Dylan Waco Posted September 28, 2015 Report Share Posted September 28, 2015 PM me a link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmare007 Posted September 28, 2015 Report Share Posted September 28, 2015 Read on twitter Go Shiozaki quit All Japan. Is it true? Do we know his reasons or where is he heading to? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pol Posted November 9, 2015 Report Share Posted November 9, 2015 Not sure how NJPW whiffed on signing Kazusada Higuchi. You'd think a 6'1 former sumo would be right up their alley. Coming up on a year in the business and he's already a very good worker and super charismatic. Tenryu is the obvious comparison that I'm sure has been made dozens of times. Looks like a future superstar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOTNW Posted November 9, 2015 Report Share Posted November 9, 2015 Not sure how NJPW whiffed on signing Kazusada Higuchi. They could always just snatch him from DDT..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spookysaku Posted May 4, 2016 Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 Thought this could do with a bump if we're going to be talking modern wrestling. Was intrigued by the high average for DG guys in the GWE poll amongst a very small pool of voters, and one post in the reaction threads expressing confidence that Dragon Gate would fare better in ten years somehow stuck with me. Well, I turned a very small corner with Dragon Gate this week, this is coming from a shoot-style guy, by watching one of their more recent Korakuen Hall shows (featuring a unit disbands match) whilst reading through the Dragon Gate 101 series on VOW. I'm probably still a long way from ever watching a long singles match in Dragon Gate again after failing years ago, but I'm appreciating how dense the backstory is with a lot of the characters. I didn't think DG was modern Japan's thick Russian novel... but maybe it is. I also had a misconception that DG was more westernised than a lot of feds, in-ring you could argue that, but as an overall product it's exactly the opposite. So much Japanese specific humour, wordplay and gimmicks, tons of talking to get over long-running rivalries, establishing dynamics between unit members, et cetera. The gulf between Japanese and Western fans here must be huge compared to that with New Japan. I might watch the Dead or Alive show coming up on the 5th. I would be very surprised if any PWO regulars would bother to try and get into Dragon Gate, or most modern Japanese wrestling in general, but it would be wonderful to see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pol Posted May 4, 2016 Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 I don't know if I'd call it a MOTYC, but Jun Akiyama/Daichi Hashimoto vs. Yuji Okabayashi/Yoshihisa Uto from BJW 04/29 was definitely one of my favorite matches of the year. The crowd was hot as hell for Akiyama's first BJW appearance, and especially his interactions with Okabayashi, which were total fire. Uto and Daichi were kinda just there, but that's fine as Akiyama has made a career out of carrying tag matches where most of the other participants were just there, and especially smacking around twerps like Uto. Speaking of which, Uto did at least have one great moment with the Jumbo-mockery that gets paid off later on. This was pretty much all you could ask for from a match that exists to build to a singles match. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpecialK Posted May 4, 2016 Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 Well, I turned a very small corner with Dragon Gate this week, this is coming from a shoot-style guy, by watching one of their more recent Korakuen Hall shows (featuring a unit disbands match) whilst reading through the Dragon Gate 101 series on VOW. I'm probably still a long way from ever watching a long singles match in Dragon Gate again after failing years ago, but I'm appreciating how dense the backstory is with a lot of the characters. I didn't think DG was modern Japan's thick Russian novel... but maybe it is. I also had a misconception that DG was more westernised than a lot of feds, in-ring you could argue that, but as an overall product it's exactly the opposite. So much Japanese specific humour, wordplay and gimmicks, tons of talking to get over long-running rivalries, establishing dynamics between unit members, et cetera. The gulf between Japanese and Western fans here must be huge compared to that with New Japan. I might watch the Dead or Alive show coming up on the 5th. I would be very surprised if any PWO regulars would bother to try and get into Dragon Gate, or most modern Japanese wrestling in general, but it would be wonderful to see. For a Western fan going in cold, DG is both very accessible and incomprehensible at the same time. Easy to get into in that almost everyone on the roster is in units which have distinct identities and there is always one clear heel group. Also, Jae's excellent iheartdg.com provides full recaps in English of all shows. On the other hand can be difficult in that yes, there's a lot of talking but also they're a promotion that really care about their own history and things from months or even years ago can be relevant in current storylines. Super rewarding for a long time fan but yeah, can make things tough to get for someone just coming in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpecialK Posted May 4, 2016 Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 I should also warn you that Dead or Alive is not the best show for a DG newcomer. The main event cage match (which will be very long) has confusing rules (even hardcore DG fans struggle to really keep track of them), is based on a complex storyline, and is going to be - erm - very, very whacky. I personally love the annual 6-way cage match and am looking forward to the show, but I would warn you to tread carefully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InYourCase Posted May 4, 2016 Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 Was intrigued by the high average for DG guys in the GWE poll amongst a very