Current New Japan

[NintendoLogic]

A TV title for a company that hasn't had prime time TV in nearly four decades is certainly a choice.

Also, the belt looks like an Apple Watch.

[The Thread Killer]

To me, it looks like the belt Elvis Presley was wearing over his sequinned jumpsuit when he did that TV special from Hawaii, back in the 70’s. 

Maybe whoever wins it can be a hunka hunka burnin TV Champion.

[sek69]

Dave mentioned it's going to be defended at smaller shows that don't often get title matches, and every match will be free on NJPW World. 

[Jmare007]

Unless the 15 minute limit gives the match a defined and distinct feeling from everything else on the card, that belt is gonna become meaningless by year 2 when they ran out of interesting people to give the title to and it just becomes another filler match in cards.

[strobogo]

Finally, Chase Owens vs Taguchi will get the title match treatment it deserves

[Alucard]

the tournament brackets are:

David Finlay vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Alex Zayne vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

Yoshi-Hashi vs. Jeff Cobb
Aaron Henare vs. EVIL

Sanada vs. Taichi
Hirooki Goto vs. KENTA

Ren Narita vs. Tomohiro Ishii
Toru Yano vs. Great O-Khan

[El-P]

Give that shit to EVIL then. Forever. And keep him and especially Dick Togo on those smaller shows, whatever they are.

[The Thread Killer]

Has anybody seen the recent IWGP Tag Team Title Match between FTR and Aussie Open from NJPW “Royal Quest?” 

Apparently it was taped on 10/01 in England, but just got released on New Japan World this past weekend. The match is getting a lot of praise online…people are calling it a MOTYC. Some people are even saying it is better than the matches FTR had with The Briscoes, although I find that hard to believe. But Dax Harwood recently said it might be in his personal Top 3 matches FTR has had in their careers.

Just curious if anybody here at PWO had seen it, and what you thought? I have recently been considering subscribing to New Japan World, especially with those New York shows coming up.

[WingedEagle]

I thought it was a great match but the hype coming out of it didn't do it any favors.  I've preferred FTR's matches with the Briscoes, DIY and Bucks.  This was great but not an all timer.

[The Thread Killer]

8 minutes ago, WingedEagle said:

I thought it was a great match but the hype coming out of it didn't do it any favors.  I've preferred FTR's matches with the Briscoes, DIY and Bucks.  This was great but not an all timer.

Thanks for sharing your opinion.

It’s hard to believe FTR had that match with The Bucks on Dynamite, two classics with The Briscoes and now this match, all in the same year.

For my money, I don’t know if anything will ever surpass that 2/3 falls against DIY in Toronto. That and the first Briscoes match are probably my favourite FTR matches of all time.

[kas]

I'd say that it's about on the same level as The Bucks match. Long in the tooth but still great. FTR were also by far the better of the two teams.

[Alucard]

New Japan will be stripping Karl Anderson of the NEVER title if he works Saudi over his scheduled title defense.

"Attempts to negotiate with Anderson have not been met with a response"

[El-P]

Eddie Kingston tagging with Okada on NJPW's NYC show tomorrow, against Jay White & Juice Robinson. Give me Kingston vs Jay White all day, every day.

Aussie Open vs MCMG and some people I don't know should be really good too. Some women's matches on the show too, so that is beginning too.

And Muta having a last match at a NJPW show (the STARDOM joint show no less) in a rather random three ways (but then again, don't want him in a shitty singles match) that should be quite the celebration anyway. He's the last of his generation (well, with Sting I guess).

[El-P]

Clark Connors vs Minoru Suzuki was something else. The post match with Shamrock was also something to watch.

In the main event, Jay White working against Kingston was a thing of beauty. 

[Boss Rock]

FTR-Aussie Open was great, but didn't think it was as good as the Briscoes or Bucks matches.

[Migs]

Thought what I saw of today's show was good. Naito-Ospreay had a better match than the G1 match, and Shooter returning as Ospreay's next challenger was pretty fun.

FTR-United Empire was good, not great, but just seeing a fresh semi-main event on a New Japan was a real reminder of why the company was so hot a few years ago. Aussie Open confronting them and suggesting they're going to do a rematch at the Tokyo Dome is pretty exciting.

[El-P]

I don't even remember the last full show I watched. Something in the Spring maybe. Probably gonna watch the Stardom joint show, with the last Mutoh match in NJPW. I really hope WK will indeed be full of fresh matches. FTR vs Aussie Open at the Dome would be really cool.

[Jmare007]

Shota is back? fucking finally!

[NintendoLogic]

I didn't realize FTR against Great-O-Khan was something I needed in my life until I found out it happened. Not really a fan of Dax doing fighting spirit brick wall no-selling against these guys, though.

[El-P]

The fact Power & Glory gets referenced in NJPW in 2022 is kind of a thing of beauty, as Power & Glory was actually the very first team I saw getting together, and I was a big fan (ah, those formative years). 

I totally want Dax in the G1 in 2023.

[Migs]

The tag leagues at least have some fresh teams in there. Aussie Open, and Archer back with Suzuki on the heavyweight side. The junior side has Yoh/Lio Rush, Alex Zayne with El Lindaman, Chris Bey/Ace Austin, some other wackiness. Lots of interesting stuff to sample.

[El-P]

Hopefully that means a nice WK show with lots of variety and new matches. Is Lance Archer even still under AEW contract ? Good for him he's booked in Japan again. 

[Alucard]

14 hours ago, El-P said:

Hopefully that means a nice WK show with lots of variety and new matches. Is Lance Archer even still under AEW contract ? Good for him he's booked in Japan again. 

He is, but since returning from the G1, he was only in a battle royal on Rampage and then spent October doing squashes on Dark. But he'll be back on Rampage this week, in a likely loss against Ricky Starks

[sek69]

Watched the NJPW x STARDOM show and it was pretty good. They did a good job breaking down the stables/angles/titles for people unfamiliar with STARDOM and of course KAIRI brought it in the main event. 

Of course the biggest news was Kenny Omega appearing (on screen) after the US title match and challenging Will Ospreay for WK. 

[WingedEagle]

Including this weekend KAIRI has worked 7 matches this year.  Those are also the only 7 matches she's worked since July 2020. Pretty incredible to come back at that level with little to no rust, with this weekend's matches very much the highlight.