10 Ups & 4 Downs From NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14

6. Next Up

KENTA Tetsuya Naito
NJPW

The complaints re: KENTA losing upwards into an IWGP Heavyweight Title match are worth discussing, but ultimately insignificant. KENTA made his own challenge. These arguments would hold more weight had the impending Tetsuya Naito clash not come about by the Bullet Club taking matters into his own hands, deciding to spoil the victorious double-champion's end-of-show celebration by kicking the tar out of him and literally sitting on his chest. In kayfabe, he made this challenge, not a booking team. It doesn't undo the win/loss mechanism at all.

On top of this, the beatdown was hotter than hell.

This thing drew incredible heat. KENTA was already established as one of New Japan's most over heels and those took him to a different level. Following on from the Katsuyori Shibata shenanigans, he's now the man NJPW fans most want to see slain by Naito's hand, and the promotion has established the money match for their next big pay-per-view - the New Beginning in Osaka-jo Hall.

Considering this, complaining almost seems pointless.

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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.