small pool of voters, and one post in the reaction threads expressing confidence that Dragon Gate would fare better in ten years somehow stuck with me. Glad I helped influence at least one person. Well, I turned a very small corner with Dragon Gate this week, this is coming from a shoot-style guy, by watching one of their more recent Korakuen Hall shows (featuring a unit disbands match) whilst reading through the Dragon Gate 101 series on VOW. I'm probably still a long way from ever watching a long singles match in Dragon Gate again after failing years ago, but I'm appreciating how dense the backstory is with a lot of the characters. I didn't think DG was modern Japan's thick Russian novel... but maybe it is. I also had a misconception that DG was more westernised than a lot of feds, in-ring you could argue that, but as an overall product it's exactly the opposite. So much Japanese specific humour, wordplay and gimmicks, tons of talking to get over long-running rivalries, establishing dynamics between unit members, et cetera. The gulf between Japanese and Western fans here must be huge compared to that with New Japan. There is a lot of complaining about DG's in-ring style. I often think those complaints are overblown and essentially turned into memes, but I can understand where some of the criticism comes from, even though I disagree with it 99% of the time. That being said, I think anyone that criticizes their booking is absolutely insane. No company is better when it comes to booking, longterm storytelling, or character development. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WingedEagle Posted September 27, 2016 Report Share Posted September 27, 2016 I love Big Japan Pro Wrestling. It can't touch New Japan for depth and you have to work around the death match nonsense, but they have a great core of talent in the strong division along with some fun youngsters and the Akebono/Hama super heavyweight team that somehow always delivers an entertaining match by working to their strengths, around their weaknesses and not going too long. They've also got one of my absolute favorite wrestlers and someone I'm determined to fit onto my Most Outstanding ballot this year in Yuji Okabayashi. He's anchored the promotion as Strong Champion throughout the first half of the year while mixing things up in tags in All Japan and the top of the card since dropping the title. The style is tremendous and simple, grounded in big strikes and simple, effective offense. No killer head drops and generally no finisher spamming either. Their pacing is always terrific with ample time for offense to sink in and tell a story. What stands out about Okabayashi is how seamlessly he can work as the promotion's ace on a big show or an interpromotional setting, coming off as a ridiculously strong and serious force of nature who's at the same time an incredible seller. Just so expressive in all facets of the game with an offense that never gets repetitive and more than willing to put over an opponent of any size along the way. Kamitani looks like one hell of a prodigy as their new champion who more than held his own in the 7/24 title change, which was a legit MOTYC. Absolutely need to go back and check out his big matches that I haven't seen from the past couple years. Nomura is another youngster with incredible potential who was actually the star in a recent tag league boat with him and Hideki Suzuki against Okabayashi & Sekimoto. Don't have the time to comment on all of these matches now, but a few favorites from this year include: Okabayashi vs. Kamitani (7/24) Yuji & Go vs. Sekimoto & Daichi Hashimoto from Kobashi's Fortune show Okabayashi vs. Shuji Ishikawa (3/6 and 5/5) Twin Towers & Okabayashi vs. Kamitani & Sekimoto & Hama (6/29) Okabayashi & Sekimoto vs. Zeus & The Bodyguard (AJPW 7/23) Okabayashi & Sekimoto vs. Suzuki & Nomura (9/22) Sekimoto vs. Kento Miyahara (AJPW 5/25) Can easily come up with more, but if you stick to the strong style crew there's a lot of good stuff to be found. Question: Is anyone familiar enough with the company and landscape to speak to their positioning in Japan? From what I understand the big show on 7/24 did decent business but nothing out of this world. Just not at all sure if its at all beyond the fringe/niche level. And if so, why wouldn't NJPW look to poach some of these names or bring them in for certain big matches? That's always happened with a lot more frequency in Japan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Dog Posted September 27, 2016 Report Share Posted September 27, 2016 I think they're #5 or #6 based off attendance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pol Posted September 28, 2016 Report Share Posted September 28, 2016 I'd say AJPW and BJW are roughly tied. DDT and Dragon Gate are significantly above them and NJPW is of course leagues ahead of everyone. NJPW won't work with BJW for whatever reason. Sekimoto and Okabayashi disappeared from NOAH around the same time Bushiroad got involved with them, too. I don't know anything, but it's not hard to venture a guess as to why a company whose bread and butter is making card games for kids wouldn't want to work with a deathmatch group. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WingedEagle Posted September 28, 2016 Report Share Posted September 28, 2016 Can't blame them if the issue is the death match aspect of the promotion. Easy enough for me to skip those matches but it must limit their appeal to a certain level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pol Posted September 28, 2016 Report Share Posted September 28, 2016 The one match that stands out as missing from that list, by the way, is the Hama match from January. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WingedEagle Posted September 28, 2016 Report Share Posted September 28, 2016 The one match that stands out as missing from that list, by the way, is the Hama match from January. Great call. Still amazing how they can use someone that limited so effectively. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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