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puroresu-musings · 5 years

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NJPW DOMINION 6.9 in Osaka-Jo Hall Review (June 9th 2019)

Jon Moxley vs. Shota Umino ***1/4

Satoshi Kojima vs. Shingo Takagi ****

Jushin Thunder Liger & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Minoru Suzuki & Zack Sabre Jr. ***1/4

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Juice Robinson & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Jay White, Taiji Ishimori & Chase Owens **1/2

NEVER Openweight Title Match: Taichi (c) vs. Tomohiro Ishii ****1/4

IWGP Tag Team Title Match: Guerrillas Of Destiny (c) vs. EVIL & SANADA **1/4

IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title Match: Dragon Lee (c) vs. Will Ospreay ****3/4

IWGP Intercontinental Title Match: Kota Ibushi (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito ****1/2

IWGP Heavyweight Title Match: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Chris Jericho ***3/4

Photos.

Well this was another tremendous Osaka-Jo Hall show, which started incredibly strong, but ended flat with a main event that was very dissappointing. IWGP U.S. Champion Jon Moxley convincingly beat Young Lion Shota Umino in a spirited 3:52 sprint with the Double Arm DDT. This was really fun, with Umino bringing the fire, and it was exactly what it should have been. Moxley announced he wants in G1 in the post match, then carried Shota to the back. Shingo Takagi defeated Satoshi Kojima in an excellent match next. Look, I unapologetically love both of these guys, and have done for many a year, so I’m biased, and probably enjoyed this more than your average fan, but this was great. It was an all-action hard-hitter, which was Shingo’s Heavyweight teaser. After ducking a Kojima Lariat and turning it into Made In Japan, The Dragon hit a Pumping Bomber, then put the veteran away with Last Of The Dragon at the 11:14 mark. Afterwards, Takagi got on the mic anddeclared his intentions to also be in G1. Tremendous. YOSH-HASHI pinned ZSJ with a cradle in a little under 10 minutes, to end a good doubles clash to set up their inevitable RPW British Title match. Suzuki and Liger’s brawling still continues to be a great tease. Things got a bit hit and miss in the next three bouts. The Team Tana vs. Team White six man was decent, but hampered by the fact Tanahashi looked just plain bad out there today. In contrast to his great showing on Wednesday, he seemed to be hurting and a shell of his normal self. He pinned Owens at 9:48 with a really messy looking Final Cut Sling Blade. He’s an all-time Legend, but here’s hoping Tana gets back to relative normality before the G1, because if he looks like this throughout that gruelling tourney, it could be a long one for him.

Taichi defended the NEVER title against Ishii next, which was an excellent bout, as expected. It took a while to get the crowd, as they just weren’t feeling Taichi’s bullshit stalling and slo-mo tactics at all, but once they were into it, they were super hot. This picked up when Ishii took the lead, he threw Taichi’s gimmicks out of the ring, then proceeded in flooring Taichi with two big lariats. Ishii tries the sliding version, but the champion avoids, hits two gamengiri’s and the Gedo clutch for a believable near fall. Taichi follows with the Axe Bomber, and locks on the Stretch Plumb, but Ishii makes the ropes. Taichi hits the Last Ride for another great near fall, then the Stone Pitbull battles back with his trademark head-butt and lariat, hits the Press Powerbomb, the sliding lariat, then nailed the Vertical Drop Brainbuster to win his fifth NEVER Title at the 16:11 mark. As long as we get this Taichi at the end in his big matches, as opposed to the human sloth we got in the early stages, I’ll be good. The IWGP Tag Title match was by far the weakest thing on this show. No one cared. No one in the match. No one in the crowd. I’m sure no one at home cared either. This went on for what felt like half an hour (it went 16:38, but felt much longer), featuring four guys going through the motions of a match they’ve done what feels like 200 times before, with the same old bullshit shenanigans. Dear God (or Gedo), please sort out this tag division soon. The finish came when BUSHI fended off an interfering Jado with the mist, then took him out with a tope suicida. The LIJ team tried Magic Killer, but Tonga fended them off, then got the pin on EVIL with the old school boy/handful-of-tights finish. Wonderful.

