NJPW New Japan Cup 2017: Early Favourites To Win
5. Tetsuya Naito
Dave Meltzer recently claimed that Tetsuaya Naito has become a bigger draw in Japanese wrestling than Shinsuke Nakamura ever was. That's one hell of a star to surpass in terms of popularity, but since his Los Ingobernables heel turn Naito has been nothing but sublime.
Naito's 2017 New Japan Cup chances are particularly hard to judge. On the one hand he is hot property in NJPW, a bonafide main event talent and the defending tournament winner. On the other hand, he currently holds the second most prestigious belt in the company and clashes between top champions is rare. NJPW look to be moulding the IWGP Intercontinental Championship around Naito, just as they did Nakamura for so many years.
Okada and Naito will undoubtedly clash again soon enough given their top status in the company. Having Naito once again win the tournament which catapulted him to the top would be a hell of a story, and it may happen to be the one we see.