Photo via New Japan Global on Twitter
New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Super Junior Tag League is now here. The format this year is that one winner advances from each of the two blocks to face off at the finals, which will be at Power Struggle. A key detail is that right now, there is no stipulation for the IWGP Jr Heavyweight tag title to be defended, which could be a key to the predictions. I’ll break down in each block whether a team is a frontrunner, dark horse, or if it's just not their tournament.
A Block
Frontrunners: Bullet Club War Dogs and TMDK
Dark Horses: Takahashi/Bushi and House of Torture
Better luck next time: Taguchi/Dragon Dia and Tiger Mask/Capitan Suicida
It’s always difficult to count the Bullet Club out from being winners of any tournament in New Japan Pro Wrestling, but Clark Connors and Drilla Maloney just lost the IWGP Jr Heavyweight tag titles to The Intergalactic Jet Setters at King of Pro Wrestling, so the likelihood is that the pair will come in angry. I would lean towards Robbie Eagles and Kosei Fujita to get the nod in this block, given the rise of TMDK; Fujita in particular.
Los Ingobernables de Japon and House of Torture could advance in the A Block, but the likelihood is that their feuds with other aspects of New Japan will keep them busy, while the teams of Taguchi and Dragon Dia and Tiger Mask and Capitan Suicida are both teams of veterans and rookies that have uphill battles ahead of them with other veteran teams in the block.
B Block
Frontrunners: Intergalactic Jet Setters and Catch 2/2
Dark Horses: YOH/Rocky Romero and Ishimori/Robbie X
Better luck next time: The Velocities and Ninja Mack/The DKC
The B Block has the newly crowned IWGP Jr Heavyweight tag team champions, The Intergalactic Jet Setters leading this block. They are clearly positioned to be on atop this block, but it’s not for certain that they can win the block with Catch 2/2, the winners of last year’s tournament also in the block with them. I would predict Catch 2/2 eeks out a win in the block over the champions.
There are several other teams looking to make a name in B Block, but all have a bit of an experience issue. Taiji Ishimori recruited Robbie X from Rev Pro to be his partner after Royal Quest. YOH, returning from injury, joins Rocky Romero in a Roppongi reunion, but this pairing has never had success of other pairings in the group with SHO in the past.
The Velocities make their debut from the Oceana region of New Japan, while DKC and Ninja Mack have each entered into New Japan competition before but it's their first time as a team.
Finals Prediction
A Block winner TMDK vs. B Block winner Catch 2/2
When taking into account the four front runners, it makes the most sense to not put Bullet Club War Dogs back into the title scene immediately after losing, and the Intergalactic Jet Setters need challengers going into January. Catch 2/2 or TMDK provide the best fresh matchup when all is said and done. My Speaking of Strong Style podcast partner Steven Conway picked TMDK and I agree.
We'll have more on our show later today, which you can stream below.
