#NJPWWORLD

[rhea-ripley]

Sakura Genesis || April 08 - 2023

[thistledropkick]

Heads up that almost everything on the NJPW World archive is getting removed on November 9th when they update the service. Almost every video from before 2021 will be removed, with a few exceptions (G1 finals matches, Tokyo Dome shows, Dominion, all of NJPW Strong for some reason, and a few other things)

They've said that they plan to gradually migrate the old archives to the new service, but who knows how long that will take or what will get lost in the shuffle. If there's an older match you've been meaning to watch, watch it now I guess.

[myfearlessflair]

Happy Birthday to the GOAT, the icon, the #1 Asset in professional wrestling, KingSwitch, the Belt Collector and IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Jay White. Thank you for making wrestling fun for me again.

[andymull]

NJPW G1 Climax 33 Preview

Its that special time of the year....no not the return of The Hot Tag, but this years NJPW G1 Climax 33 is nearly upon us. This years tournament is the biggest ever with 4 groups in action showcasing 32 competitors from not only NJPW but also other companies talent too thankfully.

Lets dive into the groups separately and give a quick over view of what to expect and lay some predictions out there

A BLOCK

SANADA

Chase Owens

Hikuleo

Ren Narita

Shota Umino

Yota Tsuji

Gabe Kidd

Kaito Kiyomiya

What's being look at as the young boy group with Sanada and Owens, with Sanada being the obvious favourite as reigning IWGP World Heavyweight champion. Its rare the world champion goes undefeated throughout the tournament and usually drops a match or two to setup future title matches before the January 4th Dome show. Id expect the key names looking to get that role will be the likes of Kiyomiya, Tsuji and maybe even Narita.

Kiyomiya should be one of the breakouts of this years G1, the current Pro Wrestling NOAH star has had some exposure in NJPW after feuding with Okada and will hope to follow in the footsteps of fellow NOAH star Katsuhiko Nakajima in the 2016 G1 Climax, who had some superb matches that year.

Also in this group is the newly announced group of the Reiwa Three Musketeers, in Umino, Tsuji and Narita. The Three Musketeers stable name has been used previously in the company with the last trio being that of Shinsuke Nakamura, Katsuyori Shibata and Hiroshi Tanahashi, its a very valuable name for the promotion to hand out and is a sign of how talented they see the current trio both the current scene as well as the future of NJPW. Will be VERY interesting in seeing their bouts against each other which I imagine will start out harmless and competitive, but will quickly descend into something heated when they realise the pecking order could be set here for how each guy is seen by the NJPW audiences for a long time. Alot of depth story wise here as well as potential for great matches, will be a big talking point for the Japanese media during and after the tournament as well.

Have to go for a Sanada win, with im guessing Tsuji coming in second place only slight infront of Kiyomiya.

B BLOCK

Kazuchika Okada

YOSHI-HASHI

Taichi

KENTA

Great-O-Khan

Will Ospreay

Tanga Loa

El Phantasmo

I really hope this group turns into a sprint between Okada and Ospreay, pretty sure they have 2 matches each following their one on one match on July 27th. Imagine they go the time limit versus each other and the raised importance of those final matches will be immense. Tanga Loa and El Phantasmo for Ospreay and KENTA then Tanga Loa for Okada, not the hardest bouts but the atmosphere for near falls will be superb.

I like O-Khan but he isnt in the league of the main two guys and their booking is vital for NJPW's future shows. Okada over Ospreay in the standings.

C BLOCK

David Finlay

Tomohiro Ishii

EVIL

Tama Tonga

Shingo Takagi

Aaron Henare

Eddie Kingston

Mikey Nicholls

Even though this group features one of my all-time favourites in Shingo, I really cant get into the feel of it overall. It feels nasty to say its alot of nearly but not quite guys if that makes sense, hopefully they can change that in the future but so far its been alot of promise and the start of something then it all slowed down (Tonga, EVIL) .

Its really nice to see Eddie getting his chance in his dream environment, he must be so happy every morning he opens his eyes in Japan then at the same time falls asleep wondering 'what if' the likes of Tenzan/Kojima/Honma/Nagata were still in the running so he could bang with them nightly.

Has to be between Finlay and Shingo for the leadership, with the need for the Bullet Club leader to look strong winning out, Ishii, EVIL and Tama all running close.

D BLOCK

Hiroshi Tanahashi

Tetsuya Naito

Hirooki Goto

Zack Sabre Jr.

Toru Yano

Jeff Cobb

Shane Haste

Alex Coughlin

Another strange feeling group and ive no idea why, well I do alittle but more on that latter.

The Ace continues on and wont be stopped by age or his knees looking like they explode most nights lol Every year I feel its a year too far for him he goes deep in the running to prove me wrong, and I love him for it even more than normal. I see him getting the wins this year but dropping the key matches to who I think will be the key three in this group.

