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JAN.21.2020

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The Social Round-Up: KENTA memes a big game before New Beginning

The Social Round-Up looks at pre-New Beginning posturing

After the events of Wrestle Kingdom 14, several balls have been set in motion for what should be a fascinating New Beginning tour, stacked with huge matchups. Right at the top of the list is Tetsuya Naito’s clash with KENTA on February 9 for the double IWGP Intercontinental and Heavyweight Championships. 

With some down time to prepare for his huge New Beginning in Osaka main event, KENTA has doubtless been working on strength and conditioning, but evidently also on his social media trolling skills. As he gets ready to meet fans at Reversal Harajuku on February 7, KENTA extended an invitation to LIJ fans to come along as well:

 

And graciously photoshopped a gift of his latest T-shirt:

 

When this drew the ire of some anti KENTA fans, the double title number one contender suggested maybe the folks at home could come up with their own counter-meme. Feel free to contribute:

While KENTA takes valuable time to go into training for February 9 in Osaka, Shingo Takagi has been doing his February 1 NEVER Openweight Championship training in the ring. Already the ironman of 2019 in NJPW, Shingo went from both nights in the Tokyo Dome at Wrestle Kingdom 14 to New Year Dash!! and then straight onto RevPro in the UK, before returning to finish the Fantasticamania tour.

Four nights in Korakuen saw NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champions together in four consecutive non-title matches against the unique stylings of exotico Dulce Gardenia. While Takagi had success opposite ‘everyone’s honey’, Gardenia certainly got his licks (and smooches) in. Asking for a hair versus hair match was just one of the tools for Gardenia to get into an ever more exasperated Dragon’s head, leading to just one conclusion. ‘It’s Hirooki Goto’s doing. This Hirooki Goto conspiracy theory has some legs to it…’   

Et tu Goto? 

The last day of Fantasticamania… Of course I’m pulling for Dulce Gardenia! #goforit

Gardenia went for it and got all but the three count. For the most romantic scene of the tour, Goto’s comment? ‘Magnificent’

For all the jokes, both KENTA/Naito and Goto/Takagi will being some serious hits to Osaka and Sapporo respectively. Speaking of serious, things couldn’t get much more serious than Minoru Suzuki and Jon Moxley for the IWGP United States Championship in Osaka. After the match was made, The King had this to say:

 

‘One more month. I’m going to spend the whole time thinking about tearing that guy apart. I’m getting pretty excited…’

Jon Moxley has gotten experience all over the world, but hasn’t faced anybody like Suzuki. That’s a lesson Gabriel Kidd learned at a young age. The Briton is the latest student of Katsuyori Shibata’s LA Dojo to make his debut, which he does on the Japanese leg of the New Beginning tour.

 

El Desperado recounted a tale of the courageous Kidd asking for a lesson or two from Minoru Suzuki in the UK, who responded with some very tough education. Suzuki commented “Ah, that kid. He was screaming ‘no, no, I meant teach me some moves!’ while I stretched him. This is combat at the end of the day. Laugh if you want, but that’s is how I do things. For better or for worse, I let my body do all the explaining. It’ll be good to see him.’ Keep an eye on young Kidd on Young Lion duties through the tour… 

 

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