#inspired by a reply on the first yoshi post :]

[dokupine]

dreaming of the flutter kick

[sandorara]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love❤

Oh, this is so nice! And incredibly difficult, which has made me feel nice. Can you believe I have so many works I'm still pleased with that it was difficult to choose? What a pleasant feeling.

Anyway, in chronological order of posting, starting from the most recent. I've decided not to choose unfinished ones or co-authored pieces, so we're going decently far back right from the start.

1. See you in Eorzea - Yizhan & FF14, 69k, E I (M 28) picked up someone (M 2x) in a video game and I think they might be famous. Please advise.

Famous/non-famous MMORPG AU, meet cute in Sastasha. My longest work ever when I wrote it, and it was completed before posting anything. Still really happy with it, and, Yoshi-p should pay me royalties for how many converts it's created. I'm confident you do not need to know yizhan to enjoy it, if you would like to give it a try 💕

2. For the future you (the one without me) - Yizhan, 6.4k, T “Why Singapore?,” she’d asked him once, and he’d not known how to answer. An exploration of what may lie outside the few minutes the Vogue Film offered.

Inspired by a Vogue shortfilm Wang Yibo starred in, link to it can be found in the a/n of the fic. 9 minutes, very aesthetically worth it. I'm really happy with the atmosphere of this work, and I feel like it's very representative of my shorter, fleetier, ever bittersweet style. Am proud still. 🥺

3. Written, never said - cql - lwj & mianmian, wangxian, 6.6k, G ”I have a letter to deliver to young lady Luo Qingyang. It has arrived from Gusu today, with the quickest delivery.”

Thirteen years of correspondence, understanding and friendship.

My Mianmian and LWJ friendship agenda. Epistolary fic covering the years of WWX's death through Mianmian's eyes on the letters she receives and writes. I'm still happy with how this one conveys what I wanted to say. I'm pleased with it stylistically. And they deserved that friendship, IT WAS THERE, OK.

4. Sensations - ffxiv - wolexarch, 4.7k E ”Make it hurt, please,” he’d finally whispered, as each day, more of his body was being eaten away by the crystal, leaving him missing touch in places he did not know he’d wanted it.

A stand-alone AU within my wolfic series in which G'raha's crystallisation speeds up after the events of 5.0 and the completion of his mission. and with it comes loss of sensation. This one came to be when my dear friend @draiochteve prompted me to write "soft knifeplay". I love the bittersweet desperation and love I managed to convey in this one, and, I just want you to take note of the publication date: This was posted exactly a year before the release of patch 5.3. 😌

5. Nothing more than a willing substitute - ffxiv, asahi/zenos, 4.3k, E He would do anything to please his beloved Prince.

Oldest one here and I will admit I'm impressed that I still think it's worthy of this list, five years later. One of my first 14 fics, and definitely the most wretched thing I had ever written at the time. Mayhap one may call it my descent into the filth-pit. Asahi just made me feral, and it worked out. My dear gf @g0g0mi just desrcibed this one as "iconic", so. Unrecruited obsession love, swordplay, bondage, choking... there are things. IDK. My brand started here, OK. And, I think it still holds up. 😎

Thank you for letting me do this, it was quite the mood-boost! Will pass it on. 😊

[sugasugawarau]

200 milestone

This blog hit 200 during my semi-hiatus and I neglected to post this after because I still had matchups for my 100 and the mlist for Table for Two was posted meaning I’m a lil late 😹👍 but I do want to take the time to properly thank each and every one of you for sticking around!! Your support means the world to me I love u all 🥺💕 As a thank you, I’ll be doing matchups again and a lil smth to do with self-ships; read more about and join the event here!

From my previous milestone to now, I’ve also had the amazing opportunity to get to know more people so I want to take the time to thank some of my mutuals since I’m most likely going to be rlly bad at replying to messages and checking up on your posts with school starting up :,) (VERY lengthy hence read more)

— to the biggest lo5ers ik!

