Muzza here with my thoughts on the announced teams for World Tag League and how I think they think will perform.
Hiroshi Tanahashi and Toa Henare
Tag Experience (Together): First-time WTL Combination
Tag Experience (Overall):
Tanahashi: (12th Tag League Appearance, First time since 2016, 2x IWGP Tag Team Champion, 3x NEVER Six-Man Tag Team Champion, 1x CMLL World Tag Team Champion, 1x CMLL Trios Champion, 1x GHC Tag Team Champion)
Toa Henare: (4th Tag League Appearance, 4th Consecutive Appearance)
This team has got a lot of intrigue in me. With Tanahashi already having a match at Tokyo Dome but with two nights, he could easily win this and challenge for the Tag Belts. Tanahashi has fallen down the pecking order this year since losing the IWGP title. However, the Ace can still go and with a very motivated Toa Henare, this team could be a surprising high point finishing team. Tanahashi has gone far in Tag League despite never winning it (reaching the finals with Koji Kanemoto) while Henare has always finished in the bottom half. So for Henare with the opportunity to team with an 8 Time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, this is a big chance.
Key Match To Watch: Hiroshi Tanahashi and Toa Henare vs. Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI. This has a lot of intriguing storylines. Ishii and Henare always have bangers against each other. While Tana and HASHI have had an interesting storyline with Tana wanting to do something with HASHI.
Great Bash Heel (Togi Makabe and Tomoaki Honma)
Tag Experience (Together): 5th Tag League Appearance, 1st appearance in 3 years, 1x IWGP Tag Team Champions, World Tag League Winners (2015, 2016)
Tag Experience (Overall ):
Makabe: (14th Tag League Appearance, 14th Consecutive Appearance, 2x IWGP Tag Team Champion, 1x NEVER Six-Man Tag Team Champion (Current), 1x Interim IWGP Tag Team Champion, 2x World Tag League Winner (2015, 2016))
Honma: (8th Tag League Appearance, 1st appearance since 2016, 1x IWGP Tag Team Champion, World Tag League Winner (2015, 2016), 1x WEW World Tag Team Champion, 2x BJW Tag Team Champion)
For the first time in three years, GBH is back in the World Tag League. The former Tag Champs and 2-time WTL Winners hope to get back to the top. Honma wanted to be Makabe’s partner last year but was not medically cleared to be in the tournament. Makabe is also currently one-third of the NEVER Six-Man Tag Champs will want to add more titles to his waist.
Key Match To Watch: GBH versus G.o.D. Before Honma’s injury, these two teams rivaled in hard-hitting affairs. I reckon even with Honma’s injuries they still gonna have a brawl.
TenCozy (Satoshi Kojima and Hiroyoshi Tenzan)
Tag Experience (Together): (11th Tag League Appearance, 7th Consecutive Appearance, 6x IWGP Tag Team Champions, 1x NWA World Tag Team Champions G1 Tag League Winners (2001, 2008), AJPW World’s Strongest Tag Determination League Winners (2006, 2008))
Tag Experience (Overall):
Satoshi Kojima: (16th Tag League Appearance, 9th Consecutive Appearance, 7x IWGP Tag Team Champion, 2x NEVER Six-Man Tag Team Champion, 3x AJPW World Tag Team Champion, 1x All Asia Tag Team Champion, 1x NWA World Tag Team Champion, Super Grade/G1 Tag League Winner (1998, 2001, 2008), AJPW World’s Strongest Tag Determination League Winner (2002, 2003, 2006, 2008)
Hiroyoshi Tenzan: (19th Tag League Appearance, 9th Consecutive Appearance, 12x IWGP Tag Team Champion, 1x NWA Tag Team Champion, Super Grade/G1 Tag League Winner (1995, 2001, 2003, 2008), AJPW World’s Strongest Tag Determination League Winner (2006, 2008)
TenCozy is one of the most legendary teams in NJPW with 7 IWGP Tag Title Reigns together. These two have slowed down recently with injuries to Kojima in 2018 and Tenzan in 2019. There last tag title reign coming in 2017. There is always worry about whether or not Tenzan can still go, but Kojima has always been good. If Tenzan can fully go, even at their age, they are always a threat. In the last couple of years, they have always picked up a big win in Tag League (last year beating G.O.D and K.E.S). So if they can get some wins together, they could be a surprise package.
