New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) is set to embark on their second tour of Australia. The tour concludes this Sunday with Southern Showdown in Sydney. Unlike Melbourne, on the previous night, the Sydney card appears to be more in line with a ‘Road To’ show than a major PPV event.
Michael Richards & Andrew Villalobos vs The Natural Classics (Stevie & Tome Filip)
Current members of the NJPW Dojo will open the show Southern Showdown in Sydney by facing off with future Dojo students, The Natural Classics.
Originally cutting their teeth in Melbourne, the Filip brothers became major names within the Melbourne City Wrestling (MCW) singles and tag team divisions. In fact, they made such an impact, they were quickly scouted by the Fale Dojo and taken over to New Zealand for further training. Upon returning the brothers were met with a rapturous welcome and would immediately capture the MCW Tag Team Championship from The Brat Pack (Nick Bury & Mitch Waterman).
Having impressed at the Fale Dojo the Filip’s are now just awaiting the perfect moment to enter the NJPW Dojo proper.
The match this Sunday will be a chance for The Natural Classics to show not only Sydney fans but also NJPW management, what all the hype is about. Ideally with an impressive victory over current Dojo trainees so that they can walk into the Dojo on their first day with added confidence.
Rocky Romero vs Tony Kozina
Two highly respected veterans and trainers will step into the ring on Sunday looking to take home bragging rights as the best trainer in the NJPW system. Rocky Romero is now one of the main trainers in the NJPW Dojo; whereas Tony Kozina heads up the Fale Dojo in New Zealand.
Who will walk out as the ‘head trainer’?
Jack J. Bonza vs Mick Moretti
In a rematch of their epic Pro Wrestling Australia (PWA) Fight For Black Metal contest, two Australian standouts will look to renew hostilities in an NJPW ring.
When these two men first faced off back in February they had what could very easily be the Australian Match Of The Year.
With Bonza focusing on his submission game and Moretti employing ever more wacky antics this two have been on a roll in 2019. Every time these two men step into the ring, whether it is as a tag team together or individually for singles contests they deliver match of the night performances. Expect nothing different as these two look to steal the show on Sunday.
Aaron Solow vs Chase Owens
Fale Dojo graduate Aaron Solow is set to continue his NJPW debut tour on Sunday, this time facing the Bullet Club’s Crown Jewel, Chase Owens.
Facing Owens will be another step up in difficulty for Solow after facing Slex in Melbourne. Owens has proven to be a valuable asset for Bullet Club, picking up some important victories in recent months. Most notably his victory against then IWGP United States Champion Juice Robinson in the 2019 New Japan Cup.
Will Solow be able to grab a crucial victory as he carves his way into NJPW or will Owens restart his grind towards the top of the NJPW card again?
Toru Yano, Mikey Nicholls & Juice Robinson vs Gino Gambino & G.O.D (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa)
The next matchup on the card will see heavyweight warfare between Chaos and Bullet Club infiltrate the UNSW Roundhouse for Southern Showdown in Sydney.
This match could potentially see the new IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions joined by the ‘Sublime Master Thief’ Toru Yano to battle it out with former champions G.O.D and their partner Gino Gambino. Even if that scenario doesn’t play out expect this one to be filled with devastating strikes as the first ever Australian Bullet Club member looks to lead his team to victory.
Tomohiro Ishii vs Toa Henare
These two bruisers have battled it out before, and it was a great contest. This Sunday the two bulls will lock horns again as they look to prove who is the toughest of the two.
Neither man has ever been known to back down so expect a match which is the epitome of ‘strong style’ wrestling.
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kazuchika Okada & Will Ospreay vs Bad Luck Fale, Jay White & Robbie Eagles
This combination of six men will all square off the night before in Melbourne.
Notably with Ospreay and Eagles battling it out for the IWGP Jr Heavyweight Championship on Saturday. This could be a triumphant homecoming parade the first ever Australian IWGP Jr Heavyweight Champion should Eagles dethrone Ospreay in Melbourne. However, if Eagles is unsuccessful look for him and his Bullet Club brethren to exact revenge on the three faces of NJPW.
Over on the opposite side of the ring, you couldn’t have a more star-studded team. The combination of Tanahashi, Okada and Ospreay bring together the three men who have been tasked with carrying this company on their back in the past, present and future.
