drew wardlaw

Thanks guys! Kevin was a great guest, I hope to have him on again in the future to cover some more joshi stuff.

On a very special episode of Burning Spirits, Drew and Brennan are joined by Kevin Wilson (@joshipuro) to provide an intro to the world of joshi in 2017. We start by discussing the news and rumors surrounding Stardoms Kairi Hojo, Io Shirai, and Mayu Iwatani. After that Kevin gives us a breakdown of the joshi landscape currently, and we review three different matches from different promotions. Finally, we finish with a wild Match of the Week. Kevin is a great guest who really knows his stuff, so if you have even a passing interest in joshi, this is the show for you! Recommended matches from the show -Hikaru Shida/Syuri vs Hiroyo Matsumoto/Kagetsu (OZ Academy 1/25) -Arisa Nakajima vs Nanae Takahashi (SEAdLINNNG 01/26) -Io Shirai vs Shayna Baszler (Stardom 2/23) http://www.voicesofwrestling.com/2017/03/10/burning-spirits-19-2017-joshi-special/ https://audioboom.com/posts/5695791-burning-spirits-19-2017-joshi-special Match of the Week: KAORU vs Aja Kong (GAEA 2/13/2000) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dr0TYEZHDB4 As always, please share your thoughts, comments, and feedback!

On the Very Special Episode of Burning Spirits, Kevin and Brennan are joined by return guest Andy (@trillyrobinson) to countdown their top 40 Puro Stars over the age of 40! You may have read the article, but now heres your chance to hear all new thoughts and pontifications on all your favorite Japanese Dads! http://www.voicesofwrestling.com/2017/02/10/burning-spirits-16-top-40-puro-wrestlers-40-countdown/ https://audioboom.com/posts/5594721-burning-spirits-16-top-40-puro-wrestlers-over-40-countdown As always, feel free to share your thoughts, comments, and feedback! Did we miss anyone? Is anyone too high/too low? Is it disingenuous to call someone a dad if they don't have children?

Just seeing this now, this is a great idea. We'll start doing this in the future!

Burning Spirits #15: DDT Universe, Sweet Dreams! 2017, and NOAH the REBORN! Its a jam-packed week on Burning Spirits as we open the show discussing the launch of DDTs new streaming service, DDT Universe. We share our experiences using the service, the pros, cons, and speculate on the viability of the service for foreign audiences. We then move on to review DDTs Sweet Dreams! 2017 show from 1/29 by talking about some standout performances. We then move to NOAH the REBORN where our previous indifference is replaced by unbridled enthusiasm over the 1/21 Osaka show. Its a whale of a show for sure, this week on Burning Spirits! https://audioboom.com/posts/5571393-burning-spirits-15-ddt-universe-sweet-dreams-2017-and-noah-the-reborn http://www.voicesofwrestling.com/2017/02/04/burning-spirits-15-ddt-universe-sweet-dreams-2017-noah-reborn/

Burning Spirits #13: Pro Wrestling NOAH The First Navigation 2017 1/7 & 1/9 All three hosts are back together this week and are joined by Milo of Open The Voice Gate fame to share some heartfelt thoughts on Hajime Oharas title win. We discuss the highlights from both Korakuen Hall shows, as well discuss the future of NOAH in 2017. Other topics include which NOAH roster member looks like Corey Feldman and a shocking revelation about the musical past of the Brahmans! A very fun show and a nice change of pace this week. https://audioboom.com/posts/5517491-burning-spirits-13-pro-wrestling-noah-the-first-navigation-2017-1-7-1-9 http://www.voicesofwrestling.com/2017/01/20/burning-spirits-13-pro-wrestling-noah-first-navigation-2017-17-19/

The first week of 2017 saw an incredible show from start to finish headlined by what might be the greatest match of all time. What show are we talking about? Well the ZERO1 New Year Dream Series show from Korakuen Hall of course! While Kevin is off alligator hunting in Florida, Brennan and Drew are joined by special guest Andy Labar (@trillyrobinson) to dedicate the entire show to ZERO1. We review the entire card from start to finish, as well as provide a brief history of the promotion and some recommended 2016 matches to get everyone up to speed. See what the wrestling world is buzzing about, and come stand in the unapproachable light of ZERO1! https://audioboom.com/posts/5492218-burning-spirits-12-pro-wrestling-zero1-new-year-dream-series

5/28/1510/29/15

I feel like that match against AJ Styles is one of Shibata's best performances. Him selling the arm injury and the finish really showed how dynamic and complete he is as a wrestler.

I'd like to recommend Daisuke Sekimoto vs Shuji Ishikawa, BJW, 3/31/15. Also that Ikeda/Oba vs Hashi/Mashimo match is such a gnarly classic. Just a total exhausting war.

