New Japan Pro Wrestling ran a cryptic teaser during this weekend’s G1 Climax Finals in Tokyo, Japan. The video aired immediately after intermission, with a simple graphic that read “Time Bomb is Exploding Soon!” and a date of November 5th. That is the date of the promotion’s annual Power Struggle event, which takes place this year at the EDION Arena in Osaka, and is the final major show heading into Wrestle Kingdom.
Dave Meltzer noted during a recent edition of Wrestling Observer Live that the current feeling is that the teaser is for wrestling legend Minoru Suzuki, who will likely be making his return at Power Struggle to set up a match at Wrestle Kingdom 11.
For those unfamiliar with Suzuki, beyond being trained by the great Karl Gotch, and founding one of the fist ever MMA promotions, effectively becoming a godfather of the sport, the man (the myth, the legend) is a two-time Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion, GHC Heavyweight Champion, and has been tag team champion in New Japan, All Japan, and Pro Wrestling Noah. He was twice awarded the Wrestling Observer Match of the Year after the age of 40, in 2012 against Hiroshi Tanahashi, and again in 2014 against AJ Styles.
Oh, and he has the coolest entrance ever.
Given the fallout of the G1 Climax, which saw a blood-soaked Katsuyori Shibata go wild on a team of NOAH upstarts in an incredible post-match brawl, it’s likely we will see the NEVER Openweight Champion facing off against Katsuhiko Nakajima, and possibly Go Shiozaki over the next few months. This could very well lead to the return of Suzuki, whose Suzuki-gun faction has been running rampant over NOAH for several years.
Title or no title, two of the hardest hitting strong-style brutes in professional wrestling clashing at the biggest wrestling event of the year would instantly make Wrestle Kingdom a must-see event.
About that whole Ryback rumor floating around the internet… After news hit that the “Big Guy” was in talks with New Japan, the presence of a new, mysterious teaser for November 5th immediately lit up the internet with rumors that he would be making his debut. However, Ryback is already booked and advertised for an event in the U.S. on that day.
