Archibald
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Posts posted by Archibald
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5 hours ago, Belgian_Waffle said:
Meltzer thinks Shingo winning is "probably the right move", somewhat dismissively posits he only won because Okada is too banged up, and laments that we got denied Ospreay vs Okada (who he just noted was super banged up) because it would have been a "friggin classic". I love Dave and could listen to him go on about WWE all day but his totally uncritical love for Ospreay and his unwillingness to accept anybody other than Ospreay, Okada and Ibushi on top of NJPW is a real drag. How can anyone who loves wrestling not be super jacked for Shingo as champ?
Click spoilers above for my venting about Meltzer re: his reaction to Dominion results. content warning: lots of complaining about things that definitely do not matter.
I often don't like Dave's opinions, but its not like there is some "must like X" law. Its ok for someone to prefer certain wrestlers over the others. I'm also not sure if it really matters since Ibushi very likely is taking back his title on next big show.
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On 5/30/2021 at 4:55 AM, Belgian_Waffle said:
Even if they couldn't wait until August, at least do an 8 man decision tournament (or a 16 man tournament over two days although you'd have to pad it with juniors). I would use Okada, Shingo, Ibushi, Cobb, SANADA, Naito, Goto and Ishii...the one-night, anyone-can-win element would give you a bunch of options as far as who to elevate. Ten time losers like Goto or Ishii could suddenly make it to the finals and have a 'last stand' kind of moment. Or you could throw Cobb (or Taichi, who could easily take the place of any of the guys listed above) in the finals and see how seriously the crowd takes him as an IWGP contender.
I keep hearing Meltzer talk about the 'skeleton crew' they're operating with but the New Japan roster is still stacked compared to most other companies. They used the pandemic last year as a chance to do something unexpected with Evil's title win...they could do something similarly radical here, since their backs are against a wall anyway. Just learn from their mistake with Evil and better protect/ensure a variety of fresh opponents lined up for whoever they put the belt on.
I think the issue is that we just had NJ Cup. Yes, NJPW likes to do lots of tournaments, but I'm not sure if I would be very hyped for another NJ Cup so soon. Besides, if the plan was for Okada to beat Ospreay then might as well cut the bullshit and get there as simply and quickly as possible.
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On 5/31/2021 at 1:12 AM, ka-to said:
There could be a year of badly needed fresh title matches by going with Shingo.
I'm not sure that we really need it. How many title matches are we going to get this year after Dominion? 2-3? They can easily find something for Okada there.
And both main events from Road to shows are worth checking out, Tekkers vs GoD was mostly bullshit free and fun, while Yoshi continues to shine with trios titles.
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1 minute ago, Spontaneous said:
I can't speak for anyone but myself here but I can see him have some fun monster gaijin matches. There hasn't really been someone with that physical presence in sometime. But I also enjoyed Akebono in AJPW. I don't see Braun setting the world on fire but then again CJ Parker morphed into Juice Robinson.
Yeah, I don't think anyone is expecting some five star matches from Braun, but big guys throwing shit around is sometimes entertaining and he would really stand out in NJPW.
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On 5/4/2021 at 1:10 AM, Sublime said:
I have no problems with wrestlers failing their goals. It’s just that lately goals are rarely achieved it makes it so there is no investment in the goals wrestlers set because it’s almost a forgone conclusion that they won’t happen. That’s how NJPW has mostly been for the past few years so when a guy says I’m going to do this it’s pretty much a signal that they won’t do it (unless it’s at WK). I’m fine with people failing as long as we get to see success too.
Maybe its just that you don't like who is winning? I mean, Tanahashi failed his goal, but White did not. How else would their singles match end if not for one guy failing at his goal?
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I'd probably cut it at Suzuki beating Goto for it. Yeah, their WK rematch was awesome, but from what I remember Suzuki's NEVER title defences were rather bad full of interferences and fuckery.
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Name should definitely get changed at some point. Thou I'm not sure if I agree with the stated purpose, NEVER title was key in elevating Ishii, Shibata, Taichi, Ospreay and Shingo. They obviously were not elevated to same positions, but I think that guys like Goto being stuck with it forever kinda cloud what it was about.
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3 minutes ago, EVA said:
Feels like they’re trying to brute force the NEVER belt into being viewed as a top-tier belt, instead of letting it grow into something people feel is main event-worthy organically. “Look! We’ve got main event guys trading the belt in epic, main event-length matches! TAKE THIS BELT SERIOUSLY.”
