This Friday, New Japan Pro Wrestling presents Wrestle Kingdom 13 live from the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. This is the biggest show of the year for NJPW and features the culmination of several big feuds. Wrestle Kingdom is regularly one of the best pro wrestling shows of the year and the 13th installment should be no exception.
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Our own Jake Jeremy, Ian Carey and Andrew Ravens will be running down the card below and giving their picks for who we think will be victorious in each match. Of course
Gauntlet Match to determine #1 Contenders to the NEVER Six-Man Championships
Ryusuke Taguchi, Toru Yano, and Togi Makabe vs. David Finley, Jeff Cobb, and Yuji Nagata vs. Best Friends and Hirooki Goto vs. Killer Elite Squad and Minoru Suzuki vs. Marty Scurll, Adam Page, and Yujiro Takahashi
Jake Jeremy: (Prediction: David Finley, Jeff Cobb, and Yuji Nagata)
Ian Carey: The amount of talent in what is essentially a throw-away match here is pretty amazing. Ultimately, I’m selecting the team of Finlay, Cobb, and Yuji Nagata. The winning team will meet Bullet Club for the titles and I’m expecting NJPW to start things off with a team of true babyfaces winning. (Prediction: David Finlay, Jeff Cobb, Yuji Nagata)
Andrew Ravens: For me, this is a real pick em as any team could get it done. I’ll take David Finley, Jeff Cobb, and Yuji Nagata to go over in a fun, exciting, and spot fest match that is sure to get the fans pumped for the rest of the card. (Prediction: David Finley, Jeff Cobb, and Yuji Nagata)
Consensus: David Finley, Jeff Cobb, and Yuji Nagata
IWGP NEVER Openweight Champion Kota Ibushi vs. Will Ospreay
Jake: What a way to start the card, this NEVER Openweight Championship match could be the show stealer and potentially the match of the year…we’re only 4 days in at this point. This is actually a difficult match to assess, it was clear earlier in the year that Ospreay was being slated for a NEVER title win before his recent injury. In an ideal world Ospreay would’ve gotten the belt instead of Goto and faced Ibushi as Champion in the Dome. With Ibushi now already Champion I could see him retaining, he could be the poster boy for the NEVER division going forward. (Prediction: Kota Ibushi)
Ian: Will Ospreay is the man NJPW wants this title on. As much as everyone loves Ibushi, he’s not going to sign a contract and hence NJPW is hesitant to put, or in this case keep, titles on him. Ospreay, on the other hand, is someone NJPW is committed to elevating. (Prediction: Will Ospreay)
Andrew: I believe that this will be the match of the night as it has all of the ingredients to be. The fact that it will go on early in the night means that they will be a hard act to follow if given the right amount of time. I have Ospreay going over to win the title that way it allows Ibushi to go onto a bigger feud that will likely be with Kenny Omega. (Prediction: Will Ospreay)
Consensus: Will Ospreay
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Yoshinobu Kanemaru and El Desperado vs. Roppongi 3K vs. BUSHI and Shingo Takagi
Jake: Again another difficult match to predict, the tag champs Kanemaru and Desperado did not have a stellar World Tag League and the Junior tag belts aren’t as prestigious as they have been years prior. Having The Bucks move up to heavyweight hasn’t helped matters either. I’m giving the win to Roppongi 3K here, I can see the young team being pushed as the next generation of the Juniors scene. (Prediction: Roppongi 3K)
Ian: I feel like we just saw this match…probably because we just saw this match. The Suzuki-Gun team will drop the belts here, the only question is which team will take them. It feels as though NJPW will go with Bushi and Takagi here but Roppongi 3K could also win. (Prediction: BUSHI and Shingo Takagi)
Andrew: Suzuki-gun has had one heck of a reign as champs and carried those titles well but it’s time for a change. I actually see BUSHI and Shingo Takagi going over with a feud being built over the new few months with Roppongi 3K eventually getting the titles down the line. (Prediction: BUSHI and Shingo Takagi)
Consensus: BUSI and Shingo Takagi
RevPro British Heavyweight Champion Tomohiro Ishii vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
Jake: This is my dark horse match of the night. Both men are severely underrated when it comes to the international scene. Ishii could be regarded as one of the best of the modern era, his longevity and penchant for stellar performances make him a revered performer for Japanese wrestling fans. ZSJ is also hitting a fantastic stride, although his breakout this year has been in his promo abilities. Sabre Jr has been goading and taunting several of New Japan’s elite and now he gets the chance to dethrone the Rev Pro British Champion, a title that has real prominence in the UK scene. I’m going with a ZSJ win here. (Prediction: Zack Sabre Jr.)
