El-P

You mean all those women in the stands frothing when Tana is showing his six-pack and pecs and crying when cuty Omega finally wins the big one ? Nah, they're too busy twitting about how Miho Abe is so scandalous and not empoweringtm. I guess.

And one other thing : you don't *have to* have women on your promotion. It's a men's promotion in a country that has a history of men and women promotions being different beasts (only FMW had a mixed roster on a regular basis, really), always has been. Women were never "special attraction" in japanese pro-wrestling. They were stars of their own. Why should New Japan change now ? Because WWE suddenly discovered serious female pro-wrestler 30 years after the fact and is doing PR about it ? It's ridiculous, honestly. If anything, the WWE is actually hurting joshi puroresu actively by going after the biggest names in an already very fragile scene, but I guess it's ok because it's a women's revolution and shit and they got enough money from the Saoudis and progressive news channel FOX to support this great feminist movem... wait. Oh, nevermind. All in all, I'd enjoy to see an FMW like division in NJPW. But they absolutely don't *have to* do it. It's a men's company, it's as simple as that and it's understood. The argument against that is purely americanized, PC and completely hypocrite because it pretends dealing in morals and shit while still feeding into the global capitalistic entertainment industry. Come on now. As far as NJ presenting women as scantily clad valets, well, yeah, that's really what is striking about NJ's product in the first place when you watch it. Miho Abe being there every other card cosplaying as some evil magical girl and sometime Yujiro bringing a stripper that you see for about 30 seconds. Big deal, really. So shocking and exploitative.

Yeah, really, the idea of the Japanese pro-wrestling culture being behind the times because there aren't women in NJ is pretty comical, considering women only shows were successfully running the Budokan 25 years ago. And it has nothing to do with status of women in Japan either.

Kyoko Hamaguchi is gonna be the star of NJPW women's division soon. Zach Arnold reported it. Some time ago. In the 00's... (honestly, I wouldn't mind a women division in NJPW at all. There are too many belts already, get rid of the NEVER and useless US titles and make some room for some awesome girls by cutting a bunch of gaijins and let's have some great women matches at the Tokyo Dome again)

Greatest match ever. A zillion stars. I was a 14 years old mark again at the end.

I had removed myself from any possible spoilers/hype/hate that this show and main event would surely get. Have not read any reaction yet either. So glad I did. Without getting into details, this was easily a top 10, maybe top 5 card to to bottom. As far as a statement, this was Dreamslam level. The worst match was maybe good/very good. It was paced a way that was super easy to watch, not a dull moment. Cool tag matches, bombfests, comedy, Ishii & Suzuki slapping the fuck out of each other, Rey Mysterio in a terrific legend match, Liger looking great, the super fun three-way (a format I usually don't care much for) although I wish TAICHI would have won (I'm really getting into his bullshit lately, and the fact Miho Abe is hot & slutty as shit isn't even a reason why), Jericho going FMW on Naito's ass. Maybe the one match that kinda "underwhelmed" was Ospreay vs Takahashi, although still an terrifc bombfest, wasn't at the level of the Super Jr. final against Ishimori. And that main event ? Greatest match I've ever seen, possibly maybe. If the 14 years old me would put a fantasy epic match, that would be this kind of stuff. Okada is one of the best big match worker ever and he borrowed his two main spots from Jim Brunzell & Jake Roberts. They teased a table spot that *never actually happened*, how awesome is that in term of getting the most out of *nothing* ? I marked out for Omega winning like a little bitch. Like the Man used to say, like it or don't like it, but learn to love it, cause it's the best thing going today. Also, the right man won. So... "Who are you to doubt Gedo ?" This is everything great about pro-wrestling. And Lucha Underground S4 is beginning this week ? And G.L.O.W at the end of the month ? Gotta love it. Love it love it love it.

Charles, I wish you the best in this future endeavor of yours.

This is the best thread on this board in years. I'm kinda having a break from posting, but I had to say this and I will read that thread. Did you just compare Onita with Mimolette ? I love me some Chabichou du Poitou. And there's no way I'm not posting this :

Cool. I won't even have to get up that early next year to watch Roman Reigns well deserved coronation live. (10000 posts ? What have I done with my life ?...)

