World Tag League 2019

[chrom]

The last event of the year, the annual World Tag League starts next week with the winners earning a tag title shot at Wrestlr Kingdom. Like last year, there will be no blocks as every team will face one another during it.

Hiroshi Tanahashi and Toa Henare
Great Bash Heel
Lance Arcer and Minoru Suzuki
FinJuice
Tencozy
Blue Justice
Evil and Sanada
Shingo Takagi and Terrible
Toru Yano and Colt Cabana
Hirooki Goto and Karl Fredericks
Jeff Cobb and Mikey Nicholls
Tomohiro Ishii and Yoshi Hashi
Guerillas of Destiny
Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr
Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens
Kenta and Yujiro Takahashi

[HMARK Center]

Bah...I mean, I get it, Sabre's lined up for a RevPro title match against SANADA at WK, Goto is lined up for a match with KENTA, but damnitall, I want Suzuki/Sabre and Goto/Ishii in WTL!

[Some Baritone guy IS REDEEMED!]

And the tournament schedule is as follows:

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}{SPOILER: CLICK TO SHOW}11/16:

FinJuice Vs. Goto & Fredericks

Cabana and Yano Vs. Cobb and Nichols

TencCzy Vs. Terrible and Shingo

Nakanishi and Nagata Vs. KENTA and Takahashi

Suzuki and Archer Vs. Owens and Fale

GBH Vs Tanahashi and Henare

Hashi and Ishii Vs. Taichi and Sabre Jr.

11/17

TenCozy Vs. FinJuice

GBH Vs. Nakanishi and Nagata

Henare and Tanahashi Vs. Owens and Fale

Fredericks and Goto Vs Takahashi and KENTA

Cabana and Yano Vs. GOD

Hashi and Ishii Vs Nichols and Cobb

Suzuki and Archer Vs. Taichi and Sabre Jr.

Sananda and EVIL Vs. Terrible and Shingo

11/18

GBH Vs Fredericks and Goto

Nakanishi and Nagata Vs. Nicholls and Cobb

Henare and Tanahashi Vs. TenCozy

Cabana and Yano Vs. Archer and Suzuki

Takahashi and KENTA Vs. Owens and Fale

Hashi and Ishii Vs. Terrible and Shingo

FinJuice Vs. Taichi and Sabre Jr.

11/19

TenCozy Vs. Fredericks and Goto

Henare and Tanahashi Vs. Nakanishi and Nagata

GBH Vs. FinJuice

Terrible and Shingo Vs. Owens and Fale

Hashi and Ishii Vs. Cabana and Yano

Taichi and Sabre Jr. Vs. GOD

Nicholls and Cobb Vs. Sanada and EVIL.

11/21

Nakanishi and Nagata Vs. Fredericks and Goto

GBH Vs. TenCozy

Nicholls and Cobb Vs. Archer and Suzuki

Henare and Tanahashi Vs. FinJuice

GOD Vs Takahashi and KENTA

Sanada and EVIL Vs. Owens and Fale

Terrible and Shingo Vs. Taichi and Sabre Jr.

11/23

TenCozy Vs. Nicholls and Cobb

Nakanishi and Nagata Vs. EVIL and Sanada

GBH Vs. Cabana and Yano

Taichi and Sabre Jr. Vs KENTA and Takahashi

FinJuice Vs. Terrible and Takagi

Henare and Tanahashi Vs. Hashi and Ishii

Archer and Suzukis Vs. GOD

11/24

Nakanishi and Nagata Vs Archer and Suzuki

GBH Vs. Owens and Fale

Henare and Tanahashi Vs. Cabana and Yano

TenCozy Vs Hashi and Ishii

Terrible and Shingo Vs. Takahashi and KENTA

Nicholls and Cobb Vs. Sabre Jr. and Taichi

EVIL and Sanada Vs GOD

11/25

TenCozy Vs. Cabana and Yano

Nakanishi and Nagata Vs FinJuice

Henare and Tanahashi Vs. Nicholls and Cobb

Terrible and Shingo Vs. Archer and Suzuki

Fredericks and Goto Vs. GOD

GBH Vs Hashi and Ishii

EVIL and Sanada Vs. Takahashi and KENTA

11/27

Fredericks and Goto Vs. Terrible and Shingo

Nakanishi and Nagata Vs Hashi and Ishii

TenCozy Vs. Suzuki and Archer

FinJuice Vs. Nicholls and Cobb

GBH Vs Taichi and Sabre Jr.

