🦁 NJC/Sakura Genesis/Windy City Riot/Dontaku

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Mar 6, 2024 15:44:30 GMT -5 Cyno said:

I don't think I've ever seen as big a disconnect between NJPW's home fanbase in Japan and the gaijin smark fanbase in the West than reception to the House of Torture.

I'm trying to understand why they're popular, I really am

But their WrestleKingdom and New Years Dash matches were some of the most dogshit things I ever watched, like genuinely appalling shit in ring lmfao

[Convoy]

Mar 6, 2024 15:44:30 GMT -5 Cyno said:

I don't think I've ever seen as big a disconnect between NJPW's home fanbase in Japan and the gaijin smark fanbase in the West than reception to the House of Torture.

It is a valley of difference. While I like House of Torture (and love SHO in his current form), I can see people who came in with the Okada/Omega hype and an unfamiliarity with the history of the promotion expecting a certain level of content that jives with that. Like with most wrestling companies though, there has always been a variety of characters, motivations and styles showcased in New Japan. You can see the epic bouts, the slugfest sprints, comedy matches and then see the western influences in groups like HoT, Suzuki-gun, Chono's Team 2000 and all the way back to Tiger Jeet Singh's no contests with Inoki. NJPW is a melting pot from day one, and it's okay if something doesn't appeal directly to someone. I just hope we can have some variety in discussion, rather than a constant wave of "this sucks" every time I check the thread.

[Some Guy]

I think there's just not people in the US seeking out NJPW/AJPW/TJPW etc etc for anything other than quality wrestling and right now NJPW flat out isn't delivering on that (besides NJPW Strong shows that rely heavily on US talent). Plus the current iteration of House of Torture doesn't even really have anybody that you could call a ++ worker, barring maybe Ren Narita at times but even he hasn't really hit that in a while and he's not really up to what Yuya/Shooter/Tsuji can deliver at any given time.

Even apart from that though, their product is in a really bad spot. Their tag champs are Chase Owens and KENTA (a guy who has been around forever/has never been good and a super washed up guy who barely tries), their secondary heel stable is filled with talented people but is led by the least talented guy in the group, and when they had a chance to push through guys like Yota Tsuji/Kaito/Shooter or anybody, they went with Hikuleo instead in the G1. This is also coming off a really bland title reign by a meh champ giving it to Naito, who is still very over and all but he's pretty clearly physically limited at this point and can't really bring it consistently.

[Mozenrath]

Mar 6, 2024 18:07:43 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

Mar 6, 2024 15:44:30 GMT -5 Cyno said:

I don't think I've ever seen as big a disconnect between NJPW's home fanbase in Japan and the gaijin smark fanbase in the West than reception to the House of Torture.

I'm trying to understand why they're popular, I really am

But their WrestleKingdom and New Years Dash matches were some of the most dogshit things I ever watched, like genuinely appalling shit in ring lmfao

Some of it is probably because, outside of Yujiro, most people like Bullet Club and other heel groups have predominately been gaijin for years. I think some Japanese fans like the bad boys being Japanese for a change of pace.

Of course, that's just some of it, also probably Bullet Club outliving its usefulness and this filling that void, but that doesn't make it compelling to watch.

[Rave]

I can't understand why House of Torture are popular. It's been mentioned that they sell a lot of merch, but looking on New Japan's merch site shows me that their t-shirts look like the same standard-ass gothic stuff that a good portion of the indie scene already peddles. Yuck.

And who in the flying f*** is paying $40 for a Kanemaru autograph?

[chrom]

Give it up on Tanga, he's just no good

[chrom]

BOSJ schedule has been announced. Starting on May 11th with the finals held at Dominion

[chrom]

Uemura and Takagi is tomorrow's main event

[Some Guy]

Ishii losing to Chase Owens in round 1, clean even. Great stuff NJPW.

[chrom]

Mar 7, 2024 2:51:10 GMT -5 Rave said:

I can't understand why House of Torture are popular. It's been mentioned that they sell a lot of merch, but looking on New Japan's merch site shows me that their t-shirts look like the same standard-ass gothic stuff that a good portion of the indie scene already peddles. Yuck.

