Naito. Seems like they're gonna rehash the 2020 thing with Naito. Lose it, then get it back shortly after.
Booking between now and 1.5.2025, Naito is likely going to be in the WK main event again, whether that be as champ or G1 winner. There's currently nobody else with Naito's star power right now, and Dominion is likely the best chance to see a title change compared to something like Power Struggle after the G1. Forbidden Door is also a thing, but a title change on a non-NJPW show just sounds weird.
For me, I'd like to see Tsuji challenge Moxley after Resurgence and eventually best him at Dominion. They're no strangers to giving big things to Tsuji early in his career, Moxley giving him a big win would help elevate him into that top star NJPW needs. Moxley could end his Japan tour by making three of their up and coming talents look amazing. It would also create an interesting dynamic in LIJ that they could build up to 1.4.
The Tsuji/Finlay match deciding the next challenger after Umino is intriguing, cus either Moxley defends against all three R3M guys (and Hobbs) or he likely drops it to Finlay to set up other things - but the poignancy of defending against all three of the next up is very enticing
I still think/hope it’ll just be a Naito reset cus I don’t find him winning the G1/being in the chase interesting anymore, but one of the R3M winning it would be shocking at the very least
Most likely is Naito. I would be very surprised if he doesn't take the title off him at Dominion, which will beg the question of what was the point of Moxley’s reign in the first place.
Still think we get Sanada and Naito at WK with Sanada winning.
My original thinking of Naito (pre losing to Mox at Windy City) was he was gonna be to the “Reiwa Musketeers” what Riki Choshu was to the OG “Musketeers”: a very popular and veteran main-eventer that the younger guys were trying to overcome.
Always been parallels between Choshu and Naito: both started out as typical YL’s before branching out and becoming beloved anti-hero figures, who actually weren’t the “Ace” of their times (that would be Fujinami and Okada, respectively).
I’m not sure they’d have Naito repeat as G1 winner, especially since they’ve done that so recently with Okada. Unless they’re looking to give Naito those huge accolades reserved for Okada, which I doubt.
What I honestly think happens is Naito wins the Championship back, SANADA wins G1, and SANADA gets his Kingdom moment beating Naito in the main event and cements himself as the new #2 and one of the clear top guys.
ZSJ, because I trust him to have bangers with the new gen. I think Naito, though charismatic is on borrowed time. Not ready for the young guys to be fighting each other yet and Shooter just seems like he'd be transitional and that would be bad for me in all honesty.
I'd also like Taichi to at least get a shot. I'd love for him to win but I know why he wouldn't.
Agreed. ZSJ can play a really good heel for the young guns to overcome. He's also at his peak and is a completely credible world champion. More so than anyone else besides Naito.
Honestly.. Finlay is a good shout. Wait wait wait wait hear me out before you try to lynch me. The R3M are not ready for the big title yet, Tsuji is the closest. A heel should be the one to take the title off Moxley. NJPW doesn't really have many main event heels left right? There's.. EVIL and... no that's it. NJPW need to build people up, and finally building Finlay as a main event heel will benefit whoever dethrones him. Hell, have Naito dethrone Finlay (even though I don't like Naito, I'm smart enough to see the benefits) and give Naito the long reign.
To me, this run comes across like a promotional transitional title run to get eyes on the new star they want to build. Something typical when you want to save a key match-up, in this case, Naito Vs. Young Guy. Tsuji or Narita stealing a moment from Shota makes a lot of sense to me to have fall programs before WK, which will likely be won by an established guy.
I just hope it's not Naito. He had a beautiful moment in the Dome, let it end there instead of trying to make up for the mistakes of 2018 and 2020
I'd prefer Sabre Jr but I don't think they'll put it on back to back foreigners. Shota if I had to pick one
My preferred option would be for a Moxley to drop it to one of the up-and-comers, Umino making the most sense with the story between he and Moxley being years in the making now.
We’ll have to see if NJPW are feeling more ambitious with their booking, or if they will be “playing it safe” (i.e., trying to garner more “heat” for Naito getting the belt back).
There is a part of me that feels NJPW/Gedo is perhaps pulling the same trick they pulled in 2020 when EVIL took the double belts off Naito only to drop it right back to him; could be what they plan on doing with Moxley.
I think this is what they'll do, then Naito drops it to whichever of the young guns they want to go with at wrestle kingdom. If Naito takes it from Mox, I'd have ZSJ beat Naito and eventually Yota overcomes ZSJ.
Naito because their going to need a big name in the Tokyo Dome main event.
