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puroresu-musings · 9 months

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NJPW WRESTLE KINGDOM 18 in Tokyo Dome Review (Jan 4th, 2024)

New Japan Rambo **

IWGP Jr. Tag Team Championship - Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney vs. TJP & Francesco Akira ***1/4

NJPW World TV Championship - Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi ****

Yota Tsuji vs. Yuya Uemura ***1/2

Shota Umino & Kaito Kiyomiya vs. EVIL & Ren Narita ***1/4

NEVER Openweight Championship - Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Tama Tonga ****1/2

IWGP Tag Team & STRONG Openweight Tag Championship Double Title Match - Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI vs. El Phantasmo & Hikuleo ***3/4+

IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship - Hiromu Takahashi (c) vs. El Desperado ****1/4

Inaugural IWGP Global Championship Match - Will Ospreay vs. Jon Moxley vs. David Finlay ****1/2

Kazuchika Okada vs. Bryan Danielson *****

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship - SANADA (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito ****1/4

Photos.

This show ruled. Full disclosure, I've fallen behind with NJPW in the last couple of years, and only really get to fully see the major shows, so going in this looked like a solid little card on paper, so my expectations weren't exactly sky high. However, the New Japan crew knocked it out of the park with an excellent, Show of the Year contender. Things started as they always do: The annual "cram everyone humanly possible onto the card" Rambo. We all know what to expect here, and this was better than a lot of previous offerings, but the surprise appearance of Fujita "Jr" Hayato in this years really raised it up for me, as I'm always super pleased to see him back in the ring after all he's been through. Takashi Iizuka turning up was also a nice surprise (absence makes the heart grow fonder, and all that), and it was a kick to be transported back to 2013 with him mercilessly going after poor Shimpei Nogami on commentary. The ending though was very deja vu, as I could have sworn some incredibly similar variant of this was the outcome last year. The final four of Great-O-Khan, Taiji Ishimori, YOH and Toru Yano advanced to face off for the KOPW Title tomorrow.

The main show started in style with the prerequisite Jr Tag Title Match, which featured TJP debuting his new demon gimmick, The Aswang, because he was locked in a casket when last we saw him, you see. My English feed froze at the opening bell on the Aswang mask for ages, and by the time I'd gotten back onto the Japanese feed, I'd missed like three minutes of this, there were brawls all over ringside, The Aswang was wearing a dog collar, and Moloney was bleeding. The final 5 or so minutes I did see were pretty damn good though, so that's what my rating is based on. TJP got this win for him and Akira after he blew the dreaded Dokukiri into Drilla's face, then Catch 22 hit the double knees to regain the titles at 9:38. Next up, President Tanahashi put an end to the 365 day TV Title reign of ZSJ in an excellent 8:53 sprint. These guys always have excellent matches together, and this was no exception. They worked a fast-paced thriller, which boiled down to them hitting a sequence of cradle reversals, before Tana counter a Zack Victory Roll into one of his own, and won the belt to a big pop. President Ace thanked everyone for coming in the post match, and wished us all a Happy New Year. Godly.

Career rivals Tsuji and Uemura had their first non-Young Lion outing on a major show next. This was a very good little match, I've always been high on both guys since they were rookies, and I firmly believe they have incredibly bright futures in New Japan, and are destined to be focal points in the years to come. Even though I do wish they'd do more with Yota. The guy came in super hot, with a ton of hype, and now he's kinda just floundering in the mid-card. And more mid-carders is most certainly not something this company needs! They always have really good matches, so add this one to that list, which ended at just under 11 minutes, when Uemura got the much needed win with his beautiful Deadbolt suplex. Fellow future superstar Shota Umino drove into Tokyo Dome on a motorbike to start his and partner, NOAH "Ace" Kiyomiya's tag match against HoT goons EVIL and Ren Narita next. This was going along really nicely, the three young guys all looked great, and the crowd were very much into, until the standard shenanigans started, which lead to a fairly abrupt finish, which saw Narita deck Umino with a steel plated push-up bar, then score the pin with his Double Cross finish at the 7 minute mark.

