WingedEagle

A couple small details about Evil's presentation have really stood out to me. As a now former IWGP champion, his block matches are always well positioned on the card. They'll typically be behind a Naito match as he's the current champion, or a marquee affair like Tana/KENTA today, but will generally be high on the card because of that status. Similarly, when firing up the NJPW app on Firestick, he's now in the opening graphic along with Okada, Naito, Tana, Ibushi and White. I wasn't a fan of his brief run with the belt this summer and am not sure it'll result in him becoming a meaningful part of the top of the card rotation, but you have to admire their effort to position him that way even after dropping the belt.

It probably was the single best Finals game since Lebron dropped 51 and still lost game 1 in 2018.

It appears as though talent can continue to Twitch using their own names. That doesn't rebuild the audiences they've built overnight, but the company is certainly within its rights to participate to the extent that the wrestlers are using company IP, i.e. their ring names. Curious how this would affect someone like Samoa Joe where the company doesn't own the name.

When did Vince retire?

Good to know. A lot of the audio does look interesting but I'm having a tough enough time as it is staying current on podcasts.

Is this online anywhere?

This might work if Kawhi had PG's resume, but the man still has a pair of rings and Finals MVP's. Maybe Cena's Mania run the last couple years with the Taker & Bray "matches"? Or better yet post-2015 Brock! That's my call for now.

It feels like Okada's to win. He's been treading water since WK and I just can't see that being the case for a full year. Sanada is just about the only name I've seen mentioned that looks like a disaster.

Apparently Penelope Ford and Tony Khan do as well, so you're not entirely alone.

Of course. My mom always made a point to remind me those two boys were not kosher.

I just realized that Tex Slazenger & Shanghai Pierce were the Godwins. No clue how this escaped me for over 25 years.

I found it poorly written and edited with less depth & detail than you'd find in the WON on a given subject matter. Very disappointing after seeing such praise for it.

Anyone watching the IWGP Jr. Tag Title tourney? It feels like everyone involved is going through the motions with nothing all that interesting even at the top of the card. The Chaos undercard matches and Tanabushi/SZKG tags have been better watches.

Agreed. I'm not going to doubt the man until he has a run where he looks clearly shot, and his recent G1 and big show outings have yet to make that case. Its been a few years since the Naito feud so that and the KENTA pairing look the best on paper, but there's only so much intrigue with him against the rest of the block. I'm sure the G1 plans were ironed out months ago but Tana as the final boss for the A block winner, or even winning the briefcase but losing it before WK if you want to get really aggressive, sound promising.

Correct. I just don't see it in either of them yet.

Me either. Very much NXT's MJF as far as I'm concerned. Certainly a confident performer when the camera's on.

Welcome to the internet. Apparently that is one of the character templates it rewards.

That A block is out of this world. If crowds don't have to watch silently it could produce some absolute classics in a year that hasn't seen a real MOTYC since winter. I'm a little surprised how stacked it is relative to the B block. Never mind dropping Shingo's first matches against Okada & Ibushi along with Ishii & Ospreay rematches, its much more top heavy from a booking perspective. I don't see a third Evil/Naito title match in the fall so presumably Naito wins that, though its certainly possible Evil still takes the block before falling to Okada or Ibushi the finals. Only 10 days away! Between the fresh matches and returns of Ospreay, White, Cobb, KENTA & Juice it looks like a real killer of a tour, as per usual.

Thanks. Doesn't sound all that compelling.

The price you pay for a meal, pair of pants, ticket to an event or any other good, service or experience doesn't at all impact your expectations for it?

I'd shuffle him down as mid-card schtick heel, but I know I'm in the minority there.

I've got zero interest in Moxley/MJF or Jericho/OC so will wait to see how the rest of the card delivers before deciding if this is worth a watch.

Is this really that controversial if they're prohibited from using WWE IP to stream/advertise third party goods or on other platforms? It seems reasonable that the company doesn't want Roman Reigns or Lana selling anything outside of the office. But its of course an entirely different story to say that Joe Anoai or CJ Perry can't use their own name and time for such endeavors.

Duncan man doesn't need brass knux to to quiet your slander. He's got a ring on each finger for it. Respect the big man!