10 HUGE NJPW Dominion 6.9 2019 Predictions You Need To Know

6. NEVER Openweight Championship: Taichi (c) Vs. Tomohiro Ishii

Chris Jericho IWGP Heavyweight Champion
NJPW

That Taichi features prominently on the Dominion 6.9 poster is troubling.

While New Japan regained significant buzz after BOSJ's final night, they're still using a goofy Sports Entertainment act to sell tickets for a major show. That poster spot could have belonged to a Kenny Omega or Young Bucks this time last year. Regardless, it's only the NEVER Openweight Championship. This thing often gets passed around like a hot cake, and with Taichi's reign lasting just 47 days the first time round, there's every chance he'll fall to the hard-nosed Tomohiro Ishii on Sunday.

It has been too long since the 'Stone Pitbull' held this strap. His 2014/15 reigns gave the NEVER Title an identity, with bludgeonous clashes against the likes of Katusyori Shibata and Tomoaki Honma establishing the division as a playground for the stiff and nasty. Will those does come again? Perhaps, but he must destroy one of NJPW's most heavily gimmicked wrestlers to get there.

These two had a cracking singles bout in this year's New Japan Cup, and there's every chance that the underrated Ishii could help Taichi to another banger in Osaka. Let's hope he makes his head ring in the process.

Winner: Tomohiro Ishii.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.