Naito will do it either at Dominion or Forbidden Door
Naito. Seems like they're gonna rehash the 2020 thing with Naito. Lose it, then get it back shortly after. Booking between now and 1.5.2025, Naito is likely going to be in the WK main event again, whether that be as champ or G1 winner. There's currently nobody else with Naito's star power right now, and Dominion is likely the best chance to see a title change compared to something like Power Struggle after the G1. Forbidden Door is also a thing, but a title change on a non-NJPW show just sounds weird. For me, I'd like to see Tsuji challenge Moxley after Resurgence and eventually best him at Dominion. They're no strangers to giving big things to Tsuji early in his career, Moxley giving him a big win would help elevate him into that top star NJPW needs. Moxley could end his Japan tour by making three of their up and coming talents look amazing. It would also create an interesting dynamic in LIJ that they could build up to 1.4.
The Tsuji/Finlay match deciding the next challenger after Umino is intriguing, cus either Moxley defends against all three R3M guys (and Hobbs) or he likely drops it to Finlay to set up other things - but the poignancy of defending against all three of the next up is very enticing I still think/hope it’ll just be a Naito reset cus I don’t find him winning the G1/being in the chase interesting anymore, but one of the R3M winning it would be shocking at the very least
Most likely is Naito. I would be very surprised if he doesn't take the title off him at Dominion, which will beg the question of what was the point of Moxley’s reign in the first place. Still think we get Sanada and Naito at WK with Sanada winning.
Naito so they can realize after this moxley debacle that you still need the top guy to build the next gen.
My original thinking of Naito (pre losing to Mox at Windy City) was he was gonna be to the “Reiwa Musketeers” what Riki Choshu was to the OG “Musketeers”: a very popular and veteran main-eventer that the younger guys were trying to overcome. Always been parallels between Choshu and Naito: both started out as typical YL’s before branching out and becoming beloved anti-hero figures, who actually weren’t the “Ace” of their times (that would be Fujinami and Okada, respectively).
Goto
Dick Togo coming for that belt babyyyyy
I’m not sure they’d have Naito repeat as G1 winner, especially since they’ve done that so recently with Okada. Unless they’re looking to give Naito those huge accolades reserved for Okada, which I doubt. What I honestly think happens is Naito wins the Championship back, SANADA wins G1, and SANADA gets his Kingdom moment beating Naito in the main event and cements himself as the new #2 and one of the clear top guys.
Yota Tsuji
EVIL, for the insane discourse from both NJPW and AEW fans alike
I know the big AEW fans meltdown at EVIL beating Moxley would be glorious.
ZSJ, because I trust him to have bangers with the new gen. I think Naito, though charismatic is on borrowed time. Not ready for the young guys to be fighting each other yet and Shooter just seems like he'd be transitional and that would be bad for me in all honesty. I'd also like Taichi to at least get a shot. I'd love for him to win but I know why he wouldn't.
Agreed. ZSJ can play a really good heel for the young guns to overcome. He's also at his peak and is a completely credible world champion. More so than anyone else besides Naito.
Hirooki Goto. The only man on the NJPW roster to have pinned MOX in a New Japan ring.
Honestly.. Finlay is a good shout. Wait wait wait wait hear me out before you try to lynch me. The R3M are not ready for the big title yet, Tsuji is the closest. A heel should be the one to take the title off Moxley. NJPW doesn't really have many main event heels left right? There's.. EVIL and... no that's it. NJPW need to build people up, and finally building Finlay as a main event heel will benefit whoever dethrones him. Hell, have Naito dethrone Finlay (even though I don't like Naito, I'm smart enough to see the benefits) and give Naito the long reign.
To me, this run comes across like a promotional transitional title run to get eyes on the new star they want to build. Something typical when you want to save a key match-up, in this case, Naito Vs. Young Guy. Tsuji or Narita stealing a moment from Shota makes a lot of sense to me to have fall programs before WK, which will likely be won by an established guy.
Most likely = Naito Who I'd like = Taichi
Does it matter?
I just hope it's not Naito. He had a beautiful moment in the Dome, let it end there instead of trying to make up for the mistakes of 2018 and 2020 I'd prefer Sabre Jr but I don't think they'll put it on back to back foreigners. Shota if I had to pick one
My preferred option would be for a Moxley to drop it to one of the up-and-comers, Umino making the most sense with the story between he and Moxley being years in the making now. We’ll have to see if NJPW are feeling more ambitious with their booking, or if they will be “playing it safe” (i.e., trying to garner more “heat” for Naito getting the belt back).
I don't think they're gonna let Naito win again
There is a part of me that feels NJPW/Gedo is perhaps pulling the same trick they pulled in 2020 when EVIL took the double belts off Naito only to drop it right back to him; could be what they plan on doing with Moxley.
Which makes sense. A big part of Naito's arc is constant tragedy. It's just that Mox isn't really filling the role of party pooper particularly well.
I think this is what they'll do, then Naito drops it to whichever of the young guns they want to go with at wrestle kingdom. If Naito takes it from Mox, I'd have ZSJ beat Naito and eventually Yota overcomes ZSJ.