Essential Japanese Wrestling Discussion/News

[trick]

Yoshihiko back

 

[trick]

Just watched Mutoh vs Takada I from NJPW World. What a match. This was the first time I went into the archives, I've only seen the shows from this year off NJPW World. There's too much piff on here to watch

 

[JohnB]

Yoshihiko back

 

[Jmare007]

@3Rivers So on a radio interview today promoting Wrestlemania. The host of the show asks Daniel Bryan who would he like to work against in next year's Mania that isn't signed with WWE (and that he has already worked with in the past).

His answer?

Shinsuke Nakamura.

Then D-Bry tells the story about them being buddies and roomates at the L.A New Japan dojo

 

[3Rivers]

@3Rivers So on a radio interview today promoting Wrestlemania. The host of the show asks Daniel Bryan who would he works against in next year's Mania that isn't signed with WWE (and the he already has worked with in the past).

His answer?

Shinsuke Nakamura.

Then D-Bry tells the story about them being buddies and roomates at the L.A New Japan dojo

This warms my heart

In saying that, there is no way I'd want to see Shinsuke in a WWE ring. He'd get saddled with a garbage gimmick,No subconscious theme + his Boma Ye would be stripped away since already has a knee finisher. DB should make his way to NJPW

 

[Jmare007]

This warms my heart

Holy fukking shyt breh

In saying that, there is no way I'd want to see Shinsuke in a WWE ring. He'd get saddled with a garbage gimmick,No subconscious theme + his Boma Ye would be stripped away since already has a knee finisher. DB should make his way to NJPW

If he wasn't married to Brie I could see D-Bry having a 2-3 year run in Japan in 2017 or something like that. But no way he leaves WWE now.

Agreed on Swagamura on the E'. Too bad he can't just work 1 date like in the old days

 

[3Rivers]

If he wasn't married to Brie I could see D-Bry having a 2-3 year run in Japan in 2017 or something like that. But no way he leaves WWE now.

Agreed on Swagamura on the E'. Too bad he can't just work 1 date like in the old days

Yeah is probably an E' lifer at this point


But stranger things have happened:bruiserbrodyohhh:

 

[3Rivers]

We got it

Finally watched.Great match

Suzuki was looking during Marufuji's intro

 

[3Rivers]

New Japan Pro Wrestling on AXS TV: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Shinsuke Nakamura for the IWGP IC Title [January 14, 2014]

Real Talk: I've been waiting all week for this damn match. I brewed a fresh batch of green tea and sat down Saturday morning to watch it, uninterrupted.

The following consist of my unfiltered first impressions.

To begin, it is shocking to me that Nakamura is defending the belt in the main event. This puts into perspective just how much the IC Title has evolved.

Okada must have been pissed! This explains my report from: --> last week.

To Open...

New Japan gave both men rather prolonged entrances. Tanahashi with a rock band and Nakamura had rippers on a pole. Damn...they did that?

Announcers talked a great deal about how Tanahashi is the sole blemish on Nakamura's title reigns.

Stan Hansen presented the belts during the pre-match ceremony.

Btw, they just spoiled the ending to this match during a commercial...like, AXS TV just told me who won. SMFH.

Nakamura

Opens with some mat work and then dominates Tanahashi with quick strikes. Nakamura moves so smoothly in the ring that it doesn't matter how many times you see him do it.

It is fun to watch him open a match.

Look for the stiff-kick after Tanahashi tries to exchange forearms.

And note the corner sequence of misses and strikes...ends with them spilling to the outside.

Check out the corner sequence that ends with his Back-cracker. Just frelling great!

Gawd Damn it! The second punch exchange with Nakamura's kicks! Damn!

Tanahashi

This is a great rivalry. After crapping the bed in his previous AXS match, Tanahashi now has an opponent worthy of his skills.

The Dragon Screw Legwhip is sold so well that I was surprised when Tanahashi hit it. In fact, after watching this match, I have a new appreciation for Tanahashi.

This match is like watching Savage and Hogan go at it. They have clashing styles yet somehow they fit very well. (Also, in terms of a styles clash, it reminds me of the chemistry that developed between Sting and Vader.)

Tanahashi's suplexes feel more potent when he faces a worthy opponent.

Btw, check the Fireman's carry counter into a Sling Blade.....damn, damn, damn!

To Close
When you get matches like this you don't need Monday Night wrestling. I was captivated from the moment they rang the bell.

I have a new big three and, because of their wrestling ability, I'm beginning to learn thei rnames and personalities.

Okada is the arrogant rainmaker. Flashy.

Tanahashi is the classical brawler from the 80's who hits those Steamboat high-spots.

Nakamura is the flamboyant eccentric that everyone wants to root for.

Watch this with the commercials on mute or while fast forwarding. AXS spoiled this ending before the match even began. I was quite pissed.

Also, NJPW needs to have a string of matches tat end with a submission. Haven't seen one since I started watching AXS.

As for this match, my Nubian told me to hush up as I was marking for the last 10 minutes. Damn, sucha great experience.

Don't frell around, ya'll. This is a must see!

We're gonna do it again this week:cenappvbro:

I've seen both matches already with the Japanese commentary. What I didn't notice before was Nakamura getting YeaOh! chants in defeat:nakamura:

 

[Beautiful Bobby Eatin]

@3Rivers So on a radio interview today promoting Wrestlemania. The host of the show asks Daniel Bryan who would he like to work against in next year's Mania that isn't signed with WWE (and that he has already worked with in the past).

