NJPW Thread (New Japan Pro Wrestling)

[Spens1]

and we have gotten two title changes tonight.

Roppongi Vice have regained the IWGP Junior Heavyweight tag team championships (that division is death but they're the best team in it right now) and Minoru Suzuki is the new NEVER Openweight Champion.

He is one of four men to have held a belt in All Japan, New Japan and NOAH.

The other 3 are Kensuke Sasaski, Yoshihiro Takayama, and Naomichi Marufuji.

and again, being Goto is suffering, though hopefully this leads to storyline stuff, because CHAOS didn't backup Goto against the interference.

[Spens1]

Just got done finished watching Dominion and are you actually joking. 60 minute draw, great match (like 5 stars of course) but are they taking the piss. Are they going for a title change in the US maybe, still, after 60 minutes don't give me that nonsense of a draw, i want more dammit, let them finish the damn match.

Basically amazing match, absolutely rubbish ending which was a huge cop out, even if Omega wins at Long Beach, its still a cop out because a win at dominion would have been huge (i'm thinking they're going that way, because Okada has been champ for basically 2 freaking years).

Oh yeah can we also talk about CODY CHALLENGING FOR THE TITLE, ARE YOU ACTUALLY KIDDING. I mean i love Cody Rhodes but come on he's been distinctly average in a company which has some of the best in ring competitors in the world. After that cop out of a finish are we really going to have to deal with Rhodes vs Okada, bugger off with that match and just have a no-time limited rematch. That is some WWE level bs right there, i'd rather have Goto challenge for the title than Cody right now. Its an absolute joke.

I said it before and i'll say it again, pull the damn trigger on Omega vs Naito for WK12, especially since Naito just lost the title. Have Naito win G1 and beat Omega at WK12. Okada will live without the main event (he's too good not to, i don't even think he needs the IC title, he just needs a damn good story).

Anyway very very good show overall. I'd say Naito v Tanahashi and Kushida v Takahashi are both the other 5 star matches though. Not sure how to feel about the 60 minute match in terms of it being better than WK but it is a damn close call there. Kushida v Takahashi outdid itself.

I was liking Suzuki vs Goto but they had to ruin that match with bloody Taichi We do know that Tacos is going to be sacrificed to Suzuki at whatever the next ppv the NEVER title is getting defended on (Yoshi Hashi is going to die, what other outcome is there).

Not sure what putting the tag team titles on G.O.D is going to do? War Machine were brilliant whilst G.O.D aren't (Tonga is, his brother sure isn't), either way this division needs more teams.

Bucks vs RPG Vice was actually really good, the Bucks where very serious and showed people they can work a great match regardless. Much less antics and a lot more serious, i liked it for a New Japan match (i love their antics but in an IWGP tag team title match it makes little sense).

Cody vs Elgin i think at the start was ok but in comparison, yeah not good, granted his best match in New Japan but i guess after wrestling under the WWE style for his whole career its hard to get out of. Did not like at all (and he's going to be the next ROH world champ), i have no idea what it is but something is not clicking in the ring, his character work is fine, its that in ring aspect thats lacking.

6 man tag team title match and 8 man tag was of little consequence really, as was the old men and juniors going for it. Though we did get Makabe mouthing off to Tiger Mask W (which by now everyone knows its Kota Ibushi, like come on now, Ibushi stop this nonsense and return, we need Ibushi in either the IC title scene or feuding with Omega eventually).

Anyway fantastic PPV, but their was some sketchy finishes in my opinion, considering this is meant to be the 2nd biggest PPV of the year, we ended up with more questions than answers.

[iMoreland]

Nick Jackson recently invited CM Punk to join the Bullet Club. Melzter and Stone Cold talked about this not long ago, CM Punk may have a career in commentating MMA and possible movie/tv roles, but the more he's not in the public eye, the more his stock goes down. With him in his late 30s, he's gonna have to generate some income.

New Japan is hot as sh*t right now, he should maybe rethink coming back to ring. Imagine a New Japan USA Special in Chicago with Punk? That would be nuts. They'd definitely sell out All State as well if they promoted him vs Okada or Omega. It'd be the biggest talked about non WWE event in pro wrestling this century.

Makes a lot of sense for Punk to do it, makes a lot of sense for NJPW to do it.

[jakecronus8]

Nick Jackson recently invited CM Punk to join the Bullet Club. Melzter and Stone Cold talked about this not long ago, CM Punk may have a career in commentating MMA and possible movie/tv roles, but the more he's not in the public eye, the more his stock goes down. With him in his late 30s, he's gonna have to generate some income.

