12 Ups & 6 Downs From NJPW Best Of The Super Juniors 2019

1. Jeri-No-Show

Kazuchika Okada Chris Jericho Dominion
NJPW

With Kazuchika Okada and Chris Jericho set to collide for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Dominion 6.9 this Sunday, it felt like NJPW had to do something to heat the bout up on BOSJ finals night. We're heading to the main event with next to no build. The announcement promo was good, and the match will probably rule, but the lack of physical interaction between the two has been disappointing.

Okada went looking for 'Y2J' following his and Rocky Romero's tag victory over Marty Scurll and Brody King. 'The Painmaker' was nowhere to be found, though. Instead, NJPW aired another well-produced promo segment in which Jericho promised to fell 'The Rainmaker' at Dominion, and that was that. No ambush... nothing.

A fun angle would have sent the duo to Dominion on the right note, nullifying every complaint surrounding the hot-shotted title fight in the process. It's a shame they couldn't put this together and that the duo were once again forced to trade indirect barbs. Jericho's star power justifies the bout's existence, of course, but the build hasn't been there.

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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.