5 Predictions for 2018
Less Michael Elgin
In 2017, Michael Elgin sold his promotion Glory Pro after it was revealed that he aided in attempting to cover up and discredit sexual assault allegations against his former student Sean Orleans. Elgin is currently still under contract with NJPW and is booked throughout the entirety of the New Beginning tour.
However his schedule doesn’t lend itself to in ring success. The New Beginning shows finds Elgin mainly teaming with Young Lions Henare & Kitamura, as well as David Finlay & Hiroshi Tanahashi; situations where Elgin is likely to be on the losing team, and in some cases Elgin himself is likely to take the pinfall. Hopefully, Elgin will be phased out and his role will be given to far less problematic wrestlers as 2018 continues. With War Machine leaving for WWE, it will be curious to see who will pick up where they left off in World Tag League in reminding Michael Elgin how many feel about rape apologists and victim blamers.
WARNING: GIF features NSFW Language
https://twitter.com/njpwgifs/status/939183184364830720?lang=en
Jr. Heavyweights Continue Breaking New Ground.
After a thrilling four way dance at Wrestle Kingdom, the Junior Heavyweight division is rightly the talk of the town. Hiromu Takahashi, Marty Scurll, KUSHIDA & Will Ospreay are leading the pack in innovative offense and giving the heavyweight main eveners a run for their money. In 2018, expect the Junior division to possibly have a ladder match or another New Japan rarity. The fighters under 200 lbs. are doing everything to get eyes on their division and break into the main event of NJPW cards and more groundbreaking match ups are the key to getting that attention.
Heavyweight Tag Division Thrives.
EVIL & SANADA’s win over Killer Elite Squad at Wrestle Kingdom proved that without War Machine, the heavyweight tag division will be quite alright. Neglected for years, the division is finally cranking out thrilling contests and fresh match ups. With KES, Guerrillas Of Destiny, Yano & Ishii, Goto & Yoshi-Hashi and even Okada throwing his name into the tag division, tandem wrestling will once again shine in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Hiroshi Tanahashi Wins A Third G1 Climax.
Anything Tanahashi can do, Okada can do better. That has been the story of The Rainmaker and The Ace. Both men have won two G1 Climaxes a piece and Tanahashi would fit alongside Hiroyoshi Tenzan in the rarified air of being a 3-time G1 Climax winner. Okada belongs there too, but Tanahashi has to do it first. He’s brought the Intercontinental Title to main event status, and unless he wants to get his beautiful face broken in the NEVER Openweight division, another run in the Heavyweight Main Event Scene just makes sense for Tanahashi. Plus winning the G1 would put him in striking distance of one of his great rivals.
No, not Okada…
Naito vs. Tanahashi Headlines Tokyo Dome in 2019.
Eventually Okada will have to lose the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and Naito just feels like the right man to take it from him. Had pride not caused him to go for a second Destino, Tetsuya Naito would most likely already be champion. After winning the title, Naito should be given a hefty run, and find himself main eventing Tokyo Dome against The Ace of New Japan. The two men have had a storied rivalry for the Intercontinental Title and bringing that program to the IWGP Heavyweight scene and the Tokyo Dome main event just feels right. The Ace of New Japan does not have many Tokyo Dome main events left and it just feels right that Tetsuya Naito be one of the few to beat him on that hallowed ground.