As if Tanahashi getting the title hasn't telegraphed that couple of months ago? Same thing happened two years ago with Jr. title at Dontaku Night 1.
And wrestlers having goals and failing is what keeps this real. If all goals were achieved or if wrestlers didn't promise things that they couldn't deliver then there would be less gravity around them losing.
Now, I'm rather fascinated by something else - ladder match for iron fingers. To be more precise, Iizuka retired more than two years ago. He was not a wrestler with many title wins (mostly a tags guy), not part of many classic moments (I think he has one or two 5 star tag matches?) and generally not liked by audience. Yes, his retirement show was well received, but I think it was mostly due to all of us being in a "oh well, let the old fool play around for one last time" mood and not due to people suddenly "getting" Iizuka. So you know, by all accounts he should be forgotten by now. But no, semi-main of this show was basically dedicated to him and ended with Iizuka's theme being played. This Tekkers vs GoD feud is going to probably conclude after tag titles match on one of upcoming big shows, but at this point you kinda have to wonder if this feud was about tag titles or iron fingers.
From my understanding Taichi is basically starting his last character arc. He is 41 years old, he knows that he ain't gonna be pushed as the singles star and he probably wants to keep wrestling for another decade or so. So you know, he picks up iron fingers from hell after Iizuka retires. Gets some important wins with it and overall builds himself up as a guy that can go and beat people up when he gets mad/motivated. But he is getting obsessed with iron fingers more and more, some of multimans were basically about him choking people and not doing any other moves. So my suspicion is that just like he slowly transition from cowardly cheater to a guy who can kick ass he is now slowly transitioning to Iizuka 2.0. And it sucks because I like Taichi who kicks ass.
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Well it is lucha, by the time of the show half of the people from poster might be replaced.
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Yeah, second night in Kagoshima was much better than the first one.
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On 4/26/2021 at 7:01 AM, EVA said:
Of course, if Joe or Hero come in, they’re exceptionally good options to get a run, even if that’s just kicking the can down the road in terms of anointing the Next Guy.
Wouldn't this be pretty much pointless? Its not like Omega is Hogan or Inoki. Beating a guy who beat Omega is not really a rub. As you said yourself, they got one shot at this.
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On 4/22/2021 at 4:52 AM, Infinit said:
Any other must see matches on this tour so far?
Sanada/Henare and Naito/Oka are worth watching if you like those guys. Neither did something to change your opinion about them, but you know, more Naito content is more Naito content so I can't complain.
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Next one sounds rather good as well. And Mox/Nagata is supposed to happen at some point so NJPW Strong has some solid matches lined up.
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On 4/19/2021 at 6:51 PM, DEAN said:
Oh yeah, that was good. I love the story- "We will destroy each others shoulders!" Finish was a little sudden but that's fine.
If I'm not mistaken every Gresham's title match had different ending. So this is probably an idea that they are running with.
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Safe bet that ROH will start working with whatever the hell Rush/Bandido are trying to start?
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Today had three singles matches before trios title match tomorrow. So you know, if you are not tired of all those Korukaens then today's show and, probably, tomorrow's are worth watching.
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I don't know much about their dojo, but is Eli Isom their first big home grown success?
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Ibushi? Naito, White, Sanada, Naito, Desperado and Ospreay defences were all good, obviously ignoring personal likes and dislikes of some wrestlers in that list.
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I'm all for RevPro's title being turned into IWGP British HW championship.
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3 hours ago, lostinube said:
The whole point of having a Wrestling Dontaku is that there is a giant event going on at the same time that in a normal year brings something like two million people into Hakata. But they've already canceled the parade for this year and the Dontaku itself is scaled way down. No one is using the Marine Messe hall on the 3rd and 4th so why not run one slightly bigger show there?
Maybe buildings have been booked way in advance when it wasn't still clear if parade would get cancelled or not?
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I think the reinvention can kinda requires failure, no? I mean if you are doing good then why reinvent yourself?
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Whole thing about less dates vs more dates was weird.
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Yeah, if its just there then they failed.
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3 minutes ago, Spontaneous said:
I am perversely looking forward to Taichi-Tonga. Seems odd to bust out a ladder match when the crowds can only clap.
I don't know, whole idea Taichi/Tonga in a ladder match fighting over Iron Fingers sounds absurd regardless if it is empty arena, clap crowds or normal crowds. It is either going to be one of the greatest things that happened this year or absolute train wreck.
2021 Puroresu General Discussion
in JAPAN
Posted
Might send one to Impact since they are doing more with them now. Or might do Narita who is on Strong, but technically on excursion.