Key Match To Watch: TenCozy vs G.O.D. These two teams have never really feuded with G.O.D arriving while TenCozy was slowing down. However, TenCozy is 2-0 against G.O.D in straight tag matches, and with both teams having a lot of experience tagging, this match could still be a fun match to watch.
Yuji Nagata and Manabu Nakanishi
Tag Experience (Together): 10th Tag League Appearance, 3rd Consecutive Appearance, 1x IWGP Tag Team Champions
Tag Experience Overall:
Nagata: (18th Tag League Appearance, 6th Consecutive Tag League Appearance, 2x IWGP Tag Team Champion, 1x AJPW Tag Team Champion, 1x All Asia Tag Team Champion, 1x GHC Tag Team Champion, G1 Tag League Winner (2000, 2010))
Nakanishi (20th Tag League Appearance, 8th Consecutive Tag League Appearance, 3x IWGP Tag Team Champion, 1x NEVER Six-Man Tag Team Champion)
I won’t lie, I’m not excited about this team. Nakanishi has not been able to go for a long time. While Nagata is still solid, I just feel at this stage of Nakanishi’s career he should just stay out of tournaments. This team has experience and could play as spoilers for any potential teams.
Key Match To Watch: Yuji Nagata and Manabu Nakanishi vs Tanahashi and Toa Henare. While I don’t see any tag match with this team being must-watch, Nagata and Tanahashi have a history going back for when Nagata was the Ace and Tanahashi was in the Okada role becoming the New Ace. Henare and Nakanishi have a history as they are former Tag League Partners.
FinJuice (Juice Robinson and David Finlay)
Tag Experience (Together): (2nd Tag League Appearance, 2nd Consecutive Appearance)
Tag Experience (Overall):
Robinson (4th Tag League Appearance, 4th Consecutive Appearance, 2x FCW Tag Team Champion)
Finlay: (3rd Tag League Appearance, 3rd Consecutive Appearance, 1x NEVER Six-Man Tag Team Champion)
FinJuice is back. Finlay has been out for a long time with a shoulder injury but made his return at King of Pro Wrestling. Both men have failed to win the US Belt recently. That could lead to them be favorites to win the whole tournament. While these two have yet to win any sort of Tag accomplishments together, this team is one of the big four teams in this tournament.
Key Match To Watch: FinJuice vs Suzuki and Archer. Both Juice and Finlay have issues with Archer and it will be the dominant heels going against the smaller baby-faces.
Hirooki Goto and Karl Fredericks
Tag Experience (Together): First Time WTL Combination
Tag Experience (Overall):
Goto: (11th Tag League Appearance, 1st Appearance in 2 years, 1x IWGP Tag Team Champion, 1x IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, World Tag League Winner (2012, 2014))
Fredericks: (1st World Tag League, 1x APW Tag Team Champion)
Poor Goto. In all seriousness, this team should be a fun team to watch. However, I don’t expect them to get any points with Fredericks being a Young Lion. This tournament will be used to continue to get Karl Fredericks over with the New Japan Audience.
Key Match To Watch: Hirooki Goto and Karl Fredericks vs KENTA and Yujiro Takahashi. Goto will want to get revenge on KENTA for costing him the IC Title and they should have a stiff striking affair in this match.
CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI)
Tag Experience (Together): First Time WTL Combination
Tag Experience (Overall):
Ishii: (13th Tag League Appearance, 13th Consecutive Tag League Appearance, 1x IWGP Tag Team Champion, 1x NEVER Six-Man Tag Team Champion, 1x NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Champion, 2x Tenryu Project Six-Man Tag Team Champion, 2x WAR International Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion)
YOSHI-HASHI: (7th Tag League Appearance, 1st Appearance in 2 years)
This team recently challenged for the IWGP Tag Team Championships and were close to winning before KENTA cost them. With both guys not having anything confirmed for Wrestle Kingdom, this team is another team I could see win World Tag League. With YOSHI-HASHI still titleless they could have him and Ishii win Tag League and at Wrestle Kingdom YOSHI-HASHI finally wins a title.
Key Match To Watch: Tomohiro Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI vs G.O.D. These two teams faced off at Destruction and this match should have more heat. It will be a solid match to watch.
Toru Yano and Colt Cabana
Tag Experience (Together): First Time WTL Combination
Tag Experience (Overall):
Yano: (13th Tag League Appearance, 3rd Consecutive Appearance, 3x IWGP Tag Team Champion, 4x NEVER Six-Man Tag Team Champion (Current), 2x GHC Tag Team Champion, NOAH Global Tag League Winner (2016)
Cabana: (1st World Tag League, 2x ROH Tag Team Champion, 1x ICW Tag Team Champion, 2x OVW Southern Tag Team Champion, 1x 1PW Tag Team Champion, 1x MCW Tag Team Champion
This team is gonna be a blast to watch Comedy wise. Both guys are excellent comedy wrestlers but are also both solid wrestlers. Expect this team to play spoiler and give some big teams upsets. Cabana is someone I always enjoy and it will be fun to see him back in a New Japan ring.
Key Match To Watch: Toru Yano and Colt Cabana vs GBH (Yano and Makabe are both two-thirds of the NEVER Six-Man Tag Champs and both on opposite teams will make this an intriguing match up but those two have also had an interesting feud in prior history.
Jeff Cobb and Mikey Nicholls
Tag Experience (Together): First Time WTL Combination
Tag Experience (Overall):
Cobb: (3rd Tag League Appearance, 3rd Consecutive Appearance, 1x PWG Tag Team Champion, 1x AAW Tag Team Champion, 1x CCW Tag Team Champion
Nicholls: (1st World Tag League, 2x GHC Tag Team Champion, 1x EPW Tag Team Champion)
Without a doubt the oddest pairing in World Tag League. These two have no prior experience tagging together. at all. I feel both guys had better options for Tag partners. I would have like to seen Cobb team with Henare. Nicholls, I could have seen him with Ospreay since the CHAOS connection.) Cobb is usually a joy to watch, and Nicholls has always been a good tag wrestler so maybe they can surprise us.
Key Match To Watch: Jeff Cobb and Mikey Nicholls vs Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI. Mostly due to Cobb vs Ishii this match would be a banger. While Nicholls and YOSHI-HASHI will be a fight to see who is the real pin eater in CHAOS.
EVIL And SANADA
Tag Experience (Together): (4th Tag League Appearance, 4th Consecutive Appearance, 2x IWGP Tag Team Champions, 3x NEVER Six-Man Tag Team Champions, World Tag League Winners (2017, 2018)
Tag Experience (Overall):
EVIL: (5th Tag League Appearance, 5th Consecutive Appearance, 2x IWGP Tag Team Champion, 3x NEVER Six-Man Tag Team Champion, World Tag League Winner (2017, 2018)
SANADA: (4th Tag League Appearance, 4th Consecutive Appearance, 2x IWGP Tag Team Champion, 3x NEVER Six-Man Tag Team Champion, 1x AJPW World Tag Team Champion, 2x All Asia Tag Team Champion, World Tag League Winner (2017, 2018), AJPW World’s Strongest Tag Determination League (2011)
The 2018 and 2017 Tag League winners are back again to attempt to win the tournament for the third time in a row. Both guys had solid G1 performances and both had big singles matches at King Of Pro Wrestling. These two are obvious favorites, they are one of the best Tag Teams NJPW has, and despite the fact, people are sick of seeing them against G.O.D they always have solid matches.
