Essential Japanese Wrestling Discussion/News

[Da Thrilla]

As someone who has never watched NJPW outside of the gifs over the years, I enjoyed the show

Same here. I've been a pro wrestling fan since I was a kid, and WK9 is my first IWGP show. I've gotten progressively sick of the shyt the 'E has been churning out lately, and hearing the hype about this on Twitter and such, I decided to give it a shot, watching the Main Event as I post. Enjoying the show quite a bit also. That Nakamura cat...his look, entrance, charisma, style...that match with Ibushi...

So glad I gave it a shot. I'm interested in watching more, that's for sure

 

[23Barrettcity]

Is it wrong that I can't get into tanahasi ? I got into njpw from devitt bullet club and hearing about they turned okada into rainmaker okada and gave him the clothesline. From seeing tanahasi work heel I had thought he was suppose to be heel it wasn't till the g-1i think I asked someone in here like wait he's face??!!? Wait he's like the Japanese cena ?!!!!?!!? I do like the variety of ways he used the high fly flow but the air guitar for 10 minutes screams heels

 

[Stez]

Okada/Tanahashi seem to be doing a double turn of sorts here imo.

Don't know if anyone else watched the New Year Dash show which aired after WK9 (EDIT: I posted this blind without looking at earlier posts, my bad, looks like brehs watched it too) but Okada got dropped clean by Fale in a tag match, but he sold the fukk out of his injuries and these Japanese cats in the crowd screaming "Oka-daaaaa!" after the loss so they really buying into his fighting spirit.

Also young Cody Hall joined The Bullet Club unofficially. He's the Bullet Club's Young Boy, so they had dude carrying all their gear when they tossed it for a multi-tag match. Styles laid the beat down on Tanahashi with the Bullet Club afterwards too. So Styles/Tanahashi for the title about to go down.

Yuji Nagata and Shinsuke Nakamura got into it too so expect that feud to develop next over the IC title.

 

[Jmare007]

Korakuen cards for the Fantastica Mania tour


NJPW "NJPW PRESENTS CMLL FANTASTICA MANIA 2015", 18.01.2015 (Samurai! TV/NJPW World)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI & Gedo vs. Angel de Oro, Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask
2. Rey Cometa, Triton & KUSHIDA vs. Mr. Niebla, El Barbaro Cavernario & OKUMURA
3. Tetsuya Naito, La Sombra & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Macara Don, Mascara Dorada & Captain New Japan
4. NWA World Historic Middleweight Title: Volador Jr. (c) vs. Gran Guerrero
5. National Light Heavyweight Title: Maphisto (c) vs. Stuka Jr.
6. Black Cat Memorial Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Mistico & Stigma vs. Kazuchika Okada, Shinsuke Nakamura & Polvora
7. Special Singles Match: Atlantis vs. Utimo Guerrero


NJPW "NJPW PRESENTS CMLL FANTASTICA MANIA 2015", 19.01.2015 (TV Asahi Ch. 2/NJPW World)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. KUSHIDA, Tiger Mask, Jushin Thunder Liger & Stuka Jr. vs. Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI, Gedo & OKUMURA
2. Tetsuya Naito & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Captain New Japan & Triton
3. Angel de Oro & Stigma vs. Mephisto & Gran Guerrero
4. Special Singles Match: Rey Cometa vs. El Barbaro Cavernario
5. Special Singles Match: Mistico vs. Polvora
6. Special Eight Man Tag Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi, Atlantis & Volador Jr. vs. Kazuchika Okada, Shinsuke Nakamura, Ultimo Guerrero & Mr. Niebla
7. Special Singles Match: Mascara Dorada vs. La Sombra


Atlantis vs Ultimo Guerrero I wonder if the japanese crowd will react to them and how motivated will they work that match.


New Beggining already has the main matches booked:

1. NWA World Jr. Heavyweight Title: Jushin Thunder Liger (c) vs. Chase Owens
2. NWA World Heavyweight Title: Rob Conway (c) vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan
3. NEVER Openweight Title: Togi Makabe (c) vs. Tomohiro Ishii
4. IWGP Intercontinental Title: Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Yuji Nagata

 

[The Rainmaker]

Meltzer gave Nakamura/Ibushi 5 stars

Plus Okada/Tanahashi got **** 3/4, Ishii/Makabe got **** 1/2, and Styles/Naito **** 1/4.

And the four team opening got ****. That was only for the Meltzer driver

 

[Jmare007]

Dave is such a stan when it comes to New Japan

 

[Scottie Drippin]

Dave is such a stan when it comes to New Japan

He showed INCREDIBLE restraint not giving Okada/Tana five

Dude must have been weeping when he hit "send".

