Hiroshi Tanahashi’s latest reign as IWGP champion came to an end in his very first title defense. Solomonster talks about the match, the radio contest for Wrestlemania tickets that got Jay White back into wrestling, who may challenge him for the title at MSG and Kota Ibushi’s new contract with NJPW.
2019-02-24
It didn't come as a shock to me as in storyline it makes perfect sense, the biggest story in the last 4 months has been the Jay White betrayal with him, Gedo and Jado jumping to Bullet Club and CHAOS merging with the "Home Team" of NJPW as a common front against the enemy. It's way to early to drop that alliance but at the same time for it to makes sense Bullet Club has to be at its strongest and the only way to make it that was White becoming IWGP Champion. Also, Tanahashi doesn't really need the belt anymore, and as good as he is he's not as good as he once was, a long run as champion would have exposed that.
On the other hand, I don't really know if Jay White is ready for this….I'll be honest, I like Jay White as a wrestler but to not as a japanese style wrestler. He looks to me like a WWE guy doing mostly WWEish things or "american" style things in a NJPW ring. I've seen american wrestler adapt to the style, like Juice Robinson to make an example and of course, but that's no surprise, AJ Styles. Jay just doesn't seem to me to ever get there. I get that he wants to be a true heel, but I don't know if this is the only way to do it. Also, the IWGP Title has been affiliated with some of the best bouts in modern wrestling….Jay just can't perform on that level.
I dont get his character, not like Omega or Okada. But I love his in ring work.
#InNewJapanBookingItrust
I’m not completely sold on Jay White, he reminds me a lot of hhh in 99 when he first won the world title because I wasn’t sold on him until his match with Foley at Royal Rumble 2000. I think Jay White needs a match that feels like a war and Ishii would be the perfect person for that match also I would have loved to see Okada vs Omega at MSG, that would have been awesome
So Glad Jay White won. He is one of the best promos in NJPW and people saying it's too soon are probably salty that New Japan is basically overshadowing Omega and his run.
Giving the IWGP heavyweight Championship so soon to Jay White wasn't their first time nor was it a bad thing they've done it with Okada and when you look at it… it worked for Okada his Cockiness Eventually got over people respect Okada now he's has to be one of the Best wrestlers in the world today, White has Grown alot IMO his promos are Decent he's not bad in the ring and he's Cocky just like Okada was I say let him have his Run maybe he'll get better at the things he's lacking the potential is there
Jay White is the best they have right now. It may be a little soon, but no one can say he hasn't earned it. He is far better than that goof Omega. So glad he is gone if only he would go away for good. He is the sole reason I will not be watching A.E.W.
Who? Lol.
The cutthroat era begins!
I get why Jay White won and I'm not surprised that Jay White won. They've created a narrative for him that puts him in the position that he's in, explains why he's there, and gives them the out to make him an underhanded gaijin champion. They think they need him to appeal to the Western audience in the absence of Omega, the Bucks, and essentially the majority of their major North American draws. Despite the cringe edge lord labeling, he works as a fanatical character who wants to be the next Okada, who wants to be Kenny Omega, he wants to fulfill Devitt's vision of Bullet Club, and wants to be seen as the true ace while paradoxically not being compared to the men he's emulated, targeted, and resented most. I know the joke's been around for awhile, but he is New Japan's Kylo Ren. He's the embittered pupil turned Sith lord who can't outgrow the shadow of those before him. In my eyes, if you see him as being an undeserving champion then that's great. That should be the narrative. He's the wannabe with great aspirations and no new ideas whose capitalizing off of exploiting the broken toys of his predecessors in the Bullet Club OGs and Gedo. That's the character, or at least it should be.