The fifth bout saw company MVP Shingo defend the NEVER Title against Tama Tonga in a hard-hitting war, which was by far the best match on the show up to this point. The near 30K in attendance were going crazy for this as they hit all their big spots, massive Lariats and Gun Stun counters. After Takagi scored a great near fall with Made in Japan, Tama went to the Bullet Club well, hitting a Gun Stun, Bloody Sunday AND a Styles Clash, before putting Shingo away with the DSD at 13:46 to claim his 4th NEVER Championship. Excellent stuff here, though seemingly Tama announced afterwards that he's finishing up with the company at the end of the month, so him winning is an... interesting decision. The double Tag Title match followed, which was a rematch of the Tag League Final between Bishamon and GoD. This was another great match, a fun sprint which saw the STRONG Champions win both sets of belts after ELP hit Goto with CRIII, and Hikuleo came off the top with a massive, but very unattractive, Big Splash to win the belts in 9:47. Just before this match, Nic Nemeth (the former Dolph Ziggler) and his brother Ryan turned up to sit at ringside. I think we all know there's some kind of angle coming here.

Speaking of career rivals, Hiromu and Despy faced off for the Jr. Heavy Title in the next bout. We've seen many versions of this match in recent history, and they're pretty much always excellent, so this fit that mould no doubt. Things started hot as Despy hit Hiromu with a Tope con Giro as he made his entrance, and they worked 100 mph from there. The challenger worked over the champions leg to set up the Numero Dos, but it wasn't to be. The finish saw Desperado escape the Hiromu Roll, then hit a Jay Driller, kept a hold and nailed Takahashi with a second Pinche Loco to win the strap at the 14:21 mark to end another great outing. We crowned an inaugural IWGP Global champion next, as Ospreay, Moxley and Finlay had a wild Triple Threat Match. This started with Mox and Ospreay agreeing to work together for the first 5 minutes in order to take out Finlay, then turn their attention on each other, before BC War Dogs Alex Coughlin and Gabe Kidd ran in. The babyfaces rallied a comeback though, which saw Ospreay put the invaders through tables with a Swanton Bomb to the outside, and Moxley took a post bump and gigged himself. Which I'm sure will shock many. The finishing stretch was insanely hot as Mox kicked at one from a Hidden Blade, but was put down with Stormbreaker, only for Finlay to hit Ospreay with his new Overkill finish, which is essentially a Brainbuster into a Go 2 Sleep, to become the inaugural Global champion in 22:17. In the post match, Finlay got into a shoving match and pull-apart with Nic Nemeth at ringside, which culminated in Nemeth chasing him to the back. So that looks to be Finlay's first title programme. Finlay going over was 100% the right call, with Ospreay leaving as a full-timer, they need to start making some top guys, and he's a good place to start.

Semi final time, and a true dream match next as Okada faced Danielson in a match I'd spent a good decade fantasy booking. After their slightly disappointing first encounter at Forbidden Door in June, due in no small part by Dragon legit breaking his arm during it, they came out with a lot to prove. And they certainly didn't disappoint this time as they had a superb wrestling encounter based around aggression and emotion. As anyone who's been watching Danielson since the ROH days can attest, when Bryan has a grudge with someone (Morishima, Nigel), he goes all out with the intensity, and it usually produces classics. The pacing, the limb-work, the storytelling, the drama... everything about this was essentially perfect. After Okada broke Danielson's arm in their previous match, Dragon obsessively set out to do the same here. And it lead to his downfall. The American Dragon was coming into this one with a fractured orbital bone, so Okada worked over that for a while too. Okada kicked out of a Busaiku Knee, Danielson locked on the same arm submission he tapped Okada out with at Forbidden Door, but The Rainmaker made the ropes. Dragon then stomped his f'n head in and locked in the LeBell Lock, only for Okada to hit a Rainmaker, but he was in too much pain from his devastated right arm, and couldn't make the cover. Danielson hit a big head kick and another Busaiku Knee, but rather than go for the cover, he elected to do the "Yes!" gimmick in the corner, and try another knee, but Okada hit an Emerald Flowsion, a Landslide, then another Rainmaker to fall on top of Dragon, and score the surprise win at the 23:24 (which it felt half of, by the way). This was a masterpiece, and I was legitimately shocked when the three count came. I could have watched this for an hour, it left me very much wanting a rubber match, and this is easily the best match of 2024 so far. They bowed to each other and shook hands in the post match.

