WrestleKingdom 19 isn't the only big event taking place at the Tokyo Dome this weekend. On January 5th there's a huge cross-promotional PPV with stars from NJPW, AEW, CMLL, ROH and Stardom, and it looks on paper like a doozy of a lineup. Among the numerous first-time bouts is the in-ring return of Kenny Omega, after 14 months on the shelf. This show looks just as exciting as WK19, even if there isn't a big story to most of the matches.
Let's dive in. Note: There's an 8-man gauntlet match where the participants won't be announced until the match is happening, so obviously I can't predict that one.
Pre-Show Women's International Cup: Willow Nightingale vs. Athena vs. Persephone vs. Momo Watanabe
I'm a little disappointed this isn't on the main card since AEW spent a fair amount of time setting up their portion of it. The winner gets a title shot in a promotion of their choosing. Since Willow is beloved everywhere she goes, I'll pick her to win here.
Pick: Willow
Pre-Show ROH Tag Team Championship: Sammy Guevara & Dustin Rhodes vs. Sho & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
House of Torture is involved here so get ready for a clusterfuck. I suppose HoT could win to set up a title defense in the US but I'd be a little surprised if the ROH Tag belts get that kind of treatment at this point. I think the champs keep them.
Pick: Sammy & Dustin retain
David Finlay vs. Brody King
This should be very good and will likely consist of Brody dominating the action until Finlay finds a cheap way to eke out a win.
Pick: Finlay
Shota Umino vs. Claudio Castagnoli
This is interesting because Shota was Jon Moxley's protégé but has broken off from his mentor due to the Death Riders' actions. I imagine this will set up an eventual Moxley-Umino match, in which case Umino probably wins here. Should be great.
Pick: Umino
Yota Tsuji vs. Jack Perry
Here's a match I didn't even know I wanted to see. Both guys have a ton of bad boy charisma so this should be fun. I picked Tsuji to win the Global title so I don't know if that will be on the line or not, but either way I think Tsuji probably wins.
Pick: Tsuji
IWGP Tag Team Championship: Young Bucks vs. Great O-Khan & TBD
This is a hard one to pick since we don't know who the TBD is. Henare was O-Khan's championship partner but got sidelined with an injury. I guess the replacement could be a United Empire person, Will Ospreay maybe, although that's a guy you'd want to advertise ahead of time. Kota Ibushi? That seems weird to bring him back if he's not teaming with Kenny. Anyway I'm inclined to pick the Bucks here unless the mystery partner is someone important, in which case I'd bet the other way. I guess I'll go with the latter.
Pick: O-Khan and friend
NEVER Openweight/AEW International Championship: Konosuke Takeshita or Shingo Takagi vs. Tomohiro Ishii
Konosuke could go 2-for-2 this weekend and I think he will. He could also steal the show both nights. This should be awesome regardless of who Ishii's opponent is.
Pick: Takeshita (or Shingo)
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Ricochet
Another match that should slap like a mofo is this clash of styles between the grappler and the high flier. Ricochet is doing the best character work of his career so his a-hole heel gimmick should get over nicely here. I think Zack is winning though.
Pick: ZSJ
Kenny Omega vs. Gabe Kidd
One of the greatest big match wrestlers of all time is finally back in the ring, and returning to the Dome for the first time in two years. His opponent is one of the best heels in NJPW right now and this should be fantastic. Omega can't possibly be losing his first match since November 2023.
Pick: Omega
NJPW Strong Women's/British Women's Championship: Mercedes Moné vs. Mina Shirakawa
I'm putting this last because I think it should main event the show. A women's match headlining the Tokyo Dome would be historic and would further elevate Mercedes as a huge crossover star. This should be excellent and memorable; two of the most charismatic women in the world tearing the house down. Mercedes is collecting belts and will add one to the pile here.
Pick: Mercedes
Helluva lineup for the Sunday show, and I'll be interested to see which Dome outing is superior. WK19 has the stories behind it but this lineup is just a collection of what should be great matches up and down the card. Fun times.
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