In the big surprise of the show, Katsuyori Shibata came out to introduce his new protege/best friend, KENTA to the Osaka faithful. KENTA got a big reaction, then announced he’ll also be in G1. It was great to see him, and even though he’s all kinds of banged up from his disastrous WWE, I’m sure he’ll have numerous great matches throughout. Even though many are sore that he chose to go to NJPW as opposed to the sinking ship that is NOAH, I think he’s made the right decision. There’s way more for him to do here. The IWGP Jr Title match which followed was my MOTN. This was a near 5 star classic between two of the best high-flyers in the world today. It was 20 minutes of insanity and featured numerous mind-blowing spots. It began with them countering each others Hurricarana attempts, showing the double babyface respect, but broke down into craziness after Lee sat Ospreay on the barricade, then wiped him out with a magnificent tope suicida, into the Japanese announce team. Will battled back with a beautiful Stardust Moonsault to the floor. After Lee hit a knee strike and reverse rana, he ran straight into an Ospreay Spanish Fly for two. Ospreay on the apron, and Dragon hits the running Frankensteiner over the ropes, but The Ariel Assassin lands on his feet on the floor! This was an amazing spot. Dragon runs straight into an apron powerbomb, then a Shooting Star Press for another near fall. Ospreay goes up again, but Dragon cuts him off, then hits an insane tree of woe double stomp off the top to the outisde. Lee hit a big knee strike, then tries Desnucadora, but Will again flips out. Lee turns a powerbomb into a Canadian/Mexican Destroyer, then hits the sliding Boma Ye for a great near fall. He tries another padless knee, but Ospreay dropped Lee with a hook kick, hit the Hidden Blade, the Super Oscutter, and finally Storm Breaker, to win the match and the title after 20:07 of fantastic action, and Ospreay’s second classic match of the week. He challenged Robbie Eagles to a title match in the post-match, and backstage announced he too wants to be in G1. Man, this thing is getting all kinds of stacked.

Then it was the Ibushi/Naito I.C. Title match. Look, this was an excellent match, and I hate to be one of these crazy old preachers shouting at clouds, but some of the risks these guys took were just absolutely unnecessary. I know some people love these matches, and some thought this MOTN, but I myself am very uneasy watching these things. There is an escalation to them that is harrowing, and I hope we don’t see another bout between these two for quite some time. Also, I will say that taking insanely reckless head and neck drops, on the same day as a Mitsuharu Misawa tribute show, and throwing shoot head-butts on a card with Katsuyori Shibata present, maybe isn’t in the best of taste. And to make things worse, these guys can have incredible matches without this sort of thing, as I’ve seen it several times pre-2017. This was going fine, until Ibushi teased the terrifying Deadlift German into the ring. Naito fought free and teased another Fire Thunder Driver on the apron, ala their NJC match. Ibushi thankfully escapes, then takes an absolutely horrifying German Suplex onto, and off the apron. This was crazy, as his head bent in a very worrying fashion upon hitting the edge of the apron, then he sailed head first to the floor. Ibushi somehow isn’t dead, but looks glassy-eyed, and makes it in for 19.75. Naito follows up with a reverse rana off the second rope, which Ibushi of course takes right on top of his head, but Kota somehow counters Destino into a package Tombstone... which Naito, of course, takes right on top of his head. They finally make it up to their feet, and have an intense strike battle, which Naito wins by legit head-butting Ibushi right in the face, causing his left eye to swell up something fierce. Ibushi connects with a massive lariat, but misses a Boma Ye attempt, and eats a Dragon Suplex and Destino for a great near fall. Naito tries Destino again, but Kota turns it into Go 2 Sleep, then scores another near fall with the Last Ride. Ibushi tries Kamigoye, but Naito turns it into a DDT, which of course, Kota takes right on top of his head. Naito then hit another reverse rana, his version of Misawa’s Emerald Flowsion he’s calling ‘Valentia’, and Destino (both of which Ibushi landed right on his head for) to thankfully end this thing at 22:06. Taking the belt off Ibushi means he’s free to win the G1 and not take any L’s en route to WK14, should that be the direction they’re going, and giving it back to Naito gives him something of importance to do. Of course, thats IF Ibushi makes it to G1, he looked like he could be concussed here. I’m just thankful he’s not dead.

