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Post by AwamoriRock on Feb 25, 2019 1:14:53 GMT -5
First round:
Nakanishi vs YOSHI-HASHI Honma vs Taichi Juice vs Chase Nagata vs Ishii Mikey Nicholls vs Hikuleo Okada vs Elgin Ospreay vs Fale Henare vs Archer Ibushi vs Naito EVIL vs ZSJ Tanahashi vs Umino Tenzan vs Finlay Makabe vs Cabana Goto vs SANADA Kojima vs Suzuki Yano vs DBS
If a bracket is easier on the eyes:
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chrom
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Post by chrom on Feb 25, 2019 1:48:33 GMT -5
Goes to show that they really view Umino as a future main eventer given how he's in it and facing Tanahashi as well in the first round.
Everyone's rooting for Nakanishi to beat Tacos
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Convoy
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Post by Convoy on Feb 25, 2019 2:01:28 GMT -5
There's a ton to unpack here. First, this is obviously a big change from the usual bracket with the doubling-up from 16 competitors to 32. Second, Yujiro was set to compete but will miss the tour with an eye injury of some kind.
Third, some of these first-round matches are crazy. Ibushi/Naito right off the bat is the biggest, but they are also pushing some current and reignited feuds at the very start (Ishii/Nagata, EVIL/ZSJ, Kojima/Suzuki).
Fourth, nice to see Nicholls make his way back to New Japan. According to the NJPW's Japanese site, he is the newest member of CHAOS.
Last year we kept running polls to see who people thought would take the whole thing (updated round-by-round), and almost no one guessed ZSJ at the beginning. Okada does have a relatively easy road to the finals, but history also tells us to expect upsets in the NJC.
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chrom
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Post by chrom on Feb 25, 2019 2:10:18 GMT -5
Get past Elgin and Okada's only real threats to the finals would be Ospreay, Fale who's facing Will in the 1st round and Ishii
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2019 2:38:30 GMT -5
Every Champion except Jay White is participating. I guess you need to do that with this kind of field, though.
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Post by corndog on Feb 25, 2019 4:08:27 GMT -5
There's a ton to unpack here. First, this is obviously a big change from the usual bracket with the doubling-up from 16 competitors to 32. Second, Yujiro was set to compete but will miss the tour with an eye injury of some kind. Third, some of these first-round matches are crazy. Ibushi/Naito right off the bat is the biggest, but they are also pushing some current and reignited feuds at the very start (Ishii/Nagata, EVIL/ZSJ, Kojima/Suzuki). Fourth, nice to see Nicholls make his way back to New Japan. According to the NJPW's Japanese site, he is the newest member of CHAOS. Last year we kept running polls to see who people thought would take the whole thing (updated round-by-round), and almost no one guessed ZSJ at the beginning. Okada does have a relatively easy road to the finals, but history also tells us to expect upsets in the NJC. I had no idea they were going to 32, this is kind of nuts. I agree about some of the opening round matches. Having either Naito or Ibushi lose in the first round is going to suck, even though the match will be awesome. I'm guessing Naito losses and I think there is a strong chance Ibushi wins this whole thing. Besides the matches you mentioned, the other one that really intrigues me is Bad Luck Fale vs Ospreay. Also, despite the finish being obvious, Tanahashi vs Umino.
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Post by ANuclearError on Feb 25, 2019 4:36:27 GMT -5
Ibushi beating Naito in the cup can lead to them two facing for the IC belt at MSG.
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chrom
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Post by chrom on Feb 25, 2019 7:49:35 GMT -5
If I was a betting man I'd wager the finals are Okada vs Naito
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Post by BRAINFADE on Feb 25, 2019 8:05:02 GMT -5
If I was a betting man I'd wager the finals are Okada vs Naito I disagree, purely because I think that'll main event WK and they'll want to save it.
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Post by Some Baritone guy IS REDEEMED! on Feb 25, 2019 8:19:13 GMT -5
So what do you guys think will be the major first round upset this year?
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Post by Yamashita Enforcement Division on Feb 25, 2019 8:27:04 GMT -5
So what do you guys think will be the major first round upset this year? Ibushi over Naito (setting up natio/ibushi at MSG) As sad as it makes me, EVIL over ZSJ Ospreay over Fale And SHOTA UMINO.
