Inside Wrestle Kingdom 14 looks at the featured matches from both days of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s (NJPW) upcoming Wrestle Kingdom events on January 4th and January 5th. This article highlights the first match of the Double Gold Dash tournament where IWGP Intercontiental Champion Jay White makes his v2 defense against Tetsuya Naito.
The Double Gold Dash tournament is between IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada, IWGP Intercontinental Champion Jay White, G1 Climax winner Kota Ibushi, and Tetsuya Naito. The first match in the mini-tournament is between Jay White and Tetsuya Naito.
Naito was the first individual to bring up aspirations of being a double champion in 2019 when he was the IWGP Intercontinental Champion going into the New Japan Cup. His quest was originally dashed when he lost the Intercontinental Championship to Ibushi at the G1 Supercard in April, and a second time when he lost the same championship to White at NJPW Destruction In Kobe in September.
Naito’s victory over Taichi in November at Power Struggle made him the de facto number one contender to Jay White’s championship, directly leading to the Double Gold Dash scenario at Wrestle Kingdom 14.
While Naito is a crowd favorite, one of the biggest draws in New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), and according to reports the biggest merchandise seller through his Los Ingobernable de Japon (LIJ) unit — this may be his last opportunity to prove he can be the best wrestler NJPW has to offer.
IWGP Intercontinental Champion “Switchblade” Jay White comes into this match with a heavy advantage over Naito. White was able to defeat Naito in the G1 Climax, and for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship this calendar year, the only singles matches between the two during their career.
Jay White has had a remarkable 2019, going 14-5 in singles matches. His only losses being to IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada, Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano, and Kota Ibushi who defeated him in the G1 Climax tournament finals. Of note — Okada, Goto, Ishii, and Yano are members of CHAOS, the group Jay White, Gedo, and Jado turned on last year in favor of Bullet Club.
If Switchblade remains focused, he presents a stiff challenge for Naito, who wants nothing more to reclaim the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. White also has his eyes on winning Double Gold Dash and proving he is the best and strongest NJPW has to offer.
Inside Wrestle Kingdom 14 Series:
1. Both Nights On Better Pace Than Last Year, A Look At The Featured Matches
2. Jyushin Thunder Liger Retirement Match I
3. G.O.D. Face FinJuice For The IWGP Heayweight Tag Team Championship
4. Lance Archer and Jon Moxley IWGP US Heavyweight Texas Death Match
5. Will Ospreay Defends His IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Against Hiromu Takahashi
6. Double Gold Dash, Jay White And Tetsuya Naito For The IWGP Intercontinental Championship
7. The Tanahashi and Jericho Match Has An Added Stipulation
8. Double Gold Dash, Kazuchika Okada And Kota Ibushi For The IWGP Heavyweight Championship
9. Jyushin Thunder Liger Retirement Match II
10. IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Contest
11. Zack Sabre Jr And Sanada For The RevPro British Heavyweight Championship
12. KENTA And Hirooki Goto Battle Over The Never Openweight Championship
