Global Wars UK 2018 comes our way in October this year. The best of NJPW collide with the best from the Revolution Pro (RevPro). Witness the rematch between Tomohiro Ishii and Minoru Suzuki and see Tetsuya Naito, Zack Sabre Jr. and much more in action. Let´s take a look at the card.
Will Ospreay vs Chris Ridgeway
Will Ospreay comes home. The NJPW regular has become one of the biggest international stars over the past two years. The former two-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion has had an incredible year so far and started to change his in-ring style into a more heavyweight-styled performance. His match against Okada is a perfect example for the new Strong Style based performances by the Aerial Assasin. He still executes high-flying moves with perfection, but with less frequency and therefore with less risk for his career. Ridgeway debuted in 2012 and has been very active in the European scene ever since.
Predicition: Ospreay
El Phantasmo vs Rocky Romero
The winner of the 2018 British Junior Cup who had a great showing with Will Ospreay at Epic Encounter earlier this year, faces the manager of Roppongi 3K. Phantasmo has had an incredible 2018 so far and is looking to cap it off with a win over one of New Japans international Junior Heavyweights. Romero is an 8-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion and wrestled all over the world in his now twenty-second year in professional wrestling.
Predicition: ELP
British Cruiserweight Championship: David Starr (c) vs. KUSHIDA
The Time Splitter will face Tomohiro Ishii one day ealier at OTT´s anniversary show. Now he has to face the British Cruiserweight Champion, the “Product”, David Starr. The “Jewish canon” has been dealing with an alleged conspiracy against him by RevPro. This certainly helps his hee promo before nearly any match. Starr is also a former three-time Shotgun Champion. Both men have unique offense in the ring and could probably deliver the match of the night.
Prediction: KUSHIDA
Satoshi Kojima vs Mark Davis
Kojima returned after an over six month break that was causes by a knee injury. He is a seven-time IWGP Tag Team Champion and two-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion. Additionally he won the 2010 edition of the G1 Climax, possibly the most famous tournament in Wrestling. He makes his return to RevPro after his British debut in 2015. His opponent is one half of the current PROGRESS & Defiant Tag Team Champions, Mark Davis. Together with his partner Kyle Fletcher they travel the world under the name of Aussie Open. Two powerhouses collide in this match to determine the best.
Hirooki Goto vs Zack Sabre Jr.
“Welcome to Zack Sabre Time!!”, that´s how Taka Michinoku would introduce the Submission Master. So many guys had a great 2018, but Zacks year was outstanding: he won the New Japan Cup by defeating Tetsuya Naito, Kota Ibushi, SANADA and Hiroshi Tanahashi (!) in a row. If that doesn´t show the confidence NJPW puts into this young man. Whoever is allowed to submit or pin Tanahashi has a future in NJPW top card. The 31-year old is a former EVOLVE Champion, PWG Champion, Undisputed British Heavyweight Champion etc.. He is also on the prestigious list of winners for winning the Battle Of Los Angeles and 16 Carat Gold Tournament (wXw). This year he added the SSS 16 (PROGRESS) to the list. Coming to the NJPW, ZSJ finished this years G1 Climax with an impressive final score of 12 points. His opponnent is the former NEVER Openweight Champion and former IWGP Intercontinental Champion Hirooki Goto. Zack will try to submit Goto while he has to use raw power to overcome Zack. Can´t miss.
Predicition: Zack Sabre Jr.
Tetsuya Naito vs Chris Brookes
A match nobody knew everybody wanted to see. The leader of Los Ingobernables de Japon takes on the Calamary Catch King. Naito is as popular as ever right now in Japan and it´s just a matter of time till they pull the trigger and put the IWGP Heavyweight Chsmpionship on him. His attitude and little things he does inside & outside the ring are so unique: He leaves title belts behind or throws them away, takes ages to get to the ring while playing the crowd and just is “tranquilo” to the bone. Chris Brookes a fan favorite too, so this will be highy anticipated by the crowd. If they have a good chemistry in the ring, this could possibly lead to something great. And maybe L.i.J vs CCK in the future….
Predicition: Tetsuya Naito
Los Ingobernables de Japon (EVIL & SANADA) vs Ringkampf (WALTER & Timothy Thatcher)
A true Tag Team Dream match. For the fans, for the critics and probably for all the participants too. The most dominat man in European wrestling, WALTER, and his partner Timothy Thatcher (who will face Minoru Suzuki one day prior) are going to take on the most beloved faction in NJPW right now: Los Ingobernables de Japon. No one in the ring will back down from the other, so we are in for a battle. Both Teams want to show that they are the best Tag Team on the scene right now.
Undisputed British Heavyweight Championship: Minoru Suzuki (c) vs. Tomohiro Ishii
My God, what a rematch. They had multiple outstanding bouts this year, including one special one in Manchester this year, where Suzuki defeated the Stone Pitbull to become double champion in RevPro and therefore the King of British wrestling. His British Tag Team co-Champ ZSJ is busy with Hirooki Goto, so the next Tag Title defense will probably be at “Uprising” on November 9th. Ishii will look do dethrone the Suzuki-Gun leader and reclaim his belt. A war between two Strong Style legends is upon us and they never failed to deliver in the past. Whoever wins this match is going to be a more than worthy ambassador for the international expansion of NJPW.
Prediction (for ever): Suzuki-Gun Ichiban !!
