Boss Rock Posted August 30, 2020 Report Share Posted August 30, 2020 Yeah I liked this one more as it was shorter and got to the point quicker. The BC shenanigans are beyond stale though and are a great misuse of Togo. Put him in the G1 and let him wrestle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El-P Posted August 30, 2020 Report Share Posted August 30, 2020 The setting, big baseball stadium with tons of empty seats, the sunset, the city buildings in the back, warmed my little heart of 90's japanese indy sleaze fan. Quite a fine show with two excellent/great matches in Shingo vs Suzuki beating each other to the sounds of cicadas and Hiromu vs Ishimori killing it (and themselves), while the tag match was also very good (although ZSJ in this setting really doesn't get to shine as much as in singles matches) and the opener was solid and fun (Kanemaru is so underrated, a low-key excellent worker for more than 20 years). Yano pinning Okada was fun and honestly, him getting stupid stip matches for his little title works for me. The main event however, was only slightly better than the Dominion match and this whole Bullet Club thousand run-ins and idiotic ref bumps is basically Double J Special level of annoying and stupid (that final ref "bump" was embarrassing, still he sells it for ever while four guys are jumping in the ring, the only thing missing is a guitar shot with tons of debris in the ring) . So sick of this shit in NJPW main events matches (I'm dreading all Bullet Club guys matches in the G1). EVIL was never a very compelling worker (he really shined last year in G1 I thought, but that was the only time), but in this version he's just plain boring as fuck, especially in overlong main events, where he absolutely doesn't belong. Dick Togo is useless, hell, you even had Gedo run in at the end so why is he even there ? Get Miho Abe back on the shows instead ! Anyway, the EVIL push to the top has been a complete failure to me and a legit turn-off. Naito is totally damaged goods at this point too, he looked like the greatest wrestler in the world three years ago but seems like in another life almost. Have Ibushi win the G1 and put the belt on his ass already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kas Posted August 30, 2020 Report Share Posted August 30, 2020 For the sake of his legacy, I still want Naito to have a decently long reign with like 2 or 3 successful defences. Plus it's not as if he's awful or business will go down while he's the champ. He's still their most popular guy and can still produce quality matches. But you're right in saying that Ibushi should hold the belt next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boss Rock Posted September 2, 2020 Report Share Posted September 2, 2020 Naito's definitely past his prime but I don't think he's completely shot either. I think a lot of it was on EVIL and too many BC shenanigans. The G1 will be the real test though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Migs Posted September 9, 2020 Report Share Posted September 9, 2020 We're getting a real G1 with all the top guys, y'all. Stoked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kas Posted September 9, 2020 Report Share Posted September 9, 2020 Okada vs Shingo and Ibushi vs Shingo, fuck yes. Shingo's gonna steal the G1 once again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Migs Posted September 9, 2020 Report Share Posted September 9, 2020 14 minutes ago, kas said: Okada vs Shingo and Ibushi vs Shingo, fuck yes. Shingo's gonna steal the G1 once again. The A Block is insane. Ospreay vs Suzuki!!! Plus rematches of a ton of stuff that's delivered in the past. The B Block is about equal from a star power perspective but way weaker in terms of matches I'm excited for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmare007 Posted September 9, 2020 Report Share Posted September 9, 2020 Block A is fucking bonkers, good lawd. Block B is wide open for the finalist, maybe KENTA is the favorite? Not sure, could see a number of people going to the Finals. Not gonna watch a lot of matchups from this group but I can't say it won't be interesting at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boss Rock Posted September 9, 2020 Report Share Posted September 9, 2020 Only real disappointment is no Hiromu. Like seriously, why Yujiro? Even Makabe would've been better. Or give Kojima another shot. Or Dick Togo. I dont expect Ibushi to win as they typically dont do the same winner two years in a row, but Ibushi-Tanahashi would make sense as a final given their tension. Otherwise Okada vs. EVIL seems likely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FMKK Posted September 9, 2020 Report Share Posted September 9, 2020 I'm a little disappointed we aren't getting SHO and Hiromu in there but their time will come. I'm stoked as hell about the A Block like everyone else but there'll be some nice matches in B Block as well. They've been setting up an Tanahashi vs Ibushi feud for a while so that's a potential final I think. Or maybe Jay White vs EVIL with a Bullet Club explodes storyline, but I think they'll save that for the Dome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boss Rock Posted September 9, 2020 Report Share Posted September 9, 2020 It will definitely be nice to have pretty much the full roster again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WingedEagle Posted September 9, 2020 Report Share Posted September 9, 2020 That A block is out of this world. If crowds don't have to watch silently it could produce some absolute classics in a year that hasn't seen a real MOTYC since winter. I'm a little surprised how stacked it is relative to the B block. Never mind dropping Shingo's first matches against Okada & Ibushi along with Ishii & Ospreay rematches, its much more top heavy from a booking perspective. I don't see a third Evil/Naito title match in the fall so presumably Naito wins that, though its certainly possible Evil still takes the block before falling to Okada or Ibushi the finals. Only 10 days away! Between the fresh matches and returns of Ospreay, White, Cobb, KENTA & Juice it looks like a real killer of a tour, as per usual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kas Posted September 9, 2020 Report Share Posted September 9, 2020 