Kevin Wilson

Wrestlers making lawsuits out of wrestling matches has never worked, New Jack stabbed wrestlers on two occasions (one of which it wasn't in the script, he just felt like stabbing the guy) but got off on charges. The judge would have too many questions as to why Act and everyone else kept acting like it was a wrestling angle when it wasn't actually one. The match ended with a towel throw, not the owner calling the police. So I am sure Yoshiko isn't sweating a lawsuit. I'm not surprised Act is taking that stance, even after the match she wanted to go back into the ring and finish the match. Wrestlers aren't normal human beings like we are, they don't handle things the way our thought process does. I'm sure she will be suspended but come back, I don't think anyone has ever been permanently blackballed for shooting either in or out of the ring. In a way I guess I blame Stardom almost as much, there were multiple chances to stop the match (I mean even in storyline Act has a posse that could have psychically restrained them) and they didn't. Knowing wrestling by this summer they will have a grudge match and everything will go on as normal.

Yea, Sasuke has always been a bit crazy.

It is interesting as there is such a fine line in wrestling between being snug and shooting. I watched their match from 2013 and Yoshiko was really brutal in that one too, but without the bone breaking. Then you have the owner/referee not stopping the match sooner and having to go with a 'towel throw' ending, with Act still trying to get to the ring. It is like even as Yoshiko took it too far, everyone else in the company was still in story line mode. Wada is one of the the most respected referees in wrestling, I mean one of the reasons he quit All Japan was how All Japan handled the Hirai incident and he was one of the people that broke up that fight. All around just odd, I'm not claiming it was planned, I am just saying it looks like even as it was happening everyone else was more interested in making it a pro wrestling thing then just stopping the match.

Something happened on the main event of Stardom this morning. The main event was Yoshiko vs. Act Yasukawa, and at some point during the match it turned into a shoot. And it doesn't look like it was in the 'worked shoot' variety, judging from what Act looked like after the match (spoilered since its large and graphic) and from live accounts from the event: Stardom has already announced that Yoshiko is being stripped of her title, but since it just happened a few hours ago nothing else is really known at this time. A sad scene. Stardom is my favorite joshi promotion, wonder what happened to cause this. Yahoo Sports as an article about it, but Google Translate isn't too helpful: http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20150222-00000063-dal-fight

Japanese reading people, what is All Japan apologizing to Joe Doering for? Google Translate didn't provide much help:

A slightly one-sided recap of Mutoh's recent singles match against Soya:

I've been playing this game off and on since November, damn is it long. Doesn't help I am a whore for side missions but there are still at least 30 I haven't done. I have a stack of games I got for Christmas I need to play, so this game has gotta end soon.

I'd still put them behind Dragon Gate because their attendance throughout the year is higher on a week to week basis, and while DDT can pop a big crowd for their special events, so can Dragon Gate (they sold out Kobe World Hall last year, claiming over 9,000). I think New Japan, Dragon Gate, and DDT are the only three promotions that can sell out Korakuen on a regular basis so I have no issue considering them the top three in that order. Dragon Gate also runs a lot more shows than DDT, which I think matters as well.

My early prediction is that Makabe wins and challenges Ishii. Common sense says you wouldn't use a title shot on the NEVER Openweight but it just wouldn't surprise me if they go that route.

The tournament is from March 5th to March 15th. For those that don't read Japanese, the First Round (in order) is: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Toru Yano Kota Ibushi vs. Doc Gallows Tetsuya Naito vs. Karl Anderson Kazuchika Okada vs. Bad Luck Fale Togi Makabe vs. Tomoaki Honma YOSHI-HASHI vs. Yujiro Takahashi Hirooki Goto vs. Yuji Nagata Satoshi Kojima vs. Katsuyori Shibata Styles, Ishii, and Nakamura are not in the tournament since the winner gets to challenge one of them for their titles. So who ya got? For those interested in such things I am having a Tournament Pick'em over at Puroresu Central, with the winning prize being a box of King of Pro Wrestling cards . So feel free to enter if you feel so inclined, you can just post your tournament predictions in this thread and I'll count it if you prefer.