The main event between Okada and Jericho was very good, but has to rank as the most disappointing Okada big match I’ve ver seen. The work was solid, and the story good, but something just didn’t click here. I’ve seen Okada have better bouts with Bad Luck Fale than this. It started as a compelling brawl, but the wheels started to come off when they tried to work in some of Okada’s signature counter spots. Jericho, who doesn’t physically look his age, certainly did in the ring trying to do some of these spots. Both guys worked really hard, with Okada being stiffer than usual. Jericho countered Okada’s over the barricade dive into a (sort of) Code Breaker, then they traded Tombstone attempts, before the former Y2J locked in the Walls Of Jericho, but Okada makes the ropes. The champion hits a massive dropkick, and Tombstone for a near fall. Jericho counters a Rainmaker into a Tiger Driver with a cradle for a near fall of his own. Jericho off the second, but Okada dropkicks him out of the air. Another dropkick attempt, but Jericho holds the ropes, making Okada crash and burn, then scores a near fall with the Lionsault. Chris starts laying in stiff kicks, but Okada hits John Woo to send the veteran flying, then lays in stiff stomps and kicks of his own. Jericho removes the turnbuckle pad, eats another Tombstone, but counters Rainmaker into the Walls, then transitions into the old school Liontamer. Okada escapes, runs into the exposed turnbuckles, ducks a Judas Effect and scores the win at 25:43 with a folding press cradle outta nowhere. Erm...

I quite liked that Okada won with something other than the Rainmaker, but this just seemed flat to do it on such a big stage, and the crowd certainly weren’t expecting it to end it. But really this wasn’t up to scratch, especially when you compare it to the usual standard for a Dominion main event. This reeked of a political move to me, as the IWGP champion didn’t get a decisive, finisher win over the probable first AEW champion. I mean, it was something different at the least. Jericho goes crazy in the post-match and beats Okada down with a chair for what felt like an eternity. He was about to Powerbomb the champion through a table at ringside, but Tanahashi sent the cowardly heel packing. Tana then helped Okada to the back and the show just ended as the crowd erupted into boo’s. Oh dear. This was a seriously flat ending to what had been a great show up to that point. However, the finish can’t help but leave one slightly soured. The post match opens up a match between Jericho and Tanahashi (probably for Wrestle Kingdom) and a rematch against Okada (here’s hoping it’s better than this), but really the whole Jericho thing has ran out of steam for me. I didn’t much care for this programme leading into Dominion, and now it’s over, I feel somewhat justified in being so disinterested. On the whole though, this was an excellent supershow, with several great to tremendous matches and a, whilst disappointing, very good main event nonetheless. It’s now G1 season so it’s essentially wrestling christmas.

NDT

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littlebluespoon · 7 years

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Pain

This is a combination of @narwhalneglect and @wrestlingismyfavourite requests. We have Misu and Naito and LIJ and Suzuki Gun. This ended differently from what I was expecting but I’m not sorry. So enjoy!

“Did you really think it would be that easy?” y/n jumped at the sudden appearance of her ex-boyfriend. “Really, you should know better. Don’t jump ship thinking they’ll protect you y/n. If you really want to escape from me then you should run to the other end of the country. But then you already knew that.” Minoru walked off, leaving y/n standing, bewildered, outside her current boyfriends’ locker room. Shaking off the encounter as Minoru just being his usual self and trying to win her back she walked through the door looking for her boyfriend, Naito.

“Babe,” greeted by the rest of Los Ingobernables De Japon with waves and even a hug from Hiromu y/n stepped into the arms of Naito, “We could hear him out there. Are you okay?”

Relishing in the warmth of his hug she nodded into his chest, “He’s just trying to get under your skin, especially with the match coming up.” Taking a seat in the impromptu planning circle you listened to them prepare strategy to deal with the rest of Suzuki Gun during tonight’s main event.

“KES are probably our biggest problem. Literally. Hiro and I can manage Taka, Taichi and Desperado. That leaves Iizuka and Sabre since Kanemaru isn’t here.” Bushi launched himself right into the planning like he always did before waiting for someone else to contribute.

After a minute Sanada spoke up, “Iizuka and Sabre are easy enough, Evil can take Iizuka and I can do Sabre. What about jumping KES before hand?”

“No, they walk around in a goddamn pack, we’ll never get the two of them alone.” Bushi was desperately trying to think of an alternative when Naito spoke up,

“What if we make it a stipulation? No one else ringside. Just us in the ring.”

“He’d never go for it, and besides they’d always find a way to cheat.” No one was liking the idea of letting Naito walk out alone,

“But what if there was something in it for him? A one on one, no one else at ringside, the winner gets y/n.” And as if on cue, before you could respond to this batshit idea of a plan, there’s a knock on the door like the world just wants to make your life more dramatic.

It swings open before anyone could move to answer and in walk Suzuki Gun.

“Ah. Just the man we wanted to see.” Naito stands to greet Minoru offering a hand that is growled at. “Alright, no pleasantries then. I’ll just say it. You versus me, no interference, winner gets y/n.”

