NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13: Post-Power Struggle Predictions

Notably absent from the Wrestle Kingdom card so far is Kota Ibushi, who must surely have something more to offer than accompanying Kenny Omega to the ring. But a recent tweet from current NEVER Openweight Champion, Hirooki Goto, strongly suggests that Ibushi may well be next in line for a shot at the title. (Sorry, Taichi.) This also opens the tantalising possibility of a future clash between Ibushi and the currently injured Will Ospreay – and who doesn’t want to see that?

Also absent are Suzuki-Gun mainstays Zack Sabre Jr and Minoru Suzuki. The latter is currently licking his wounds after failing to score his Undisputed British Heavyweight Championship back off of Tomohiro Ishii. Given ZSJ’s frequent appearances for Revolution Pro Wrestling, it’s not unthinkable that he might be Ishii’s next challenger for the title.

That said, ZSJ and Suzuki are also currently Undisputed British Tag Team Champions. Could we see a fresh set of challengers for their title, assuming Aussie Open don’t divest them of the gold on Friday?

Elsewhere, Cody is hanging on to the IWGP United States Championship, and a rematch against Juice Robinson seems more likely than not – unless Will Ospreay returns from injury and makes good on his heavyweight ambitions…

Meanwhile the Bullet Club OGs are absolutely laden with gold, currently holding both the IWGP Tag Team Championships and the 6-Man Championships between them. With Ishimori otherwise occupied, the Tag Championships are a better bet, perhaps EVIL and Sanada might step up to challenge them, or – uncertain future notwithstanding – the Young Bucks.

All of which still leaves a fair few of the usual suspects unaccounted for, but there’s always the New Japan rumble to mop-up the stragglers. Sorry, Yoshi-Hashi. Your time will come.