Destination Philly

Back in May, I had the thrill of hitting the I95 and driving down from New York City to Philadelphia for the second of the two night stand War of the Worlds event put on by Ring of Honor, and featuring members of the New Japan Pro Wrestling roster. Being a huge proponent of NJPW, and having had an absolute blast when the two promotions' top talent locked up at last year's first incarnation of the event at Manhattan's Hammerstein Ballroom, I was going to go to great lengths to check this out. While I would've preferred to see this meeting of wrestling worlds go down in New York City again as opposed to its smaller yet extremely wrestling-centric neighbor to the south, it's always good to have an excuse to jet down to Philadelphia for a cheesesteak...or two...and other fine eats, some record store rummaging, and taking in the vibe of a generally more laid back hostility-free scene.

So, day off from work sorted out, I loaded up the war machine and, as it's never a good idea to venture into the Wasteland alone, made room for Chocko, also known as the 'Underboss' of the Mondoverse, who held things together on a lot of fronts: navigator, photographer, food wrangler, enforcer. The eater of sandwiches and I quickly made our way down to Old City to try the cheesesteaks at Sonny's Famous Steaks, and pick up some entrance theme music options at the charming a.k.a music. From there we made our way toward South Street, then further off the grid for an obligatory recharge and re-caffeination session at vegan cafe Grindhouse, where the thrash and death metal background music also helped get the blood pumping. This has become an unlikely but obligatory pro wrestling pilgrimage stopover spot, originally stumbled upon when an exhibition of photos by Zia Hiltey featuring El Generico and Chikara Pro activity was being held there. Finally it was over to the strip of auto shops and warehouses, which were definitely on the edge of something if not 'town', where the ECW Arena stood in wait.

This was definitely Road Warrior territory. If not Fury Road, perhaps Fury Row, which is a slightly less unsettling part of town than Muffler Row (link to FOTpedia). With the line of warehouse structures on one side, there is a view across the way to a dim industrial expanse. The street that fills the gap in between had become a jagged jamming together of parked cars in an arrangement that ever so slightly tipped its hat at organization by the time we arrived. Standing around and on top of the vehicles were wrestling fans aplenty, many of which were wearing Bullet Club t-shirts, most of whom were White. Essentially the ECW Arena resembled a strip club from the outside, and an emptied out warehouse space inside. Once inside, after 2 or 3 laps around the venue, we determined the narrow sliver of seats that was our section, where indeed nobody was sitting, and got to watching the show.

Wrestling

The unannounced opening match put the masked Latin Lover against recent new prospect turned House of Truth member J Diesel. The heel claimed a moderately hard fought victory for Team Truth.

Next up was the official opener of the show: The Decade's Adam Page taking on NJPW via New Jersey star Watanabe. Adam Page was accompanied by newly christened Decade young boy Colby Corino, which is important to note because the most memorable moments of the match involved him interfering and getting blasted by Watanabe. First, he received a 'Holy Shit' chant inducing German Suplex on the floor. Afterwards, as the victorious Adam Page, who won with his Inverted Backdrop Pile Driver finisher, was leaving the ring, Colby was pulled in by Watanabe for a lariat. Hitting a kid with the build of a scrawny teenager did not do much to put Watanabe over as a baby face, nor would I say it added much value to the ROH brand when Moose would destroy Colby with repeated power bombs outside the ring in their confrontation at Global Wars a few days later.

ROH's Michael Elgin took on NJPW's junior heavyweight KUSHIDA next. It was a dynamic match with KUSHIDA hitting a lot of high spots and Elgin landing some brutal looking throws and slams. KUSHIDA's manner was plenty aggressive, slapping away a handshake as the match started, and charging straight into the fight with the physically overbearing Elgin. Despite some intense back and forth sequences, Elgin defeated the small opponent.

The next match pit legitimate NJPW major player Tetsuya Naito against reDRagon's Kyle O'Reilly. While O'Reilly was in effect representing ROH, it pleased me that this was a match that could have appeared right on the bill of a not-so-typical NJPW show in Japan, since reDRagon have a consistent presence in the promotion's Junior Heavyweight division.  The match incorporated a lot of humorous elements, and the heel/face dynamic seemed to shift during the match, adjusting according to audience reactions. As Naito is much less widely known than a Hiroshi Tanahashi or Shinsuke Nakamura, a lot of those in attendance didn't know what to make of him or what to expect. He and O'Reilly pantomimed powering down and up in reaction to the chants of their own or their opponent's name. Naito seemed to enjoy playing up a goofy villainous persona, exaggerating his shining eye gesture arrogantly, and O'Reilly received a 'Sleazy Kyle' chant as he started strutting around the ring, something I believe he started doing to mock rivals The Addiction. In the end, Naito won the match with his Stardust Press finisher off the top rope. The two shook hands amicably afterwards.

The next match would be the seemingly suddenly placed 4 Corner Survival match between Mark Briscoe, Jushin 'Thunder' Liger, Jay Lethal, and Shinsuke Nakamura. I don't think fans expect this one to appear so early on the card. It might've been done strategically to send a few more people to the autograph area during intermission to get a picture with Nakamura, but it also ended up leaving me and perhaps several others a bit exhausted as the second half of the evening approached. Nakamura was by far the most over individual on the card that night. I stress 'individual' because the collective of The Bullet Club, and maybe even the Bullet Cub's not so secret weapon, The Young Bucks, got a reception that rivaled or surpassed the former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion's. But the crowd was roaring as Nakamura came out to the ring and as he wrestled.  The match was fun without generating any overly heated interactions between participants. Lethal and Nakamura danced around one another a bit, working taunts. At one point there was collusion between Mark Briscoe and Lethal as the two double teamed Liger in one of the corners, but Lethal, true to form, knocked Briscoe from the turnbuckle to underhandedly take out his peer. In the end Nakamura took the victory with a running bomaye knee to Liger.

At intermission time, the audience was urged to purchase 'Okada bucks' to throw during his ring entrance. As the break drew to a close, the ROH's svelte resident underdog Cheeseburger hyped the crowd with t-shirts being launched into the crowd til he was interrupted by veteran Brutal Bob. He ran down his former tag team partner, took a t-shirt for himself and knocked Cheeseburger out, setting up for a feud that would play out in a match appearing on ROH television not long after.

The first match after the intermission was a hot one, putting ROH regular Rodderick Strong VS NJPW ace Hiroshi Tanahashi. This extremely competitive bout was a definite highlight of the night, and from accounts I've heard, of the entire series of joint shows in both Philadelphia and Toronto. The drama was heightened when Rodderick was cut, his facing quickly covered by a slick layer of blood. The injury seemed unintentional but seeing Strong fight through whatever additional damage must have been incurred was riveting. Both combatants had loud cheers from the crowd going in their favor. Toward the end of the match Tanahashi hit signature moves in his arsenal: a Dragon Screw Leg Whip and a Sling Blade. Strong pulled out his running Drop Kick blast dubbed The End of Heartache and covered Tanahashi for a convincing near fall. Tanahashi would win the match with a High Fly Flow Splash off the top rope.

The Addiction, Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian, came out next to defend the Ring of Honor Heavyweight Tag Team Championship against CHAOS duo Kazuchika Okada and Gedo. The match was an excellent showcase of  Daniels' and Kazarian's work as a heel tag team. They hit a multitude of impressive double team maneuvers. They also continually trash talked their overseas opponents without missing a beat. Unsurprisingly the match was built around The Addiction double teaming Gedo and keeping him isolated, though the veteran and now behind the scenes maven of NJPW did fire off some impressive offense of his own, until he got the hot tag to Okada who blasted through both Daniels and Kazarian. It would not be enough, though, and the reigning ROH tag team champs would pick up the victory with Gedo being pinned. Afterwards, however, Okada ran back in and took out the celebrating heels, leaving Daniels laid out by a big Rainmaker Lariat.

