NJPW New Japan Cup Night Two (10/3/18) Review

Our new Ace? Credit: NJPW

Night two of the New Japan Cup and for the second time in recent months, WordPress has deleted my first draft of this review. Therefore, if you notice that some of the undercard match reviews are slightly lacking in critical depth, call them, not me.  I’m sure you can survive without a five hundred word moan on Iizuka’s performance. Let’s dish out some stars.

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NJPW New Japan Cup Night One (9/3/18) Review

Juice had a tough day. Credit: NJPW

It’s New Japan Cup time. I don’t like to think about last year’s edition as it led to the retirement of one of my favourites. However, Shibata did deliver the match of his life at Sakura Genesis. Let us hope that we keep that element and ditch the career-destroying injury. Let’s dish out some stars.

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NJPW 46th Anniversary Event Review

Eventually, they all fall. Credit: NJPW

It’s New Japan’s 46th Anniversary and to celebrate the occasion, they’ve put together a sexy little card for us. The main event leaps off the page as Okada and Ospreay go face to face for the first time since the RevPro fight that played a part in getting Ospreay signed. Throw in Makabe challenging for the Intercontinental Title, a Junior tag three-way and a handful of other singles matches (although one does include Taichi), and we look set for fun. Let’s dish out some stars.

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NJPW Fantastica Mania 19/1/18 Review

It never gets old. Credit: NJPW

It’s that time of the year when CMLL grab a bunch of their guys, fly to Japan and have a party. Love it or hate it, Fantastica Mania is a unique tour in the New Japan calendar.

This year, NJPW have treated it a bit differently too. Rather than merging their guys with the luchadors they’ve given a few of their stars a rest and left the CMLL talent to carry these shows. There are still New Japan men sprinkled across them, but they’re not being presented as the attraction.

Will it work? Time to find out. Let’s dish out some stars.

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Kazuchika Okada: The Unbeatable Champion

Destined to fight forever? Credit: NJPW

“All of which leads us to January 4th and Okada vs Naito. The golden boy vs the rebel. There’s only one way this should go and it’s with the rebel getting the win.”

The words of, well, me. In the build-up to Wrestle Kingdom, I was so sure that Naito would beat Okada that I’d have bet your life on it. It seemed like a foregone conclusion. The pretty pink bow on Naito’s long story. Honestly, I still think it should have been, but the evils have popped out of Pandora’s box, and they ain’t going back in. So, we’re left with Okada and time to ponder whether this was the right story to tell.

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NJPW New Year Dash 2018 Review

He looks quite pleased with himself. Credit: NJPW

It’s the night after Wrestle Kingdom and all through Korakeun Hall, new stories are stirring and I’ve got nothing more.

That will be my last Christmas themed intro I promise.

If you’re getting into New Japan for the first time, look at New Year Dash as being their Raw after WrestleMania. It’s when NJPW hit the reset button and set up the storylines that are going to take them into the New Year. Which makes it pretty damn exciting. Let’s dish out some stars.

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