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Eyyyyyy I'm down for that.
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Seems NJPW might be needing to give some refunds for Wrestle Kingdom 15 tickets since a new government order in Japan just set a strict limit of 5k for events at venues with 10k or higher in capacity until January 11th.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">As my mentions tab reminds me, this will also affect Wrestle Kingdom, the annual New Japan Pro Wrestling event at Tokyo Dome - the hottest ticket in puroresu, scheduled for Jan. 4-5.</p>— Dan Orlowitz (@aishiterutokyo) <a href="https://twitter.com/aishiterutokyo/status/1341712564565069824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> |
Wrestle Kingdom cards.
Night 1 Pre-Show: New Japan Rumble (22 entrants, final four advance to the #KOPW match on 1/5) 1. Hiromu Takahashi [LIJ] vs. El Phantasmo [Bullet Club] (winner advances to wrestle Taiji Ishimori for the IWGP Jr. Title on Night 2) 2. IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Titles: Dangerous Tekkers (Zack Sabre Jr./Taichi) [Suzuki-gun] (V3 defense) vs. G.o.D. (Tama Tanga/Tanga Loa) [Bullet Club] 3. IWGP US Title Briefcase: KENTA (holder) [Bullet Club] vs. Satoshi Kojima [Sekigun] 4. Hiroshi Tanahashi [Sekigun] vs. Great-O-Khan [Empire] 5. Kazuchika Okada [Chaos] vs. Will Ospreay [Empire] 6. IWGP Heavyweight/Intercontinental Titles: Tetsuya Naito [LIJ] V2 defense) vs. Kota Ibushi [Sekigun] Night 2 Pre-Show: Stardom Exhibition Match (probably won’t be streamed) 1. #KOPW 2021 Decision Match: X vs. X vs. X vs. X 2. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Titles: Yoshinobu Kanemaru/El Desperado [Suzuki-gun] (V2 defense) vs. Ryusuke Taguchi/Master Wato [Sekigun] 3. NEVER Openweight Title: Shingo Takagi [LIJ] (V1 defense) vs. Jeff Cobb [Empire] 4. SANADA [LIJ] vs. EVIL [Bullet Club] 5. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: Taiji Ishimori [Bullet Club] (V1 defense) vs. Winner of Hiromu Takahashi/El Phantasmo from night 1 6. IWGP Heavyweight/Intercontinental Titles: Winner of Tetsuya Naito/Kota Ibushi (V3 or V1 defense) vs. Jay White [Bullet Club] |
Kota HAS to win out. Right?
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">the Journalist Jay White��<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JayWhite?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JayWhite</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/njpwworld?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#njpwworld</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/njpw?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#njpw</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/njwk15?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#njwk15</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wk15?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#wk15</a> <a href="https://t.co/KzFRlqojln">pic.twitter.com/KzFRlqojln</a></p>— Tony (@TonyWrestling1) <a href="https://twitter.com/TonyWrestling1/status/1341670220654665728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Jay White is better than Kenny Omega.
KENTA vs. Satoshi Kojima has to be some sort of retirement thing for Kojima, right? Or is there some special history between the two? I don't really care about that match on paper right now. Okada vs. Ospreay is set to knock Okada/Omega off the pedestal as every geek's favorite match. Gedo is setting that up perfectly. Like the idea of them giving Hiromu a big, built-up win. I can't see Ibushi losing to Naito. It just seems like after losing the briefcase he needs something. But I don't necessarily see him walking out of Night 2 as champion either. It's really weird. Maybe Naito to win Night 1 and Ibushi to get something back on Night 2? Because they'll surely have Naito and Ibushi working both shows, right? |
Japan is going to ban foreign nationals from entering the country starting Monday. The new COVID strain has been detected.
Japanese citizens and foreigners who have a residence can still go in. But, of course, have to quarantine. I wonder if anyone is gonna get out or try to come in. |
All of the talent working Wrestle Kingdom are already in the country, but if someone like Jay White, G.O.D, Jeff Cobb etc want to go home at any point they likely won't be allowed back into the country anytime soon. It'll be LA Dojo for them.
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The Commonwealth Kingpin. HELL of name there.
<iframe width="1019" height="573" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-86Ah-__-cQ" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> |
So now Mox has formally responded to KENTA, the question is where and when their match will finally happen. Japan's under new travel restrictions and beyond that, it's a two and a half week process just to get there and back between travel and mandatory quarantine. I don't see him doing that with a pregnant wife at home, and we're still a long way away from being out of this pandemic.
Given he was in the LA Dojo I'm assuming they'll eventually have their match there, KENTA lives in the US so he'd presumably be coming home eventually anyway, and if he's still got Japanese residency he might be able to head back quickly unlike the true foreign talent. I'd guess they could tape the match and air it during the ring cleaning intermission at a show. As far as I know, AEW have to clear all of Mox's bookings in the US but given there would be no fans and it's not running up against AEW programming or anything, I'd hope they're OK with it especially if they want to work together eventually. At the same time, even if they do want to work together I'm not sure they'd want to draw too much attention to one of their biggest stars dropping another promotion's tertiary championship. |
Honestly the best thing would be for Mox to defend against Kenta at a NJPW of America show and have Kenny and Don show up and screw him.
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Jay White removed from the roster page. Man I hope this winds up a work.
