sevendaughters

Looooved Tana-Zack. Hardly any bumps but pure pro wrestling.

had he fully recovered Aprongate?

I think Mox was justified in getting the table out. He's a babyface asskicker. You try and jump him then he's gonna fuck you. I think he'll get to the final and put someone over, but there'll be a WK big match booked along the way. Jay White is killing it for me btw.

to be fair to Mox he hasn't been in any marquee matches. If he doesn't deliver against Ishii this weekend then I might start to call problem. What I like is that he brings a big superstar energy and wrestling style that feels unco-operative and anti-smooth, in a way more 90s New Japan than 10s. the Umino stuff is A+ too.

watched Jay-Ishii, up with Tana-Kenta for MOTG1 so far

ok threadsters, I have to throw myself into my work for the next week or so - going to miss today and the Korakuens. if I could have a general list of the matches that I need to see for storyline or entertainment I would be grateful.

I loved it. They brought out Shibata on comms just before which gave it a nice little piquancy, Tana did his subtle heel thing though the crowd wanted him to win. It was a great G1 main event while suggesting they could do more.

enjoyed today! I was in and out of watching it closely but even the big lads did a solid job. around **** for all the last 4 matches, give or take. really enjoyed EVIL firing up near the end of his match. first time the guy looked like a CHAMPEEN to me.

don't try and 'get' Yano artificially, just let it happen. saying nothing about the show on now but tracked back to see TANAHASHI + LIONS vs KENTA + US LIONS and that was extremely my stuff.

show 2 in the books, really enjoyed it. - Shingo v Juice might be forgotten at the end of the tournament, nay, I guarantee it will be, but it was really great. The slightly more serious Juice is something I'm buying and the little spots they did to remind you Shingo is a jr were top. - Mox v Taichi was a good brawl. Mox is over as hell and Taichi wasn't just chopped liver in there. The little ECW/CZW mannerisms that Mox does work here, I don't get it, but it does. Hope this isn't going to be the standard layout though. - Yano v Naito was a good Yano match, you could see they were both loving it too. - Cobb v Ishii was a quality big boy bash, maybe not as intense as their pull apart would have you think but epic enough. - Goto v White was a deserving main event. White's reversal sequences are hitting the poetic levels, and it's important that he keeps winning those sections. When someone gets the wood on him it'll pop Honshu. Enjoyable stuff and Goto looks set for his classic great half a G1 before sliding into knackered doughnut oblivion.

word is that ankle is serious and Ibushi might have to drop out

hey guys, I am a sumo fan but not got time to keep up these last two basho. how is li'l Enho getting on?

I wonder if Okada getting his first win in G1 over Tanahashi has some significance. Like is this another Tanahashi comeback tale? With two days at the Dome (still no nearer to seeing how they pull that off) you can't just do your 'ok Tana is fucked now lads' depush.

best NJPW show in the US by some distance. really loved it thought KENTA looked great. I think if you spent his NXT run wondering why he was meant to be a big deal then saw that you'd get it, surely. That fake out head stop into impudent brush kick was A Character Note. sure he's not at 2007 levels. who immediately gets to their best when changing styles from WWE to whichever mad place they came from? would give ****+ to all the G1 matches except Fale, which I enjoyed.

I know Ishii is going 4-5 or 5-4 but how they're going to do it will be interesting given that he needs to set up NEVER challenges by losing (I assume he has to lose to Taichi) but also needs to get a big win here and there. It's great that NJPW have created a situation where thinking about things like this is good. I imagine he'll lose to Moxley (in order to give him the kind of match he needs to look good) and beat Cobb (so he can do something in ROH).

from what I understand of that video, the winner faces Low IQ down the line? ?

*looks at G1 blocks*

no 90s stuff iirc, it is tied to the Akiyama era.

I did wonder if Tanahashi was playing up the idea that he might not be in it this year. There's enough star power for him to sit out.

funny little promo. should do wonders for Umino. don't think my excitement re: KENTA has really been conveyed. I've long said that NJPW has missed some real-feeling violence since Shibata went splat. Well here's his shorter and beefier pal. Wonder if he's just Akiyama-ing it before going home or he's here to stay. If he's here to stay then I can actually see them putting together two good Dome shows. Maybe not two SELLOUTS, but still.

I think Jericho v Tanahashi is set, maybe for the DOME or KOPW. Can't see Jericho in G1.

Well, interesting move ending on a strangely flat note. Opening two matches were just what the doctor ordered. Mox squashes Umino, who gets a little heat and some huge respect, Mox gets his character over (ass-kicking violento babyface) and enters G1. BAM. Shingo has a mirror mode match with Kojima, who sells generously. Shingo enters G1. BAM. This is how to start a card. Wrestling. Story. Future plans. I'm in. The next two matches are kind of just there, good undercard tag stuff, very pleasant, but I was on two monitors and spent a bit of time organising some citations in a document. No shame. Hyped for Liger-Suzuki whenever it happens. Taichi faked like it was going to be a Taichi fuckbrawl (no offence Oyaji but this is not my favourite thing in the world) but we got a NEVER-style smash'em-up and by the end of this my hands are behind my head and I'm laughing at how good New Japan is compared to other established companies. Great match, also gives Ishii that booking protection he needs to get people over in the G1. With all the new names he might go losing record this time. Tag team title wasn't brilliant but totally fine, humorous and the BUSHI/Jado bit gave it some levity. But the match was forgotten with the post-match - SHIBATA! KENTA!!!!!!!!! AND HE'S IN THE G1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 WHY DID I HAVE TO WRITE MY THESIS SO SLOWLY AND THUS MEAN I CAN'T WATCH WHAT COULD BE THE BEST G1 YET!!!!!!1 Not the world's hugest fan of Ospreay or Dragon Lee but by golly I was into their match and would probably say MOTN by a short head. That wipeout topé was absolutely sick as hell but well scouted for safety. Strange that there was no Hiromu or Ospreay G1 announcement, but word is Ospreay announced he would enter backstage. BAM. A few people on Twitter are up in arms about the rough spots in Naito-Ibushi. I'm not one of them but this was probably the hardest to stay on board with. The replay of that German on the apron...I thought I saw a man die there. Biggest cringe since Sid's leg break. Good match but maybe I was taken out a little. The main event was doubly disappointing inasmuch as it was a fine if forgettable match with a politicsed ending - no way is Jericho going to take a proper 'you got bossed' ending. I get that, but the post-match schmoz was uninspiring too and left Okada looking like a schmoe, Tana like a joe, and Jericho like he should just go. But I did really enjoy the show. Strange what the ending can do for you.

RIP everyone's neck.

Wonder if they do the same format for G1, seems like they have quite a few guys now.

This show is amazing so far (timecheck: GOD/LIJ post match thing)