bradhindsight

Hmm - wonder if those are blu-ray extras for Europe.

2012 Naito is super fast! It's knee vs. neck and both guys tear each other apart with really sick work around the guardrail outside. Okada putting Naito's head between the rails and kicking it into the back of his head and then that's topped with Naito draping Okada's knee over the guardrail and hitting missile dropkicks to the knee. As we work though Okada's strengths, I definitely feel he has exceptional facials and really sells well when being worked over. He may fall to a knee after a big move on offense, or collapse outside trying to get back in the ring. Really good attention to selling and getting Naito's work over. I like that he works the neck because you can't ever really forget about the neck right? A bump hurts the neck, any suplex, etc. Okada is not complacent with that kind of psychology however; he wrenches this thing - I'm not convinced Naito actually sells enough for him, but there are moments. Naito runs through his heavy offense - destino! (prob before it was called that; but I did note he had the same entrance music back then as today) but the Stardust press is missed. He does go back to the knee one last time, but its just a segue into the finishing stretch and the Rainmaker puts down another guy. The limb work here is top notch stuff here. ****1/2

After a false start on 1/4, Okada is in much better shape here. Loved early how Okada tries to go to the headlock and Tanahashi proceeds to completely outwork him on the mat, showing his experience and edge. Tanahashi gets a little cocky, possibly mocking Okada, which sets up Okada's big dropkick while Tanahashi is seated on the top rope. Great transition which sets up all of Okada's neck work. The holds by both guys are worked exceptionally well here. Tanahashi's comeback off the flying forearm starts into his knee stuff, plus a HFF to the outside in a nice big spot. Couple dragon whips continue assault until Okada gets a spot in and knocks out Tanahashi's front tooth (!). Tombstone by Okada for his first nearfall. Good selling on offense by Okada throughout. Tanahashi's comeback is thwarted when he somersaults off the apron but Okada ducks and he wipes out. Then we get a second tombstone on the concrete outside the rails. Awesome. Tanahashi transitions into his finishing stuff with a sling blade but Okada's knees are up on the second HFF (and he sells it). Now Okada runs through all his signature power stuff with kickouts and the crowd is hot for this. Tanahashi hits a dragon suplex with a bridge for a close nearfall. We get a couple ducks and reversals of the Rainmaker, but Okada sticks with it and finally crushes Tanahashi with one for the win(!). Wow, I did not see that coming this early in his run. This built perfectly - a snug 23 minute great match. ****1/4

The homecoming and debut of The Rainmaker gimmick for Okada. This is around 5 minutes total. His look is something else - his face especially in comparison to today. This is very cookie-cutter, with no heat, but I'll tell you what - the guy could hit a dropkick, including a big seated dropkick off the top rope. Rainmaker pose draws crickets and its an awful clothesline this time out anyway.

Boy this is a really interesting Young Bucks match formula-wise. They really come off as ass-kickers here, which seems odd given their normal shtick and the size differential with Trent, but they make it work. They take out Rocky early (Matt powerbombs him on the apron and then slams him into the post) and work over Trent as FIP. This was fine, some nice hope spots (swinging DDT out of the corner), but Rocky is still down. Then Matt shows off his strength and powerbombs Rocky up the ramp. Geez, impressive. More work on Trent - springboard 450 after the apron swanton. Rocky finally returns and they hit their finish but Nick hits a sick swanton on Trent and his brother, which he came a bit short on and they really took it in full. Then they start working more with the sharpshooter - and it's not a throwaway submission here , they go for it a couple times (even hitting their facebuster while Rocky is in the hold), eventually settling in on Rocky for a very convincing win. I did like the roll-up callback to 1/4, which the Bucks broke up this time (that was a super flat ending before). ***3/4 and am kind of tetering upwards to ****

JRH nailed it with the IC ladder stuff.

