Gordi the former AEW fan

Thanks, guys! I actually discussed the possibility of making a comeback with some of my Osaka Pro friends, and they were all really supportive (of course) particularly Spider, Harada, and the bodyguard... but I cracked my tailbone practicing flat-back bumps and then I badly bruised my heel and partially crushed my achilles when I switched to arched-back style bumps... So I kinda took that as a sign that my body's just not up for it any more. It would have been a dream come true... but really I was lucky to even have had the chance to take another shot at it at my age (I'm turning 48 tomorrow). I'm more than content just watching the shows now.

If the booking ever requires his team to just get destroyed in every match, I'd be more than happy to lend a hand. I've always thought that "standing on the apron, watching my partner dominate, tagging in, immediately getting demolished, being pinned, and apologizing profusely to my politely-pretending-to-not-be-frustrated-that-this-keeps-happening partner" would be a great role for me. I think Suwama would be pretty damned great in the "Buck up little camper, we'll win the next one!" role, too.

My guess would be that a win over "Suwama plus whomever" is a nice way to put over whichever team actually wins the tourney. Suwama is a genuinely good dude (Based on the one time I met him, anyway). It always seems to me that he has no problem putting other wrestlers over. If anything,he seems to love doing that.

A little over four years. I'm still far from fluent, but I can get by with my Japanese. I sometimes need help with the details, though. People like Kotoge, Harada, Asian Cooger, the bodyguard, Tigers Mask, Ebessan, Apple, Spider and my friends Kenji and Kae seem to understand this, and so there's always someone keeping me clued in. The first couple of years, I needed a ton of help, and I have to imagine it wasn't easy to communicate with me then, but someone always made the honest effort. I never even needed to ask for help, someone always offered it. I I'll never forget that, I'll always appreciate it.

For what it's worth, regardless of his image, Kotoge in real life is one of the sweetest and least obnoxious people I've ever had a drink with in my entire life. He's actually humble and shy outside of the ring. He and Harada both are just genuinely good human beings. When they were working for Osaka Pro, both of them regularly went out of their way to communicate with me and help me understand stuff like where and when the party or event was going to be. With my crappy Japanese, particularly in those first few years, I often would have missed out on the good times if someone hadn't gone out of their way to let me know I was invited. Kotoge and Harada were among those who always made sure I knew, and both of them have helped me out in other ways as well. I couldn't be prouder of their success in NOAH. As you said, those kids work hard and they love pro wrestling.They deserve all the success in the world.

Nice detective work!

How in Baba's name did you find that out?

Ho. Lee. Fu*k! Also: You can clearly see how Jumbo influenced Yone!

Big bowling alleys in Japan are often multi-floor complexes with bowling, darts and billiards, games arcade, karaoke, and so on, all in separate areas and generally on separate floors. Very different from any bowling alley I've ever seen in Canada. Hakata Star Lanes also has an Exhibition Hall, and that's where the wrestling shows are held. It's separate from the entertainment stuff, on it's own dedicated floor as far as I know. Unfortunately, it's inaccurate to imagine groups of people getting ten frames in as a background to the action in the ring.

This is an actual photo of Hakata Star Lanes: Hope that answers your question.

I'm almost positive that one was in Osaka, Alan. I reached out to someone with M-Pro connections and they told me it was Hakata Star Lanes, and to be honest it does look like Hakata to me. What are your reasons for thinking Osaka? My mistake: It was the elimination match from Dec '96 that was in Osaka.

I'm almost positive that one was in Osaka, Alan. Nice one! Thanks for the link, Kurt!

hit up Gordi. He lives there. Missed this one! Actually I live in Nara, about half an hour by train from Osaka, but close enough... There used to be a New Japan shop in Metro Hotel in the Doutonbori area of Namba, but I think it's closed now. Mr. Hito had a small shop, also in Namba, but he passed away in 2010 (RIP, my friend). As far as I know, there are sadly no puroresu shops in Osaka any more. Bodymaker Colosseum is the new name for Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium. It's also in Namba. Lots of cheap hotels there. Definitely recommend going to an Osaka Pro show (in Umeda) and a Kuuga Produce show (in the old Osaka Pro arena in, you guessed it, Namba) while you're here!

