Beyond Tag League
Shibata Set For Autograph Signing At 12/11 Tag League Finals
Injured New Japan wrestler Katsuyori Shibata is scheduled to sign autographs before the 12/11 World Tag League Finals. It will be Shibata’s first NJPW appearance since his surprise appearance at the G1 Climax Finals. Shibata suffered a self-inflicted subdural hematoma following a headbutt during an IWGP Heavyweight Championship match against Kazuchika Okada.
War Between CHAOS & Los Ingobernables de Japon Rages On
While the tag league has been rolling on, there’s been plenty of build to Wrestle Kingdom 12. Naito & Okada continue to face each other in tag matches. Okada has been showing off a submission-based counter to Naito’s Destino finishing maneuver, but having debuted the reversal so soon is worrisome as there is still plenty of time for Naito to brainstorm a counter to the counter.
In these tag matches, Hiromu and Ospreay have been getting plenty of time to fight. The two will meet in an IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship Four Way Match, also featuring KUSHIDA and the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion Marty Scurll. Scurll and KUSHIDA are scheduled to join the current tour on Monday.
Young Lions Continue To Shine
The Young Lions of New Japan (akin to NXT Trainees) have been on fire for the latter part of 2017, but none more than Hirai Kawato. Kawato stood out among a stacked field of young boys including Syota Umino, Tomoyuki Oka, Ren Narita, Henare & Katsuya Kitamura. In the 11/30 show, Kawato was paired up with Hiroshi Tanahashi in what is surely a vote of confidence from management. While the musclebound Kitamura has been the Young Lion with the “look,” Kawato has been praised by fans, wrestlers and commentators alike for his fiery offense and pathos-filled selling. 2018 is set to be a big year for Kawato and he’ll be teaming with Manabu Nakanishi at the 12/9 Tag League Show.