@kbh-ton; HAHA I bet you didn’t expect to be called out since you only use Tumblr for reblogging but here we are, bbq sauce on my (.)(.) 😍Just wanted to say that aside from being an amazing friend since grade 4 (except for when you bully me stop trying to kin Tsukishima so hard smh), I am immensely grateful for your support for all the dumb shit I do online and offering your thotz on a lot of my headcanons and other shit too because you’d think witnessing the bs I do irl would be enough to last you a lifetime 😹🤟 Ily and message me on ig or discord when u see this pp

And thanks to my other irl friends Emma (who doesn’t have Tumblr) and Yoshi (who doesn’t watch Haikyuu - lame ik 👎 - but has Tumblr and posts sexc art so check him out but don’t tell him I sent u or anything!! @/ashr00m) for not really knowing what I do here but being supportive nonetheless and inspiring a LOT of my text scenarios and being my best friends or whateveuh 👁👅👁 I’ll text them a proprer thank you in the gc and remind them that I love them too because it’s soft on main hrs too apparently 🙀

— to my wifeys (poly 🥰)

@tendouthighs; Codie, you were my first friend on tumblr and I want to take the time to thank you for posting that you were open to making friends here because without that I might not have ever gotten the courage to slide into your dms 🙈 You always brighten my day and your text scenarios are EVERYTHING, ily lovely! 💜

@pyblos; Lyra, you’re the Iwaizumi to my Oikawa, my wife in our very extensive reverse harem, and have been one of the most prominent people during my weird tumblr journey. You’ve been here since the early days of my blog and have been a constant source of love and support, I’m so glad to have met you and you’re so talented!! 😚💕(even if u bring out the 🔪 every once in a while HAHA) ilysm bb 🤍

@yeskoushi; Shan my babygork 😻🥺 we may have only started interacting recently but you’re so funny, kind, and talented. Not only is your writing top tier, your entire blog is pretty too just like you (insert the ur so sexy aha ha ha meme face here🥴) Never hesitate to reach out to me okay? Sending you good luck for sch and ily and imy 😿💕

— to my beautiful bbs!

@sneezefiction; Gracie, words can’t begin to describe how beautiful you are inside and out. Ilysm, I’m in awe with all you do - your fics and headcanons always make me soft, as if I’m being enveloped in a warm hug :,)) Thank you for also being here since my blog’s early days and most importantly for being you, and I’m so happy we met 💙

@baeshijima; Sophie!! We’ve only recently started talking as well but ilysm 🥰 I can’t thank you enough for being such a blessing and always remember that you deserve all of the kindness you give out x1000! I hope we get to know each other better and make sure you’re taking care of yourself 🥺💖

@heyhinata; Cal bb we also have only started interacting recently but omg ily and would fight anyone and anything for you, you’re so precious and funny how do you do it 😾💕 I’m vv glad we met and I’m so excited for your future works!!

@astereim; Rein, Mareina supremacy amirite 😼 SHFJAKDJ okay but honestly you’ve been one of the easiest people to talk to right from the start and also your writing is i m m a c u l a t e, I admire your characterization and dialogue sm and ily :,) 💙

@softforsaeko; Joy, ily ❤️ and I still don’t know how you can perfectly embody the word joy. Every time I see you on my dash I let out the most obnoxious cackles because you’re HILARIOUS (Fun fact my irl who has tumblr says that he’s also started immediately thinking of you when he sees Saeko, can’t wait for you guys to get married!!)

@agaassi @visaintes @miki-snake @drabblily @oii-sugasan @lcnelyinthesky @bearri-main @ranojiroa-san @ukaiscigarette @strawberrii-milktea @murdereddaydreams @keichan @bellesowl @fvrcore @noya-sannnn

I was scared to talk in the server when I first joined (I’m a pussy ik 😿) but I can say with confidence that I don’t regret it because I got to meet all of you wonderful and talented people. To everyone I’ve had the chance to talk to, thank you for making me laugh sm and ily!! And to everyone else in the server I haven’t interacted with yet, ilyt you’re all so sweet and I hope to get to know you better in the future 🤍

And thank you to @inloveinc @sa-suga @tsukkiscookies @cherryonigiri @oikawas-wh-re @tsuumu @haijme @honeykaashi @mirajanestrauss1999 @tris-does-stuff @sunnsflower @sleepykarabou @ksyescribe I hope we can to get to know each other better as well, ily, and please make sure you’re taking care of your beautiful + talented selves <3 This all applies to my new mutuals too !!

