EYES ON THE PRIZE:
NJPW STARS AND THE DUAL CHAMPIONSHIP DREAM
By Jasmine Olan
As the rest of the year for New Japan Pro Wrestling begins moving toward its tail end, some major names have each been making the same bold statement. Four of the promotion’s finest are each looking to become the first in New Japan history to hold the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships simultaneously. It remains to be seen if this means that NJPW is looking to consolidate the two titles, but the buzz surrounding the chase for this history making moment is building fast. Any of these four would be a fantastic choice. Among them are two perennial fan favorites, one of New Japan’s greatest antiheroes, and the promotion’s number one heel. They have all gone to war against each other in the past, and that war is about to heat up even more.
The first of these four to declare their interest in becoming NJPW’s first ever dual champion is Los Ingobernables de Japon’s Tetsuya Naito. The tranquilo one has had a long and complicated relationship with the IWGP Intercontinental title. Over the years fans and seen him go from pretty much hating it to now seeing it as a stepping stone to a much bigger goal. Earlier in the year, Naito made his intentions known to the wrestling world. He took one step toward that new goal when he defeated long time rival, Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship at DOMINION 2019 in June. Before summer’s end, Ibushi would be the next to make those same intentions known after winning the prestigious G1 CLIMAX tournament in August.
The Golden Star has long been a massive favorite among wrestling fans since his debut fifteen years ago. In that time, Kota Ibushi has emerged as one of the industry’s most influential stars. He’s already made history once this year by becoming the first to ever win all three of New Japan’s major singles tournaments. After winning this year’s G1 announced his desire to challenge for both titles at WRESTLE KINGDOM 14, the first WRESTLE KINGDOM to be split into two nights. Becoming NJPW’s first ever dual champion would bring him another step closer to becoming one of wrestling’s true all time greats.
After his loss in the G1 finals, Switchblade Jay White turned his attention to his growing rivalry with Tetsuya Naito which began to intensify during G1 CLIMAX 29. This ultimately led to White defeating Naito at DESTRUCTION IN KOBE for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. In the lead up to that match, he would also make his intentions known as well. That same night White’s first challenger would make his presence felt. That first challenger would be none other than the Fierce Warrior, Hirooki Goto.
The two have had a heated rivalry over the past year that is about to intensify when they face each other at KING OF PRO WRESTLING on 10/14. When Goto was revealed as Jay White’s first challenger for Intercontinental Championship, he made it that he too wanted to become New Japan’s first ever dual champion. Given his status as a long time fan favorite, it would a great movement for a wrestler who truly deserves it.
While it may be a bit unclear as to what all of this is ultimately going to lead to, but this slow build process has definitely been fun to watch. There is a wealth of potential here for some great things to happen. New Japan Pro Wrestling has been excelling at this for a long time with no sign of slowing down. As each of these four talented men work toward this common goal, NJPW fans can rest assured that all eyes will be on the prize.