The Keiji Muto fan club imploded in the main event as former LIJ stablemates Naito and SANADA (who was even dressed like Muto circa 1995), battled for the World Title. This was an excellent match, one that I didn't have a massive amount of interested in going into this show, but they had a really great clash. It's worth mentioning that something happened to SANADA here, I don't know if it was the biceps injury he's been dealing with since G1, or if he seperated his shoulder or something, but he was in noticeable discomfort through this, and it let to some wonky botches near the finish. They tried multiple times to do a Destino counter, but they couldn't pull it off. SANADA hit Dead Fall for the double down, then an Asai DDT, but Naito escaped a second Dead Fall attempt, and went for Valentia, but SANADA countered into an O'Connor Roll for a super close near fall. A Shining Wizard followed, but Naito turned another Dead Fall attempt into one of his own, finally hit Valentia, then finished the champion off with Destino to win his first World title at 25:42. It's worth pointing out that they clashed heads on the way down on the Destino, and Naito got busted open pretty bad over his eye. With Naito having finally won again in the main event of Tokyo Dome, he was about to Finish His Story, when EVIL and Dick Togo, of all people, ran-in in an attempt to ruin things like KENTA did in 2020. However, they hadn't bargained on SANADA, who nailed his former tag partner with a Shining Wizard, and Naito sent Dick packing with a low dropkick. SANADA then let Naito finish the story a decade in the making, and do his "De-Ja-Pon!!!" roll call to end the show and send everyone home happy. Whilst I applaud NJPW for giving SANADA a go, or just giving ANYONE NEW a shot at the top of the card (it's been very Groundhog Day for a long time up there, and this is something I've been encouraging since NAito at WK8!), I don't think it payed off liked they'd hoped. SANADA is a very good worker, and amazing athlete, but he's just missing something that would make him that major star. Which is obviously something Naito has in abundance, so I'm very pleased he got his big win here, as it was pretty much last chance saloon.

This was a tremendous card, not quite as good as last year's, I don't think, but still great, great stuff and well worth checking out. Especially the Okada/Danielson match!

NDT

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wrestlingisfake · 1 month

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G1 Climax quarterfinals preview

The A and B block matches for this year's G1 Climax are complete, so now we move on to the knockout stage. This is basically a six-man elimination bracket, with the top three from each block. Tonight's show is headlined by A2 vs. A3 and B2 vs. B3. The winners of those matches will advance to the semifinals on August 17, where it'll be A1 vs. A2 or A3, and B1 vs. B2 or B3. The two semifinal winners will meet on August 18, to decide the winner of the tournament.

Shingo Takagi vs. Great-O-Khan - In A Block, Zack Sabre Jr. finished on top with a 7-2 record, followed by four men tied at 5-4. Of those four, Takagi won block matches against the other three, so he took second place. Khan's tiebreaker wins over Tetsuya Naito and EVIL put him in third. So now these two will compete for the right to wrestle Sabre in the semifinals. Khan's KOPW championship is not at stake here.

This is, by design, a rematch from earlier in the tournament--Takagi defeated Khan on July 23. Whoever wins here will also give us an A Block rematch in the semifinals--Sabre beat Khan on July 20, and Shingo beat Sabre on August 3. I wouldn't have set it up that way, but oh well. Presumably New Japan wants the finalists to get a chance to avenge a key loss or two.

I'm delighted Khan has made it this far, because I think he's capable of more than he's been doing for the past four years, and I like that this year's format allows someone from out of left field to get this close to the big dance. That said, I absolutely don't believe he's going to win the G1, or even make it to the final. So I guess it's possible he could win here and lose to Sabre, I don't think they'll take it that far. Takagi vs. Sabre will look better on the marquee than Khan vs. Sabre, so I think that's the match New Japan will deliver. Shingo wins.

Konosuke Takeshita vs. Yota Tsuji - Over in B Block, David Finlay wound up in first place at 6-3. Takeshita and Tsuji were part of another multi-man tie at 5-4, with Takeshita officially in second place and Tsuji at third. Finlay will face the winner of this match on the 17th.

From an AEW fan's perspective, it's probably not a big shock that Takeshita has made it this far. But I'm a little surprised an outsider got out of the block--I kinda wonder if it's a last-minute change to work around Yuya Uemura's injury. New Japan likes bringing in guys from other promotions, but pushing them is another story. So I'm betting this match will be about Tsuji avenging his loss on July 20, before moving onward and upward.

Zack Sabre Jr. & Hartley Jackson vs. David Finlay & Gedo - Sabre and Finlay are waiting to find out who their opponents will be on August 17. Jackson, an Australian freelancer, appears to be stepping in for Kosei Fujita, who was sidelined earlier in the tour. Seems like he'd be the one to take the pin, but maybe if they like him enough Gedo will do the job instead.

Shota Umino & El Phantasmo & Jado vs. EVIL & Ren Narita & Dick Togo - Pretty standard good guys vs. House of Torture tag match. Jado or Togo will likely lose the fall. I guess Evil's team wins.

Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI vs. HENARE & Callum Newman - All but the top three matches are basically filler, but this one feels especially like filler. I guess Bushi loses.

