#promotion | pro wrestling noah
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Pro Wrestling Illustrated, May 2006
The Wrestling Forecaster: Samoa Joe
(@selamat-linting @scopophil here y'all go)
WHAT’S AHEAD FOR THE REMAINDER OF 2006?
Everyone is predicting huge things out of Samoa Joe. He is TNA’s breakthrough star, and the first TNA wrestler to be the subject of a PWI cover story. Joe is cutting a bloody swatch through the X division, and we predict he’ll continue to dominate that division, piling up wins over Christopher Daniels, A.J. Styles, and Austin Aries before he demands a different type of challenge. The first man to answer the rugged Samoan’s call will be Abyss, and those two big men will push one another to the limit in some of the most physical matches U.S. wrestling fans have ever seen. Joe will ultimately win that feud and then either challenge Sting for the NWA heavyweight title or go after Jeff Jarrett in another epic feud. Samoa Joe will be TNA’s top heel of 2006, but he won’t win the NWA title. That will happen in 2007 with Joe competing as a fan favorite.
WHERE WILL HE BE IN 2011?
In five years, Joe will only be 31 years old. He will sign with WWE in 2009, but the point of contention will be his weight. Joe will be under pressure to conform to the WWE body type, in spite of the pre-existing gentlemen’s agreement that his physique would be a non-issue. With his huge fan following, Joe will be empowered to stick to his guns. WWE Creative will back down, but Joe will be forced to spend many months in the developmental system and then kept out of the top storylines. He will state in an exclusive interview with Matt Brock that leaving TNA was a mistake. (Brock would die from cirrhosis of the liver before the interview was published). By 2011, WWE, realizing its miscalculation, will concede to the fans’ wishes and push Joe to the moon. In 2011, he will take the Raw brand by storm and march inexorably toward the WWE title.
WHERE WILL HE BE IN 2016?
Joe will ultimately drop the WWE title to Carlito and then will gradually be phased out of the title picture. By 2014, he will request his WWE release and embark upon a tour of Japan, where he will quickly become that nation’s top gaijin (foreign) wrestler. In 2016, Joe will win the Pro Wrestling NOAH GHC title, beating his 2005 rival Kenta Kobashi for the honor. Joe’s incredible marketing power will even be enough to get promoters from All-Japan Pro Wrestling to agree to an inter-promotional match pitting Joe against whoever holds the Triple Crown title. Like Terry Funk, Bruiser Brody, and Stan Hansen before him, Joe will make history in Japan.
#crazy. crazy shit.#samoa joe#tna#wwe#pwi#pro wrestling illustrated#magazine scan#magazine transcription
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SPARK OF SOMETHING SPECIAL
THE RISE OF THE AMERICAN JOSHI PROMOTION
As Japanese women’s promotions continue to gain influence worldwide, joshi-inspired companies have begun popping up around the U.S. In this feature story, PWI helps explain the growing phenomenon
TEXT BY KAREN PETERSON
PHOTOS BY JORDAN WILLIAMS
[Maya Yukihi, a two-time former champion of the Ice Ribbon promotion, twists the limbs of COLOR’s leader SAKI. This meeting in Orlando marked the very first singles bout between the two.]
OVER EIGHT YEARS of working the Japanese independent circuit contemporaneously, Maya Yukihi and SAKI have crossed paths numerous times. With showcase matches at Pro Wrestling NOAH and All Japan Pro Wrestling, competing in Stardom’s 2023 Triangle Derby, and working at multiple women’s promotions in Japan, they’d never faced off in a one-on-one bout. However, that changed on October 14, at the Englewood Neighborhood Center in Orlando, Florida, where these world-renowned freelance wrestlers finally locked horns in a main-event singles match for the inaugural SPARK Joshi Atlantic championship. “We’ve wrestled plenty of times, but always in tag and three-person matches,” Yukihi said enthusiastically. “I didn’t expect this to happen in the united states!”
The North American scene, in particular, has seen a significant uptick in Japanese wrestlers exploring the international wrestling landscape with fly-ins for single commitments, while others gain notoriety by making frequent visits to various North American and European promotions. Showcase tournaments such as the Mae Young Classic and the success of Japanese stars in WWE and All Elite Wrestling have served as the gateway for many to begin exploring their options outside the big companies.
American independent promotions–GCW, Deadlock Pro, West Coast Pro, and Prestige Wrestling, to name a few–have showcased Japanese talent, further contributing to the interest and continued success of the Japanese women’s wrestling scene. Even legends including Chigusa Nagayo, Bull Nakano, and Manami Toyota have all worked with international promotions to help make joshi more accessible across the board.
[“If wrestling in Japan isn’t a goal, I would question your intentions as a wrestler.” Thus says Australia native KZT, seen here making good use of her jiu-jitsu skills against Kelsey Raegan.]
The diversity in the North American independent scene isn’t just minted to athletes from Japan, as many wrestlers have relocated to the United States to hone their craft or work in backstage capacities. While she competes for WOW Superheros as Exodus, works behind the scenes t a major American promotion, and frequents East Coast outfits including GCW and frequents East Coast outfits including GCW, and DPW, KZT is an Australia-born wrestler based in Orlando with a full plate and an even bigger bucket list. “Wrestling in Japan is an absolute goal of mine. If wrestling in Japan isn’t a goal, I would question your intentions as a wrestler,” KZT mused, looking back at a recent work trip to the country.
When asked for her thoughts on being an Australian working in an American-based Japanese-inspired promotion in SPARK, she smiled. “It pretty much goes in line with who I am as a person,” explained KZT, who showed off her jiu-jitsu skills against Flordia mainstay Kelsey Raegan. “People always assume some things about me, but as soon as I open my mouth, they notice my Australian accent, and they find out things like I’m a black belt. I’ve never been one to fit in.”
For many wrestlers, making the journey to Japan–even for one single match–remains a bucket list item, as trying to find a foothold within the competitive market can be rather challenging. Founded in 2023, SPARK Joshi Puroresu of America is one of the latest showcase promotions to further expand opportunities for Women’s wrestling–and specifically, for wrestling on an international level.