You watch as Minoru steps up to Naito, he has that look on his face. It used to be the one that meant you were in for a hell of a night but now every time you see it mean that someone is going to a hospital tonight. “And you’re really okay with this darling? Being traded like property? Maybe that’s all this boy see’s you as.” His eyes never left Naito’s the entire time he spoke to you but it wasn’t you that answered.

“It was her idea, she doesn’t like the thought of seeing your band of thugs beating away at her boyfriend.” Standing his ground Naito refused to blink, knowing that giving Suzuki Gun an inch meant them taking ten miles.

With that smile never leaving his face Minoru nodded and turned his back to all of LIJ and you leaving the room with a cheery whistle on his lips and his band of thugs at his back. Once they were gone you turned to your boyfriend expecting an explanation. However, all you got was a quick kiss on the cheek and a stay here before they all filed out in preparation for the match.

You sat for ten minutes, filled with worry. You didn’t even know who you wanted to win the match. On one hand there was your boyfriend who was trading you like cattle and on the other your ex who you had left because he had gotten far too possessive. Maybe it was time you forgot about having a relationship and just moved to the south pole. After all it seemed like your taste in men was horrible. Being so far in your head meant that you jumped when a hand was placed on your shoulder. Turning round, you found the most unlikely pair you’d seen, Hiromu Takahashi and Lance Archer.

“Takahashi here told us this wasn’t your idea. Boss is livid and is probably going to kill the guy. We need you y/n.” Shaking your head at Lance you began to pace the room.

“You gotta get out there. Make a choice otherwise they’re going to kill each other.”

Stopping mid step, you glared at both of them

“I’d rather just leave! Misu was right, I should have run to the other end of the country.”

You collapsed in a chair and lowered your head, completely missing the shared look between the two men.

“Misu? You never gave Tetsuya a nickname. y/n-san you know exactly who you would choose. You just don’t want to admit it, you’re scared that you love him too much that he doesn’t see you like you see him. Y/n, love is about diving in at the deep end and jumping out of the airplane. You really think he hangs out in the cafeteria for hours on end in the same spot, just staring at the door because it’s fun?” Hiromu had pulled you off the couch and out of your pity party.

“I would also like to add that a young birdie told me they found a ring in Boss’s bag but you don’t know that and never heard it from anyone.” Lance glanced around the room almost like Minoru could hear him. Laughing you pulled both men out of the room with you and headed down to the ring.

Arriving at the top of the ramp you saw the havoc the two had wreaked. Young Lions were out cold on the ramp, the ring was covered in blood and it looked like half the crown had lost their seats. So engrossed in beating the hell out of each other neither of them noticed you until you grabbed the microphone and screamed.

“Assholes, the two of you. But I love you.” Dropping the microphone, you climbed into the ring and watched as Naito stepped in front of you, like he was expecting something. A slap was what he got.

“Did you really think I was going to put up with this? Learn how to treat a woman and maybe you’ll hold the interest of one for more than a night.” Then you looked at him. For the first time in three months you really saw him, all the little things that made you fall in love with him in the first place. He spat out the blood in his mouth before giving you that look, the one that meant you were in for a hell of a night. After all the two of you had three months to make up for.

It was the cheering that broke the two of you from the moment you were having in the ring. Looking back up at the ramp it seemed a fight had broken out between both factions and had now spilled out into the arena. Suzuki Gun having the numbers advantage were obviously winning and then you noticed that there was someone missing. Looking around at the fighting you could not spot Hiromu and after looking for him you found that you couldn’t see Lance either. Turning to Minoru to ask him, because really this was likely his doing, you found Lance talking to the Boss before you found yourself surrounded by the rest of Suzuki Gun. You all stood victorious over the bodies of four, fifths of LIJ and then Hiromu’s music hit. He walked down the ramp, Daryl in hand except he wasn’t wearing his usual gear. It was a black and white version, with a Suzuki Gun shirt under his jacket. He climbed into the ring, giving Sanada a kick on the way past before handing something to Minoru. You exchanged smiles as he walked past to claim his place at the end of the line.

You decided that your boyfriend had at least earned a kiss, after all he did bring one of your best friends into his stable for you. As you spun around to face him you felt a pain explode across your face. The last thing you heard before fading into unconsciousness was Minoru,

‘You should have run. I have no time for little sluts who can’t make up their minds.

Waking in the medical room at the back of the arena, the first thing you did was run. Taking his advice, you ran to the other end of the country. You never even packed your things, all you could think about was the humiliation you had endured and the betrayal you felt. You guessed that was how Misu felt when you left him for Naito. So you settled into your new life away from everything you ever knew hoping that one day you would stop referring to him as Misu.