— to my inspirations!

@90s-belladonna @the-broken-halo-writer @indigohitoshi; Aixa, Corey and Issa, all three of you inspired me to make my own blog with your SMAUs and written works 🥺 I would like to thank you all sm for sharing your works and know that you’re all amazing !!💕

@sugardaddykenma @hina-wit-da-glock; Lin and Lola, I’m still dumbfounded that you both follow me tbh LMAO. You were both some of the first haikyuu blogs I followed and you always crack me up with your posts, rlly some of the coolest people on here. I adore you and wishing you the best in everything you do! 🥰

[taglegend]

Tag Fact #3 -  I’ve come to realize I’ve always been a fan artist more than I thought. so here is a timeline of influences that shaped my childhood to now. from nostalgic times, to sad changes, to great loss, to strange rises to fame and phases, to stepping stones and finally a laughing place. all the things that make up your favorite fan artist Tag.

1. Rayman (bumped into this in the year of 1999) was actually the first fandom (with crossovers) I bumped into when I was 9. although the internet wasn’t available at the time it was still fun to dwell in home amusements. I remember the storylines and the OC’s I made but they’re kind of embarrassing and it’s probably a good thing there was no internet. I’ve done fanart and comic crossovers of Rayman with Calvin and Hobbs and Nights Into Dreams, spinoffs of Sonic the Hedgehog OC’s, Yoshi with Pikachu, and the Pokemon/Digimon craze with OC’s and other Nintendo comic shorts. but the drawings and comics are long gone and disappeared in the garage in a backpack due to suspecting my sister’s dad accidentally throwing them away. years later towards the year 2018 (now 28), we decided to move to North Carolina and it was my chance to find them again. unfortunately the backpack was gone just like I suspected (my main stuff), but for some reason I found my Pokemon/Digimon fanart, a good batch of Super Mario drawings (vaguely remember doing these), my sister’s drawings and some other neighborhood kids’ drawings in a dirty box. I was partially happy I found something at least but it was the backpack I wanted the most. sometimes I regret not looking for the backpack (’cause I was too busy being a kid) but it’s alright, noone needs to see that shit anyway, ha ha. anyways, I recall being a fan of Rayman from 1999 ‘til 2002.

2. Sonic Adventure 2 Battle (bumped into this in the year of 2003) my second fandom I bumped into when I was 12 going on 13. at the time, my sister and I both liked the Sonic The Hedgehog Franchise based on the Battle remake and ended up making our own secret fanart club that consisted of only us two members. she liked Sonic (and that was her boyfriend, ha ha) and I liked Knuckles (and he was my boyfriend, ha ha) and we were crazy in love about Shadow’s backstory. we listened to the game’s soundtracks as we drew fanart and comics after school and man, those were good times. however, as we grew older towards the year of 2005, we ended up having separate rooms and I believe it played a part in disconnecting on the same interest. then one day, I asked her why she wasn’t into Sonic anymore and she replied, “Because I grew up.” I was sad after that and slowly observed that she was influenced by the emo culture and the new friends she’s made. I was the only member of our little club for a little longer...but eventually I moved on too. I still have some surviving fanart we did together but it doesn’t mean shit anymore since she turned out to be an abusive mother from the last I’ve heard of her. 