The penultimate match had ROH Heavyweight Champion Jay Briscoe defending his title against reDRagon's more experienced half, Bobby Fish. The match was fighting an uphill battle in a few respects. It was drawing near to the end of a long show, but not quite the main event; it had a fairly predictable outcome; and just as the early match between Naito and O'Reilly could have been part of a typical NJPW show, this one could have easily been featured along the route of your average ROH tour.  Which has far less exotic implications. There was also some pretty strong anti-Briscoe sentiment in the crowd. I don't know if he's been a polarizing figure throughout his title run or if a particular contingent of jerky smart-mark fans in Philly were intent on creating friction. No matter, the two put on an excellent match. Fish was as credible a challenger to the Heavyweight title as anyone, which I hope NJPW officials took note of. While neither he nor O'Reilly are booked for the upcoming G1 Climax Tournament (they did make a huge mark during the Best of the Super Juniors series), they could easily hold their own in competition against NJPW's heavyweight roster members. There were some deadly looking maneuvers executed on the ring apron. Eventually Briscoe won with the Jay Driller Driver finisher to retain the title. The action was not quite over yet, as Moose made his way to the ring. There was an exchange of words leading to Moose leveling the champ with a spear. Jay would then pick himself up and, not carrying himself with the diplomacy of a John Cena, give the hostile audience a piece of his mind before making his way to the back.

It was now time for the main event: The Bullet Club, represented by IWGP Heavyweight Champion AJ Styles and the Young Bucks Matt and Nick Jackson, who currently hold the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles VS The Kingdom: Michael Bennet and Matt Taven, in current possession of the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team titles and only just returning to action Adam Cole, all of whom were accompanied to the ring by Maria Kanelis. The match would be a hair raising, crazy affair of flying bodies and intricately laid out spots throughout. I was not disappointed by the in ring action in the least. That this match itself was booked, and as the main event, left me a little cold for reasons I'll explain below. In the meantime as far as what I could actually keep track of during the match, there was an ongoing tease of the Young Bucks offering the 'too sweet' salute to Adam Cole, who would contemplate it to the shagrin of his presumably less cool pals in The Kingdom. In an extremely meta move, Taven and Bennet had a Young Buck locked up in the corner with Cole sauntering over, and then taking things further than the Bucks' unceremonious back rake and simply did nothing, dismissing the tangled up foe. An attack on Maria Kanelis was hinted at many times, and after one too many interjections into the match she received a triple Super Kick from the Bucks and Styles. AJ did hit the Styles Clash to come close to finishing the match but Taven and Bennet managed to make the save and clear the ring, with somebody's championship belts in hand, allowing for Cole to get a cheap and dirty roll up pin on Matt for the Kingdom to emerge victorious. Matt Jackson was really the ring general in this match, with AJ just holding his own. It gives credence to Matt's nickname, The Indietaker. But at the same time, for my money I would've liked to see AJ in a singles match, or at least defending his title against 2 or 3 other opponents. He is just too good in my opinion to see somewhere in the mix of a multi-man tag team match.

The reason for my feeling less than enthused about the match has a lot to do with my general warming over on the Bullet Club. No bones about it, ROH did know their audience and booked a finale that would have their core audience in this city eating it up, but I would go so far as to suggest a better program could easily out there and could potentially raise the stakes of the game. Essentially you had the bunch of jerks taking on the bunch of jerks that are cooler. No real faces to get behind, no heroes, just the guys in school you would be more afraid to get a swirly from. So who does that make the better performers? The villains that get received as villains or the ones that everybody wants to get a high five from?

Naturally the fans get behind the cool jerks. I'm not saying there is no place for this sort of program in wrestling at all. It is a great hallmark of this modern period of pro wrestling. It does have its limits, though, and I think the Bullet Club has definitely maxed out its intrigue level. At least to a wrestling audience that one hopes to expand. Beyond a bunch of jerky white guys in cool t-shirts...who look up to a wrestling group made up of a bunch of white guys who started the cool t-shirt. OK, that all sounds very preachy delivered from high atop the soap box and I'm not trying to be entirely like that. I am well aware pro wrestling isn't nor has it ever been a bastion of progressive thinking or social change, nor should it be entirely. But can it show some leanings in that direction? I don't think it is necessarily that unthinkable a notion. For one thing, playing on the fact that this is an international show highlighting international talent from NJPW, I would've liked to see that talent elevated into the highest slot on the card. Perhaps instead of warring heel groups, a situation where unlikely teammates become strange bedfellows to engage in competition with their rivals from within the opposing company.

This leads back to my eventual wish that the show had been held back at the Hammerstein Ballroom. Or somewhere else in New York City. Convenience aside, there is the fact that New York City has a lot more diversity and it stands to reason you would get a more diverse audience attending t the show. Again, I don't mean to come off as spouting a bunch of bleeding heart anti-White guy rhetoric. I am one, after all. But I definitely feel more comfortable in a mixed crowd than one where the vast majority looks and acts the same. Even leaving ethnicity out of the picture, I feel that New York City would bring a greater diversity of fan opinions and break up, even if just a little, that Bullet Club 'Boy's Club' in such full force at the ECW Arena. One thing I know to be a fact is that in New York City there is a huge Japanese population. And, as evidenced by the War Of The Worlds show last year, people in that community will come out to see the New Japan stars perform in person. I understand the Hammerstien has probably become cost prohibitive, but if another venue could be found within the 5 boros, I am confident the Japanese fans would find it and change up the crowd landscape a bit.

But if all this sounds like a whole lot of complaining, I really don't mean it to be. It was a fantastic show, and as our backs edged ever closer to the exit during the heel VS heel main event, we exited a bit ahead of the crowd so we could make a quick stop at Tony Luke's around the corner for a roast pork and provolone sandwich to go. That and the hilarity of The Best Show podcast, hosted by Tom Scharpling served as rocket fuel to get us back to New York City unscathed.

Meanwhile, I am pleased to have just found out NJPW wrestlers Kazuchika Okada, Shinsuke Nakamura, and KUSHIDA will return to the east coast in late August for another ROH taping in Philadelphia right before ROH stages their second show at the MCU in Coney Island, Brooklyn. Perhaps some Japanese fans will flock to the distant fringe of the popular boro. Maybe ROH will get it a bit more right and push these guys to very important spots on the shows, and if the Bullet Club is still being presented as a major attraction, then maybe they will have them do something a bit more important. If fans really want a rehash of the NWO takeover era, then maybe they will actually play at taking over instead of hanging out.



'til then.


Several photos provided by Chocko (planetchocko.com)

Me on twitter: @mondocurrymark

Chocko on twitter: @njmisfit

G1 Climax (2015) B Block Breakdown

 After taking apart the A Block of this year’s G1 Climax tournament, let’s look at how the B Block shapes up. In comparison there are less sharp distinction between combatants and more of a mid range of wrestlers both technically sound and with hard hitting offense. You are not likely to see a high flyer take on a giant like you might in the A Block, but you will see a lot more evenly matched bouts. CHAOS has a strong presence in the B Block, which will likely produce matches with a lot of flair but camaraderie pervading. B Block is also host to some highly pedigreed combatants, including IWGP Heavyweight champion and winner of last year’s G1 Kazuchika Okada, former Intercontinental Champion and finalist in last year’s G1 Shinsuke Nakamura, current Intercontinental Champion Hiroki Goto. You can also find some boasting points around Bullet Club mainstay and one half of the current IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team champions Karl Anderson, and former Never champion Tomohiro Ishii. Veterans with plenty of past championship runs to their name, Yuji Nagata and Satoshi Kojima make less likely candidates for wining the tournament but can still hold their own against anyone in their path. Tomoaki Honma exploded onto the G1 scene last year, and though he went without a victory he kept up with everyone he competed with and looks to make a stonger showing this time around. Newcomer to the tournament, Michael Elgin brings his experience in Ring of Honor to shake up the otherwise familiar tournament landscape, and finally Yujiro Takashi represents the Bullet Club more known for his smarminess and underhandedness than anything, unlikely to win, but full of potential to spoil things for others on the slate.

I’ll run down the matches of the competitors in the tournament thus far, starting with the participants holding the most prominence, and then go over my expectations for the tournament as I did after looking at the A Block.

