Wrestle Kingdom 12 Thread - Los Ingobernables De Winnipeg

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Jay White would look a ton more menacing if he had a beard or some facial hair.

I'm not sure he can grow any.

Who knows, with how over Cheeseburger is, maybe the Japanese crowd will dig him.

[Evil Vito]

Seems crazy that with so many titles there's a real chance they actually all change hands. Man this show has been dope.

[Fignuts]

I haven't actually watched a lot of Jay White.

Looks 16.

[Emperor Smeat]

I'm not sure he can grow any.

Who knows, with how over Cheeseburger is, maybe the Japanese crowd will dig him.

Wouldn't blame him if he couldn't considering I've been trying to grow one for years and best I can get is some patches on the side. I can pull a Jim Neidhart but not a full beard.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

I haven't actually watched a lot of Jay White.

Looks 16.

He's very good, especially for being so young. It's why he's being put in such a big match for his return.

I don't think anyone is buying the gimmick though.

[Fignuts]

Still really shocked that G.O.D. lost the 6-man titles.

[Fignuts]

(insert High Energy here)

[GD]

I love Tanahashi.

[Droford]

Tanahashi just having fun out there maggle

[Emperor Smeat]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Knife Pervert vs Soccer Mom it's practically biblical</p>&mdash; Chuck Taylor (@SexyChuckieT) <a href="https://twitter.com/SexyChuckieT/status/948872285947121664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
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[#BROKEN Hasney]

All the logos on Jay Whites trousers make me want to play Dead by Daylight.

[Jordan]

This is my first time seeing Jay White. He truly appears to resemble an anime character. It's pretty cool I guess.

[Ezra]

This is my first time seeing Jay White. He truly appears to resemble an anime character. It's pretty cool I guess.

Personally it's not a good look for him.

[Evil Vito]

I honestly can't believe I've been watching wrestling for FOUR HOURS already. This has absolutely flown by for me. Whereas by this point of WrestleMania I felt like it was on hour #10.

[Fignuts]

This is my first time seeing Jay White. He truly appears to resemble an anime character. It's pretty cool I guess.

You didn't see Tanahashi before he cut his hair I guess.

[Droford]

This is a tough spot to follow up from that 4 way that was basically non stop action..

[GD]

I am not familiar with White but he seems pretty agile in the ring.

[Fignuts]

I honestly can't believe I've been watching wrestling for FOUR HOURS already. This has absolutely flown by for me. Whereas by this point of WrestleMania I felt like it was on hour #10.

Yeah, had to triple check when I looked at the clock.

[Droford]

Jay White not too smart working the legs and not his fucked up arm

[Evil Vito]

Our piss break should be coming soon. The Flo Rida/Pitbull concert should be coming up after this.

[Fignuts]

This is a tough spot to follow up from that 4 way that was basically non stop action..

Imagine that's why they're going in the opposite direction with the injured knee option. Slow it down and tell a story to cool the audience down a bit.

Kind of been alternating like that all night. Well structured card.

[Jordan]

Did they announce attendance yet?

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Jay White not too smart working the legs and not his fucked up arm

He's been injuring his legs since before the match. Kayfabe, his leg is worse than his arm.

[Droford]

Did they announce attendance yet?

"biggest crowd in 15 years"

[Droford]

He's been injuring his legs since before the match. Kayfabe, his leg is worse than his arm.

Arms been messed up since last may

[Fignuts]

His knee was fucked up in the build up to the match

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Jay White acting like WWE 2k AI, going up and just coming back down.

[Emperor Smeat]

Assuming White wins, that will be 3 WKs in a row Tanahashi would have lost to someone NJPW wanted to build into a huge star afterwards.

Pretty much using Tanahashi's star power and Ace status to build more top stars while also not having him overshadow others for the spotlight unlike WWE/Vince's usage of Cena in recent years.

[Droford]

Kiwi crusher sounds so stupid for a name

[Fignuts]

Especially for an edgelord named switchblade lol

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Huh, feels weird that they put Switchblade in such a big match just to lose, but the gimmick isn't ready. Now Jay White just looks like an utter dork.

[GD]

Kiwi crusher sounds so stupid for a name

For someone who grew up watching Cricket, it didn't feel so odd.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Feel like every match tonight has at least done something for someone, but that did nothing.

[Emperor Smeat]

Huh, feels weird that they put Switchblade in such a big match just to lose, but the gimmick isn't ready. Now Jay White just looks like an utter dork.

Yeah. Wonder if NJPW suddenly got cold feet on White right before the event.

[Droford]

uh oh

[Evil Vito]

That match didn't do nearly enough for White beyond establish that he has some really cool suplexes.

[GD]

Oh shit! It's time!

[Fignuts]

That lucky woman is taking home some Tanahashi sweat

[Droford]

lol they completely ignored Jericho in WCW

[Droford]

BUT

[GD]

I love the voice over dude

[Fignuts]

Feel like every match tonight has at least done something for someone, but that did nothing.

Frankly, while I was impressed, I don't think he's at the level to be beating Tanahashi. Especially not for the IC title.

