19) Ramble

My biggest worry about making this Japan trip solo was how I was going to spend my Hogmanay. The idea of being on the other side of the world, all on my lonesome and sat in some random bar while the bells rang felt, well, a bit depressing. Thankfully, Big Japan and DDT came to the rescue, with their Tag Team Shuffle tournament, a show that went through midnight and gave me an excuse to see in the New Year in Korakuen Hall. Like yesterday, this won’t be a traditional review, but instead a ramble about the experience.

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01/01/2020 0

BJW World Is Not Enough (30/12/19) Ramble

Image result for big japan wrestling world is not enough

I’m in Tokyo! A fact that still seems unbelievable despite being very much the truth. That means all the usual reviews will be delayed (I’m going to try and get some stuff up, including my match of the year list, over the next few days), but that I have other stuff to ramble about. To kick that off, I went to Korakuen Hall yesterday for my first live Japanese wrestling show and damn, did I have a good time. This won’t be a standard review. I wasn’t taking notes and had a few drinks, but will instead be a rumination of what it was like to go to Korakuen and watch Big Japan.

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31/12/2019 0

Ramblings About’s Top Twenty Films of 2019

Round two of my end of year round-up is my twenty favourite films of the year. Cinema is a weird one. If you are to believe certain corners of the internet then it’s a dead artform, overrun by superheroes and the flogging of shite franchises. However, there is an incredible array of films being released every year, and with just a bit of effort, you can see them all! Here’s the twenty that blew me away in 2019.

Quick note to say that this list is based off films that got a wide release (be that on streaming services or in cinemas) in the UK in 2019.

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27/12/2019 1

Ramblings About’s Top Twenty Albums Of 2019

It’s that time of year where I decide that what the world needs is for me to put together lists of the shit I like because, you know, I don’t ramble on about that stuff enough. We’re kicking things off with my twenty favourite albums of 2019 and, if I do say so myself, it is quite a list. Personally, I think I have exceptional taste in music, so I can only congratulate me on how well I’m doing.

Quick note to tell you all to support musicians. If you click on the bands’ names throughout this list, it should take you to their Bandcamp (or in some cases website) where you can give them money (usually in exchange for something). Why not treat yourself to a post-Christmas gift? You might love it as much as I do.

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26/12/2019 0

Stardom Goddess of Stars (15/12/19) Review

The build to Stardom’s final Korakuen of the year has been almost perfect so far and with their last stop taking place in the comfortable surroundings of Shinkiba, let’s see if they could nail the landing.

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24/12/2019 0

Stardom Goddess of Stars (14/12/19) Review

There wasn’t much fanfare for this Yokohama Stardom show, but shit, it had a hell of a card. It continued the build to both Hazuki’s retirement and the Christmas Eve show, but if they’d delivered this on a mid-year Korakuen, I doubt anyone would have complained.

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23/12/2019 2

Ramblings About’s Top Ten Matches of November 2019

Image result for nakajima vs takahashi seadlinnng — Spoiler.

Yes, it’s late, but it’s always late, so let’s not waste time on that. Here’s my rundown of the best wrestling I watched in November. As always, if you saw something better, let me know! The more wrestling, the better.

20/12/2019 0

Minoru Suzuki: The Perfect Wrestler

Image result for minoru suzuki — I certainly wouldn’t fight him.

Minoru Suzuki is a badass. That’s a fair opinion to hold, right? Even at the age of fifty-one, the man is terrifying, while a twenty-second dive into his career will only add to your fear. There is not only the stellar pro-wrestling, filled with hard-hitting matches against some of the very best but the fact he was a founding figure in Pancrase, holding MMA victories over the likes of Ken Shamrock. His credentials weren’t dreamt up in the mixed-reality of kayfabe. They come from blood, sweat and the tears’ of his enemies.

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20/12/2019 1

DDT D-Oh Grand Prix (15/12/19) Review

DDT undercards are the best. While I’m still not going to review it, this one featured the D-Oh trophy winning the Ironman belt, Cherry taking on Gorgeous Matsuno and a match with Chris Brookes and Antonio Honda on separate sides. If any of that sounds fun to you, give it a watch. Outside of that, the B Block was coming to a close with Tanaka, HARASHIMA and Sasaki still in contention.

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19/12/2019 0

DDT D-Oh Grand Prix (14/12/19) Review

It’s time for the D-Oh block finals, with A, unsurprisingly, doing the honours first. Coming into this show, Iino, Brookes, Takeshita, Ishii and Endo all had a smidgen of a chance of coming top. The only one in complete control of his destiny, though, was Ishii. Who made it? Read on to find out.

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18/12/2019 0