The existence of Japanese-inspired wrestling promotions, such as Kitsune Women’s Wrestling and SPARK Joshi Puroresu of America, has inspired excitement among fans and wrestlers alike. These leagues provide another avenue for fans to experience Japanese wrestling without the international airfare; offer Japanese competitors chances to experience the international fan response while wrestling deserve opponents from around the world; and serve as a potential proving ground for talent interested in achieving the elusive dream of wrestling in Japan.
“When [SPARK] contacted me, I [realized] that this is something that I can bring my British skills to, plus what I learned in Japan. Said Xia Brookside, just prior to her title bout with SPARK Joshi Pacific champion Ram Kaichow. “And with all the talented women here, we can show an American audience what women wrestlers are made of.”
Brookside, a former member of the NXT U.K. roster, made her Japanese debut with Stardom at 18 years old. Now 25, the daughter of retired British grappler Robbie Brookside has completed five tours in Japan. Her most recent excursion was for the Triangle Derby in January 2023, when she completed as part of Mina Shirakawa’s unit, Club Venus.
[Maika Ozaki applies a camel clutch to Amber Nova during their encounter at RISING HEAT East.]
For Japanese natives performing outside of their home country, one of the biggest eye-openers tends to be the energy of the international crowd–especially how vocal fans are with their opinions and expressions. Typically, Japanese audiences don’t break into song, rounds of chanting, or candidly express their opinions. However, the overall positive energy is definitely not lost in translation. “Because we’re in America, I was curious what the atmosphere would be like,” confessed Miu Wantanaabe, a popular member of the TJPW roster who has only wrestled internationally a handful of times. “The fans know and love Japanese wrestling, so it made me so happy.” In her victory over IMPACT’s KiLynn King, Wantanabe put her strength and power to the test, refusing to let the language barrier impede her performance.
One of the clear advantages of SPARK and similar promotions is the shared enthusiasm to pay homage to Japanese wrestling traditions, but to present them in a way that is more accessible to the non-Japanese speaking market. SPARK showrunner Chibi (C.B.) joins with inaugural SPARK Atlantic champion SAKI (founder of freelance group COLOR’S) to open and close each show with a self-produced, Japanese pop-inspired theme song called “ZA SUPAAKU” (“THE SPARK”).”I was able to come to the United States for the first time with the advent of SPARK Joshi,” SAKI told PWI, after defeating Maya Ykihi in the main event of RISING HEAT EAST in Orlando. “So, I want to do my best to help take the company to new highs.”
[Xia Brookside struggles to break free of Ram Kaichow’s grip during an unsuccessful bid for the SPARK Joshi Pacific title.]
[SAKI, as the newly crowned SPARK Joshi Atlantic champion, closed out RISING HEAT EAST on a high note.
MODERN MYTH PHOTOGRAPHY]
With the various women’s promotions in Japan opening their doors to more international wrestlers, promotions such as SPARK offer opportunities for American prospects to build rapport with potential future colleagues, while also gaining a career understanding of what they should expect when they touch down in Japan (should they choose to pursue that). “It’s a dream come true,” said Texas native Jessie Elaban. “I wanted to bring everything that I learned in Japan to the States.”
Elaban, who formerly competed for NXT under the name Jessi Kamea, also joined Mina Shirakawa’s Club Venus stable during a 2023 Stardom stint. In a conversation after the show, she seemed grateful for the dynamic new platform in SPARK. “I am having to make adjustments between Japanese and American styles,” admitted Elaban. “But I feel like I'm able to be more fluid with the new me.”
In addition to helping talent grow and prosper, proliferation of American international leagues is an obvious benefit for fans of exciting, athletic, and hard-hitting wrestling. Promotions such as SPARK and Kitsune–and Sukeban, which filmed a colorful TV pilot this past September in New York City–have captured the imaginations of those who stream joshi shows and covet chances to see their favorite ring performers mix it up in person.
With the global presence of joshi continuing to mount, the future is bright for women’s wrestling. And, with the ever-increasing interest in Japanese wrestling, forbidden doors are getting kicked open around the world.
[SPARK Joshi offered Florida wrestling enthusiasts appearances by Tokyo Joshi Pro standouts Miu Wantananbe (left, victorious over KiLynn King) and Miyu Yamashita (inset, landing a hard strike to Jessie Elaban.)
MODERN MYTH PHOTOGRAPHY]
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11 years of Suzuki Gun...
I'm grateful that I got to watch 6 of those 11 years play out in real time. I started watching NJPW just as Suzuki Gun returned from Noah, and they've been such a key aspect of what pulled me into the promotion, and what kept me watching. They're my favorite faction in all of wrestling. No one else even comes close.
For as long as I've been watching New Japan, people have been predicting that Suzuki Gun would end in mutiny, and that Taichi would turn on Suzuki and take over the group. But having the faction end this way, when and where Suzuki wants it to end, is better, I think.
Suzuki believes that "heel" isn't an identity that a wrestler can assign to themself, but rather, an interpretation that has to come from the audience. Suzuki acts, remaining true to who he is, and the crowd decides how to respond. That's a key aspect of his pro wrestling philosophy.
I keep thinking about the time I saw him in New York, how he ended the show by cursing out the crowd, but he meant it with love, and the crowd understood it as affection.
Today, when he announced that he would be disbanding Suzuki Gun, the crowd didn't see a heel standing in that ring.
#njpw#suzuki gun#suzuki minoru#I'm not crying you're crying#I'll post a translation of Suzuki's short essay about what a 'heel' is later#Forever and as always#Suzuki Gun Ichiban
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Sunday MaruKEN 2: Jr. Heavyweight Rivalry, Early HW (2006-2010)
2004.11.13 - KENTA vs. Marufuji, "Shougeki 7 Match Series" 7th Match
2006.1.22- KENTA vs. Marufuji GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship Match
2006.10.29- KENTA vs. Marufuji GHC Heavyweight Championship Match (**TOP REC**)
Free links provided, you might be able to dig up a better quality recording with a WrestleUniverse subscription! My notes on the matches (not spoiler free) under the cut! (what’s this?)
*
Match 1 Notes
This match was among the set of 7 “Trials” that Kenta did to prove himself in the Jr. division of NOAH. It made me want to watch the whole Shougeki match series! I feel like this is the match out of the three with the most bizarre and creative spots (see: the incredibly memorable and silly upside down spot in the screenshot).