Gabe Kidd & Jake Lee vs. Jeff Cobb & Francesco Akira - Kidd has started talking up the idea of pursuing the IWGP heavyweight tag team title with Lee. Akira will probably lose the match to help advance that storyline.

Hiroshi Tanahashi & Oleg Boltin & Toru Yano vs. SHO & Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Yujiro Takahashi - Tana's team holds the NEVER trios championship, but the belts aren't on the line here. If Evil or Ren Narita were in this match, I'd think the heels might get a win to set up a title bout on the next tour, but as it is House of Torture's team feels too weak for anything but an easy squash for the babyfaces.

SANADA & Taichi & DOUKI & TAKA Michinoku vs. Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI & Tomoaki Honma & Katsuya Murashima - Kinda nice to see Just 5 Guys (well, four of them) together again, and Goto and Yoshi reunited. Other than that, not much to this. Murashima should lose.

#njpw #g1 climax

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ecargmura · 1 month

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Kimi Ni Todoke Season 3 Episode 3 Review - Can't Go Back

This episode is a good way to show off Chizu and Ryu’s relationship from how it initially was and how it changed over time. While they’re not dating just yet, I do like the progression from friends to something more.

Chizu and Ryu had always been friends since they were kids. Their families were very close to one another too! Chizu always understood Ryu when others didn’t. Ryu’s mother Tetsuko is shown in the flashbacks and it finally makes sense where Ryu’s brother Toru got his looks from. Tetsuko’s love language was making food, specifically onigiri. Chizu and Ryu loved her onigiri so much. The way the onigiri became sort of their love language was seriously heartbreaking because the times the young Chizuru made onigiri for Ryu in order for both of them to move on was sad. I think the moment they broke down crying together was when Ryu fell in love with Chizuru.

I haven’t lost a parent yet, but I do feel like how Tetsuko’s death, specifically the aftermath, was handled well. Grieving can be hard for some people. While I haven’t lost someone close to me, I have witnessed how those around me processed it and it is a bit similar. Some people bottle up their emotions and only let them out when it gets too much. Ryu was in the denial stage as he bottled up everything and pretended that everything was okay. I also liked how the people around them were always so supportive of their time in need. Kazehaya’s family often invited Ryu over for dinner and even brought extra food when taking him back home. Toru and Ryu would often eat at Chizu’s place for dinner as well. The Sanada family even took the death a lot calmer than expected. They still moved on with their daily lives, but there is a bit of emptiness in the house.

I do also like that because Ryu has feelings for Chizuru and wants to become something more with her, the feelings within Chizuru becomes perplexed because it’s inevitable that once male and female friends start pursuing a romantic relationship, what they had before will instantly be gone. It would be hard for them to return to what they once were, especially since these two known each other their entire lives. Chizuru’s conflicting emotions was handled very well. I also like the fact that Ryu never once pressures her into a relationship or tries to be ambiguous about it. He’s straightforward with his feelings and doesn’t try to goad her into a relationship.

Other than Chizu and Ryu, Ayane and Kento seem to have some progression as Kento reveals to Sawako that he initially had feelings for her, but now, he’s developing a liking towards Ayane. I honestly disliked Kento since Season 2, but I can’t believe this episode is the deciding factor that my opinion of him has changed for the better. I can’t believe I’m liking him.

There’s also awkwardness with Kazehaya and Sawako. I obviously can tell that it was due to the failed kiss attempt and his desire to wanting to kiss Sawako. I think that maybe he’s being distant because he doesn’t want to rush things too quickly? However, Kazehaya’s biggest flaw is that he’s not one to share his feelings all too well. Sawako is a bit oblivious by nature too, so their flaws sort of repel each other like magnets that face the same direction in a sense. Hopefully, the next episode will have them talk things out.

I do think that compared to the fluffy, romantic feeling of Episode 1 and the fun, exciting vibes of Episode 2, this episode is rather emotional. I wonder what sort of vibes the next episode will have. I’ll see you in my next review!

#Kimi ni todoke #yoshida chizuru #sanada ryu #review #anime #anime review #ecargmura #arum journal

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sana-yan · 1 year

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Just 4 Guys formed in January of this year with the "remnants" of Suzuki-gun and became "5 Guys" with the addition of SANADA, quickly becoming a central unit in the New Japan scene. Taichi was the "bridge" for SANADA joining the team, and the latter would later win the IWGP World Heavyweight Title at Ryogoku on April 8, 2023. The two men, who share a common background in All Japan Pro Wrestling, have long resonated with each other and candidly discussed the past and present in a friendly atmosphere.

