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This was my first ever Japanese show. I’ve only seen a handful of NJPW matches over the years. Despite it being long as hell I was always entertained. A lot of commentary-bashing but (Dave meltzer 5/6 stars discussion aside) I preferred it to Michael Cole by an absolute mile. Also getting bashed is the Jnr 4-way, but my girlfriend was in the room for that and she really enjoyed it. So maybe it’s not something for the purists but it certainly has its place. I quite liked it, wouldn’t want to see a whole card like it but one match was fun. My favourite match was the hair match. Considering I’d never seen either of these dudes before, I really bought into the story (partly thanks to Kelly and Callis). I’m really sold on NJPW and even watched New Year Dash today. I’ve not seen Raw for a long time, WWE PPVs have bored the hell out of me for a while now (even though I still have a network sub and will watch the rumble), so NJPW has an opportunity to hook me in long term for my wrestling fix.

I believe this is what you're looking for:

I judge matches on a scale of "that sucked" to "that was really awesome"

El Scorcho.

Man, I only know 2 Ben Vereen roles off the top of my head and I am way too white to be cracking Roots jokes.

I feel like everybody is sleeping on some pretty awesome ironic psychology in the finish to Naito/Okada. If you've watched enough big Naito matches this year, you've probably noticed that the finishes in his victories can be a little formulaic: He hits some kind of counter variation of Destino out of nowhere and goes for a pin but his opponent kicks out. Naito calmly collects himself, picks his opponent up and very deliberately executes the "wind-up" Destino and that does it. That's how he beat Ibushi on opening night of the G1, Kenny in the finals, and Ishii in the briefcase match, to name 3 specific examples. Last night, it was different. The finish saw him counter the Rainmaker with a whirling Destino....but he doesn't go for the pinfall. He doesn't take his time. He immediately picks Okada up, frantically exhorts the crowd, and quickly goes for another Destino...that gets countered into a Tombstone and you know the rest. He rushed it. Mr. Tranquilo himself rushed it, and it cost him the match.

This reminds me

Titus Worldwide is a treasure.

I think that’s probably the most accurate burn I’ve ever consciously decided to take as a compliment. After all, stories are stories, and I wasted too much money on grad school learning to dramatically overthink those that were nothing but pop entertainment and dick jokes in their day. Old habits.

Everybody should have known Ben Vereen was bad news when he ran out on his son AGAIN and left Uncle Phil to pick up the pieces.

Wow. Again, let it be said: Regardless of what you think of him in the ring, the guy clearly has an eye for aesthetics and knows how to market the hell out of himself (and puts the work in to do it, clearly) and I can definitely respect that.

One of these days people are going wake the fuck up and realize that the Bucks are exactly as good as they want to be on any given night.

It appears that way. He attacked Naito today after the main event.

"She's so speechless, she's calling the Lord!"

Fuck, I love New Japan for the subtlety. Gedo and company do such a brilliant job of leaving some loose ends out there that we've grown accustom to having to ignore from other companies, but they actually leave them there for a reason. The constant talk of which WK match was the "real main event" between Naito and Jericho was purposeful and not just Jericho's egomaniac character work. A lot of people noticed it but I don't think (m)any of us believed it would come to fruition. I wonder if it happens at any of the big shows between now and LA or if they hold off until late March to do it stateside. I was so fucking ready for the big Kenny turn/Golden Lovers reuniting but they keep teasing us, closer and closer it comes. JERKS!

Speaking of kayfabe.

Callis doesn't bother me, which is high praise. On the other hand, #FreeSteveCorino.

"Hello...this is 911 speaking. What is your emergency?" "Hi, I would like to report a robbery."

I more love the Nia wanted Braun and gets fucking Apollo Crews

I finally saw it not going back through the thread to be told all the reasons I shouldn't like it

The limitations of the English language prevent me from registering the proper reaction to this news.

Okada's pants were fucking awesome. That is some Jin Kazama from Tekken type shit. Made me wish that Gedo had cosplayed as Heihachi. I mean, just look at those two! Gedo better be careful. Okada may throw him into a volcano at some point.

