NJPW: Why Roppongi 3K deserve to win at Power Struggle

As a frantic, fantastic few weeks of Junior tag action draws to a close, it’s finally time to crown the winners of the Super Jr. Tag League Tournament, with a final which will see reigning champs El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru take on both LIJ’s Bushi and Shingo Takagi, and NJPW’s resident shiny good boys, Roppongi 3K.

And while three-way tag matches are hardly an unknown quantity in NJPW, it certainly adds an element of unpredictability to proceedings. The smart money is on Bushi and LIJ newcomer Shingo, and it would be a fitting tribute to the injured Hiromu should his former tag partner – who, like a true friend, has kept Hiromu’s presence alive through his ring gear – secure the win, and a shot at the Junior Tag Championships.

And while there’s something to be said for poetic justice, there’s a team who arguably deserve it that little bit more.

We are a year removed from Roppongi 3K’s triumphant debut at Kings of Pro Wrestling, where they seized the titles from Taguchi and Ricochet (known, rather wonderfully, as ‘Funky Future’). Sho and Yoh have held the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championships twice, with each reign lasting a mere few months.

Their most recent run ended in somewhat ignominious fashion after just 37 days in a three-way tag match which is worth watching not only for its quality, but for the sheer amount of punishment Yoh willingly absorbs at the hands of Hiromu – seriously, his skin-splitting chops make Walter look like a pussycat.

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The story underpinning that match was that, while LIJ and Suzuki-Gun are perfectly willing to resort to unscrupulous methods to get the job done, Roppongi 3K’s comparative lack of experience (and, perhaps, their starry-eyed commitment to Doing Things Right) means that while securing the titles was a simple enough task for the highly able duo, outfoxing the veterans of the division had proven a far greater challenge.

With their two title reigns clocking in at 87 and 37 days respectively – and not a single successful title defence to their name – Sho and Yoh clearly have the right stuff, but their stamina and staying power remains a work in progress.

It’s all part of the long-term story, though, and if there’s one thing NJPW does best, it’s long-term storytelling. Roppongi 3K came in like a force of nature off the back of their excursion, winning the big one on their first attempt – a hell of an achievement for the former Young Lions.

But it’s clear that for all their fire, they were still very much in a transitory period – no longer Young Lions, but not yet fully established. Their inexperience has been their downfall. But a year is a long time in wrestling, and as 2018 draws to a close, it’s time for Sho and Yoh to prove they’ve got what it takes to be fighting champions.

So, why now? What’s changed since the Roppongi boys dropped the belts to El Desperado and Kanemaru back in March? Well, quite a lot. The slow dissolution of CHAOS has undoubtedly been an education for Roppongi 3K. Yoh spent a turbulent G1 Climax tournament tagging with Bullet Club’s brand new bad boy, Jay White, during which he learned a great deal about resilience in the face of adversity – even when that adversity comes from his own teammate.

And while Yoh’s dogged commitment to a fair fight may have cost him a few victories – though arguably through no fault of his own – any lingering naivety has almost certainly been quashed. Choosing to protect Sho over his tag partner was a pivotal moment for Yoh, and for Roppongi 3K as a team, cementing their bond as a tag team while CHAOS fractured around them – while cementing Yoh’s role as a consummate babyface.

Sho might have had an easier time of it during the G1, but he’s forged his own niche as the powerhouse of the junior division, and a competitive streak has emerged during the Super Junior Tag League, at least where fellow Big Strong Boys ACH and Shingo are concerned. Sho’s bullishness has given him an edge where one was badly needed, and indeed, both the Roppongi boys have developed very distinct styles and characteristics over the past year, elevating them from fiery rookies to a well-oiled team, each with their own important role to play, both in and out of the ring. Rocky Romero’s tutelage has clearly not been in vain.

With CHAOS reeling from Gedo and Jay White’s duplicity, the somewhat rudderless (and title-less) stable are badly in need of a big win. Will Ospreay seemed primed to take on Taichi for the NEVER Openweight Championship, but this was shelved after Ospreay picked up an injury during a Revolution Pro Wrestling appearance.

In these treacherous, turbulent times, with rumours of a mole in their midst, there’s surely merit in giving CHAOS a much-needed boost, proving – in defiance of Jay White and his at-all-costs ethos – that good guys don’t always finish last.

Roppongi 3K have come a long way since their debut, and have settled comfortably into the Junior Tag division as one of the only dedicated babyface tag teams. And while they are no longer starry-eyed rookies, their education has not come easy.

They’ve had to endure adversity, betrayal and loss, and they are heading into Power Struggle as part of a stable in considerable turmoil. There’s surely no better time for Roppongi 3K to emerge from Power Struggle with the opportunity to once again become triumphant babyface champions.