Kazuchika Okada: Okada started the year on a down note, having just lost to Hiroshi Tanahashi in the main event of Wrestle Kingdom in a match that many believed would cement his top spot in the company. But the rest of the year ended up being a come back story as he the psyched out ‘Rainmaker’ got over his insecurities and emerged victorious from a back and forth program with ‘Bad Luck’ Fale. He went on to step to and defeat AJ Styles at Dominion to regain the Heavyweight title, which he had lost to AJ in the previous year. Appearing at the top of his game, a win in the tournament again would leave him with all the cards in the company.

Match 1: Okada defeated Michael Elgin with the Rainmaker lariat.

Match 2: Okada defeated Tomoaki Honma with the Rainmaker lariat.

Match 3: Okada defeated Satoshi Kojima with the Rainmaker lariat.

Match 4: Okada lost to Hiroki Goto who won with the Shouten Kai.

Match 5: Okada lost to Karl Anderson who won with the Gun Stun,

Match 6: Okada defeated Tomohiro Ishii with the Rainmaker lariat.

Total points: 8

Shinsuke Nakamura: Nakamura, my prediction for the winner of the B Block, has had a dynamic ride, having perhaps the biggest amount of crowd support in his native Japan and absolutely getting the largest pops during the rare US appearances he has made with the ROH promotion. He had a long run with the Intercontinental championship until recently dropping the title to Hiroki Goto and failing to recapture it. The next title for him to recapture would seem to be the Heavyweight championship, and there is little doubt he is in the upper echelon of wrestlers who could convincingly run with it.

Match 1: Nakamura lost to Karl Anderson after being hit with the Gun Stun.

Match 2: Nakamura defeated Yuji Nagata with the bomaye knee strike

Match 3: Nakamura forfeited to Michael Elgin due to injury.

Match 4: Nakamura defeated Tomohiro Ishii with the bomaye knee strike.

Match 5: Nakamura defeated Hiroki Goto with an armbar submission.

Match 6: Nakamura defeated Yujiro Takashi with the bomaye knee strike.

Total points: 8

Hiroki Goto: Goto has been at it for a while, not quite achieving top level victories but being continually impressive with his unique hard hitting offensive maneuvers. Until now, though, as he successfully defeated Nakamura for the Intercontinental championship and retained it in a few rematches. Prior to that, Goto teamed with Katsuyori Shibata to capture the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team titles  from the Bullet Club’s Anderson and Gallows, but lost them in a rematch that followed. Now, Goto is looking to prove that the Intercontinental title is on par with the Heavyweight title, talking of unifying the belts after achieving victory over Okada.

Match 1: Goto defeated Yujiro Takashi with the shouten kai.

Match 2: Goto lost to Karl Anderson who hit the Gun Stun.

Match 3: Goto defeated Tomoaki Honma with the shouten kai.

Match 4: Goto defeated Kazuchika Okada with the shouten kai.

Match 5: Goto lost to Shinsuke Nakamura (See Above).

Match 6: Goto defeated Satoshi Kojima with the shouten kai.

Total points: 8

Karl Anderson: Anderson has been one of the most impactful gaijin wrestlers to join the NJPW roster in recent years. Instrumental in forming the Bullet Club and arguably its leader now, Anderson currently holds half of the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team championship with fellow Biz Cliz member Doc Gallows. They have lots the belts to the combination of Goto and Shibata, and Ring of Honor’s Michael Bennet and Matt Taven of The Kingdom, but regained the titles back from each of these foes. While singles gold has eluded Anderson for some time, he seems to have the number of several top stars in New Japan and poses a threat to all who face him.

Match 1: Anderson defeated Shinsuke Nakamura with the Gun Stun.

Match 2: Anderson defeated Goto Hiroki with the Gun Stun.

Match 3: Anderson lost to Tomohiro Ishii in a hard hitting match after being leveled with a lariat to the back of his head, and then being  hit with a Brainbuster.

Match 4: Anderson defeated Yuji Nagata with the Gun Stun, after reversing an attempt at a Back Drop Bomb by Nagata into the effective finisher for the 3 count.

Match 5: Anderson defeated Kazuchika Okada with the Gun Stun.

Match 6: Anderson defeated Tomoaki Honma, catching his kokeshi Headbutt off the top rope and turning it into a Gun Stun for the pin fall victory.

Total points: 8

Tomohiro Ishii: Ishii, appropriately referred to as pitbull is known for his hard hitting style, seeming to leave everything in the ring. Sometimes it feels as though his matches have a dangerous number of suplexes and lariats, often times from the turnbuckle. Ishii has had a challenging year, losing the Never Openweight championship he held so proudly to Togi Makabe at Wrestle Kingdom. He regained the title when Tomoaki Honma wrestled in an ill Makabe’s place, but has since failed to recapture the title from Makabe in two rematches.

Match 1: Ishii defeated Satoshi Kojima when he interrupted a flurry of forearms with a Head Butt and then hit a Brainbuster for the pin fall victory.

Match 2: Ishii defeated Yujiro after kicking out of everything the Biz Cliz playa could throw at him, and hit a Brain buster for the pin and win.

Match 3: Ishii defeated Karl Anderson with a Brainbuster.

Match 4: Ishii lost to Shinsuke Nakamura after being hit by the bomaya knee strike.

Match 5: Ishii defeated Yuji Nagata after the two went through an emotional and harsh looking exchange of slaps, which Ishii ended with a vicious Headbutt. Ishii went on to nail a Brain buster to pick up the pinfall victory.

Match 6: Ishii losto Kazuchika Okada when he was hit by the Rainmaker lariat.

Total points: 8

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A noticeable difference in the A Block and B Block results is a lot more variation in the A Block whereas in B, there is steady solid, if slightly more routine work. Wrestlers are hitting their main finishers to bring most of the matches to an end.

There is also a lot less detail put into my accounts of what happened here than with the A Block. There were extremely good spots in matches and dramatic logical stories being told in ring, but the lack of range left a lack of particular moments in matches getting as much going. Another factor, which I should have assessed in the overview of the G1 is the occasional appearance on NJPW World streams of shows broadcast without commentary and through the lens of a single steady shot of the ring, or one or the other of these alterations. The B Block started in this mode, causing those matches to have much less of an impact. Hopefully World can limit the broadcasts of this nature. While the lack of commentary is ok, the single static camera angle often takes a lot of the intensity out of the matches.

There is a sense that the B Block has been undergoing alterations on the fly on account of an injury undergone by Nakamura, which knocked him out of his third round match with Elgin. Perhaps a testament to this year’s new format, Nakamura was able to sit out an event that featured A Block tournament matches and B Block participants in tag team openers. That plus a day off between events could have helped Nakamura recover in time for the rest of the tournament.

Like with the A Block, a tie between a few of the higher tier wrestlers is forming, making it a close race and what will likely be a race for points that comes down to the very last day before the finals.

I predict Nakamura will win the B Block, taking a victory against Okada in a match that would send either of them to the finals. This would find Nakamura returning the favor for his loss to Okada in last year’s finals.

I return to this visual I saw that suggests a Top 3 in the company: Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Shinsuke Nakamura. I think if you add the possibly less marketable in Japan’s mainstream, yet still integral presence of AJ Styles and you have a main event picture for the big Wrestle Kingdom show. Styles VS Nakamura would be an intriguing new match up, but I think the tried and true lock up between Okada and Tanahashi is begging for a sequel. That’s why I see Nakamura joining Tanahashi in the finals, and Tanahashi going on to win and challenge Okada to contest him for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on the biggest show of the year.

What do you think?

Best of the Soup Junes

Going into The War Of The Worlds night 2 taping, I was aware that my pro wrestling viewing was going to take a drastic decline going into the summer, from the very next day even. But I've been finding ways to sneak it in. Not ideal viewing conditions and definitely not conducive to detailed reports, but enough to throw together some thoughts on recent New Japan Pro Wrestling programs. First, it is super cool that the New Japan World online streaming service has provided access to all of the Best Of The Super Juniors bouts, with big shows broadcast live and smaller road shows being chopped up so that only each match in the tournament itself are made available.