[Evil Vito]

White said yesterday he was going to rip him apart and that's what should of happened, just a five minute squash beatdown. Tana's got a torn bicep, a fucked up knee and a million miles on the clock, he has an excuse for getting trucked.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Frankly, while I was impressed, I don't think he's at the level to be beating Tanahashi. Especially not for the IC title.

I agree, but in that case, the match shouldn't have happened.

[Fignuts]

NIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICE

[Evil Vito]

Soooooooo fucking hyped for this

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Watching Jericho walk into an NJPW ring in 2017 is fucking surreal. Didn't hit me how strange this feels until now.

[Fignuts]

A major event where his jacket didn't malfunction. It's a miracle.

[Emperor Smeat]

:D Jericho brought Blinky the Jacket with him to NJPW

[GD]

lol Omega

[Ezra]

Love him coming out to his own music.

[Droford]

Watching Jericho walk into an NJPW ring in 2017 is fucking surreal. Didn't hit me how strange this feels until now.

2018

[Fignuts]

lol what the fuck

[#BROKEN Hasney]

2018

You're right. It's perfectly normal actually.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Fucking Anubis, come on Kenny lmao.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

If I had the most eyes on me ever in the biggest match of my career, I wouldn't risk that look with the braids tbh.

[Droford]

No way this goes more than 25-30 minutes tops.

[Droford]

Goodbye English Announce Table

[Fignuts]

no kenny

[Emperor Smeat]

Holy crap. Omega landed right onto a monitor.

[Fignuts]

lol just wrecked don callis

[Droford]

heel heat for beating up Red Shoes

[Fignuts]

lol yes liontamer on the young boy

[Emperor Smeat]

:lol: at the son of Red Shoes also wearing red shoes.

[Fignuts]

lol commentators got unplugged

[#BROKEN Hasney]

COUP DE GRACE

[Fignuts]

nonononono

[Emperor Smeat]

No DQs has count outs possible?

[#BROKEN Hasney]

No DQs has count outs possible?

Yeah, they're always separate. Remember that weird Roman/AJ match where Steph and Shane came out seperate to make it no-DQ and no count out?

[Fignuts]

That was fucking perfect

[Fignuts]

God, this match is brutal.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

That cameraman will probably make a fortune with those shots.

[Fignuts]

lol jericho

[#BROKEN Hasney]

God, this match is brutal.

Yeah, I'm loving it. This is exactly what was needed to get around Jerichos limitations.

[Fignuts]

Yeah, I'm loving it. This is exactly what was needed to get around Jerichos limitations.

Except he's taken bigger bumps and shots than I've seen him take in years.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Except he's taken bigger bumps and shots than I've seen him take in years.

Oh yeah, no doubt. I meant more about speed and stamina as you can take longer breaks after the big bumps.

[Droford]

I feel this is no different than last years match exception of no Bucks involvement yet

[#BROKEN Hasney]

lmao fuck yes Kenny

[Evil Vito]

LOL Kenny's reaction to the cold spray on his junk

[Emperor Smeat]

:lol: at the crowd popping for Omega spraying his wiener with a spray can

[Fignuts]

Nice fire pro angle to show the table is still there

[Evil Vito]

It is nice to see Jericho return in such a prominent role after his 20 year excursion.

Another win for the young lion system.

[Fignuts]

lol that's a chair kevin

[Fignuts]

This is absolutely delivering

[Emperor Smeat]

For a match that came in with a lot of doubts over its potential quality, this has been really great soo far. Crowd is really into the match and Jericho in general.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Jesus, broke the chair on his head

[Fignuts]

omg that chair broke perfectly

[Fignuts]

Jesus, this is like Jericho's swan song

[Fignuts]

no codebreakers yet

[#BROKEN Hasney]

no codebreakers yet

But plenty of V TRIGGGGAAAAASSS

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Fuck me, I'm holding a piss in so hard, I can't turn away.

[Droford]

old school..wooo

[#BROKEN Hasney]

LIONTAMER

[Fignuts]

STill using the "ask him" he got from Liger all those years ago

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Just seen that Jericho is bleeding from his mouth too

[#BROKEN Hasney]

AHHHH MY VIDEO JUST CRASHED

[GD]

It's a no dq match, why would he break the hold?

[Droford]

jericho should have used one finger lol

[Jordan]

This is incredible!!!

[#BROKEN Hasney]

It's a no dq match, why would he break the hold?

Even if he taps he can't win in the ropes and he was losing his grip anyway.

[GD]

It's not common to kick out of the One Winged Angel, right?

[GD]

Even if he taps he can't win in the ropes and he was losing his grip anyway.

Makes a lot of sense.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

It's not common to kick out of the One Winged Angel, right?

No-one ever has, but people have grabbed the rope before.

[Droford]

It's not common to kick out of the One Winged Angel, right?

he didnt exactly..kick out

[Fignuts]

This match is incredible.

[Droford]

break the spirit..of jericho lol

[#BROKEN Hasney]

CODEBREAKER

[Emperor Smeat]

Really great sell of the Codebreaker by Omega.

