[1/4]NJPW Presents: Wrestle Kingdom 11

[InstantKlassik]

Still haven't got around to watching the main event. Gonna try and check this out late tonight after my Lions/Seahawks game.

 

[g-ice]

Just saw that main event and :wutdahell:

I have no words!

 

[Sypress]

the young dorks are on this card

 

[Jmare007]

Finally got done with this. Not gonna buy into all of the hyperbole surrounding the last 4 matches, but they were damn fine pro wrestling matches regardless. The last few minutes of Takahashi/KUSHIDA were very good (and they left stuff on the table for future matches), Naito/Tanahashi was excellent and cemented Tana's new role as the aged and slightly past his prime legend type, and Okada/Omega was a classic. Certainly not 6 stars or anything ridiculous like that (though people need to understand that Meltzer's given "more than 5 stars" to other matches in the past), but a classic match that outlined Okada's role as the proper ace quite well (he's the one that's targeted by a fresher, more innovative opponent, and has to use his wits, skills and ingenuity rather than his athleticism to get around this crazy fukker).

I was also interested by something that I don't think was noted yet: the fact that they took GREAT pains to protect Omega's finisher. Okada hit about 4 Rainmakers and had one kicked out of before putting Omega down, but Omega didn't hit the One Winged Angel once. So there's a story coming out of the match, and a story thread they can explore in future rematches (if Omega stays around, that is).

I know that a lot of us who have been watching NJPW since Gedo started booking can get bored with it, but they almost always bring the heat in-ring. That happened here in spades, yes, but I also like that there are threads to explore in the future for matches down the road as well. Great stuff overall.

That's what Gedo and Jado did with Tanahashi and Okada in their first feud. They protected the fukk out of the Rainmaker every time Tana won in that first go around.

There was too much uselss stuff to be considered a classic though. No amount of crazy shyt and dope final act would overcome that imo.

 

[TL15]

Okada/Omega will probably go down as the best wrestling match I have ever seen. The story telling, work rate, and the spots just had me losing my shyt. I understand why Meltz gave it six stars because holy crap.

And what's great is they don't use the whole "false finish" until it actually makes sense. There aren't a bunch of "near falls" in the first 20-30 minutes. Hell there were barely any pin attempts. These guys brought it and risked a ton. Omega with the moonsault, the table spots were done well. Fantastic match

 

[Ed MOTHERFUCKING G]

the young dorks are on this card

Lmao

The young dorks, i like it

 

[3Rivers]

Only 26k sold??? Didn't WK have like 60k people in attendance two years ago?

Nah. I think it was reported WK 9 did 36k. Not sure if that was all paid customers or not. WK 10 did I believe 25k

 

[23Barrettcity]

Okada/Omega will probably go down as the best wrestling match I have ever seen. The story telling, work rate, and the spots just had me losing my shyt. I understand why Meltz gave it six stars because holy crap.

I liked the match but wtf ?!ROH in its heyday had matches way better . Naito and the kushida matches were better to me

 

[TrueEpic08]

That's what Gedo and Jado did with Tanahashi and Okada in their first feud. They protected the fukk out of the Rainmaker every time Tana won in that first go around.

There was too much uselss stuff to be considered a classic though. No amount of crazy shyt and dope final act would overcome that imo.

Yeah, but I was fairly shocked that they'd go that far for a gaijin immediately after they just did it with Okada (and to that extent, no less). Maybe I haven't been paying close enough attention to the Okada/Omega storyline, who knows.

I can understand the argument for there being a lot of chaff in the first two-thirds of the match, but it felt to me like everything they did in that first section advanced the story they were telling. It wasn't a perfect match by any means (some spotty selling, among other things), but I'm willing to be forgiving of flaws if they contribute to the story that the wrestlers are telling and engage me in the match. Calling it the greatest match ever is clearly nonsense and hyperbole, but it was an excellent, excellent match that told a very interesting story that had me hooked for the entire 45 minutes. And trust me, it's incredibly hard for a match to do that these days.

 

[Tanahashi Coates]

at Red Shoes warning Naito not to throw the belt like " "

 

[The Intergalactic Koala]

I liked the match but wtf ?!ROH in its heyday had matches way better . Naito and the kushida matches were better to me

True ROH matches back in the day were certified classics, but there's something about this match that felt unreal. The closest match that had the same spark was Nakamura/Kota which was moty for me in 2015. It's hard to explain it, but if you heard that crowd...you would have thought Inoki was in his prime wrestling friggin Lou Thez.

 

[The Intergalactic Koala]

And what's great is they don't use the whole "false finish" until it actually makes sense. There aren't a bunch of "near falls" in the first 20-30 minutes. Hell there were barely any pin attempts. These guys brought it and risked a ton. Omega with the moonsault, the table spots were done well. Fantastic match

I loved the fact that Omega couldn't do his finisher since it's a one shot kill type of move. There's layers to that match that reminds me of classic puro matches in the 90s.

 

[Ed MOTHERFUCKING G]

at Red Shoes warning Naito not to throw the belt like " "

GOAT SHOES

 

[The Intergalactic Koala]

Bullet Club sold that crotch chop like a pin grenade on the ground.

 

[ezrathegreat]

Just saw the main event.........
What a match!
Those welts on Okada's back!
Omega going through that table!
Dragon suplex of the top rope!
Those last ten minutes and the finish!

This is what pro wrestling was and is supposed to be.
to NJPW for a classic show.