While I usually bang the koto drums for NJPW loud and hard over almost everything I take in, I was lukewarm about the tournament going into it and remained that way throughout most of it, until a fantastic final 2 shows, particularly the last day, which had incredible action from start to finish. I guess I associate Super Juniors, otherwise known as cruiserweights, with high levels of acrobatic ability. While not everyone needs to have an aerial based assault, it should be a prominent feature of the bulk of the matches. This distinguishes the division from the Heavyweights, in my view, rather than just putting them in one category for being 'smaller guys.'  KUSHIDA and Alex Shelley definitely count as two who can bring the high flying and grounded assault styles, but in an unfortunate turn, Shelley was injured in day 1, round 1 of the tournament, taking away a lot of the intrigue from the event on the whole.

Chase Owens represented NWA with his presence, and though lacking charisma, he did bring some interesting maneuvers. Though I can't say there was all that much variation throughout his matches. Ryusuke Taguchi seems a stalwart on the current NJPW 'Juniors scene. While he's had some impressive matches in the past, his recent comedy based oeuvre has failed to excite me all that much. David Finley and Yohei Komatsu represented rookies in the match who would not score any wins. In the case of Komatsu, it was a bit hard to perceive him as a Junior as he has been holding his own in the Heavyweight style of combat with young boy peer Sho Tanaka. Gedo was entered into the tournament after spending more time on the sidelines of Okada and behind the scenes of NJPW booking, perhaps feeling reinvigorated by his recent stint at the North American East Coast ROH shows, but his flexibility is limited, giving us spots involving sneaky tactics and punches and kicks, but few feats of agility. The Lucha style, probably the element I would consider most crucial to shaping a strong Super Junior competition, was represented by recent NJPW homestayer Mascara Dorada and visitor Barbaro Carvenario. Dorada's been solid throughout his stay but Cavernario's chemistry with others in the tournament was hit or miss.

Then there is the masked superhero veteran contingent - Liger and Tiger Mask, whose place in NJPW in general I am increasingly questioning. I am not sure what I see them adding to mix, as their abilities in the ring are diminishing and they really don't gel with stories being built around hip, modern characters in CHAOS or The Bullet Club. Liger is a legend and gets a pass to appear as long as he is able, but Tiger Mask...this being an incarnation of the original, and one who does not put much apparent effort into selling the staged combat between himself and who he is in the ring with, I don't see what he is adding to the promotion, and definitely did not see him bring any value to this tournament.  

Finally there were members of tag teams: RPG's Rocky Romero and Baretta, reDRagon's Fish and O'Reilly, and one Young Buck Nick Jackson. While all are very capable in the ring as a singles or tag team wrestler, being associated with a tag team would seem to automatically place one on a lower run than singles wrestlers. This in effect made the matches these guys were involved with feel as though they had far lesser stakes, even though these wrestlers were the one who, in many cases, led the way to entertaining matches. In the case of reDRagon, there was a break from this unwritten rule, as Kyle O'Reilly ended up being in the finals against shoe-in KUSHIDA. This came as a bit of a surprise, as many would've expected established singles wrestler Ryusuke Taguchi to be the other fighter in the finals. It was definitely the right move by many a fan's estimation, as O'Reilly is a lot more technically sound and can take the physicality of a match to the outer limits. Overall, reDRagon's involvement in the tournament was a huge boon. Fish also has a dynamic, versatile style that makes him a credible threat to anyone he is in the ring with. I very much hope the pair's performance in the 2015 BOSJ pushes them to bigger things.

As stated before, the final day of the tournament brought about the best in all of the combatants and seemed to be where the best potential matches were booked among the pack. Chase Owens generated some better than average heel heat by attacking Tiger Mask after their match. Cabernerio and Mascara Dorada seemed at complete ease with each other working a Lucha style match that had no lack in aggression whatsoever. Rocky Romero had a great match with Nick Jackson, which served to advance both an RPG-Young Bucks feud as well as a CHAOS-Bullet Club program. There is a spot where Romero hits Sliced Bread on Nick outside of the ring that needs to be witnessed.

The finale between KUSHIDA and O'Reilly, which KUSHIDA emerged from victorious, is instant end of the year top 10 New Japan match material. They had a lengthy battle in which limbs were put through the wringer. KUSHIDA executed a top rope maneuver to damage O'Reilly's arm, which seemed impossible to walk away from unscathed. O'Reilly dished out an onslaught that made KUSHIDA's victory seem like a distant possibility til he returned fire toward the end of the match. Only toward the end did Fish make his presence a factor, yelling at the referee over numerous calls in support of his tag team partner. The stage is set for KUSHIDA to bring a lot of momentum into his bout with Kenny Omega for the Junior Heavyweight Championship at Dominion on July 5th.

Another component of the big shows along the Best Of circuit was the continued battle between the NJPW brigade and CHAOS. On this run, the matches had a pretty consistent roster of  Goto, Makabe, Shibata, Tanahashi and Captain New Japan on one side against Nakamura, Ishii, Sakuraba, Yano, and YOSHI-HASHI on the other. The one twist on these bouts since the last go around was the shift in titles, and in a sense power, to team NJPW with both Goto and Makabe holding the Intercontinental and Never titles respectively. Captain New Japan's inclusion in the matches added a bit of levity to the mix and also gave an easy out for a fall guy, leading to CHAOS dominating for the most part.

While the other takeaway from this is that this continual booking of the same basic match is wearing its welcome rather thin, it looks to be inching toward a conclusion with each of the feuds contained within getting its own singles match on the extremely impressive looking Dominion card.

More to come with a preview of Dominion and an outlook on how things may very well shape up coming out of that and heading all the way into next January's Tokyo Dome soon.

twitter: @mondocurrymark

Fight for the Future: Kevin Owens VS Finn Balor

At the beginning of 2015 I would've expressed some trepidation over NXT's course. A run of remarkably bland RAW episodes combined with an utter absence of acknowledgment of NXT's operation during that program had me believing that politics was going to get in the way of the exciting fledgling brand continuing to flourish. I had even at one point made note of NXT's place on the In Ring section of the WWE Network listings being shunted toward the end, almost out of sight. Fortunately, a reversal has taken place, NXT has been getting plenty of opportunities to shine with the party line touted around town being it is no longer a developmental program, but a full fledged brand unto itself. While the rapidly heating up show still squarely falls under the WWE flagship, it has made giant strides by way of developing its own unique identity, taking the show on the road for highly sought after tour dates, and in its most recent step forward, integrating its characters and storylines within the action on the WWE main roster. Not only does this mark a realization that WWE proper should be finding ways to put over its new, hip show, but has shown that with the right storytelling, the connection between the two rosters can generate buzz that affects the WWE's main product positively as well. Those that have been following this unfolding scene can easily connect the dots and form the burly outline of one Kevin Owens.

Owens has been like bottled lightning since debuting in NXT last year, bringing a quiet storm presentation to his few but impressionable confrontations. It helped that a ready made rivalry between him and Sami Zayn, hearkening back to their days in the indies and in Ring Of Honor, was lying in wait of his arrival. He does not only present himself as a compelling and unique heel during promos and interviews, he has an amazing move set. During his match with John Cena at the Elimination Chamber special, he pulled off acrobatic maneuvers that seem impossible for a man of his size and build, not to mention an offensive that looks devastating to anyone on the receiving end.

I wonder if original intentions were to just have Owens come out on Raw during Cena's US Championship open challenge, blindside him, and build some buzz around the then upcoming NXT special while teasing a confrontation between the champions down the line. No matter, the decision to move Owens into the picture on Raw was an excellent one. He presents a fresh and credible threat to others on the main WWE roster, and those savvy fans who have grown tired of WWE's repetitiveness but are tuned into NXT's competition-centric presentation will be more likely to check WWE's main programs to see Owens in action. Owens' increased presence on WWE proper can also do great things for NXT in return, and arguably already has. With the NXT title still in Owens' possession as he defeats top level stars like John Cena, the belt looks that much more valuable and will cause eyeballs to turn toward NXT, and possibly the WWE Network, for those not already subscribing, to see what happens to the championship. Anyone associated with Owens also stands to benefit from the increased exposure, and those names are numerous. Sami Zayn, whose feud with Owens is stll unresolved, would appear to have the potential to move up to the main roster any time to continue unfinished business with the now main roster-cized Owens. Finn Balor, current number one contender to the NXT championship can also get to be more well known, and that much closer to appearing on the WWE's bigger stage. Hideo Itami was last seen expressing his desire to fight Kevin Owens for the NXT championship, before he was sidelined by an injury, and was shown on screen as the victim of a storyline attack, with a suggestion of Owens' possible involvement. Then there is Samoa Joe, who also seems to have immediately gained from NXT's increased prominence, as well as stare-down confrontation with the current NXT champ that went down with an atmosphere slicing tension. His initial contract with pro wrestling's dominant company quickly received an upgrade to main roster status.

