Tetsuya Naito Challenges Kota Ibushi For First Night Of Wrestle Kingdom 15
Double double-title matches?
During a Wrestle Kingdom 15 press conference on Sunday, IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental champion Tetsuya Naito stated that he will face Kota Ibushi and Jay White on both nights of the event, for both of his championships.
White defeated Ibushi for the contender's briefcase at Power Struggle on Saturday, and later informed Naito that he would be wrestling him for the championships on the second night of Wrestle Kingdom.
During the press conference, however, Naito iterated that while he will face White on the second night, he also wants to wrestle Ibushi, and do so on the January 4 portion.
His rationale is that since Ibushi won the G1 Climax, he deserves a title shot. Additionally, Ibushi won the G1 Climax in back to back years, which Naito has never been able to achieve, and thus has something to prove.
As part of the staged press conference, Naito said he wanted NJPW to consider his idea, and that if he doesn't get his way, he would consider boycotting both nights of Wrestle Kingdom.
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 takes place at the Tokyo Dome on January 4 and 5 of 2021. In addition to Naito's double-title challenge over the two nights, Kazuchika Okada will wrestle Will Ospreay on one of the two cards.
Written by Justin Henry
In addition to writing lists and commentaries for Cultaholic, Justin is also a features writer and interviewer for Fighting Spirit Magazine, and is co-author of the WWE-related book Titan Screwed: Lost Smiles, Stunners, and Screwjobs.