Convoy
El Dandy
Rusev admits to being a sex addict to large applause.
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Post by Convoy on Feb 11, 2024 21:31:35 GMT -5
What a rollercoaster that show was. Won’t go into every match, but a few things that stuck out to me:
- Okada and Tanahashi haven’t gelled after their initial years of high-profile matches, including a putrid WK main event a few years back, so it was nice to get a really good “best of” bout as their final chapter. Didn’t think Tana would get the win, but I was hoping for a draw for a fun finale.
- New Japan, for better or worse, can still trick me sometimes. Figured KENTA/Chase would win the STRONG belts and lose the IWGP challenge, but life is funny sometimes. KENTA did mention that his beloved dog was finally in Japan, so I wonder if he finally convinced his family to move back to Japan.
- Like their first outing, I was disappointed with ZSJ/Bryan. Not a bad match by any stretch, but the flow was a bit off in terms of how they worked between the strikes and submissions. Also, it felt like a sequel in the middle of a trilogy, because they hyped making the other tap only to end in a flash pin.
- Damn that cage match went on forever. There were like five different points where it felt like the end was near, and then another 15 segments would happen. It was like the ending to Return of the King. Overall it was a blast, and at a time where guys are refusing to put others over, I’ll give Ospreay props for putting the War Dogs over on the way out. I know people were prepping for something major to happen like a turn, but it was best for things to go down exactly as they did.
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chrom
Backup Wench
Master of the rare undecuple post
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Post by chrom on Feb 11, 2024 22:03:07 GMT -5
Difunto's gimmick is that he's undead
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chrom
Backup Wench
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Post by chrom on Feb 11, 2024 22:24:55 GMT -5
Sabre has vowed he would win the world title in 2024
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Post by Some Baritone guy IS REDEEMED! on Feb 12, 2024 0:49:46 GMT -5
Sabre has vowed he would win the world title in 2024 He f***ing better, dude was the MVP of 2023 by a damn stretch and they could use as many top stars as they can get with Okada and Ospreay leaving.
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Convoy
El Dandy
Rusev admits to being a sex addict to large applause.
Posts: 7,570
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Post by Convoy on Feb 12, 2024 1:17:12 GMT -5
Full cards announced for Sapporo. I’ll update the OP tomorrow, but here’s the notable new stuff:
- Finlay/Nemeth is the main event of Night 1, with Tana/Riddle as the semi-main. - Despy/SHO is now for the title, but there is no mention of SHO needing to join Strong Style if he loses. - We get ZSJ vs. Nagata as match one in the first night. Their G1 match was a hidden gem. - GoD vs. GoD is happening on Night 2, interestingly after Okada’s final match. - Okada’s last two matches are indeed teaming with CHAOS, both times facing United Empire. Each 10-man tag is taking place early in the card, which makes some sense with the title matches and ongoing feuds taking place in Sapporo, but is still a bit weird. Ishii and Bishamon are the constants on both nights, with YOH also there for the first tag and Tana teaming with everyone on the second. Riddle is teaming with UE on Night 2, possibly hinting at his permanent faction affiliation due to his preexisting relationship with Cobb.
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Post by ANuclearError on Feb 12, 2024 3:00:26 GMT -5
I was hoping for CHAOS v CHAOS personally. I don't see Loads putting anyone over based on how things have been since the announcement, so hopefully he squashes Riddle in 3 minutes.
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chrom
Backup Wench
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Post by chrom on Feb 12, 2024 4:19:36 GMT -5
The anniversary show next month will have the World Champion face the Jr Champion
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chrom
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Post by chrom on Feb 12, 2024 4:28:42 GMT -5
Ishimori missed today's show, his replacement was Bone Soldier Jr.
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chrom
Backup Wench
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Post by chrom on Feb 12, 2024 4:35:12 GMT -5
Hiromu claims that this is a new person as Kamaitachi
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chrom
Backup Wench
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Post by chrom on Feb 12, 2024 4:40:39 GMT -5
Titan back with LIJ
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Post by ANuclearError on Feb 12, 2024 7:31:40 GMT -5
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chrom
Backup Wench
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Post by chrom on Feb 12, 2024 7:58:23 GMT -5
Mascara got a big win pinning Guerrero
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Convoy
El Dandy
Rusev admits to being a sex addict to large applause.
Posts: 7,570
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Post by Convoy on Feb 12, 2024 9:28:14 GMT -5
Ishimori’s love of Kinnikuman doesn’t translate well outside of Japan.