Match 2 Notes
I really enjoyed the way this feud summary (https://prowrestlingpost.com/kenta-naomichi-marufuji-one-of-noahs-storied-rivalries/ ) talks about this match-- one in which Kenta and Maru start as still tentatively friends from their tag match era, and end as undisputedly rivals. There were a ton of fucking bonkers off the wall spots and near falls in this match. I actually watched having forgotten the outcome from the cagematch lookups and wow did they have me on the edge of my seat.
Match 3 Notes
HEAVYWEIGHT MATCH!! This was the first Marufuji match I’ve seen and the first MaruKEN match for me so it has a special place in my heart. It is absolutely fucking non stop-- the gloves are off, both guys are play to win and any hint of affection from their tagging era has been long since shucked off. If you watch one match, make it this one -- they’re at full power and they’re just soooo compelling.
Summary/Overall Notes on the Singles Run and Transition
I spaced out my watching of a few of these and I recommend doing the same! Singles matches of this caliber and narrative clout in NOAH are marathons-- frequently I wondered How On Earth these two guys were still going at it so hard after all they’d done, my god.
This explainer (https://prowrestlingpost.com/kenta-naomichi-marufuji-one-of-noahs-storied-rivalries/ ) talked a lot about how, more than anyone else, Kenta and Marufuji brought the Pro Wrestling NOAH Jr Heavyweight division out of the shadows in a time where the Heavyweights were really being pushed. I think it’s worth highlighting the inter-promotional history in this post: Kenta and Marufuji both started as proteges under AJPW’s four pillars -- Kenta being Kenta Kobashi’s student, and Marufuji being aligned with Misawa. So with Misawa being the one to walk away and found NOAH-- it’s easy to see (narratively) how Kenta becomes a bit overshadowed by Marufuji “Genius of the Ark” and decides he’s better off trying to take him down >:3
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Intro + Faves 🫶✨
Name: Sylar
Age: 18
Pronouns: He/Him 🏳️⚧️
I’m literally obsessed with pro wrestling it’s the only thing I think abt lmao so there’s no use in adding a like and dislike section. But I’m also a casual K-pop Stan (STAN IVE STREAM EITHER WAY AND OFF THE RECORD)
Promotions: NJPW, NOAH, AEW, DDT
(I wanna get into Stardom and AJPW)
Wrestlers(babygirls): Zack Sabre Jr🌟 HAYATA🌟, Taichi🌟, Mitsuharu Misawa🌟, Yoshinari Ogawa🌟, Shota Umino, Yota Tsuji, AXIZ, Kenny Omega, Alexa Bliss, Mercedes Mone, Utami Hayashita, Maki Itoh, Starlight Kid, and most divas era girls (bc I’m problematic and cvnt)
Plz be my moot 🫶
#ajpw#pro wrestling#pro wrestling noah#new japan pro wrestling#njpw#aew#all elite wrestling#zack sabre jr#taichi#hayata#shota umino#mitsuharu misawa#pro wrestling stan#wrestling#looking for mutuals
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entrance (music)
Syb (she/her), adult person also known as @sybilius. This is my wrestling sideblog! Content spans the full range of wrestling emotions including bloodlust, tacklust, unprecedented horny, unexpected silly, and of course the truest pro wrestling emotions of all, love and love of being alive.
Sidebar art is KENTA (mine). Profile picture is from the Kasai/Desperado deathmatch.
BLOG ORG:
- I do often try to tag wrestlers by their (current home) promotion, #ddt pro wrestling, #pro wrestling noah, #aew, #njpw are tags you might see often here.
- #feral wrestle speculation is my fantasy booking tag
- #wrestler text posting is for shitposting about kayfabe
- #metakayfabe is my tag for meta-discussions on the theatre/art/structure/ of pro wrestling. I prefer to engage as little as possible with dirtsheets or out-of-kayfabe drama.
- #my fan art - Fan art that I make of pro-wrestlers.
- #my fic - Fanfiction that I write on Ao3 some of which RPF-adjacent, tagged #kayfabe rpf, or #kayfabe fanfiction.
Here when I tag #kayfabe fanfiction, the stories take the fiction of pro-wrestling at face value. Characters are their in-ring characters, and the match outcomes have real fighting stakes.
When I tag #kayfabe rpf (real person fanfiction), here the characters in the stories discuss their in-ring character work as fictional and the match outcomes are decided. All “out of kayfabe” characterizations are entirely my own fiction based on what I think would be interesting, and have zero bearing on the real people and their lives.
- #wrestling shipping is my tag for shipping wrestlers, or I tag for the ship name (#takeover for instance may feature from time to time).
If you’re a wrestling fan that’s uncomfortable with the idea of RPF or shipping, feel free to block my tags or me :)
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Nick's Match Review of the Day #4:
Kenta v. Mitsuharu Misawa (ROH Glory By Honor VI) 11/3/07
Mitsuharu Misawa’s in-ring brilliance simply cannot be understated. Widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time, with a case to be made that he’s the greatest of all time, his countless classic matches against career rivals like Toshiaki Kawada and Kenta Kobashi are the stuff of legend. His stints in All Japan Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling NOAH are perhaps some of the greatest runs any wrestler has had in any promotion; the same cannot be said for his brief time in Ring Of Honor. Two matches in the fall of 2007, had in a span of two days, known less so for their excellence and more so for their historical significance.
With that being said, time for a bit of background information. This match against Kenta was only Misawa’s second in Ring of Honor, the first having taken place the day prior at Night 1 of Glory By Honor VI. Before then, he hadn’t wrestled in the United States since a WLW show in 2004. The fact he was even coming to ROH was a pretty big deal. He came into the match in the midst of a third reign as GHC Heavyweight champion, and was right on the heels of crossing a full year with the belt. His opponent, Kenta, wasn’t exactly new to ROH. He had wrestled sixteen prior matches for the promotion, his first having come against Low Ki in 2005. He had unsuccessfully challenged for the ROH World title on two separate occasions in the past, but that night, his focus was on Misawa’s title.