Right on the horizon is an intriguing viewing opportunity scheduled for July 4th on the WWE Network that I feel is the perfect moment for the company to shake things up on NXT. Finn Balor is scheduled to make good on his number one contender status and face Owens in a title match at a house show in Tokyo, Japan's Sumo Hall, and it will be broadcast via the Network. From this vantage point, it makes complete and utter sense for them to not only put on a fantastic match, but for the NXT championship to change hands and go from Kevin Owens to Finn Balor, with the man with the demon within picking up the win.

I'm sure whatever this pair does in the ring will make for excellent viewing, but the title change would work for so many reasons. First, Owens is becoming a bigger and bigger part of the main roster activity, and the more he achieves over there the less he needs the NXT title to bolster his image. In fact, midway through slogging through this post, he has just issued a challenge for Cena's US Title after the two have exchanged victories. Second, Finn Balor has amazing potential to be the focal point of NXT, with little more that can be done to help him reach the next plateau other than winning a championship. From there, his eventual elevation to WWE proper seems inevitable. This kind of newsworthy occurrence might seem better saved for a more high profile event and one that is not competing with a major holiday like Independence Day. However, it is the perfect sort of buzz generator to get more eyes and as a result sign-ups for WWE's much touted online streaming subscription service. With the time difference, an evening event in Tokyo would be taking place around 7:30 AM Eastern Standard Time, presuming the whole show will be broadcast, with the main event probably occurring a bit after that; that's not interfering as much with fireworks and other people's holiday plans, and once the diehard fans start tweeting about it, news will spread over a must-see match even more-so if it had some drastic consequences.

What's most poignant about the circumstance is how its location dovetails with Balor's history. It is well known to Japanese wrestling fans that before becoming Finn Balor, Prince Devitt made his bones as a dominant Super Junior Heavyweight and went on to become a core member of the widely known heel faction, The Bullet Club. If facts around Balor's wrestling career in Japan were mentoned, regardless of whether the company NJPW were acknowledged or not, it could make for a very plausible stage on which Balor was victorious. I think it's a near sure thing that fans in attendance of the show will all be rallying behind him, something akin to giving him a home field advantage. And, I am pleased to say that during the time this was being drafted, a video package did in fact bring up Balor's extensive career in Japan.

For a video presentation epitomizing brief, effective marketing of a star on the rise in this era, seek out an ad for the July 4 special - it has been shown on the Network during recent NXT episodes, showing Balor transforming into something otherworldly against a stark white background. A quick, cutting edge looking  thrill ride for the eyes.

With Kevin Owens changing the WWE landscape, and Balor not far behind in his own rise to prominence, I would keep a close on this rare opportunity to see an overseas event broadcast online only, between two wrestlers who, between them, hold some of the greatest potential influence in the industry.

twitter: MondoCurryMark

The Destination Game

A while ago, I would take to this forum to riff, free form, with my takes on goings ons in a few different companies. This was not a sustainable path to follow, unweildy and almost impossible to stay on point. Things shifted to more conventional reviews of my favorite organizations' shows. That has had to go on the back burner as well. And while taking stock of the various promotions out there is no easier a task, events of this past week make it a good time to weigh in on a couple things.

One thing that my rants almost always included, which cannot continue to be, is a complaint about the scope of Ring of Honor's television show being limited to areas receiving Sinclair broadcasts with online viewing opportunities 1 week behind. I suppose I should pat myself on the back for my campaign of frustration paying off because last week, ROH and Destination America announced the unlikely alliance that has ROH's show, now syndicated, appearing on the more widely accessible cable channel Wednesday nights right before TNA Impact. While I may be exaggerating my role in this game changing turn of events, I'm celebrating all the same.

The most notable aspect of the announcement was how soon things would go into effect. Just 1 week from the announcement, tomorrow night! This is especially awesome timing coming from the point of view of a proponent of New Japan Pro Wrestling like myself, as the ROH/NJPW joint shows happened a scant few weeks ago - I am still shaking off the effects of a trip to Philadelphia to see War Of The Worlds night 2 (I hope to put together some kind of account of it soon) - and the final day, presented as Global Wars night 2, was a TV taping. In the near future, Destination America could very well be bringing us a dream match like Roderick Strong  (who had an extremely impressionable match against Hiroshi Tanahashi at War of the Worlds night 2) VS Shinsuke Nakamura, a one of a kind curiosity like Jushin 'Thunder' Liger VS buzz worthy Dalton Castle, and maybe even a match straight off of a typical Korakuen Hall card like Bullet Club members AJ Styles and the New Bucks taking on CHAOS' Kazuchika Okada and RPG Vice. It's a match that plays directly into the upcoming Dominion Show with a main event pitting Styles against Okada with the IWGP Heavyweight title on the line (available to overseas viewers via the NJWP World streaming service). ROH's continued connection to New Japan is, to me, a serious sign of the US upstart company's legitimacy. NJPW has come to be known as a symbol of wrestling excellence internationally, and the ROH talent keeps up, the exchanges going both ways. While this deal is great, it brings up questions over whether it will lead to wrestlers in the ROH camp that have already featured prominently in the Destination America campaign, like Styles, the Bucks, Rocky Romero, and reDRagon will be asked to spend more time stateside to double down on their Ring of Honor presence and diminish NJPW's star a bit. There is,  after all, have a program on another cable channel AXS, showing somewhat older recorded NJPW matches, and another cable network is kinda the competition....

On the other hand, they may let things play out naturally. The popularity of the Bullet Club has certainly flourished organically, and has been benefiting both ROH and NJPW by letting the talents involved in the name do their thing so to speak, not by trying to bottle it and shove it down people's throats. Letting that continue seems logical, and hey, if that generous spirit adds a little luster to Jeff Jarret's somewhat underwhelming Global Force Wrestling venture, by way its inclusion of Anderson and Gallows on some of the tapings they have scheduled, then what's the harm?

Having looked at the positive potential of Ring of Honor's relocation to Destination America, let's talk about the other side of the coin: the curious case of the other company who's been crashing on the Destination America floor, if not moving all the way into the master suite, TNA. It's a strange turn of events to say the least, if for nothing else, the way it went down with most if not all at TNA seemingly in the dark til the rest of us were. Even though some would like to look at as nothing but roses at their favorite hanger on of a promotion (TNA fans, I tell you, they seem to me as blindly devoted as the most toxic doomsday cult's followers). Here's a few things to keep in mind, though...

There is a reason we have rarely, if ever, seen two wrestling promotions share the same broadcast network as their primary outlet: such companies are competition. While some mutual gain can sometimes be achieved, as in the aforementioned case of ROH and NJPW, being on the widely received platform of television is where brands try to establish themselves, and when they do that, they are asking for your time and resources, and that is time and resources that other brands by their nature are asking for the same.

Sure, Destination America is trying to play the mutual gain card, let's all get along and make lots of money, and promoting Wednesday as pro wrestling night in their neck of the television woods. And while it makes a bit of sense that people who already check out one company would stick around to see a bit of the other, there are some things about the companies' past crossing of paths that may suggest a bit of a less sunny disposition on the part of all parties. For instance, and I should say my source for this were the excellent MLW and Bauer and Pollock podcasts, there was a time when TNA had decided to abandon all code of honor, and legal business conduct, and pursue business with contracted TNA talent. There is also the fact that these promotions would seem to be on polar opposite trajectories. Ring of Honor is clearly on the rise, while TNA is well... It stands to reason that ROH is going to approach the new move with a bit of swagger, while the Impact Zone is likely to be riddled with insecurities. Already the reactions among those on the TNA roster have ranged from criticizing their leadership and taking other bookings to welcoming the new addition to the 'family' and engaging the other company in in-character banter. Meanwhile, on the ROH side there has been a united front, a singular focus on acknowledging only themselves and their new opportunity.

