NJPW 46th Anniversary Show: Predictions, How to Watch Live

NJPW returns tonight with their 46th Anniversary Show. All competitors in this event will be looking to build momentum before the start of the New Japan Cup and the Best of the Super Juniors. Kazuchika Okada faces off against Will Ospreay in a clash between the IWGP Heavyweight Champion and the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion.

You can watch all the action from NJPW’s 46th Anniversary Show on NJPW World. You are given the option to watch this show with English or Japanese commentary. The English commentary team consists of Kevin Kelly and Don Callis.

The start time for the show is 2:00 PST, 5:00 EST, and 10:00 GMT.

Ryusuke Taguchi, KUSHIDA, Tiger Mask IV, Jushin Thunder Liger, & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Ren Narita, Tetsuhiro Yagi, Shota Umino, Tomoyuki Oka, & Yuji Nagata

The opening match here features a lot of NJPW veterans against the Young Lions (trainees), who team with Yuji Nagata, one of their trainers. Expect the veterans to win this one.

Prediction: Taguchi Japan (AKA, any team Ryusuke Taguchi is on).

Katsuya Kitamura vs. Manabu Nakanishi – Match 7 in Kitamura’s Best of Seven Series

Katsuya Kitamura has been competing in a Best of Seven Series against several NJPW veterans and stars. The series is designed to test Kitamura’s improvement as a Young Lion. Thus far, Kitamura has not won a match in the series, but has shown great heart. Tonight, for the second time in the series, he faces his mentor, Manabu Nakanishi. This might be the one where he finally picks up a win.

Prediction: Katsuya Kitamura

Toa Henare, David Finlay, & Juice Robinson vs. CHAOS (Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto)

NXT fans will recognize Juice Robinson as the former CJ Parker, though he is an entirely different (and improved) wrestler now. This match will likely set up future NEVER Six-Man Openweight Tag Team Championship matches. I expect with the New Japan Cup coming up, CHAOS will be booked to look strong here.

Prediction: CHAOS

Roppongi 3K (Sho & Yoh) (CHAOS) (c) w/ Rocky Romero vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI) vs. Suzuki-gun (El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) – 3 Way Match for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship

This should be a fast paced affair with lots of exciting spots. I expect RPG3K to come out looking strong, but given how many losses he has incurred lately, having Hiromu Takahashi on the winning side makes sense.

Prediction: Los Ingobernables de Japon

YOSHI-HASHI (CHAOS) vs. SANADA (Los Ingobernables de Japon)

In this special singles match, we are seeing SANADA and YOSHI-HASHI wrestle in their first singles matches since their losses to Okada and Naito (respectively). YOSHI-HASHI’s war on LIJ continues as he tries to redeem himself against SANADA. Meanwhile, SANADA is trying to recover from his loss to Okada.

Prediction: SANADA

Tetsuya Naito (Los Ingobernables de Japon) vs. Taichi (Suzuki-gun)

The leader of LIJ, Tetsuya Naito, has remained strong coming out of his Wrestle Kingdom loss to Kazuchika Okada. Since then, Naito has had a strong singles win against YOSHI-HASHI. After that win, however, Taichi attacked him while moving up to the heavyweight division. Can one of the most hated men in NJPW, Taichi, defeat one of the most beloved in Naito?

Prediction: Tetsuya Naito

Minoru Suzuki (Suzuki-gun) (c) vs. Togi Makabe – IWGP Intercontinental Championship

Expect this match to be a hard-hitting affair, as two of the toughest men in NJPW square off over the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. Minoru Suzuki is on a tear, after tearing Hiroshi Tanahashi’s leg apart at The New Beginning in Sapporo (no pun intended). Makabe has not taken kindly to Suzuki’s tactics and looks to put him in his place. However, Suzuki, the leader of Suzuki-gun is never alone. Can Makabe overcome the numbers and defeat Suzuki?

Prediction: Minoru Suzuki

Kazuchika Okada (CHAOS) w/ Gedo vs. Will Ospreay (CHAOS)

In the main event of the evening we are being treated to a special singles match between two of the finest wrestlers in NJPW. CHAOS main events the night, as the two stablemates and champions in NJPW clash over who is best. Can the Jr. Heavyweight Champion score a huge win over Okada? Can Okada continue one of most legendary runs in the history of NJPW?

Prediction: Kazuchika Okada

Next: WWE Fastlane: 3 Superstars That Need a Win

We are looking at what should be quite the fun card. The main event should absolutely tear the house down as two of the best wrestlers in the world fight in a very big singles match. Expect this one to be one of the best of the year for Okada and Ospreay.