If the quality of a match was judged solely by atmosphere, then this would be a 5-star classic. Even watching it back years later, you can tell just how amped the crowd is to just be able to see Misawa perform in Ring of Honor. It’s a spectacle to behold, hearing the crowd erupt into “This is awesome” chants only three minutes into the match. There’s true historical significance in seeing Misawa compete in an ROH ring, and that creates an unmatched energy within the audience. It’s rare to see crowds this excited just to see a match, the most recent example I can think of being Bryan Danielson v. Kenny Omega from the first AEW Dynamite Grand Slam event back in 2021. Even ignoring the actual in-ring action, the excitement of the crowd alone is tremendously captivating to hear, and for me, that makes the match a whole lot better.
The match itself isn’t bad by any standards, but it can be a bit sluggish at times. It goes without saying that Mitsuharu Misawa was far beyond his prime by 2007. The quality of his wrestling hadn’t taken a hit, but the same couldn’t be said for his athleticism. He was forty-four years old by this point, and lacked much of the same agility he had possessed a decade prior. Simply put: he’s slower and can’t do as much, and that causes the match to, at times, hobble along. Kenta was only twenty-six at the time, and he wrestled at a far more accelerated pace, his movements and mannerisms more swift than those of the aging Ace. This creates a juxtaposition of sorts. Misawa is still able to pull out some impressive spots, though, including a dive to the outside that goes off without a hitch.
Good wrestling held back by physical restraints but elevated by a phenomenal crowd makes this match hard to judge. If I allow myself to sit back and simply enjoy the spectacle this match is, it’s very good. Though, is it fair to judge a match by its atmosphere and not its true quality? I’m not sure, but it should be noted the audience can have a sizable impact on the quality of a match. I’ve seen many matches ruined by a crowd that's either completely dead or too busy throwing around beach balls and screaming stupid chants, so the importance of an active crowd can’t be understated. But even then, is that enough to carry a match? The short answer is no. However, does this match need to be carried by its crowd? Also no.
All things considered, I enjoy this match. It’s flawed, sure, but it possesses great value just in terms of sheer significance and, in terms of actual in-ring quality, in no way is it anywhere remotely close to being bad. I’d personally say that their match in NOAH from 2004 is a bit better, but only by a little.
⭐⭐⭐. 75 stars out of 5.
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2009-Mitsuharu Misawa (三沢光晴)
Mitsuharu Misawa (三沢 光晴, Misawa Mitsuharu, June 18, 1962 – June 13, 2009) was a Japanese amateur and professional wrestler and promoter. He is primarily known for his time in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), and also for forming the Pro Wrestling Noah promotion in 2000. On June 13, 2009, during a tag match in Hiroshima with Go Shiozaki against Akitoshi Saito and Bison Smith, Misawa died after a belly-to-back suplex from Saito.
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NJPW G1 Climax 33 Preview
Its that special time of the year....no not the return of The Hot Tag, but this years NJPW G1 Climax 33 is nearly upon us. This years tournament is the biggest ever with 4 groups in action showcasing 32 competitors from not only NJPW but also other companies talent too thankfully.
Lets dive into the groups separately and give a quick over view of what to expect and lay some predictions out there
A BLOCK
SANADA
Chase Owens
Hikuleo
Ren Narita
Shota Umino
Yota Tsuji
Gabe Kidd
Kaito Kiyomiya
What's being look at as the young boy group with Sanada and Owens, with Sanada being the obvious favourite as reigning IWGP World Heavyweight champion. Its rare the world champion goes undefeated throughout the tournament and usually drops a match or two to setup future title matches before the January 4th Dome show. Id expect the key names looking to get that role will be the likes of Kiyomiya, Tsuji and maybe even Narita.
Kiyomiya should be one of the breakouts of this years G1, the current Pro Wrestling NOAH star has had some exposure in NJPW after feuding with Okada and will hope to follow in the footsteps of fellow NOAH star Katsuhiko Nakajima in the 2016 G1 Climax, who had some superb matches that year.
Also in this group is the newly announced group of the Reiwa Three Musketeers, in Umino, Tsuji and Narita. The Three Musketeers stable name has been used previously in the company with the last trio being that of Shinsuke Nakamura, Katsuyori Shibata and Hiroshi Tanahashi, its a very valuable name for the promotion to hand out and is a sign of how talented they see the current trio both the current scene as well as the future of NJPW. Will be VERY interesting in seeing their bouts against each other which I imagine will start out harmless and competitive, but will quickly descend into something heated when they realise the pecking order could be set here for how each guy is seen by the NJPW audiences for a long time. Alot of depth story wise here as well as potential for great matches, will be a big talking point for the Japanese media during and after the tournament as well.
Have to go for a Sanada win, with im guessing Tsuji coming in second place only slight infront of Kiyomiya.
B BLOCK
Kazuchika Okada
YOSHI-HASHI
Taichi
KENTA
Great-O-Khan
Will Ospreay
Tanga Loa
El Phantasmo
I really hope this group turns into a sprint between Okada and Ospreay, pretty sure they have 2 matches each following their one on one match on July 27th. Imagine they go the time limit versus each other and the raised importance of those final matches will be immense. Tanga Loa and El Phantasmo for Ospreay and KENTA then Tanga Loa for Okada, not the hardest bouts but the atmosphere for near falls will be superb.
I like O-Khan but he isnt in the league of the main two guys and their booking is vital for NJPW's future shows. Okada over Ospreay in the standings.
C BLOCK
David Finlay
Tomohiro Ishii
EVIL
Tama Tonga
Shingo Takagi
Aaron Henare
Eddie Kingston
Mikey Nicholls
Even though this group features one of my all-time favourites in Shingo, I really cant get into the feel of it overall. It feels nasty to say its alot of nearly but not quite guys if that makes sense, hopefully they can change that in the future but so far its been alot of promise and the start of something then it all slowed down (Tonga, EVIL) .
Its really nice to see Eddie getting his chance in his dream environment, he must be so happy every morning he opens his eyes in Japan then at the same time falls asleep wondering 'what if' the likes of Tenzan/Kojima/Honma/Nagata were still in the running so he could bang with them nightly.
Has to be between Finlay and Shingo for the leadership, with the need for the Bullet Club leader to look strong winning out, Ishii, EVIL and Tama all running close.
D BLOCK
Hiroshi Tanahashi
Tetsuya Naito
Hirooki Goto
Zack Sabre Jr.
Toru Yano
Jeff Cobb
Shane Haste
Alex Coughlin
Another strange feeling group and ive no idea why, well I do alittle but more on that latter.
