Current New Japan

[Boss Rock]

If the plan is indeed for Tsuji to ultimately win at WK then I'm fine with that. And maybe it is time to move on from the G1 automatically leading to a shot at WK. But if they have to delay Tsuji any longer than that, I honestly think it will be a huge mistake. They desperately need a new ace and he's looked like the biggest star for a year and-a-half now.

[Migs]

I think the Dome plan is the champ (hoping ZSJ, although I guess it could be Naito) against a big name outsider. I don't think Tsuji has the juice to main event the Dome yet. (I do think they should put him over for it early next year.)

[Boss Rock]

So Yota Tsuji is challenging for the Global Heavyweight Championship. Honestly, what are they waiting for with this guy?

[Jmare007]

3.7k in Osaka for Sabre vs Shingo. And the WK card is looking depressing as shit. I hope TK lends a hand and at least lets Omega work a high profile tag match but it's gonna end up being an AEW showcase match as whatever is left of NJ's top roster already booked. I'm also assuming that Okada doesn't work WK but probably works Wrestle Dynasty the next day.

NJPW "WRESTLE KINGDOM 19 IN TOKYO DOME", 04.01.2025 (WPW/TV Asahi Ch. 2/NJPW World) Tokyo Dome - IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title, 4 Way Match: KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight (c) vs. Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita vs. TJP & Francesco Akira vs. Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney - NJPW World TV Title, 3 Way Match: Jeff Cobb (c) vs. Ren Narita vs. Ryohei Oiwa - IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: DOUKI (c) vs. El Desperado - IWGP Global Heavyweight Title: David Finlay (c) vs. Yota Tsuji - Hiroshi Tanahashi Final Road Special Singles Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. "King of Darkness" EVIL - IWGP World Heavyweight Title: Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Shota Umino Also interesting that Sabre vs Ricochet has been immediately labeled as a special attraction match and not a "title match if ZSJ retains". NJPW/AEW "WRESTLE DYNASTY", 05.01.2025 Tokyo Dome - Special Singles Match: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Ricochet http://www.purolove.com/images/logos/small/aew.jpg

[Boss Rock]

Is there something I'm missing with Shota?

[donsem43]

So, is Mayu Iwatani vs. AZM for the IWGP Women's title a show stealing match or a show saving match?

[WingedEagle]

21 hours ago, donsem43 said:

So, is Mayu Iwatani vs. AZM for the IWGP Women's title a show stealing match or a show saving match?

With Takeshita vs. Shingo its likely neither, but rather much needed depth. I'm sure the main event will deliver but Shingo and this are the two I'm most looking forward to thus far. Naito/Hiromu won't change that if its the direction they go.

[Timbo Slice]

Kenny said this is essentially a way for him to pay back NJPW for the AEW departure, which I get, but he also talked about how he didn’t want to get in the way of AEW’s current direction, which is odd to say the least with the Bucks on the shelf and Okada on paternity leave. Either the diverticulitis did a true number on him and he’s gotta be a part timer going forward or there’s something underneath the hood in his relationship with TK going on. 

[sek69]

I think the diverticulitis did a number on him, imo. Brock coming back from it barely missing a step is not the usual recovery, especially since it's been reported that this was an especially rough episode for him. Besides, the main story is the Death Riders doing "what if the nWo was done by people who aren't selfish assholes" since by all accounts Moxley is big on making sure the young talent isn't just spinning their wheels. If anything, Kenny should be the final boss between them fully taking over so he doesn't need to be around right now.

Also New Japan announced an International Women's Cup four way match where the spots will be filled by AEW/ROH/CMLL/Stardom each having their own four way match. The winner gets to challenge for "the title of their choosing" which is interesting phrasing, seemingly indicating it could be in any of the promotions involved.

[El-P]

Actually, both Dome shows are shaping up to be pretty fun. Business wise, dunno and don't care. But pretty fun and fresh, at the very least (well, apart from anything House of Torture related, of course). I was thinking about going to Tokyo for that first week and go to some shows. Then I checked the plane tickets prices. Oh well. 

[Timbo Slice]

I’m very interested in how Okada is going to position himself for Wrestle Dynasty now that the rest of The Elite is confirmed (sans Perry, for now). There’s some political stuff under the surface here with how AEW is moving forward and The Elite are operating outside of it for the time being, but not much is being said even though some of it seems pretty damn overt. 
 

[El-P]

11 hours ago, Timbo Slice said:

I’m very interested in how Okada is going to position himself for Wrestle Dynasty now that the rest of The Elite is confirmed (sans Perry, for now). 

