Rambles about the wonderful world of wrestling.
I went straight into the review on night one and didn’t mention that World Tag League has ditched the two group format in favour of every team being chucked into the one. It makes for a rather unwieldy block, and I’m a bit worried New Japan is going to produce another three-way dance in the final. Fingers crossed I’m wrong. Anyway, that’s a while off, so let’s focus on night two and all the fun that entails.
Continue reading “NJPW World Tag League Night Two (18/11/18) Review”
One of these matches is pivotal in deciding who goes to the final of this tournament and the other means fuck all. Considering the levels of effort put into this tournament when they were still supposedly wrestling for something, I’m a bit worried about what the match for pride will look like. We must treat every New Japan day like it’s Christmas, though. They might surprise me yet.
Continue reading “NJPW Super Junior Tag League (31/10-1/11/18) Review”
New Japan has split the final four group matches of the Super Junior Tag League onto separate shows, but I’m going to review them in groups of two rather than doing a piece for each one. Both of today’s bouts have potential final implications, so they at least hold some interest.
Continue reading “NJPW Super Junior Tag League (28-29/10/18) Review”
I’m not going to change my tournament long policy of ignoring the undercard, but it would be remiss to not mention what happened in the final multi-man match of this show. In what has become a common theme, The Firing Squad went after Okada post-match and Tanahashi made the save. This time, rather than rejecting the Ace’s help, Okada embraced in. In fact, Okada and Tanahashi shook hands while Korakuen Hall exploded. I watched that moment spoilt, yet it still gave me goosebumps. It’s so much more than a handshake, it’s the greatest feud in pro-wrestling coming full circle. Okada and Tanahashi gave the Juniors an impossible moment to follow just by clasping hands.
Continue reading “NJPW Super Junior Tag League (27/10/18) Review”
We now live in a world where Lanny Poffo is commentating on New Japan shows. That’s a world I distrust. I’ve got nothing against Lanny Poffo, it’s just fucking weird. Anyway, we’re back in Korakuen which means we’re getting four tournament matches and hopefully a smidge more effort.
Continue reading “NJPW Super Junior Tag League (26/10/18) Review”
New Japan’s Super Junior Tag League has sadly been a bit flat so far. There’s not much about it that I’d describe as bad, and yet, it’s hardly got the blood pumping. It’s been fine with a couple of spots where it’s leapt above that level to good and just the one (back on the first night) where it managed to hit great. Sadly, I doubt this single-camera show will be the moment that changes, but you never know.
Continue reading “NJPW Super Junior Tag League (23/10/18) Review”
The Super Junior Tag League rolls on and, to be honest, I don’t have much to say in this intro. It’s another one camera show with only two matches on it, so we know not to expect much. Hopefully, someone will surprise us.
Continue reading “NJPW Super Junior Tag League (22/10/18) Review”
Night four of Super Junior Tag League was another pre-tape filmed on a single hard cam with a roaming camera on the floor to catch entrances/dives, so perhaps don’t expect the spectacular. In saying that, these two matches are a bit more attractive than the previous day’s, so you’d be forgiven for expecting something good.
Continue reading “NJPW Super Junior Tag League (20/10/18) Review”
While New Japan has used this year to place more emphasis on tournaments like Best Of The Super Juniors, the New Japan Cup and now the Super Junior Tag League, it’s still safe to say they don’t hold half of the esteem the G1 does. That’s why we get shows like this one in which the two matches taped aren’t aired live and are recorded with the most basic of production values. It’s safe to say you’re not going to get five-star classics on these shows, although that doesn’t stop them having the potential to be fun.
Continue reading “NJPW Super Junior Tag League (19/10/18) Review”
The first night of the Super Junior Tag League gave me comfort ahead of the many reviews I will be writing in the next month as it proved to be a lot of fun. It’s now time to see whether night two can continue the theme. Just a reminder, I’m not bothering with the undercard, but it’s worth noting that Tanahashi saved Okada from a Jay White attack. New Japan is teasing fans with the idea of their two generational Aces putting aside their differences and joining together to take on The Firing Squad.
Continue reading “NJPW Super Junior Tag League 2018 (17/10/18) Review”
Ramblings About Wrestling 