The Ace continues on and wont be stopped by age or his knees looking like they explode most nights lol Every year I feel its a year too far for him he goes deep in the running to prove me wrong, and I love him for it even more than normal. I see him getting the wins this year but dropping the key matches to who I think will be the key three in this group.
Those three being Naito, ZSJ and Cobb, Jeff may surprise people with the pick but I see them building him up for the United Empire so that Ospreay can be in the position to go back for the world title and Cobb can be the next era for the US belt. Naito and ZSJ are the constants over the past few years, be it in the G1 or the New Japan cup, consistency and the big scalps and I dont see that altering anytime soon.
In terms of a winner Id lean on ZSJ for the upset over Naito, who also really needs the win after the Sanada turn. Some big booking needed by NJPW in making guys as well as not cooling the others down too far, it really is the toughest booking gig of the year.
Quarter Finals - August 10th
Sanada vs Shingo
Okada vs Naito
Finlay vs Ospreay
ZSJ vs Tsuji
Semi Finals - August 12th
Sanada vs Okada
Ospreay vs Tsuji
Finals - August 13th
Okada vs Ospreay
Winner of the G1 Climax 33 - Will Ospreay
What better way to build the tournament than by having the two guys sprinting through their group, who go to a draw on the way, have to finally settle that score in the final with the guy who finished second taking the crown overall.
The knockouts should be awesome setting up multiple future bouts such as Okada getting a title match after beating Sanada in the semis, can he win the title before the actual winner gets his shot against Sanada his-self setting up another match between Okada/Ospreay at the Dome on January 4th?
To conclude I think as normal this tournament will be great and will have tons of superb matches and moments, the bigger issue for me is that bigger numbers dont always mean better tournaments. Some of the groups feel like they have too much filler with ALOT of younger guys getting the nod and entrance. Its great for them to gain the experience this provides but for me im a sucker for the 2 group concept 20 guys maximum. This needs to be treated as the most superior tournament wrestling has to offer, the younger wrestlers need to prove theirselves more before gaining access.
Why not develop a young lions tournament for guys under a certain age with the winner taking a spot in the tournament wit the others missing out, letting them stew and develop to be better for next year where they could win the thing or even become so much better they are offered a spot on merit instead?
That aside im pumped as normal for this and will always be ready to see who Yano can tie up in duct tape up the aisle and beat :) Always a gut punch knowing we arent getting Yano/Omega again
Enjoy folks
Bye for now
Andy
(Credit to NJPW for the graphics)
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NOAH The New Year (January 2023?)
Pro Wrestling Noah announced Shinsuke Nakamura will face The Great Muta on New Year’s Day. The revelation stunned the wrestling world, leading many to wonder how the stars aligned for a final matchup between the two.
The news will, undoubtedly, spark hope for more crossovers or partnerships, but it’s best to just enjoy another surreal moment in an unbelievable year.
Muta plans to retire next spring. The 38-year veteran has two more matches left on his farewell tour with Noah following his appearance over the weekend in a six-man tag match at Ariake Arena in Tokyo.
On Jan. 1, he will take one Nakamura in a one-on-one bout. Then, he will compete for one last time as The Great Muta persona when he teams up with Sting on Jan. 22 in Yokohama.
In addition, he will join Kazuchika Okada and Toru Yano in an encounter against The United Empire as his final appearance for New Japan Pro-Wrestling on Nov. 20 as a part of NJPW X Stardom Historic X-Over.
It’s unclear if the innovative Japanese legend has any more dates left to announce for next year. Nevertheless, this is a star-studded sendoff for a man who deserves to get his flowers while he can still smell them.
[...]
The King of Strong Style described the match as a "miracle" in his interview with Tokyo Sports (h/t PWMania.com). He pushed for talks with the new regime after Vince McMahon retired, and the two parties came to an agreement on Oct. 26 thanks in part to his persistence.
"Of course, I wanted to do it," Nakamura said. "I opened a door that no one had been able to pry open. Hahaha...it’s a real ‘Forbidden Door.’"
Some fans may see his joke about the “real” Forbidden Door as a jab at All Elite Wrestling, which recently entered a partnership with NJPW. However, many of us always expected those two companies to work together because they share a fanbase and The Elite originated in New Japan. Even more, Tony Khan was always open to working with other promotions.
Getting WWE to work with Noah was a much tougher task because it historically doesn’t enter into such talent exchanges. The move will likely create goodwill with the Japanese company, but fans shouldn’t expect this to turn into a full-blown partnership.
This seems more like a one-off appearance that worked out perfectly for Muta and Nakamura. Of course, never say never in pro wrestling. More preposterous things have happened in 2022 alone, but Triple H still seems to have his eye on global expansion for WWE rather than forging partnerships with other companies.
Still, it’s nice to know that his regime is more willing to help historic moments like this. It’s a good sign for the overall outlook on the future of the industry.
Source: Bleacher Report
(images via YouTube)
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With Forbidden Door coming, everyone is talking about Tanahashi. Did you know that a baby Take-chan (19) went against him in 2014?
If you have Wrestle Universe (they offer a 2 week free trial) you can watch this match. I highly recommend Wrestle Universe. It's a great streaming service with several promotions all for 1 subscription, no extra charges, and the archive goes back for years and years.
#konosuke takeshita#hiroshi tanahashi#aew#all elite wrestling#ddt#ddtpro#peter pan#wrestling#ryogoku#2014#forbidden door
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Hi, I just wanted to ask if you knew a way to watch Noah pro wrestling? Would I need a vpn? Do I just to straight to their website? I’m trying to get prepared for Shinsuke’s match 🥲
There appears to be a helpful FAQ guide to the process on their streaming site!
https://support.wrestle-universe.com/hc/ja/articles/4405530399385-How-to-subscribe-as-a-UNIVERSE-Member
Basically a few years ago iirc, NOAH and DDT and I think a women’s promotion as well formed a sort of mecha called Cyberfight, and Wrestle Universe is their equivalent of NJPW World (or the dubya Network, if that even still exists?).
You won’t need a VPN if you sign up for WU to watch. The only slight issue may be that if it works like NJPW’s site than the day of the show being the first of January might make it trickier to time if you only want to pay for one month, on account of the first of the month is the day payment would go through and it works on Japanese time, so you just have to be aware of when exactly you’re signing up so you don’t accidentally pay for like, half a day and then have access cut off lol.
