Preview: New Beginning in Hiroshima (2/10/21 & 2/11/21)

New Beginning In Hiroshima marks the two show conclusion to New Japan Pro Wrestling’s New Beginning Tour, with the full conclusion being on night two with a highly anticipated double title match. But there’s more action throughout the two shows, lets take a look at whats on the cards.

Full Cards

New Beginning In Hiroshima – Night One

• Gabriel Kidd, Yuya Uemura and Yota Tsuji vs. Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru
• Master Wato vs. BUSHI
• Toru Yano, YOSHI-HASHI, Kazuchika Okada, Hirooki Goto and Tomohiro Ishii vs. El Phantasmo, Taiji Ishimori, Yujiro Takahashi, EVIL, and Jay White
• Tomoaki Honma & Kota Ibushi vs. Tetsuya Naito & SANADA
• IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Guerillas of Destiny (c) vs. Dangerous Tekkers
• IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Hiromu Takahashi vs. SHO

New Beginning In Hiroshima – Night Two

• Gabriel Kidd, Yuya Uemura and Yota Tsuji vs. DOUKI, Zack Sabre Jr & Taichi
• Yoshinobu Kanemaru, El Desperado and Minoru Suzuki vs. El Phantasmo, Taiji Ishimori, Yujiro Takahashi
• Master Wato, SHO & Tomoaki Honma vs. BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi and Tetsuya Naito
• Toru Yano and Kazuchika Okada vs. Dick Togo & EVIL
• NEVER Openweight 6 Man Championship: Yoshi Hashi, Hirooki Goto & Tomohiro Ishii (c) vs. Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa and Jay White
• IWGP DOUBLE TITLES: Kota Ibushi (c) vs. SANADA

Future Contenders for Junior Heavyweight Championship?

At Wrestle Kingdom 15, both BUSHI and Master Wato would lose their respective matches, On the next night New Year Das, at the very end of the show, LIJ would set their sights on the CHAOS. This lead to a match being made between BUSHI and Master Wato, both are names in the undercard of the junior division.

But considering this match is a special singles match it could possibly lead to a new contender for the winner of the main event’s Junior Heavyweight Title Match. Wato and BUSHI faced off in the Best of Super Junior’s last year, where BUSHI would win the match.

IWGP Tag Title Rematch

Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa won the 2020 World Tag League, which earned them the right at challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships at Wrestle Kingdom, At Wrestle Kingdom they would win those titles for the seventh time. During New Yea Dash, Zack Sabre Jr and Taichi made it clear wanted the titles back, but Tama and Tanga decided to go where it hurts. Mind games and robbery.

Throughout the “Road To” shows. Tama and Tanga have stolen the claw that was given to Taichi from Takashi Iizuka after he retired and for these past few weeks, the mind games have continued. The question is, will Dangerous Tekkers regain the tag titles? The match record currently between them is 2-0 in GOD’s favor. So it might be likely that GOD could retain the tag championships in the co-main event.

IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Battle

At Wrestle Kingdom 15, Hiromu Takahashi would defeat El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori to re-gain his IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.  At New Year Dash Hiromu Takahashi set his sights on avenging a loss that he had in Best of Super Juniors against SHO. SHO and Hiromu Takahashi’s feud could be described as under the radar.

These two-faced each other twice, leading to the match of the night during Best of Super Juniors in 2018 and 2020, with the current match record being 1-1. But what makes this match very interesting is that this is SHO’s first time challenging for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship as his career has been focused around the tag team of Roppongi 3k.

With Yoh still injured, it could be said that this match could be a major moment in the career of SHO.  Something that is interesting is that this is the first time the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship is being defended in the main event of a major New Beginning Show in its 10 year history.

NEVER Openweight 6-Man Battle

At the first “Road To New Beginning Show” of February, Jay White made his return from a 3-week Hiatus and immediately went after Tomohiro Ishii and CHAOS. At the next show, Jay White would once again go after Tomohiro Ishii and notably YOSHI-HASHI. Jay White &  Guerillas of Destiny would make CHAOS throw in the towel in the subsequent elimination match. Jay White and Guerillas of Destiny would then proceed to challenge for the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Championships.

Something to note here is that Guerillas of Destiny will not be at 100% considering they have a big tag title match the previous night, so they might walk in weaker, but Jay White is wanting to prove that this is “His Era” by defeating Ishii, Goto and Yoshi Hashi. This is the first time these teams have faced off for the belt, but the match history has seen Bullet Club dominating. Could we see that trend continue here?

IWGP Double Championships Kota Ibushi vs SANADA

At Wrestle Kingdom 15, Kota Ibushi would win the IWGP Double Championships by defeating Tetsuya Naito and Jay White in back to back nights. After the match with Jay White, SANADA would challenge Kota Ibushi for the double titles, coming from a major high after defeating his rival EVIL. Kota Ibushi accepted, which leads to our G1 Climax 30 Final Rematch. The series between Kota Ibushi and SANADA has so far been based in the G1 Climax Tournament, with the match record being 2-1, with Ibushi in the lead.

However, SANADA in recent months has shown more focus in his battles, also knowing that he by a sliver, almost defeated Kota Ibushi in the G1. While the match record might not be in his favor, SANADA could truly achieve his own version of the “Rainmaker Upset”. New Beginning’s main show has been famous for major upsets.

With Kazuchika Okada in the rainmaker upset and even Jay White in 2019, Kenny Omega in 2016, Minoru Suzuki in 2018. The big question here will be if SANADA will be the one to add to the list of these major upsets that defined the New Beginning Tour. All of this will be known at the conclusion of the New Beginning Tour at New Beginning In Hiroshima!