This approach really helped me. I went through the '90 yearbook and just tried to get a grasp on the style. I found the Lucha Primer thread on here which was very helpful, so I was able to watch along while reading other people's reviews, the primer thread, and jotting down my own thoughts. It was cool to chart my progress and understanding throughout the year and by the end I felt like I had a decent grasp on the stye. I will say, though, that like Matt D up there, it was very difficult to understand at the beginning. The first couple trios matches I watched were straight up disorienting, with the long crowd shots which missed the pins, strangely timed replays, captain's fall rules, multiple refs, etc. I enjoyed the challenge of trying to understand the style but there was definitely a learning curve and I can see how that's prohibitive for people.

Its the most beefiest time of the year! Visions of Selfie sticks, headrops, light tubes, and elbows are dancing around in our heads as we review Big Japans Death Vegas show from 12/18. We discuss this very diverse card, including some surprising undercard matches, some disappointments, standout performances, and familiar faces on top. No match of the week this time around, but be sure to head over to Wrestling With Words to fill out your year end awards ballot and join us next week for our big joint show with Puro in the Rough! http://www.voicesofwrestling.com/2016/12/23/burning-spirits-10-big-japan-death-vegas-review/ https://audioboom.com/posts/5429312-burning-spirits-10-big-japan-death-vegas-review This was a really interesting card, let's hear what everyone else thought of it!

It's called mass appeal. Believe me a lot of people do try lucha once in a while, especially when something big e.g. CMLL anniversary show is coming up. They just don't get stuck. Blame the shitty production, blame the fact that they like the idea of mexican wrestling more than actual mexican wrestling (see: people saying they prefer Chikara, LU, luchadores in japan etc. to mexican wrestling). Similiarily you can see that most people listen to pop/rock music or a variation of it. They don't listen to 70s prog rock or free jazz or death metal. You can play them something like this, and they most likely won't find it appealing. It's not what they are used to so it's hard to discern what's going on, and that goes for a lot of people who say they like heavy music (=thick guitar production) aswell. Most of them will say it's just a bunch of noise just like people say lucha has no psychology and is just pretty moves. Japanese wrestling is appealing to the niche audience of internet fans who grew up with american wrestling. Better production, more big events and feuds to get into, similiar 2.99999 layout that they are familiar with from american wrestling, no confusing rules or heel ref bullshit. Plus hearing the impact of the chops and bumps makes a huge difference. I started watching lucha with BTJr. handhelds and it was a lot easier to get into than CMLL TV. Listen I don't have a rat in this race but Incantation RULES and I've been listening to Golgotha and Mortal Throne pretty heavily this Christmas season.

Burning Spirits is a man down this week, but we fight through the pain in our hearts to deliver the Big Japan goods. We talk about highlights from the 11/22 Korakuen show as well as from the surrounding tour before previewing the big Death Vegas show on 12/18. We finish up with an awesome match of the week featuring and one of Minoru Suzukis best (and least scene) matches of the year, but not before briefly trading middle school detention stories. http://www.voicesofwrestling.com/2016/12/16/burning-spirits-9-bjw-korakuen-1122-death-vegas-preview/ https://audioboom.com/posts/5405672-burning-spirits-9-bjw-korakuen-11-22-death-vegas-preview Match of the Week: Ryo Kawamura vs Minoru Suzuki (Ryo Kawamura Produce 7/2/16): https://rutube.ru/video/07ba9808bf76591c6f496b71d34dfe88/

Burning Spirits does battle with the eight-tentacled beast of DDTs Osaka Octopus show. We review the whole card and give an update on DDTs streaming service DDT Universe. We end the show discussing our wildest match of the week yet, that maintains the nautical theme of the show! http://www.voicesofwrestling.com/2016/12/09/burning-spirits-8-ddt-osaka-octopus/ https://audioboom.com/posts/5378571-burning-spirits-8-ddt-osaka-octopus Match of the Week: BJW Shopping Centre Brawl 7/1/95: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x45xs7u_bjw-shopping-centre-brawl-01-07-95_sport

Burning Spirits returns with our longest show yet with a review of AJPWs big show in Sumo Hall. We break down every aspect of the show, save for Dory Funk Jr.s tremendous bull whip exhibition, and go in depth on a surprising main event. We finish up with our Match of the Week, Jun Akiyama vs Katsuyori Shibata (Wrestle-1 8/4/05). http://www.voicesofwrestling.com/2016/12/02/burning-spirits-7-ajpw-ryogoku-kokugikan-new-explosion-review/ https://audioboom.com/posts/5350733-burning-spirits-7-ajpw-ryogoku-kokugikan-new-explosion-review

