>>133304
I see. I'll still disagree with Jay White but I can see how Gedo might be overshadowing him a bit. But recently every big heel in NJPW pretty much have been doing the same thing Jay and Gedo have been doing: Bullet Club kinda started the trend, AJ Styles, Kenny Omega till G1 climax 26 and LIJ Naito till he lost the IWGP Heavyweight title. All of them got heat from outside interferences
Naito probably the only one to do it better like his long entrances, taking time to remove his suit and spitting at everyone. Jericho is the only solo heel and he does it well but tends to to use weapons too much. I still think Tanahashi can do good but by your expectations of wanting Okada tier great matches, I guess Tana has past his prime for that unless he has someone like Okada/Naito to play him off well as you say.
>potential main events for Tanahashi
Other than the typical Okada/Naito, I actually can't think of many great ones for Tana. Been a while since Ishii fought Tana, that coulf be good but I dont think it might happen. Suzuki could be a choice but even that is kinda old. Maybe Sanada/EVIL but I wasn't a huge fan of their previous clashes with Tana to put them in a main event spot. Jericho is the only big main event for Tana I can see right now. NJPW sure lost quite a lot of guys recently, some fresh faces would help. Tanahashi is still super popular in Japan so they cam make it work but I wonder about the overseas expansion, probably might face more foreign guys if they have title matches there frequently.
>>133306
Only been a year for Kawato's excursion so he might take a while. At earliest i think maybe KOPW/Power Struggle like how Hiromu and Jay White returned. Jrs. are really lacking. Shingo might be the only real competition for Taiji. They've been weak in recent years but with Hiromu injured, Kushida leaving and Ospreay in NEVER, they've been hurt even more. Wonder who would be in the BOSJ finals now, only shingo really I feel from the current crop. Hope they bring in one or two guys before that.