NJPW King Of Pro Wrestling 2017 Preview

Credit: NJPW_Global Twitter

IWGP Tag Team Championships Tornado Elimination Match: Killer Elite Squad (Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Lance Archer) (c) vs. Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa) vs. War Machine (Hanson and Raymond Rowe)

Hype-meter: 4/10

Fair play to these three teams. After being saddled with a trilogy of matches during the Destruction series, they managed to pull off a finale that was decent. However, the saga continues, and dropping ‘elimination’ in the stipulations only serves to devalue whichever team is eliminated first (my guess being G.O.D). If you’re a fan of this division, the World Tag League can’t come around sooner. Fresh meat is direly needed. Perhaps Elgin and Juice could join forces, or EVIL and SANADA. Otherwise we’ll have K.E.S, G.O.D and War Machine feuding all the way to the Tokyo Dome.

Bullet Club (Cody, Kenny Omega and Marty Scurll) vs. CHAOS (Beretta, Jado and Yoshi-Hashi)

Hype-meter: 7/10

The Young Bucks are the conduits between the Japanese and American tribes within the modern-day Bullet Club. They tour with Cody and Marty in Ring of Honor, while maintaining their ELITE relationship with ‘The Cleaner’ Kenny Omega. That’s why it’s so refreshing to see Cody, Kenny and Marty teaming without The Bucks. It will simply give a new format with which to enjoy three terrific competitors who share a group identity. Cody and Kenny’s leadership struggles have been simmering, while ‘The Villain’ hasn’t been on a New Japan show since the G1 Specials. This will serve as a novel reintroduction for both men, and an interesting look into Kenny’s leadership sans-Bucks.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: KUSHIDA (c) vs. Will Ospreay

Hype-meter: 8/10

While the issue of unimaginative pairings continues, it is warranted in this case. KUSHIDA dispatched an unconvincing challenge from El Desperado, so Will Ospreay’s subsequent challenge means they’re ramping up the competition. Outside of the Champion, Ospreay and Hiromu are the only true phenoms in the Jr. Singles division. KUSHIDA has extensive experience with both men, so hopefully this will resolve itself in a rare triple-threat come Wrestle Kingdom. For now though, we are getting a 5* rematch from Best of the Super Juniors, so we should strap in for one hell of a contest.