Key Match To Watch Out For: EVIL And SANADA vs Takagi and Terrible. This match has me very intrigued with it being the first L.I.J vs L.I.J Tag match. all 4 guys are good workers so this match will be very fun to watch as it main events Kouraken Hall.
L.I.J (Shingo Takagi and Terrible)
Tag Experience (Together): First Time WTL Combination
Tag Experience (Overall):
Takagi: (1st Tag League Appearance, 1x IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, 1x ROH Tag Team Champion, 1x GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion, 5x Open The Twin Gate Champion, 6x Open The Triangle Gate Champion, Summer Adventure Tag League Winner (2009)
Terrible: (2nd Tag League Appearance, 1st appearance in 9 Years, 2x CMLL World Tag Team Champion, 1x CMLL World Trios Champion, 1x Occidente Tag Team Champion, CMLL Torneo Gran Alternativa Winner (2012), CMLL Torneo Nacional de Parejas Increíbles Winner (2015, 2018)
This team is very interesting to me. This is Terrible’s first NJPW experience since Fantastica Mania. He had a solid showing there and now gets to team with Shingo. Terrible is no stranger to this tournament teaming with El Texano Jr in G1 Tag League in 2010, while Shingo has held multiple Tag reigns in both NJPW, NOAH and Dragon Gate. This team is a dark horse to watch out for.
Key Match To Watch: Shingo Takagi and Terrible vs Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI. Shingo and Ishii are already a match I want to see while Terrible would be a great addition to the match, certainly an intriguing match to watch.
Suzuki-Gun (Minoru Suzuki and Lance Archer)
Tag Experience (Together): (2nd Tag League Appearance, 1st Appearance in 8 years, G1 Tag League Winners (2011))
Tag Experience (Overall):
Suzuki: (6th Tag League Appearance, 3rd Consecutive Appearance, 1x IWGP Tag Team Champion, 1x Undisputed British Tag Team Champion, 2x AJPW World Tag Team Champion, 1x All Asia Tag Team Champion, 1x GHC Tag Team Champion, G1 Tag League Winner (2011)
Archer: (7th Tag League Appearance, 3rd Consecutive Appearance, 3x IWGP Tag Team Champion, 2x GHC Tag Team Champion, 4x NWA Tag Team Champion, 1x PCW Tag Team Champion, G1 Tag League Winner (2011))
With Davey Boy Smith Jr’s departure from NJPW Archer finds himself tagging with his first Tag League partner, Minoru Suzuki. The pair have had success together winning the Tag League back in 2011. Suzuki has had a slow year and no G1, however, he can still pull out a hard-hitting affair and with a resurgence in Lance Archer following his G1 and US Title win, this team could be dark horses to win it all.
Key Match To Watch: Minoru Suzuki and Lance Archer vs Takagi and Terrible. This match could be one hell of a hard-hitting, Strong Style match. Takagi and Suzuki have been going at it during the Power Struggle Tour and with the addition of Archer and Terrible, this match will be for those who want to see stiff strikes and big man moves.
Dangerous Tekkers (Zack Sabre Jr and Taichi)
Tag Experience (Together): (2nd Tag League Appearance, 2nd Consecutive Appearance)
Tag Experience (Overall):
ZSJ: (2nd Tag League Appearance, 2nd Consecutive Appearance, 3x Undisputed British Tag Team Champion, 2x GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, 1x wXw World Tag Team Champion, 2x IPW: UK Tag Team Championship, wXw World Tag League Winner (2015)
Taichi: (2nd Tag League Appearance, 2nd Consecutive Appearance, 2x IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, 1x CMLL World Trios Champion)
This team was a solid tandem last year and this year could be similar. Taichi has become a more legitimate threat with his G1 experience. These two also have a couple of main events including the first night against Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI and the third night against FinJuice. This team is another dark horse to potentially shock everyone and win it.