[Fignuts]

That is such a better looking codebreaker than what he uses in wwe

[Droford]

he dead

[#BROKEN Hasney]

HOLY SHIT THAT SELL ON THE CHAIR FUCK ME

[Jordan]

Wow what a finish! Sick!

[Evil Vito]

https://memegenerator.net/img/images/400x/14841174.jpg

[Emperor Smeat]

That was a fantastically brutal match by Jericho and Omega.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Goddamn what a match. Follow that Naito/Okada, I know you're capable of it, but you're going to have to bring your best.

[Fignuts]

Best match Jericho has had since the HBK feud.

Absolutely fantastic.

[Jordan]

Maybe Jericho's best. That was great.

[Fignuts]

Kevin Kelly taking a quiet shot at cornette

[Droford]

40 minutes...im surprised

[Ezra]

Great fucking match. 40 minutes? Really? That flew by,

[Droford]

worth the 10 bucks

[Jordan]

I could have watched 20 more minutes of those guys creatively out doing each other and finding ways to reverse situations to keep the match going... wow that was so fun.

[Fignuts]

Okada's dropkick needs to be framed and put in a museum

[#BROKEN Hasney]

I love Naitos arc.

For those not in the know, he was pushed as being the biggest babyface in the company because he is so fucking good in the ring, but the fans rejected him and even voted him out of the main event.

He went away on a tour of Mexico, joined the same group Almas was a part of and setup a Japan branch of it to be a heel stable... Then the crowd started loving him.

Basically it's the Rocky Maivia to The Rock arc.

[GD]

Thoroughly enjoyed Omega-Jericho. Rooting for Naito.

[GD]

I love Naitos arc.

For those not in the know, he was pushed as being the biggest babyface in the company because he is so fucking good in the ring, but the fans rejected him and even voted him out of the main event.

He went away on a tour of Mexico, joined the same group Almas was a part of and setup a Japan branch of it to be a heel stable... Then the crowd started loving him.

Basically it's the Rocky Maivia to The Rock arc.

What do you mean by voting him out?

[Emperor Smeat]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">ONE WINGED ANGEL ON THE CHAIR!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NJPW?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NJPW</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/njwk12?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#njwk12</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/KennyOmegamanX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KennyOmegamanX</a><a href="https://t.co/4ULitIni5Z">https://t.co/4ULitIni5Z</a> <a href="https://t.co/8UX6FmMbXl">pic.twitter.com/8UX6FmMbXl</a></p>&mdash; LARIATOOOO!! (@MrLARIATO) <a href="https://twitter.com/MrLARIATO/status/948889144532619265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
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[#BROKEN Hasney]

That video setup Okada as being really cocky. Will give him an excuse when he loses.

[Droford]

crowd is insane

[Fignuts]

What do you mean by voting him out?

Fans voted Nakamura vs Tanahashi for the IC belt as the main event of wrestle kingdom over Okada vs Naito for the world title, because they weren't buying Naito

[Evil Vito]

Even after that absolute war, the crowd is still red hot and ready for the next match.

WWE's "cool down match" theory is bollocks. You just need entertaining, compelling matches and programs.

[Fignuts]

Fucking love Naito's theme

[#BROKEN Hasney]

What do you mean by voting him out?

Wrestle Kingdom 8 was supposed to be this exact main event, Naito V Okada for the IWGP title. But Okada was getting a little stale and Naito was never really accepted. NJPW saw that the popularity was falling, so they held a fan vote to see if the IWGP title match should be the main event, or the Intercontinental match between Nakamura and Tanahashi. Nakamura V Tanahashi won and they main evented.

[GD]

Fans voted Nakamura vs Tanahashi for the IC belt as the main event of wrestle kingdom over Okada vs Naito for the world title, because they weren't buying Naito

Gotchya...that's kinda interesting. Wish WWE did the same with their Mania main event.

[GD]

My exposure to modern New Japan is limited to Okada, Omega, and Naito. I am so happy to see this matchup :)

[Emperor Smeat]

Pretty cool way to hype up the champ getting ready to appear.

[Fignuts]

Whoa @ the new attire for Okada

[Fignuts]

Crowd is on fucking fire for this

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Jesus, this crowd is hot.

[Evil Vito]

Okada wearing long gear tonight

[Fignuts]

love that taunt so much. greatest thing ever

[Fignuts]

gorgeous

[Evil Vito]

Okada in HBK pants seems weird

Now I expect him to show up to Korakuen in chaps

[Ezra]

I need to figure out have to have Okada's babies.

[Fignuts]

Okada in HBK pants seems weird

Now I expect him to show up to Korakuen in chaps

HBK wishes his pants were as fabulous as Okada's

[Fignuts]

jesus that kick

[GD]

That DDT sounded "sick".

[Emperor Smeat]

Poison Ranas from the top rope always look brutal.

[Evil Vito]

What a slap

[GD]

That was nasty!

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Okada having nothing left and just tapping Naito with forearms before Naito spits in his face and slaps him.

