|
|
Post by "Sweet & Sour" ImSoFudginGreat on Dec 30, 2017 14:25:05 GMT -5
We will be landing on the 2nd. Cool, you got plenty of time and a few options. Most of Japan shuts down in the days following New Years, but by the 3rd most places you want should be open. Your two best bets are very close to each other, the official New Japan store and the slice of wrestling obsessive Heaven known as Champions and Battle Royal. The latter are unaffiliated but have the most tremendous collection of wrestling VHS and DVDs (and other merch) you'll see, and are a great plug for tickets. I suggest going to them for your WK tickets as I got very good very close seats for what translates to $75 american. Otherwise, would you be up for seeing more wrestling while you're out there? In that case, you can get your WK tickets right at the Tokyo Dome/Korauken Hall box office. They usually run two shows on January 3rd, All Japan in the afternoon (where they have a lot of legends, last year I saw Ultimo Dragon, Jun Kasai, Tiger Mask, and a boatload more) and DDT at night (who are super hot, the #2 Japan promotion and probably the most Japanese-thing you'll see on your trip. It's the promotion that really launched Ibushi and Kenny Omega, and along with an outstanding main event, you'll also get some fun Japanese absurdity, so if you're traveling with a casual fan even they'll enjoy the bizarre punk rock wrestling outfit that is DDT). I recommend both, but if you had to choose, there's really nothing like DDT. I'd recommend going to the box office early as DDT WILL sell-out. I wouldn't worry about Wrestle Kingdom selling out though. Tokyo Dome is HUUUUUGE and, while it's a big turnout, hasn't come close to selling out in over a decade. Fear not, you're going to be able to see it and have great seats. Also, FYI, Ribera Steak House is going to be closed on the 2nd and 3rd, and jampacked on the 4th, so if you're going to try it, stop by the 5th or later. Hope this helps! Dude, all of that is a great help. Really appreciate all of that. I’m definitely up for going to more wrestling, the Mrs on the other hand may need some convincing!! Cheers again!! |
|
chazraps
Wade Wilson
Better have my money when I come-a collect!
Posts: 28,334 
|
Post by chazraps on Dec 30, 2017 14:48:02 GMT -5
Cool, you got plenty of time and a few options. Most of Japan shuts down in the days following New Years, but by the 3rd most places you want should be open. Your two best bets are very close to each other, the official New Japan store and the slice of wrestling obsessive Heaven known as Champions and Battle Royal. The latter are unaffiliated but have the most tremendous collection of wrestling VHS and DVDs (and other merch) you'll see, and are a great plug for tickets. I suggest going to them for your WK tickets as I got very good very close seats for what translates to $75 american. Otherwise, would you be up for seeing more wrestling while you're out there? In that case, you can get your WK tickets right at the Tokyo Dome/Korauken Hall box office. They usually run two shows on January 3rd, All Japan in the afternoon (where they have a lot of legends, last year I saw Ultimo Dragon, Jun Kasai, Tiger Mask, and a boatload more) and DDT at night (who are super hot, the #2 Japan promotion and probably the most Japanese-thing you'll see on your trip. It's the promotion that really launched Ibushi and Kenny Omega, and along with an outstanding main event, you'll also get some fun Japanese absurdity, so if you're traveling with a casual fan even they'll enjoy the bizarre punk rock wrestling outfit that is DDT). I recommend both, but if you had to choose, there's really nothing like DDT. I'd recommend going to the box office early as DDT WILL sell-out. I wouldn't worry about Wrestle Kingdom selling out though. Tokyo Dome is HUUUUUGE and, while it's a big turnout, hasn't come close to selling out in over a decade. Fear not, you're going to be able to see it and have great seats. Also, FYI, Ribera Steak House is going to be closed on the 2nd and 3rd, and jampacked on the 4th, so if you're going to try it, stop by the 5th or later. Hope this helps! Dude, all of that is a great help. Really appreciate all of that. I’m definitely up for going to more wrestling, the Mrs on the other hand may need some convincing!! Cheers again!! She's going to have a great time at the DDT show. They're so absurd, it's just as much rooted in Japanese comedy and experimental budo-theater as it is wrestling. One of their biggest stars is a blow-up doll that the top wrasslers in the word have great matches with. Their hardcore title has also been held by a number of inanimate objects. And their have an intergender tag-team whose gimmick is they sing to the ring in multi-person matches while all the action happens around them. DDT is quite a show: |
