The New Japan Pro Wrestling tag team divison has been in an odd state for a while. The belts were won by Juice Robinson and David Finlay at Wrestle Kingdom. This was before losing them to Guerrillas of Destiny a few weeks later during a tour of the United States. Now there are new champions once again.
After a fantastic battle with one of the greatest teams in NJPW, a combination of Kota Ibushi’s deadly Kamigoye knee and Hiroshi Tanahash’s High Fly Flow would earn them the victory, and the tag team championships. They have taken the tag team name “The Golden Aces”.
Hiroshi Tanahashi Has History With This Title
This would be the first time Kota Ibushi held the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, and the second time for Hiroshi Tanahashi.
Tanahashi in the past held the championships with Shinsuke Nakamura, and this was all the way back in 2004. They would win the then vacant championships after beating the daunting team of Minoru Suzuki & Kensuke Sasaki, and would go on to hold them for nearly a year.
Kota Ibushi has tag team championship experience, only as a junior. Alongside Kenny Omega as The Golden Lovers, he held the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships, but this is his first time as Heavyweight Tag Team Champion.
Their First Challengers
It wouldn’t take long for a team to step up and challenge the top stars. Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi (collectively known as Dangerous Tekkers) have claimed the first shot at the title. Sabre has had a lot of history in recent time with Tanahashi, with them exchanging victories, including over the British Heavyweight Championship. Taichi has also been a rising star for NJPW, most recently being in a mini feud with Kazuchika Okada.
The Dangerous Tekkers would lay out the new champions moments after their victory, making their intentions very clear. They had an impressive run in the World Tag League, with many fans wanting them to win the whole tournament.
They Should Make The Tag Division Top Level Again
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi are two of the best wrestlers in the entire world. With the uppercard of NJPW full at the moment, having them raise the stock of the tag titles is a great use of them. Alongside teams like FinJuice & Dangerous Tekkers, they will be able to bring a main event feel to tag team matches, something which hasn’t happened in quite a long time.
We can only hope that Guerrillas of Destiny don’t instantly win the championships back like they did when they lost them at Wrestle Kingdom. They are a fantastic tag team, but simply ones are getting bored of.
Are you excited to see what Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi will be able to do as the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions? Let us know who you want them to face in the comments down below!
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