[Fignuts]

wooooooooooooooooooooooohohohohoho

[Fignuts]

VOLADOR SPIRAL

[GD]

Cover him you fool

[Jordan]

LOL the zoom in of the hands

[GD]

Holy shit! Wasn't expecting Okada to kick out there. Wow!

[GD]

Destino into to the Tombstone! Wow!

[GD]

RAINMAKEEERSIHDFAXFZHIPER[FSASDFSDFASDF

[Jordan]

WOW!

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Goddamn, still Okada?

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Great fucking match, but it feels like they missed a moment here. I'm not a fan of a predictable finish, but sometimes it just makes sense.

[Emperor Smeat]

Main event was really great.

Naito should have won though. Going to assume NJPW wants Okada to break Tana's record for most title defenses since he's only a few away now from it.

[GD]

What a night of professional wrestling...insane!

[GD]

Who is going to beat Okada?

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Honestly, it is nitpicky when almost the whole event ruled, but unless CM Punk's music hits now or at New Year's Dash, I think they did it wrong.

Still, whoever beats Okada finally will be a made man... Just don't let it be Jay White lmao

[Jordan]

The only one to beat him is Kenny Omega.

[Jordan]

Great match, amazing PPV. Probably the best Wrestle Kingdom I've seen.

[Fignuts]

Honestly, it is nitpicky when almost the whole event ruled, but unless CM Punk's music hits now or at New Year's Dash, I think they did it wrong.

Still, whoever beats Okada finally will be a made man... Just don't let it be Jay White lmao

The only one to beat him is Kenny Omega.

Yeah, if not Naito at the perfect time for him to do so, it has to be Omega. Anything less would be anticlimactic.

[Evil Vito]

Amazing show. Given that this past year is the first one I've really gotten into New Japan I'm not annoyed that Okada won, but I can see why those who have followed it longer would be.

Just stellar top to bottom, wasn't bored at all the whole time.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

He's apparently still got to break Tanahashi's title defence record so he'll probably do that at some point. Need to see how far away he is from that.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

7 defences to beat Tanahashis record. I think he's at least going to do that.

[Fignuts]

He had 7 defenses in 2017.

So we're looking at a whole nother year.

In that case I would bank on Omega winning the G-1 again.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Or Naito. Add in a couple of extra defences here and there with the extra dates they're running and maybe Kenny wins but still doesn't break his Okada title match duck and Naito beats him before then.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Still, for those new to NJPW and still have the sub for the moth, the New Years Dash show tomorrow is half filler tag matches and then the latter half usually sets the direction for the first half of the year. Last year Suzuki-GUN made an unexpected return to beat down Okada.

[Fignuts]

Agree that they missed an oppurtunity here, but hell, there are worse things than a continued Okada reign

[Evil Vito]

Reading the NJPW Reddit and seeing loads of people threatening to never watch again with loads of "fuck you Okada" and "fuck you Gedo" posts. After what might've been the best show I've ever watched.

Jesus......talk about jaded.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Yeah, I bitch a lot about winners and losers in WWE because that directly affects how much match time they have with the position on the card. But when the matches are all of a high quality, I don't mind as much. I'll root even harder for Okada's challengers going forward.

[Fignuts]

Yeah, Okada fucking rules, so I'm not too bummed about.

[Evil Vito]

Exactly. It's not the same situation as Cena in the mid/late 2000s. With him, you'd get a great match now and then but largely a bunch of mediocre at best main events that you get bored of quickly. That'll probably be the same story for Roman once he gets his title run which is already rumored to be a year-long one.

With Okada you're guaranteed a stellar match and it's at the point where it'll feel like the Streak ending once he finally does lose the belt.

[DaveWadding]

I can't believe my brain gave out during Suzuki / Goto,and I woke up to them cheering Naito/Okada at the very end. Fuck.

[Destor]

Okada retaining is upset of the year.

And i mean 2018. Nothing will be more shocking.

[Destor]

Not hot though. Okada is top notch.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Okada retaining is upset of the year.

And i mean 2018. Nothing will be more shocking.

I agree, unless Roman doesn't walk out of Wrestlemania with the title.

[Evil Vito]

Y'all are about to have your nips blown off when Heath Slater wins the Royal Rumble.

[slik]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">34,995 fans for Wrestle Kingdom 12 in Tokyo Dome. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/njwk12?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#njwk12</a></p>&mdash; STRIGGA (@STRIGGA) <a href="https://twitter.com/STRIGGA/status/948889751242895361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">RAINMAKAAAAAAAHHHHH!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NJPW?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NJPW</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WK12?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WK12</a><br><br>▶️<a href="https://t.co/5zxa6so4SQ">https://t.co/5zxa6so4SQ</a> <a href="https://t.co/fgqEt8TsQ9">pic.twitter.com/fgqEt8TsQ9</a></p>&mdash; Kayden (@KVR216) <a href="https://twitter.com/KVR216/status/948897837487665152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
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[slik]

Looks like way more than 35k


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">And this is how it looks. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/njwk12?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#njwk12</a> <a href="https://t.co/aDnYak27jv">pic.twitter.com/aDnYak27jv</a></p>&mdash; Shrimpsmann (@Shrimpsmann) <a href="https://twitter.com/Shrimpsmann/status/948891445619916800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
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[Destor]

35k in presales. they had walk ins for sure. Look forward to the day they can pack that house again.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

People are speculating that the Suzuki thing defying his stable to be a man might get him kicked out of Suzuki-GUN ala Kojima-GUN.