GOD Vs. Owens and Fale

Cabana and Yano Vs. Sanada and EVIL

11/28

Fredericks and Goto Vs. Cabana and Yano

Nakanishi and Nagata Vs. Owens and Fale

TenCozy Vs. Takaahashi and KENTA

GBH Vs. Suzuki and Archer

Henare and Tanahashi Vs Terrible and Shingo

Nicholls and Cobb Vs GOD

Sanada and EVIL Vs Taichi and Sabre Jr.

11/29

Fredericks and Goto Vs. Nicholls and Cobb

Nakanishi and Nagata Vs. Cabana and Yano

TenCozy Vs, Taichi and Sabre Jr.

FinJuice Vs. Owens and Fale

Henare and Tanahashi Vs. Takahashi and KENTA

GBH Vs GOD

Hashi and Ishii Vs. Sanada and EVIL

12/1

Fredericks and Goto Vs. Archer and Suzuki

Owens and Fale Vs. Taichi and Sabre Jr.

GBH Vs. Nicholls and Cobb

Cabana and Yano Vs. Terrible and Shingo

Henare and Tanahashi Vs. Sanada and EVIL

Hashi and Ishii Vs. Takahashi and KENTA

FinJuice Vs. GOD

12/2

Nakanishi and Nagata Vs Terrible and Shingo

Nicholls and Cobb Vs Owens and Fale

Cabana and Yano Vs. Takahashi and KENTA

Goto and Fredericks Vs. Taichi and Sabre Jr.

Henare and Tanahashi Vs. GOD

Sanada and EVIL Vs. Archer and Suzuki

FinJuice Vs. Hashi and Ishii

12/5

Fredericks and Goto Vs. Hashi and Ishii

TenCozy Vs Owens and Fale

Nicholls and Cobb Vs. Takahashi and KENTA

Henare and Tanahashi Vs. Taichi and Sabre Jr.

GBH Vs. Sanada and EVIL

Terrible and Shingo Vs GOD

FinJuice Vs. Archer and Suzuki

12/6

Fredricks and Godo Vs. Owens and Fale

GBH Vs. Terrible and Shingo

Nakanishi and Nagata Vs. GOD

TenCozy Vs. Sanada and EVIL

FinJuice Vs. Takahashi and KENTA

Cabana and Yano Vs. Taichi and Sabre Jr.

Hashi and Ishii Vs. Archer and Suzuki

12/8

Finals

[Convoy]

I was expecting 14 teams, so the bump to 16 is slightly surprising. It makes sense that, with two nights of WK, anyone not involved in the Gold Dash could technically vie for the tag titles.

Almost guessed all the teams (11 out of 16), so for the ones I didn't correctly guess:

Tana & Henare is a spot-filler, but at least it's one that will give Tana something to do and nab a win. I originally had the team as Henare/Tsuji.
Goto & Fredericks is a nice extension of the LA Dojo storyline, and will likely tie-in with the KENTA/Shibata build. I originally had Goto sitting out of this WTL, and Fredericks teaming with Coughlin.
Cobb & Nicholls is an interesting duo, mostly due to Cobb even being part of things. You could argue Cabana is a ROH rep too, but Cobb is outright contracted versus Colt is who seen everywhere. Good to see him back though - I think Cobb should be a cornerstone of the NJPWoA expansion.
Shingo & Terrible makes sense in retrospect, but I just figured Naito wouldn't participate and there would only be 14 teams. Should be a fun pair.
KENTA & Yujiro also makes sense, and it'll be interesting to see three Bullet Club teams in a single block format.

[corndog]

I know a lot of people crap on this tournament, but I enjoy it. This one looks like a lot of fun, especially with Cabana/Yano, I loved Taichi/ZSJ last year and Suzuki/Archer should be a terrorizing team. GBH is reuniting and I always love TenCozy. I just hope we get someone different besides, GOD and EVIL/SANADA for the finals.

[chrom]

Toa will be a better partner for Tanahashi than Captain New Japan

[ogreknee]

I want TenKoji to win and then win the titles at wk.

[Deleted]

Nov 6, 2019 11:01:40 GMT -5 corndog said:

I know a lot of people crap on this tournament, but I enjoy it. This one looks like a lot of fun, especially with Cabana/Yano, I loved Taichi/ZSJ last year and Suzuki/Archer should be a terrorizing team. GBH is reuniting and I always love TenCozy. I just hope we get someone different besides, GOD and EVIL/SANADA for the finals.