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Post by Some Baritone guy IS REDEEMED! on Feb 12, 2024 10:47:54 GMT -5
My take on the four big matches of yesterday's show
-Okada Vs. Tanahashi was a fun greatest hits kind of match. It was nothing special to be honest, but it really didn't need to be. This was fun and it was about the history.
-The Tag Title match happened. The fact that Chase Owens is a champion in NJPW confuses me.
-ZSJ Vs. Danielson was f***ing spectacular, and frankly even better than their Wrestledream match up. A 90% mat-based encounter can be hard to pull off but they did it magnificently. The finish with Sabre beating Danielson with a wrestling move (albeit not by submission) was a very satisfying conclusion that actually felt more decisive than Danielson's victory given the nature of the rivalry. And if they want to do best 2 out of 3? You will not hear me object. Early shout for Match of the Year. Also just put the belt on Sabre, dude's the best thing you've got going right now.
-The cage match was super complicated. To address the elephant in the room, why was Henare allowed to continue in that match? That wasn't selling. Best case scenario he was woozy from blood loss, and if that's the best case he REALLY shouldn't have been in there should he? Aside from that it was an exceptionally brutal match that really went on far longer than it should have. After a while it just felt like they were trying to cram as much into the match as they could with as many high spots and as much violence as possible (common in Ospreay matches but with more hardcore stuff). It wasn't bad and there was a lot to like about it. Francesco Akira was the highlight of the match for me. That crazy little Italian bastard was such a great underdog and a sympathetic baby face in this match. Even when he knew he couldn't win he fought to the very last. I was kind of heartbroken to see him beaten and helpless at the end. Alex Coughlin was the standout performer for the War Dogs I thought. From entering the ring with a hilarious number of chairs, to the kendo stick spot, to the violently throwing everybody in the United Empire around like ragdolls the man could do no wrong. Now I watched with the English commentary and I did love how they treated it. That what was happening in the ring wasn't something to be celebrated. That these are human beings who are never going to be the same after this match. It really put the match over more than the typical "What a match!" kind of selling these things get normally. I really loved the finish. Ospreay, breaking the last pin attempt on Akira, getting his young friend out of the ring, to take the last stand in the war he got his friends into. And ultimately being beaten.
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clifford
King Koopa
Shingo Takagi stan
Posts: 10,683
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Post by clifford on Feb 12, 2024 11:02:52 GMT -5
Okada/Tana was nice. Their decade plus rivalry distilled into a 15 minute 'play the hits' sprint (or however fast Tana can move nowadays). I liked it.
Danielson/ZSJ was great, not as great as their Wrestle Dream match but that would've been very hard to surpass. I liked the face/heel dynamic was switched, I appreciated a different, longer approach to this match, and I loved the result.
The cage main event? I need to sit with this a bit longer before deciding on what I really thought of it to be honest. It went WAY too long but had some awesome stretches and spots on it and the finish was cool as hell. And god bless the crowd, they stayed invested in it throughout the entire time. But it needed some serious editing.
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Post by Rudy Gobert Fadeaway on Feb 12, 2024 11:19:00 GMT -5
Hey what's going on in New Japan today ![](https://images-ext-2.discordapp.net/external/bIhaJQeDzUhfVJ_LkcBUXEch3RvysFwO3CogIVJe5EQ/https/pbs.twimg.com/media/GGICLimXoAECoHS.jpg?format=webp&width=1918&height=1078) OHHHHHHNONONO
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clifford
King Koopa
Shingo Takagi stan
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Post by clifford on Feb 12, 2024 12:41:00 GMT -5
Hey what's going on in New Japan today ![](https://images-ext-2.discordapp.net/external/bIhaJQeDzUhfVJ_LkcBUXEch3RvysFwO3CogIVJe5EQ/https/pbs.twimg.com/media/GGICLimXoAECoHS.jpg?format=webp&width=1918&height=1078) OHHHHHHNONONO Yo wtf
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Post by Alice Syndrome on Feb 12, 2024 14:23:44 GMT -5
This is the worst idea I've ever seen
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chrom
Backup Wench
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Post by chrom on Feb 12, 2024 20:40:37 GMT -5
Hechihero has made a challenge to Zack Sabre Jr to face him in Japan.
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Mozenrath
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Post by Mozenrath on Feb 12, 2024 23:06:41 GMT -5
Brocken Jr is an interesting character, but uhh, maybe cosplay someone else from Kinnikuman, Ishimori. Sabre has vowed he would win the world title in 2024 I really do hope he does, both since he should, anyway, but also because I just do not think Finlay is anywhere near ready, EVIL would need a lot of rehabbing of his image and credibility, and if he (hopefully) remains in the main event scene, Sabre and Sanada have a ton of chemistry as opponents and a very fun rivalry.
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