New Japan is hot as sh*t right now, he should maybe rethink coming back to ring. Imagine a New Japan USA Special in Chicago with Punk? That would be nuts. They'd definitely sell out All State as well if they promoted him vs Okada or Omega. It'd be the biggest talked about non WWE event in pro wrestling this century.

Makes a lot of sense for Punk to do it, makes a lot of sense for NJPW to do it.

Problem is I'm fairly certain Punk hates wrestling now, and given his lifestyle he's financially set up for life if he so chooses. I'd love it but just don't see it.

[WRau1]

Yeah, I don't see Punk ever doing anything in wrestling again. Which sucks because he (and the fans) deserve to say goodbye.

[skbucks1985]

It ultimately comes down to this, at this point in his life, he's a celebrity above anything else. Everything he's done since leaving WWE is because of his wrestling fame. The UFC contract, the comic book writing, the autograph sessions at comic conventions and elsewhere are all a product of his wrestling fame. And his UFC fight went so poorly that he's still seen as a guy that got a UFC fight because of his fame rather than a UFC fighter. Conversely, to his credit he doesn't do a ton of signings so he probably still turns down a lot more requests than he accepts so he's still relatively in-demand. But as he stays out of the spotlight his star will diminish even further and those opportunities will dry up.

When that point arrives, he can either reenter the wrestling world or fade into relative anonymity. 99.9% of people would reenter the wrestling world in his circumstance. He may be that 1 in 1000 that prefers and is financially able to do the latter.

[Spens1]

I saw somewhere where he said he would consider going to New Japan or returning to ROH (i doubt ROH, if he had problems with Vince, he'll shoot Joe Koff and Delirious).

I think if New Japan are serious about the American expansion, then why not get the biggest star since the end of the attitude era (also they could offer him 7 figures easily and a light schedule that keeps him in america). Also if Danielson is angling for a return to wrestling, then New Japan could get him on a part time schedule (also, if he's based in Washington, California isn't exactly a far flight).

Doing shows out it California and the west coast and getting paid a lot to do a limited schedule (New Japan guys have a damn light schedule if they aren't taking any other dates) then i doubt they're going to kill themselves over it.

One thing i would be certain, if both returned to being active wrestlers. They're both going to do PWG .

[Spens1]

Also my prediction of Elgin becoming the first US champ was completely wrong. They're going to do the same thing they did with Nakamura and the IC title, put it on the one of the main two (well this is a main 3) and build it up. He did sign his death warrant though by calling the NEVER title a failure Suzuki is going to murder him.

Anyway, interesting to see tension between Rhodes and Omega (Rhodes and Okada was a good match but got outshone completely, i think Rhodes is doomed to be consistently average-goodish as it stands, he hasn't had a great match yet for New Japan or ROH).

They did confirm they're coming back to the U.S. in 2018. Which is expected since Kidaani wanted to start a Californian offshoot promotion, not sure how that will go though. I do suspect they will run a bigger arena next time (they sold out the 3k arena in about 20 minutes or something, so 10k wouldn't be a stretch).

Anyway G1 is now around the corner. My hope is Naito wins G1 (and throws the trophy in the air) and omega wins at King of Pro Wrestling, setting up at WK a triple threat between the three aces (Omega, Naito, Okada; which would be nuts since i don't think they've ever done a triple threat main event, but in this case, it really warrants it, they have gone against tradition before anyway).

[Spens1]

G1 night 2 tonight.
outside the tag team filler. for the actual g1 matches:

Kojima vs Robinson
Elgin vs Tonga
Sanada vs EVIL
Okada vs Yano
and in the main event. Omega vs Suzuki (rip Omega)

I think Yano will beat Okada somehow cause its YTR . Robinson should beat Kojima (because Kojima is just old now, how is he in the G1 at this stage), Elgin will win but i wouldn't be shocked if Tonga pulled it off. Sanada i think beats evil and Omega is going to be murdered by Suzuki. Especially after what Omega said about the NEVER title and Suzuki and after the g1 presser, he will not survive tonight.

[improper]

G1 night 2 tonight.
outside the tag team filler. for the actual g1 matches:

Kojima vs Robinson
Elgin vs Tonga
Sanada vs EVIL
Okada vs Yano
and in the main event. Omega vs Suzuki (rip Omega)

I think Yano will beat Okada somehow cause its YTR . Robinson should beat Kojima (because Kojima is just old now, how is he in the G1 at this stage), Elgin will win but i wouldn't be shocked if Tonga pulled it off. Sanada i think beats evil and Omega is going to be murdered by Suzuki. Especially after what Omega said about the NEVER title and Suzuki and after the g1 presser, he will not survive tonight.

