NJPW The New Beginning In Sapporo 2024 Preview and Predictions
The first major tour of 2024 for NJPW is nearing its end as New Japan Pro Wrestling is set to present the two-night extravaganza “The New Beginning In Sapporo” on February 23rd and 24th.
NJPW has already spoiled us with events like Wrestle Kingdom 18, Battle in the Valley, and The New Beginning in Osaka, and with their recent Fantasticamania tour with CMLL concluding in Tokyo, it’s time to have a look at the big matches for this weekend as New Japan Pro Wrestling sets itself up for the rest of the year.
My name is Sam Palmer from Vendetta Sports Media, my New Japan Pro Wrestling prediction record so far is 28-11, and here’s what I think will happen at The New Beginning in Sapporo
Mayu Iwatani {c} vs. Mina Shirakawa [IWGP Women’s Championship]
For the first time in a long time, the women from World Wonder Ring Stardom get the chance to showcase their skills in an NJPW ring. With New Japan being an all-male promotion for the most part, having Mayu Iwatani defend her IWGP Women’s Championship in Sapporo feels like a big deal. Iwatani has only defended her crown three times since beating Mercedes Mone for it in April 2023, and as someone who isn’t an avid follower of Stardom, this guess feels like a bit of a shot in the dark.
What I do know is that Iwatani has never lost to Shirakawa in a singles competition. The two women have only faced off in tournament matches in the past, so this is going to be an entirely different beast for Shirakawa. However, I’m going to play it safe and keep the belt on Iwatani, and with all the shake-up going on in Stardom at the moment, it’s probably the safe option for them too.
PREDICTION: Mayu Iwatani
El Desperado {c} vs SHO [IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship]
If there is one thing that NJPW has given us in 2024, it’s a lot of House of Torture in a lot of high-profile positions. That is not a good thing because they drag down every show they are on, and yes I understand that’s kind of their thing, but putting belts on them…please no. SHO has been parading around with Despy’s title in recent weeks, claiming that possession is 100% of the law (not sure if that’s how it works) and something needs to be done.
The worst thing is not the fact that I can almost see SHO winning this, but the fact that SHO is actually a very good wrestler. Just look at his work in Roppongi 3K, or the matches he had with Shingo Takagi in 2019, the guy can go. But as a member of the House of Torture, he wastes his and everyone else’s time, and even if it sounds a bit biased, I’m going to predict (and pray) that El Desperado leaves Sapporo as the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion.
PREDICTION: El Desperado
EVIL {c} vs. Shota Umino [NEVER Openweight Championship]
Speaking of the House of Torture, EVIL already failed in ruining Tetsuya Naito’s Tokyo Dome moment, but he did take the NEVER Openweight Championship away from Tama Tonga, and has since defaced the belt itself. Tonga asked Shota Umino if he could teach EVIL a lesson as a final act of courage before he leaves the promotion, resulting in Umino getting a shot at EVIL’s title.
Much like the SHO/Desperado match, I don’t expect much from this bout. In fact, I actually think it’s going to be worse than the previous match as I can’t see Shota being able to carry someone like EVIL in a big title situation. On top of that, I just don’t think EVIL cares all that much, meaning that this is going to be slow and lethargic, and given Umino’s love of long matches…uh oh. Still, I think it could end well as I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that Umino will become the new champion.
PREDICTION: Shota Umino
Hiroshi Tanahashi {c} vs. Matt Riddle [NJPWWorld Television Championship]
Here’s a match no one in the world predicted would happen; the president of New Japan Pro Wrestling taking on the former WWE Superstar who used to ride around on a scooter and kick his flip-flops into the crowd. NJPW rightly received some backlash when it was announced that Matt Riddle would be debuting for the promotion in January given his less-than-desirable reputation, and considering his love of marijuana, it’s incredible he even made it to Japan at all.
But let’s not forget that before his run in WWE and all of the PR blunders he made during his time there, Riddle was an exceptional performer. One of the most exciting talents on the US indie scene in the mid-2010s, and a match between these two would have been considered a dream match back then. With this being for the NJPWWorld TV Title, it only has a 15-minute time limit, which works well for Tanahashi as his experience can lead to him finishing the match at any time. Tanahashi is going to win this one, but don’t be surprised if the Japanese fans welcome Riddle with open arms.
PREDICTION: Hiroshi Tanahashi
David Finlay {c} vs. Nic Nemeth [IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship]
The main event of The New Beginning in Sapporo’s first night is another match that if you had told me this time last year that this would have happened for a New Japan title in 2024, I would have called the police. After nearly 20 years with the WWE as both a member of The Spirit Squad and more famously Dolph Ziggler, Nic Nemeth was released from his contract and it eager to prove to everyone that he has always been capable of great things inside the ring.
The problem is David Finlay, who thanks to his big win in Osaka in the “Dog Pound Steel Cage” has got an even bigger chip on his shoulder than he did before. His feud with the United Empire alongside the Bullet Club War Dogs has shown the world how violent and ruthless he can be when he’s angry, and I think he’s going to keep that going in Sapporo. Nemeth is going to have a very good showing, with this being a dark horse for night one’s match of the night, but it won’t be enough has Finlay will make a successful defense of his title.