Interviewer: Toru Ichikawa / Photographer: Yoshihisa Kikuta Published in: Issue No. 2240 (May 3, 2023)

NOTE: This interview was conducted around April 10, 2023. DISCLAIMER: I am not a native Japanese speaker, and while translating, I utilized ichi.moe and yomichan transliteration dictionaries to get the most accurate meaning. I've attached a link to the unedited Japanese text here. Please let me know if there are any discrepancies. I will correct any mistranslation. I also tried to emulate the layout of the magazine as best as I could and add in some extra behind-the-scenes images (which will be noted as my own inclusion). As always, please do not share outside of Tumblr! Thank you, and enjoy!

Taichi sensed the signs of a "big shot" from a young SANADA!?

Ever since their days in Suzuki-gun and in Los Ingos, respectively, the two's singles competitions against each other have shown their roots through their offense and defense.

Apr. 8, 2023. All team members seconded for SANADA in Ryogoku and exchanged jokes backstage.

INTERVIEWER (INT): We arranged a talk between you two at the world's fastest pace.

TAICHI: Nah, I'll do it on YouTube later tonight. [laughs]

SANADA: It'll be released first. [laughs]

INT: That's only just a video.

TAICHI: And this here is text.

(Extra inclusion.) Apr. 10, 2023. Taichi and SANADA pose for a photo to plug Sana-yan's first live on Taichi's YouTube channel following SANADA's victory over Okada at Sakura Genesis 2023.

INT: This is in writing for the first time in this country. So, how did you feel when you look back on Sanada winning the belt in Ryogoku?

TAICHI: As you can see, his match was completely different from the Sana-yan of the past. He was a completely different person. Everyone who saw it felt that, didn't they? The costume, the hairstyle, the entrance music...

INT: Sanada, whom Taichi called "Kenichi Mikawa"* in a comment after the match, had a sparkling entrance.

TAICHI: You're teasing me this early? [laughs] Before the match in the locker room, we had "Scorpio Woman"* playing. [laughs] We relaxed in the room so Sana-yan wouldn't be tense. We thought it'd help him loosen up by telling jokes and drinking tea.

INT: Taichi, you were leaning forward and shouting during the match.

TAICHI: That's right. We were excited, but we were also desperate. We were also afraid that Sana-yan and we could fail at this point.

INT: It felt as though the entire unit was fighting together (with Sanada).

TAICHI: Oh yeah, even if he didn't know it. [laughs]

SANADA: No, no. [laughs] I could hear his voice, and for the first time, I thought it was great to have a second. I heard precise advice such as "rest now" and "attack now," which gave me confidence during the match.

TAICHI: We're not just a unit. We're going to win together. [turning to Sanada] Because LIJ is a business unit, aren't they? [laughs] We aim to win collectively as a team and rise to the top together.

SANADA: It's an amazing feeling, thinking of what we'll be building from here on out.

TAICHI: I wanted to create a unit with a never-before-seen scenery.

INT: The sight of Sanada being carried on your shoulders after the Ryogoku match was reminiscent of the 90s All Japan Pro Wrestling, similar to Misawa Mitsuharu of the past.

TAICHI: Naturally, with me, Uncle Nobu, and Sana-yan in the middle, our blood stirred to do something old school. If you win a belt, it should also have a shoulder ride, no? [laughs] I think it was good for us as a trio together, and I'm sure Uncle Nobu's presence was also very significant for Sana-yan.

SANADA: All three of us (from our debuts to our tenure in All Japan) didn't overlap.

TAICHI: We never lived together at the dojo. When Sanada was still young, I once raided the dojo as a surprise. [wry smile]

INT: Why did you raid the dojo?

TAICHI: I was having dinner with Old Man Kihara (Kihara Fumito, the AJPW ring announcer), and we talked about heading over to the dojo. There happened to be a wooden sword at the dojo, so I put on a full-face helmet and went into where the trainees were sleeping. I should have said, "It's a joke," but because I left with my helmet on, the young guys had no clue who I was even at the end. Maybe instead of being surprised, they were afraid. [laughs]

INT: Sanada, you once said that your first impression of Taichi was that he was a "yakara"*, right?

SANADA: Hahaha!!

TAICHI: I guess if you were attacked with a full-face helmet. [laughs]

INT: I think his appearance is more than a "yakara," though. [laughs]

TAICHI: After the raid event, I went to the public baths with Old Man Kihara*, who was doing a diet then. He went into the sauna many times and collapsed from dehydration.