 

[TrueEpic08]

Meltzer gave Nakamura/Ibushi 5 stars

Plus Okada/Tanahashi got **** 3/4, Ishii/Makabe got **** 1/2, and Styles/Naito **** 1/4.

And the four team opening got ****. That was only for the Meltzer driver

Meltzer loves his Ishii, I suppose.

Speaking of these matches, I just rewatched the Tanahashi/Okada match, and @Don Hollywood Herrera's point finally clicked for me when I watched the promo video again. When they're recapping Tanahashi's career, they show the end of the first match that he had with Okada, where he lost the IWGP Belt to him after his record-breaking reign. And how does he leave the arena while Okada and Gedo celebrate? Crying, sobbing and being carried out of the arena by Captain New Japan and some random young boy because he's too tired and broken to walk. An exact parallel of how Okada got carried out by Gedo at the end of WrestleKingdom.

It made me realize that, while Okada's been beaten, he's never really had a true moment of defeat. Usually, he brushes himself off and continues being cool-ass Rainmaker Okada. And yet in this moment, against his biggest rival on the biggest stage in Puro, he doesn't just lose to Tanahashi. Tana eats his invincible finish, gets back up, dissects him and pins him about as cleanly as can be. Okada's NEVER been beaten like that at any point since his return. He's never had to struggle in the way that Tanahashi had to struggle during his career (not being stabbed by a crazy girlfriend and having your career put in jeopardy helps with that). And he's never had to put the fortunes of the company on his back the way that Tanahashi did in 2006, when he first won the belt. So, when he's finally confronted with this kind of defeat, of course he going to break a bit and end up a sobbing wreck.

If he's going to be the guy that leads the company after Tanahashi falls back, it makes sense that he's going to have going to go through the same type of ordeal that Tanahashi went through: having to look into the abyss after being totally, unambiguously defeated and figure out if you're really the guy you think you are. And apparently, in terms of garnering good babyface sympathy, it's working.

Another note: While the series between Okada and Tanahashi is tied at 3-3-1, on the biggest stage the company has to offer, Okada's NEVER beaten Tanahashi. Lost to him in 2013, and lost to him again this year. So don't be surprised if the torch-passing match doesn't come until WrestleKingdom X.

 

[trick]

Sasuke still at it

Where is this from?

I heard that NJPW isn't bringing Kozlov back, it's not big news but Forever Hooligans is done.

 

[Kidd Dibiase]

Why are so many people in the crowd wearing them hospital masks

those people are usually sick and its medicine in the masks

 

[Beautiful Bobby Eatin]

Meltzer loves his Ishii, I suppose.

Speaking of these matches, I just rewatched the Tanahashi/Okada match, and @Don Hollywood Herrera's point finally clicked for me when I watched the promo video again. When they're recapping Tanahashi's career, they show the end of the first match that he had with Okada, where he lost the IWGP Belt to him after his record-breaking reign. And how does he leave the arena while Okada and Gedo celebrate? Crying, sobbing and being carried out of the arena by Captain New Japan and some random young boy because he's too tired and broken to walk. An exact parallel of how Okada got carried out by Gedo at the end of WrestleKingdom.

It made me realize that, while Okada's been beaten, he's never really had a true moment of defeat. Usually, he brushes himself off and continues being cool-ass Rainmaker Okada. And yet in this moment, against his biggest rival on the biggest stage in Puro, he doesn't just lose to Tanahashi. Tana eats his invincible finish, gets back up, dissects him and pins him about as cleanly as can be. Okada's NEVER been beaten like that at any point since his return. He's never had to struggle in the way that Tanahashi had to struggle during his career (not being stabbed by a crazy girlfriend and having your career put in jeopardy helps with that). And he's never had to put the fortunes of the company on his back the way that Tanahashi did in 2006, when he first won the belt. So, when he's finally confronted with this kind of defeat, of course he going to break a bit and end up a sobbing wreck.

If he's going to be the guy that leads the company after Tanahashi falls back, it makes sense that he's going to have going to go through the same type of ordeal that Tanahashi went through: having to look into the abyss after being totally, unambiguously defeated and figure out if you're really the guy you think you are. And apparently, in terms of garnering good babyface sympathy, it's working.

Another note: While the series between Okada and Tanahashi is tied at 3-3-1, on the biggest stage the company has to offer, Okada's NEVER beaten Tanahashi. Lost to him in 2013, and lost to him again this year. So don't be surprised if the torch-passing match doesn't come until WrestleKingdom X.

Another great breakdown.


