12 Early Predictions For Wrestle Kingdom 12

The wrestling world had high hopes for Wrestle Kingdom 11. The card was stacked, the hype was astronomical, and all that New Japan Pro Wrestling had to do was deliver. They did.

Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega was a once-in-a-lifetime contest that will stand the test of time, but that was merely the tip of the iceberg. It was preceded by a trio of thrilling matches, each building on the one before. Conventional wisdom is that PPV of the Year 2017 is all but wrapped up just one week into the year, so New Japan officials, wrestlers and fans can all cast a distant gaze into the future towards Wrestle Kingdom 12.

It's nigh on impossible to predict this far ahead, and the twists and turns that will take place over the next twelve months of wrestling will make for enticing viewing. However, this won't stop us considering New Japan's options for their biggest show of 2018.

Here are 12 early predictions for Wrestle Kingdom 12.

Cody Rhodes' debut as 'The American Nightmare' was seen as a relatively tame introduction for the former WWE star. He defeated Juice Robinson in a short match that had a tough time standing out on such a stacked card, though it did serve its purpose as it introduced Bullet Club's newest addition and got a great deal of WWE fans engaged with the show.

Should NJPW continue to thrive it will undoubtedly remain an enticing destination for wrestling's biggest free agents. Ryback and Wade Barrett both left the WWE in the past year and could bring a lot to the table, but we could also see more departures this year who could further bolster the Japanese company's burgeoning reputation in the West.