One of Ted's last singles matches (he had two indie ones after this before returning to AJPW for Real World Tag League and getting hurt/retiring) and you know what? For 1993 and 39yo Ted, this is pretty good. His charisma, and how he works holds and when in holds, coupled with Akiyama's facials gets you through the early stretches just fine. Ted hotshots Jun, which breaks the arm stuff and he goes on offense, working around the neck and sleepers. Akiyama's eventual comeback looked like the style clash you'd expect, but Ted hung in there. He even catches Jun on a dive and then eats a flying forearm off the apron to the outside. There's a botched roll-up off the ropes here that they cover quickly. Maybe it calls out the difference in age and ability at this point; an ambitious attempt at least. Another northern lights suplex from Akiyama gets two. The sleeper is over here, Ted grabs him but he makes the ropes and the crowd is all over it. Ted catches him off the ropes with a big belly-to-belly, and then hits his straight jacket suplex (maybe?) and gets the win. ***

I love the standoff in the beginning after a flurry of strikes and tussling around the ring vs. what you see commonly today after some dueling headlock takeover reversals. Real interesting story as, without seeing any of the build here from the rest of the CC, it felt like this was building to a big Misawa comeback and win. First, Misawa's hope strikes are tremendous, every transition felt organic. We get the kickout of the first powerbomb by Misawa and he starts to mount some offense. Hits the splash, Hansen wisely rolls away from another. Tiger driver is reversed, and love that Misawa pops right back up, but Hansen kicks him down until we get the big blocked lariat and now both guys are injured. Hansen can't use the arm so he goes to headbutts and nasty shoulderblocks. he finally tries the lariat again and connects but pays the price. When he does cover, Misawa is in the ropes - great sequence. My brain thought, here's the big comeback, but it's more Hansen - an incredible performance by him here - and he struggles at first to lock in the powerbomb (selling on offense like the #3 GWE) and then crushes Misawa with it and bends him over for the pin. Post match he uses streamers as a makeshift sling to hold his injured forearm. ****1/4

Yeah the Cody thing was followed up with the IC announcement, which is just not good. I will say, I think it's unfair to paint this huge brush on the entire company that they don't know what the US market wants. That is just a misfire. I think they're pigeon-holed a bit because big belts are not defended very often in Japan, and they felt the pressure (I guess) to have them defended in the US. I don't know why they wouldn't have gone with a ROH guy for Tanahashi to go over vs. Billy Gunn. That is just flat bad. I'm not big on a US title tournament, especially because with the G1 coming up - are they going to have Omega lose again here? He seems above a secondary title like this (which I don't agree is a good idea in general).

You should post in the match thread for Naito/Tanahashi why you feel that's a 5* match.

The decision to run Okada vs. Cody for the US Long Beach show is an [insert adjective i'm still searching for here] idea. My devil's advocate thought is that I can't think of someone else they would use in a spot like this. They're not running Omega/Okada III. No Naito/Tanahashi. And they had already said the belt would be defended so they had to deliver. This just isn't something that gets me excited at all.

A quick precursor - I loved the 1/4 match (****3/4) and had no issue with the first portion as it played fine to me as a feeling out between two guys that hadn't faced off, and the work was all around the neck and Omega trying to wear Okada out to hit the One Winged Angel later in the match. Loved it - my MOTY still so far. This one: The beginning with the knee stuff went nowhere outside of very tiny callbacks late when Okada would try to power Omega up (one of the tombstones). And maybe that's on Omega for leaving the knee alone - i have no issue with limbs regaining health during a match if they aren't worked. It's a shame this didn't go anywhere, but perhaps it's a focus in the third match. What I liked: This was 2017 "I beat Shibata, Suzuki and Kenny Omega" Okada - and instead of seeming like he was trying to catch-up to Omega and survive like 1/4, he worked it as the ace - perhaps a touch too much (more on that). Lot of good callbacks and counters to stuff from the 1/4 match - Okada catching the flying knee (which was used way more 1/4 than here), the drop kick into the powerbomb, etc. The work around the dragon suplex up top was a good transition by Okada into the DVD on the apron and then his time on top. Obviously these guy are incredible athletes and the match went fast for me - at the 55 minute mark I thought it had only gone 40 or so. A credit to both guys, i'm consistently engaged in their encounters. What I didn't like: So as mentioned above, the knee selling stuff is notable, i also thought they went way too much to the well with the dropkicks and snap dragons. The teased throwing in the towel was a match killer for me. This took place timing-wise earlier than when the 1/4 match ended, so it felt really off that after the same amount of rainmakers, now Okada is stopping and the ref is checking on Omega? And normally that type of angle it then paid off later in the match, and it really isn't since Kenny doesn't win! So we have Cody come out with a towel - man i did not like this. So now Bullet club is down around the ring for this finish and I really thought after the OWA that it would be Okada fighting to survive the draw, but instead it was Okada nearly winning, only to not be able to get the final cover before the bell rang. Coming out of 1/4 Omega looked like the stronger guy,but it didn't feel this way to me this time. Of course I'm being very specific with the pieces I didn't like, but this is by no means a bad match. It was incredible, not as good as their 1/4 to me (I felt that had better dramatics), and not better than the Shibata match either imo, but still another NJPW '17 classic. ****1/2

