February 5, 20251 yr Cool how the anniversary show usually falls on my birthday, 6th March. First match announced: El Desperado defends the IWGP Jr Heavyweight Championship vs. Francesco Akira. Looking forward to that. Day after, the New Japan Cup starts.
February 12, 20251 yr Author Spoiler Hirooki Goto vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship is official. Looking forward to that as the IWGP Heavyweight Championship V4/IWGP World Heavyweight Championship has eluded Goto for so long and the latter is one of the few things Tana has never done in NJPW.
March 6, 20251 yr The junior title match was very good. The main was emotional. They did a good crowd number, especially considering that it's a Thursday night show. Tomorrow is the start of the NJ Cup.
March 7, 20251 yr Both title matches last night were very good and are in my top 10 NJPW matches of the year. Glad Tanahashi still had one more left in him, knees be damned. Tonight's Korakuen show has been cancelled, looks like one of the ring posts broke during set up (despite Hartley Jackson claiming responsibility because he's a big boy...)
March 9, 20251 yr Drilla vs. Ishii tonight was excellent. First legit great match of the tournament. Strongly recommended. If you're looking for a second match, ELP vs. O-Khan was really enjoyable as well. It was fun, but in a satisfyingly competitive, not goofy, way.
March 15, 20251 yr Spoiler Nagoya show tonight was excellent, felt all cup matches delivered. Zack vs Taichi may very well be in the best NJPW matches of the year when its all said and done. Also Goto/Nagata was a blast for me as an old NJPW fan. Nagata gave his all in his last stand and it was emotional.
March 15, 20251 yr Spoiler Yeah, the quarterfinal matches were a straight sweep of awesomeness. ZSJ-Taichi was everything that I want from pro wrestling. Beautiful, really. I thought Drilla-Shingo was also outstanding; Drilla's ascension during this tournament was somewhat unexpected, but very welcome. He fits right in. Jeff Cobb is truly a favorite of mine, and it will be sad to (likely) see him go, but he did all he could to put Umino over. Umino stills lacks charisma, but then again, this stoic shift suits him well. Uemura vs. Finlay was also tremendous. Finlay has really figured out how to pace a match, maybe one of the best in the industry at this moment. I'm not even that huge of a fan, but I have to give it to him. Uemura sells so well; Shota, please take notes! Honestly, Uemura and Oiwa are already at Umino's level, if not better, with much less of a push so far. It's a shame, really; this match tonight with Taichi should've been a glorious Zack title defense back in the late fall or something. Nevertheless, I'm glad that it finally happened, and didn't at all disappoint. Without a doubt, one of the top matches of the year at this point.
March 16, 20251 yr Spoiler Zack lost, so he has to wait bit longer to get the IWGP World belt back. If he ever does that is. I want Shota or Shingo to win this.
March 17, 20251 yr Finals are set.... Spoiler Finlay vs. Shota. The crowd tonight in Fukushima went...ummm... MILD, for lack of a better word, for Shota finally overcoming Shingo. I still don't know about Shota, and I know I'm not alone. However, there's a story in play here, and logically, the payoff, whatever that may be, would appear to be on Thursday in the finals. There's been an underlying story throughout the tournament with Sanada not being on board with the War Dogs, essentially not participating in most matches, and some serious side eye being thrown between Finlay and Sanada. Whether that means Sanada is joining HoT, starting his own group (Shota? Jake Lee?) as some have speculated, all remains to be seen. Then of course there's the added element of the "last phase", for Shota finally becoming the killer, which could also play out on Thursday. I'm absolutely the type who would much rather have the match deliver, that alone satisfies me; however, I give New Japan credit, there's a storyline they've been trying to tell here, and they've stuck to it. Strap on those working boots tight, Finlay!
March 20, 20251 yr Spoiler Finlay wins. Best Umino match in a while. Umino still doesn't quite have a defined character though. Seems like El-P vs O-Khan for the TV title, Hiromu/Naito vs Cobb/Callum for the tags, War Dogs vs Bullet Club for the 6-man titles and EVIL vs Tsuji for the international title. Oh, and the hontai saved the remaining 3 guys from a beatdown and they all shook hands so either the J4Gs don't exist or we've entered the era of Just 15 (or so) Guys. Finlay should not beat Goto. Edited March 20, 20251 yr by lostinube
March 20, 20251 yr Spoiler Agreed with lostintube, Finlay/Umino was very good - best Shota has looked since the last Ospreay match. He got the crowd behind him, still think he's leading an eventually heel group with the returning Young Blood though. Also agree Goto should retain. At the start of the year I would have said a Nakanishi-style reign for Goto dropping to Finlay at SG would have been fine, but crowds across the board are still very hot for Goto and attendances seem to be up so why not continue to ride the Goto wave a little longer (maybe drop to Shota at Dominion)? Edited March 20, 20251 yr by Horangi Can't very well lose to himself...
March 20, 20251 yr 20 minutes ago, lostinube said: Hide contents Best Umino match in a while. Umino still doesn't quite have a defined character though. Finlay should not beat Goto. Agreed on all points. Edited March 20, 20251 yr by Evil Otto
Create an account or sign in to comment