20) Review

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Credit: NJPW

With Tokyo Joshi finished, it was time to go to the second most important show of the day. January 4th at the Tokyo Dome is a New Japan tradition, and even if they were running two dates there this year, there was something extra special about the first. Watching Wrestle Kingdom a few years ago got me into Japanese wrestling and, well, have a look around this site if you want to know how important that was to me. So, let’s find out what New Japan gave me on my first trip to their biggest show of the year.

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09/01/2020 0

NJPW World Tag League (8/12/19) Review

We’re finally there! Seven years after we started, the World Tag League rolls into Hiroshima to finish things up. There’s no actual final, as the team with the most points will take home the victory (although it could be a three-way tie, please don’t be a three-way tie). Who will it be? Well, I’ve said FinJuice since day one, so let’s find out of I’m right.

I hope you’ll all forgive a quick plug, but this review means I have written about every single New Japan tournament match this year, from the Young Lion Cup to the G1. That’s a lot of wrestling. I do this stuff because I love it, and as much as I moan on night 673 of Tag League, I’d be watching it anyway. However, it does take a lot of time and effort. So, if you’ve read my reviews, enjoyed them and have a bit of spare cash, it would mean everything to me if you dropped a few pounds into my Ko-Fi. On the other hand, if you can’t afford it (or you don’t like me), don’t. The articles will keep coming anyway, and I hope you’ll keep reading them.

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09/12/2019 0

Ramblings About’s Top Ten Matches of October 2019

We might be over halfway through November, but it’s time to head back to October and read about my ten favourite matches of the month. Did you see something better? Well, tell me! I’m always happy to watch good wrestling.

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17/11/2019 0

NJPW Showdown in San Jose (9/11/19) Review

For the first time since announcing New Japan of America, NJPW has made the trip over the pond, rocking up in San Jose for some fun. It was a show packed with star power that featured a lot of tags backed-up by a couple of interesting title shots. How would it go? Well, now is the time to find out.

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12/11/2019 0

NJPW Power Struggle (3/11/19) Review

Is that a bump only a man cleared to wrestle would take? Credit: NJPW

Power Struggle is our last big stop before Wrestle Kingdom (no-one counts Tag League), and I expect to come out the back of this show with more of an idea of what to expect on January 4th and 5th. The big question? Is BUSHI challenging Will a sign that Hiromu is returning? Or is my heart going to be hurt once more?

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04/11/2019 0

NJPW King Of Pro-Wrestling (14/10/19) Review

It feels only right to start this review with a shout out to those in Japan who were affected by the typhoon over the weekend, and I hope everyone looks after themselves. It feels a bit cheap to go from that to talk of card changes, as in the grand scheme of things it’s not that big a deal, but it did leave Jon Moxley and Zack Sabre Jr unable to travel. Mox was the bigger loss of the two as his absence forced New Japan to strip the US Title from him and give the match to Lance Archer instead. Amazingly, that’s caused some conspiracy chat, which seems oblivious to the actual typhoon which makes cancelled flights seem perfectly reasonable. Anyway, that silliness aside, this was a hella stacked card, so let’s see what went down.

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15/10/2019 0

Meltzer’s Classics: Tomohiro Ishii vs Kazuchika Okada (6/8/16)

Image result for ishii vs okada 2016 — Credit: New Japam

Kazuchika Okada and Tomohiro Ishii are two of my favourite wrestlers of all time, so it’s kind of a crime that I haven’t seen this match before. It also means that I am almost guaranteed to like it. As I write this Kazu is making his entrance and I’m smiling away well aware that I’m about to see something I’ll love. See you in twenty minutes.

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03/10/2019 0

NJPW Fighting Spirit Unleashed (28/9/19) Review

Captain Kazu had a tough main event. Credit: NJPW

New Japan’s trip to the Hammerstein Ballroom led to an interesting old night for the Japanese company. Apparently, someone had called earlier in the day, cancelling the ambulance that is required to be on hand for wrestling shows. That led to a delay that stretched over an hour and whispers online about sabotage. Whether that was the case or not, New Japan needed to deliver a show worthy of the time the fans spent sitting around waiting for it to start.

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02/10/2019 0

NJPW Destruction in Kobe (22/9/19) Review

Destruction is a long old tour that generally delivers a shitload of mediocrity elevated by the occasional great match, and that is exactly what we’ve received in 2019. The final night is in Kobe and let’s hope we finish up with more of the great than the mediocre.

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23/09/2019 0

Ramblings About’s Top Ten Matches Of August 2019

Alright, even I will admit that this is taking the piss levels of late. I’d feel guilty, but I doubt anyone is sitting around waiting for it, so I’m not going to beat myself up too much. Plus, there has been a shitload of wrestling recently which combined with my life being a bit nuts has put this on the back burner. I do hope my one fan can forgive me.

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18/09/2019 0