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#minoru suzuki #minoru suzuki fanfic #tetsuya naito #Tetsuya naito fanfic #suzuki gun #los ingobernables de japon #suzuki gun fanfic #los ingobernables de japon fanfic #bluespoonswriting

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enbywrestlingfan · 7 years

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NJPW Wrestling Primer (Updated for 2017)

A while back I did a primer post to help introduce people to the wrestlers of NJPW, but it's become out of date over time as things have changed since then, since wrestling always changes. So this is an updated version from mid-April 2017.

Kazuchika Okada - The greatest wrestler on the planet today, and one who is in the middle of possibly the best title reign of all time, which has featured numerous 4.5 and 4.75 star matches, as well as two 5 star and even a 6 star match. He originally made his legacy in NJPW with a now iconic rivalary with Hiroshi Tanahashi, but since has become a true ace for the company. He is the leader of the CHAOS faction and possibly Gedos son. Though, the position of ace wasn't meant for Okada, it was meant for..

Tetsuya Naito - Naito was supposed to be the new top face of NJPW, but the fans rejected him. So during a US tour, instead of returing to Japan like most, he took a little soul searching journey down to Mexico, and met a man named La Sombra (you might know him as Andrade Cien Almas from WWE NXT) and his Los Ingobernables stable. This inspired a change of attitude in Naito, who returned to NJPW, and turned his back on the fans who rejected him, becoming one of the best characters and heels in wrestling in the process. He leads the Los Ingobernables stable, has had 5 star matches with Kenny Omega, Micheal Elgin (and imo with Tanahashi at WK11), and is just a master of working a crowd. He won the IWGP Heavyweight Title, and threw it in the air like a piece of trash. It was amazing.

Kenny Omega - Currently in NJPW, there are three men who could be considered the ace. Okada, Naito and Kenny Omega. Omega is probably the most popular wrestler in NJPW outside of Japan, due to him being Canadian. He's the leader of Bullet Club, and is one of the greatest wrestlers on the planet today. Theres simply nothing Kenny Omega can't do. But he has two modes: if he keeps his shirt on in a match, expect more comedy, but if the shirts off you're in for the match of the night because thats when he gives 100%. Last year he became the first gaijin to win the G1 Climax Tournament, and went on to have a 6 star classic match with Okada in the main event of Wrestle Kingdom. Since losing, he's been searching for the answer of "why can't I win big matches", and his current goal is to walk into the upcoming NJPW shows in America as champion, no matter what.

Hiroshi Tanahashi - The former ace of NJPW. He's the man who pulled NJPW out of the dark ages. A wildly popular rockstar of a man, who is still one of the best big match workers in all of wrestling, even now that he's slowing down. He's had classic matches with just about every big name on the NJPW roster, and I don't think you can count him out just yet. He's currently a member of the weird Taguchi Japan stable, and doing lots of 6 man tag matches, but I can't help but feel he'll be chasing singles gold again soon.

Katsuyori Shibata - Shibata is an interesting case. He debuted alongside Tanahashi and Nakamura and with them he was part of the chosen future of the company. But when things got rough for NJPW, he jumped ship to go do MMA fights instead. With his 4-10-1 record, it is often considered pretty bad for him, but when he came back to wrestling, he seemed more legitimate than ever and wants to fight his way to the top instead of being handed the title. He's the anti-hero face that everyone wants in wrestling, a true badass who will fight until the very end... which he might have in his recent main event with Okada. Due to a combonation of dehydration due a longer match than he's used to, and a dangerous shoot headbutt spot, he had to get surgery on his head following the match and might never wrestle again, but if his music hits again, the pop will likely be thunderous.

Minoru Suzuki - 48 fights, 29 wins & 19 losses. That is the MMA record of former King of Pancrase Minoru Suzuki. He's the leader of Suzuki-Gun, and someone who would break your arm off and laugh at your suffering. He's the best bastard heel on the planet, a legitimate badass, and he scares me. He's held both the AJPW Triple Crown Championship, and NOAH's GHC Heavyweight Championship, and only needs the IWGP Heavyweight Championship to be one of few men to hold all three of Japans top belts, and even at 48 years old, age might not be enough to stop him. He's an ageless badass.

Tomohiro Ishii - Ishii is one of the most underrated men in NJPW, as he can be slotted in as a top guy at any time and he'll put on a fantastic match. Just an incredible worker when motivated in a singles match, but usually does tag work with other members of CHAOS, usually Toru Yano. But there are moments of brilliance in all of his matches.

