Wrestle Kingdom 17 Pick Ems!!

 

My Wrestle Kingdom Pick Ems!! 

Jay White (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP World Heavyweight championship

My Pick: Kazuchika Okada

(I just don’t think on such an Inoki Themed event The Outsider can win..) 

Will Ospreay (c) vs. Kenny Omega for the IWGP US Heavyweight title

My Pick: Kenny 

(I think they’re building a trilogy here and part two will be at forbidden door. But Kenny Coming back to lose doesn’t make a bunch of sense. UNELSSSS  THE DEAL WAS.. “we win a lot at forbidden door 2022 we will send some doods to lay down At WK17… but it still makes more sense for Kenny to win and will to chase.. this is the one I’m least sure of) 

Taiji Ishimori (c) vs. Hiromu Takahaski vs. El Desperado vs. Master Wato for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight championship

 

My pick: Hiromu

(HT is the sulbolda of new Japan “Hiromu always win”)

Keiji Muto, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Shota Umino vs. Tetsuya Naito, Sanada & Bushi

My pick: Keiji Muto, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Shota Umino

(Muta doesn’t lose alot.. and he just lost in his home of Noha. So I’m thinking This is a slam dunk. It’s also one-sided because one side has two legends and one side has Naito and his pals) 

Karl Anderson (c) vs. Tama Tonga for NEVER Openweight title

My pick: Tama

(I feel like this is a foregone conclusion)

Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Ren Narita in the finals of the tournament to crown the first IWGP World Television champion

My pick: ZSJr

(I feel like Ren can lose and Zack needs to win. He’s been there for a long time and he certainly has his share of accolades but he’s never really had dominance in a division now this new thing can be his thing)

FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) (c) vs. Bishamon (Hirooki Goto and Yoshi-Hashi) for the IWGP Tag Team titles

My pick: (and I hope I’m wrong) Bishamon 

(It seems like the international storyline is FDR is on a losing streak. I don’t understand that story and I don’t know why anyone would book things this way but I feel like the worlds best tag team is going to make a lesser team look great)

KAIRI (c) vs. Tam Nakano for the IWGP Women’s championship

My pick: KAIRI

(With a certain Mandalorian lurking around I also think this is a foregone Conclusion. I would be lying if I said I knew a lot about stardom  since the Wrestledown shut down, so maybe I am entirely wrong or maybe Kari losing gives us 2 money matches.. )

Catch 2/2 (TJP and Francesco Akira) (c) vs. CHAOS (Lio Rush and Yoh) for the IWGP Junior Tag Team titles

My pick:Catch 2/2 

(Putting a belt on lilo is a recipe for disaster!!)

My pick: 

Yuji Nagata, Satoshi & Togi Nakabe vs. Tatsumi Fujinami, Minoru Suzuki & Tiger Mask in the Antonio Inoki Memorial match

My pick: Tatsumi Fujinami, Minoru Suzuki & Tiger Mask 

(Suzuki is still A current active superstar and not a legend. Tiger mask was in the jr tag mox not to long ago. I hope they comes out looking strong)

Ryohei Oiwa vs. Boltin Oleg in an Exhibition match (Kickoff)

New Japan Ranbo (a Royal Rumble style battle royal); Final four participants will compete at New Year Dash!! on Jan. 5 for 2023 King of Pro Wrestling trophy (Kickoff)

My pick: great Okahn 

(there is a lot of awesome people not on this card tonight that could be on this rumble. I don’t have any illusion that it’s gonna be a great match but there’s a lot of potential for Main event folks to run down the Isle)