Any manner of excuses could be made, but when it comes down to it, for team TNA to not know about this move beforehand is a pretty crappy way to treat a friend, if that's what you want to consider what they are to the network that welcomed them so heartily some months ago. A heads up could've easily been given. I suppose this could've left a liability of details getting out too early because well, when it comes to TNA, discretion and shrewd business moves haven't really been part of the vocabulary.   While people can cast aspersions on those who have a reputation for reporting professionally for years and years, or write things off as rumor, I don't think you can reasonably ignore the general lack of harmony between Destination America and TNA that's been hinted at throughout the bulk of them. Basically, it's a bit reactionary to think that the Discovery subsidiary made the move to bring in ROH purely as a 'suck it' gesture to Dixie Carter and her show, but their way of handling it certainly suggests a bit more than passive aggression. It does not seem all that implausible that TNA's days could be numbered.

I suppose it could sound as though there is some negativity being expressed here toward TNA. Maybe just a bit. Watching fumble after fumble from this company, I am a bit mystified by its ability to stumble forward. I find it difficult to look away completely, with its almost car crash like cringeworthy embodiment of disaster. The company has shown a lack of ability to properly promote events or talent, it's put together shoddy matches that fail to showcase its' talent roster's talent, and has dropped the ball on so many of its impact players...many of whom Ring of Honor or New Japan have gladly scooped up. The only thing I find more incredible is the way a dedicated segment of TNA viewers just continue to pump their support into the product, at least vocally, while in lockstep, bashing whatever comes on WWE programming. In fact these same wrestling fans seem to take to ROH, looking forward to some synergy on Wednesday nights. I suppose that's a plus, but I just don't get it and feel a need to challenge it. If anything TNA seems like WWE, or at least trying to be, with long drawn out stories and dissatisfying inconclusive match finishes. To me, TNA and ROH have nearly diametrically opposed philosophies on presenting pro wrestling. It is hard for me to imagine someone thrilling to the in ring storytelling presented by those ROH and NJPW stars mentioned above and then taking the 4-5 minute rush jobs on TNA seriously. Sure there are exceptions, but it seems like that is the wrestlers, whom i acknowledge in many cases are very good, getting themselves over in spite of the creative and booking agents' direction, not as a result of it.

Only a few things are certain in the realm of pro wrestling, and I'd assert that here too. One of them is it will be very interesting to tune into Destination America Wednesday nights to see how this rocky relationship starts off. The other is that there will be 'F-ck TNA' chants. I wasn't at the taping, but I almost 100 percent guarantee it. With shows that could on any given episode include excellent wrestlers like Franky Kazarian and Christpher Daniels (as The Addiction), AJ Styles, and Samoa Joe (though his recent signing with WWE may put the kybosh on his tv time), all of which TNA unceremoniously dropped the ball on or undervalued, fans in attendance  of the strong brand's shows will more than likely shout out their show of solidarity. It will be interesting to see if the chants grow louder and more frequent due to shared telivision stage.

twitter: @mondocurrymark

NJPW Repoto: Dontaku

NJPW Dontaku happened and I had the pleasure of watching it as it happened. At 4:00 AM EST, lying on a couch in front of an iPad. It was still a great show. Here is how the follow up to 火の国 (hinokuni)/Fire Country, which happened earlier in the week, went down via the NJPW World live stream.

There are video packages setting up all the matches on the card.

Yuji Nagata, Jushin ‘Thunder’ Liger, Mascara Dorada, and Tiger Mask VS Manabu Nakanishi, KUSHIDA, Ryusuke Taguchi, and Captain New Japan

Nagata comes out leading a squad of masked wrestlers. Nakanishi then joins his teammates comprised of the newer, arguably hipper Junior Heavyweight competitors plus the very unhip Captain New Japan. It occurs to me that having the Captain and Taguchi on the same side equals dangerous levels of gimmick.

Liger starts out against Taguchi. Liger Locks in a submission move whose name I can’t identify, but results in what look like Liger commandeering his opponent as a sled. Liger is hit with Taguchi’s trademark butt bump but takes a page out of Captain New Japan’s book by countering with a punch to the ass.

There is a fast-paced exchange between KUSHIDA and Mascara Dorada. Liger locks a surfboard submission on KUSHIDA.

The long ago tag team partners Nagata and Nakanishi then continue their as of late heated rivalry. They deliver dueling forearms and slaps, which Nakanishi prevails at. He gets Nagata in the Torture Rack and then throws him overhead into his masked partners.

Nakanishi, appearing to be in ‘final run anything goes’ mode did scary a Plancha to several opponents outside, where it seemed he landed on the apron and then had to roll off and onto the opponents outside. Nagata and CNJ are left in ring, and Nagata hits the Exploder Suplex and scores the pin for his team to win.

Kota Ibushi and Ryohei Komatsu VS Tetsuya Naito and Sho Tanaka

This match pit two high flying and all around athletically gifted wrestlers on the heavyweight roster together with two of the company’s rookies to have a match that let the newbies practice facing each other and more experienced peers.

Sho sho(ves) Naito back and starts off the match with Ibushi. They have a tie up. Sho puts on an arm bar, and Ibushi rolls out of to land punches to Tanaka's face.

The match picked up when Ibushi faced off against Naito. 1st Ibushi had the advantage, then Naito. The two exchanged forearms, after which they both landed kicks and tagged in their rookie teammates. 

Komatsu got Sho in a Boston Crab that had Sho working hard to reach the ropes for the break. Sho applied it later, and had Komatsu on the verge of tapping when Ibushi broke it up with a side kick. 

Komatsu evades a dive by Tanaka, counters it into a Single Leg Crab, and pulls Tanaka away from the ropes several times before making him tap out to secure his team's victory. The finish continued showing the move to be more effective than the regular Crab because it allows him to really torque the leg back and be  able to more easily drag opponent away from ropes.

After the match there is a bit of a diss by Ibushi when he and Naito face off. Ibushi drops to the floor with no handshake in a taunting fashion. Perhaps there is another singles match in the pair’s future, which would be a good time to test whether Naito can step up his game or add an edge to his attitude and assert himself as a bigger player in the promotion.

Satoko Kojima, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, and Tomoaki Honma   VS ‘Bad Luck’ Falet, Toma Tonga, and Cody Hall

The Bullet club members launch into a sneak attack before bell rings to gain the advantage. Tonga and Hall are reversed by Tencozy and knocked into each other from opposite corners. Tencozy then Double Suplexes Hall.

Hall lifts Tonga off the ring apron and holds him straight up at a 180 degree angle, then rotates and slams him down into a Splash on Tenzan.

Honma hits a Bulldog out of the corner but misses the kokeshi Head Butt on Fale. Hall hits a big spinning lariat on Honma. 

Kojima and Tenzan hit the Koji Cutter on Tonga. There is a big lariat by Kojima on Hall, followed by Honma climbing to the top rope to hit the  kokeshi Head Butt on Hall for the win. The baby faces are dominant throughout most of this feel good match.

RPG Vice VS reDRagon VS Young bucks (IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship is on the line; RPG Vice defends)

O’Reilly ties up with Nick Jackson to start the match. O’Reilly runs the ropes and knocks Jackson down with a shoulder block.

Later Rocky Romero winds up for a poke to the eyes on Bobby Fish, is punched in return, and plays coward, crawling to the corner to tag Beretta who is down on the floor. He then crawls toward the Bucks’ corner but they jump off the ropes and, realizing he can’t hug reDRagon O’Reilly, crawls toward the referee to embrace him in fear.

Beretta side steps Nick Jackson and trips him so that he lands head first on Matt’s crotch in the corner. Beretta later attempts a dive to the outside but the Bucks, on the apron, hit double super kicks from either side.