His answer?

Shinsuke Nakamura.

Then D-Bry tells the story about them being buddies and roomates at the L.A New Japan dojo

Everyone is on that swag train

 

[3Rivers]

Everyone is on that swag train

It's undeniable

 

[Beautiful Bobby Eatin]

It's undeniable

Goddammit man!!!

 

[JohnB]

Fit Finley's son joined the New Japan dojo, Apparently he's a good amateur wrestler as well.

 

[Honga Ciganesta]

Bits and pieces from the Observer

Yoji Anjo, 45, a noteworthy figure in Japanese wrestling history, starting as a UWF wrestler, doing real fights, and doing pro wrestling with a number of promotions including Hustle, retired on 3/19. Anjo had a 30 year career that started at the age of 15. Perhaps Anjo's most noteworthy thing was going to Torrance, CA, in 1994, going to Rickson Gracie's gym, challenging him to a fight and getting beaten up badly. Gracie, who was not at the gym when Anjo arrived, was just told there was a big pro wrestler looking for him and wanted to fight him right then and there. Gracie thought it was Nobuhiko Takada, as the UWF was trying to put together a Takada vs. Gracie match where Takada would win, but Gracie refused, and that was really the only Japanese wrestler he was familiar with. Anjo, who was 35 pounds heavier than Gracie and had trained the submission game, and was a tough guy in the gym, thought he could beat Gracie and ended up destroyed. When the story broke, and Takada never challenged Gracie for revenge, faith in the UWFI promotion fell in Japan and by late 1995, they were in so much financial trouble they had to sacrifice themselves to New Japan. Eventually that killed the promotion. Anjo became a super heel for a while, as the guy who let down pro wrestling, and formed a trio that worked for all sorts of promotions called The Golden Cups, with Yoshihiro Takayama & Kenichi Yamamoto, all three coming from UWFI. He had an 0-6-1 record in MMA fights between 1994 and 2004, including losses to Matt Lindland, Ryan Gracie, Murilo Bustamante and Tank Abbott (in his only UFC fight). His retirement match was a best of three fall match with The Golden Cups against Masakatsu Funaki & Minoru Suzuki & Sanae Kikuta (an MMA fighter from Pride who was doing his first pro wrestling match). Anjo put everyone over on the way out. He lost two straight falls, both via submission, to Funaki. It's notable because even though Funaki, Suzuki and Anjo were together in the second version of the UWF, during their heydays, Funaki and Suzuki were with Pancrase while Anjo, Takayama and Yamamoto were with UWFI, and they were considered rival groups. After losing in two straight falls, Anjo demanded a one fall rematch, but got pinned again, this time by Suzuki's Gotch piledriver. Among those at the show for his finale were Riki Choshu, Kazushi Sakuraba, Minowa-man, Yoshiaki Fujiwara and Hiromitsu Kanehara.

Real Japan Pro Wrestling ran 3/20 at Korakuen Hall with a first-ever meeting of Akebono vs. Original Tiger Mask, which would be quite the size difference. Akebono won in 10:50 with a splash, and after the match, was confronted by former sumo Takatoriki, who punched Akebono in the stomach after they had set up a match. The show was loaded with name stars from another generation including Gran Hamada, Atsushi Onita, Ultimo Dragon, Tatsumi Fujinami and Minoru Suzuki, as well as the son (Mitsuo Momota) and grandson (Chikara Momota) of Rikidozan.

Fujinami announced a 5/11 Dradition show with a first-time ever singles match against Masakatsu Funaki. This has historical relevance, as it's both the first time two Hall of Famers will have faced, but when Funaki was 15 and dropped out of high school to be a pro wrestler with New Japan, Fujinami was his mentor. Funaki said that he never believed such a match would happen because when he started they'd have never done it, and then when Funaki left for UWF, and then during his long journey into Pancrase and acting and retirement, it never had a shot of taking place because he wasn't doing pro wrestling.

Onita beat Takayama on 3/21 in Fukuoka for what was called the Blast King championship in a no rope barbed wire electric current blast death match.

That Anjo/Gracie story always cracks me up

 

[DocZulu]

New Japan Pro Wrestling on AXS TV (Part 01): Tetsuya Naito vs. Tomohiro Ishi (Never Open Weight Champion)

To Open

I'm new to Japanese wrestling, but I'm beginning to learn their names and styles. Naito has left a negative impression on me.

Dude is the most limited wrestler I've seen. He lacks charisma and in-ring innovation.

Also, AXS does not show the match in its entirety. So that's a major drawback to watching this match.

Finally, I remembered to watch the show on mute. After last week I didn't want to risk being exposed to any damn spoilers. ---> Last week's

Naito

His best move of the match is his missed Shooting Star Press.

His worst move of the match is his missed Enziguri kick.

That sums my experience with Naito. He's sloppy. This week he reminded me of a younger, more athletic yet less compelling Jeff Jarrett.

In fact, I would have more respect for him if they used him as a Honky Tonk Man character. Make him less competent so that he isn't exposed.

Ishi

He has a odd combination of suplex and brawling styles. It makes him unique and more difficult to stereotype. I love his movements in the ring as he seems like a Filipino or Black wrestler from the neighborhood.

Look at the way he gets up from the mat. LIke, "okay, now I gotta whoop your ass."

Dude is oversized, not fat, but he's mad agile.