As The NJPW World Tag League Continues Interesting Teams Begin To Stand Out

New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) began its annual World Tag League (WTL) tournament on November 16th. This entry looks at four teams from the group of sixteen who look to win the biggest round robin heavyweight tag team tournament in wrestling. All pictures are property of NJPW.

The new team of Jeff Cobb and Mikey Nicholls have put together an impressive showing thus far during the World Tag League. As of the writing of this piece, the team has managed three wins while taking three defeats. Their six points have them firmly within the trophy chase.

Their most recent victory came over TenKoji (TenKozy) on November 23rd. They also managed to defeat the veteran team of Yuji Nagata and Manabu Nakanishi, while also capturing a fall over Toru Yano and Colt Cobana.

Their defeats have come to Tomohiro Ishii and Yoshi-Hashi, Cold Darkness (Evil and Sanada), and Minoru Suzuki who is teaming with IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion Lance Archer.

While not considered favorites once announced, Nicholls is known as a tag team master who has quickly found chemistry with Jeff Cobb. They are a team to watch in the upcoming weeks.

 

The back to back defending World Tag League champions are currently sitting at eight points with four wins and zero losses. Cold Darkness entered the tournaments as the favorites, and are off to a hot start.

FinJuice is the only team ahead of them with ten points, but the leaders have already wrestled six tournament matches at the writing of this piece.

Evil and Sanada have proven to be a force in both singles and tag team action, could they prove their tag team dominance and win World Tag League for a third straight year?

Despite many overlooking the team due to Yoshi-Hashi, he and Tomohiro Ishii are off to a torrid World Tag League start. The team sits at eight points with their only defeat coming to Toru Yano and Colt Cobana.

Ishii and Yoshi-Hashi have teamed together often in multi-man tags throughout the years, but this is their first real run a tag team combination.

If they can continue their hot streak, they may remain relevant throughout the entire World Tag League tournament. Yoshi-Hashi’s determination during post-match comments have carried over to the ring, perhaps Ishii is rubbing off on him.

The team of Shingo Takagi and Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre’s (CMLL) Terrible make up Double Rampage, a Los Ingobernables international duo.

Despite their commodore and energy within the ring, the new duo has only been about to compile two wins among four losses, leaving them with only four points. While there is time for them to make a run, Double Rampage will quickly need to find their form.

Will they be able to do so before it’s too late? Only time will tell.