Something has to be said about that, as even AJ Styles booked by Vince Russo in TNA was more entertaining and even engaging as a character (yes, even when it was goofy and he played a goofball tag-along having the hots for Karen Angle) than anything he did since he got in WWE, where's he basically been *there* as a "guy who is supposed to have great matches".

Steve McMichael was a better Horseman than Dean Malenko, Jeff Jarrett, Paul Roma, Lex Luger, Brian Pillman or Sting. Not by default, he was actually a good Horseman as a character. He fit, complete with Debra who was awesome as the southern beauty queen airhead.

And he'll probably die sooner than later at this point too...

Hey, if it means Lucha Underground can go on for a S5 with more money eventually, I'm all in (pun int… well, you got it). And yeah for GLOW S2. These two shows have carried my love for pro-wrestling in the past few years.

The Trump Wrestling Federation finally on FOX. All is well in the best world possible.

This TV fees bubble is just ridiculous. Anyway. This means more of "We don't give a shit about our audience" stuff for years and years, most probably, because it doesn't matter anymore.

What happened between Corny & Bolin ? Weren't they like very old friends ?

Meanwhile, those old-school episodes by Corny are super refreshing to listen too. The SMW ones are really cool because you just don't hear about that stuff anywhere else.

Once you get used with the super modern style (as someone who is not into the current scene that much), I kinda loved that stuff. It's a mix of heat and comedy, with jaw dropping spots worked in and a nice dynamic. Cody sitting in the crowd was precious, and Omega doing that insane dive on him sitting in the crowd was awesome. I don't get the hate Scurll seems to get around here, the guy is tons of fun and has shitloads of character. Omega cutting promos in Japanese never gets old either. Yeah, that's really the zeitgeist, this kind of stuff. Gotta love it.

Not really. The most interesting part is Bruce discussing the ending and the obvious Hogan debacle.

The Bulldog episode was okay, but nothing more. The whole "We're telling a story" excuse for every shitty/poor decision is getting old by now. The whole Bulldog debacle in England was particulary telling on that matter. They weren't telling any story with Bulldog getting screwed there since Micheals was gonna beat Bret too, and there was no plan for Bulldog ever to feud with Micheals at this point (we saw how well the Owen thing got after Bret left anyway, as well as how the Euro title got turned into a joke). Yeah, the entire "fake news/conspiracy theory" is getting in the way of the show being fun to listen too at points. Plus, Conrad seemed actually kinda bored during half the show.

Thanks. Man... The more Lawler opens his mouth these days, the worst this guy comes off.

No shit. I'm there half admitting I kinda had an alcohol issue at one time and these fuckers are like "Oh, I drink a lot of soda and like coffee too much." Plus, let's say it outright : if you live in America, you don't actually drink *coffee*. What passes for coffee on the other side of the Atlantic is a piss poor excuse for coffee. Like I said before. Never did sports, hates it. Was always thin, kinda skinny. With age and alcohol consumption, I kinda got a bit a fat around my waist and face. Then : I've been doing DDP Yoga for a year or so (after the first year I actually got the App, and it's pretty great, so much stuff there to not get bored). I'm mostly doing Advanced/Extreme level stuff now (I'm slowly on my way to do one of these stupid extreme psycho push-ups), coupled with a few easier routines. Best shape ever at 42. I almost got abs, for fuck's sake. Yeah, if I was able to do that (without bothering to diet or stop drinking when I feel like it, which is more often than I should), anyone can, really.

Indeed. Excellent match with a selling clinic by Matt. The finish was a beautiful idea, it warmed the Bret Hart fan in me. I really came to love the Young Bucks in New Japan, much less post-modern and goofy yet still using their crazy offensive repertoire.

It didn't feel that long to me. The one issue I have with this one is the kinda no-sell of the leg at all during Tana's big comeback, before he actually had his leg buckle under him later on. This is only a minor issue though, as overall this was a terrific match. Maybe one could argue Suzuki not being able to have Tana give up quicker doesn't work that well. On the other hand it's been established at this point that we're not into that "quick submission" territory anymore, and the whole long submission hold period are less "spots" than "narratives", and this was all about Tanahashi rather having his leg literally chopped off his body than losing this match. Not MOTYC caliber, but excellent nonetheless. Suzuki is clearly one if not the best past 40 years old worker ever, and Tanahashi, even broken down, is still an amazing worker.

Jerry Lawler, das Feminist.