10 Matches For The Ultimate NJPW Vs. AEW Supercard
The King Of Sports Vs. The Revolution.
It isn’t going to happen.
New Japan Pro Wrestling is still furious with Impact Wrestling stemming from long-held animosity with “F*cking Jeff Jarrett” and the mistreatment of top prospect Kazuchika Okada. That Okada has since become either the best wrestler on the planet—or the greatest of all-time—does not matter. The cultural values of stubborn loyalty have scuppered any chance of a renewed working relationship. The AXS TV deal might force something, but not out of choice. The formation of AEW has scuppered also NJPW’s western expansion, and that has a far more appreciable business impact.
It should happen; the Ring Of Honor relationship means nothing to New Japan at this point, and the pull of AEW is such that a jointly-promoted card is sure to sell out a major arena. Indirectly, it already has: the vast majority of those who purchased G1 Supercard tickets did so under the impression—evidenced by a weak secondary market—that the Elite would appear.
AEW, meanwhile, will run dry of novelty in the months and years to come. Striking a deal with NJPW is something NXT simply cannot (or will not) hold to their advantage in this “war”.
It isn’t going to happen.
But if it did…
10. Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus Vs. Guerrillas Of Destiny
A great dynamic that doesn’t threaten to steal a show that would require herculean energy from the crowd to generate graduating heat, this is the opener: a match between a very beloved tag team and their despised, broken mirror image.
Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa are hated by fans for reasons sought and otherwise: when they’re in the mood, or across the ring from the right opponents, they can whip up an earned reaction with nasty, charismatic heel work. Or, they just do sub-WWE heel trolololol bullsh*t that generates groans, and not jeers.
Either version of the act works wonderfully in contrast to the most wholesome and popular double act in AEW: the prospect of Tama bullying Jungle Boy—viciously or lazily—only to be confronted by Luchasaurus and his boy-popping retribution spot is both awesome and long overdue.
Tama Tonga is a complete d*ck, he’s tanked several major New Japan cards just as they built to the crescendo that makes a five-hour show so watchable, and only a 6’ 5” karate-kicking dinosaur can restore the karmic balance.