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 KENTA’s v3 defense of the NEVER Openweight Championship against Hirooki Goto.
The Betrayal
After a shocking debut in New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) and successful G1 Climax run where he scored 8 points, defeated eventual G1 Climax 29 winner Kota Ibushi, and nearly bested IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada — KENTA turned on partners Yoshi-Hashi and Tomohiro Ishii on August 12th in a match against Bullet Club members Bad Luck Fale and IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions G.O.D. (Tama Tonga/Tanga Loa).
Moments later, KENTA’s betrayed friend Katsuyori Shibata came down to the ring and made his presence known.
However, the night would end with KENTA and Bullet Club having the last laugh.
Goto’s Rebuild
Goto spent time earlier in the year re-focusing himself at the NJPW LA Dojo under the watchful eye of his Shibata — his best friend from High School, leading Goto finishing with a strong 10 points in G1 Climax 29.
KENTA’s descent to Bullet Club and attack on the LA Dojo Young Lions along with Shibata angered Goto, who made it his mission to honor those who helped him reshape his career and bring the fight to KENTA.
On November 3, 2019, KENTA cost Goto the IWGP Intercontinental Championship when the latter had Jay White defeated, yet the Bullet Club tactics led to Jay White retaining and making his case to become the first ‘Double Champion’ in NJPW.
Goto would end up being on the receiving end of an attack by KENTA during a Wrestle Kingdom 14 press conference, pouring a little more fuel on the already hot flame.
Shibata is likely to be in Goto’s corner on the second night of Wrestle Kingdom 14, which will add to the already tense atmosphere surrounding this encounter.