I want Sabre-GUN.

[Loose Cannon]

honestly I never watched any NJPW other then watching Bullet Club and Omega videos on You Tube, but this show seems like a blast. wish i could of seen it.

the Main event looked bad ass

[Loose Cannon]

can someone explain the NEVER Championship? what is this

[slik]

honestly I never watched any NJPW other then watching Bullet Club and Omega videos on You Tube, but this show seems like a blast. wish i could of seen it.

the Main event looked bad ass

I spent like 9 bucks to subscribe to njpw to watch it

You can probably find it online somewhere I bet and watch it/parts of it

[slik]

I think I'm *significantly* more likely to watch NJPW now after this...what day/time does it air on Axxcess (sp?) or w/e the network is called it's on in the U.S.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

can someone explain the NEVER Championship? what is this

NEVER was supposed to be their kind of NXT brand show, but it didn't take, so they just use the belts.

Then they made a 6 man belt with the same brand for some reason.

[Evil Vito]

can someone explain the NEVER Championship? what is this

NEVER was supposed to be their kind of NXT brand show, but it didn't take, so they just use the belts.

Then they made a 6 man belt with the same brand for some reason.


The NEVER titles are also Openweight titles which means any weight classes can go for it but so far the singles title has been held pretty much exclusively by heavyweights. Theoretically though it'd be a good way to have a junior heavyweight win the belt, have a nice run and use it to transition to the heavyweight division.

The 6-man belts you get more of a mix of weight classes.

[JimmyMess]

I was able to check out the Jericho/Omega match before work. Haven't got to watch the rest. But man was it refreshing to watch! It reminded me of the older, grittier product of the attitude era that I loved. I'm not expecting the rest of the show to be the same style as this match, but I am excited.


Also... do any of my fellow Canadians know how to get NJPW? We dont get AXS tv or whatever... I've seen the website for njpw and I think its a fee, but I don't know what exactly I get from it

[Jordan]

I think you'll have to get the membership just like anyone else. Don't think it matters that you are in Canada.

[Evil Vito]

Who will Bryan Danielson be wrestling at WK13?

[Destor]

I would fly out to watch Danielson v Okada

[Droford]

The Gauntlet match sucked and the IC Title match was disappointing. Everything else was great. 4 way was the match of the night.

[#1-norm-fan]

I love how impossible it seems for someone to win the title. I had become convinced just by reading people's thoughts that Naito was pretty much a lock. The story seemed to be leading there, too. And then... nope. It's like you have to be established as an all-time great for them to put the title on you. It's the polar opposite of WWE where everyone gets a run to see if it sticks.

[Destor]

Okada's reign is very special in all fairness but yes the belts are protected

[Fignuts]

can someone explain the NEVER Championship? what is this

NEVER was supposed to be their kind of NXT brand show, but it didn't take, so they just use the belts.

Then they made a 6 man belt with the same brand for some reason.

It's also become synonomous with utterly brutal, knock down, drag out fights, which is why guys like Goto and Ishii are typically the champion.

[#1-norm-fan]

The other belts seem to hotshot more though. Especially when they talk about how someone's on their 7th reign or they're the 75th person to hold a title that's existed for 30 years. I'm sure it's not WWE bad still but it seems like the others are a little more subject to hotshotting.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

The junior belts are hotshotted, but the IC isn't really. Only 5 reigns were under 100 days.

It's weird how MVP won the first IC title on a US show. Like they were trying to build him the same way they are Kenny now. I love MVP, but I think they might do better with Omega somehow.

[#1-norm-fan]

MVP? How did I miss that!?! lol

I love MVP but he does not fit in with New Japan at all.

[Destor]

The other belts seem to hotshot more though. Especially when they talk about how someone's on their 7th reign or they're the 75th person to hold a title that's existed for 30 years. I'm sure it's not WWE bad still but it seems like the others are a little more subject to hotshotting.
Not the IWGP belts

[Mr. Nerfect]

I posted this in the other thread because I didn't see this, but the Okada and Tanahashi wins didn't shock me in the slightest. Okada is the guy, he's having a very special reign, and there are people that would just be cottoning on to that now. Putting it on their cool heel act who didn't need the belt to get over doesn't really...make as much sense as it does to a lot of American spectators where a guy gets half-way there and you switch it.

I can't actually imagine who beats Okada for the belt, and it's nice to have a strong babyface you legitimately believe in like that. It'll make it shocking and heart-breaking when he does drop it. Ideally. If Danielson jumps, which is still surreal to think about (I think he re-ups with WWE for millions, even if he is paid to do nothing), then that would be an obvious switch. Or Brock Lesnar, should he decide that he wants a change of scenery in order to change the wrestling landscape for a couple of million a year (I doubt they would pay him WWE salary, but does the dude really need money at this point?). If Brock got bored in Japan, Vince would take him back in a heartbeat, lol.

