Jmare007

True, but WWE has pushed the idea that Edge was an "outsider" who was never seen as champion material until he had that Rated R run after the first ever cash in for a long ass time now. I think I've seen the same "nobody believed in me" story from Edge and Michael Hayes in like 3 different DVDs/documentaries Edit: Big Show with a heel turn, he's gotta have the record for a WWE wrestler, right?

Will they do it at Mania or Greatest Royal Rumble II?

You really thought he wasn't going to get the treatment he always gets?

STRIGGA has this match running 29 minutes on the results sections at Purolove, but the link I came upon on had it at 22 minutes or so. I saw a few noticeable edits at the beginning, but it didn't seem it was THAT long, 7 minutes feels like a lot of stuff left off to appreciate the match more. But anyways, onto the match. I too have been away from NOAH for a long ass time but after watching Nakajima's new gimmick and demeanor at the last Kobashi produced show, I had to see this match against Sugi, who I've always loved. This was dope as hell to watch. There's two halfs, the first one with Nakajima working as the sleamy heel and tricking the champ at every step, LOVED how the only way for Sugi to get on top was him doing a misdirection move that Nak couldn't see coming and counter. Once Sugiura gets on top he fucking lays a beating on Nakajima, to the point Korakuen went from booing the guy to cheering him on. Then we get a distraction spot so Katsuhiko can use a foreign object and regain control. From then on Nakajima unleashes a demonic ass kicking, similar to the one Shibata gave Okada last year. Dear lord at the kicks Sugi eat in this match. The final comeback and finishing sequence were fine but it kinda lacked the drama it seemed this was going for. Still, I thought the ending was suitable considering the story and match they had, it was the only way Sugi could've won.

I mean, if we are talking about being counterproductive to their interests, this part doesn't make a lot of sense either: So it's no fun anymore because you are seen as a factory worker, so fuck it and take a bigger deal elsewhere so they can at least be richer factory workers that are working more than before?

The first report doesn't undermine their bargaining position at all. It was basically "people that didn't think about leaving might think about it now", which could lead to them getting better offers so they would stay. Or push WWE to make them a good offer to finally convince them to jump ship.

True. Though him not even double checking this is hilarious.

Not sure if we can post stuff from reddit, but this whole story upped the fuckery levels even more Meji himself said Craven (the guy Dave mentioned in his story) doesn't work for New Japan and a guy from reddit said he even got death threats. That last part sounds a little too ridiculous, but wtf. https://www.reddit.com/r/njpw/comments/9nitw0/meij_meltzer_got_the_wrong_guy/

Yano about to make the jump !

So this week Dave said (or wrote, I'm not sure) this: Which clearly reads as something The Elite crew fed to him for whatever reason (put pressure on New Japan, wink at WWE or just fucking around with fans like they do every years when their negotiations come up). And then Tama Tonga tweets this I love this kind of fuckery

The show did great too, 9k in attendance for a show that didn't have a card 6 days before it happened is pretty huge.

It WAS Shingo! So glad I was wrong, great get by New Japan. I do hope he's not a Junior or if he is, he doesn't stay one for long.

I don't think that's very important to WWE at this moment. If they are sent to FS1 and do well there and still get their money, they'll be probably happy.

Taker telling some fun Mark Henry stories https://youtu.be/4mcd8BAjU0c?t=1053

Shingo is not bigger than Omega or Ibushi. He's a leaner version of Ishii basically. I don't see him being the "pareja" either though, I don't see him taking a Junior gig in New Japan when he can make good money everywhere else freelancing as a heavy.

Not sure I understand the connection, but I see RAW did even worse than last week, which was historically bad.

I mean, so far New Japan has treated their US shows as one would've expected. Their expansion was never about "taking over" and from the get go it was explained as something more similar to a Korakuen show than a big PPV. Having said that, the dates they've picked and the promotion for each show has been getting worse each time they do a new event. The biggest match on the card is a tag match that if it was announced last month - when it was already reported that tickets were selling slowly - it could've gained some momentum and even could've been promoted at All In. It could very well be a MOTYC, specially for the fanbase that could buy a ticket. Announcing it five days before the show makes no damn sense. They trusted Juice vs Cody would be enough to sell more, weird. The Cow Palace show didn't do as well as they want it - for a variety of reasons, the date and promotion being the most important ones, imo - but they were able to save it from total disaster by announcing Cody vs Omega a couple of weeks prior, which boosted tickets sales. And by the way, they have King of Pro Wrestling at Sumo Hall in two weeks and the only match announced is KUSHIDA vs the winner of the Jr tournament for the vacant belt. White vs Tanahashi is a given, but it's still not official. I guess they'll run an angle at Long Beach and reveal the whole card next week, but that leaves just 1 week of promotion for the biggest show they have in Tokyo before January. It feels like a heat check by the company after doing awesome attendance wise this year.

I feel the Ambrose heel turn has been predicted and teased for 4 years now, and every time he stays face. It's gotta happen at some point I guess.

Bryan trains both of them though.

Best thing Gedo has booked in years. And I'm not even that interested in White vs Okada as a match, but it was the right call and opens up a lot of stuff.

Will Kenny go in his first year in?

I hope that's the direction. It gives Okada a real angle and something to do without the belt being involved, besides, CHAOS is almost a decade old and it's time to reshuffle things a bit. And White gets another huge match.

I love how Okami can go from feisty underdogs to bully "veterans" depending on who they are facing. This was similar to last year's RWTL match against Naoya Nomura & Aoyagi, with Daichi and specially Kamitani doing a really good job in control, dominating and beating the fuck out of their smaller opponents. Abe does little cunty things like very few these days, and his flash kicks and reversals are perfect for hope spots and buildups to a hot tag, so of course it works on this match. Nomura, as always, stands out as a no fucks given, gonna kick and slap you to oblivion bad ass that still doesn't quite have enough to dominate. Strike exchanges were dope as hell, specially the kicks between Daichi and Takuya. Shin-Kiba crowd is right there with them too. Strong BJ delivers once again, @superkix I think you are might like this.

The crowd chanting "holy shit" at Brock kicking the door off the hinges but not doing it for Seth and Dolph bump from the cage was sad and funny at the same time.

LMAO Brock is over with the crowd again