The last big stop on the road to Wrestle Kingdom has come and gone, and there was some major developments that shaped the landscape of NJPW leading into their biggest show of their yearly calendar.
AEW Champion Chris Jericho Makes A Challenge
Following a tag team match where Hiroshi Tanahashi teamed with G1 Climax Winner to defeated IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada & Yoshi-Hashi, the current AEW Champion appeared on the screen and set the challenge for night two of Wrestle Kingdom, he wants Hiroshi Tanahashi. It’ll be The Painmaker vs. The Ace Of The Universe in a dream match, which is sure to deliver. Jericho said “It’s going to be a classic match, and it’ll be your last match.”
Hiromu Takahashi Returns, Challenges Will Ospreay For Wrestle Kingdom
Following his victory against BUSHI, Ospreay ran down a list of Junior Heavyweights who tried to knock him off and failed, and said there is no one left, he’ll reign forever. The lights went out, and the screen showed that a time bomb would go off in 1,448 hours (January 4, 2020). Hiromui Takahashi would return to the ring, and the roof nearly came off the builiding. He removed his neck bandage, did a neck bridge to show he’s fine, and challenged Ospreay for Wrestle Kingdom.
Dreams Of Double Championship
Jay White defended his IWGP Intercontinental Championship against Hirooki Goto, then got on the mic and said he wants to be the first IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Champion and to wrestle against the winner of Ibushi vs. Okada on the second day of Wrestle Kingdom. He would mock both men in that match, only for a third man, Tetsuya Naito to come out. Naito is the former IWGP Intercontinental Champion, and gets his rematch on Night One of Wrestle Kingdom, so he could theoretically win that belt back then, and then challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight championship on Night Two, leaving as double champion. Kota Ibushi & Kazuchika Okada join them in the ring, Ibushi likes the idea of a double championship match, and Okada objects and suggests a fan vote.
Jay White would then demand to be announced as “IWGP Intercontinental Champion and future double Champion.” He is announced as such, and confetti rains down as Naito glares at him from the entrance ramp, which is how the show ends. Their forthcoming match at Wrestle Kingdom is a potential show stealer, Naito is getting desperate for glory, and will take it at Whites expense.