You and @Don Hollywood Herrera are right about this story and ultimately its going to make Okada the guy. But the question still remains, what next? Where does Tanahashi go? Who would be the next serious challenger to Okada? They have no real japanese born prospects for that belt except MAYBE Yoshi Tatsu when he gets back everyone else either they dont trust (Shibata), is too broken down (Ishii), theyve swerved around (Goto), failed miserably (Naito) or has had their time and they seemed to have moved on (Swagsuke, Nagata, etc...) I dont see Ibushi getting that shot until he gets a mid card belt first (prob the NEVER belt).

It will be interesting as hell to see how this all folds out not only this year but the next few years as well.


Side note, am i the only one who really doesnt want to see any NWA presence in NJPW this year? I mean the CMLL guys kinda push it for me but at least im not bored with it...

 

[Jmare007]

I think Ibushi takes the IC belt and a big push this year to see how far they can go with him. That will probably lead to Nakamura chasing the IWGP title.

Meltz was saying "don't be surprised if AJ wins the belt" I really hope there isn't a title change at New Beginning. I know they can run the "Okada has been surpassed by Tana and AJ" but I'm just not interested in that story at all.

 

[23Barrettcity]

I think Ibushi takes the IC belt and a big push this year to see how far they can go with him. That will probably lead to Nakamura chasing the IWGP title.

Meltz was saying "don't be surprised if AJ wins the belt" I really hope there isn't a title change at New Beginning. I know they can run the "Okada has been surpassed by Tana and AJ" but I'm just not interested in that story at all.

Aj breaking necks and cashing checks

 

[Scottie Drippin]

I think Ibushi takes the IC belt and a big push this year to see how far they can go with him. That will probably lead to Nakamura chasing the IWGP title.

Meltz was saying "don't be surprised if AJ wins the belt" I really hope there isn't a title change at New Beginning. I know they can run the "Okada has been surpassed by Tana and AJ" but I'm just not interested in that story at all.

Sorry, breh. I know you don't but I love AJ and the Bullet Club, and their function is exactly for situations such as these. AJ winning the belt last year prevented the situation we're all worried about (Okada burnout) and set up this years story (Tana as the ace, Okada spiraling down) without them seeing each other all year. Plus, if anyone else beats Tana or Okada, they're putting "HEY LOOK, THIS GUY IS ON THEIR LEVEL" out there, when that's something they're entirely seriously about protecting. With gaijin, it's just not entirely like that. AJPW used Williams and Hansen like this for a few years around Kawada and Misawa until Kobashi and Taue were ready. Not the same situation, but the benefits are logical.

Also, if brehs want to see ANY Japanese wrestler other than Tana or Okada with the belt this year, you'd better be hoping AJ wins the belt. As what's more likely? AJ dropping the belt to some underdog babyface for a short reign this summer or Tana/Okada doing the same?

There's also the angle to play that Tana stole Okada's thunder by beating AJ.

AND, AJ has fresh matchups. Tana with the belt is just him defending it against everyone for the third or fourth or fifth time. Tana and Okada are his only title matches. Everything else would be new, and like I said earlier, the probability of him dropping to someone else is so much higher it'd make all of those that more interesting.

I think AJ is the best call right now. It opens up everything.

 

[Jmare007]

Sorry, breh. I know you don't but I love AJ and the Bullet Club, and their function is exactly for situations such as these. AJ winning the belt last year prevented the situation we're all worried about (Okada burnout) and set up this years story (Tana as the ace, Okada spiraling down) without them seeing each other all year. Plus, if anyone else beats Tana or Okada, they're putting "HEY LOOK, THIS GUY IS ON THEIR LEVEL" out there, when that's something they're entirely seriously about protecting. With gaijin, it's just not entirely like that. AJPW used Williams and Hansen like this for a few years around Kawada and Misawa until Kobashi and Taue were ready. Not the same situation, but the benefits are logical.

Also, if brehs want to see ANY Japanese wrestler other than Tana or Okada with the belt this year, you'd better be hoping AJ wins the belt. As what's more likely? AJ dropping the belt to some underdog babyface for a short reign this summer or Tana/Okada doing the same?

There's also the angle to play that Tana stole Okada's thunder by beating AJ.

AND, AJ has fresh matchups. Tana with the belt is just him defending it against everyone for the third or fourth or fifth time. Tana and Okada are his only title matches. Everything else would be new, and like I said earlier, the probability of him dropping to someone else is so much higher it'd make all of those that more interesting.

I think AJ is the best call right now. It opens up everything.

It does open up everything. I wish I was more into AJ and Bullet Club.