3. Gorillaz (bumped into this in the year of 2006). as the Sonic years were at its end, I first heard the song “Feel Good Inc” on Music Choice and seeing the first image of them as displayed on this post (except the fan-made background doesn’t count since I can’t find the original artwork). this was my third fandom and later had proper access to the internet to the website I still currently use called DeviantArt. at first I liked 2D but eventually fell for Murdoc and developed a spiritual connection towards the character as obviously seen in my old fanart and rare photos of my devotion shrines on Valentine’s Day and his birthday every year. for the longest time since being a permanent fan from 2006-2017 (11 1/2 years) I had no knowledge that it was a political propaganda band and other realizations I don’t want to talk about. I only followed them because it was a cartoon and not the bullshit behind the musical project. the world I’ve built and support for them for all those 11 1/2 years shattered the fuck out of me and I just wanted to be left alone to find myself again, somehow. activity stopped on all my profiles, the flow of fanart stopped since I now cringe from the fan service and felt I was used for my talent. I didn’t want to be reminded of it all so I took down all my Gorillaz fanart and archived them for old followers’ nostalgia but also in the hopes they’ll be forgotten in my timeline. I ceased to exist in the fandom for huge personal reasons but it’s best to not say why. I know for sure that the fandom wonders what happened but it’s none of their business. THE END.

4. Waluigi (although I knew he’s been around since 2000 during childhood, I took deep interest once I revisited the character again in the year of December 2013). as silly as this sounds, when I revisited him again, the character was so bizarre that I ended up staying up 3 nights and 3 days in a row just looking all over the internet on everything about him and the questionable “hush-hush” absence of a backstory. despite there being no backstory he slowly gained a cult following and in many ways it’s a good thing. however, since the early 2010′s tension has been building up between Nintendo and its fans about him starring in a main game but everyone hasn’t fully gotten it in their heads that it’s not gonna happen. as long as Nintendo is in control of that, the fandom will not win, I’m sorry to say. on the other hand, if it’s going to be this way, then that’s what fanart and comic projects are for. as for me, I am doing my very best to get my comic project “Waluigi Land” going. again, I apologize if it’s taking very long to get Chapter 2 going if you’ve been keeping track but aha moments need to develop before I start permanent drawing (since concepts, character design and storyline needed improvement badly). as of right now I am still a Waluigi fan and I will not quit on him.

5. Turbo from Wreck-It-Ralph (although it debuted in 2012, I watched the movie two years later into the year 2014). for some bizarro reason, I had an unhealthy obsession with this character to the point where I dressed up as him for Halloween 2014. only 2 fanarts of him and the Turbo Twins exist on my profiles, mainly because my mind was more focused on just ‘thinking about him’ or ‘being him’ rather than drawing physical drawings. luckily, this supposed alleged fandom didn’t last long a little after Halloween so I chalk it up as a very short phase. to this day I don’t know what has gotten over me about him. the only thing I can think of now is that I think it’s because the character had yellow eyes and teeth but I don’t know. now that I think of it, that little fucker was ugly as hell and I STILL don’t know what had gotten over me. one day, my brother mentioned what that was about, and I said to him, “I don’t wanna talk about it.”

6. Undertale (although it debuted in 2015, I later took interest in it in 2016). It was all about Sans and Papyrus. I couldn’t get enough of the skeleton bros. eventually Toriel and Mettaton EX became my favorites but it took a long time to draw more of all 4 of them because I had other important things to do in my life plus I was still waiting for the next Gorillaz album to revive my imaginative juices (or so I thought). I really want to have this as one of my frequent fandoms but I just don’t have time for it anymore. it’s still in the back of my head to want to draw them but at this point I still have other better interests to be in. and besides, I’m lazy just like Sans.

7. Cuphead (June 28th, 2017 was the official day I called quits on the British-based band Gorillaz due to the bullshit behind it. since that date I was lost, had no inspiration to look forward to and no cartoon guy to make me smile...but lo and behold of the same year, I took an interest in playing the game Cuphead and man...that shit was a frightening exaggerated metaphor for being on that one drug (forgot the name though) and having sex at the same time but man that was the best fun I’ve had in years. I mean, it’s like, enemies are just so happy to murder you and that scared the shit outta me. and the facial exaggeration?....I think I should stop, ha ha. anyways, the Moldenhauers saved my ass from spiraling down, they have no clue. anyways, eventually I became a permanent fan of their work so to ease the hurt and erase my past from the G-fandom I had to re-wire my brain into a different cartoon category that’s a rather more American, so anything Toon related like Roger Rabbit, Felix the Cat or another favorite that’s a western-based cartoon makes me feel better, especially my new man .......King Dice <3 <3<3<3. however, there was something about this new fandom category I still didn’t quite understand until the date March 14th, 2020. I finally understood what it was but I feel I shouldn’t bring it up. anyways, Cuphead and anything western or rubber hose is my last stop in inspiration for the remaining years of my life. many say never say never but I believe I’ve found my laughing place and that’s all that matters.

