Ranking NJPW’s Factions Post-WK12: Worst To Best
Credit: NJPW Twitter
4. Suzuki-Gun
Up 1
Having lost what little gold they had at Wrestle Kingdom 12, you might expect Suzuki-Gun to be bottom of the totem pole. However, it hasn’t been as bad as it looks on paper.
Lance Archer and Davey Boy Smith Jr. may have lost their IWGP Tag Team Championship bout, but it was an 80/20 split in terms of overall beatdown. The new champions looked cool in victory, but they were certainly in a war.
Relive the magic of #NJWK12! The entire show is available on-demand only on #NJPWWorld! Watch Now▶︎https://t.co/zgTOSmeAjZ @DBSmithjr pic.twitter.com/lp4V7CZkZj
— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 7, 2018
Speaking of wars, Minoru Suzuki is still undeniably terrifying. The 48-year-old dissected Hirooki Goto in another one-sided match, before losing his championship and his hair. Choosing to return to the ring to administer his own punishment gives his character an honourable dimension he’s lacked for most of his career.
Most importantly, Suzuki-Gun started the new company year on the right foot. They could have fielded the usual cronies in their eight-man tag match at New Year’s Dash. Instead they put forward Suzuki, Archer, DBS Jr. and Zack Sabre Jr. That’s one hell of a contingent, and Suzuki made his intentions clear: he is now headed for Tanahashi and his IWGP Intercontinental Championship.
Having been in such disarray following the Tokyo Dome, Suzuki-Gun has clawed back some lost ground. If Suzuki can go on to win the Intercontinental Championship, the stable will be set up nicely for 2018.