{"id":127267,"date":"2024-09-28T22:02:58","date_gmt":"2024-09-29T02:02:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=127267"},"modified":"2024-09-28T22:02:58","modified_gmt":"2024-09-29T02:02:58","slug":"preview-njpw-destruction-in-kobe-9-29-24","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/09\/28\/preview-njpw-destruction-in-kobe-9-29-24\/","title":{"rendered":"Preview: NJPW Destruction in Kobe (9\/29\/24)"},"content":{"rendered":"

NJPW<\/strong> returns this weekend with their first major show in Japan since the G1 Climax<\/strong><\/em> finale, Destruction in Kobe<\/strong><\/em>, and the card is stacked. Tetsuya Naito<\/strong> defends his IWGP<\/strong> World Heavyweight Title for the first time in nearly three months. <\/span><\/p>\n

Shingo Takagi<\/strong> challenges HENARE<\/strong> for the NEVER<\/strong> Openweight title, and TMDK<\/strong> is set to reveal a new member. <\/span><\/p>\n

All this and much more are kicking off on NJPW World<\/strong> at 4 pm JST\/3 am ET\/8 am BST. Here\u2019s the full announced card:<\/span><\/p>\n

Announced Card for NJPW: Destruction in Kobe:\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
    \n
  • Tetsuya Naito (c) vs Great-O-Khan – IWGP World Heavyweight Title<\/span><\/li>\n
  • David Finlay (c) vs YOSHI-HASHI – IWGP Global Heavyweight Title<\/span><\/li>\n
  • HENARE (c) vs Shingo Takagi – NEVER Openweight Title<\/span><\/li>\n
  • DOUKI (c) vs Yoshinobu Kanemaru – IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano & Oleg Boltin (c) vs House of Torture (EVIL, SHO & Yujiro Takahashi) – NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Titles<\/span><\/li>\n
  • TMDK (Zack Sabre Jr. Kosei Fujita & ???) vs Just 5 Guys (Sanada, Taichi & Taka Michinoku)<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Hirooki Goto vs Gabe Kidd<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Los Igobernables de Japon (BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi & Yota Tsuji) vs United Empire (Callum Newman, Jeff Cobb & Francesco Akira)<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Tiger Mask, Tomoaki Honma & Yuji Nagata vs Dragon Dia, Ryusuke Taguchi & Shota Umino<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Naito Makes First Major Title Defense Since June<\/b><\/h3>\n

    On reflection, no title-defense since June seems quite shocking but with a hectic schedule of tags and a grueling G1, the champion has been kept occupied. The last time wasn\u2019t even a defense. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Actually, it was back at Forbidden Door<\/strong><\/em> where Naito would win the belt back from Jon Moxley<\/strong>. Therefore, in a slightly unusual position for Naito, he couldn\u2019t really pull his usual desperate babyface on the chase for G1 glory act, which he could do so well. <\/span><\/p>\n

    In addition to this, there was a whole host of injury issues, and many were questioning whether he would even make it through the G1, but here he is,\u00a0out the other side. And now, after a disappointing G1 by Naito\u2019s standards, he looks for redemption with the belt still around his waist and a proper chance to prove that he is still the top guy in Japan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    The Great-O-Khan<\/strong>, in contrast, had a very impressive G1, making it out of A block on the final day, beating\u2026Tetsuya Naito. That was a pretty damn entertaining match, and I expect more of the same now these two are set to fight again, but with Naito\u2019s title on the line this time. <\/span><\/p>\n

    O-Khan may be the first of many to cash in a challenge on Naito if he survives this defense, as O-Khan is just one of four who beat the LIJ<\/strong> leader one-on-one across the G1. O-Khan\u2019s faction, United Empire<\/strong>, has been on a strong run since the G1, too, with big tag wins picked up on the Road to Destruction<\/strong><\/em> tour. <\/span><\/p>\n

    However, LIJ have bested them twice in a row at the last two events and this booking switch might indicate we are headed for a strong LIJ outing come Destruction in Kobe<\/em>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    TMDK to Reveal Mystery New Member \u2018X\u2019 for Key Match Against Just 5 Guys<\/b><\/h3>\n

    Now this is one of the most intriguing stories of the night. Zack Sabre Jr.<\/strong> revealed just over two weeks ago at a key stop on the Road to Destruction<\/em> tour that TMDK would be getting a new member at Destruction in Kobe<\/em> calling the mystery member \u2018X\u2019. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Since then, a tag match has been announced that will see TMDK take on Just 5 Guys<\/strong>, primarily a preview looking ahead to Zack and Sanada\u2019s<\/strong> announced match for Royal Quest next month, but this match will also see the debut of \u2018X\u2019. <\/span><\/p>\n

    It is currently billed as Zack, Kosei Fujita, and the mystery partner taking on Sanada, Taichi, and Taka Michinoku. This element of mystery has stirred up an abundance of discussion about who this could be.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    The first guess from many and what is the most obvious presumption is that this is the return of Ryohei Oiwa<\/strong>, who has been on an excursion with Pro Wrestling NOAH<\/strong> but had his \u2018send off\u2019 match on September 14, indicating he was due for return to NJPW. However, many think he\u2019d be better suited elsewhere, opening up speculation as to who it may be. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Others have suggested British Indie talent, Robbie X<\/strong>, for obvious name indication reasons, but also that he is one of the most talented Junior Heavyweights in the world and has begun competing in America and Mexico recently with a potential expansion to Japan surely not out of the question. <\/span><\/p>\n

    However, he is scheduled for a match on Saturday, the 28th, in the UK, so this one has been ruled out by many. Another intriguing proposition has been Dijak<\/strong> who was released by WWE<\/strong> earlier this year and has been working indie shows since. <\/span><\/p>\n

    NJPW could really benefit from a proper big man back in the fold after losing JONAH<\/strong> (now known as Bronson Reed<\/strong>) to WWE back in 2022; interestingly, JONAH was also a member of TMDK during his time in Japan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Whatever happens, this should be a very interesting addition to TMDK and potentially New Japan in general, and I look forward to seeing how it all plays out.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Shock Victory Last Month Earned Yoshi-Hashi Shot at Global Heavyweight Title, Now He Must Deliver<\/b><\/h3>\n
    \n

    \u30109\u670829\u65e5 \u3054\u30544\u6642 DESTRUCTION in KOBE LIVE\u914d\u4fe1\u3011<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udc51IWGP GLOBAL\u30d8\u30d3\u30fc\u7d1a\u9078\u624b\u6a29\u8a66\u5408
    \nYOSHI-HASHI \ud83c\udd9a \u30c7\u30d3\u30c3\u30c9\u30fb\u30d5\u30a3\u30f3\u30ec\u30fc<\/p>\n

    \ud83d\udc808.18\u4e21\u56fd\u5927\u4f1a\u3067\u6557\u308c\u3066\u3057\u307e\u3063\u305f\u30d5\u30a3\u30f3\u30ec\u30fc\u3001\u96ea\u8fb1\u306a\u308b\u304b\u203c\ufe0f
    \n\ud83d\udca5YOSHI-HASHI\u306f\u5730\u7344\u3092\u5473\u308f\u3063\u305f\u5730\u30fb\u795e\u6238\u3067\u30b7\u30f3\u30b0\u30eb\u738b\u5ea7\u521d\u6234\u51a0\u2049\ufe0f<\/p>\n

    DESTRUCTION in KOBE \u306fNJPWWORLD\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/lx2uNDIO4c<\/a><\/p>\n

    \u2014 NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) September 27, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n