The Puroresu (Japanese Wrestling) thread

beakerjoe

Neil3030 wrote: »

So to the NJPW rookie, what periodic shows does one need to watch to keep up to speed, and how can one do this? They have a subscription service, right?

NJPW World

https://www.njpw1972.com

It depends on where you wanna start and how familar you are ? Have you watched Wrestle Kingdom from January? Id revisit that show first and go from there if you havent.

Actually Id go further back but its a good starting point

Neil3030

beakerjoe wrote: »

NJPW World

https://www.njpw1972.com

It depends on where you wanna start and how familar you are ? Have you watched Wrestle Kingdom from January? Id revisit that show first and go from there if you havent.

Actually Id go further back but its a good starting point

How far back would you recommend? Are the shows indexed by timeline on the NJPW World service? If I just watch the ppvs will there be vignettes before the matches to give me the backstory?

Ali Bomaye

The big matches on this Dontaku tour are being spread out over three shows, happening tomorrow, Saturday and next Wednesday. I’m most excited for the Takahashi vs Ricochet match on Saturday. Omega vs Ishii was great in the New Japan Cup, so their match on Wednesday should be really good too.

I’m really interested in what people think, or want to happen for the BOSJ tournament, and then the Dominion and Long Beach shows coming up after that. The assumption seems to be that they’re using these Dontaku shows to set up Naito vs Tanahashi and Omega vs Okada, two rematches from the Dome, for Dominion. I was listening to the Purocast and one of the guys on there was making the case for doing the Omega vs Okada rematch on one of the Long Beach shows. His argument was based on having this broadcast live on AXS TV, therefore being a bigger opportunity for potential growth, and that Naito vs Tanahashi would be enough to sell out Dominion. It’s an interesting idea, but from a quick search, I see that they usually have the Heavyweight title defended at Dominion, so I’d imagine that Omega / Okada will happen there. What do people here think about the potential Dominion and Long Beach cards?

It’s also really interesting to see what they’ll do with the juniors. The biggest criticism of New Japan booking is that they’ve done absolutely nothing with Ospreay since Dominion last year, but they seem to be building him back up before the BOSJ. I’m thinking that they’ll have to do an Ospreay / Takahashi match. Also Kushida vs Takahashi is likely happening again, and of course they still have to do the Ricochet vs Ospreay rematch in New Japan. I had the thought that Long Beach could be the perfect place to do the Ricochet / Ospreay rematch. They could also just have them in the same block in BOSJ again, or have them meet in the final. I’ve seen people speculating that Marty Scurll could be included in the BOSJ this year, so I’m hoping that happens now. Anyone have any ideas what they’d like to see, or what they think will happen in the BOSJ and for the Jr title match at Dominion? Obviously there’s that Takahashi vs Ricochet match for the title on Saturday to happen first. Takahashi has gotten a monster push so far, anyone think they might have Ricochet beat him?

Lithium93_

New Japan have announced a 2 night tournament at the G1 Special in the US to crown an inaugural IWGP United States Champion.

https://twitter.com/njpwglobal/status/863201857367408640

sky88

That title is hideous

But that show should be great

A Rogue Hobo

I actually like it, not exactly modern looking but has a nice old boxing title look to it.

montyrebel

looks better than most wwe belts

Lithium93_

Better looks at the new IWGP United States Championship.





And

Jay Lethal

is the first person announced for the 2 night tournament.

ERG89

New Japan put up some very good matches on their YouTube channel for limited times. Well worth subscribing to it.

Lithium93_

The groupings for this years G1 Climax

Block A Hiroshi Tanahashi- Togi Makabe- Tomohiro Ishii - Hirooki Gotto- Yoshi Hashi- Bad Luck Fale- Yuji Nagata- Zach Sabre Jr- Kota Ibushi- Tetsuya Naito

Block B Juice Robinson - Kazuchika Okada- Toru Yano- Satoshi Kojima- Michael Elgin- Tama Tonga- Sanada- Evil- Minoru Suzuki- Kenny Omega

cian68

Be nice to see Okada vs Omega go a reasonable length. The 45-60 minute matches just aren't my taste. G1 is what got me in to New Japan in the first place. 12 minutes of Goto and Ishii beating the piss out of each other is very much to my taste.

