10 HUGE NJPW Dominion 6.9 2019 Predictions You Need To Know

2. IWGP Intercontinental Championship: Kota Ibushi (c) Vs. Tetsuya Naito

Chris Jericho IWGP Heavyweight Champion
NJPW

From an in-ring standpoint, the Tetsuya Naito vs. Kota Ibushi feud has been incredible.

Their New Japan Cup clash was a gutwrenching festival of violence defined by head-drops and other high risks, with both wrestlers' careers surely shortened as a result. Then came a furious Madison Square Garden rematch (that your writer was fortunate enough to be present for) in which they somehow took things to the next level, with Naito dead set on destroying his opponent's neck, only to fall to the 'Golden Star' once more. Lord knows how they'll escalate it at Dominion, but fans with the stomach for such ghoulishness will be rewarded.

But while the matches stand among 2019's finest, as a storyline, Naito vs. Ibushi has been lacking. Two of the finest wrestlers on the planet have been thrown together in a trio of bouts with little of narrative significance tying them together. This is odd, as NJPW typically do a better job of pacing such rivalries, but the bout's still going to bang.

Ibushi should take his 2019 record vs. Naito to 3-0 here. The LIJ leader has bigger targets ahead, anyway.

Winner: Kota Ibushi.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

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.