5 things that need to happen at Wrestle Kingdom 12

1. The IWGP Heavyweight Championship needs to change hands

He's the one.

Put simply, Tetsuya Naito needs to walk away from Wrestle Kingdom 12 as the new IWGP Heavyweight Champion.

Kazuchika Okada might be in the middle of one of the most impressive title reigns of the modern era at present, and given the amount of challengers that have come his way, it would certainly not be a terrible sight to see him defeat yet another would-be usurper to his crown.

But the story line surrounding this match is simply too perfect not to play out to its logical conclusion. Wrestle Kingdom 12 is, more than anything else, about the redemption of Naito.

Ever since missing out on the chance to main event Wrestle Kingdom by having the viewers vote for the Intercontinental Championship match between Nakamura and Tanahashi to take his place, the man has been on a tear, vowing to exact revenge.

Since returning from Mexico, Naito has embraced a 'Tranquillo' lifestyle approach and generally stuck two fingers up to authority wherever he can find it. His reign as the Intercontinental Champion last year was superb, treating the belt with utter disdain and making numerous enemies both inside and outside the ring in the process.

Now the stage is finally set for Naito and Okada to have the match that was taken from them all those years ago. There can be no better form of triumph for Naito than to be crowned the company's champion as the Tokyo Dome explodes with confetti and adulation.

It is Naito's time.

---

Send us news tips at [email protected]