Those are the major players in the company in my eyes but here’s some fun minor characters:

Ryusuke Taguchi - The funky weapon, who likes to throw his ass into peoples faces to win matches. When motivated he's one of the most dangerous junior heavyweights on the roster, but he'd rather just have fun. He leads Taguchi Japan, which is a stable of random members of the roster who for some reason united under the flag of The Funky Weapon. It's awesome just trust me.

Bad Luck Fale - A huge, slow beast of a man. Currently the longest running member of Bullet Club, being the first person to join Prince Devitt's (WWE's Finn Balor) new stable back in 2013. He's a constant force that is protected in singles action and that makes him dangerous. In tournaments he's a spoiler. Don't bet against Fale, he's kill your brackets and your dreams. He's gotten singles wins over most big names in current NJPW, and is a hard guy to predict. Fear the Underboss of Bullet Club.

Tama Tonga - A future breakout star for NJPW, since his awesome performance in the G1 Climax last year, Tonga has just been getting better and better with each match. He's got a unique in ring style where he uses his speed to confuse an opponent before striking. Always fun to watch, and I see singles success in his future, as well as more tag success with his brother:

Tanga Loa - Camacho. Does anyone remember Camacho? Teamed with Hunico in WWE? No? Well he’s in Japan now with his brother and they’re pretty great. He's a brawler, and that's about it. It works in tag matches but don't expect much from a singles match with him.

Ricochet - The human incarnation of flippt shit. He busts out 630 sentons like they're nothing, it's incredible. But beyond that he's just a fantastic and well rounded wrestler.

Will Ospreay - The best high flyer in wrestling but needs to slow the fuck down before he kills his knees. He's only 23, and already one of the best in the world, and only gets better as he expands his style.

Jushin Thunder Liger - Iconic legend of juniors wrestling, character was based off an anime which is much less known than Liger himself, still wrestles but has slowed down a bit. He's 52 years old and can still outwrestle most juniors on the roster.

Tiger Mask W - Not Kota Ibushi

Kota Ibushu - A freelancer who turned down a full time WWE contract to do weird shit in Japan, used to team with Kenny Omega as The Golden Lovers but they broke up and have soap opera level drama AND JUST NEED TO MAKE UP ALREADY. He's also not Tiger Mask W.

Togi Makabe - Bruiser Brody 2.0

Ropongi Vice - Trent Barreta (yes, that Trent from WWE) and Rocky Romero just wanna have a good time in Ropongi, but have to wrestle too but are very good at it. Rocky is one of the best tag wrestlers around, and Barreta is becoming one of the best too.

Sanada - A member of Los Ingobernables De Japon. I can't help but feel like NJPW has big plans for him. He debutted helping Naito win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, and has had big singles matches with both Tanahashi and Okada, but has never held singles gold. (only member of L.I.J to not get a singles title) He's an incredibly agile, handsome, and skilled wrestler, expect big things from him in the future.

Evil - A member of Los Ingobernables De Japon, is Evil and has lasers.

Hiromu Takahashi - The Joker mixed with Kefka mixed with a Pro Wrestler, he will kill himself so long as he kills his opponent at the same time. Has a fetish where he needs to lick everything he touches.

BUSHI - Evil Luchador who spits mist in peoples eyes and has really fucking cool masks.

Yujiro Takahashi - The Godfather but Japanese, the only Japanese member of Bullet Club, formerly teamed with Tetsuya Naito as No Limit

Micheal Elgin - The worlds strongest Canadian, likely lives in a gym.

Satoshi Kojima - Heir to the lariat, will take your head off with it, loves bread (seriously follow this guy on Twitter, his broken english tweets are as wholesome as his lariats are stiff)

David Finlay Jr. - Son of Fit Finlay, getting very good

Tomaki Honma - Gravely voiced fan favorite who usually loses but is always fun, he uses his head a weapon, started his career in Big Japan Wrestling where he was the first person to use light tubes in a deathmatch, and is currently on the shelf with a very major neck injury and might never wrestle again.

Toru Yano - A comedy relief wrestler who just wants you to buy his DVD and will keep beating your faves with upset victories until you do

Yuji Nagata - Some would say Nagata is the former ace of NJPW during the dark years, but no one really wants to take that title. But he's a fantastic worker even in his old age, one of the last of his generation of NJPW.

