Fujita Vs. Shibata, and other Top Five Matches

[Pheonix_Chi25]

Credit to Strong Style Spirit
"Katsuyori Shibata has been unofficially determined as Kazuyuki Fujita's first challenger for the IWGP Heavyweight Title. If all goes according to plan and the match is announced, they will meet on 7/19 at the Tsukisamu Green Dome. Shibata, who shone in a losing effort against Musashi at the Tokyo Dome, then decorated his MMA debut with a complete victory in Brazil, has never challenged for the belt before, and this will be his first shot, following up on Tanahashi's first challenge earlier in the month.

Weekly Gong has unofficially listed Fujita vs. Shibata (IWGP Heavyweight), Takayama & Suzuki or Morishima & Rikio (winner of Tokyo Dome match) vs. Kensuke & Liger (IWGP Tag), Tanahashi vs. Yano (U-30 Openweight), Heat vs. Tiger Mask (IWGP Jr. Heavyweight), and Jado & Gedo vs. Kanemoto & Wataru (IWGP Jr. Tag) as the "big five title matches" for Sapporo. If those are revealed, this could be one of the best shows of the year, and that would be even before Nagata, Tenzan, Nakamura, and others were booked!"

Any thoughts. Other than Shibata/Fujita, this is gonna be pure dynamite.

[edgehead1984]

Well, Fujita/Shibata could be good, I don't like the idea of Liger wrestling heavyweights, replace him with Nakajima, Yano/Tanahishi sounds good, hope there's no DQ finish. Heat/Tiger Mask should be dynamite, Kanemoto & Inoue sounds like a good team...

[Pheonix_Chi25]

I also like KojiTaru as a tag team, Koji and Inoue just compliment each other so well with their different styles.

[Haiku Warrior]

I think Yano might steal the U-30 title. He's a decent heel and Tanahashi has had it for so long... there isn't much more for him to accomplish with that title.

[edgehead1984]

I agree, Tanahishi should start focusing on the big one.

[Luds]

I agree, it's time for Tanahashi to move to the main event, and it's time for Yano to be pushed.

[Pheonix_Chi25]

Oh NOW everyone thinks Tanahashi is ready??? LOL!

I do agree it's time for Tanahashi to move on.

[Haiku Warrior]

In New Japan he has gone through Blue Wolf, Yoshie, Murakami, Nagai, Shibata. He beat the 'unstoppable TOA' [loosely], then he dealt it to a couple of Jrs. What's next? I can't think of any other youngins, save for a few Jrs., that really pose much of a threat. Yano, "Mr. DQ", would give a great heel feel (sorry for the rhyme) to the U-30 (an otherwise pointless title).