Since Old Man Kihara is such a prankster, I thought, "Yeah, yeah, another one," and let him be until someone had to call the ambulance. As the staff rushed in, I thought I better leave it to them, so I ended up drying my hair with a hair dryer. [laughs]

After I was at the hospital, I called the All Japan Dojo, told them of Old Man Kihara's situation, and asked someone to come over. One of those people ended up being Sana-yan.

INT: At that time, there were young trainees who came to the hospital.

TAICHI: There was another young guy, and he and Sanada said they'd look after Old Man Kihara. Then, Sana-yan poured a bunch of candy on the waiting room chair and started to snack. "We'll eat and wait for him," he said while munching, and I thought to myself: who the hell are these guys? [laughs]

SANADA: At the time, I didn't like alcohol yet, so I gravitated towards sweets.

TAICHI: I told them Old Man Kihara had collapsed, but they appeared unconcerned and ate sweets. [laughs]

INT: In a way, that's a big response. [laughs]

TAICHI: No, really. I was a bit taken aback. I thought this guy was going to be a big shot. [laughs]

INT: By the way, Sanada, did you ever watch a Taichi match when you were a fan? (T/N: Meaning before Sanada became a pro wrestler.)

SANADA: Yes, I had.

INT: What was your impression?

TAICHI: There weren't any, right. [laughs]

SANADA: You had brown hair, no?

TAICHI: I think I colored my hair brown halfway through.

SANADA: At that time, Akira Raijin-san, the leader of the training camp dorms, was like this... [bows deeply] ...in front of Taichi-niyan. For the training camp dorm leader to be like that...

INT: So you had an image of a scary person. [laughs] Taichi, you met SANADA in Mexico before he joined New Japan, didn't you?

TAICHI: Ah, we met for a moment.

SANADA: We met during the month I was in Mexico after exiting All Japan.

TAICHI: It wasn't more than a greeting, just a "hello."

INT: Until Sanada entered New Japan in 2016, you two had no in-ring contact.

Although from a different unit, Taichi, who always cared, made me "feel love." - SANADA

{page 2}

SANADA: But, when I arrived in 2010, Taichi-niyan wasn't in New Japan.

INT: He was working at NOAH around this time, right?

SANADA: Even after he returned, we didn't have a match. Really, I believe it's been a recent thing.

INT: Taichi originally started saying "Sana-yan" because he created a character resembling Sanada in one of his video games, right?*

SANADA: Ah, it was very similar. [laughs]

TAICHI: It resembled him incredibly! [laughs] The name Sana-yan was easy to say, so I ended up calling it that on my own.

INT: There was a period where the two of you kept in touch through the organization's website diaries, but Taichi, did you feel sympathy towards Sanada?

TAICHI: In a way, I was curious about him, being from All Japan Pro Wrestling. I often said this for years since we competed against each other, but it felt like he had something great that was being wasted. Long before I was comfortable around Sana-yan, I said, "At this rate, he'll be a midranger (T/N: midcarder) if he doesn't change." I was a little worried about him. I know it was selfish and meddlesome, but I told him.

INT: Midrangers are overshadowed somewhat, aren't they?

TAICHI: That's right. Yellow or peach would still be better. [laughs] Something "green" is ordinary, like a nobody. I thought that was a waste.

(T/N: Taichi is riffing on the word "mid" sounding phonetically similar to midori, the color green.)

INT: Sanada, how did you take in Taichi's remarks?

SANADA: It resonated with me that he cared about me even though we were in different units. After all, one wouldn't usually say it, right?

TAICHI: Other guys have the attitude of not giving a damn about what happens (to anybody else).

SANADA: I felt loved that he dared to tell me, especially in a situation like that.

INT: You said you felt loved!

TAICHI: I don't know much about what Love is, but...

INT: Whether or not it was love, there was a lot of resonance between you both when you swung in your singles matches, right?

TAICHI: Somewhere, I realized that every time I did a singles match with Sana-yan, it was as if my true self came out. I was amazed, seeing the self I didn't know I had within me emerging. Conversely, I wondered if it was the same for Sana-yan. If he'd do things he wouldn't in LIJ when he was up against me. I thought what happened in the ring brought us closer together.

INT: How did you see the situation where Sanada could not reach the top?

TAICHI: Watching it, I thought he would surely be a midranger. Takagi, who came in from the middle of the pack, moved with a bang to the place I wanted Sana-yan to go. But you took something like the US title once, didn't you?

SANADA: Yeah, I picked it up.

TAICHI: But you got injured (with an orbital floor fracture). Even though he was in an enemy faction, I felt a sense of dread at the time. In wrestling, luck is also a kind of skill. Maybe Sana-yan didn't have the skills to hold the US title.

