Shining Wiz Posted February 13, 2018 Report Share Posted February 13, 2018 WK wasn’t about Naito failing, it was about Okada succeeding. The entire main event scene since his return has been all about Okada, and how everyone else serves his story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tawren Posted February 13, 2018 Report Share Posted February 13, 2018 Two things: 1) Jay White really sucks. He might get better. But right now he really sucks. No presence, no charisma, lame moves. But it feels like the hardcore audience is starting to get behind him, and NJPW is into him, so I wonder if we'll see the hardcore opinion shift and he'll turn into an 'underrated favourite'. Look for it. 2) NJPW needs to do some shorter main events or NEVER matches. Run a 10-minute Goto vs whoever bombfest or something, or Okada beats the NJ Cup winner with an early rainmaker. The crowd was dead for the early pacing of Okada vs Sanada, and it feels to me like they are nearing that cliff. Insane NJPW main events are still fun to me, but they need to have some earlier finishes or some of these crazy moves end a match to make the crowd buy into it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shining Wiz Posted February 20, 2018 Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 Two things: 1) Jay White really sucks. He might get better. But right now he really sucks. No presence, no charisma, lame moves. But it feels like the hardcore audience is starting to get behind him, and NJPW is into him, so I wonder if we'll see the hardcore opinion shift and he'll turn into an 'underrated favourite'. Look for it. 2) NJPW needs to do some shorter main events or NEVER matches. Run a 10-minute Goto vs whoever bombfest or something, or Okada beats the NJ Cup winner with an early rainmaker. The crowd was dead for the early pacing of Okada vs Sanada, and it feels to me like they are nearing that cliff. Insane NJPW main events are still fun to me, but they need to have some earlier finishes or some of these crazy moves end a match to make the crowd buy into it. Whole heartedly disagree on the first point, but agree to a certain extent on the second. Not so much on the crowd being dead for the early part of matches, but I do agree that expectation that the match isn't going to end before 20 minutes in does take some of the excitement out of early matches. Of course, Okada 'outlasting' opponents has kind of been the theme of his run, so it plays in to an extent, but still. Connected with that, main events need to finish with something other than finishers every once in a while. It doesn't hurt my enjoyment the way things are currently structured, but I think a few surprises are always a good thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sek69 Posted February 24, 2018 Report Share Posted February 24, 2018 Watching night one of Honor Rising and the Golden Lovers storyline is the best thing in wrestling by a large margin. To be fair, Cody's a big part of that being the shit stirrer of the Bullet Club and basically the cataylist for everything that happened, but everyone's been great in their roles. Even the Haku kids are great as the side not wanting to get involved in all this mess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benj Posted February 24, 2018 Report Share Posted February 24, 2018 Hoping that will be the main event in Long Beach, but probably is semi-main at Genesis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C.S. Posted February 25, 2018 Report Share Posted February 25, 2018 Not sure if this has been posted here, but an awesome series of tweets on the history of "The Golden Lovers" Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi: https://twitter.com/EffingBoring/status/967145669038260224 I knew none of this, but I was instantly spellbound. Really good stuff, complete with some nice gifs too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WingedEagle Posted February 25, 2018 Report Share Posted February 25, 2018 I know modern New Japan isn't fine dining for everyone. The Honor Rising shows were generally weak by New Japan standards. But the main events with the Golden Lovers reuniting were absolutely tremendous and well worth checking out if you're able to do so. Babyface, smiling, hand slapping Kenny Omega is a sight to behold and I'd like to think any fan of pro wrestling would enjoy these last 2 main events, regardless of how you'd rate the matches. No 15 minute promos or authority figures required (although the extended video with Kenny & Kota in the gym on NJ World was a great bit of television) in order to get into this story or the current / future matches. Tremendous storytelling and television programming. Check it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmare007 Posted February 25, 2018 Report Share Posted February 25, 2018 That's why I wanted them facing each other at the Dome, not only is a pretty damn big match for the Japanese audience but it would've put a bow on their promise from years ago of having a match in that scenario, and was a perfect set up for Cody to fuck things up and set up an eventual reunion. The Jericho mini feud and match with Kenny was very good, much better than I anticipated, but I was shocked at how many people were dismissing a potential Golden Lovers clash and how great it could've been storyline wise. Now, I hope this reunion leads to an eventual matchup at WK next year. Even if it's a "friendly" type of match, they need to fulfill their promise dammit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmare007 Posted February 26, 2018 Report Share Posted February 26, 2018 New Japan Cup bracket is out 3.9Elgin vs IshiiJuice Robinson vs Yujiro3.10Tanahashi vs TachiBad Luck Fale vs Archer3.11YOSHI-HASHI vs IbushiNaito vs Zack Sabre Jr.3.12Yano vs Davey Boy SmithChuckie T. vs SANADA I have no fucking clue why Tana is already back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shining Wiz Posted February 26, 2018 Report Share Posted February 26, 2018 Tana is back already because the movie he was working on is done filming. It's almost like his knee wasn't that injured......