Jay White's gonna win the whole thing, beating SANADA in the final Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makai Club #1 Posted September 9, 2020 Report Share Posted September 9, 2020 B Block is good but I don't see much magic there besides Juice and Tanahashi. A Block looks tremendous. It has the worst two guys in the G1 but the top matches have the potential to be outstanding, blow-away matches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FMKK Posted September 9, 2020 Report Share Posted September 9, 2020 1 hour ago, Makai Club #1 said: B Block is good but I don't see much magic there besides Juice and Tanahashi. A Block looks tremendous. It has the worst two guys in the G1 but the top matches have the potential to be outstanding, blow-away matches. I'd say Yujiro is the worst guy in the whole thing. I think I'd rather have Fale than him. I just watched the Tanahashi vs Naito block final from 2017 so I'm pumped for those two to hook it up again, even though I doubt they'll be able to push their bodies in the same way 3 years on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kas Posted September 9, 2020 Report Share Posted September 9, 2020 Fale has at least shown an ability to be carried. He's had many good matches with the likes of Okada, Shibata, Tanahashi, Nagata, and Nakamura. Outside of the Ishii match in 2014, Yujiro has been awful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El-P Posted September 9, 2020 Report Share Posted September 9, 2020 I take Yujiro over Fale in the G1 any day because you know Yujiro ain't gonna win shit so there won't be some really stupid "upset" win by Fale like every other year (expect the year where he got DQ'd all the time in fuck finishes, which was equally annoying but at least he didn't end up with a big score). Block A is awesome on paper, although Cobb has been exposed last year as being not nearly as good as his hype (to me he was never better than as Matanza Cueto). Block B is much weaker (EVIL has turned into a change the channel guy to me since joining the Bullet Club, SANADA will never reach his potential, Goto is kinda boring). I wonder how good Tanahashi will do, he looked totally shot in his last appearances. Great worker still, but physically shot... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmare007 Posted September 9, 2020 Report Share Posted September 9, 2020 B Block screams a heel Tana so he can carry that whole crew through his asshole charisma. The few instances we've gotten heel Tana he's always been tremendous, him doing a 2020 version of his 08's Champions Carnival (more grounded and old, obviously) would be dope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kas Posted September 9, 2020 Report Share Posted September 9, 2020 Tanahashi may be broken down, but he remains one of the best storytellers in wrestling. His G1 last year was my favourite of his and I have no doubt he's going to be B block's MVP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WingedEagle Posted September 9, 2020 Report Share Posted September 9, 2020 32 minutes ago, kas said: Tanahashi may be broken down, but he remains one of the best storytellers in wrestling. His G1 last year was my favourite of his and I have no doubt he's going to be B block's MVP. Agreed. I'm not going to doubt the man until he has a run where he looks clearly shot, and his recent G1 and big show outings have yet to make that case. Its been a few years since the Naito feud so that and the KENTA pairing look the best on paper, but there's only so much intrigue with him against the rest of the block. I'm sure the G1 plans were ironed out months ago but Tana as the final boss for the A block winner, or even winning the briefcase but losing it before WK if you want to get really aggressive, sound promising. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WingedEagle Posted September 9, 2020 Report Share Posted September 9, 2020 Anyone watching the IWGP Jr. Tag Title tourney? It feels like everyone involved is going through the motions with nothing all that interesting even at the top of the card. The Chaos undercard matches and Tanabushi/SZKG tags have been better watches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeg Posted September 9, 2020 Report Share Posted September 9, 2020 3 hours ago, kas said: Fale has at least shown an ability to be carried. He's had many good matches with the likes of Okada, Shibata, Tanahashi, Nagata, and Nakamura. Outside of the Ishii match in 2014, Yujiro has been awful. Problem with Fale is he's not good enough to go over anybody of worth but he's too big to ever lose clean. Booking Fale in these tournaments require some creativity as keeping Fale a monster heel and a threat to beat top guys while never actually having pinned a top guy is very tricky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FMKK Posted September 9, 2020 Report Share Posted September 9, 2020 He's a useful placeholder guy who can be used to beat whoever he needs to to make the points work out without ever really being a threat himself. Kinda like Goto, but obviously a much lesser worker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Migs Posted September 10, 2020 Report Share Posted September 10, 2020 14 hours ago, WingedEagle said: Anyone watching the IWGP Jr. Tag Title tourney? It feels like everyone involved is going through the motions with nothing all that interesting even at the top of the card. The Chaos undercard matches and Tanabushi/SZKG tags have been better watches. Yeah, nothing has been truly terrible but there's really nothing to recommend. To be fair, the best aspects of the Jr Tag division (Phantasmo teaming with Ishimori, Ospreay and Eagles) aren't there. They have a ton of guys in NJ USA that could at least spice up a tournament like this, but there's just no sizzle to any of these matchups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boss Rock Posted September 11, 2020 Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 Caught the Chaos 8-man tag from yesterday and the Ishii-SHO interaction was something. I know it's only to fuel the NEVER 6-man match, but man would that be an awesome G1 match if it weren't for Yujiro. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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