[placetobenation]

December 11th, 18:30 from Fukuoka Convention Centre, Fukuoka

Today’s final will determine who wins the 2017 World Tag League and goes on to challenge for the tag titles at Wrestle Kingdom. A Block winners and Los Ingobernables de Japón representatives, EVIL & SANADA, face B Block winners and last year’s runners-up, Guerrillas of Destiny, in that match. Elsewhere, the card looks like a fun pick ’n’ mix, with KUSHIDA & Ibushi vs. Cody & Scurll, Roppongi 3K vs. The Elite and Okada & Ospreay vs. Hiromu & Naito among the festive treats on offer. Let’s get to it.

The Tournament

The decision not to include wrestlers who were already involved in major Wrestle Kingdom singles matches brought a greater level of uncertainty to the results, although there’s no doubt it sacrificed star power. Still, the inclusion of debutants like Chuckie T, Sami Callihan and Jeff Cobb added to my interest, and as I said last year, much of the intrigue comes from seeing how tournament-specific teams will work together and how outsiders will mesh with the rest of the roster. The overall quality wasn’t great, but everyone raised their game for the Korakuen Hall shows and particularly for the final block shows, both of which were consistently strong.

A Block winners SANADA & EVIL had a fairly low key tournament outside the opening and closing matches, but I’m pleased to see them progress to the final. Runners-up, Death Juice (Juice Robinson & Sami Callihan), were a regular highlight – a strange combination, for sure, but one that worked. Veterans Nagata, Kojima and Suzuki were each anchored somewhat by their respective partners (Nakanishi, Tenzan, Iizuka), while Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens didn’t exactly inspire. Bullet Club counterparts Yujiro Takahashi & Hangman Page, meanwhile, delivered more often than not, but they never felt like contenders. Goto and YOSHI-HASHI provided a typically solid presence, contributing to many of the better matches and the best match of A Block in a decider vs. EVIL & SANADA.

B Block was of a far better standard throughout. Though Guerrillas of Destiny snuck through to the top of the pile, they were joined on 10 points by Killer Elite Squad and War Machine, both of whom had regularly good showings. The champions were a dominating presence and War Machine continued to demonstrate why they’ve become a mainstay over the past twelve months. Best Friends (Chuckie T & Beretta) and Elgin & Cobb had the best match of the tournament at Korakuen Hall, with the former adding a welcome dose of humour to proceedings, while the latter – judging purely on what I saw on-screen – meshed well as a team. Ishii and Yano did their thing and I continue to enjoy Yano’s fear of Tama Tonga, but their mid-table finish will be a disappointment to fans of the Stone Pitbull (e.g. me). Finlay & Kitamura proved an enthusiastic if not especially high quality team and it was pleasing to see the return of Henare, whose fiery toughness was on display in a well-matched team with Togi Makabe. Predictably, since both teams featured young lions, they finished bottom of the pack.

The Show

Katsuya Kitamura, Hirai Kawato, Henare, David Finlay & Togi Makabe vs. Jushin Thunder Liger, Manabu Nakanishi, Yuji Nagata, Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan

Kitamura bit off more than he could chew, then Henare was subject to a beating from Nakanishi, Liger and Nagata, before Makabe was tagged and cleaned house. Nagata’s Exploder brought in Kojima to steady things up, then Kawato was tagged and his teammates joined him in a parade of corner splashes, but the opposition interrupted the pin attempt off a missile dropkick. Kojima turned Kawato inside-out with a lariat and that was that. Just a match. *1/2

Hanson, Raymond Rowe, Jeff Cobb & Michael Elgin vs. Bullet Club (Leo Tonga, Chase Owens, Yujiro Takahashi & Hangman Page)