His wikipedia page (great source, I know) just says that his contract was not renewed and that the surgery didn't go well. So it doesn't look good but he hasn't officially retired anyway.

Don't like him. Sure as as special attraction I don't have an issue with him but it just increases the chances there will be one match per card that I probably won't like. Rather have a promising young wrestler in his spot.

Just because she took the money doesn't mean that she is OK with what happened. Apparently that man held a gun to her and threatened to kill her, we shouldn't assume she is OK with any of this. With that said, the NFL is now in the position to punish or not punish a person who for all intents and purposes is not charged with a crime. The same way we can't assume that she is OK with what happened, we also can't assume that he actually committed the crime he was originally accused of, because there isn't going to be any testimony. Goodell is in a position to make a judgement call, and as we all know judgement calls are his kryptonite. A judge found him guilty after hearing 11 hours of testimony and sentenced him in a real trial, he just appealed it. In this particular case I don't see it as Goodell making a judgement call if they decide to punish him. He was found guilty in a trial, the woman just decided not to assist in the appeal after getting paid. Generally speaking I agree though.

I imagine both are about to be sent to CMLL/Europe for their seasoning expeiditions, no? Yea I imagine, I just wish they'd hurry up and do it. They can then start phasing out Nakanishi

Is this him?

One thing I still don't like about New Japan is the antiquated way they handle rookies. Tanaka and Komatsu show a lot of promise, especially Tanaka, but even after debuting over two years ago they are still in opening matches I don't know if they are the next Tanahashi but I'd like to see them in longer matches against better opponents.

I guess they are still going "all in" with the Bullet Club. Part of me wonders if if this is due to wanting to expand popularity into the US, so they are having Americans win the titles. I mean look at the card, five of the ten matches had at least one American on the winning team (six if you include Mexico). That can't be a coincidence.

This is the reason the NFL said they don't punish based on the court results - people can be bought. Hell so could I, I'd let someone beat my ass if they gave me a million dollars afterwards. Still expect him to get suspended for half a season anyway. But I still think the courts let the abusers off easy. They have the evidence already, they have statements, pictures, etc. They should be able to prosecute anyway.

I'm not sure where to put this question - but is the UFC Magazine worth getting? I was considering joining the "Fight Club" to get an early release on tickets, but would only do it if there was some value in the other 'stuff' that comes with it. Most is pretty self explanatory but I've never heard anyone ever talk about the Magazine so I wasn't sure if it was worth anything.

I am glad that Tenryu is officially retiring. I mean obviously he is a shell of his former self but he deserves a proper send-off.

I've never seen that website before, how does it even work? I didn't know Microsoft or Sony allowed re-selling of digital downloads at a discount. But I wouldn't think they would get enough 'purchased but re-sold' codes to have a big sale like that.

No one is stopping anyone from making a post doing that I mean I get most of my video watching from torrent sites and dailymotion personally, that and NJPW World when applicable.

I always assumed they were concerned the pot smoker was increasing their own risk in the match. I imagine if you are stoned your reactions speed aren't quite as good.

It isn't fair, but I think if Watt had broken the sack record and made the playoffs, he could have won. I say it isn't fair, but realistically speaking a defensive player will have to have literally one of the greatest seasons ever by a player at their position, and hope there isn't an offensive 'stand out'. It is similar to a pitcher winning in MLB, voters like to give it to players that touch the ball more and lead to offense, not defensive and less visible positions. So it could happen, the stars would just have to align.

Watt out-pointing Brady and Manning is still impressive. Rodgers also had a hell of a season, hard to really argue him as MVP. I wouldn't consider Watt "head and shoulders" better than Rodgers, we saw what happened to GB last year when Rodgers is out.