Key Match To Watch: Dangerous Tekkers vs Suzuki and Archer. Simple, last year ZSJ and Taichi vs Suzuki and Iizuka was decent mainly because of the Suzuki/ZSJ interactions. Iizuka is gone and now with a better tag partner this match could be a banger, Suzuki-Gun will always go all out for these matches.
Guerillas Of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa)
Tag Experience (Together): 4th Tag League Appearance, 4th Consecutive Appearance, 5x IWGP Tag Team Champions (Current), 3x NEVER Six-Man Tag Team Champions, 1x ROH Tag Team Champions, 1x WC Big Top Tag Team Champions)
Tag Experience (Overall):
Tonga: (8th Tag League Appearance, 6th Consecutive Appearance, 5x IWGP Tag Team Champion (Current), 4x NEVER Six-Man Tag Team Champion, 1x ROH Tag Team Champion, 2x CMLL World Tag Team Champion, 1x WWC World Tag Team Champion, 1x WC Big Top Tag Team Champion)
Loa: (4th Tag League Appearance, 4th Consecutive Tag Appearance, 5x IWGP Tag Team Champion (Current), 3x NEVER Six-Man Tag Team Champion, 1x ROH Tag Team Champion, 1x FCW Tag Team Champion, 1x WC Big Top Tag Team Champion)
The reigning, defending IWGP Tag Team Champions will hope that they finally win Tag League. They have been close the past two years, reaching the finals but losing both times to EVIL and SANADA. This year G.o.D has had a dominant Tag Title run with successful defenses against Most Violent Players, EVIL and SANADA, Juice Robinson and Mikey Nicholls, Aussie Open and Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI. This year could finally be their year to claim the World Tag League trophies and prove their dominance over the tag division.
Key Match To Watch: G.o.D vs Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI. This team was close to beating G.o.D if it was not for KENTA. This match should be very intriguing to see which team comes out on top.
Bullet Club (KENTA and Yujiro Takahashi)
Tag Experience (Together): First Time WTL Combination
Tag Experience (Overall):
KENTA: (1st Tag League Appearance, 1x GHC Tag Team Champion, 3x GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, Global Tag League Winner (2013), Nippon TV Cup Jr. Heavyweight Tag League Winner (2007, 2008, 2010)
Takahashi: (11th Tag League Appearance, 1oth Consecutive Appearance, 1x IWGP Tag Team Champion, 1x IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, 1x NEVER Six-Man Tag Team Champion, CMLL Torneo Gran Alternativa (2009)
KENTA enters Tag League for the first time and teams with a man who has plenty of Tag League experience. Yujiro has had many different tag partners from Naito to Masato Tanaka to AJ Styles to his recent and last partner Hangman Page.
Key Match To Watch: KENTA and Yujiro Takahashi vs Goto and Fredericks: As previously said, Goto and KENTA have beef and this could lead to a very heated contest. Young Lion Cup Winner Karl Fredericks will also want some revenge for his Coach Shibata.
Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens)
Tag Experience (Together): 2nd Tag League Appearance, 1st Appearance In Two Years
Tag Experience (Overall):
Fale: (7th Tag League Appearance, 1st Appearance In Two Years, 3x NEVER Six-Man Tag Team Champion)
Owens: (3rd Tag League Appearance, 1st Appearance In Two Years, 1x NWA Tennessee Tag Team Champion, 1x NWA United States Tag Team Champion)
Our final announced team, Fale and Chase reunite after missing out on last year’s tournament. This tandem has gotten moreover feuding with Juice and Mikey as well as “invading” Area 51. Fale is always someone to watch out for as he can pin anyone at any time. While Chase Owens will want to get some pinfalls under his belt to improve his overall standing in the company.
Key Match To Watch: Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens versus KENTA and Yujiro. Bullet Club vs Bullet club is always an intriguing prospect of a match. They can make it a comedy match or try and out heel the other team. Either way, it will be interesting to see how it goes. KENTA might want revenge on Fale when he rolled him up in the G1.
That’s it for the preview of World Tag League if you have any opinions you can comment below. This is Muzza and until next time, ADIOS!!!!
