The fifth match and first headline of night-one of The New Beginning in Sapporo saw a special tag match between Los Ingobernables de Japon members IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental ‘Double Champion’ Tetsuya Naito and Sanada, face Bullet Club members KENTA and Jay White. Sanada/Jay White meet one another in a special single match on February 9th at The New Beginning in Osaka, while KENTA challenges Naito for the ‘Double Championship.’
The match began with several mind games from both sides before both sides. Despite a small portion of New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) fans decrying such stalling tactics, the antics of both teams drew the appropriate cheers and jeers from the crowd.
After the cerebral opening, the action picked up with Naito and KENTA exchanging blows, while White and Sanada showed several displays of chain wrestling as they battled for advantage going into their matches on February 9th.
Despite the match telling a narrative by using 1980s tactics, the modern NJPW audience remained on edge as the two teams battled one another without taking any unnecessary risks.
The symbolic victory gives both Jay White and KENTA momentum going into The New Beginning in Osaka. White was able to gain a fall on Sanada after falling prey to a clutch to the latter at New Year Dash. It also gives KENTA further material to mock Naito with until their title match on the 9th.
The match provided a different feel from the other headline and marquee contests further up the card, while also providing a change of pace from the matches before.
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