This is the first I've heard of people crapping on this tournament. What is the argument against it?

My only beef with it is that it's literally right after another tag tournament.

[ANuclearError]

Nov 6, 2019 15:13:35 GMT -5 @therealoblivion said:

Nov 6, 2019 11:01:40 GMT -5 corndog said:

I know a lot of people crap on this tournament, but I enjoy it. This one looks like a lot of fun, especially with Cabana/Yano, I loved Taichi/ZSJ last year and Suzuki/Archer should be a terrorizing team. GBH is reuniting and I always love TenCozy. I just hope we get someone different besides, GOD and EVIL/SANADA for the finals.

This is the first I've heard of people crapping on this tournament. What is the argument against it?

My only beef with it is that it's literally right after another tag tournament.

I think the main two points of contention are the general reputation of the tag team division having rather uninspired booking, and the its placement as being the a hefty chunk of matches before Wrestle Kingdom. People just get fatigued by it and try to avoid it to prevent burnout before WK I think.

Another problem that the WTL used to have was that the main eventers in already announced WK matches still took part in the tournament, telegraphing that they weren't gonna win. Last year saw this addressed by not having them compete, which makes sense.

[clifford]

SANADA/EVIL vs Shingo/Terrible jumps out at me straight away as a match I have to go out of my way to see.

Also Taichi/ZSJ vs Suzuki/Archer and Colt/Yano vs GBH intrigues me enough to wanna watch.

[HMARK Center]

Nov 6, 2019 11:33:10 GMT -5 chrom said:

Toa will be a better partner for Tanahashi than Captain New Japan

I don't know if they'll pull the trigger this time around, but I think we're pretty close right now to Henare finally reaching one of those "defining" victories that solidify that he's no longer in that extended not-an-excursion run - both he and Finlay were young lions who didn't leave the home promotion once they graduated, starting out as lower-midcarders who get to be competitive but come up short against the stars, but both now seemed primed to take the next step (Finlay likely would have earlier this year if he hadn't gotten hurt), and Henare's gotten some strong showings lately and I think it means something that he's getting to team with someone as high profile as Tanahashi. I mean, obviously Henare will be eating most of the pins for that team, but this isn't IWGP champion Tana teaming with a jobber like Captain New Japan, this is more vulnerable Tana and the team is likely meant to be more competitive.

Speaking of Finlay, think I'll be pulling for FinJuice again this year, though I figure Juice is lined up to face Archer and/or Moxley one more time at WK.

[JoDaNa1281]

Nov 6, 2019 12:41:30 GMT -5 ogreknee said:

I want TenKoji to win and then win the titles at wk.

Pulling for them & FinJuice

[chrom]

Not much to chose from this year.

If I had to pick, I'd say FinJuice. But I have the feeling its Ishii and Tacos who win it.

[chrom]

Lineup for the Lion's Break Project on December 7th and 8th

Alex Coughlin vs Barret Brown
Misterioso and Aaron Solow vs The Riegel Twins
Clark Connors vs Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Ren Narita vs El Desperado
The Coaches vs Bone Phantasmo

Alex Coughlin vs Aaron Solow
Misteriose and Barret Brown vs The Riegler Twins
Clark Connors vs El Phantasmo
Ren Narita vs Taiji Ishimori
The Coaches vs El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru

[Convoy]

First show on the tour is tomorrow, but Chase and Loa are cutting it close with their travel. Apparently their plane was delayed, and now they will have to go from their 14hr flight to a 2hr train directly to the Chichibunomiya Memorial Gymnasium in Kanagawa.

The show is in 9hrs, and they still have half of their flight remaining at this point. Fortunately GoD are not wrestling tomorrow, and Chase is in the fifth match.

Also, we obviously are not getting a press conference this year with comments from all the teams. I actually liked those, but presumably that will be saved for just the G1 and BotSJ going forward.

[chrom]

If Chase can't make it, do they forfeit or reschedule the match for a different day?

[Convoy]

I think it’s more likely they forfeit and give Suzuki/Archer the two points, since they’d likely be winning anyway. Though if I had to bet money, I’d say that Chase will make it and just wrestle jet-lagged.

[chrom]

Chase managed to make it to the show

[chrom]

Tanahashi and Toa win their first match, already a better team than he had with Captain New Japan

[chrom]

Finlay's begun using Sliced Bread as a new finisher