New Japan/Puroresu Thread

[Bandit]

Omega said before Jericho his original idea was to try to have a WWE vs. New Japan 6 man tag match with he and the Young Bucks vs. New Day since he's friends with Xavier. But after WWE turned it down Jericho noticed and talked to Callis about setting up talks to come in.

[Big Boss Man]

WWE should do a joint promotion show with NJPW like WCW did. WWE did a few shows with SWS and a joint show with AJPW in the Egg Dome.

[Bandit]

Okada paying homage to the Million Dollar Man at New Beginning.

[Skynet]

NJPW is coming to my city in a few weeks time. There are still a few seats available, it seems like it may not sell out.

[Bandit]

It's a hard sell for a foreign promotion made up mostly of wrestlers who don't speak English, and that doesn't have a TV show there. Even in the US their network isn't with a lot of cable packages and if it is you have to buy the top tier. So it's kind of word of mouth. That they're doing so well is kind of amazing. The only foreign promotion to sell out shows in the US was Mexico's AAA back in 1994. But they did their shows in California and Texas where Mexicans who had moved to America knew who they were.

[Skynet]

Yeah I really didn't expect it to sell out, but it will be interesting to see how many are sold in the end. I should go, I know a heap of people that are going I just can't be bothered.

[Bandit]

They're great. Even if you don't know anybody you'll still enjoy it.

[Bandit]

Huge Spoiler From The Show Last Night













Cody turned on Kenny Omega and the rest of the Bullet Club just walked out and let it happen. After Jay White beat Omega for the US title (and the fans shit on that because White isn't as over as Gedo wishes he was) Adam Page asked for a match with him. Omega said he wanted a rematch first and the rest of BC got mad at Kenny for that. They all argued and Kenny ended up shoving down Matt Jackson and Cody when they got in his face. Kenny apologized saying he just got heated, but BC just walked out on him in disgust except Cody. Cody acted like he forgave him and held the ropes open for him. When Kenny stepped out Cody gave him the Crossroads. Marty Scurll came back out to help Omega, but then Cody got a chair, he went to attack Scurll but then Ibushi ran out to fight off Cody. Omega got back up and was crying because his friends all turned on him. Ibushi gave him a hug. So now Omega is 100% a babyface and the crowd, which was strongly behind him anyway, are now all cheering for him. But it's still a pretty risky angle. Gedo loves stables so maybe they'll have an Omega, Scurll and Ibushi stable.

And Elgin's career continues to suck due to the scandal. This time last year he was getting the biggest push of his career and having that awesome match with Naito. Now he's in the opener against Kitamura (a rookie who sucks but he's a Japanese guy with a physique like Lex Luger in 1989 so they're pushing him.) And the announcers aren't putting him over at all.

[Bandit]

All Japan announced they will launch a streaming service. I don't really care about their modern product, but if they do a big library like WWE that would be incredible. So many amazing matches from 1980-1999. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Jap ... ble_alumni Look at that alumni, that's filled with people who were all-time greats.

[Bandit]

A young Nakamura vs Kurt Angle from 10 years ago. Match starts about 14 minutes in.

[Bandit]

Jushin Liger vs Rey Mysterio was booked for the US show. They wrestled once at Starrcade 1996



Okada challenged Ospreay for a heavyweight vs junior heavyweight champions match for next month.

[Bandit]

Wow, Meltzer confirmed that Hogan really was in talks to join the Bullet Club, but he asked for too much money. And now I really want it to happen. Hollywood Hogan managing the Young Bucks would be incredible.

[Bandit]

Minoru Suzuki is pissed off because his luggage was damaged coming into Australia. Please tell all airport employees in baggage to hide until he leaves the country.

[Dr. Zoidberg]

NJPW are doing well in Australia.



That's with an attendance of 1200 in Adelaide. They got 4k in Melbourne and the Kenny + BC shirts were sold out before they opened the doors.



That's a small ring.

[Skynet]

Good to see more of the seats sold compared to the pic I posted up this page.

[Bandit]

46th Anniversary show on March 6th card

Yuji Nagata, Ren Narita, Tomoyuki Oka, Shota Umino & Tetsuhiro Yagi vs. Ryusuke Taguchi, Jushin “Thunder” Liger, Tiger Mask, KUSHIDA & Hiroyoshi Tenzan

Katsuya Kitamura Best Of Seven Series Final Match: Katsuya Kitamura (0-6) vs. Manabu Nakanishi

Toa Henare, David Finlay & Juice Robinson vs. CHAOS (Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii & Jay White)

IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Match: Champions Roppongi 3K vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (BUSHI & Hiromu Takahashi) vs. Suzuki-gun (Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado)

Yoshi-Hashi vs. SANADA

Tetsuya Naito vs. Taichi

IWGP Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship Match: Champion Minoru Suzuki vs. Togi Makabe

Non-Title Match: Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay

[Bandit]

I watched the first New Japan vs ROH show. It was like a house show with a lot of comedy spots so guys can take it easy.

But Don Callis was great the whole show. He is the modern Jesse Ventura IMO. And the stuff with him always talking about Juice Robinson's sex addiction in metaphors that Kevin Kelly pretends not to get is the funniest gag in wrestling right now besides some of the Being The Elite stuff. He's nothing like his ECW commentary, he's matured into one of the best color commentators in wrestling IMO.

[Bandit]

The 2nd night was way better.

Cody calls Callis The Rat King now.

Kevin: He calls you The Rat King.

Don: I don't know what that means. What's a rat Kevin?

Kevin: Someone go on Urban Dictionary and show him what Rat King means!

He also said the reunion of The Golden Lovers "made me a little moist." It's hilarious how he turns into a mark for Omega & Ibushi, calling them The Beatles of wrestling.

[Bandit]

Bath powders? Japanese fans are fuckin' weird. Imagine a US fan giving that to Braun.

[Bandit]