He's not gonna Billy Gunn his G1 Special in USA!

my god Fale must have enjoyed Christmas

"Forearm to the ass, you don't see that every day, Kevin" - Callis "I see that a lot" - Brandi

It's entirely possible.

PWG Young Bucks destroy ROH Young Bucks as well.

New Japan Young Bucks destroy Ring of a Honor Young Bucks

Another Rusev Day miracle!

"It may have felt like a 5.0 to others, but it was more like a 6.0 to me."

I'm surprised at how many people watched it with English commentary. I went for the usual Japanese commentary and it was awesome with that on.

At least you had the common decency to stay in your lane, man. And to stay on topic, Oscar-winning filmmaker Paul Haggis.... COME ON DOWN~!

Writing down some entirely too early title predictions based on today, because I'm severely bored at work on a Friday afternoon, and I want to look stupid in the future: Jay White probably shouldn't take a second high-profile loss right now, so he beats Omega for the US belt with a BC distraction--but not outright interference--assisting. (Whether he joins the faction or this is just because Cody et al hate Omega, I don't know.) You can then run the BC ~explodes~ match at Long Beach, and it's a big enough deal--especially in the States--that it doesn't need a belt. White, meanwhile, probably struggles with being not-Omega, a problem the next champion is bound to have regardless. EVIL beats Goto for the NEVER title, and it doesn't really matter much, I guess, for either guy. MiSu beats Tana and puts him on the shelf. He's probably not the first challenger, but Ibushi eventually avenges his fallen idol and capitalizes on his Nakamura fanboyism by capturing the IC title. I think he probably defends against Omega and a returning Tanahashi at some point; either would be a Dome-worthy match, depending. Hiromu beats Ospreay, who, despite the loss and the insistence of the new champion, remains not a cat. Okada's beating Sanada. After that, I really don't know. Naito and Omega are the only guys who feel capable of shouldering the burden--because that's what it will be--of taking the championship from him. I guess the exception would be a magically healed, cleared, and returned Shibata--but let's assume that's not happening. I still think Naito is the guy, whether after a New Japan Cup win or another G1 triumph. Whoever has the title, it feels to me like we're headed towards a rematch at WK13.

CMLL owns Los Ingobernables, so you're not going to see crossover appeal like LIJ shirts in Hot Topic outselling all the WWE merch. I still think Naito should have won though. I also thought Suzuki/Goto was better than the main but it telegraphed the finish too much in telling the story it told. Also guys, we don't know what kind of stress Kenny's junk is under. Maybe you need that soothing cooling spray after some of the people he's banged.

It's true, but you can't really put someone that good out to pasture at 31 or whatever.

I love the selling in this match, even if it is played for mostly laughs.

I love how much the crowd loves Cheeseburger

I hope SZKG get murdered here by Liger & co. Not like 'beaten', as in actually murdered. just remembered a thing from WK12, the way that it definitely should have been Elgin at the front and War Machine out back, instead Elgin stuck at the back looking like someone at a wedding who may have once felt up the bride at a party.

Yeah I guess you're right, I just wish people looked on it with the reverence they do the X-Files as it was twice the show (and I'm saying that as someone who was OBSESSED with X-Files at 11 years old when Season 1 and 2 happened) but I guess the X-Files captured the zeitgeist and was lightning in a bottle so it has a special place. If anything the X-Files should have learned how to do a season from Fringe - with these shorter series, rather than do cold/shit mythology episodes and throwaway MOW episodes when they don't have the luxury of a 24 episode season, every mystery they investigated should've been interconnected to some big-bad or event that was season-wide. But... if anything the team behind X-Files have proved to be utterly tone deaf

Cody Rhodes was in that photo? Never noticed him...

When did Cody transform into Milo Yiannapolous?

I'd say in hindsight it's clear LiAngelo really stole the show that night. I'll show myself out...

Nak + bone-chuks = money.

Fixed it to reflect my possible issue with getting this kind of shirt.