Naito vs ZSJ set for night two main event
After the IWGP Tag Team Championships are defended on night one of Royal Quest II, things don’t slow down on night two with another stacked lineup headlined by a modern classic rivalry.
Royal Quest II night 2 TICKETS
Watch Royal Quest II on demand this October on NJPW World!
The main event will see Tetsuya Naito battle Zack Sabre Jr. in singles action. After Naito’s sub two minute victory over ZSJ in the G1 sparked a massive tantrum on Sabre’s part, it was fairly clear that a long lasting furious rivalry was set to continue, and Kobe’s tag team match between Los Ingobernables De Japon and Dangerous Tekkers was not going to be enough to settle things. Sabre’s grand plan was to win the G1 Climax and use his title shot in London this weekend, but best laid plans fell to El Ingobernable, just as Sabre has wrecked Naito’s hopes for Tokyo Dome main event status in the past.
Now both men’s path to the IWGP World Heavyweight gold and the headline spot at Wrestle Kingdom are tortured at best and impossible at worst. Yet after Will Ospreay defeated David Finlay to retain the IWGP United States title in Kobe Sunday, Naito made an unexpected move. El Ingobernable went to challenge Ospreay, only to be interrupted by Zack Sabre Jr., who interjected that he defeated Ospreay in the New Japan Cup, something Naito couldn’t do in the G1. Now, this bout is set to create a nyumber one contender for Ospreay’s title. Belt or no, a main event singles win on Sabre’s home turf would do a lot for Naito heading into the back end of 2022, as would a triumphant return to the UK for Sabre. How will things play out in Crystal Palace?
The BULLET CLUB side of Jay White, Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson will face Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hikuleo and Tama Tonga. After Kobe saw a stunning turn for the Young Gun, Hikuleo is now on his brother’s side of the Hontai/BULLET CLUB fence. How will this six man tag play out just one week before Declaration of Power?
Kazuchika Okada faces Bad Dude Tito in singles action. The bad dude of TMDK, Tito showed fans in Japan what the STRONG audience already knew when he put together a string of hard hitting performances through the G1 tour, and was the first wrestler to compete in front of cheering Korakuen fans in two and a half years when he took on Minoru Suzuki of late. Then he pushed the King to his limits, and on October 2 he takes on Suzuki’s opponent on the first Royal Quest in Okada. Will Tito be a bad enough dude to beat the G1 Climax winner?
JONAH keeps the TMDK and CHAOS theme going as he takes on Tomohiro Ishii. While the Top Dog’s issues with Kazuchika Okada on the road to Declaration of Power October 10 in Ryogoku are well documented, he and Ishii have previous too. Over in IMPACT Wrestling earlier this year, Ishii managed to pick up an impressive singles win over JONAH, including hoisting him for an incredible Vetical Drop Brainbuster. JONAH’s unstoppable run in Japan, yet to be pinned or submitted in NJPW, is perhaps in part driven by a desire for revenge over the Stone Pitbull, revenge he can pick up in London if he can topple Ishii.
An all star ten man tag will see the forces of the United Empire take on the team of FTR, Shota Umino, Gabriel Kidd and British Heavyweight Champion Ricky Knight Jr. After the main event of night one in London, the big question heading into Sunday will be whether Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler still hold the IWGP Tag Team Championship gold, or whether it will be Aussie Open heading into this bout as new champs. With fallout from Shota Umino and Will Ospreay’s battle to come as well, a lot of moving parts are involved in a busy tag bout.
History will be made in London, with the first match in the tournament to crown the inaugural IWGP Women’s Champion. Former World of STARDOM Champion Jazzy Gabert will be taking on British prospect Ava White; Gabert has experience and brutal power on her side, but can White’s potential see her to a first round upset?
The second match on the card sees a huge opportunity for Ethan Allen and British Cruiserweight Champion Luke Jacobs, as the Young Guns face LIJ’s Hiromu Takahashi and SANADA. Allen is making his return to action in this match after months away with a knee injury, but is looking to hit the ground running, while Jacobs continues to make a rapid ascent, having recently defeated Francesco Akira in London. Hiromu Takahashi has been public about wanting to put together a junior heavyweight all star dream card, and may be scouting talent tonight, while SANADA will be teaching a lesson in tag team expertise tonight.
Starting the evening, DOUKI and El Desperado will be facing Michael Oku and Robbie X. Two of the UK’s best junior heavyweights will be facing a three time former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, who will make an aggressive and crowd pleasing combination with masked maniac DOUKI. Coming off losing his British Cruiserweight title, and then falling at a challenge to the STRONG Openweight Tag Team Championships alongside partner Connor Mills, Oku wants to regain momentum in the worst way, while Robbie X is in a position to start night two off with a bang and his own definitive statement, but can they overcome Suzuki-Gun?