Hell, Bobby Lashley's TNA contract is coming up. I fully expect him to sign with the WWE, but he'd be a fool not to send feelers out to New Japan and see if they'd do something with him part-time in order to boost his rep even more. He's probably come a long way and has had great matches with Angle. "The Destroyer" in New Japan beating the snot out of the hero Okada would make for compelling stuff.

[Mr. Nerfect]

MVP? How did I miss that!?! lol

I love MVP but he does not fit in with New Japan at all.

Eh, he had a lot of good rep leaving the WWE as a technical guy who never got to show his stuff. I think he teamed with Shelton Benjamin there as "Black Dynamite" or something. And it was always his dream to go and work in Japan. Kind of felt like the IC Title was their prototype US Title, which they'd use to get a gaijin they liked over. Now it's become sort of like what the WWF IC Title used to be, in that you put it on a guy that you want to be a big deal that you just aren't willing to derail the A1 main event program for. Shinsuke Nakamura became synonymous with it when Tanahashi was the guy, and now Tanahashi is synonymous with it now that Okada is the guy. One day Okada will become synonymous with it if Goto or Ibushi get to that main event spot.

Actually, Goto is probably my pick to get the next IWGP Title run, assuming that there isn't a MAJOR shake-up in the wrestling world and the Punk, Brock or Danielson thing doesn't end up happening.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Jericho worked exactly the match he should have. There were a couple of spots that were tricky but he focused heavily on brawling and telling a story instead of trying ti keep up with the younger/fitter Omega... Which imo has been his downfall in his wwe matches. He was able to do the charactet work while working at a high level. V impressed. He understood the limits of his age and worked beautifully around them.

[Jordan]

Dale, we missed you on the live show! Should've called out of work!

[Mr. Nerfect]

I wouldn't want to see Jericho do that match all the time though.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Well yeah then it'd cease to be special. Also, a lot of that match had to do with Kenny Omega. So it'll change depending on the opponent. However, that's the only way he can work at a high level. He's not going to be able to have amazing technical matches anymore, he has just lost too many steps.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Well yeah then it'd cease to be special. Also, a lot of that match had to do with Kenny Omega. So it'll change depending on the opponent. However, that's the only way he can work at a high level. He's not going to be able to have amazing technical matches anymore, he has just lost too many steps.

He really has. He'd make a great manager or something, if he wanted to throw himself back into wrestling though. Still don't see it with Omega. He's such a geek. "You cannot escape!" Holy shit, so bad. He was a lot more toned down, but Jericho was clearly leading that thing.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Hate that finisher of Omega too. Way too convoluted. Like something you'd give a CAW. In fact, Omega himself looks like the sort of wrestler my brother would have made in one of the games. I just don't get it with him.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Yes Noid. We get it. No matter what Omega does, you won't like him.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Didn't see his entrance, so that probably helped my overall enjoyment. Does he still do shit like this:

https://statics.sportskeeda.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/kennyomega-1483774263-800.jpg

[Mr. Nerfect]

Yes Noid. We get it. No matter what Omega does, you won't like him.

I think he's good in the ring. It's the same patterned stuff as everyone else, but he does it really well. I just think his personality and everything else around his athletics is hokey and off-putting. It's like if someone cast Rob Schneider to be in a good movie.

[Fignuts]

I typically don't find Omega's silly stuff bothersome, and even enjoy it most of the time, but the Anubis entrance stuff was a little too much and din't fit the tone of the encounter at all.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Yeah that entrance was brutal. But other than that, I don't have a problem with most of his stuff. It's different, and kinda "neat"

[Mr. Nerfect]

I typically don't find Omega's silly stuff bothersome, and even enjoy it most of the time, but the Anubis entrance stuff was a little too much and din't fit the tone of the encounter at all.

Haha, I'm almost tempted to seek this out.

[Emperor Smeat]

According to the Observer, Wrestle Kingdom 12 was the largest wrestling event in terms of crowd size in about 15 years for Japan. Number itself is still expected to rise once the walk-in tickets are included.

The Dome was almost sold out with 34,995 paid, based on the stage and configuration with the biggest crowd for a Japanese pro wrestling event in about 15 years.

Edit: Turns out the number is around 43k when including the walk-ins.

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12 was seen by 34,995 paying fans and 43,000 total at the Tokyo Dome. Based on the stage and configuration, that's a near-sell out and the biggest crowd for a Japanese pro wrestling event in about 15 years.

