Heading out to Japan.
The New Japan Cup kicked off the second round with a spectacularly unsexy pair of matches. First up is YOSHI-HASHI vs Chase Owens and for dessert Tomohiro Ishii vs Taichi. I’m a huge fan of half those people; unfortunately, they’re not wrestling each other. Oh well, perhaps YOSHI and Taichi will surprise me. I live in hope.
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On paper, this show bears more of a resemblance to night two than night three. Still, there is always the potential for paper to be chucked out the window as Suzuki vs Kojima and Goto vs Sanada are a level above anything involving Fale or Hikuleo.
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After a dodgy second night in the New Japan Cup Kota Ibushi and Tetsuya Naito are here to save us all. You know those two aren’t laying an egg. Meanwhile, EVIL vs ZSJ continues, a Young Lion steps up to The Ace and Taguchi begins his quest to be the 69th IWGP Heavyweight champion. That should be enough to keep us going.
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Day two of the New Japan Cup is headlined by a match I won’t watch. I wanted to put that out at the front just so as not to waste the time of anyone that would be bothered by that. There are other reviews out there that will be happy to have you read them. Meanwhile, there is still plenty for me to get my teeth into as we have Mikey Nicholls’ return to Japan and Ospreay taking on a super-heavyweight in Bad Luck Fale.
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It’s March, and New Japan are ready to serve up a good old-fashioned tournament. As usual, I shan’t be bothering with the undercard because life is too short, but I will mention that El Phantasmo was introduced (via a video) as a new member of Bullet Club during this show. That’s an incredible opportunity for him, and I have no doubt he’ll smash it.
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New Japan’s Anniversary show is an underrated date on their calendar. The last two years have seen Kazuchika Okada take on Tiger Mask W (aka Kota Ibushi) and Will Ospreay while this year sees Will get his second main event in a row against Jay White. Gedo seems to view it as an opportunity to bend the rules a bit, and that’s always going to be fun.
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After an incredible start to the year, February’s wrestling delights were always going to struggle to compete with January’s. Honestly, I had to make an effort to fill this list which is why it’s a bit late (I was ill over the weekend and used it as an opportunity to catch up on hyped stuff). That brings its own excitement, though, as it means there are a few matches I might not have checked out otherwise. Let’s have a look.
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With the first of 2019’s Honor Rising shows succeeding in being a load of fun, night two was given something to live up to. It had a problem, though. The second half of this card looks like something New Japan has dreamt up to personally spite me. Miracles are going to have to occur for me to enjoy this.
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Honor Rising is a weird tour. Much like Fantastica Mania, people treat it like a bit of a joke. Yet, much like Fantastica Mania, I nearly always enjoy it. You get some fun combinations as a couple of matches always deliver. Christ, last year Hirooki Goto had a good showing with Beer City Bruiser, where else are you going to see that? I think people need to stop overthinking it, and just enjoy it.
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Don Callis is on commentary which is the sign that it’s time for a big New Japan show. That’s still kind of weird, isn’t it? Anyway, after a slightly meandering New Beginning tour, we’re finally onto the important stuff as The Knife Pervert got a chance to pick himself up a lovely new belt. Exciting!
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