Presumably anyone who’s reading this is familiar with the Michael Elgin situation. “Fuck Michael Elgin!” said Raymond Rowe to camera on Saturday’s final B Block show. Yes, quite. In any case, Elgin started us off by smashing Page to the mat and hitting the slingshot splash and a double slam to Page and Yujiro. Hanson was in, but a distraction allowed Bullet Club to rush the ring and take control, with the giant Tonga nailing a scoop slam. Owens succeeding in hurting himself by headbutting Hanson, which allowed the tag to be made to Cobb, who ran wild with slams and a pumphandle suplex to Owens. Switching gutwrench suplex and a standing moonsault to Page for two, but Bullet Club again seemingly outnumbered their opponents. Leo Tonga cleared the ring (to polite applause), while Cobb made the tag to Rowe. Page impressed with athleticism, but Hanson ducked the slingshot clothesline, setting off a parade of signature offence from all concerned. Rowe smashed Tonga with a couple of knees, then lifted him so he and Hanson could nail Fallout for the win. Heatless, but decent enough. Perhaps the crowd was aware of the awkwardness on the babyface team. **1/4

Bad Luck Fale vs. BUSHI

This isn’t quite as random as it first appears, since Bushi claimed a pinfall over Fale at King of Pro-Wrestling, which itself was a measure of revenge on behalf of his stablemate, Hiromu Takahashi, for the notorious attack on Daryl the Cat. Here, Bushi was quick to escape to the floor, but Fale dragged him back in, ripped off his t-shirt, then tried to rip off his mask. Fale twice lifted Bushi from the mat at two, wishing to continue the punishment, but Bushi misted him on the attempted Grenade then delivered a blatant low blow and the referee actually called for the bell! MX from Bushi to rub it in. Fale wins via disqualification, but gets no satisfaction. No rating, but I enjoyed the booking.

Death Juice (Juice Robinson & Sami Callihan) vs. Best Friends (Chuckie T & Beretta)

Juice and Beretta had a slick exchange, before Chuckie T got to show off a little, then Callihan interjected and wiped out Beretta with a suicide dive and finally Juice took out both opponents with a diving axe handle from the top to the floor! A breathless start. Back in, Beretta was isolated, eventually making the tag after hitting a tornado DDT. Chuck got the better of Juice once again, scoring a missile dropkick, but Juice fought back to nail a succession of right hands. Crescent kick to Beretta, spinebuster to Chuck, then a double-team corner clothesline and assisted cannonball to Beretta connected. Chuck avoided the same and sent both men to the floor before hitting a tope con hilo! Death Juice recovered back in the ring, but couldn’t hit their big finish, allowing Best Friends to score a double-team cutter for two. The match broke down, leaving Callihan alone with Beretta, with a Cradle Killer earning a near-fall. Powerbomb into Stretch Muffler from Callihan before Beretta almost got the win with a roll-up, then Beretta countered Callihan’s finisher attempt and he and Chuck nailed their version of Strong Zero for the three-count. A total spotfest and a bit rough around the edges, but it was good fun. ***1/4

CHAOS (YOSHI-HASHI, Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii & Hirooki Goto) vs. Suzuki-gun (El Desperado, Davey Boy Smith Jr., Lance Archer & Minoru Suzuki)

Poor Yano did his best to avoid Archer, but that didn’t last long, and the tag was quickly made to Yoshi, who combined with WTL partner Goto to briefly take control. Soon after, Davey Boy helped out to give Suzuki-gun the advantage while Suzuki directed traffic on the outside. The beating continued, with Suzuki using his rope-hung armbar to target Yoshi’s taped right elbow and applying a hammerlock until Goto tried and failed to involve himself. Davey Boy eventually let his side down and Ishii was tagged, but a reverse DDT soon put him down. Yano helped his partner out, which allowed Ishii to nail a lariat, then a further intervention saw Ishii suplex Archer! Goto and Suzuki traded elbows and Goto’s backdrop earned a two-count, then he blocked a Penalty Kick and countered the piledriver, but was isolated and subject to full-fat Suzuki-gun attention. El Desperado scored a spear for two, but Yoshi got rid of Suzuki and this allowed Goto to use a Sleeper and nail the GTR for the win. This was lively, but poor El Desperado deserves better than to be multi-man fodder. Still, a decent match. **3/4

Post-match, Goto called out Suzuki (having pinned him during the course of the World Tag League). Suzuki didn’t take kindly to this, saying that Goto had nothing to put on the line to deserve a title shot, to which Goto replied that he has his hair. So it looks like we have a hair vs. NEVER title match set for Wrestle Kingdom. 