|
|
|
Post by HMARK Center on Dec 30, 2017 16:10:14 GMT -5
Ok, prediction time: I'll put some of my rationale/predictions for future stories and developments in spoilers (unless they're super obvious) just in case some folks don't even want to consider potential surprises...in other words, I may guess completely wrong, but maybe people would rather not consider certain developments so they can be totally surprised in case they do come about. New Japan Rumble: BUSHI...I mean, he's in it, isn't he? Poor BUSHI, always the odd man out for LIJ. Still plenty over, though. IWGP Jr. Tag Team Titles - Roppongi 3K (c) vs. Young Bucks Prediction: R3K. They're just too hot right now. They came in and beat the champs on their first night back, they won the Jr. Tag Tournament as champs, and now beating the most decorated team in the division will solidify them as the new face of the division, and hopefully the leaders of a reinvigorated Jr. Tag scene in NJPW. NEVER Openweight 6-Man Title Gauntlet - Bullet Club (c - Fale, Tama, Roa) vs. CHAOS (Baretta, Ishii, Yano) vs. Suzuki-Gun (Taichi, Iizuka, ZSJ) vs. Taguchi/Juice/Makabe vs. War Machine and Elgin Predicton: Bullet Club. Hoo boy, the Elgin/War Machine team sure got awkward, didn't it? I think that GoD will be out of the main tag title scene for a little bit, and the NEVER belts will be a way to keep them in the audience's eye. {Spoiler}Plus, there's buzz that 2018 will include a LIJ vs. BC feud, and keeping these straps with the Biz Cliz OGs would help that along. Special Challenge: Kota Ibushi vs. Cody Rhodes (w/Brandi) Prediction: Ibushi. Has anyone but Okada pinned Cody in NJPW yet? This one's actually kind of tough to predict on some level, as some of it might come down to what they're looking to do in the World Title scene in the first quarter of the year. {Spoiler}For example, if Naito wins the title and then the LIJ vs. BC feud begins to build toward Naito vs. Omega, Cody would make for a decent "build up" challenger before we get to that particular fireworks factory. Still, while Ibushi had a great showing against Tanahashi in November he still came up short; feel like they'll put him over here to keep him strong for 2018. IWGP Tag Team Titles - Killer Elite Squad (c) vs. Los Ingobernables Prediction: LIJ. Much like the Jr. division, I have a feeling that Gedo wants to reinvigorate the heavy side, as well. GoD/KES/War Machine did a nice job carrying the torch against one another during the second half of 2017, but it's time to get some fresh blood in there...and the home country fans would probably like to see some more Japanese talent fighting for the belts, as well. EVIL and SANADA get strapped up and, again like the Jr. division, we get some relatively newer/fresher teams to challenge them. NEVER Openweight Title, Hair vs. Hair, Noone Allowed at Ringside - Minoru Suzuki (c) vs. Hirooki Goto Prediction: Suzuki. So far, this one was the toughest for me to pick. I just don't see them shaving Suzuki's iconic mohawk and scalp designs, but it's also kind of hard to see them book Goto to lose to Suzuki for a third time (plus, Wrestle Kingdom has kind of always been a big show for Goto, dude's got a shockingly good record in the Dome). The gimmick is pretty serious here: yes, there's a humiliation angle to it, but it's not uncommon in Japan for public apologies to coincide with what amounts to ceremonial head-shaving, so there's a lot more weight to it than just embarrassing your opponent. But here's a story reason why I predict Suzuki will win: {Spoiler}Goto winning would be fine, but his previous NEVER reign was mostly just about him making younger talent look good, so I'm not sure there's much to be had from strapping him up again. More to the point, after a pretty quiet 2017 for Goto I could see this match causing him to kind of snap: New Years Dash could see him turn heel in a fit of frustration, perhaps splintering CHAOS, perhaps joining a new stable, perhaps even joining Suzuki-Gun...could it eventually become Goto-Gun? It's a thought. HOWEVER, to give a reason why Goto could win: {Spoiler}If, and I repeat IF Suzuki is approaching the end of his run, and that's not a given considering that he's still had multiple ****+ matches this year, a loss and haircut here could set the stage for somebody in Suzuki-Gun overthrowing him, just as he only became leader when the old members of Kojima-Gun overthrew Kozy. I don't think the latter is as likely, so I'm leaning toward the former. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title 4-Corner Match: Marty Scurll (c) vs. KUSHIDA vs. Hiromu Takahashi vs. Will Ospreay Prediction: uh...um...hmm...Hiromu? Ok, this one may officially be the toughest to call. All four champs from 2017 duke it out, and I have no idea who's in the best position to win. Forget storyline stuff, no need for spoiler tag predictions here, this is just going to be awesome and the outcome is completely up in the air. IWGP Intercontinental Title - Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Jay White Prediction: White. Tana, we all love you, but please take some time off and heal up. You did what the company needed you to do in 2017, now take a vacation and come back when you're not threatening your future well being so badly. {Spoiler}I'm predicting that White goes on to New Years Dash to start his own stable. No idea who joins or what'll bind them together, but the guy is going to make a big impact one way or another. IWGP US Heavyweight Title, No DQ - Kenny Omega (c) vs. Chris Jericho Prediction: Omega. It's going to be fun, it's going to be brutal, it's going to be old school-NWA style booking. I COULD see Jericho potentially winning to surprise people, maybe stick around for a bit, but my money's on Kenny. IWGP Heavyweight Title - Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito Prediction: Naito. ...but I won't bat an eyelash if Okada retains. Kneel before the Rainmaker. |
|
chrom
Backup Wench
Master of the rare undecuple post
Posts: 88,192
Member is Online
|
Post by chrom on Dec 30, 2017 16:19:12 GMT -5
Despite saying he's had his last match ever, I'm calling it; The Great Kabuki shows up for the New Japan Rumble
|
|
Fade
Patti Mayonnaise
Posts: 38,665
|
Post by Fade on Dec 30, 2017 17:01:56 GMT -5
AXS showed all the Okada/Omega matches last night...I cannot wait to see their respective matches at WK.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2017 18:24:22 GMT -5
Rumble: BUSHI NEVER 6-Man: Bullet Club OG's Junior Tag Team Titles: RPG3K Tag Team Titles: Los Ingobernables NEVER Openweight: Goto Special Singles Match: Ibushi IWGP Junior: Licking Time Bomb IWGP Intercontinental: Jay White IWGP United States: Omega IWGP Heavyweight: Naito I could see Chaos winning the NEVER titles, or KUSHIDA winning the Junior Heavyweight title, too. The card may be a little "predictable," but it feels like every outcome would be acceptable. Especially Okada retaining. Should be an awesome WK.  |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2017 18:56:31 GMT -5
So, I'm confused, this looks to be starting at 2am Eastern on 1/4?
|
|
chrom
Backup Wench
Master of the rare undecuple post
Posts: 88,192
Member is Online
|
Post by chrom on Dec 30, 2017 19:49:27 GMT -5
So, I'm confused, this looks to be starting at 2am Eastern on 1/4? Correct, that's when the preshow and New Japan Rumble will be starting with the Main Show beginning at 3am |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2017 19:56:59 GMT -5
I'm very excited for this one. I actually have vacation booked this week so I'll get to see it without wishing I was dead the next day. It's too bad there's no ROH title match this year. Would've been cool to have Dalton Castle on the card.
Pre Show: New Japan Rumble
Unrealistic but Kawato winning it would be cool.
NEVER Openweight 6-man Tag Championship Gauntlet Match: Bad Luck Fale, Tama Tonga & Leo Tonga (Bullet Club) (c) vs Ryusuke Tagachi, Juice Robinson & Togo Makabe vs Beretta, Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii (Chaos) vs Hanson, Raymond Rowe & Michael Elgin vs Taichi, Takashi Iizuka & Zach Sabre Jr (Suzuki-Gun)
Suzuki-Gun
IWPG Heavyweight Tag Championship: Killer Elite Squad (c) vs Evil & Sanada
EVIL & Sanada
NEVER Openweight Championship: Minoru Suzuki (c) vs Hirooki Goto. Hair vs hair and seconds are banned from ringside.