Fish throws Nick Jackson toward the corner but the Young Buck floats over it, runs along the apron and hits a stiff kick to the chest of O’Reilly. Nick then slingshots himself over the ropes and hits a Facebuster on Fish in the ring. O’Reilly recovers, drags Nick to the outside but Matt runs in and hits a flip to wrap his legs around O’Reilly to hold him in place so Nick could land a jumping kick on the reDRagon.   

Romero hits a Huricanrana on both Bucks at the same time. Nick runs into a jumping high knee by both members of the Roppongi Vice squad at the same time. reDRagon hit their double team maneuver that combines Fish putting the opponent into a Wheelbarrow Hold as O’Reilly hits a Double Underhook DDT, which sends the opponent into a Wheelbarrow Suplex by a Fish.  This comes right before their version of the Demolition finisher with the Elbow replaced by a Diving Knee Drop.

Romero escapes Chasing The Dragon and hits a Plancha on the Bucks. O’Reilly gets an Arm Bar locked on Beretta while hanging down over the ropes, but it is broken up by Super Kicks in stereo by the Young Bucks. Beretta hits a Superplex on Matt Jackson to the floor on top of EVERYBODY, which was insane. Then, everyone makes it back in the ring just in time to beat the 20 count.

Matt Jackson Power Bombs O’Reilly into both Fish and Romero in the corner as Nick jumps from the ring apron to kick O’Reilly in the back of the head. Also insane.

Matt Jackson breaks up RPG Vice’s Strong Zero finisher with a Super Kick to Romero, but Beretta still hits his part of the combination for a near fall. The Young Bucks hit the Indytaker Assisted Spike Piledriver to O’Reilly on the outside of the ring…Insane. The finish comes when the Young Bucks have Beretta cornered. Matt and Nick hit More Bang For Your Buck (Fireman's Carry into a running flip, followed by a 450 Splash and a Moonsault off the top turnbuckle) and pick up the pin. The Young Bucks win to once again become the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.

This was an incredible match that showcased each participants’ ability as a singles wrestler, as well as their prowess with double team maneuvers. The synchronicity of spots that involved multiple people came off seamlessly without looking silly. This is now an extremely competitive series with anyone’s guess as to who will take the belts net.

Alex Shelley VS Kenny omega

The match is preceded by an impressive looking video promo of Kenny Omega, with his victories over Taguchi and Mascara Dorada as his ‘garbage’ promo is spliced into the background. Alex Shelley’s abilities in the ring are also shown in the promo.

Shelley is vamping up his image a bit with a leather vest and donning a Mad Max inspired gladiator helmet to ring. KUSHIDA accompanies him.  

Omega comes out with the Young Bucks following behind. They hold a trash can and broom, I guess to sweep up the American garbage Omega described at Invasion Attack.

Omega offers a handshake to which Shelley flips the bird. Omega takes control of Shelley’s arm but Shelley counters and takes Omega down to the mat. They lock up for a test of strength but Omega kicks Shelley and stomps away at him in corner.

Omega has the trashcan outside the ring but Shelley runs and Drop Kicks it into Omega. He then comes off the ropes but Omega tosses the can into the challenger’s head.

Omega tries to bring the lid into the ring. It’s taken by the ref, but while the official is distracted, Omega is slid the bent can and punts it into Shelley’s head. The assault continues outside with the can put on Shelley’s head, which Omega smacks with the broom. He then puts the can on top of a chair and tries to Power Bomb Shelley into it, but Shelley counters with a Reverse STO, blasting Omega’s head into the foreign object.

Shelley hits his Automatic Midnight finisher and would get pin but the ref is pulled out by Matt Jackson. Nick Jackson hits a super kick. KUSHIDA makes the save with a handstand kick to knock both Bucks off of the apron. Shelly hits Sliced Bread Number 2 for the near fall. Omega strikes back with a running knee. The champ then hits the One Winged Angel finisher  for the 3 count to retain the title.

Afterward Omega sweeps the mat near the NJPW wrestlers tending to Shelley.

Omega takes the mic and hits us with another over the top promo. ‘What's next?’ he asks. He then informs the audience that he is not attending the upcoming Best of the Super Junior tournament since he is already the champ. He lets out a Ric Flair ‘Woo’ and wishes good luck to the ‘best of the super garbage’ who gets to face him and ends off with an evil ‘Muahaha’ before calling for someone to hit his music. WOW. 

This match had a good mix of pure athletics and antics. It was the best outing for Omega as Junior Heavyweight champion thus far, as the chemistry between him and Shelley is apparent. It was exciting to see the incorporation of the Junior Heavyweight tag team scene into the match with outside interference, but not so much as to overshadow the two main players of the match. I’m thinking it may very well be KUSHIDA to win the Super Junior tournament and step up to challenge Omega next.

-–---------------------------------------- intermission ----------------------------------

There is a replay of the seduction of Liger by a hypnotically dancing Maria and her bosom during a match in 2014 against Michael Bennet of ROH, who is involved in the tag team match after the break.

Perhaps because the iconic Junior Heavyweight is out to join the commentary team, there is another replay of ‘Ligergate’ before we return to the ring for the rest of the show.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Karl Anderson, Doc  Gallows, and Amber Gallows VS Michael Bennet, Matt Taven, and Maria Kanelis

There is an extensively produced ‘First Lady of Wrestling’ video package for Maria and her various distractions of NJPW wrestlers up through Karl Anderson. It is comically majestic in its presentation. The video then shows Anderson and tag team partner Doc Gallows freaking out over Maria backstage in an interview reminiscent of the comedy of Tim and Eric. Anderson had fun mixing Japanese and English sentence structure, saying things like  "IWGP tag titles, I don't care" instead of ‘I don’t care about the IWGP tag titles.

As the Bullet Club takes the ring, Anderson is still smiling goofily, looking forward to seeing Maria.

Maria’s breasts apparently are The Kingdom because the cameraman has been practicing framing the entrance perfectly so that Maria’s cleavage fills the entire frame. The rest of Maria, as well as the current IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team champions Michael Bennet and Matt Taven come up the ramp as well. They take to the ring, where the camera then shifts focus to her Maria’s hips and ass. It is just a little bit creepy.

Doc would start against Bennet, who wins paper scissor rock to begin the match for his team. Bennet lands punches on Gallows and quickly tags in Taven so the two can hit a double drop kick.

Anderson tags in and looks to be preparing to attack Taven, but dives out of the ring and chases Maria around and around before running into a right hand from Bennet.

Amber, Doc Gallows’ wife, tags in and beckons Maria to enter the ring. Doc grabs Maria's hair leading to a scuffle on the Bulllet Club apron as Amber takes control against Kanelis.

'No Maria,' Anderson reminds himself before walking into fist from Taven. He manages to recoup and clears Bennet from the ring apron, but is distracted by Maria again, allowing Taven to land a kick from the top turnbuckle. 

Anderson catches both of the current tag champs with Gun Stuns. He and Maria back into each other, Maria dances to hypnotize the infatuated Anderson and then knees him down low. Amber attacks Maris but Maria cradles her into a small package for the Kingdom to win.

After the match, Doc Gallows is about to hit Maria when Anderson cuts it off, and then uppercuts her himself. They hit the ‘first lady of wrestling’ with the Magic Killerdouble team ‘er as Amber looks on laughing. The Kingdom clear the heels from the ring and tend to Maria. Clearly business is not finished between these two teams, but the next round may in fact be a more serious straight forward tag team match that will likely return the belts to the Bullet Club.

Togi Makabe, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Katsuyori Shibata VS Tomohiro Ishi, Toru Yano, and Kazushi Sakuraba 

Makabe enters last wearing his newly gained Neverweight title from. He and Ishii start off picking right up from their 火の国 (hinokuni) main event. They hit forearms and shoulder blocks, eventually knocking one another back into their respective corners. Tags are made to Shibata and Sakuraba. Sakuraba goes to lock in the kimura arm bar, but Shibata counters with head scissors and tries to lock the deadly arm bar in on Sakuraba. They grapple into team CHAOS’ corner where Yano tags in. Shibata then tags in Tanahashi. Yano is thrown up toward the ropes, but he stops himself and taunts Tanahashi till Shibata kicks him in the back from the outside. Sakuraba clamps a Sleeper Hold on Tanahashi from the apron. Shibata answers, getting Yano in a Sleeper across the ring. 

