NJPW: Highlights from The New Beginning in Osaka

Oh My God It’s Suzuki vs Mox

Suzuki is one of the best wrestlers in the world because he can and will do anything with anybody, anywhere – that includes chair sword-fighting. Besides the obvious intensity this match had almost immediately, it’s also not lost on me that they’re mirroring each other constantly, whether it’s matching energy or just imitating each other’s mannerisms.

We knew we were in for something special as soon as Suzuki made his appearance at Wrestle Kingdom to challenge Moxley for his newly-won US Championship title. This match absolutely rules. They’ve made violence a game and they’re having so much fun. Moxley’s eyepatch was gone within a minute and Suzuki almost broke his arm. Then Moxley kissed him on the head. This fight goes in a thousand different directions.

That’s the best way I can articulate how much and why I loved this match, I lost brain cells from enjoying myself so much – please just watch it.

Also, Zack might challenge for the US belt, if that sudden and aggressive run in is any indication (it is.)

Naito, Bloody Naito

Red Shoes throwing out Bullet Club en masse will always be my favorite song.

This match had a different energy than Suzuki versus Moxley, which I only mention because it felt like running a marathon still having one more match to go through afterward. It was slow, a bit methodical, but interesting if nothing else.

It’s always fun to watch someone try to out-Tranquilo Tetsuya Naito – KENTA and Naito both frustrating each other and commanding the pace of the match by removing themselves and evading moves. You’d think it would take some of what’s entertaining out of pro wrestling (the wrestling) but I love the reflections of their stable and stablemates in these antics.

Regardless of the pace, they hardly go easy on each other.

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About the ending: I came into this match knowing I wanted Naito to win, though reluctantly inviting the opportunity to be disappointed.

I can’t fathom that all that buildup to Wrestle Kingdom would have been worth Naito losing on his first defense, but KENTA has, over the course of a few weeks, won me over. I particularly like his idea to only defend the titles in small towns, which is something I want Naito to do, or I want KENTA to do, but only after a long and healthy Naito 2 Belts reign.

It seemed inevitable for Naito to win, though I don’t think anyone expected the ending to be so gritty. I won’t lie, it’s not like I ever want to see someone go headfirst into an exposed turnbuckle, but all that blood really tied the room together.

Overall, The New Beginning in Osaka paid off a lot of the hostility forged at Wrestle Kingdom and on the Road shows, with some surprising moments and incredible fights. The Moxley/Suzuki and Ryu Lee/Hiromu matches are worth it alone, but the whole show was a solid addition to the 2020 New Japan canon.