Angron

It makes me a little sad that this will be Nagata's last.

WinnyThePoo

I'm looking forward to Suzuki killing everyone.

Jerichoholic

Can't wait for tonight. Has a real big time buzz about it. It's a huge deal for NJPW. I hope it goes to plan for them.

Andersonisgod

Jerichoholic wrote: »

Can't wait for tonight. Has a real big time buzz about it. It's a huge deal for NJPW. I hope it goes to plan for them.

I'll catch both shows but neither live, very excited though. The potential is there to break into a new market.

Neil3030

If you don't want my cynicism potentially ruining this show for you, I'll spoiler this:

I just hope to christ the indie smarks attending this show don't ruin it by trying to hyjack it. One of the best things about NJPW is how the fans buy into the contest and add atmosphere to the matches. I'm dreading the 'this is awesome chants' or that 'ONE FALL' thing :mad:

Jerichoholic

Neil3030 wrote: »

If you don't want my cynicism potentially ruining this show for you, I'll spoiler this:

I just hope to christ the indie smarks attending this show don't ruin it by trying to hyjack it. One of the best things about NJPW is how the fans buy into the contest and add atmosphere to the matches. I'm dreading the 'this is awesome chants' or that 'ONE FALL' thing :mad:

They've been fine so far. I agree. They are the worst.

Jerichoholic

Rest of these matches now will put the last 10 years of WWE to shame.

sky88

Average enough show so far Jr is horrendous

Elgin vs omega was fantastic loved it. Enjoyed it a lot more than omega vs okada matches

Lithium93_

https://twitter.com/rainmakerXokada/status/881403142633541632

Ali Bomaye

In ring wise last night's show was a big success. Omega vs Elgin was incredible. If Omega has a few more performances like that in the G1, he could take wrestler of the year from Okada.

Production issues and the English commentary held the show back. JR was clueless. He couldn't even tell the difference between EVIL and Bushi.

A big success from the show was that the crowd were into all the New Japan acts, and not a smarky Bullet Club crowd. The pop Okada got was outstanding. Also, makes for great dynamics for the Okada vs Cody and Tanahashi vs Gunn matches. The main event for tonight's show should be spectacular.

Jerichoholic

Very happy Ishii went through, Omega and Elgin was amazing. Okada/Cody was really good. Way better than expected. Can't wait for tonight. Ishii/Omega final maybe? That would be the dream.

Neil3030

I thought the commentary was good where it needed to be. Omega v Elgin was greatly subserved by JR and Barnett discussing things like the importance of going for quick covers and the fine line between Omega's insanity and genius. They also reinforced the story of the match, ie that Omega only got the upper hand once he went with the knee strikes.

Similarly they did a great job of getting Cody over in the main event as talented but easily distracted, and they constantly put Okada over as the mega star he is.

All in all, it was just great to hear a commentary team talk about the talents and not the promotion. Or talk about strategy for winning, and not what's trending on Twitter.

montyrebel

anywhere I can watch this online from last night as I fell asleep

sky88

I love when companies do these little teases.

https://twitter.com/njpwglobal/status/881600225869037568

Ali Bomaye

montyrebel wrote: »

anywhere I can watch this online from last night as I fell asleep

NJPW World

Jerichoholic

sky88 wrote: »

I love when companies do these little teases.

https://twitter.com/njpwglobal/status/881600225869037568

Punk?

LeeJM

Jerichoholic wrote: »

Punk?

Nope. Cody costs Omega the title and kicks Kenny out of the BC. Possibly The Bucks get kicked out too so we get Cody leading the BC of Scurll, Fale, Page, Yujiro and Chase Owens while The Elite go off and be their thing full time.

Jerichoholic

That's not really a surprise, that's just an angle. He said the Bullet Club have a big surprise, not just him.

sky88

Just can't see punk coming back to wrestling but if he did it would be a huge statement.