Personally, I'm starting with the first stunner in 9/97. Technically his first match was in spring 98 (Austin one-hand tied behind his back - Dude Love interferes), but I would say the birth of that character. How you weight the promo/character stuff vs. his actual in-ring is, of course, at your discretion.

As part of Dave Musgrave's trek through all of Dave's ***** matches (and actually, as Dave M notes, Meltzer changed this to ****** - yes 6 - earlier this year), I would, somewhat obviously, have to agree with the universal praise and 5-star rating . As someone with little knowledge of the two going in outside of name/historical sig, I still picked up the story, and it ruled. One of the best matches ever.

This is a nice example of KUSHIDA adapting to another style to overcome his opponent, but still working in his arm stuff and his new finisher. This was very much a take turns kind of match - one guy does a dive, the other guy then does the same thing to match him. And they're all executed fine. And super ranas, they did that too, which was impressive. Something just rang really hollow about the whole thing for me, but KUSHIDA amps up the intensity just in time for the arm stuff and then the finish to move onto the finals. ***1/4

Clarifying upfront: this is just a lumberjack match sans any death, and weapons aren't allowed as they work the entire match using the ref and distractions to work that stuff in. Devitt comes out on Fale's shoulders per usual - which is just awesome for a slimy undersized heel. This is super fun, deliberately overbooked, contest with great crowd heat. Lumberjack interactions get the crowd really excited here and the New Japan guys get a bunch of fun payback spots, which really pop the crowd. Devitt works the back and amidst the brawling chaos of the two factions, seats Tanahashi and drop kicks him into the rail. His eventual comeback is tepid forearm heavy but it does lead to Tanahashi hitting a high fly flo to the bullet club outside as Devitt bails, but Makabe goes after him and carries him back to the ring (and the crowd boisterously chants Makabe's name). A Karl Anderson powerbomb onto the apron reintroduces the back stuff, and makes the nearfalls later feel a bit more important. Devitt hits his double stomp, but it gets two (right on the groin it looked too). They use a chair as distraction for a guitar shot and then Bloody Sunday, which is a terrific nearfall. They trade rollups, and call back to that chair as Tanahashi takes a shot on the apron, but he still kicks out. Makabe uses his chain as retribution for that. Then we get a whole bunch of lumberjack clearing house stuff with Tanahashi, as guys take turns taking finishers on the bad guys, popping the crowd. Tanahashi hits the Styles clash and high fly flo for the win. This was a ton of fun ***1/2

Commentary does not count per se - at least as a standalone. I'm sure some will receive slight boosts for intangibles because of their commentary (Lawler for one).

Nice - we already have over 90 people actively participating in the discussion (we're through the nomination process, although they are still open - we're on a phased roll-out for each discussion post). Glad to have you guys onboard.

ROH declined Flo's offer, so they must do ok on their own VOD sales. I can see the idea of managing just one singular pool of subscribers, but the demographic differences don't let this mesh at all. And now they've created a $30 barrier to entry for new wrestling fans for their super niche product. While the WWE Network is $9.99. They've already exhausted the hardcores (who smartly have the $150 yearly - which i believe remains the price, a 60% savings over month to month, which seems like bad business but good for consumers) and have cut off any growth now. Do they even have a free preview/trial? To offer a solution - they should model their pricing structure like Chikara does. Get your 7 days, rolls into the monthly sub, cancel anytime. Offer 3/6/12 month tiers (powerbombTV did this correct also).