CHAOS takes control of Tanahashi in their corner. Eventually Tanahashi hits a Dragon Screw Leg Whip on Yano to change the momentum, and tags out to Makabe.

Makabe and Ishii trade vicious Lariats again. First Makabe takes Ishii down, then Ishii returns the favor. Sakuraba and Shibata battle with kicks. Shibata then hits a powerful looking Death Valley Driver. 

Tanahashi hits the High Fly Flow off the top which Yano counters with knees up. The crafty CHAOS member tries to roll up Tanahashi but Tanahshi counters into a roll up, almost getting the 3 count himself. Tanahashi then grabs Yano by the hair and gets a tight roll on Yano and pins the laughing one in the same way he has been beaten over the past few months. The streak of wins Yano has on Tanahashi has finally been broken

Meanwhile Shibata is seriously pissed off about something because instead of celebrating in the ring with Makabe and Tanahashi, he storms directly to the back. 

Kazuchika Okada and YOSHI-HASHI VS AJ Styles and Yujiro Takahashi

The Bullet Club duo of the champ and the player come to the ring, once again Mao is not in attendance! I was pretty certain she would be in the house for this major show. I’ve narrowed the reason for her absence down to one of the following reasons: Either there is a very low cap of 2 on how many high profile women can appear on an NJPW show, or the announcers are already so worked up over the appearance of Maria the addition of another sexy woman on the show would be hazardous to their health, or she has a previously scheduled modeling gig causing a conflict.

All four participants in the match start out swinging at each other. YOSHI HASHI clears Yujiro from the ring with a running Shoulder Block. Okada takes early control against AJ, applying an armbar, and then tagging YOSHI HASHI back in to land offense on the champ. 

Yujiro Power Bombs YOSHI HASHI into the turnbuckle.

The Bullet Club takes control of the match isolating YOSHI HASHI from Okada.

Okada finally tags in. He props AJ on the turnbuckle and hits a huge drop kick knocking the champ to the floor.

YOSHI HASHI attempts a Shooting Star Press on AJ but he rolls out of the way. Okada tries to help turn things around but is kept at bay as AJ hits the Styles Clash for the win.

AJ and Okada state each other down. AJ holds up the belt, then throws a kick at Okada and looks to be setting up a Styles Clash into the belt. Okada counters, however, and clears the ring of the Bullet club members getting ahold of the belt before returning it to the referee. This is a good initial tease to the reigniting of the feud between these two powerhouses on the Heavyweight title scene.

A video package is shown, focusing first on a multi man tag team match during the lead up to Invasion Attack between members of CHAOS and the NJPW roster, where Nakamura scored the pin on Goto. Snippets of Shinsuke weighing in on Goto as a challenger are shown, with more footage of matches during which Goto is gaining momentum. Photosd of both competitors in the early days of their career are shown. Images of the showy Shinsuke Nakamura in full regalia from this year’s Wrestle Kingdom are juxtaposed with those of a plainly clad infuriated looking Goto.

Shinsuke Nakamura VS Hirooki Goto (IWGP Intercontinental Championship, Nakamura defends)

The two circle each other. Goto goes low for a Single Leg Takedown but the two separate. Nakamura slips behind Goto and takes control with a rear choke.

They lock up for a test of strength. Nakamura seems to be stepping over Goto's arm in order to gain leverage, and then flicks a kick to the side of Goto's head. He giggles at the seemingly accidental movement inciting the wrath of Goto, attacks with several ferocious forearms. The intensity of the match is quickly ratcheted up.

Outside, Shinsuke slams Goto on the announcers’ table and hits a running knee into his head. He then does a jumping double stomp to Goto's head from the ring apron.

Goto knocks Nakamura down with a big lariat to take control of the match. Nakamura misses a bomaye but hoists Goto onto the turnbuckle to hit the running knee into his chest. Nakamura sets up for a bomaye off the turnbuckle but Goto hits a spinning heel kick to send the Intercontinental champ to the floor. 

Goto hits the ushikoroshi (a Fireman’s Carry into a Neck Breaker over his knee). He attempts a lariat but Nakamura counters with the Back Cracker, followed by an Inverted Exploder Suplex. Nakamura prepares for another bomaye attempt but runs into another big Lariat by Goto.

Nakamura hits a bomaye from the second turnbuckle followed by a running knee but can only get a count of 2. Goto spins Nakamura in the air 360 degrees with another big Lariat and comes ridiculously close to getting the three count.

Goto gets Nakamura up on his shoulders and walks him over to the corner for an ushikoroshi off the top turnbuckle for another very near fall.

The shotenkai is hit and Goto gets the 1-2-3 to win the Intercontinental title bringing Nakamura's lengthy stint as champion to an end. 

Goto gets the streamers coming down to celebrate his victory as Nakamura is unceremoniously helped to the back. In the ring and then in the back, Goto speaks on his surprising and very significant victory.

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This was another very good show. After watching, it dawned on me how despite the lack of fantastical storylines and unusual match stipulations, I felt a great diversity of in-ring action was delivered over the course of the show. All of the matches made sense and, aside from perhaps the opening match, felt as though they contained seeds of stories that could continue to germinate in the future.

It speaks to the perceived prestige of the company’s titles when you have events within a few days of one another with titles contested in the main events that are not the Heavyweight championship. There was no feeling of lack of importance. The big matches on these shows were critical viewing because the competitors in them are so talented.

While the landscape of factions has not changed significantly, titles are changing hands. Between Dontaku and Fire Country, there were 3 title changes, two of them in the main event. There was not a sense that these changes were arbitrary or over night, because the build up to the matches have been steady.

A couple of high points to speak on…

There is a great job being done developing Sho Tanaka and Ryohei Komatsu. Little by little they have been forging their own unique identities. Here one could imagine how much they learned from working with two of the most dynamic members of the roster, Ibushi and Naito. While this was way down on the card, it is very conceivable that Ibushi and Naito continue a program in a more crucial position.

The video packages shown before some of the key matches seem to get better and better, recapping without being dull, and truly building excitement for the matches that follow without wasting a lot of time.

The triple threat tag team match had such incredible spots in an otherwise very sound wrestling match. The fact that these are all gaijin teams can elude viewers easily. These teams’ momentum benefit from not being overexposed, as they all spend some of their time wrestling in the US for Ring of Honor and other indies.

Kenny Omega is continuing to be a compelling character, developing in leaps and bounds, though at times bordering on being over the top.

Shibata and Sakuraba continue to have compelling interactions, a bit more in focus after taking a bit of a backseat to the other action in the ‘Fire Country’ match. While the other wrestlers in the NJPW/CHAOS bouts have been sectioned off in singles matches, these two have not yet. This feud can really pay off down the line.

It was nice to see YOSHI-HASHI and Yujiro take part in the tag match involving AJ and Okada. The two got some good exposure this way and an increase in their significance.

It was very interesting to see Goto win the intercontinental title and very unexpected, as Nakamura has done nothing but gain momentum. It leads to the interesting question of what comes next. A rematch seems the most obvious choice, and the great thing about a pure athletic competition is the rematch is welcome without being stale, and a simple and easy set up. At the same time, it is very possible that Nakamura is heading toward the Heavyweight title picture. If AJ retains the title in his match with Okada, Nakamura would be a natural first class challenger. If Okada regains the gold, the possibility of changes in the ranks of CHAOS and a feud between the big league franchises of Okada and Nakamura is also possible.

There is plenty more to discuss. If possible, more will be shared here. While the next NJPW World broadcasts will bring action from the Best of the Super Junior tournament, there is going to be a stop before that on North American soil as NJPW talent will take place in 4 shows being held by Ring of Honor: War of the Worlds day 1 and 2 in Philadelphia, and Global Wars day 1 and 2 in Toronto. Look for a preview of those shows here, as well as a potential special live report from War of the Worlds day 2, which I will be attending. After that, the Mondo Blog will be shutting down for some time during the summer.

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