Hirooki Goto - A man who could challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship a thousand more times and still choke every single time, but always have a good match in the process. Seriously, this guy loses 80% of big matches he's in. He's a stiff worker and it's great, but get your head in the game Goto, you can win matches, I know you can!

Kushida - Have you ever watched Back the the Future and thought, ‘this is great but I wish Marty McFly was a wrestler’. Kushida. That’s Kushida.

and just so many more and I could go on forever. There are so many great wrestlers in NJPW, and you really don’t need to know the commentary to enjoy it.

#njpw #new japan pro wrestling

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flauntpage · 7 years

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Toronto Is the Nerdiest Wrestling City in the World

This article originally appeared on VICE Sports Canada.

Sports fans in Toronto are a passionate bunch. The fans of each of Toronto's major sports teams are known to be among the rowdiest in their respective leagues. From the Raptors' Jurassic Park den, to Leafs playoff sensation Dart Guy, to TFC supporter group Red Patch Boys, to a baseball fan base so drunk and obnoxious that babies aren't safe in the stadium, when residents of Toronto get into something, they go way over the top.

Understandably, fan hysteria is commensurate with the team's success. All of Toronto's major sports teams are playoff contenders at the moment, but we are not far removed from Jurassic Park being just a walkway, Leafs tickets actually being affordable on the secondary market, and $2 promo nights designed to fill the seats during Tuesday night Jays games.

The one thing that doesn't waver in Toronto is the city's passion for professional wrestling. Over the course of four weeks in May, wrestling organizations with origins in Japan, Mexico, and the United Kingdom presented shows in Toronto, all of which were rousing successes. Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling sold out Ted Reeve Arena, ditto for Lucha Underground in conjunction with local outfit Smash Wrestling at Lee's Palace, while WhatCulture Pro Wrestling packed The Phoenix.

This wasn't just general enthusiasm, or curiosity about outfits that rarely tour outside of their home bases, either. At each event, the fans knew the idiosyncrasies of both the product and audience participation so well that it felt like each event was happening in its country of origin.

When New Japan legend Hiroshi Tanahashi stepped onto the top rope during his entrance, fans threw streamers into the ring, just as they would in Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. When the action between luchadores got particularly heated, fans pistoned their arms skyward with fingers in the air yelling "lucha!" just as they would at Lucha Underground Arena. And when the ring announcer prepared to bring out WhatCulture Pro champion Joe Hendry and declared that the match was set for one fall, fans called "one fall!" right back to him, as they would if they were in the O2 Academy in Newcastle. "It's a very smart crowd, very educated in all forms of pro wrestling, and I think those are the best crowds to work in front of. Toronto has always been one of my favourites. I can also mention a place like Los Angeles in the same vein. They're there to have fun, and they understand everything you're going to attempt as a wrestler," Kenny Omega, the top international star in New Japan, told VICE Sports.

"Whether you're gonna go for strong style, you're going to try lucha, OK we're going to go classic North American or catch style, or we're just going to do some over the top comedy—as long as they're having fun, they don't care. They're going to cheer for it, they're going to love it, they're going to come back."

The question is why does the city take to pro wrestling the way it does, and with such consistency? Other combat sports such as boxing and MMA have had varying levels of success at the box office in the city, and the entertainment calendar at large is packed on any given night, meaning there's stiff competition any time a wrestling promoter wants to run Toronto.

In most cities, there wouldn't be enough room for all of it, but Toronto is different—pro wrestling always seems to take precedence.

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"Toronto is generally just a big melting pot for all types of cultures. There's such a cool, energetic vibe and positive support for pro wrestling," said Omega, who was born in Canada. "I'll recall my high school history, where there was a group of us that would have done anything to attend a show live. We were so passionate about pro wrestling, and we almost couldn't imagine how other people didn't like it as much as we did. We would do our little backyard shows, and it was like pulling teeth to get our friends to come watch.

"It just seems that for some reason there are more people in Toronto like how I was in high school."

That rabid enthusiasm for pro wrestling extends back to when the Toronto fans were in high school, and to when their parents and grandparents were in high school.

Toronto has been a major wrestling market since the 1930s, when Jim Londos would headline shows at Maple Leaf Gardens. Londos was the most popular wrestler of the day, and helped carry the region until the Tunney family took over wrestling in the city in 1939. John and Frank Tunney would help establish the first major Canadian superstar in Whipper Billy Watson, and in the 1960s, housed one of wrestling's all-time great heels and draws in The Sheik. With The Sheik atop the card, the Tunneys consistently drew more than 10,000 people in Maple Leaf Gardens for over seven years.