The 2017 event drew 26,192 paid to watch Kazuchika Okada successfully defend his IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Kenny Omega in the first of three outstanding matches the two had throughout the year.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Good growth for New Japan. I hope they keep it up.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

New Japan released a few of the entrance videos from WK12. Crazy how much effort they put into these compared to those shitty Windows Movie Maker nameplates WWE has now.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gVj5BXF5ZUo" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XDjuC5uezKc" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Naito's is especially cool as after the intro pit, it goes over his entire story arc from the beginning.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8XCA3bZWz0c" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

0:32 "My life is not a coincidense...Everything is 'Destiny'"
0:48 "I thought I could secure my dream"
1:17 "(but) life isn't that easy"
1:38 "at last, I've achieved glory...but in reality, the progress was not as expected"
1:51 "but i neded to keep on fighting"
2:12 "at last i found my "place" and "family"
2:17 "now its my time"
2:42 "now I can say with certainty"
2:57 "the hero of the ring..."
3:06 "is me!"
4:27 "my way of life is in 'Destino'"

[Mr. Nerfect]

Funny that the guys in Japan have more entrenched characters than the guys in WWE.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

The Switchblade video makes me think Jay can still pull this off, but he's got to bring some of those facials and things to the ring. Showing up in a suit when joining CHAOS wasn't a good look for the character either, unless they go full American Psycho with him at some point.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Is it worth driving this Switchblade thing over if Jay is much more comfortable being a cute little guy in a suit?

[Fignuts]

I have trouble taking the whole switchblade persona seriously with that babyface of his. Seems more suited to an underdog character.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Yeah, I'm thinking they may have already gotten cold feet with it.

[Vastardikai]

Having just watched Omega-Jericho, it was a good match that isn't a classic. And I feel most of it was on Omega. Warning: Picking of Nits to come...

1. Seriously, You are going to have millions of eyes on you that have never been on you before. You are in the middle of a heated blood feud with this guy. Dude busted you open. You jumped him at a press conference. Why the fuck are you coming to the ring dressed like an Overwatch Character? Especially when the feud was heated and violent and parts of the match itself were heated and violent. I'm like "way to shoot yourself in the foot."

2. I felt there was another bit of incongruence (sp?) was how Omega really worked the match. V-Triggers en masse are fine and all, and they looked good. But I would have liked to see him get some revenge with chair shots of his own, beyond the one at the end. It was something I felt was by and large left on the table.

3. Spraying Jericho in the face to get out of the Walls of Jericho? Good Idea. Spraying your own balls afterward? Bad Idea.

4. The dumbest thing he would do, in my opinion, is washing the blood off of his face. A victorious. bloody Omega is a better visual than what we got.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Fair criticisms. My opinions on Omega are well known. I think he's still way too goofy to emotionally invest in. He seems to be working over there, so whatever. I'm glad they've given him his own title to sort of keep him away from the main one though. Semi-main is a good position for that top gaijin.

I hate the goofy shit, but even if you are pissed, doing a big entrance at WK makes sense. It's psyching yourself up -- showing that his attacks won't change you from being who you are. If I had to play devil's advocate, I mean. I don't like it on the best of days, but I imagine that "no selling" the heat, which sounds stupid, is where Omega was coming from.

The wiping away of the blood? It would have been cool if Omega had struck a gusher and he wiped it off and then he came back. Him getting his own back on Jericho would have been good. Busting Jericho open would have been pretty sick. But maybe they're back-pocketing that for another match? That's all I've got there.

Valid criticisms, as I said. I largely agree, but with a BUT, just because they might have been trying to conserve some stuff. I dunno. Good, but not a classic. Fun. Not quite Triple H vs. Cactus or anything like that, but it's a good Jericho match, which is a treat these days, and people will remember it and be like "Yeah, that was fun." Creating memories is the best way to really get noticed. Jericho is still getting noticed. He's still working.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Kind of want Suzuki to come stateside and be a top heel for a little promotion that takes wrestling seriously. ROH is kind of out, I feel, although it is the most likely place. Suzuki beating up Dalton Castle's boys is "please take my money." I'm just low on Cody and The Bucks and how "all over" that show they are.

I dunno, Suzuki is just really, really high in my good books right now. Dude is like 50 and still radiates bad-ass, takes himself seriously and isn't afraid of that glorious, glorious heat. Let Jericho be the scum-bag in Japan for a while, maybe have Suzuki take the IWGP IC Title from Tanahashi, send him overseas, give him a run with the ROH World Title at the same time, and then have him drop it back to Dalton Castle after a long feud where Suzuki eventually pays his respects. And keep Cody and The Bucks in New Japan for a while.

OR, since they're open to working agreements with people, have Suzuki murder Tim Storm en route to an NWA World Title match with Nick Aldis, where he talks about sticking his own body parts into him. Have Aldis beat Davey Boy Smith, Jr. and Lance Archer to set up Suzuki vs. Aldis for the belt somewhere. Suzuki traveling with the NWA World Title over one shoulder and the IWGP IC Title over the other would be pretty bad-ass.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Fuck, Suzuki is so good. I always have this little fantasy of Jerry Lawler starting up a promotion in Memphis again, with Dolph Ziggler leaving the WWE and heading there, because I believe that Lawler and Nick Nemeth could actually draw an old-school crowd a bit. Build it around the heart attack. Have Nemeth do an elbow off the top for heat. Have him waltz in with Stacy Carter, because he's always better with a woman, and that would just be "Ooh," and it fits his gimmick perfectly.

