ren Narita vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
One of the rules of this new Belt is that the Champion will have to defend the title regularly on Japanese television. Narita spent his time in New Japan Strong and looked strong in the TV title tournament. Zack now lives in Japan and has tried to adapt his style to fit within the 15-minute time limit. After watching and listening to Zack Sabre Jr.'s comments after the final Suzuki-Gun match, I believe he will win the title to become the first IWGP TV Champion. I expect this match to be a 15 minute wrestling clinic.
NEVER Openweight Championship Match: Tama Tonga vs. Karl Anderson
Bottom line: The Machine Gun cannot split time between New Japan and WWE, especially as the NEVER Champion. With Triple H in charge, Anderson was able to pull double duty. There is no way that Vince McMahon would allow one of his wrestlers to be featured in another promotion. I am sure there are talks behind the scenes between Triple H and New Japan management which we are not aware of. Also, with no major events until the Royal Rumble, Anderson could stretch the storyline out to Wrestle Kingdom. Anderson has been great at keeping fans on their toes with his Bullet Club Hollywood T-shirt. However, Tama Tonga will win back the NEVER Openweight Title.
Keiji Muto Last Match in New Japan: Shota Umino, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Keiji Muto vs. BUSHI, SANADA and Tetsuya Naito
I can see the closing sequence match with SANADA pinning Muto with a Moonsault. SANADA does not need any rub. But the teacher passes the torch to his student. A subplot is a conflict between Tetsuya Naito and Shota Umino. I can see Umino and Naito feuding after Wrestle Kingdom.
IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship 4-way Match: Master Wato vs. El Desperado vs. Hiromu Takahashi vs. Taiji Ishimori
I am not a fan of multi-man matches for a major title. However, these four wrestlers are the top guys in the Jr. Division, so the match should be fun. I see Taiji Ishimori wnning the match. In 2022, New Japan was building to an Ishimori vs. KUSHIDA feud. Until KUSHIDA got sick. New Japan had to pull an audible to make it a 4-way match. I expect Ishimori retaining and going back to the KUSHIDA storyline.
IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Championship: Will Ospreay vs. Kenny Omega
This match is being billed as a "double main event". There was little to no promotion on New Japan World for this match and it was announced on social media. Omega has an interview on the New Japan official website (www.njpw1972.com) essentially saying he is returning to save New Japan. I am sure the match will be good. Ospreay should retain the U.S. Title. United Empire has been a strong force during the G1 Climax, Super Jr. Tag League and World Tag League. A loss would hurt the momentum of the United Empire and Ospreay.
Omega will not be hurt by a loss, but he can take his propaganda back to AEW to say he was "the main event". The fact that New Japan is calling this match a "main event" is being done to appease AEW. AEW needs a relationship with New Japan. New Japan does not need AEW at all.
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada vs. Jay White
This was a consistent story for all of 2022. Okada wins the World Title on January 4, 2022. Jay White wins the Title from Okada in Osaka. Okada wins the G1 Climax to earn his title match at Wrestle Kingdom. Okada started the 50th year as IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. He will start the 51st Year as IWGP World Champion. The Rainmaker will win the title here.
New Year's Dash on January 5, 2023
Every year after Wrestle Kingdom, is New Year's Dash. They set up new storylines for the new year. New Japan has announced that there will be no advertised card and it will be a complete mystery. This means there could be some surprises at Wrestle Kingdom with more twists at New Year's Dash.
Thank you for reading.
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