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Liska Posted February 27, 2018 Report Share Posted February 27, 2018 Golden Lovers at that first Honor Rising show were like watching the Fabs in 1983. NJPW has them, Naito, Okada, Tanahashi still valuable, they're looking good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoryukens Posted March 4, 2018 Report Share Posted March 4, 2018 Gonna be a good week for New Japan. The anniversary show looks really good and Elgin vs Ishii should be decent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El-P Posted March 4, 2018 Report Share Posted March 4, 2018 Golden Lovers screams Golden Showers to me. Maybe that's just me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KawadaSmile Posted March 6, 2018 Report Share Posted March 6, 2018 Golden Lovers screams Golden Showers to me. Maybe that's just me. I'm pretty sure that's the name of one of their finishers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shining Wiz Posted March 6, 2018 Report Share Posted March 6, 2018 No Omega, Ibushi, Bullet Club, big name guests or Tanahashi this morning.....and that was probably the best NJPW show of the year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El-P Posted March 6, 2018 Report Share Posted March 6, 2018 You mean the Anniversary show ? (no spoil yet please) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boss Rock Posted March 6, 2018 Report Share Posted March 6, 2018 Yep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shining Wiz Posted March 7, 2018 Report Share Posted March 7, 2018 You mean the Anniversary show ? (no spoil yet please) Yup. Loved that show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El-P Posted March 8, 2018 Report Share Posted March 8, 2018 Ok. I was wondering because on paper, it really looks like a very weak show with Taichi, Makabe and worse of all, Ospreay in big singles matches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WingedEagle Posted March 8, 2018 Report Share Posted March 8, 2018 I watched the anniversary show today and thought it was very solid but perhaps sub-par for a New Japan big show. Taichi & Makabe absolutely exceeded expectations (or Naito & Suzuki really did), and Okada reigned in Ospreay more than I expected. Sanada/Yoshi-Hashi was a major disappointment. The Jr. Tag Title match was fine but nothing special. In a vacuum its probably a good show but they've set the bar high enough that I wanted a bit more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoryukens Posted March 8, 2018 Report Share Posted March 8, 2018 The anniversary show was pretty good. Enjoyed all the singles matches and the Okada main event was great as always. Really like the dynamic of Nagata being the young lion player coach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boss Rock Posted March 9, 2018 Report Share Posted March 9, 2018 Thought the Anniversary Show was a very solid top-to-bottom card. Okada/Ospreay and Suzuki/Makabe were definitely the best matches. Makabe was sloppy as hell and had some miscues but Suzuki really turned in a tremendous performance to make it look like an actual, chaotic fight. Ospreay-Okada took a bit too long to get going (especially considering neither guy are great matworkers) but really took off after the first five minutes. Thought Taichi delivered in a big way even if I don't think he'll ever be "really good". SANADA/YOSHI-HASHI was really slow in the first half (and I'm really disappointed they blew a spot for a Skull End count-out attempt) but thought the second half was really good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WingedEagle Posted March 10, 2018 Report Share Posted March 10, 2018 NJ posted a fun video with clips of all prior NJ Cup finals. They've also finally uploaded the entire Australia tour. Looking forward to watching that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KawadaSmile Posted March 12, 2018 Report Share Posted March 12, 2018 So... there are some rumors going around that Naito/Jericho might not happen. What is up for the LIJ leader if that indeed is the case? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shining Wiz Posted March 13, 2018 Report Share Posted March 13, 2018 So... there are some rumors going around that Naito/Jericho might not happen. What is up for the LIJ leader if that indeed is the case? Interesting. Hadn’t heard that at all. Think there’s any meat to the rumours? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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