Burning Spirits turns up your Turkey Time with an in-depth look at All Japan Pro Wrestlings big return to Sumo Hall. We break down the entire 11/27 card and give our predictions for each match, including a lengthy discussion about the highly anticipated main event. Will Onita bring his electric current blast bat? How many combined years of in-ring experience does the Dory Funk match have? Did the VOW Flagship shows burial of this card make you sad? Join us for a much more positive spin on this monolith of a wrestling card. *Zencastr cut-off the end of the show, please read below for my fresh cranberry sauce recipe: 1 bag of cranberries, 1 cup of water, 1 cup of sugar. Pour all ingredients into a pan, cook until berries pop. Delicious fresh cranberries!* http://www.voicesofwrestling.com/2016/11/23/burning-spirits-6-ajpw-ryogoku-kokugikan-new-explosion/ https://audioboom.com/channel/burning-spirits

Yeah that's a good point. A lot of Tamura's title matches feel like him working as a young prodigy getting beaten down rather than a seasoned ace, especially that Suzuki match. Even the match against Iwamoto they felt like equals rather than a veteran working a younger guy.

As seasonal affective disorder sets in and the weather cools down, Burning Spirits is HEATING UP with a show devoted to Pro Wrestling HEAT UP. We review the biggest show to date for the company, including the rock solid main event. We briefly go over go over the multi-promotional 16 team tag New Years Eve tag tournament, and finish up with the match of the week. http://www.voicesofwrestling.com/2016/11/18/burning-spirits-5-heat-up-the-light-illuminates-kawasaki/ https://audioboom.com/posts/5302019-burning-spirits-5-heat-up Match of the Week: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=o9oJ4IQXFT4

Burning Spirits heads back to the punishing world of Big Japan Pro Wrestling, covering the finals of the Saikyou Tag League. We then discuss the harrowing Danshoku Dino vs Shuji Ishikawa KO-D Title match and use that as a jumping off point to discuss the effectiveness of comedy in wrestling. Finally, we descend into the disorienting madness of Pioneer Pro Wrestling for our match of the week. Can you hear the sound of an enormous door slamming in the depths of Hell? It's Burning Spirits #4! http://www.voicesofwrestling.com/2016/11/11/burning-spirits-4-bjw-saikyou-tag-league-finals/ https://audioboom.com/posts/5275748-burning-spirits-4-bjw-saikyou-tag-league-finals MATCH OF THE WEEK MASASHI AOYAGI VS RYUMA GO: KARATE VS WRESTLER (04/05/90) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gBDmnWYF1DE

For the sake of economy, I'll just post the weekly shows in this thread rather than punish with a new thread every week. Burning Spirits #3 tackles All Japan Pro Wrestling. We give a brief history of ownership from the Noah exodus until now, talk about Kento Miyahara as the young ace shouldering the company on the way to the 11/27 Sumo Hall show, and discuss the idea of formula in wrestling matches. We then discuss some of our favorite matches from the past few shows, and dive head first onto some burning tables as we review our first Match of the Week. The nightmare continues this week, on Burning Spirits! http://www.voicesofwrestling.com/2016/11/04/burning-spirits-3-japan-pro-wrestling/ https://audioboom.com/posts/5245771-burning-spirits-3-all-japan-pro-wrestling Here's a link to our Match of the Week. Ryuma Go vs Masashi Aoyagi 04/05/90: Of course any comments/corrections/criticisms/concerns are encouraged!

Hot off the heels of the first episode, we're back with another one: http://www.voicesofwrestling.com/2016/10/29/burning-spirits-2-big-japan-pro-wrestling-saikyou-tag-league/ As before, feel free to share comments/criticism/corrections/questions. Here's our match of the week if you want to watch: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F1sK17B7zbA

I didn't buy any of these things, but a couple notes on some Amazon purchases: -Cattle Decapitation is a grindcore band who's way more gimmick than raging songs. Funny name, and I saw them in high school and they wore masks made of beef jerky. -Chopping Mall is a pretty legendary low budget vhs horror movie where robotic security guards come to life and terrorize a group of kids in a mall overnight. Way better in concept than execution, but there's one decent beheading. --Blood Diner is a pretty sleazy late 80s zombie-type movie. Worth checking out.

That's a great suggestion, thanks!

On the debut episode of Burning Spirits, we take a look at the DDT promotion. We discuss the top two matches from the 9/25 Korakuen Hall show, as well as the potential star power of Kazusada Higuchi, Shuji Ishikawas stellar 2016, the rise of young talent in the promotion, the DAMNATION stable, and LiLiCo! All this and more on Burning Spirits #1. Come join our endless fight! http://www.voicesofwrestling.com/2016/10/25/burning-spirits-1-ddt-pro-wrestling/ Any and all comments, criticisms, and complaints are welcome!