Ian: Zack Sabre Jr. feels like someone who NJPW is going to elevate even further in 2019. He won the New Japan Cup in 2018 and having him win back the Rev Pro title here would only further establish him as one of the top stars internationally and a top star in NJPW. Ishii is a popular and respected wrestler but it doesn’t feel as though NJPW is interested in pushing him past his current position. (Prediction: Zack Sabre Jr.)
Andrew: I look forward to seeing this match and it’s a nice change to have RevPro be represented on this show instead of ROH. These two guys will bring their A-game and although it would be a cool moment to see Sabre Jr. get the title, I think they keep it on Ishi. (Prediction: Tomohiro Ishii)
Consensus: Zack Sabre Jr.
IWGP Tag Team Title Champions Guerrillas of Destiny vs. The Young Bucks vs. EVIL and SANADA
Jake: Speaking of feeling on top of the world, The Young Bucks must be right up there with Cody. This match is an interesting one, we just had an entire month of the World Tag League to determine the number 1 contenders…yet the Bucks just seemingly inserted themselves after Los Ingobernables won the thing. In terms of interest this is right at the bottom of my list, but I see Tonga and Loa actually retaining here. (Prediction: Guerillas of Destiny)
Ian: This is a must win match for the Guerillas of Destiny. They’ve lost to Evil and Sanada two years in a row in the World Tag League (though they beat them in the round-robin this year). Another loss to Evil and Sanada would be quite the blow. I’m not expecting the Young Bucks to leave Tokyo with any titles, so it really comes down to LIJ or Bullet Club here. My Haku fandom won’t let me pick against the Tongans. (Prediction: Guerillas of Destiny)
Andrew: Obviously, you can count out the Bucks in this match to win the titles so it leaves two teams. It’s a safe bet to say that out of any of the matches featured on this card, this title changes hands the most out of any other championship that NJPW presents. (Prediction: EVIL and SANADA)
Consensus: Guerillas of Destiny
IWGP United States Champion Cody vs. Juice Robinson
Jake: Cody Rhodes must be on top of the world right now. The new EVP of his own company, the wrestling world at his feet? Who wouldn’t be? With that in mind it is time to pull the trigger on Juice, he has already been US Champ but his babyface who doesn’t quite get there routine needs to be shelved…he has the opportunity and skill to be a big player for New Japan and with the uncertainty of AEW and the international scene in general New Japan need to start building new stars. Interestingly this is a rematch from Cody’s first WK match, a bout that saw the ‘American Nightmare’ welcomed into New Japan with a bit of a whimper…I’m hoping that they both can surprise me and deliver a great match on the night. (Prediction: Juice Robinson)
Ian: This is type of storytelling you get in NJPW that you don’t get in promotions from outside Japan much. The idea is Juice Robinson is getting better as a wrestler. He’s lost to Cody twice, once at Wrestle Kingdom 11 and the other time for the IWGP United States Championship. It’s been established to the fans that Juice isn’t quite as good as Cody… yet. Then, provided Juice wins this match, it’ll show fans that Juice has improved so much that he is now beating people who used to beat him. This means fans can look forward to title shots, better performances in tournaments and the like. 2019 will be a big year for Juice Robinson and it starts here. (Prediction: Juice Robinson)
Andrew: This appears to be the easiest pick of the night as Cody’s future has already been well established with AEW. Robinson has reinvented himself while in NJPW and is the right man to not only take the title from Cody but also be the face to hold this title while representing NJPW in the states. (Prediction: Juice Robinson)
Consensus: Juice Robinson
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion KUSHIDA vs. Taiji Ishimori
Jake: I’m going out on a limb here…this will be one of KUSHIDA’s last matches in a New Japan, for the moment anyway. There were rumblings that KUSHIDA was wanted over in the United States with WWE and I actually believe that he should go, he has the charm and likability to do well in NXT. Whether this could translate to the bigger stage of the main roster is anyone’s guess but he should take the chance if it is there. Ishimori also deserves to win the big one after his renewed run in Bullet Club, he’s thrived in the new role and had an excellent run in the Best of The Super Juniors earlier this year. Taiji Ishimori to win the belt here. (Prediction: Taiji Ishimori)
Ian: There are rumors that KUSHIDA and WWE have been speaking. Should that be the case it seems likely that Taiji Ishimori will win here. Also, Don Callis will be on commentary and Ishimori is the only wrestler on Wrestle Kingdom that Callis has under contract with Impact Wrestling. This match will take place 2 days before Impact Wrestling’s Homecoming PPV. Smart money says Callis finds a way to mention that fact during this match. (Prediction: Taiji Ishimori)
Andrew: I think this is a case where this show typically has a ton of title changes and this match falls right into that model. Although KUSHIDA hasn’t had a long title reign, it would add further to this story if he had something to chase. (Prediction: Taiji Ishimori)