I think Goto will win but I don't know how anyone's going to claim Suzuki's hair.
Cody vs Kota Ibushi
Gotta be Kota Ibushi here.
IWGP JR Tag Championship: Roppongi 3k (c) vs The Young Bucks
I think the Bucks will win this one.
IWGP JR Heavyweight Championship: Marty Scrull (c) vs Will Ospreay vs KUSHIDA vs Hiromu Takahashi
Hiromu Takahashi seems like the hot ticket item right now.
IWGP Intercontinental Championship: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs Jay White
Jay's surely winning and putting Tanahashi out of his misery for a while. I really wonder how this match is gonna be, I can't see Jay White having the kind of match Tanahashi is good for on Wrestle Kingdom cards but hopefully he's got the goods.
IWGP US Championship: Kenny Omega (c) vs Chris Jericho with No Disqualifications
If I'm fantasy booking, I would love for Chris Jericho to win, with the story going that Kenny Omega's not accustomed to Chris Jericho's brand of westernized violence. Give Jericho an honest to god NJPW run where he gets a few cool matches in, then Omega pummels the tar out of him in Long Beach. Hard to believe Jericho's gonna be around after this though, I think Omega will send him packing. Too bad though because he's really got a great persona and look in NJPW that he surely can't use in the WWE.
IWPG World Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs Tetsuya Naito
My safe bet is on Naito although I'm perfectly fine with Okada having a Bruno Sammartino length title reign.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2017 20:30:05 GMT -5
Hopefully, I will able to join the ranks. Anyone know Central start time (US)? Preshow Rumble starts around 2, and it begins at 3. Would that be PM or AM? (I'm sounding like a noob, yes) |
|
Chainsaw
T
A very BAD man.
It is what it is
Posts: 90,480
|
Post by Chainsaw on Dec 30, 2017 20:54:06 GMT -5
What's the story behind this one? Not so much Sabre, but because of all of the shit Elgin has stirred up. But then again, Japanese fans might not know or give a damn about all that. |
|
chrom
Backup Wench
Master of the rare undecuple post
Posts: 88,192
Member is Online
|
Post by chrom on Dec 30, 2017 20:57:02 GMT -5
Preshow Rumble starts around 2, and it begins at 3. Would that be PM or AM? (I'm sounding like a noob, yes) AM, up to you if you wanna catch it live. Can always sleep in and watch it later when its uploaded on New Japan World Edit: Actually since your in Central Time it'll be about 10PM or so when it starts |
|
|
|
Post by Some Baritone guy IS REDEEMED! on Dec 30, 2017 21:28:51 GMT -5
What's the story behind this one? Not so much Sabre, but because of all of the shit Elgin has stirred up. But then again, Japanese fans might not know or give a damn about all that. What shit's been stirred up between them? I must confess I'm woefully out of the loop. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2017 21:57:58 GMT -5
Would that be PM or AM? (I'm sounding like a noob, yes) AM, up to you if you wanna catch it live. Can always sleep in and watch it later when its uploaded on New Japan World Edit: Actually since your in Central Time it'll be about 10PM or so when it starts Thanks, you have helped greatly! I don't mind watching it live, just want to make sure I don't stay up for no reason because I missed the time lol.  10 pm is actually perfect as you can get without being standard WWE ppv time or a bit earlier, so this is great news if true. *Edit - "Bold" prediction: What if someone debuts/returns? I don't think anyone's debuted (or even returned) at a Wrestle Kingdom since I've been following the company (which has been a while, I just haven't watched WK live before ) |
|
Chainsaw
T
A very BAD man.