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chrom
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Post by chrom on Feb 25, 2019 8:41:17 GMT -5
So what do you guys think will be the major first round upset this year? Cabana over Makabe and Finlay over Tenzan
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Convoy
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Post by Convoy on Feb 25, 2019 9:51:24 GMT -5
So this week’s free match on YouTube is from the 42nd Anniversary Show in 2014. It features then-champion Okada facing then-Jr. champion Ibushi. Could be a nice preview of the upcoming NJC finals as well.
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Post by Clash, Never a Meter Maid on Feb 25, 2019 10:58:09 GMT -5
If I was a betting man I'd wager the finals are Okada vs Naito I disagree, purely because I think that'll main event WK and they'll want to save it. I'm currently predicting Okada wins the Cup, and faces White at MSG. Okada/Naito III at Wrestle Kingdom will look way more plausible if those two things come to pass.
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chrom
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Post by chrom on Feb 25, 2019 12:14:07 GMT -5
First singles opportunities for Chase and Henare
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2019 12:58:29 GMT -5
When does it start? So glad I have NJPW world.
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Post by corndog on Feb 25, 2019 13:07:45 GMT -5
When does it start? So glad I have NJPW world. March 8th and ends on the 24th. Also the anniversary show is March 6th, looks a good month to have NJPW World.
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Post by 2coldMack is even more baffled on Feb 25, 2019 14:54:00 GMT -5
Calling my shot now, SANADA vs. Goto's gonna be the match of the first round.
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Post by Some Baritone guy IS REDEEMED! on Feb 25, 2019 18:04:18 GMT -5
My predictions: First Round {Spoiler} Tomohiro Ishii (W) Vs Yuji Nagata Tomoaki Honma (W) Vs. Taichi Manabu Nakinishi Vs. Yoshi Hashi (W) Juice Robinson Vs. Chase Owens (W) Kazuchika Okada (W) Vs. Michael Elgin Mikey Nicholls Vs. Hikuleo (W) Bad Luck Fale (W) Vs. Will Ospreay Toa Henare (W) Vs. Lance Archer Hiroshi Tanahashi (W) Vs. Shota Umino Hiroyoshi Tenzan Vs. David Finlay (W) Kota Ibushi Vs. Tetsuya Naito (W) Zack Sabre Jr. (W) Vs. Evil Togi Makabe Vs. Colt Cabana (W) Toru Yano (W) Vs. Davey Boy Smith Minoru Suzuki (W) Vs. Satoshi Kojima Sanada (W) Vs. Hirooki Goto Second Round {Spoiler} Tomohiro Ishii (W) Vs. Tomoaki Honma Yoshi Hashi Vs. Chase Owens (W) Kazuchika Okada (W) Vs. Hikuleo Toa Henare Vs. Bad Luck Fale (W) Hiroshi Tanahashi (W) Vs. David Finlay Tetsuya Naito Vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (W) Colt Cabana Vs Toru Yano (W) Minoru Suzuki (W) Vs Sanada Quarter Final {Spoiler} Tomohiro Ishii (W) Vs. Chase Owen Kazuchika Okada (W) Vs. Bad Luck Fale Hiroshi Tanahashi (W) Vs. Zack Sabre Jr. Minoru Suzuki (W) Vs. Toru Yano Semi Finals and Final {Spoiler} Kazuchika Okada (W) Vs. Tomohiro Ishii Hiroshi Tanahashi (W) Vs. Minoru Suzuki Final: Kazuchika Okada (W) Vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi. The important thing to remember here is that the last two years my pick went out in the first round so, take this with a grain of salt
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Convoy
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Post by Convoy on Feb 25, 2019 18:17:48 GMT -5
Quick Predictions (planting my flag): {Spoiler}Round 1: Ishii d. Nagata Taichi d. Honma YOSHI-HASHI d. Nakanishi Juice d. Owens Okada d. Elgin Nicholls d. HIKULEO Ospreay d. Fale Archer d. Henare Tanahashi d. Umino Finlay d. Tenzan Ibushi d. Naito (setting up a rematch for the IC belt at MSG) EVIL d. ZSJ Cabana d. Makabe Yano d. DBSJ Suzuki d. Kojima SANADA d. Goto
Round 2: Ishii d. Taichi Juice d. YOSHI-HASHI Okada d. Nicholls Ospreay d. Archer Tanahashi d. Finlay Ibushi d. EVIL Yano d. Cabana SANADA d. Suzuki
Round 3: Ishii d. Juice (setting up a rematch for the US belt at MSG) Okada d. Ospreay Ibushi d. Tanahashi SANADA d. Yano
Semifinal: Okada d. Ishii Ibushi d. SANADA
Final: Okada d. Ibushi
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