To lose the singles belt you worked so hard for due to injury felt like something was still missing, like the gods of pro wrestling said, "You're not ready to be a champion yet; isn't there something more you need to awaken?" I wondered if such forces were at work.

"I want to work with Takagi again and change my landscape." - Taichi

INT: In last year's G1 Climax, Taichi, you said to Sanada, "Why are you in that place?" After you said those words, it felt like the distance and the relationship between you two began to change around that time.

TAICHI: There's the G1, but the actual decisive moment was in the first round of last year's TV title tournament.

INT: The match was in Sanada's hometown of Nagaoka.

SANADA: Around that time, he asked me something like, "Won't you join me?"

TAICHI: It's plain to see. Looking back (at the fight footage), you can see we discussed it in the ring after the match.

INT: What prompted you to make such a direct offer back then?

TAICHI: It was a period where the faction members (Suzuki-gun) were looking in different directions, as there were talks of disbanding, so I was wondering what to do should the unit disappear.

During that time, Sana-yan's usual demeanor would be there, but a different Sana-yan would come out when he fought against me in a match. I thought if he worked with me, the things he couldn't catch up on, the talents he couldn't find results with, all those things I could help cover. So I asked him if he wanted to join me. To which Sana-yan asked, "Is Taichi-niyan going to be in (Los Ingos)?"

INT: He thought you were going to join! [laughs]

TAICHI: "No, no, Sana-yan is coming over here." The topic really started from that point forward.

SANADA: I thought I was being set up when he said that. I wondered if I was getting pranked.

TAICHI: What kinda prank is that! [laughs]

SANADA: I worried it might be some kind of trap.

TAICHI: I thought, "You should have moved up quickly (in the ranking)," but he seemed to give the impression of, "No, I'm fine here." I wished he was a little more greedy. He didn't need anything pretty; if he let go of his obsessive hangups, he could go far. It felt that LIJ's Sana-yan was becoming rigid.

INT: With that in mind, did you consider earnestly recruiting him into the unit at the beginning of the year?

TAICHI: I had been recruiting him since the TV title match, and in my mind, I believed my persistent prods would gradually work. That's why on January 5th (at New Year Dash), when I said that the four of us would go and change the scenery, I was sure he wouldn't join. I believed I was partly at fault for saying needless things, resulting in Sana-yan's poor performance and causing him to lose his way in his matches.

"I didn't want him to revert to the Sana-yan he had been in LIJ; I believe it was absolutely the right thing to do." - Taichi

Taichi / Real name undisclosed. Born March 19, 1980 in Ishikari, Hokkaido. Debuted at All Japan in December 2002. Around 2006, he started to appear on the New Japan ring, and became a member of Suzuki-gun in 2011. Moved up to heavyweight in 2018, and won the IWGP Tag, NEVER Openweight, and KOPW titles. Finisher: Black Mephisto. 177cm, 100kg. SANADA / Real name: Seiya Sanada. Born January 28, 1988 in Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture. Debuted at All Japan in March 2007. Left in June 2013, joined WRESTLE-1, and worked freelance, before joining New Japan in April 2016. He was a Los Ingobernables de Japon member until he left in March of this year. Finisher: Deadfall. 182cm, 100kg.

{page 3}

INT: On January 5th, at Ota Ward, you envisioned Sanada joining your team.

TAICHI: I told my teammates that Sana-yan might choose us.

INT: Sanada joining the unit wasn't a spur-of-the-moment thing but something that had been set into motion.

TAICHI: Yes, although it was possible we weren't going to be together, we started to feel something the more we had matches against each other. And little by little, each nudge led to the action in March at Korakuen Hall.

INT: Honestly, what's the atmosphere in the unit like now that Sanada has joined?

TAICHI: It's crazy good. We four were already like that, so when Sana-yan joined, I didn't want him to revert to the Sana-yan he had been in LIJ. So, as I mentioned, we played "Scorpio Woman" and tried to make him laugh with our antics. As you can tell from the backstage, he started to laugh more often.

SANADA: I could bring out my natural, true self. I thought it would be best not to embellish it.

TAICHI: If people notice that side of you outside the ring, that aspect would also naturally appear inside the ring. As a result, he's come this far now. To a casual viewer, we might seem childish (with our backstage talks), or they might think we're doing a comedic bit, but I took a chance to do that and genuinely believe it was the right choice since it's led to the present-day Sana-yan.

INT: How do you plan to proceed from here as a unit?

