With the unfortunate news of Will Ospreay vacating the IWGP World Heavyweight championship due to injury. NJPW has now the job to think who will take the biggest prize of this promotion. With several of the major stars from NJPW with injuries, it makes all this situation more difficult for the biggest promotion in Japan.
These unfortunate news opens the a lot of posibilites for NJPW on who the next IWGP World Heavyweight champion should be.
Hiroshi Tanahashi
A safe bet. Hiroshi Tanahashi would be a safe bet for NJPW as IWGP World Heavyweight champion. The Ace would be able to hold the championship and help NJPW build this new title up.
The only problem with Tanahashi is that he has been pushed as more of a top mid-carder than a main eventer these last few years. NJPW needs a safe bet and Hiroshi Tanahashi holding this new title might be it.
Shingo Takagi
Shingo Takagi has had a phenomenal 2021. Every time he’s in the ring he delivers. Takagi just had an outstanding match against Ospreay for the IWGP World Heavyweight title and there’s no doubt that match will win the MOTY award, as will helping Takagi’s claim for Wrestler of the year.
Shingo deserves a run with NJPW’s top prize after the work he has done during these down time for the promotion. Shingo Takagi is the favorite option for most fans right now.
Tetsuya Naito
The leader of Los Ingobernables de Japón would be another safe bet for NJPW. Naito currently is not doing much and he is the most likely person to become the third IWGP World Heavyweight champion.
He makes the most sense right now for NJPW and the promotion could really use Naito on top right now. This could also help build another Okada-Naito match for next’s year’s Wrestle Kingdom show and the possibility of having full crowds back when that happens.
Gedo and the rest of NJPW’s creative have the difficult to book the next IWGP World Champion. There’s also the forbidden door option, with Kenny Omega and his title collector run right now and him adding the IWGP World heavyweight championship would be an unexpected turn of events and the shot of adrenaline the promotion desperately needs.