There are of course less-official methods as well but their watchability kinda varies, to put it mildly. Don’t have any of those links available offhand as I’m away from my main machine atm
Shinsuke also suggested using a VPN to watch on whatever channel it’s streaming on over there simultaneously, which…ahhh it might be Samurai TV, might be Abema and might be a thing I forget entirely lol. That sounded a bit complicated, though
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Death Before Dishonor preview
Jonathan Gresham vs. Claudio Castagnoli - Gresham is defending the ROH men's world title. Gresham totally disappeared from AEW programming after April 15, but he's been steadily appearing on the indies ever since. He finally returned to AEW in July, whereupon he quickly turned heel and aligned with Tully Blanchard. His betrayal of Lee Moriarty brought out Castagnoli to intervene. Ever since winning the ROH world title, Gresham has made no bones about wanting to defend it against top ROH legends, and Claudio certainly qualifies.
Castagnoli had a celebrated career in the 2000s at Ring of Honor, Pro Wrestling Guerilla, Noah, etc., but he's now best known for his 2011-2022 run in WWE as Cesaro. After a decade of being consistently underrated and overlooked, he finally left WWE and debuted in AEW on June 26 as a substitute for Bryan Danielson. Now a month later, he's in the main event, competing for one of the world titles that have eluded him throughout his career.
The match should be great, but I think Gresham's heel turn is a distraction. A technical clinic between two babyfaces would have been perfectly fine here. Obviously that's not something every wrestling fan can get into. But ROH needs to focus on what makes it distinct from AEW, which is itself focused on being an alternative to WWE. Having Gresham randomly join a random heel faction is a very "AEW undercard" plot twist, and ROH doesn't need to feel like an extension of the AEW undercard.
I can't help but feel that Blanchard and his guys will interfere in the finish, or set up some overbooked post-match angle. That's fine for Dynamite or Rampage. But to me the point of acquiring ROH just to keep the brand alive should be to make ROH a brand worth maintaining. And the world doesn't need another brand of fuck finishes. In any case, I think Gresham retains the title to build heel heat for some bigger challenger down the line (whoever that could be).
Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler vs. Jay Briscoe & Mark Briscoe - FTR (Harwood and Wheeler) defeated the Briscoes on April 1 to win the ROH tag team title, so this is the rematch. (FTR also hold the IWGP and AAA tag titles, which are not at stake here.) It's a two-out-of-three-falls match, so the match can't end until one team has scored two falls.
Much has been made about whether Tony Khan could even use the Briscoes in AEW/ROH. In 2013 Jay Briscoe made a crude remark about same-sex marriage, for which he has since apologized. That is presumably why TV executives reportedly told AEW not to put Jay and Mark on their networks. Nevertheless, Khan recently revealed the Briscoes are under a contract to do more ROH stuff, and AEW has freely promoted this match even if the Briscoes haven't appeared on AEW television to do so. So we'll see how that all plays out.
The first FTR-Briscoes match was excellent. I'm not the type to nitpick Dave Meltzer's star ratings, but I was genuinely stunned he gave it "only" five stars and not six. I'm not sure how the two teams can top that first match, or how the stip can help. Theoretically, since it took 27 minutes for FTR to score one fall in the first match, this time it should take nearly an hour for one team to score two falls. But it usually doesn't work out that way, and I'd be surprised if the first fall doesn't happen in the first 15 minutes.
Since it looks like the Briscoes are sticking aorund, it shouldn't be a problem for them to recapture the ROH tag title. The question is whether there's anything left to do with FTR as triple champions before they drop one pair of belts. I'd like to see FTR vs. Young Bucks, but I don't know that all those belts need to be involved for that match to work. So it's possible this could go either way, which is always good for the drama.
Samoa Joe vs. Jay Lethal - Joe's ROH television title is on the line. Joe debuted for AEW/ROH on April 1 by making the save after Lethal and Sonjay Dutt turned heel on Jonathan Gresham. (The fact Gresham is now also a heel makes this feud even dumber.) Joe proceeded to win the TV title while Lethal and Dutt acted like dipshits and introduced their big monster henchman Satnam Singh. Joe has largely treated Lethal's group as a minor distraction, so this hasn't been the best storytelling in pro wrestling by any stretch.
Joe has not had a match since May 29. In fact, I don't think he's even been in an arena since then; this show may be his first live appearance in nearly two months. That's understandable if Joe was dealing with an injury or something. But Joe's absence has been a fatal blow for what was already a crap storyline, because Lethal's group has been left cutting promos on a guy who wasn't even there, who barely gave a shit when he was there.
The whole thing has been garbage and I wish this match would just end it once and for all so both sides can move on. I don't care who ends up with the TV title. Ring of Honor doesn't even need a TV title. I'd rather see Satnam Singh crumple the belt in his bare hands and eat it whole.
Wheeler YUTA vs. Daniel Garcia - This is for Yuta's ROH pure championship, so the match will be contested under pure rules. Pure rules impose severe limitations on closed-fist strikes and moving into the ring ropes to break a hold. The idea is to force the action to be "pure," i.e., more technical wrestling. But in practice I find pure matches have less to do with using wrestling to win than with using the rules to win.
Yuta vs. Garcia for the pure belt is just the sort of match I would have expected the ROH of 2021 to book--two promising young technicians fresh off the indies in a mat classic. But in 2022, there's an added dimension in that Yuta's in the Blackpool Combat Club and Garcia is in the Jericho Appreciation Society, which have been at war for months. Both guys want to prove their superior skills, but they also both want to hurt each other real real bad. How bad can you hurt your opponent in a pure rules match? I guess we're about to find out.
I could see either man winding up with the title. But I tend to think Garcia should win, just because the pure belt is just kind of irrelevant to the whole Blackpool Combat Club gimmick. Yuta is in the BCC to learn to be violent; he doesn't need to learn to be "pure" because he already had that figured out. A heel champion using Jericho's faction to hide from worthy challengers might be a better way to go.
Mercedes Martinez vs. Serena Deeb - Martinez is defending the ROH women's world title. These two were teaming together on AEW Dark for a while, and squashing anyone in their path, but it was clear right away that Deeb was going to turn on Martinez.
