I totally forgot there was also a NJPW show this weekend, Sakura Genesis!
Haven't kept up that well with New Japan since January/February, but this lineup looks pretty decent. Most of the new guard are represented on this card, although I can't for the life of me figure out why Gabe Kidd is stuck going after the Trios titles instead of being featured in a major singles match.
Anyway let's look at the lineup....
Yuya Uemura vs. Sanada
Like several of the singles matches, this one has a future vs. present/past kinda vibe. Uemura is on the cusp of being one of the company's new Big Four or Five and a win over the compromised Sanada would help. The match should be ok, but Sanada really needs to get surgery for that arm.
Pick: Uemura
NJPW TV Championship: El Phantasmo vs. Great O-Khan
Another match that should be solid. ELP seems to be doing well as TV champ, and O-Khan has become a very reliable hand. I don't see a title change here.
Pick: ELP retains
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Shota Umino
Man, if prime-era Tanahashi faced current Umino that would be a helluva contest. In this form it's likely a short special attraction. Umino beating the legend will be a nice feather in his cap.
Pick: Umino
NEVER Openweight Six-Man Championship: House of Torture vs. Bullet Club War Dogs
Yeah so, kind of a waste of the breakout future star that is Gabe Kidd. I guess maybe this is just to put a belt on him? No idea if this match will be any good; it is HoT after all.
Pick: I guess the War Dogs?
NEVER Openweight Championship: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Ryohei Oiwa
This match should steal the show. Takeshita fucking rules. Give him all the belts and all the money.
Pick: Takeshita retains
IWGP Tag Team Championship: Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi vs. Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman
I like that Naito is a tag guy now, as it conceals his myriad shortcomings in the ring. This should be a fun tag match. I don't see the champs losing yet.
Pick: LIJ retain
IWGP Global Championship: Yota Tsuji vs. Evil
Oh for fuck's sake, we really gotta waste a Global Title match on Evil? I assume this is just a one-off because Evil beat Tsuji in the New Japan Cup, right? Just a way to set up a challenger for him to beat? Please tell me this is so.
Pick: Tsuji retains
IWGP World Championship: Hirooki Goto vs. David Finlay
Sooo, what exactly is the difference between a World Championship and a Global Championship? Seems a lot like WWE's pointless practice of having two top belts, no? Can we just bring back the Intercontinental Title? Anyway, Goto's unlikely Cinderella story continues, against a guy who's been finding his stride as a top heel. Finlay is still no Jay White, but he keeps getting better and that's a good thing. The match should be very solid and I think the champ retains for a while.
Pick: Goto retains
So yeah, not a bad lineup. Not anywhere near the 2015-2018 glory days, but such is life when you're rebuilding.
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