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Post by Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) on Feb 16, 2023 0:19:50 GMT -5
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Post by Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) on Feb 16, 2023 0:23:07 GMT -5
As far as predictions go, I will go with SANADA for the surprise win
Don't see them wanting to burn Naito/Okada again tho this reign could be greatest hits for Okada since he is already getting Tanahashi
Ospreay, they won't pull the trigger until Dominion. ZSJ has won it twice so don't see him winning it for a 3rd time without winning the title. KENTA is also another good option and maybe Tama Tonga to reward the work he has put in
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Mozenrath
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Post by Mozenrath on Feb 16, 2023 3:57:52 GMT -5
I could see SANADA getting it done. They do seem to like running Okada vs SANADA, probably not hurt by them both having a lot of lady fans.
Tama is probably my second choice. It would be a way to try to reward him, even if I kind of doubt he's ever going to get anything higher than the NEVER title. Even the US title may be above him. Otherwise, I don't know if they really ought to do Champion vs Champion lightly.
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Post by ANuclearError on Feb 16, 2023 7:18:32 GMT -5
Taichi is my pick for the cup, I feel like a Taichi v ZSJ final would be a really interesting way to go.
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chrom
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Post by chrom on Feb 16, 2023 8:21:44 GMT -5
I'm thinking Ospreay wins it.
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Post by Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) on Feb 16, 2023 9:00:40 GMT -5
I could see SANADA getting it done. They do seem to like running Okada vs SANADA, probably not hurt by them both having a lot of lady fans. Tama is probably my second choice. It would be a way to try to reward him, even if I kind of doubt he's ever going to get anything higher than the NEVER title. Even the US title may be above him. Otherwise, I don't know if they really ought to do Champion vs Champion lightly. Yeah, this seems perfectly fit to give SANADA a boost for this year after he got derailed when he won the U.S. title. Him and Okada have had a good series and they aren't afraid of running it. I can see him vs ZSJ in the Final. Hell, could have him beat Naito and Shingo to give him back so more of his shine in LIJ NJPW also likes hot shooting things up the ladder as well so wouldn't be surprised to see Shota win even with his mixed reviews since his return |
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Mozenrath
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Post by Mozenrath on Feb 16, 2023 9:02:17 GMT -5
I could see SANADA getting it done. They do seem to like running Okada vs SANADA, probably not hurt by them both having a lot of lady fans. Tama is probably my second choice. It would be a way to try to reward him, even if I kind of doubt he's ever going to get anything higher than the NEVER title. Even the US title may be above him. Otherwise, I don't know if they really ought to do Champion vs Champion lightly. Yeah, this seems perfectly fit to give SANADA a boost for this year after he got derailed when he won the U.S. title. Him and Okada have had a good series and they aren't afraid of running it. I can see him vs ZSJ in the Final. Hell, could have him beat Naito and Shingo to give him back so more of his shine in LIJ NJPW also likes hot shooting things up the ladder as well so wouldn't be surprised to see Shota win even with his mixed reviews since his return True, Gedo seems to like putting guys in spots they're not quite ready for in the hopes they will rise to the occasion. |
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Post by Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) on Feb 16, 2023 9:03:23 GMT -5
I'm thinking Ospreay wins it. Only reason I am not giving it to Ospreay is because he won the Cup already and won the title from Ibushi I think they want to wait until Dominion to give him his title reign. Okada has lost 3 of his last 4 title matches at Dominion |
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Post by Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) on Feb 16, 2023 9:07:57 GMT -5
Yeah, this seems perfectly fit to give SANADA a boost for this year after he got derailed when he won the U.S. title. Him and Okada have had a good series and they aren't afraid of running it. I can see him vs ZSJ in the Final. Hell, could have him beat Naito and Shingo to give him back so more of his shine in LIJ NJPW also likes hot shooting things up the ladder as well so wouldn't be surprised to see Shota win even with his mixed reviews since his return True, Gedo seems to like putting guys in spots they're not quite ready for in the hopes they will rise to the occasion. Yeah, which has bit him in the ass on multiple occasions but he likes pushing talent into the deep end to see what they can handle ZSJ needs challengers so I can see him beating him and probably losing to Ishii to give him a shot at the TV title |