Kenny Omega (right) whips Frankie Kazarian into the ropes at a recent show in Toronto. Photo by Chris Hall/Courtesy Ring of Honor Wrestling

In the late 1970s, "Maple Leaf Wrestling" aligned with Jim Crockett Promotions, which meant Ric Flair and Dusty Rhodes began appearing at the Gardens as well. Around that time, the wrestling world experienced a seismic shift on the national scene, as Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Federation began to make ground on Crockett. As such, when Jack Tunney took over the family business, he shacked up with the McMahons, starting a decade-long relationship which brought WWF programming to Canadian cable, and the biggest names in wrestling to downtown Toronto.

The highlight of the relationship was no doubt the oddly named "Wrestling Hulkamania Night" at Exhibition Stadium, which drew 70,000 people to watch Hulk Hogan and Paul Orndorff battle in the main event. Tunney's importance was such that he was even given an on-screen role as "president" of the WWF.

[Hulk Hogan vs. Paul Orndorff]

The history of wrestling in the town has established Toronto as not just a one-promotion town, the way Southern American cities were once exclusively NWA and WCW markets. It's been exposed to various promoters and styles throughout the years, and that knowledge has been passed down from generation to generation.

"It's not like the old Jackson, Mississippi, days where you can lock up, put on a headlock and they throw babies in the air. They want to see the good shit, but when they see the good shit, they fuckin' go bonkers for it. It's a smart town, but they're more discerning. They like what they like, and you can tell by the number of tickets they sell," legendary wrestling personality Jim Cornette, who also doubles as one of the sport's most knowledgeable historians and top memorabilia collectors, told VICE Sports.

"It's New York and Toronto, and Toronto to me is ahead of New York because the facilities are nicer, and the fans are cooler. You don't get the fuckin' bunch that just wants to chant Twinkies at the referee."

An old wrestling promo hyping an event at Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens, circa 1970. Photo via Photobucket

The crowds in Toronto make it a desirable place not just for promoters, but for the performers themselves. One of the most iconic crowd involvement moments in wrestling history took place in Toronto at Wrestlemania X8, when fans simply decided to cheer the heel Hulk Hogan over The Rock, prompting the then-dastardly "Hollywood" Hogan to revert back to his altruistic superhero ways of old mid-match. As Omega points out, Toronto fans are appreciative of all wrestlers—heel or face, Canadian, American, Japanese, British or Mexican.

"My first Toronto experiences were with the WWF. The stadium show, I wrestled Jose Lothario. I said, 'My God, I'm actually going to get to wrestle in Toronto, I get to put that on my résumé,'" recalls Cornette. "SummerSlam was three or four days before that, and I took a bump where I hurt my knee. The bursa sac filled up with blood, it's purple, I'm limping, but I don't let anybody know about it, because I knew they wouldn't let me work Jose. I also wanted the payoff, because there was 30,000 people there. So I didn't let anybody see my leg for four days."

One look around Ted Reeve Arena during the recent Ring of Honor/New Japan Pro Wrestling show illustrated how profitable events in Toronto can be for independent performers as well—particularly at the merchandise table.

There was seldom a chest in the venue without the Bullet Club logo on it, the faction headed by Omega. Everyone from the 64-year old Indian-Canadian man to his elementary school-aged son was wearing one. For a Canadian to obtain such a shirt, they have two options. They can pay $50 in cash in person at a live event, or pay a minimum of $25 plus more than $14 in shipping costs online. While hockey fans in Toronto can buy a Maple Leafs shirt for $8 at Walmart, wrestling fans have to shell out the equivalent of their cell phone bill to outfit themselves—and yet they continue to do it.

NJPW stars Tetsuya Naito and Bushi at a recent event in Toronto. Photo Chris Hall/Courtesy Ring of Honor Wrestling

Even Canadian independent promotions seem to operate on a higher level than most globally. Smash Wrestling, the city's most successful indy federation at the moment, runs in the same venues as pop singers, and comes complete with a video screen, entrance montages, lights and smoke machines.

Wrestling fandom in Toronto will never waver the way it will for team sports. The Leafs and Raptors and Jays might fluctuate between contention and basement-dwelling, but barring an industry-wide collapse or scandal, the fact that wrestling is "fake" ensures that new stars will always be created and intrigue can always be drummed up. But promoters don't have to work too hard to entice people in Toronto. The city's love for wrestling is anything but fake—it's as real as it gets.

Toronto Is the Nerdiest Wrestling City in the World published first on http://ift.tt/2pLTmlv

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