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I can't even picture what a Jay White in WWE looks like. There's no way he keeps the nickname. There’s no way he keeps the gimmick and aesthetic. I can see them telling him to shave the beard. He'll be wrestling WWE style and cutting 'my guest at this time' scripted promos. At best, he's Rollins with an accent.
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Not been keeping up with the New Begginning tour that much, but I have watched a bunch of the backstage comments and the character work being put in by Naito / Hiromu / SHO and Ibushi is ridiculously entertaining. They're constantly teasing SANADA is going to get involved in the backstage shenanigans too and hopefully he does because SHO needs someone there who can keep a straight face. Who would have thought 2021 Honma would bring more greatness out of Naito than EVIL?
Also popped for a wild Goto suddenly rampaging on GOD and Jay White after yesterdays show. Tama Tonga still looks wrong. |
Glad White is sticking around.
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Jay is such a troll its brilliant. Blaming his emotional breakdown on Ishii of all people.
Baby face Taichi and anti hero Zack are killing it too, Tama has gone full ham speaking fluent Japanese as the spirit of Iizuka's iron finger is driving him insane. What is going on. |
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">New Japan Pro-Wrestling Sets Roku Channel TV Deal in U.S., U.K, Canada <a href="https://t.co/HsQQ0uirfK">https://t.co/HsQQ0uirfK</a></p>— Variety (@Variety) <a href="https://twitter.com/Variety/status/1357343345866018816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Yeah I'm really pumped about this. I enjoy NJPW but I don't stay subscribed all year, this will help give me my fix.
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1 hour means they'll likely showcase their best stuff. Like how axs tv would segment the best 4 or 5 matches from wrestle kingdom into a months worth of tv. If that's the plan than fuck yes.
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Okada coming to my roku? Boner alert.
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I had been considering a Roku but I don't NEED it. This does make it more appealing.
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wonder who will call the matches will they get jr back
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Is Kevin Kelly still doing their English language pbp? He was actually better than JR. Way more enthusiastic and engaging.
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According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, NJPW deal with Roku was the best offer they had on the table.
What hurt them a lot was not having any real valuable viewership data that could have been used to sell this new weekly show to a better network. Part of it was due to the lack of tv exposure in the US after they got booted from AXS TV and the other part was due to AXS TV not being a Nielsen subscriber until last year. They did have an offer from CBS Sports but they would only earn money via getting a share of ad revenues during shows like Impact's situation during their time on POP TV. |
Man, CBS Sports would have been the way to go. Easily accessible on most, if not, all cable providers. And maybe get some big shows either on replay or live on the flagship channel.
I guess Roku will get them on their way. But, I wish they would focus on getting NJPW World available on smart TVs, game consoles, etc. instead of being tied into either the website or use of a Fire stick. Better way of getting exposure if you ask me. |
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That's the only part of his commentary I didn't like. I wonder if he's still a hermaphrodite...
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IWGP Tag title and IWGP Jr. title match at Night 1 of New Beginning in Hiroshima 2021 were great.
The ending to the Tag title match is likely going to be very divisive because of all the shenanigans but felt it was one of those rare times where it actually helped more than hurt the match because of the storyline between Tama Tonga and Taichi over Iizuka's glove. Only big downside was that match didn't really need to be almost 30 minutes long for the finish it got even if the finish itself made sense based on how things went down during it. |
Yano's ring entrance merch hawking announcement during tonight's Night 2 of New Beginning in Hiroshima show might have been longer than the Yano & Okada vs. Dock Togo & EVIL match.
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Gedo must have been drunk when he wrote the EVIL vs. Okada stuff for tonight's show.
Pretty much WWE style shit booking for match layout and finishes. |
:lol: at Zack Sabre Jr suddenly showing up for guest commentary for this IWGP Double title match and just starts making fun of both guys when asked for expert advice on the competitors.
Made fun of SANADA for his goofy looking entrance attires and Ibushi for his comedic wrestling work during his time in DDT Pro Wrestling. |
Just like with Night 1, both of the title matches were the best stuff from tonight's Night 2 of New Beginning in Hiroshima show.
The stuff involving EVIL & Okada was easily the worst thing from both nights. Post-match stuff from the IWGP Double title match: SPOILER: show |
SANADA really cementing his position as the new Goto :'( Not sure what he does next, at best they could build to him taking the IC off Naito somewhere down the line but he's pretty much written off for the rest of the year as a legit contender for any of the tournaments.
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I could see him be a finalist in the upcoming New Japan Cup tournament but its going to just lead to the same outcome of him losing in the end.
NJPW and Gedo has made it clear he's not going any higher in status nor winning any top tier gold until he signs an actual contract with them. |
His New Japan Cup pattern was broken by EVIL's heel turn last year so I think he might even be on the shortlist for this years annual first round upset. Giving him a deep run so early even seems counter productive to me and is just wheel spinning. I'd like to see him get a bit of development and maybe realise he needs to switch up his moves, maybe add an impact finisher or even just lose his cool when a feud calls for it.
Really strange that he hasn't signed a deal yet though, he does absolutely nothing else and doesn't even work random indie shows or have a side business like Suzuki. Even fellow himbo Ibushi managed to figure out signing up was a good idea. |
NJPW Roku debut features a banger between Jay White and Naito from Wrestle Kingdom last year. I saw it last year but this is such a great match, and was my first intro to the Switchblade.
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NJPW had a new Young Lion named Yuto Nakashima debut on tonight's Road to Castle Attack show and he got struck by some very awful bad luck.
Suffered a serious arm injury very early into his debut match. |
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