KUSHIDA & Kota Ibushi vs. Bullet Club (Cody & Marty Scurll)

Cody kissed Ibushi on the hand – Kenny won’t be happy! Anyway, the match started proper when Kushida and Scurll engaged in a tremendous exchange of pinfall attempts, then Scurll made Kushida pay for mocking the bird-flapping business by stamping on his fingers. He continued to target Kushida’s arm then tagged in Cody, who delivered a delayed gourdbuster. Kushida ducked, meaning Cody delivered the Disaster kick to Scurll, and Ibushi was tagged and nailed a dropkick and middle-rope moonsault for two, before Cody stopped the rot with an Alabama Slam. Back to Scurll and Kushida, with the latter scoring a cartwheel dropkick to Scurll and handspring elbow to Cody. Back to the Future was blocked, as was a jumping DDT, but Kushida nailed the overhead kick to put both men down. Cody flew in for a very nice springboard dropkick Doomsday Device variation, then took out Ibushi with a double-jump axe handle to the floor, allowing Scurll to land the Last Shot for two. Up top, Kushida managed to yank Scurll to the mat with the flipping armbar, but it was quickly broken up, then Ibushi delivered a springboard double stomp to Cody followed immediately by the Golden Triangle moonsault outside! Ibushi took Cody up to the ramp, but Cody laid him out with Cross Rhodes! With the referee distracted, Scurll threw powder in Kushida’s face and small packaged him for the win! Well, that was quite the sprint. Great match here – it did a sterling job of hyping two Wrestle Kingdom match, particularly Ibushi vs. Cody, which I am now officially looking forward to. ***3/4

Roppongi 3K (SHO, YOH & Rocky Romero) vs. The Elite (Nick Jackson, Matt Jackson & Kenny Omega)

Matt quickly tried to put Yoh in the sharpshooter, which led to everyone going head-to-head, then 3K cleared the ring with jumping knees and followed with running knees from the apron all round. Back in, Yoh eventually succumbed to the teamwork of the Elite, who then manufactured an extended series of superkicks off the apron (it’s difficult to explain) and an apron-hung swanton to both Romero and Yoh. The beatdown continued in the ring, but Yoh eventually managed to crawl through some legs to bring in Sho. The blond/gold member of 3K ran wild,  then the whole team scored pinning combinations for two-counts. Romero’s Forever clotheslines were not, in fact, forever and Omega delivered Snapdragon suplexes to everyone before a triple superkick got a two-count. Sho was nailed with the V-Trigger knee, but avoided the One-Winged Angel and Omega was downed by Romero’s diving hurricanrana. The match broke down, with Sho and Yoh scoring stereo tope con hilos, but this left Romero alone in the ring, where Omega soon delivered the One-Winged Angel for the academic three-count. Another good match, heavier on the comedy, but it did the job. ***

As Omega celebrated, Chris Jericho appeared on-screen to deliver a promo ala Power Struggle, then when the video ended JERICHO WAS IN THE RING! He nailed the Codebreaker then smashed Omega with the US title belt and Kenny was busted open! Jericho went to leave, then returned to the ring, hitting English co-commentator Don Callis with a Codebreaker and attacking Omega once more, wiping the US champ’s blood on his face!

Jericho reluctantly left, the Bucks helped Omega to the back and Callis was stretchered out (and possibly out of New Japan altogether?). Very, very nicely done. 