It is what it is
Posts: 90,480
|
Post by Chainsaw on Dec 30, 2017 22:30:39 GMT -5
Not so much Sabre, but because of all of the shit Elgin has stirred up. But then again, Japanese fans might not know or give a damn about all that. What shit's been stirred up between them? I must confess I'm woefully out of the loop. Again, Sabre isn't involved with this, it's all on Elgin. officialfan.proboards.com/thread/567084/michael-elgin-sells-glory-proAnd, on the subject of HMARK's speculation on a rift within Chaos, we did see Osprey taking massive umbrage with Kushida immediately challenging Scurll for a shot at Power Struggle. That could be the beginnings of a rift between the members that could escalate with an Okada loss. |
|
chrom
Backup Wench
Master of the rare undecuple post
Posts: 88,192
Member is Online
|
Post by chrom on Dec 30, 2017 23:04:39 GMT -5
On this week's ROH Episode they had the UK tour including the match where poor Daryl received a Meltzer Driver.
|
|
|
|
Post by Some Baritone guy IS REDEEMED! on Dec 30, 2017 23:26:16 GMT -5
What shit's been stirred up between them? I must confess I'm woefully out of the loop. Again, Sabre isn't involved with this, it's all on Elgin. officialfan.proboards.com/thread/567084/michael-elgin-sells-glory-proAnd, on the subject of HMARK's speculation on a rift within Chaos, we did see Osprey taking massive umbrage with Kushida immediately challenging Scurll for a shot at Power Struggle. That could be the beginnings of a rift between the members that could escalate with an Okada loss. Ah, I misunderstood. That's pretty f***ed up, I like Elgin a lot less now. As far as the Chaos rift, there's always a big surprise at New Years Dash, so I would not be shocked. |
|
|
|
Post by BRAINFADE on Dec 31, 2017 0:17:59 GMT -5
Here's my bold prediction for the show: I think Jericho is winning. If you look at Fozzy's schedule in the upcoming year, he has 25th March free- the date of the show in Long Beach. If he wins the title at WK, and Jericho/Omega 2 headlines Strong Style Evolved, no way that show isn't selling out.
|
|
|
|
Post by corndog on Dec 31, 2017 15:46:22 GMT -5
Pre Show: New Japan Rumble
I am going with Nagata, maybe YOSHI-HASHI.
NEVER Openweight 6-man Tag Championship Gauntlet Match: Bad Luck Fale, Tama Tonga & Leo Tonga (Bullet Club) (c) vs Ryusuke Tagachi, Juice Robinson & Togo Makabe vs Beretta, Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii (Chaos) vs Hanson, Raymond Rowe & Michael Elgin vs Taichi, Takashi Iizuka & Zach Sabre Jr (Suzuki-Gun)
CHAOS, they have to get something out of this show.
IWPG Heavyweight Tag Championship: Killer Elite Squad (c) vs Evil & Sanada
EVIL/SANADA, no brainer here.
NEVER Openweight Championship: Minoru Suzuki (c) vs Hirooki Goto. Hair vs hair and seconds are banned from ringside.
Goto is getting his head shaved. I think Suzuki losses the belt at New Beginnings, maybe Juice comes back for revenge against Suzuki destroying his knee at the G1.
Cody vs Kota Ibushi
I really hope Ibushi wins this one and gets a crap at one of the top three belts. Although Cody has only lost one singles match in New Japan against Okada.
IWGP JR Tag Championship: Roppongi 3k (c) vs The Young Bucks
The RPG3K coronation continues.
IWGP JR Heavyweight Championship: Marty Scrull (c) vs Will Ospreay vs KUSHIDA vs Hiromu Takahashi
It has to be Takahashi after everything he went through to get the title shot. It's his time to be the Ace of the Juniors.
IWGP Intercontinental Championship: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs Jay White
Jay White should win this and Tanahashi gets time off to heal. Will be interesting to see how they book White as champion.
IWGP US Championship: Kenny Omega (c) vs Chris Jericho with No Disqualifications
This is a tough one, really depends on how long Jericho is sticking around. They are really playing up how this match favors Jericho, but Omega would be him in a straight wrestling match. I am going to make this my upset and say Jericho wins.
IWPG World Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs Tetsuya Naito
Naito, it's time for this to happen.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2017 15:52:35 GMT -5
Really getting hyped now. Even coughed up for a tv license somI could watch it live and worry free (though other reasons as well).
|
|