Actually, Jack Perry is facing Yota Tsuji.

Athena better fucking be there. She's been working in front of empty ROH tapings for two years while *never* showing up on Dynamite or Collision or the PPV's while being easily a top 10 worker all around in the company (I would *love* to get the reasoning behind this, because it's ridiculous). If anyone deserves anything, that's Athena going to the Tokyo Dome. 

Gotta have Mistico somewhere too. 

[El-P]

On 11/27/2024 at 11:55 PM, Timbo Slice said:

I’m very interested in how Okada is going to position himself for Wrestle Dynasty now that the rest of The Elite is confirmed

Yeah, I dunno. At this point it seems neither Okada nor Ospreay will end up being on the show, which is kinda ridiculous. A NJPW x AEW cross promotion show without these two seems like missed opportunity on every level. And really, as much as some of the card is fun on a vacuum, at this point I can't help to feel it's underwhelming in term of booking. Takeshita vs Ishii is cool and all, but in a AEW context, it's a Collision match where the result is 100% known. Following WrestleKingdom, it's even worse because it makes WK more obvious (they aren't gonna do a NJPW vs NJPW match at Dynasty) and the second day match is obviously lesser (not to mention Ishii has been announced against Gabe Kidd on the next US show, so he's challenging for the NJPW ROH championship basically). Tsuji vs Perry seems like a complete style clash. Umino vs Claudio would be weak as hell as an IWGP match (sorry Claudio, love ya, but you're not being pushed at that level), so again, same issue. Brody King vs Dave Finlay is probably gonna be terrific, but again, this is not exactly what comes to mind when you think Tokyo Dome interpromotional show. Naito & Hiromu won the Tag League, but the Young Bucks are facing O'Khan and Templario ? What ? The CMLL participation is gonna be a random lucha gauntlet ? No mach for Mistico ? Honestly the card is probably gonna be a fun watch, even a great show maybe, but on paper, I'm not looking forward to it like I probably should or like I did a few weeks ago.

[El-P]

That being said, the Long Beach show was tons of fun top to bottom (almost). Tsuji and Perry actually displayed excellent chemistry, so there's that, and Perry gets insane heat on these NJPW cards. Seeing the Young Bucks back on the NJPW ring also brings back a long gone feeling and a sense of nostalgia.

Oh, and Mercedes... She's so back into her groove, being the ultra-wrestling machine nerd she's always been at heart and that's a thing of beauty. The 1-2 punch of the Statlander and Hazuki matches is something else. Her getting Mina at the Dome is really cool too.

[Timbo Slice]

I was actually five minutes away from the Pyramid in Long Beach that day but left town hours before the show started. Knew a few people on the show from my time at the local indie I used to do commentary for. Alas, the stars couldn't align. Wish the house could have been a bit better.

The lack of Ospreay/Okada has to be due to NJPW wanting to control their returns being of a truly worthwhile event. Okada coming back especially. Again, I do find it funny that Kenny is coming back on this show at this time, the Bucks have been off TV and are coming back at this show...just odd choices. And yes, the planning around this show seems haphazard at best and ill-conceived at least.

[El-P]

4 hours ago, Timbo Slice said:

The lack of Ospreay/Okada has to be due to NJPW wanting to control their returns being of a truly worthwhile event. 

I mean, there was the opportunity of doing Umino vs Okada right there. Or Tsuji. The "asshole veteran megastar that abandoned the company" vs the nex generation star, in a true interpromotional war no less. Okada putting over one of those two at the Dome would have been huge. I guess that doesn't work for brutha TK.

Also, Dave Finlay vs Jay White was right there too. Huge match considering their history, if anything else.

And Ospreay could have any match with any of either the young generation or the higher ups. 

Yeah. Missed opportunity all over in term of booking big stuff. Interpromotion is always tricky, but still.

4 hours ago, Timbo Slice said:

Again, I do find it funny that Kenny is coming back on this show at this time, the Bucks have been off TV and are coming back at this show...just odd choices. 

The fact The Elite OG are coming back on NJPW shows is certainly a choice, and one I actually enjoy a lot, for reasons explained above. It gives that kinda nostalgia, bittersweet feel about it. It's obvious the three of them are contemplating their last ride (although you never know, but Matt and Omega certainly do, and I doubt Nick is gonna pursue without his brother), so them showing up first on NJPW has this "end the loop" kinda foreshadowing thing about it. Of course who knows how this will end up being booked, but a last big time babyface stint in AEW seems the most logical. Ibushi ? who the hell knows. Seems like the guy is toasted, sadly.