CHAOS (Will Ospreay & Kazuchika Okada) vs. Los Ingobernables de Japón (Hiromu Takahashi & Tetsuya Naito)

Okada landed the first significant blow with a big boot, but Naito replied with a spitwad and “landed” his reclining pose from a dive fake-out. The fight quickly spilled to the floor, where Naito slammed Okada on the ramp while Hiromu and Ospreay went back-and-forth. Back in, Ospreay used his athleticism to ward off LIJ, and Okada ran through his comeback routine to keep Naito at bay, but Naito wisely rolled away from the diving elbow and used a leg sweep to enable a neckbreaker on the apron. What a clever man. He nailed a missile dropkick, but Okada blocked the super frankensteiner and looked to cinch in his newly-added Cobra Clutch, only for Hiromu to stop him. Naito then delivered a tornado DDT to put both men down and Hiromu and Ospreay were back in. A fantastic exchange culminated in Hiromu’s Dynamite Plunger, then Okada and Naito got involved, with Okada nailing The Dropkick. Ospreay landed the corkscrew kick, but Hiromu countered the OsCutter to a German suplex, then Naito ran in to hit Destino and Hiromu followed with the Time Bomb to put Ospreay down for the three-count. A most enjoyable preview of things to come. ***1/2

Post-match, Naito asked the crowd who would make a better IWGP champion and Okada tried to attack him from behind, but Naito and Hiromu fought him off. Okada, however, blocked Destino and locked in the Cobra Clutch until Hiromu broke it up. Hiromu, in turn, was locked in the hold until he passed out. Okada stuttered like he was going to say “tranquilo” but settled for “forget it” instead.

World Tag League 2017 Final

Los Ingobernables de Japón (EVIL & SANADA) vs Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa)

A hard-fought exchange between Tama and Sanada ended with both men removing their tops, as is the custom at this time of year. The involvement of both men’s partners resulted in the fight spilling to the floor, where Loa slammed Evil on the ramp and Tama followed with a clothesline. Back in, the GOD stayed top with headbutts and a nice delayed back suplex from Loa, then a slick double-team combination earned a two-count. Loa brushed off two boots to the face, but Evil’s sidewalk slam enabled the tag to Sanada, who landed the double-leapfrog dropkick and a plancha, then tied Loa up in the Paradise Lock. Tama blocked the follow-up dropkick initially, then failed to apply a Paradise Lock himself, eventually giving Sanada the time to recover. Loa scored a Samoan Drop counter and Tama used a double-leapfrog chop, but Sanada ‘rana’d him shortly thereafter.

Evil was back in, and scored a discus clothesline and the assisted side kick, but referee Red Shoes was bumped and the GOD were quick to capitalise with a multitude of chair shots. Loa set up a table outside, but here was Bushi to mist both men before Fale ran in to deliver Grenades to both Evil and Sanada. GOD took the advantage once more, hitting a double-team Tongan Twist for a two-count, followed by a diving headbutt (Loa) and splash (Tama) for a near-fall. Sanada took out both opponents with a springboard dropkick, however, and Evil’s lariat earned another two-count.  They went for the Magic Killer, but Tama countered into a Gun Stun! Backdrop to Tama from Sanada, clothesline and a spin-out powerbomb to Sanada from Loa. Back to the apron, then, where Evil and Sanada combined to put Loa through Chekov’s Table with the Magic Killer! Tama kicked out of Darkness Falls in the ring, but LIJ calmly nailed the Magic Killer. One, two, NO! Evil delivered the STO and that finally put Tama away for the three-count.

EVIL & SANADA are the 2017 World Tag League winners!

A good match, well-paced and structured, despite the unnecessary middle portion with the ref bump and run-ins. Coming off two heated post-match brawls, the crowd was slow in getting into it, but they got there in the end. Tama Tonga, in particular, looked really good today. ***3/4

Post-match, Killer Elite Squad came to the ring, faced off, and our Wrestle Kingdom tag title match is set.

Evil with the “Everything is Evil” schtick, the confetti falls and we’re out!

Final thoughts: A consistently solid show top to bottom, with plenty of development ahead of Wrestle Kingdom and a raft of enjoyable tag matches. Chris Jericho’s appearance certainly made this feel like a more significant show, while there were some very fun previews of the Tokyo Dome title matches. Good enough for me.

See you on January 4th!