Fresh off his IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championship victories at Wrestle Kingdom 14, Tetsuya Naito has his first challenger.
NJPW announced Naito will put both titles on the line against KENTA at The New Beginning in Osaka on Feb. 9. KENTA attacked Naito immediately following his victory over Kazuchika Okada at Wrestle Kingdom 14 and laid out Naito once again the following night at New Year Dash!! 2020.
At a post Wrestle Kingdom press conference today in Tokyo the main event of February 9’s New Beginning in Osaka Jo Hall was revealed. The first ever Double IWGP Intercontinental and Heavyweight Champion Tetsuya Naito will put both titles on the line against challenger KENTA.
After a grueling combined 69 minutes 31 seconds in the ring against first Jay White and then Kazuchika Okada during the two nights of Wrestle Kingdom 14, Tetsuya Naito finally attained his lifelong goal of victory in a Tokyo Dome main event, and etched his name in history as the very first dual IWGP Champion. Yet before Naito could celebrate with the ultimate role call, he was blindsided by KENTA, who stole his moment to a chorus of boos in the Tokyo Dome.
The next night at New Year Dash!!, KENTA continued a relentless assault on Naito during a tag team main event, and after SANADA scored a flash pin victory on Jay White against the run of the match, the BULLET CLUB members responded with a sickening assault armed with steel chairs.
While KENTA was not victorious over Hirooki Goto during his NEVER Openweight Championship bout at Wrestle Kingdom, KENTA’s vile actions have seen him push his way to the front of the title contendership line, as Tetsuya Naito will be eager to get swift and brutal revenge.
With what little fan support KENTA had now completely wiped out by open hostility and vitriol, it appears that KENTA has no more bridges left to burn. Will it all be worth it, and can they light the way to a shock victory? Or will Naito shut KENTA’s mouth for good in Osaka? Find out February 9 LIVE on NJPW World!
