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  1. Yeah I think everyone had that nanosecond 'hey!' reaction seeing that result before coming to terms that becoming Goto 2.0 probably isn't a priority for Zack at the moment if we assume that Naito isn't dropping anytime soon. My sub isn't active at the moment but I'm hopeful for the new and improved HOT Narita I keep hearing about considering I never rated any of his Shibata Jr stuff.
  2. Seconded. Seems like Cobb has been working semi-hurt for ages so good to see him work a proper main event singles match. Uemura / Shingo was a good match too but Uemura is exciting because of his potential and the crowd here were excited for what Tsuji is now. Great noise for the size of the crowd. No way someone would group him with Umino and Narita if they started watching the product today. Side note: Starting to really appreciate how much a protruding belly helps a splash. The bigger the bulge the less Jeff's standing moonsault looks like a cute flex.
  3. News appears to be breaking (I'm trusting translations on this) that Yutaka Yoshie has sadly passed away after his match today. Found this out in the middle of writing a post for the New Japan tour thread where I had mentioned his name (will remove it in case seen as disrespectful). I liked him in the few G1s with him I saw but I'm largely in the dark about his performances after leaving New Japan.
  4. Thanks because I'm lost without the recs. I'd already seen Atlantis Jr vs. Hechicero which I enjoyed (the latter has proper 'this guy's a pro wrestler' energy, something which I keep on referring to while wanting a way to articulate better). Lucha is 100% blind spot for me and I feel like a filthy casual doing it wrong by watching these guys work singles matches in Japan. I wonder how much appeal this kind of thing has to regular viewers. I assume not a lot but maybe there's a Dragon Gate in ROH element to some of it where they're playing the old hits to a new audience and its fresher for it. They went long. I was a bit down on the match afterwards because some of the transitions were a bit weird and there were often sequences which were not as smooth as we're used to. Felt like they were too green to be working a half hour match in the semi-main. Then I remembered that despite them being heralded as NJPW TNG these guys had been back from excursion for less than a year, and Yuya has very little singles experience so yes of course they're green and they did well. Good match to see them flesh out their movesets, but noticeable that Yuya doesn't have a character yet. The impressive bit was that the haircut wasn't even the spiciest part of the post match. On his way out Yota went over to Okada who was with the commentary team and gave him an earful about the way he left the company. Perfect fit for LIJ.
  5. Often when watching big ZSJ matches I wonder where or when we're going to be able to see this kind of thing once he hangs up his boots. This match was that dialled up to 11 with Bryan also seeming like one of wrestling's irreplacables. Things of note: Zack's facials having to do a bit more work than usual, and great strikes. Thanks to the Natural for linking to the backstage comments because they put each other over great. In that interview Zack articulates a) what is special about this pairing b) what his angle is for him wanting the title and c) why he's staying with New Japan (ie principles). The latter would've also been the reason why him leaving would be sadder than the others, so grateful viewing for me. I don't think the cage match is going to be divisive. Plenty you can nitpick, but it's a classic! I saw an interview with Clark Conners recently talking about how him/Drilla didn't grow up watching Japanese wrestling and how they're still basically doing straight American stuff. This was a rare chance to do a particular type of American wrestling in Japan by people who probably understood how much freedom the territory gives them and that another chance might not be forthcoming. All the feelings you want to get - jeopardy, entrapment, escalation and discomfort. Cage was used well, the teams worked as teams and an appropriate finish. Memorable as hell, and everyone is better off for being involved.
  6. That's pretty much where I'm at regarding who to keep. I like ELP and it'd suck for him to go when he has just broke out in the heavyweight division like he has but with his background and age I can't begrudge him for cashing up considering his ceiling with the company. He turned down AEW last year so at least we can assume he's going to be doing what he wants to do. Your mention of Cobb was interesting to me because although I've always rated him and think he's valuable on account of being so unique among the roster, it made me realise that I'd close to forgotten about him which shows how he has been downplayed this last year. I assume he's going. I was actually under the impression that they'd already started focusing on younger guys / other foreign options since around 2022 in anticipation of future losses. Successfully, judging by the number of people who are of the same 'if the War Dogs stay then we're good' mentality. A lot of relatively unproven foreign names added to the midcard at the time for a company with no money so now if a group of the more established names leave it doesn't look too bad. Bad news: EVIL was favourite to win even before there was a mistake made on the company website showing him as the current champion.. Good news: They kayfabed it majestically:
  7. One of those match-ups for which adding the 'in Japan!' clause for the rematch triggers in me a feeling of escalation more commonly seen with 'in a steel cage!'