Most interesting wrinkle here is the crowd really is behind Liger, presumably they too were hoping for a late run in the BOSJ for him. This is perfectly fine, and Ospreay with maybe the best running palm strike bump I've seen. Liger bomb kickout deflates the crowd; the ending sequence is a touch drawn out, leaving hope for one last hope spot which never comes. Post match Ospreay acts like Luke Skywalker carrying Vader to the shuttle before his death. On par for me with the Scurll match, if not a little more exciting given Will's style ***

These guys just know how to work each other and I liked this more than any of their title matches from '16 that I have seen. They both work in dropkicks on seated opponents outside. BUSHI hits a draping snap DDT off the ropes to the apron in some good early targeted neck work. He has a great corner dive through the ropes here also. KUSHIDA's arm stuff seems to be wilting, BUSHI sits in it for some time here. It does feel like the crowd is dampening a bit on KUSHIDA, he's been on a losing streak going into this, but we get a great story here and a new finisher (small package driver / god's last gift - I saw him use this in December on ospreay actually) post submission to put BUSHI away. A worthy main event and one of the best matches of the BOSJ so far ****

You know what you're getting with both guys typically: Desperado is introducing a chair and Taguchi has his rope running routine and what not. But these guys cut that stuff shorter than normal, and make it all work in a tremendous match. There is nothing mailed in here, ton of urgency and energy from both guys. Taguchi's early shine plays off them trying to counter each other on arm drags and he's a step ahead. Despy goes to the outside and again puts his opponent into the seats. Here he goes a step further and tries to bury Taguchi with them as he cracks them off each other. The chair in the corner spot is brought out, but Despy uses this opportunity to hide a pen in his boot...and then he quickly removes the pen, which was really weird. He then sodomizes Taguchi with it, which is easily the worst part of the match. But then the real good stuff starts - Despy works the knee as his submission has been established in the BOSJ so far. Taguchi's comeback is something - man he breaks out a ton of big moves and power spots, plus dives to the outside. Great offense from him. Where was this vs. Hiromu? Can't put Despy away though. Despy works the knee, which is eventually fought through to the ankle lock for some good dramatics. After a first escape, Despy is back in the move and this time he throws the ref down and uses the momentum to roll through the lock. Now he takes his mask off and throws it at Taguchi and alerts the ref. Crowd is bonkers for this sequence. Taguchi pleads his case to not get DQ'd, Despy puts another mask on, kicks him in the groin and then hits his Jay Driller move (Pinche Roco - I did look it up) to finish him off. Fantastic stuff ****

Boy Tiger Mask looks old in the...mask err face, but another good performance here, but the real star was ACH. All his flips and dives were on point (when did he start cribbing Lethal's three dives through the middle rope?), but the match morphs into Tiger Mask working over his back and ACH selling really well. Tiger Driver gets a nice two count. ACH is not able to get TM up for a suplex and his exaggerated grimace (and holding his back) instantly connects with the crowd, who gets louder and louder at each one he just can't quite muster it. ACH turns to kicks to compensate and when it finally looks like he's going to power him up for the payoff, TM works him into a rollup for the win. This was surprisingly really good ***1/2

I had originally watched this one a little disjointedly and, predictably, I though the match was disjointed and didn't enjoy the first half. Watching awake and alert, I liked this a ton more than at first. Marty even got the "Chicken wing!" thing over with the crowd. Man Dragon's tope con hilo skies over Scurll on the outside. Creative stuff by Marty tying Dragon's mask to the rope and laying in the strikes (and kind of the arm - he was hit or miss with that here, but he never got the CFCW on anyway). Last shot by Scurll too, that's the biggest kickout. Nice Spanish fly - corner finish off a headbutt->corner stomp. Perfectly fine. ***1/4

This is, maybe somewhat predictably, very very good and worked like a true main event (perhaps unlike some of the other BOSJ matches). There's a flub early with a huge whiff on a kick, but what a dive from Ricochet after that. Hiromu takes a high german suplex on his head too here, yikes. Powerful finish for Ricochet too as he runs through his big stuff and gets the win. Hiromu is either at 4 or near 4 stars for me on his first three outings of the BOSJ. ***3/4