Those three being Naito, ZSJ and Cobb, Jeff may surprise people with the pick but I see them building him up for the United Empire so that Ospreay can be in the position to go back for the world title and Cobb can be the next era for the US belt. Naito and ZSJ are the constants over the past few years, be it in the G1 or the New Japan cup, consistency and the big scalps and I dont see that altering anytime soon.

In terms of a winner Id lean on ZSJ for the upset over Naito, who also really needs the win after the Sanada turn. Some big booking needed by NJPW in making guys as well as not cooling the others down too far, it really is the toughest booking gig of the year.

Quarter Finals - August 10th

Sanada vs Shingo

Okada vs Naito

Finlay vs Ospreay

ZSJ vs Tsuji

Semi Finals - August 12th

Sanada vs Okada

Ospreay vs Tsuji

Finals - August 13th

Okada vs Ospreay

Winner of the G1 Climax 33 - Will Ospreay

What better way to build the tournament than by having the two guys sprinting through their group, who go to a draw on the way, have to finally settle that score in the final with the guy who finished second taking the crown overall.

The knockouts should be awesome setting up multiple future bouts such as Okada getting a title match after beating Sanada in the semis, can he win the title before the actual winner gets his shot against Sanada his-self setting up another match between Okada/Ospreay at the Dome on January 4th?

To conclude I think as normal this tournament will be great and will have tons of superb matches and moments, the bigger issue for me is that bigger numbers dont always mean better tournaments. Some of the groups feel like they have too much filler with ALOT of younger guys getting the nod and entrance. Its great for them to gain the experience this provides but for me im a sucker for the 2 group concept 20 guys maximum. This needs to be treated as the most superior tournament wrestling has to offer, the younger wrestlers need to prove theirselves more before gaining access.

Why not develop a young lions tournament for guys under a certain age with the winner taking a spot in the tournament wit the others missing out, letting them stew and develop to be better for next year where they could win the thing or even become so much better they are offered a spot on merit instead?

That aside im pumped as normal for this and will always be ready to see who Yano can tie up in duct tape up the aisle and beat :) Always a gut punch knowing we arent getting Yano/Omega again

Enjoy folks

Bye for now

Andy

(Credit to NJPW for the graphics)

[narcisoespiritu]

Wrestletober 10: Seth Freakin' Rollins

Seth Rollins puts on solid matches every time. 2022 alone featured some great ones. I chose the Stomp here because it's a pretty brutal looking maneuver. I remember coming back into wrestling because @chrespyo was into it, and it was around the time of The Shield, too. Wrestling is a lot of nostalgia for me (like a lot of folks) but it's also got fantastic, riveting stories going on now– in nearly all the major promotions, too. Seth is one of those dependable storytellers.

Seth is in my new Wrestletober zine. (I couldn't think of a better name--fight me.) It's gonna be available first at MoCCA Fest, and then online, too. Ok.

[nicejulie94]

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRCMdWhE/

I’m sorry but when was this?

[kcloveswrestling]

Hikuleo, over text: Turn around.

Hikuleo: No the other way.

Hikuleo; Wrong way again!

Tama Tonga: Where are you?!

Hikuleo: At home, but the idea of you turning aimlessly in circles amuses me.

[djvillain]

NJPW Resurgence 2023 Review: Best NJPW Strong Show Ever?

[shartgarfunkel]

Just a thought

I used to run a wrestling blog. Now I’m a professional wrestler myself. It’s interesting and cool to see how popular it is on here, like there’s such a community seemingly far less toxic than Twitter. It’s a different point of view that I don’t think about often and it’s a whole platform of fans left untapped to the world of the east coast indie scene.

Oh the possibilities…

[spinebuster]

[rhea-ripley]

Sakura Genesis || April 08 - 2023

[kanenites]

i love you late night promo hour Hi im cupid and if you follow me i can teach you about pro wrestling :) heres two of my most special guys on the planet

[myfearlessflair]

I just want Jay and Kenny to win. If I get that, I’ll be a happy camper. 😌

[thistledropkick]

In case anyone is wondering what the heck was going on with Kamaitachi's entrance music at the show today: When Hiromu was in CMLL wrestling as Kamaitachi, he used the song Benjo Sandal Dance by Maximum the Hormone as his entrance music. I have to assume that Kamaitachi is continuing to use this song as his entrance music, and that the album version of this song is what was playing in the venue. The "altered due to music rights" song that played on New Japan World was Hiromu's unusual solo vocal cover of this song.

[debbiechanclub]

Giuliaaaaaa

[kelseywrestling]

Mercedes Moné || Sakura Genesis Press Conference (4/7/23)