  8. The show with UE vs BC is the last match for Will as a New Japan contracted wrestler. If we take that to mean it's the cut off point for annual contracts then it's notable that the top three matches are ELP/Hikuleo defending their titles, ZSJ getting his 'home' soil rematch and a main event featuring ten(!) foreign talents. None have been announced for dates beyond this point, so chances are it'll be the last time to see some of those names in the company. I've been assuming the worst ever since Tony Khan singled Zack out for praise during Wrestle Kingdom.
  9. This is all about my promo style preference so not a judgement on the man, but it's good to see Bryan like this hyping a match without any forced smile/laugh and only a fleeting appearance of his raised 'grr I'm intense' promo voice. The guy's smart and he loves to lie so just sit him down and let him do what he loves I'll buy it all.
  10. I don't mind that idea for SANADA, but Naito going over would be one of those pro wrestling moments where predictability is best. He's their top draw, hasn't had the top title in three years and is beginning to break down. 'We're going to do the roll call properly this time' is the biggest incentive they have to get fans back into attending live post-pandemic and I don't think it's the time to play around with that expectation. Agreed totally on ZSJ. He isn't a draw in any meaningful way currently and nothing says making a connection to the Japanese crowd like George Michael references and Argos observations in your move names. Saw the promo vid for Ospreay v Zack and Will is the one that looks like the star. Will say however that he has been making good progress in terms of his style/aggression recently in addition to his physical transformation. Was also impressed that he's now comfortable enough to make jokes in Japanese. If he has managed to be at least halfway fluent that's a big standout factor for him and if he can communicate the personality we know he has through that then it's very encouraging.
  11. The main event actually managed to get a million viewers which was better than I think anyone expected, as was the news that NJPW's revenue is now almost at pre-pandemic levels. Will be going to Royal Quest III tomorrow. Bit of a downer in that the show was announced too late and held too soon after the AEW/RevPro shows to do a decent gate seemingly, and my read of the main event is that they're doing the match while they can before both guys leave the company / my wrestling viewing life but should be good graps. They've said they'll continue to do UK shows so upside is that hopefully next time it'll be a smaller venue and I can afford better seats. Initially thought it would be my first time seeing Eddie but then remembered I already had at All In but it consisted of someone pointing to the other side of an arena asking me if I could see him with me repeating that I couldn't, before saying that I could just to get them to stop asking, then seeing a light next to him that identified the area I should be looking at which was my entertainment for the next minute or two. Quite a few Rev Pro guys on the card but I'm not complaining because apparently I'm useless at appreciating up and coming talent (thought nothing of Gabe on the card last year, now he's one of my favourites) and having experience of shelling out for trans-continental flights it seems a financial miracle that it's worthwhile to fly half the roster over for a show like this.
  12. New Japan dropped Naito v Zack from last year's Royal Quest on youtube if anyone's in the mood for a match where a top crowd and top wrestlers are reunited after years apart and everyone has a lovely time.
  13. I found myself alternating between 'why have I come all this way to sit and watch the home feed' when I glanced down and realised I was able to make out the action (rope running sequences mainly) and my default 'why am I squinting at the ring when I can actually see what's happening on the screens provided' the rest of the time. There were a few occasions when my eyes were fixed on the entranceway waiting for wrestlers to appear only for me to notice in the corner of my eye on the screens that they were already in the ring. Hopefully that makes you feel better. And you had a bigger screen! I had to give my eyes a rest a few times the same way I do after staring at a screen all day for work. I had the solace of knowing that I basically sampled the Wrestlemania experience for cheap which might not apply to you. I imagine for many seats you had neither the comfort of home viewing or the intimacy of live wrestling, but at least you get the atmosphere. Although it sounds like a backhanded compliment the entrances were highpoints of the evening for me as I could take in the full spectacle. Was also happy that distance from the ring didn't put those around me off from heckling or trying to start chants. No commentary for us obviously so for example the double clothesline pin is absolutely enhanced by a voice from behind screaming 'WHERE'S TONY? WHERE'S TONY AND HIS HEADSET?'
  14. Zack challenged Will for the UK/US title at Royal Quest III. Put Zack over and get the Natural a front row seat it'll be like when Simmons pinned Vader.
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