Two new players have entered New Japan Pro Wrestling’s heavyweight tag team division and they are nothing less than an elite – pun intended – team. Seven-time IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team champions The Young Bucks declared their intention to move up to the heavyweight division.
The announcement came during the conclusion of the second night of the Honor Rising event. Matt and Nick Jackson addressed comments by Elite comrade Kenny Omega, who declared that he and Kota Ibushi – also known as the Golden Lovers – were the best tag team in the world after their win against Bullet Club’s Cody and Marty Scurll.
The Young Bucks took the time to announce their move to heavyweight and challenged Omega and Ibushi, potentially setting up a possible dream match.
While folks may see this as the latest crack in what appears to be a fissure between Omega and the Bullet Club, it also potentially sets the future for NJPW’s heavyweight tag team division.
The Young Bucks have been one of – if not the top – teams in NJPW’s Junior Heavyweight division, winning the titles seven times and won the 2013 Super Jr. Tournament. Moving to the heavyweight division makes sense for them because they have pretty much accomplished everything they can at the Jr. heavyweight level in NJPW.
They have also captured a plethora of heavyweight tag team titles from around the world but never the IWGP Heavyweight tag titles.
While they have challenged for the IWGP Heavyweight tag team belts in the past, the brothers have not really had an extended run in NJPW’s Heavyweight tag team division. Their potential matches against the likes of Killer Elite Squad, Los Ingobernables de Japon and other groups would not only produce quality matches but also draw big crowds. No disrespect to the other teams in NJPW, but the Young Bucks are one of the biggest draws in the world, which can be tough for a tag team to accomplish.
Then you have the Golden Lovers, who are also relatively new to NJPW’s heavyweight tag team division since rejoining earlier this year. While Omega and Ibushi captured the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight tag team titles earlier in their careers, they have spent the majority of their time as singles competitors since they’ve they moved to heavyweight.
Both tag teams are being poised as the top duos in NJPW, which is only going to be better for business. If the marquee reads “Young Bucks vs. Golden Lovers,” it’s going to draw more people whether the match takes place in Japan or the United States.
Having them move up to heavyweight also allows the Jr. Heavyweight tag team division to have new teams in the division’s title picture.
Honor Rising Night 2 Results
Beer City Bruiser def. Toa Henare
Jay Lethal & Juice Robinson & David Finlay def. Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens & Hikuleo
Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI def. Ryusuke Taguchi & Flip Gordon
Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa & Bad Luck Fale def. Jushin Liger & Cheeseburger & Delirious to retain the Never Openweight Six-Man tag team titles
Young Bucks & Hangman Page defeated Jay White & Chuckie T & YOSHI-HASHI
Dalton Castle def. Baretta and the Beer City Bruiser to retain the Ring Of Honor World title
Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi defeated Marty Scurll & Cody
Dave Boy Smith Jr. may be done with New Japan Pro Wrestling, ending a relationship he has had with the promotion since 2011, according to various reports, and effectively ending his partnership with Lance Archer, who together formed the Killer Elite Squad tag team.
Smith is still involved with Major League Wrestling where Smith Jr, Teddy Hart, and Brian Pillman Jr comprise the Hart Foundation, who are currently their tag team champions, and Teddy Hart is the middleweight champion.
Smith will receive a future MLW World Championship match as he recently won a fan vote.
With the departures of Cody Rhodes, the Young Bucks, Chris Jericho, and the likely forthcoming departure of Kenny Omega, New Japan Pro Wrestling has been reeling.
New Japan Pro Wrestling president Harold Meij commented on the departures of the The Elite members, and other talent, most of whom are moving to either WWE or AEW.
Meij: ‘Talent will come & go. That’s life. Half of Japanese people have had more than one occupation. More overseas. There are different life stages, priorities change. What counts is that while here, ppl shine as bright as possible & produce the best product possible for us’— chris charlton (@reasonjp) January 9, 2019
NJPW is expected to lose Kenny Omega at the end of the month, who announced he would be leaving when his contract expires at the end of the month, but they will not be losing Chase Owens.
“The Crown Jewel” Chase Owens has also officially re-signed with NJPW, making the official announcement on Twitter.
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