And who in the flying f*** is paying $40 for a Kanemaru autograph?

People with more money than sense

[Allie Kitsune]

Mar 6, 2024 21:27:12 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

Mar 6, 2024 18:07:43 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

I'm trying to understand why they're popular, I really am

But their WrestleKingdom and New Years Dash matches were some of the most dogshit things I ever watched, like genuinely appalling shit in ring lmfao

Some of it is probably because, outside of Yujiro, most people like Bullet Club and other heel groups have predominately been gaijin for years. I think some Japanese fans like the bad boys being Japanese for a change of pace.

Of course, that's just some of it, also probably Bullet Club outliving its usefulness and this filling that void, but that doesn't make it compelling to watch.

I don't even think it should be that mystifying that the Japanese fans don't care that HoT aren't putting on epic matches.

Like, sometimes it feels like people treat them as the ultra of the ultra-smarks, and I don't think it's necessarily the case.

If Western fans can like someone who isn't a 5-star worker, so can they.

[Brood Lone Wolf Funker]

Mar 6, 2024 9:04:41 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

Mar 6, 2024 8:06:50 GMT -5 Zone Was Wrong said:

x.com/futurafreesky/status/1765340786550304869?s=20

Jack in House of Torture.....

House of Glass.

Those who live in Glass House of Tortures

[Fundertaker]

Mar 7, 2024 2:51:10 GMT -5 Rave said:

And who in the flying f*** is paying $40 for a Kanemaru autograph?

Whiskey enthusiasts.

[Convoy]

I've taken a lot of bullshit in these New Japan threads lately, but I won't stand for slandering Junior Legend and everyone's favorite Drunk Uncle Nobu.

Here's the post-match comments for Hontai/HoT today:



Aside from Perry sharing my thoughts on people who complain about House of Torture, the highlight here is what SHO finds in YOH's backpack when he goes to retrieve the stolen Junior belt.

Didn't want openweight or United Empire leader TJP anyway, but it's hilarious that after his loss today, he just goes "welp, back to Catch 2/2" like he wasn't gunning for more.

Tomorrow is looking like the best show of the tour so far, and for me personally, I really need so see Yuya perform well against Shingo.

[chrom]

Titan will make his AEW debut Saturday facing Chris Jericho

[Convoy]

New Japan announced the list of everyone going to Wrestling World in Taiwan on 4/14. That is obviously the same weekend as Windy City Riot, and it does look like those listed would not be at the Chicago event. It's a notable list:

Hiroshi Tanahashi
Satoshi Kojima
Tiger Mask
El Desperado
Boltin Oleg
Hirooki Goto
Toru Yano
YOSHI-HASHI
YOH
Shingo Takagi
Yota Tsuji
BUSHI
SANADA
Yuya Uemura
DOUKI
Great-O-Khan
Francesco Akira
Callum Newman
EVIL
SHO
Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Kosei Fujita

Naito, Hiromu, Gabe Kidd and Narita are already announced for Chicago. Umino would be available to wrestle Perry again. The rest would be Westerners (GoD, TMDK, Cobb, TJP, Bullet Club) along with Ishii and Suzuki. I'm assuming Riddle and Nemeth would take part as well.

[Rave]

Mar 7, 2024 12:18:09 GMT -5 Some Guy said:

Ishii losing to Chase Owens in round 1, clean even. Great stuff NJPW.

Oh that is gross.

Why is Chase Owens still in New Japan, much less for as long as he's been? Even without the 'accused creep' factor, dude's a generic CAW.

For anyone who doesn't know, Owens has been with New Japan a decade as of this year, plus he's prob'ly the last holdout from when they were working with Tharpe!NWA. This boggles my mind.

[chrom]

Hikuleo advances

[chrom]

Boltin was gifted flowers prior to the match by a Kazakhstan exchange student

[chrom]

Kidd advances