My thoughts were Kenny getting kicked out of bullet club with cody costing omega the title.

Maybe the guy who wins joins the bc.

Andersonisgod

Really fun show, was interesting seeing NJPW in such a different environment and all matches including, and after, ZSJ vs Juice delivered in a big way. It was great seeing how over Naito and Okada are in America, and also that the improvement of Juice Robinson and the development of Jay White aren't things that are going unnoticed.

sky88

Yoshi tatsu is just terrible but fun opener except for him.

Probably not going to catch the rest to later in the week.

Jerichoholic

I'm going to try and stick it out. If Kenny vs Ishii is the final. I'm staying for it all.

sky88

I'm hoping it's ishii as I still don't see anything in zsj like everyone else does

Jerichoholic

It is! What great match though. Everything has been great tonight.

Jerichoholic

Just watched the final match now. Probably my match of the year by miles.

Neil3030

Certainly my favourite defensive move of the year!

Cherry_Cola

Delighted to be returning to Tokyo in two weeks! Best part is my gf told me today she has got us tickets for both G1 nights on Korakuen Hall on the 20th and 21st!

The Japanese are the best

Have only caught bits and pieces of these shows so far so looking forward to staying in watching them tonight!

Neil3030

So is anyone else praying that Omega's comments post match, about wanting to find the best competition from around the world to defend his US title, means Punk will sign for NJ? :pac:

gerrybbadd

New Japan World now available on Amazon Fire TV

http://njpwworld.com/feature/firetv

Lithium93_

Neil3030 wrote: »

So is anyone else praying that Omega's comments post match, about wanting to find the best competition from around the world to defend his US title, means Punk will sign for NJ? :pac:

Punk signing for NJPW, it's a pipe dream at best, the guy is what 37/38, I doubt he needs the money/be tempted to come back to pro wrestling, then again the NJ schedule isn't as demanding as the WWE's, and as far as I'm aware they travel on 2 different buses for events in Japan, with the odd flight involved here and there.

Then again, watch this space.

Ali Bomaye

Neil3030 wrote: »

Certainly my favourite defensive move of the year!

Ishii is amazing. He always makes me so invested in his matches, he's such a great seller. His three matches with Omega this year have all been spectacular.

sky88

I don't think punk will come back tbh I'm not sure he'd be good enough with a few years off for it now his in ring wasn't great for the last few years of his wwe run for me but I always thought he was better on the mic then in ring.

I really think it's going to be Bryan vs omega when they come back but I'm not sure how I feel about that.

Bryan retweeted omega today

Also anyone else think it's a bit of a mistake if they don't do another show this year to capitalise on the success of this one

Clegg

The first night of the G1 just finished up. Ibushi and Naito melted my face. Okada/Omega aside this was match of the year so far.

Watch it when you get the chance. NJPW are streaming it for free.

Jerichoholic

Solid stuff. Surprised by Zack winning.

Andersonisgod

NJPW doing lots of great things at the moment, streaming that show for free on NJPW World was one of those. The undercard tags were fun, all the G1 matches delivered, the last 3 being crackers and the main event being a legitimate MOTYC. Ibushi vs Naito was insanity!

LeeJM

Only watched the tournament matches as no way will I last if I watch the prelim tags every show. Fale vs Makabe was the only match I had below **** and it was still a perfectly fine big hoss battle. Tana made ZSJ look like a killer, the High Fly Flow countered into the armbar was perfect. Naito Ibushi is a must see match. I gave it *****

Jerichoholic

I'm hoping Ishii wins this, can't see Omega against Okada happening again. Probably Naito winning though.

sky88

I've always assumed that the g1 was based around to get a title shot so why is okada in it. I've always watched matches of the g1 but never paid too much attention to the rules and grouping of it

ERG89

LeeJM wrote:

Naito v. Ibushi is a must see match. I gave it *****

Looking forward to that when I get time to watch it. My new little hobby is looking at people moan to Meltzer about his apparent * ratings bias to NJPW. What fascinating lives these people must live if that is what bothers them when they wake up in the morning