Essential Japanese Wrestling Discussion/News

JerseyBoy23

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If EVIL gets a title run that last months and some defenses, I don't think he'd be established like you are saying here. I don't even think he'll be Makabe status in 2010-2013/4. BUT that all depends on how the crowd takes him in the coming months. White is a good comparison because he actually found his character AFTER dropping the belt, not before or while being champ :dead:

Now, I still think the most likely scenario is him getting a short, transitional run because the roster is short and Gedo wanted to stirr shyt up. So it's gonna be a harmless swerve in the long run.





Thing is, he gotta be careful because when a Japanese audience doesn't like something, they just stop fukking with it. Years ago Suzuki-Gun went to NOAH for an invasion angle that lasted more than a year that for a western audience it would've been "ohh they making marks mad :russ:" but the few hardcore fans NOAH had legit didn't like that shyt and tanked the company deeper than what it already was because they stopped going to shows. NOAH still trying to bring them back, have failed miserably in doing so.

I think New Japan is smart enough to realize this kind of "danger". As we saw how quickly they fell back on that horrible angle they tried to do with management a couple of years ago (or was it last year) and the BC OG. To the point that shyt was forgotten a week after it happened.

They only gotta fill up 1/3 of the buildings they run so they’ll be fine in that department. They probably waiting to give it to Okada, Ibushi or Naito after they can at least have more than 50% capacity.
 

TheGodling

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So I just watched the Naito/EVIL main event...

Holy shyt, that...when Red Shoes hit that three count, I just asked myself, "when was the last time you felt insulted by a NJPW main event?"

First of all, EVIL...:hhh:

I was kind of with the theme until it started to sound like something from a Castlevania boss fight, but his gear SUUUUUCKS. The armor makes him look like an off-brand Glacier (I know we're supposed to have an ironic love of the guy, but main eventers should remind you of Glacier) and the gear itself is fukking atrocious. He looks like an off-brand ASAP Mob stan circa 2013 as opposed to a top guy, and the mediocrity of his actual wrestling or the fact that nobody gave a single solitary fukk about him didn't help any. Atrocious.

Naito was barely any better himself. Clearly out of shape and fatter off the COVID layoff, not to mention his complete disinterest in expressing any emotions or selling that much. He seemed to find a groove during the finish (not helped by a couple of EVIL brainfarts or some general timing issues between the two), but he certainly wasn't great here either. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he tanked the match in protest of the sheer stupidity of the booking.

And the finish...my god. :snoop:

Jado does a walk-in and I think the sea levels out here in SoCal rose a bit as he made his way down to the ring. Taiji Ishimori, not wanting to die before Jado finishes his walk-in, sprints down to the ring as fast as he can and gives Naito a springboard senton, then stalls because Jado STILL hasn't finished his walk-in. Jado gets to the ring as the sun dies and kills us all, gets ready to brain Naito with the kendo stick, but is stopped by Hiromu, the best worker in the match. He runs Jado and Taiji off with the vigor and fire this match desperately needed (didn't Naito and EVIL hate each other. Didn't EVIL, Naito's first recruit into LIJ, turn on him and join the Bullet Club all of ONE DAY AGO? Could've fooled me). EVIL procures a chair and brains Naito with it after Naito takes an age to crawl over to EVIL and pick him up. Some more fairly decent wrestling happens, then some guy in a BUSHI mask who looks and moves nothing like BUSHI (he may have, in fact, eaten BUSHI. Of course, we know it's dikk Togo) forearms and garrotes Naito, then takes the ref as EVIL stomps Naito in the balls. Only then is Naito hit with the EVIL and pinned.

By the way, the crowd reacted to the above with either mechanical booing or silence.

Garbage. :trash:

If I weren't watching a FIRE ass Lou Thesz/Buddy Rogers match alongside this, it might have made me less of a fan of wrestling. As it is, it's a goddamn mediocre ass match capped off with one of the most ridiculous finishes I've seen from NJPW in damn near two decades. Just shyt.

EDIT: Oh, and before I forget: This did NOT need 38 minutes. NJPW needs to stop already with this nonsense.
Man, I hated the finish so much I didn't even get to rant about that Jado walk-in. Dude probably moved slower than Khali, shyt was absolutely embarassing. :dead:

I agree with whoever said that if they had to pick someone from LIJ to get the titles from Naito, make it Takagi or SANADA. At least the crowd actually is into them. EVIL is a stable filler guy, not someone to make a (purely coincidental) Triple Champion. :deadmanny:
 

The Rainmaker

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Togo makes his re-debut next week at New Japan Road



EVIL has accepted Hiromu's challenge and both belts will be on the line at Sengoku Lord, where Okada will have a surefire barnburner against Yujiro.
I guess Okada wins and challenges EVIL. Too soon? Nah, not soon enough.



Suzuki seems to be aight

 

Beautiful Bobby Eatin

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Brehs. EVIL had a terrible ROH excursion. This is the only requirement towards a young lion getting the belt now. Yall better not act like this when SHO gets his in 2027.


Seriously though, as someone who actually likes EVIL, what the actual fukk? He makes NO sense in Bullet Club and unless he eventually pulls a Switchblade and betrays them to go to Suzuki-gun, which is low key more depressing, I dont see how this turn made sense over SANADA. But Hiromu getting the title shot while SANADA has said nothing after being beat by EVIL in the tourney semifinals and being betrayed by his tag team partner shows what they think of him. Terrible Gedo booking.
 

Jmare007

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So they ARE doing champ vs champ...and they make it Takahashi vs EVIL instead of Naito??? :laff: :laff: :laff:
 

TheGodling

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So they ARE doing champ vs champ...and they make it Takahashi vs EVIL instead of Naito??? :laff: :laff: :laff:
Unless Naito has some hidden injury none of this makes sense.
Brehs. EVIL had a terrible ROH excursion. This is the only requirement towards a young lion getting the belt now. Yall better not act like this when SHO gets his in 2027.


Seriously though, as someone who actually likes EVIL, what the actual fukk? He makes NO sense in Bullet Club and unless he eventually pulls a Switchblade and betrays them to go to Suzuki-gun, which is low key more depressing, I dont see how this turn made sense over SANADA. But Hiromu getting the title shot while SANADA has said nothing after being beat by EVIL in the tourney semifinals and being betrayed by his tag team partner shows what they think of him. Terrible Gedo booking.
The fact LIJ where facing CHAOS in a tag match instead of Bullet Club and none of them except Hiromu showed up during the main event just shows how little Gedo cares for actual storytelling. Everyone in LIJ should be pissed. And how do you have a fake Bushi come out and the real Bushi does nothing? :why:
 
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stro

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Those upcoming cards :picard: Midas swell just stay shut down if that's the best they can do without gaijin.
 

PlayerNinety_Nine

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Yall better not act like this when SHO gets his in 2027.

Lowkey - SHO's been going off though.:leon: Anytime you put him in there with NEVER calibre guys he gives us bangers. His joints with Shingo alone :wow:

That eventual YOH title run though.

tenor.gif
 

The Rainmaker

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This whole situation can only be fixed by inviting Antonio Inoki back to the promotion to manage Okada until he wins the title.

Then Inoki TAKES the title from him and declares the whole locker room has converted to Islam and erradicated EVIL. Inshallah.
 
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