matwarz

I like Uncle Dave. I’ve always found him interesting and fairly on the money. That said, listening to him is like pulling teeth. I can’t fathom spending $30 to hear him go ‘umm, err, let me check my notes’ for 2 hours. The 1/1 Z1 is always the New Years hangover show especially as it’s usually at lunchtime. That said, Hino and Okabayashi are guaranteed to leather the piss out of each other so that would probably make your trip to Korakuen there. I’d try and go to the AJPW on 1/2. AJPW shows are almost always my favourite shows when I go to Tokyo due to the great wrestling and clean finishes. Doubling up with the evening BJW show is always a done deal for me. Always sold out, hot crowd and usually a couple of tip top matches.

Mox and Omega suffered hardway cuts that quickly stopped. Dustin gigged deeply and hit an artery. Big difference. AEW is going to be a little more giving but they have sponsors and rules. They are not intentionally going to have a total bloodbath.

Precisely. These guys spent weeks promising barbed wire carnage and violence and that’s exactly what the paying punter expected. The hell are you complaining about? Cody and Aldis are the best storytellers in the game right now. The stip telegraphed the finish but creates the chase and more possibilities going forward in an interesting and embellishing fashion. This company is delivering on all promise and value for buck.

It’s left field for them. What they do is push genres, messages and speak out. ‘The kids’ need bands that use their platforms and that’s why they are important right now. But hey, getting off track; great show! Shibata’s surely doing a tag at wk right?

Also rocking a 1975 ‘People’ t in honour of the years best single and pop’s most important band. Legend.

Can we talk about how good the set up in the Aldis- Storm match was, how nonchalant Camille was and how she took that lariat like an absolute boss. A million ?

They need to buddy up with roh again. The idea of the briscoes raising merry hell in the studio is pant changing material

I was watching ten minutes of it during a break and immediately enjoyed it more than anything since ECW went off air. It felt and looked awesome, classic studio fair but not the least dated. Count me down for weekly viewing.

It’s also live on tv asahi so I guess that plays into it also. Bitterness over, that’s another great show on paper

So about that card for Royal Quest. Bloody hell, if Melbourne got a show like that Festival Hall would easily do the numbers they were hoping for. That’s how you put on an overseas show to make a statement.

You guys make good points but it’s not really what I was getting at. This show had the skirts, the refs and ring announcers. It was very much a NJPW show. The issue was it was lazy. In conception, promotion and work. As nice as it would be, I can’t expect the whole roster. So fine, use locals, but use them, create draws from guys that already have a local following. A string of matches built on wrestling and not just lazy sequences immediately makes a decent show. I’m not saying everyone has to work like Ospreay, but it’s that attitude that needs to be promoted in the roster. You can’t take this stuff for granted. 2000 in a 4-5000 seat building is a fail.

And yes, schedule and expenses are issues. We know the rules of the business. But just look at Will’s workrate. I’m not saying it’s smart long term for him, but I’ve never seen him give less than 100%.

I think looking at it that way is the whole issue. You have a company in a new market trying to offer themselves as the best company in the game. Presenting lazy house shows isn’t going to cut it or increase drawing past hardcores. Padding cards out with aussies is not what a new Japan fan wants unless you’re going to use them smartly and build them up as potential draws. It’s no good wanting to be the alternative to WWE and just doing the same as them. This show was a step up from the last Festival hall but I think the damage was done by the last.

Ultimately another half assed house show with some trappings but nothing that was unexpected. I stand by my opinion that had they built that show around a rematch between Slex and Okada they could have sold the place out. Was nice they brought ring skirts, refs and an announcer this time but only Will and Robbie treated their match as anything important. But hey, I paid $35 and that match was a killer. Will never gives less than 100% and he also handled the crowd like an old pro. They had a hell of a match but I also subscribe to the theory that you don’t have to do 30+ just because you can. I still feel NJPW is missing a golden opp with Melbourne, but that’s expansion with little planning for you.

He’s clearly a very serious fan just like you and me. But, he’s a business man who runs his business as such. The minute you do otherwise you lose money like water. Mayu features extensively in the doco. She has had and continues to have her issues. It’s well worth 45 mins rather than me writing it down here.

If they have a dome main event to build to I expect the title switch. Regardless, given Jericho’s style now I’m expecting brawling and Okada’s first juice job.

So sad. Aoki was a super solid hand I got to watch several times in Japan. He was clearly about to have a good run as jr. champ and a firm hand in guiding AJPW’s increasingly bright future. Next Korakuen will be an emotional one

Might be my favourite of all the ones I’ve watched. That said, all of them are fascinating, honest and well researched. I’m still marveling at the sight of Jun Kasai cradling his newborn whilst his wifo makes razor boards for him

He was down in the corner selling the buckle and Brandi popped him with the cane. Angle was wide hence some might have missed it. He did the deed by the ring apron whilst everyone was distracted by Brandi being hauled away by DDP. Dustin’s seemless kayfabing of the blade in the middle of that great post show media scrum was beautiful. The Pro-wrestlers’ Pro-wrestler right there

I need to rewatch the show as a whole when I’m less tired but those last three matches totally delivered. All three had fantastic near falls, home stretches and maintained a level of physicality and intensity. Jr. title was a great sprint that was a paga from the getgo and only got stiffer. I’m not sure how great the tag title match was but it was pretty great. Crowd was off the hook and the four of them just laid it in with no pit stops. Miyahara ruled in the main. Just a great cocky vet who couldn’t put the youngster away. Nomura totally brought the Kobashi fire and the stretch was totally compelling. I feel the beginning of a great AJPW rivalry. I’d go ****, ****1/2 and ****1/4 for flakes but that might increase with less jaded second viewing. Carnival time please!

That first night is jacked. I may have to utilise my sub and actually watch that live. The next two korakuen shows are loaded and there’s nothing better in korakuen than AJPW at the best of times.

Again, I don’t buy it. It’s got nothing to do with ROH or anyone else. He’s either in or out. They didn’t put this AEW deal together blind. Omega is way too important. He’s in.

I was reffing Dave saying Omega was gone and AEW wouldn’t get him. I’m pretty sure we don’t need Dave to tell us Vince is offering mega bucks to major players outside his casino. The Ibushi stuff sits. Pretty sure they would have called an audible that close to the end. Will can be reckless, but not that reckless.

But Big Davey M wouldn’t peddle some half truths and get stooged by a stooge would he? Nahhh Gedo has the dome booked out a year in advance. 2020 is double dome; big shit ahead

Except those were deals done late in the day and clear cut. Guys gave notice, they were gone. The more I think about it, the less i buy any of it. The Elite are far too important to both NJPW’s expansion and AEW’s inception. The relevant parties here are too smart and too passionate to drop the ball in either court. I suspect there’s a good 1-2 year plan already etched out.