TAICHI: Now that we've taken our first step into the new scene, we'll be a one-trick pony if we just keep calling out, "Sana-yan" this and "Sana-yan" that. Of course, myself, Uncle Nobu, Douki, and... I don't know about Taka [laughs], we should move together to see the new scenery. Uncle Nobu has the juniors (title), and I want to work with Takagi again and change my landscape.

INT: Regarding KOPW, Taichi, you said you didn't care if the title wasn't on the line.

TAICHI: I'd certainly appreciate it if the title was on the line, but I've already lost three times in a row, so who am I to demand they put the title up for grabs? Because of Takagi, I fell into a huge slump last year and couldn't win any singles matches. I have to defeat Takagi, the opponent who made me fall into this state, to move forward. Anyway, I'm only asking for a singles match. If KOPW happens to be included, that would be even better for my landscape.

INT: And as for its rules?

TAICHI: I'm in no position to declare the rules, so Takagi should decide. We could even do a "Return Sana-yan"* match if he wants. [laughs]

INT: It'd be too revolutionary to have the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion move to a different faction in the middle of his reign. [laughs]

SANADA: I want to do a shoulder ride.

TAICHI: You want to do it the other way around? It's a dream, then! [laughs] Will you and Uncle Nobu do it together? For real? Then let's get that on the cover (of Weekly Pro Wrestling) too! [laughs]

INT: Making shoulder rides a regular part of the tradition would be nice.

TAICHI: We'll carry whoever is the central person on our shoulders. Because no one is the boss, or the leader, so whoever stands out at the time is the best. So if Uncle Nobu wins the junior belt, the two of us will do it together.

INT: I would love to see Kanemaru being carried around. [laughs]

SANADA: It's a dream. [laughs]

TAICHI: Old school All Japan style is still a new scenery. [laughs] Even if Uncle Nobu doesn't make the junior title, we still have Douki and Taka... though I don't know about Taka. [laughs]

INT: Sanada, you're set to defend against Hiromu.

SANADA: Hiromu-san said that if he wins the belt, he wants to go up against Naito-san. I feel he's using the IWGP belt and me as a stepping stone, so I want to show him that it's not such an easy belt to win. I barely managed to get this belt, so I want to say that this isn't something that can be taken lightly.

TAICHI: Well... it could be a shot at you. Perhaps there's jealousy that you became a champion after leaving. But there's a chance that if he messes up (against Uncle Nobu), the three of us could be in Fukuoka holding singles belts and riding on each other's shoulders, no? It's a dream~ "Triple Crown Champions!" [laughs]

INT: Is there anything else you'd like to do with Sanada outside the ring?

TAICHI: I'm working two jobs as (a wrestler and) a YouTuber, so I thought it'd be nice to show the world the other side of Sana-yan that hasn't been seen before. He said he's curious about playing pranks, too.

SANADA: I badly want to try. I've seen prank videos on YouTube, and I want to cream (pie) someone in the face with a bam! I want to do it.

TAICHI: You think that'd work on Uncle Nobu? I'm sure it'd work on Taka. [laughs]

In the upcoming series, Kanemaru and Taichi will be carried on the shoulders... "Shoulder rides" will be a part of this faction's tradition!

The J5G team was on the cover of last week's issue. Will we see this scene again in the next series?

Footnotes:

Kenichi Mikawa is a gay drag personality and onnagata singer.

The "Scorpio Woman" Taichi refers to is the single by Kenichi Mikawa, not the song by Jimi Hendrix.

やから (yakara) is a slang word with various meanings, both positive and negative, meaning someone of the same "clan/blood/background" as you (kindred), or that they're "thugs/delinquents," etc. Taichi definitely fits both terms lmao. This word is mainly used in the Kansai dialect. Since SANADA's hometown is in Niigata, which is in the Chūbu region closest to the Kansai region, he sometimes uses this dialect.

Read more about Taichi and SANADA's first encounter here.

Read more about the creation of the nickname and "The Big Adventure of SANA-yan" here.

I can't believe Uncle Shingo denied us of a "Sanada-on-a-Pole" match, RIP

And this is the end! I hope you had fun reading as much as I did translating. If you enjoyed my scanlation and if you have the means, please consider leaving a tip through tumblr and supporting my translations! No pressure if you can't, and please reblog and support these two guys! :) Thank you very much!

#taichi #sanada #seiya sanada #taichi ishikari #njpw #*translations #( this took way too long apologies )#( but we have lots of interesting lore here!!! )#( sorry for some of the image scans )#( ngl pujoshi photography hobbyists >>>> ''the pros'' every single time )#just 5 guys

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