Consensus: Taiji Ishimori
Kazuchika Okada vs. Jay White
Jake: I actually love what New Japan has done with Okada since he lost the match against Kenny Omega. Giving the ‘Rainmaker’ balloons and having him ‘go off the rails’ somewhat has lead to a fairly directionless year for the ‘current’ ace of NJPW, but that is the perfect story to tell. With Jay White defecting from CHAOS and joining Bullet Club you have the evolution of New Japan’s newest and deadliest heel. White told Okada from the very start that he was gunning for him, even when he joined CHAOS…and it’s come to fruition. Jay White should win this bout, Okada doesn’t need to. (Prediction: Jay White)
Ian: It feels as though babyfaces should win the last 3 matches, which is perhaps a reason to think they might shake things up a bit with White going over here. It’s no secret that NJPW sees a bright future in Jay White. They had White beat both Tanahashi and Okada in the G1 which likely allows them to have Okada beat White here but that doesn’t mean they will go that route. I think NJPW continues their push of White and gives him the win here. (Prediction: Jay White, but I’m not that confident about my pick, however)
Andrew: As much as White has done a great job to get to where he is today, Okada has been and will likely be the face of the promotion for years to come. White will put up one heck of a fight and likely dominate the match but Okada gets it done in the end. (Prediction: Kazuchika Okada)
Consensus: Jay White
IWGP Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho vs. Tetsuya Naito (No Disqualification)
Jake: This needs to be an all out brawl and won’t be a technical masterclass…no detriment to the performers at all. This bout was recently announced as being No DQ, giving both the opportunity to add some character and bring a different dimension to the card, which is stacked up to the gills with in-ring style already. Naito needs to win the belt here, with Jericho quite happy to drift in and out of short term deals it would be fitting for him to bring his NJPW run to an end at the Dome. (Prediction: Tetsuya Naito)
Ian: There shouldn’t be any surprises here. Tetsuya Naito will avenge his loss to Jericho from earlier in the year and win back the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. What, if anything, is next for Jericho in NJPW is something we might not know for a few months still. Expect a brawl as this match has just been made a NO DQ match. (Prediction: Tetsuya Naito)
Andrew: This might be the second easiest pick of the card as Naito not only gets his revenge on Jericho but also reclaims his title. You can never count out a surprise from Jericho and they could delay a title change but if they are going for the biggest impact of a title change, this show is better suited for it. Prediction: (Tetsuya Naito wins.)
Consensus: Tetsuya Naito
IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kenny Omega vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
Jake: This is the definition of old guard versus new. We’ve all seen the back and forth between the two and rumors that certain NJPW stars aren’t happy with the ‘westernization’ of New Japan, well this match solidifies the two schools of thought. Omega, the young and dynamic de-facto leader of the new generation has brought further interest from North America, especially through his match last year against Chris Jericho. Tanahashi IS New Japan, the veteran has been producing some of the finest in-ring work of his career over the past year including a show-stealing match against Kota Ibushi in the G1 Climax final. It is very difficult to judge how this one goes, does Tana get one last run with the IWGP Heavyweight title? Or will Omega extend his run into 2019 and try to help establish NJPW further into the Western territories? Tanahashi could of course still be promoted in the States and Europe with a legacy run, but Omega is the face of the company right now. Annoyingly Omega’s run thus far as Champion hasn’t actually been met with critical acclaim, a difficult feat when you consider that Okada’s run prior saw some of the best matches in New Japan history take place. For me Tanahashi should get one final run on top, the Ace returning to the top of the mountain. (Prediction: Hiroshi Tanahashi)
Ian: Hiroshi Tanahashi will defend the honor of traditional New Japan style pro-wrestling. After all, that is the theme to Wrestle Kingdom this year. Omega’s loss in the main event will also complete a night of losses for the Elite, similar to what occured at Final Battle. As soon as Wrestle Kingdom is over, we might start to get some answers regarding the Elite’s future in NJPW. (Prediction: Hiroshi Tanahashi)
Andrew: The out come of this match will tell a lot regarding Omega’s future in the promotion. Clearly, NJPW officials see him as the future of the promotion but depending on his decision to stay or go will likely be revealed in the outcome of this match. I think Omega goes to AEW and thus, Tanahashi wins the strap here. (Prediction: Hiroshi Tanahashi)
Consensus: Hiroshi Tanahashi
There you have it. Check back Friday for our complete results of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Wrestle Kingdom 13!