Night one was great. About to finish watching the main event from it. Was really tired at the end of the second to last match and didn't want to fall asleep midway through so I put it off until tonight.

[Spens1]

G1 night 2 tonight.
outside the tag team filler. for the actual g1 matches:

Kojima vs Robinson
Elgin vs Tonga
Sanada vs EVIL
Okada vs Yano
and in the main event. Omega vs Suzuki (rip Omega)

I think Yano will beat Okada somehow cause its YTR . Robinson should beat Kojima (because Kojima is just old now, how is he in the G1 at this stage), Elgin will win but i wouldn't be shocked if Tonga pulled it off. Sanada i think beats evil and Omega is going to be murdered by Suzuki. Especially after what Omega said about the NEVER title and Suzuki and after the g1 presser, he will not survive tonight.

Night one was great. About to finish watching the main event from it. Was really tired at the end of the second to last match and didn't want to fall asleep midway through so I put it off until tonight.

the main event is a great match (i mean it probably still isn't even top 10 for new japan this year but still damn good), well worth it.

[improper]

Yeah, that main event was fantastic. I'm convinced that Ibushi cannot have a bad match. Although to be fair, I've never seen a bad Naito match either.

That second rope piledriver spot is brutal. I can't imagine agreeing to that.

[Spens1]

night two is over.

Omega somehow survived that match. Usual suzuki-gun shenanigans though i think diminished a bit from it (bloody Taichi). Red Shoes died for ours (and his i guess since he leaked the DM) sins. Not only catching it from Suzuki, but also Omega. The life of a ref.

Okada getting booed against YTR was too great i'm actually a bit shocked he won to be honest since Yano is the bracket killer. Also Jado looking at Yano after the match and being like wtf

I did call Tama Tonga beating Elgin a possibility, and they went with it. I still think Elgin gets 8 or 10 points this year though

Sanada beating EVIL is no shock really.

Juice winning kind of was but it was against Kojima though.

anyway good show overall i thought.

[Spens1]

G1 has almost finished and as it stands. Okada and Omega are the only real chance of coming out of Block B and only Naito and Omega can come out of Block A.

Okada has certainly shown a cockier/heelish side again (which is when Okada is at his best, this FOTC gimmick is meh, he has charisma for days if they let him be a dick).

ZSJ has been pretty damn good this G1 and they've pushed him pretty well (also, i may complain about his ring work at times being boring, but this tournament he has been on point, plus he is entertainment).

Nagata is almost 50 and honestly he has been pretty much the best competitor in this tournament just about. He has been having great matches every night basically. I groaned about him and Kojima being in but the booking for them has been good.

Juice Robinson has been fantastic and is a super believable and loveable babyface right now. The next few years should be interesting for him.

All three LIJ guys have been great, especially EVIL, he has stepped up big time.

The biggest thing i've taken out of G1 so far is the Bullet Club conflict. Tonga, whilst not getting the points, has stepped up big time in the ring (to the point where i think he legitimately deserves a shot and reign at the NEVER title or even the IC title). His promo's/conference have been fantastic and full of emotion and feeling. Him and Fale are both heeling it up nicely. I suspect sometime before the end of the year, The Elite will split/be kicked out of bullet club with the Original Bullet Club members staying on with Tonga leading, and honestly he seems like he would be a good leader (they may need an ace though).

I have a feeling they're going to do a Naito vs Omega final (i feel Omega will beat Okada and that's how he fails to get the title, setting up for that title match later, though EVIL did pin Okada, which was a huge deal so i suspect defense 1 will be against EVIL at some interim show, then at a bigger show like KOPW in October they'll do Okada vs Omega again). I also think Naito vs Okada main events Wrestle Kingdom though i'm hoping for Naito vs Omega or a triple threat (look, it would break with tradition but New Japan has shown its more than willing to for a money match, putting the three biggest names in the company right now in the main event would draw).

Also RIP to anyone who prepared brackets. Bracket killers Fale and Yano have been at work.

[Spens1]

Night 17 is over and A block is over. Naito has pinned Tanahashi and has come out of the block with 14 points.

Tanahashi and Fale both ended up on 12 points (i'm amazed Fale is on 12)

Ibushi, Goto, ZSJ on 10 (Great debut for ZSJ, was thinking Ibushi would win and make it to 12 though)

Ishii and Makabe on 8 (Ishii got done dirty, he should have been on 12 for sure)

YOSHI-HASHI on 4 (rough year even by his standards, only 2 wins is not good)

and Nagata with 2 (in his last G1, nice show of respect from Fale at the end also)

anyway that Naito vs Tanahashi main event, take my 5 stars, good god that was a hell of a match.