Anyway, I think Suzuki-gun would work tremendously in a Memphis-style promotion. Suzuki just beating up scrubs with Davey Boy Smith, Jr., Lance Archer and Taka Michinoku as his thugs. I'd sincerely go out of my way to watch that shit, even if just for the "Holy shit, Taka's still wrestling?" factor. New Japan could set it up as a place to send their young boys and to cultivate a bit of a developmental league stateside. I think Gedo's booking is largely influenced by Memphis. Have Nemeth go against Omega for the IWGP US Title, which you make the centerpiece of the promotion. You could probably get away with Jim Ross and Josh Barnett on commentary and set up a deal with AXS or whatever pretty easily.

I'm just pipe-dreaming here.

[Emperor Smeat]

Young Bucks could probably pull some string for Suzuki to appear for PWG but outside of ROH, think the only other notable company NJPW has working relations in North America is Mexico's CMLL.

NJPW doesn't really like the NWA anymore due to how bad their previous deal was between the two companies. They were giving Wrestle Kingdom spots and stars to NWA and got nothing equivalent in status for a return. Also spent a lot of money resulting in little to no gain in the North American market.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Yeah, I remember that. Still, new management, and Corgan is looking to do stuff. I just think Suzuki being all serious in PWG while the other dudes are dancing and shit is just going to cut your nose off to spite your face.

[Mr. Nerfect]

ROH is the only "likely" one, but Suzuki seems like he's embroiled over there, so I doubt they send him away.

[Emperor Smeat]

Yeah its only been a year since he came back to NJPW after staying in NOAH for a while to help that company out with its struggles.

He'd probably be more useful sent to the UK since they just started having working relations with the UK wrestling scene.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I'd send someone else to the UK. Someone like KUSHIDA or something. Takahashi.

[Fignuts]

https://78.media.tumblr.com/46d41d311b8f8c3e0e29d7cb7b503fd0/tumblr_ne4zxe18qH1rp89yqo1_500.gif

[Mr. Nerfect]

Asuka is amazing, I just find it hard to care about her on main roster WWE.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Another thing to keep in mind about Okada's reign is that he is yet to successfully defend the belt as many times as Tanahashi. Assuming he defends the belt against Sanada, he'll still have a few to go before Wrestle Kingdom. Sakura Genesis will probably take him up to 24. Wrestling Dontaku to 25. Dominion to 26. Maybe Destruction? King of Pro-Wrestling to 28. Power Struggle to 29, which would break the record. Buuuut, they could do Okada in tags, which means you could save the 29th defense until Wrestle Kingdom, or you could get them over and done with and make him, definitively, the greatest IWGP Heavyweight Champion of all-time heading into the loss.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Yeah, we were talking about that on some previous page. 7 to go.

[Mr. Nerfect]

And, of course, Okada will win the G1 and challenge freelancer, Brock Lesnar in the main event of the Tokyo Dome.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Yeah, we were talking about that on some previous page. 7 to go.

My apologies, I didn't read the whole thread. I feel like there is still lots more to mine out of Okada as champion at this point, and that they can probably do even better business this year and next because of it.

[Ultra Mantis]

Yeah its only been a year since he came back to NJPW after staying in NOAH for a while to help that company out with its struggles.

He'd probably be more useful sent to the UK since they just started having working relations with the UK wrestling scene.

A bunch of NJPW guys work the UK scene frequently through their partnership with Rev Pro. Suzuki is actually one of the guys they are using this month and he worked a few shows last year, usually brings El Desperado with him to eat pins. KUSHIDA, Okada, Naito, Hiromu and Ishii are all popular guys to bring over too.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Oh, so they are using Suzuki. Good for them, I guess.

[Ultra Mantis]

Just checked and it's Suzuki-Gun vs Moustache Mountain on the 20th. Suzuki and Sabre Jr representing. Poor Trent Seven is going to have a bad time.

Card also feat. SANADA and EVIL.

[Malfeitor]

To those bitching about Omega coming out dressed as whatever it was...

Are you okay with Trips coming out dressed as whatever for his Mania matches?

It’s pretty much the same thing.

[Vastardikai]

To those bitching about Omega coming out dressed as whatever it was...

Are you okay with Trips coming out dressed as whatever for his Mania matches?

It’s pretty much the same thing.

I am pretty sure Triple H's outfits were routinely mocked when he came out wearing them, apart from the first Conan one.

[Mr. Nerfect]

To those bitching about Omega coming out dressed as whatever it was...

Are you okay with Trips coming out dressed as whatever for his Mania matches?

It’s pretty much the same thing.

Yes. I'm against Triple H wrestling at Mania, to be honest. Unless it's against Shane McMahon for Vince's approval. That might actually draw some interest.

[Fignuts]

I am pretty sure Triple H's outfits were routinely mocked when he came out wearing them, apart from the first Conan one.

This. The conan one was badass and had a much bigger production budget than whatever bargain bin cosplay store Omega got that outfit from.

I typically like a lot of the shit Omega gets ripped for, but even I have my limits.