PREDICTION: David Finlay
Quick Shout Out to Kazuchika Okada and Tama Tonga
Night two of The New Beginning In Sapporo will see not one, but two official departures from New Japan Pro Wrestling. It’s been well documented already in these previews that Kazuchika Okada is leaving the company, with this being his final night with them. He will team up with Bishamon, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Tomohiro Ishii to take on the United Empire and Matt Riddle in what will be a fun match, albeit a little disappointing for someone of Okada’s status. People will cry, he will cry, you will cry too probably.
But don’t put those tissues away just yet as immediately after Okada’s last match, Tama Tonga will have his last match with NJPW as well. He will reunite with his brother Tonga Loa as the original Guerrillas of Destiny to take on the new Guerrillas of Destiny in Hikuleo (Tama’s very large little brother) and El Phantasmo. It will be a family affair that might even hit harder than Okada’s exit, and given that people still don’t know Tama will end up, it’s going to be an emotional send-off for one of NJPW’s most loyal gaijins.
BUSHI vs. TAKA Michinoku
The feud between Los Ingobrenables de Japon and Just 5 Guys seems to be reaching its climax as night two of The New Beginning In Sapporo will see all five members of each group face each other in what can be described as a ‘best-of-five series.’
Kicking off the series will be BUSHI and TAKA Michinoku, a match that I have absolutely no hype for, but I hope that the two men surprise me. They are the guys in the group that regularly eat pins on a weekly basis for their team, which is why I can’t get too excited for it. But given what I think the outcome of the series might be, I’m going to give the lead to LIJ as BUSHI will win this one.
PREDICTION: BUSHI
Hiromu Takahashi vs. DOUKI
Another battle of junior heavyweights sees the former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi take on DOUKI, who has been gathering something of a cult following over the past year. DOUKI is not on the level of Takahashi quite yet, but he has remained consistent and wants 2024 to be his year.
This is going to be the biggest shock of the series, but I actually think that DOUKI is going to win this one. Hiromu losing his belt to El Desperado has allowed him to be a bit more free, a little too free some might say, and I think he might be caught off guard against someone who people expect him to beat. I wouldn’t be surprised if it goes the other way, but I’m putting my neck on the line and saying DOUKI will get the upset win.
PREDICTION: DOUKI
Shingo Takagi vs. Taichi
My pick for match of the night for night two is because these two guys are going to beat each other black and blue and it’s going to be wonderful. Shingo and Taichi are arguably two of the best NJPW has to offer right now, and yet they are playing second (or even third if you ask some) to other stable members, and this is a match that I think could remind people ‘hey, we are two tough s.o.b’s.’
Shingo has already tasted championship gold on more than one occasion in his career, so if he wanted to assert himself in the main event scene, he could. But the same can’t be said of Taichi. He showed glimpses in the early stages of 2023 against Will Ospreay and in the New Japan Cup match against SANADA, but he needs that big win to really push himself to the next level…and I think that win is going to happen in Sapporo against Shingo Takagi.
PREDICTION: Taichi
Yota Tsuji vs. Yuya Uemura [Hair vs. Hair Match]
Forget championships, this is a match with the most on the line. The two men in New Japan Pro Wrestling with the best heads of hair are putting their locks on the line because they hate each other that much. Despite returning from an excursion with a little more fanfare, Tsuji has been caught out a number of times in recent months by Yuya Uemura. Yuya beat Tsuji at Wrestle Kingdom, he forced him to tap in Korakuen Hall, and has really just annoyed the big man over the past few weeks.
These two are the future of NJPW, there is no denying that. The question is who is really willing to sacrifice an essential part of their look for the sake of match? With all the wins that Uemura has gotten over Tsuji in recent weeks, you would think him right? Wrong. This match is going to Yota Tsuji, as he will not only level the series at two wins each, but he will also get the ultimate measure of revenge in humiliating his biggest rival.
PREDICTION: Yota Tsuji
Tetsuya Naito {c} vs. SANADA [IWGP World Heavyweight Championship]
The main event of the best-of-five series, and the main event of the entire New Beginning in Sapporo event sees the main event of Wrestle Kingdom 18 getting run back one more time as Tetsuya Naito defends his newly won crown against SANADA. Naito finally achieved his ultimate goal by doing the LIJ roll call in the Tokyo Dome after dethroning SANADA, but SANADA felt as if he was inches away from winning and wanted one more chance.
Because SANADA helped fight off EVIL after the end of Wrestle Kingdom, Naito agreed and the match was set. The Tokyo Dome bout was full of emotion because people just wanted to see Naito win, no matter how hard SANADA fought. Now that the roles are reversed, it’s going to be a completely different match, but it will have the same outcome. Naito hasn’t had that long reign with the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship before and with his career winding down, it’s only fair that he gets one big run with the belt before he simply can’t. SANADA will get the belt back, but not in Sapporo, as The New Beginning in Sapporo will end with the LIJ roll call once again as Tetsuya Naito stands tall.
PREDICTION: Tetsuya Naito
What do you think will happen at New Japan’s The New Beginning in Sapporo? Let us know in the comments section below! Don’t forget to follow myself and Vendetta Sports Media on all your favorite social media platforms.