[Spens1]

Night 18 is over and Omega has pinned OKada to come out of the block with 14 points (ahead of Okada's 13).

Evil finished with 12 points (and honestly has been pretty damn spectacular, i think he could be in line for an IC shot in the near future)

Suzuki finished on 9 (and got pinned by Yano somehow on the last night)

Yano, Tonga, Robinson (who pinned Elgin), Elgin and Sanada on 8

Kojima finished on 2 pts

Juice somehow pinning Elgin is a shock, that's 2 big upsets he's pulled off i think (Omega being the big one), also him wanting to go 'balls deep' in some japanese women the things you get away with in japan. For his tournament, and basically only leaving young lion status a year ago, he had a great showing.

Tonga beat Sanada after Sanada tied him up like a pretzel early on. Honestly Tonga has shown a lot more character as of late, i've been a fan of his really since they released the documentaries (NJPW: On the Road, its on their youtube, i do recommend you check them out, they're good, especially Tonga and Fale's, its a good insight to life on the road in Japan), but this G1, he's shown that not only as a wrestler he is capable, but he has the character work to really go on as a singles guy, he's slowly but surely filling that Karl Anderson void for me as the glue Bullet Club guy. I am hoping he becomes the new bullet club leader and he gets a run at one of the singles belts (probably the IC Title, he'd be a good champ)

Yano pinned Suzuki, i can't believe it really, even by Yano standards this was incredible. He now has a claim at a NEVER title shot (why the hell would they let the NEVER champion be pinned by Yano of all people). Suzuki should have at least made double digits as champion so i don't understand this one. As funny as Yano is, i don't think he should be in the G1 (would rather have a guy like Hangman Page or another young heavyweight be in the g1).

EVIL, well of course he kills Kojima, i think this was Kojima's last G1 match also so another situation where it was an end of an era.

Now the main event was back and forth, great match (yes, 5 star caliber, do watch this) but Omega FINALLY hit the One-Winged Angel on Okada and now moves onto a match with Naito tomorrow (well tonight our time).

[jr lucosa]

Honestly Tonga has shown a lot more character as of late, i've been a fan of his really since they released the documentaries (NJPW: On the Road, its on their youtube, i do recommend you check them out, they're good, especially Tonga and Fale's, its a good insight to life on the road in Japan), but this G1, he's shown that not only as a wrestler he is capable, but he has the character work to really go on as a singles guy, he's slowly but surely filling that Karl Anderson void for me as the glue Bullet Club guy. I am hoping he becomes the new bullet club leader and he gets a run at one of the singles belts (probably the IC Title, he'd be a good champ)

I was just watching those life on the road video docs yesterday, they are insightful and a pretty cool idea.

There's not an original BC member that I'm not a fan of, Tama Tonga has definitely come a long way from just sort of being the Clubs jobber at the start.

I caught the last couple days and will be watching live tonight too. This tournament is great every year some really good matches come of it.

[Spens1]

Honestly Tonga has shown a lot more character as of late, i've been a fan of his really since they released the documentaries (NJPW: On the Road, its on their youtube, i do recommend you check them out, they're good, especially Tonga and Fale's, its a good insight to life on the road in Japan), but this G1, he's shown that not only as a wrestler he is capable, but he has the character work to really go on as a singles guy, he's slowly but surely filling that Karl Anderson void for me as the glue Bullet Club guy. I am hoping he becomes the new bullet club leader and he gets a run at one of the singles belts (probably the IC Title, he'd be a good champ)

I was just watching those life on the road video docs yesterday, they are insightful and a pretty cool idea.

There's not an original BC member that I'm not a fan of, Tama Tonga has definitely come a long way from just sort of being the Clubs jobber at the start.

I caught the last couple days and will be watching live tonight too. This tournament is great every year some really good matches come of it.

well the final night is right now. Its been a very good tournament, it did slow down after a first 5 days where they were just putting on fantastic night after night but it is to be expected.

[Spens1]

Also. SHIBATA IS BACK, he came back to a massive pop (and many crying women in the stands) and all he said was, i'm back and i'm alive. I really hope he makes an in ring return and gets an IWGP title run (he honestly is ready for it). If he is able to return at about 100%, i think they have a 4th main eventer that would be on the same level as Okada, Naito and Omega.

[Spens1]

Main event time

Most over Gaijin Omega vs the most over wrestler Naito.

I still think Naito will win but Omega technically has a title match (since he beat Okada last night, so he may get his chance at KOPW).