Yes. Absolutely. Lose weight and build muscle and you will almost certainly wake up feeling much, much better. There's bound to be an adjustment period, but if you man up and get through the rough spots it'll get easier and easier to keep eating better and exercising regularly. Your body wants to move,and it wants to get some real nutrition. It will reward you if you give it those things. It will punish you if you do not. Me in 2006: Me in 2008: Me in 2011: Me, yesterday: It comes down to consistent effort over a long period of time, persistently getting back on track every time you fall off... I feel great now, I'm healthy, I'm enjoying my life more than I thought would be possible at my age (47)... It sucks at first, but it gets easier and eventually your body just starts craving exercise and good food... and it's totally worth it.

Glico's a HYUUGE candy and processed food conglomerate. They own Pocky. That alone gives them essentially unlimited money to throw away on ego projects. Also: Pretz, Cheeza, Papico, Juku Curry, Happy Pucchin Pudding... all of their proprietary brands are hugely popular, plus they make breakfast meats, sausages, instant noodles... You see the Glico logo on every kind of unhealthy and tasty thing over here. I doubt a week has gone by since I moved to Japan when I didn't consume some kind of Gliko product. If they are really into supporting Muto, that's gigantic news. I'd have to assume they are the kind of company that could literally throw millions into this and laugh it off as a tax dodge.

I screwed up. Months ago, I had promised to do security for a reggae festival that was being promoted by a group of friends. Doing concert security is pretty easy in Japan. People almost never get seriously violent in public here. Also, reggae fans in general tend to be pretty mellow. It was fun. I enjoyed it, and I'm always happy to help out my friends. Only... that festival was on August 4th. My heart sank when I figured out that keeping my promise meant I wasn't going to the G-1. Also, I figured Murphy's Law being the way it is more or less guaranteed it would be a great show and that Ishii vs. Shibata would be a MOTYC. I was afraid to look in this thread because I didn't want to know what I'd missed. Serves me right for humble-bragging about it.

I keep meaning to try it. You can even buy it in convenience stores over here.

Kuishinbou, hanging with Tako in his new bar AM3. I love them too, brother!

It's 2013 now, which is the time in the future where 1980's "Days of Future Past" X-Men saga was set. To honour that, I'm re-reading it now. It's pretty damned good stuff, somehow better than I remembered it... maybe partly because the Claremont/Byrne style is a huge nostalgia trip for me. I might even see if I can dig up season one of the X-Men cartoon and have a look at their take on the story.

Today, I re-watched Shibata's matches vs. Tenzan and vs. Kawada from the '04 G-1. I'm pretty stoked to see him again in August.

For some illogical reason, I fully expect Naito vs. MiSu to be a HUGE disappointment. I seriously can't explain why I feel that way.

I'm pretty much just trying to get myself more worked up for it. Your post helped. Thanks!

NJPW, 8/4/13 (WPW) Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium 1. G1 Climax - Block B: Toru Yano vs. Yujiro Takahashi 2. G1 Climax - Block B: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Karl Anderson 3. G1 Climax - Block B: Yuji Nagata vs. Shelton Benjamin 4. G1 Climax - Block A: Satoshi Kojima vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr. 5. G1 Climax - Block A: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Katsuyori Shibata 6. G1 Climax - Block A: Hirooki Goto vs. Lance Archer 7. G1 Climax - Block B: Tetsuya Naito vs. Minoru Suzuki 8. G1 Climax - Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Prince Devitt 9. G1 Climax - Block A: Togi Makabe vs. Kazuchika Okada 10. G1 Climax - Block B: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kota Ibushi If you were me, how much effort would you put into seeing this card? I've been to two G-1s and two CCs in Osaka, and my sense is that getting two very good-to-excellent matches on one card is enough to make me feel like it was money well spent. This has the potential for three, maybe even four genuinely good matches... and also the potential for a from-my-perspective MOTYC if they give Shibata and Ishii some time and they use it well. But... at least six of those matches have the potential to be really bad, as well. I'll most likely go... ut I'd like to get some more opinions on that card.