WingedEagle

Anybody eyeing the Okada/White interactions ahead of Okada/Tanahashi's briefcase match next weekend? That match is absolutely the first of the "G1 winner gets a WK title shot" era where the outcome feels like a real tossup. Its hard to envision Okada taking a decisive loss after the path he's traveled since dropping the title at Dominion, but on the other hand there's no program or issue remotely big enough for Tanahashi if you push him out of the Dome main event. If this were a domestic promotion, it wouldn't be hard to envision a scenario where Jay White gets involved to cost Okada the match, preserve his own shot at the case and create an issue for a potential WK match between those two. It'd be a rare enough angle that perhaps NJPW would consider it, yet it does feel like a natural way to tie together these storylines. Any thoughts or predictions?

Will this show go up on New Japan World like Friday Arena Mexicos typically do, or will it be different/delayed since this was a PPV?

That looks amazing, and it hasn't even started yet. More to come all night?

Sounds like one hell of a weekend. Can't wait to hear more about it.

Wow. 64! Looking forward to reading along.

Just wanted to add I'm a big fan of these blurbs. Keep it coming!

To be fair, they're doing the same thing with the Australia show as well. Announce the match online and then cut some promos for it after the fact. No less frustrating there, but it is consistent.

How do more wrestlers not clip the ropes and kill themselves on dives?! This never ceases to amaze me and are why I found Samoa Joe's so impressive. On another note, Bryan/Almas was one of Bryan's matches since returning, along with the AJ Smackdown outing after Mania and Miz at Summerslam.

For a fun look at a couple names mentioned above, check out the 6 man on last weekend's Takayama benefit show with Shuji & Hama on opposing teams. Hell of a good time.

I always wonder why we don't see more people crash and burn on dives through the ropes. Sure there's training and muscle memory and whatnot, but all it takes is a limb or boot to graze the ropes and everything is completely thrown off. Very fortunate it doesn't happen more often.

Local ad for the show just pushed Lita vs. Mickie James. Had that been announced earlier?

Does Dolph have the original recording of the Savage/Steph sex tape? What on earth explains him being featured in this manner? And I don't even hate the guy.

Show is now up on NJPW World.

I'm thinking about going to that MLW show, but waiting to see what else is announced.

Any word on when this is is going on up NJ World?

The NJ World app on Firestick is incredibly reliable and easy. Couldn't be happier with it and am looking forward to catching this show on there in the days ahead. As for this show, the lineup looks solid given the talent involved and the priorities of the day -- its essentially a single, isolated (albeit pretty big) event unless it leads to something more, and without a direct TV or other vehicle for pushing feuds/angles, there's no way to expect much to culminate here. If you're able to watch or attend with friends who are into wrestling, I'd expect it to be very fun unless it simply runs too long. Not sure that there will be anything resembling a MOTYC, but I might be surprised if that's even a goal. I also don't think anything should be bad and have to imagine the fun/nostalgia/comedy parts will be limited so as not to overstay their welcome. Hope to check it out in the days ahead.

I've been trying to talk myself into this how -- almost exclusively thus far to see Io Shirai in person -- but keep waiting for some announcements or teases that make it look like a great lineup, and its just not happening yet.

This just about sums it up, although I may not be quite as enthusiastic about it. Appreciate the recs from everyone. The ladder match was fun for what it was as they maintained a solid pace with enough crazy spots and oddities to keep things interesting the whole way. The 6-man brawl was definitely my favorite outing on the night. I usually stay away from anything that even resembles a death match (referring to your BJW spectacles here), but they did a good job of making this feel like a violent brawl that used weapons rather than a gory spectacle. The title match and main event didn't do too much with me as they both had too much dead time rather than than any focus or peaks, but both had their moments. Definitely an interesting watch. Loved the building and the stage setup.

Anything here I should go out of my way to watch? Sounds like some fun or interesting angles if you're invested in the company, but not getting the sense that there's anything for a casual viewer to pop in for.

If Roman has surpassed Cena in merch sales, I'd be curious to know how much of that is a result of Roman selling more as opposed to Cena selling less.

1) Yes. 2) Perhaps, but hardly unrealistic. I'd prefer they even veered from clean finishes (G1 Bullet Club nonsense aside) and had Jay White cost Okada the match to (a) preserve White's shot at the case, which Tana already addressed, and (b) set up Okada/White for WK. But that's a lot less likely.

From your lips to Vince's ears. Their two matches in '16 were absolutely incredible. But I'm not getting my hopes up.

It would seem natural to build Sane/Shirai as a big title match, perhaps for next year's Mania Takeover.

Thanks. Doesn't exactly sound like something I need to go out of my way for.

Why does it feel like a lock that Okada is winning the case?