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Post by Mozenrath on Feb 16, 2023 9:43:14 GMT -5
True, Gedo seems to like putting guys in spots they're not quite ready for in the hopes they will rise to the occasion. Yeah, which has bit him in the ass on multiple occasions but he likes pushing talent into the deep end to see what they can handle ZSJ needs challengers so I can see him beating him and probably losing to Ishii to give him a shot at the TV title It has, but it also has led to some successes like Okada and Jay White, so I see why he does it. (Master Wato's one where it backfired, but thankfully, he busted his ass to overcome his initial bad push.) And yeah, that, I could see. |
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Post by Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) on Feb 16, 2023 9:58:03 GMT -5
Yeah, which has bit him in the ass on multiple occasions but he likes pushing talent into the deep end to see what they can handle ZSJ needs challengers so I can see him beating him and probably losing to Ishii to give him a shot at the TV title It has, but it also has led to some successes like Okada and Jay White, so I see why he does it. (Master Wato's one where it backfired, but thankfully, he busted his ass to overcome his initial bad push.) And yeah, that, I could see. Okada and Jay White were freaks of nature and even reason he should had pushed them from the beginning. Problem is he's done that with Goto, Master Wato, YOSHI-HASHI, etc and then he has lost interest when they actually become good |
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Convoy
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Post by Convoy on Feb 16, 2023 18:15:24 GMT -5
Not sure who takes it, but I can see Bishamon/Aussie Open and Shingo/Henare coming out of this.
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Post by ace on Feb 16, 2023 18:44:47 GMT -5
I’ve been getting more and more engaged with New Japan this year. Which means it’s time for an Evil push to kill that off again
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chrom
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Post by chrom on Feb 16, 2023 19:40:24 GMT -5
Not sure who takes it, but I can see Bishamon/Aussie Open and Shingo/Henare coming out of this. Most likely |
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Post by chrom on Feb 17, 2023 12:46:26 GMT -5
A Darkhorse to go far is Finlay.
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Post by theresalwaysanegon on Feb 17, 2023 12:55:40 GMT -5
Rooting for Taichi, he could get a big win over Ospreay and then face ZSJ in the finals. It almost certainly won't happen, but that's what I'm hoping for!
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Post by HMARK Center on Feb 17, 2023 16:55:20 GMT -5
Every year a lot of people say "it's Taichi's time!"
Hasn't happened yet.
So this must be the year!
I want Finlay to get another strong run this year, too.
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chrom
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Post by chrom on Feb 19, 2023 13:55:34 GMT -5
With Kenta winning the Strong Title last night, it'll be the first time that it's brought over to Japan.
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Convoy
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Post by Convoy on Feb 20, 2023 0:01:52 GMT -5
The cards are now out for the first round, including the anniversary show. They outright make mention of Finlay’s strange new aura surrounding his role in Hontai, but he is still tagging with them for the first part of the tour. Also, to confirm, Strong Style is still just a subgroup of Hontai like GoD.
Also of note is Bishamon will defend their titles against Okada and Tanahashi in the main event of the anniversary show. Regardless of what happens there, Okada and Tana will team up again on 3/11 in Nagoya against Umino & Narita. Credit to New Japan for moving things forward and giving the young talent showcases to help them evolve quicker as performers.
Full card for the anniversary event on 3/6:
IWGP Tag Team Championship: Bishamon (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada & Hiroshi Tanahashi
New Japan Cup - Round 1: David Finlay vs. Tomohiro Ishii
New Japan Cup - Round 1: Shota Umino vs. Yujiro Takahashi
YOH & Lio Rush vs. Hiromu & BUSHI
Naito/Shingo/SANADA vs. Cobb/O-Khan/Henare
Strong Style vs. EVIL, SHO & Togo
Tama, Yano & Kojima vs. Ospreay & Aussie Open
ZSJ & Fujita vs. KENTA & ELP
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Post by Mozenrath on Feb 20, 2023 0:11:11 GMT -5
I wonder what Rosser losing the title is going to mean for him.
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