WingedEagle

The possibilities for him as a HW are easily what most excite me about NJPW heading into G1. A Never title run, challenges to other belts, the NJ Cup and a G1 run are all on the table. Fres matches that on paper all look incredible.

Love these blogs, but you need to keep the star ratings in tact! They're there on the WWE 02-04 reference, but not he on the 84-87 blog. Just a minor note to assist us nerds.

After missing the last 2 weeks I check in tonight for the first half hour. My bad. Looking forward to Smackdown tonight though. I really hope things pick up here next year. The prospect of a show built around the McMahons, a Brock/Seth feud and Goodwill Dean does not make for an exciting build to Mania.

IN-SANE. You can be selective on the Korakuen shows. Night 2 main event is required viewing, and I enjoyed the young lions opener because its fun to see them get a chance to go that ong, but beyond that go for whatever looks appealing. Nothing else is really required.

This was the credited response during her 2016 heel run. It just took a brief hiatus during her smiley babyface days.

Brilliant.

What was the finish? I went to the other room to ask the wife a question. It wasn't interesting, but I have no doubt it was still more compelling than the finish. I'm just curious.

Haha what a point. Offering that fist is really crossing a line. I know none of this matters, but why go out of your way to make things seem that silly?

Not at all. Tonight just seems to be a whole lot more of nothing than usual before we get to the dives and superplex/falcon arrow combo.

It feels like the commercial break of a TV match. Zero urgency, no real logic or sustained/focused attack. Just odd clock killing.

Is what I'm watching a) suffering from following AJ/Bryan, b) suffering because Dean & Seth are working like Randy Orton or c) both?

Was Joe/Hardy removed from the card? Was it never added? If its really not happening we should be in bed by 11.

Dean Ambrose dressing himself at Goodwill?

Yep, I'd have AJ/Bryan behind Brock/Bryan and Charlotte/Becky.

Mr. Small Package lives!

Nia's an odd one in that when she looks good (Ronda, Bayley, Asuka) she looks really good. When she doesn't, she's just terrible. Apparently all of Ronda's big matches are laid out and practiced for days on end beforehand. I don't bring that up to knock Rousey or anyone she's paired with, as even with all the prep in the world you still need two (or more) performers to gou there and deliver. I also get that you can't do this in all cases because of constantly touring, but why not do it more often when featuring limited workers?

There is no chance this show ends by 10:30. 11 feels wildly optimistic.

Balor/Drew seemed like a wild disappointment. Slow, poorly laid out and a weak finish add up to a very underwhelming match.

That was a ton better than I expected. They made great use of Liv/Sarah, the gimmicks and incorporated some big bumps to put together a fun match.

Its disappointing, yet not at all surprising, to see Balor presented as part of the job squad here.

Stop teasing me.

Do you have a link to their YT page? For some reason couldn't easily find it on a search.

Bryan's promo is threaded here. His work since turning heel has him a a lock for Best on Interviews on my ballot. Just blowing away everything else this year.

Everyone should check out yesterday's Tana/Ospreay vs. Golden Lovers main event. Another outstanding tag from New Japan's singles crew. While not exactly a focus of the promotion as these outings are never part of the tag title picture, the company has quietly put on a ton of spectacular tags this year.

This would place on my short list (as in short enough to count with one or two hands) of the greatest matches ever. I absolutely get why some may hesitate to view this as one match, but the story, psychology and booking throughout the entire affair are so comprehensive that I have no trouble doing so.