I think this should be pretty good, although AEW crowds haven't been all that invested in either of these two. Maybe they'll get a better response from an ROH crowd, in a more intimate venue at a traditional ROH town like Lowell, Massachusetts.
I could see either woman carrying the belt while the future of ROH gets sorted out. They're both perfectly capable of keeping the title warm until there's a weekly show, at which point it'll be possible to rebuild a dedicated ROH women's division. So I can't really pick a winner.
Rush vs. Dragon Lee - Rush was a co-founder, along with Andrade El Idolo, of Los Ingobernables; after a nasty breakup with CMLL he formed La Faccione Ingobernable in ROH. Lee is Rush's brother, but he was already a big lucha star in his own right in CMLL/NJPW/ROH before he joined LFI. Both guys finished up with ROH in late 2021, and they've been curiously absent from the American scene in 2022. Rush finally showed up in AEW a couple of months ago to reunite with Andrade; it's still not clear if Lee will join them there.
There doesn't appear to be a storyline reason why these brothers and stablemates are fighting. My guess is they're just comfortable working with one another, and after the match they'll still be together in storyline. Rush should win, but I assume he won't totally squash his own brother.
Vincent & Dutch & Bateman vs. Dalton Castle & Brandon Tate & Brent Tate - Castle and The Boys are challenging the Righteous for the ROH trios title. Over the years many wrestlers have escorted Dalton to the ring as "The Boys," but the Tate twins were the definitive version of the act. I think this is the first time this trio has been together since Dalton turned on the Tates in April 2019.
The Righteous faction spun out of Vincent's ROH feud with Matt Taven. After Sinclair shut down ROH in 2021, Vincent and Taven joined forces in Impact Wrestling as part of a "disgruntled ex-ROH employees" stable. Vincent, Dutch, and Bateman continued to team up on the indies, but it wasn't clear if any of them would ever appear in Tony Khan's version of ROH, or what would become of the trios title. Now we might finally get some answers.
One major headache here is that ROH doesn't actually need a trios title. It was a good idea back in 2016 when you had the Kingdom and SCU and the Elite running around, but it's been an afterthought for years. In 2022 it makes far more sense for AEW to have a trios title, and if AEW gets their own, then ROH's version is going to be even more superfluous. But that's an issue to address some other day.
My gut feeling is that one of these teams is here to win and carry the trios title until ROH gets TV, while the other team is just here for one night to put over the winners. So I tend to think Dalton's team will be sticking around and the Righteous won't be, but anything is possible.
Brian Cage & Kaun & Toa Liona vs. Tony Deppen & Alex Zayne & Blake Christian - This is scheduled for the pre-show. Tully Blanchard revealed on April 1 that Cage, Kaun, and Liona were all under his guidance as "Tully Blanchard Enterprises." Deppen, Zayne, and Christian are the kind of indy guys you'd expect to see in ROH, although none of them ever really had a long tenure with the promotion. I'm pretty sure this is going to be a five-minute squash match to put over Tully's guys as badass heels.
Allysin Kay vs. Willow Nightingale - Another pre-show match. Both of these women were regulars for ROH in 2021, right before the shutdown. I'm guessing the point of this match is to set up the winner to be next in line for a title shot against the winner of Martinez-Deeb. Either of these women would be fine in that role, but since Willow is the one that's regularly appearing on AEW lately, I expect she'll be the one to get the win.
Cheeseburger & Eli Isom vs. Ari Daivari & Slim J - Yet another pre-show match. Cheeseburger and Isom used to be in a prelim group in ROH called the Shinobi Shadow Squad, although that was like three or four gimmicks ago. Daivari--formerly Ariya Daivari in WWE's cruiserweight division--just returned to AEW with a new gimmick where he's rich and assembling a stable called the Trustbusters. Slim J, who has been around forever but I've literally never heard of him, is Ari's first recruit. The Trustbusters have been getting set up on the Dark tapings, but this will be the first time I've seen them. I assume they have to win here.
Colt Cabana vs. Anthony Henry - Look, if they want to do four pre-show matches, I can't complain. A recent report suggested that Cabana was close to getting cut by AEW, but people went to bat for him so he's been reassigned to ROH. Henry is a regular jobber on AEW, usually as one half of the Workhorsemen team with JD Drake. So yeah, Colt is going to win this match.
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If anyone also wants to stay into wrestling but needs to take a time-out from AEW stuff, feel free to come into my askbox and ask about other promotions/wrestlers! I know a little bit about NJPW, DDT, Stardom, Pro Wrestling NOAH, and then I might be able to find you someonr to speak to TJPW or CMLL if those are to your fancy!
#theyre very fun!#i also hugely recommend the njpw Showbuckle pack on internet archive#very accessible and summarizes some awesome storytelling moments#wrestling#njpw#aew#ddt#pro wrestling noah#stardom
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Drowning the G1: Nakajima/Miyahara exceeding Expectations
When the match was made back on June 17th, everyone was blown away. Kento Miyahara, Katsuhiko Nakajima...a dream match that exceeded all expectations not knowing until the match was made that they met 3 times before. Sadly, all we got from those 3 are photos but in every one of them Katsuhiko Nakajima emerged victorious. So, what separates this one from the other three? Well...let's start off with the VTR for the match.
In the VTR, it had been over 10 years since Katsuhiko Nakajima and Kento Miyahara competed in the same ring. When they did, there was something magical and the staredown post-match at the Tokyo Dome, had to feel something was going to happen. During that VTR, I learn more of the history between the two. Them meeting in 2008 and teaming up right after. The two of them staying together until 2013 when Miyahara decided to go to All Japan full time after which the Diamond Ring promotion closed down in 2014 leading to Nakajima going to NOAH full time in 2015. And then we go to that slap at the press when the match was made. Kento Miyahara claimed that this was a greeting from him to Katsuhiko Nakajima but I have a feeling that slap was more than a greeting and Nakajima somehow knew that.
We now go to the match in which I can feel the vibe when Kento Miyahara came out. Korakuen Hall came unglued with many chanting his name and Kento coming to the ring conducting another orchestra as he usually does during his entrances. He really carried himself like the Superstar that he is. Then we go to Nakajima's entrance in which, I love it when the piano is played. Ever since AXIZ reunited back on May 4, 2023; Nakajima had always worn his AXIZ gear but it was on July 15th where like many of the G1 Climax 33 participants would come out in new attire; Nakajima would come out in similar but new attire. The entrance attire he wore was similar to what he wore in AXIZ's first run but was a little different in which it was more gold than it was 3 years ago and the fur he had on the robe was no longer silver. It was brown and gold. Nakajima's ring gear for the event was also similar yet different for the colors here were brown/black as compared to bright gold/black back in 2019.
