It’s that magical time of year in New Japan Pro Wrestling when the card for Wrestle Kingdom becomes more clear with every passing show. With another two night event coming, some men are ready to pull double duty. One of these is Tetsuya Naito who faces Kota Ibushi on January 4th, and Jay White on January 5th. Always looking up to his mentor, Hiromu Takahashi now wants to do double duty again too.
Last year he defeated Will Ospreay for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on January 4th, and was part of Jushin Thunder Ligers retirement match the next night. This year, he’s got another chance to become IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, but that will come on January 5th. He wants to prove he’s the best of the best before he gets there, and has his eyes on the winner of the Super J-Cup. This only means one thing, it’s time for Takahashi to run the Bullet Club gauntlet.
El Phantasmo Won The Super J-Cup
Last night, eight of the best Junior Heavyweight wrestlers that New Japan could find went to war in a one night tournament. Everyone from Young Lion Clark Connors and Impact Wrestling’s Chris Bey was involved, but much like in 2019, Bullet Club member El Phantasmo would come out on top. He’d beat Lio Rush in the first round, Blake Christian in the semi-finals and ACH in the finals to become a two time winner of the Super J-Cup.
Much like how Hiromu Takahashi wants to prove he is the best after winning Best of The Super Juniors, ELP feels the same. Takahashi already laid the challenge down after winning his tournament, and ELP would gladly accept.
Hiromu Takahashi Has A Chance To Prove Himself As Ace
This sets up two big matches for Wrestle Kingdom, and almost a rush to show who is taking the place left by Will Ospreay when he went to the heavyweight division. There is no longer an ace to sit on top of the division, but this will change at Wrestle Kingdom. Hiromu Takahashi has a very strong claim to that title, being the first Junior Heavyweight to win a main event in the legendary Budokan Hall, and having shown he can take heavyweights like Ishii & EVIL to their limits.
If he beats the winner of the Super J-Cup and IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion back to back? There will be no more debate on this front. However, if El Phantasmo can beat him on January 4th, shouldn’t he get the shot at Taiji Ishimori the next night, or at least make it a triple threat match. That’s something people need to be ready for, because he’s no slouch.
How do you see the Junior Heavyweight part of Wrestle Kingdom going? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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