Later on, it'll be Zack Sabre Jr. up against Yota Tsuji to crown this year's winner. They'll gain a title shot in the main event of the January 4th Tokyo Dome show.
Going in, I thought Shingo Takagi would be this year's victor. He lost to ZSJ in yesterday's semi-final.
As for who I think will now win, considering there are now only two choices, well - I have to side with my brain and go with Tsuji.
I'd like Zack Sabre Jr. to win because he'd be the first British guy to do so.
He'd be the second foreign wrestler to win in the history of the tournament, as well. I think that's a major thing to focus on.
I am of the opinion that there's a tendency for New Japan Pro Wrestling to want natives to win these tournaments and go on to headline the major show of the year because it's often the people they'd like to build - or have built - the company around that are in those positions to headline the Dome events.
The only rare exception to that rule is Kenny Omega who won the tG1 Climax in 2016. I suppose you could go back further and find one other foreigner in Hulk Hogan. However, that was in 1983 when the tournament had a different name and format.
10:13AM BST Update
ZSJ did it! He also conveyed his intention to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at the King of Pro Wrestling event on October 14th instead of at WrestleKingdom on January 4th. There is a NJPW event in London in late-October, so ZSJ cold be the champ by then.
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