7 Biggest Non-WWE Stories In Wrestling This Week

4. King Of Pro Wrestling Heats Up

Pac Neville Dragon Gate
NJPW1972.com

The electric show-closing angle between Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi and Cody was in reality some atypically crude sleight of hand from the New Japan office.

The Golden Lovers showdown has Tokyo Dome potential, but it may yet have to wait beyond the booking if 'The Best Bout Machine' and co begin entertaining offers from WWE in 2019. Shawn Michaels' impending return is just the latest case of the company's ugly Saudi Arabia relationship making the impossible possible, and Omega et al will surely be offered more than ever before to consider making the jump

With much of this in a state of flux, NJPW's decision to run a rare triple threat match as the King Of Pro Wrestling main event seems sound. Cody can take the fall (as he has to Kenny already this year) yet provides the necessary 1% of doubt thanks to his recent form as high level belt collector.

The release of the full card on Monday didn't proffer any great surprises beyond that, but shocks weren't needed to sell the show. Jay White and Hiroshi Tanahashi will go to war over the latter's Wrestle Kingdom Title Shot, Kushida and Marty Scurll will duke it out for the vacant IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title, and an otherwise-indifferent CHAOS and Los Ingobernables de Japon eight-man tag has been augmented by an intriguing minor mystery...

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett

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.