After both entered the ring, there's this tense reaction all over the crowd. I had this feeling that these two were going to explode Korakuen Hall and perhaps top the G1 Climax Day 1 competition which had finished by the time this match had been happening. Once the bell ring, this sentence proved to be right and beyond. The feeling out process is something I'm used to now when it comes to watching pro wrestling especially Japanese pro wrestling. The first five minutes told me how the match was going to be and I got that answer when Nakajima unleashed a spinning heel kick. Something I hadn't seen from any pro wrestler in years. That spinning heel kick is one kick that I only have seen in Power Rangers Television and/or Super Sentai Series.
That kick knocked out Miyahara which then took him to the outside where Nakajima decided to let Masa Kitamiya have a close-eye view of their encounter. Kitamiya was like "can you take it back to the ring, please" which he did but once Nakajima was getting ready to go "Showtime", Miyahara went all over Nakajima. Think there was like 5 to 6 headbutts in which each one felt more brutal than the last one. I know I have somewhat of a hard head but I'm amazed that Nakajima somehow had the same thing because the impact of those headbutts might have made him bleed or knock him out cold. Luckily, he was still conscience after all those headbutts.
Once back in the ring, Nakajima switches gears and eventually did a take two for his "Showtime" move but this time, no showboating, just do it. After going showtime on Miyahara, Nakajima unleashed something I've never seen him do before. That was a submission move that I only seen Masa Kitamiya do. Kitamiya was not impressed but I somehow was because it was the first time I've seen someone else other than Kitamiya do it. Believe it or not, that was the only submission attempt in the entire match. 2-3 minutes of being in that hold Miyahara was and who knows if Nakajima will use that submission move once again.
After that, match gets into high gear where just when Nakajima attempts to kick Miyahara, saw Miyahara perform one of the rarest moves today in pro wrestling. That piledriver gave Nakajima a delayed reaction but at the same time, that piledriver showed how exhausted both men had been as we reached the 20 minute mark. Note that because of the heat wave going on, that exhaustion meter was going to double since both were in with no time limit.
Once back in the ring, saw amazing suplexes that all led to one amazing clotheline (aka lariat) from Miyahara that knocked him down as well. Both men are now getting exhausted but somehow each manage to get up in which, this match turns into a game of "can you top this". By throwing elbow shots to each, I said this match alone is drowning the G1 in which it was by these elbow shots. Of the eight matches that took place during night one of G1 Climax 33, only 3 of the eight were amazing matches. Those matches were: Shota Umino vs. Ren Narita, Yota Tsuji vs. Kaito Kiyomiya, and Taichi vs. Will Ospreay. All the rest including Okada's match and SANADA's match were being drowned in the water by this match between Katsuhiko Nakajima and Kento Miyahara.
The last nine minutes of this match were so amazing. Elbow shots from both men, karate kicks from Nakajima, big boot kicks from Miyahara. All those kicks and strikes almost lead to Nakajima winning right at the 30 minute mark when suddenly his vertical spike is countered by Miyahara for one of his own. Kento Miyahara then attempted to suplex Katsuhiko Nakajima but Nakajima knew that the suplex could be it for him and he truly countered it all the way.
As we're passed the 30 minute mark, both men totally exhausted decide to unleash what's left in their arsenal when suddenly Nakajima slaps Miyahara knocking him out. But the slap had exhausted Nakajima as well who then went for the finish kick but Miyahara kicks out at two. Before the final vertical spike, Miyahara is crawling up to Nakajima in which for the first time, I don't see a smile from Nakajima, I see a warrior crying out to his kouhai. After screaming his opponent's name, Nakajima finishes off Miyahara with a 1-second vertical spike (usually his vertical spikes have a 10-second delay) giving him the win over Miyahara. That final pin became the cover of the Japanese Weekly Pro Wrestling Magazine as seen below.
Post-match, Nakajima attempted to show respect to Miyahara by helping him up but Miyahara wanted none of that which led to a fast post-match brawl where Nakajima lightly throws and slowly pushes Miyahara out of the ring. After beating Miyahara, Nakajima tells him that he's an amazing wrestler but there was no way he was going to lose to him. Katsuhiko Nakajima needed this signature win more than Miyahara did because after losing to Shingo Takagi in Yokohama and drawing against Kenoh at Shinjuku FACE, Nakajima knew he needed this win and that's what he did.
Why did I title this "Drowning the G1: Nakajima/Miyahara exceeding Expectations"? Because that's what they did. They exceeded all expectations including my own. When we got to that 20-minute mark, I knew they were drowning most of night 1 of G1 Climax 33 including matches involving Kazuchika Okada and SANADA. The sold-out crowd in Korakuen Hall made this match much more memorable for all we were able to see including a rare submission move from Katsuhiko Nakajima and many exchanges that took place from the 20-minute mark until the end.
This match currently holds a 9.51 out of 10 from CAGEMATCH with it getting 5 1/4 stars from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (WON).
Compared that to the G1 where of their eight matches, none of them reached the 8 point mark from CAGEMATCH yet one was able to match Nakajima/Miyahara in terms of star ratings. That one match was Taichi vs. Will Ospreay which also received 5 1/4 stars from WON.
So...like I said "drowning the G1, exceeding expectations" is what Katsuhiko Nakajima and Kento Miyahara did but based on that post-match brawl, there could be a rematch along the way. Will we see another match? Who knows but this was truly the "One Night Dream" we all wanted.
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Josh Barnett To Make His Pro Wrestling Noah Debut In September
Feedzy
By /Updated: May 14, 2023 11:31 pm EST
It was announced on Sunday evening that former UFC Heavyweight Champion and GCW: Bloodsport host Josh Barnett will be making his Pro Wrestling NOAH debut on September 3 for the N-1 Victory finals. Barnett will be facing the co-founder of the Japanese mixed martial arts promotion Pancrase — Masakatsu Funaki. The other co-founder is legendary NJPW…
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