It has been another wild installment of New Japan Pro Wrestlings annual tag team tournament. It came down for a situation where it very well could have ended in a three way tie, but David Finlay & Juice Robinson (known collectively as FinJuice) managed to earn their victory by defeating SANADA & EVIL in the finals.
This means that FinJuice will move on to Wrestle Kingdom 14 to face off with current IWGP Tag Team Champions, Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa).
How Could We Have Gotten A Three Way Tie?
Guerrillas of Destiny almost were able to force a no-win situation, they simply had to win their last two matches against Manabu Nakanishi & Yuji Nagata on December 6th (which they did) and Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI at the final show (which they did not). Had they won those matches, and the match between FinJuice & SANADA & EVIL went to a time limit draw, there would have not been a winner in this tournament.
That would have lead to a triple threat tag match at Wrestle Kingdom for the three teams, likely with both the World Tag League trophies & IWGP Tag Team Titles on the line. Instead, we get a simple traditional tag match on their biggest show of the year.
Juice Robinson & David Finlays Chances Of Winning
While they won their way to the championship match, winning 13 of their last 15 tag matches, Guerrillas of Destiny are the true top tag team in New Japan. They are 5 time IWGP Tag Team Champions, and their current reign is up to 288 days, the longest they’ve held them for. They’ve been tagging since 2016 in New Japan, but being brothers, they have a deeper bond. Their match with Juice Robinson & David Finlay will be their 8th defense in their current reign.
While Guerrillas of Destiny have the experience edge, you can’t discount the benefit of momentum, and FinJuice has that to spare right now. They might have lost to the Tongans during the tournament, but under the bright lights of the Tokyo Dome, with a title on the line, it brings out the true performer in a hungry challenger. Neither man has held tag team gold in NJPW, but they will look to change that come Wrestle Kingdom 14.
Did you watch the World Tag League this year? If so, what was your favorite match of the tournament? Let us know in the comments down below, and keep your eyes open for more NJPW news right here on The Overtimer.
