Wrestle Kingdom 14: Night 1 Predictions

Night One of Wrestle Kingdom 14 looks like a sizzling warm-up

Gold Rush: Tokyo Dome Main Event

For the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Kota Ibushi

The big one of night one allows Kota Ibushi to earn the vaunted main event of the dome show, now that he is full time with New Japan. 'The Golden Star' is hot at the moment, especially with the last year affirming his loyalty to New Japan. It would be pertinent to strike while the iron is hot, and a double championship challenge against Tetsuya Naito creates an intriguing drama.

Though Naito and Ibushi have given New Japan a hot rivalry and match of the year in 2019, can New Japan dare not to have 'The Rainmaker' in their big main event two years in a row? If Tetsuya Naito is to truly conquer his demons, he must go through Kazuchika Okada, crafting a complete trilogy of Wrestle Kingdom's events in the past half a decade.

Similarly it would save from having the title switch multiple hands even if Ibushi is a perfect man to carry the company on his broad shoulders with two titles. This will nonetheless be a blockbuster end to the first night, the two have solid chemistry and the match is so far under-seen, especially for such a big moment. This will prove to be a fresh battle to bring night one to a riveting close.

Result: Kazuchika Okada barely scrapes through Kota Ibushi for the win to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship!

Edited by Michael McClead