Ramblings About’s Matches of the Month for January 2023

A painful start to the year. Credit: TJPW

Maybe it’s just me, but January always feels like a fresh start for my wrestling viewing. My backlog from the previous year goes out of the window, under the assumption that if I haven’t watched it yet, I never will, and it’s a chance to jump back into promotions that I might have fallen away with it. When you throw in Ittenyon and all the excitement around that, it’s usually a good month, something this list makes clear.

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01/02/2023 0

NJPW New Japan Road (20/2/20) Review

If you put Shingo vs Ishii on top of a card, I will come. I’m pretty sure that’s written in scripture somewhere. What religion? I don’t know, one of the good ones? Are there any good ones? Christ, that’s a conversation for a different day. Onto the wrestling!

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24/02/2020 0

NJPW The New Beginning in Sapporo (1/2/20) Review

Shingo knows what he wants. Credit: NJPW

After a wee break from New Japan (unless you kept up with FantasticaMania) it’s time for The New Beginning, a tour which NJPW has gone all out on this year. They’ve upgraded the final date to Osaka Jo-Hall and are delivering potentially fantastic matches at every destination. Up first was Goto vs Shingo and EVIL vs Ishii, which kind of makes it look like Gedo let me do some booking. He didn’t, but I’m certainly going to enjoy it.

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03/02/2020 0

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom (5/1/20) Review

My final wrestling show of the trip was once again in the Tokyo Dome where, on a stacked card, there was only really one match I cared about. It was time for Tetsuya Naito to fulfil his Destino, and if he didn’t, well, I’d be writing someone a very strongly worded letter.

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10/01/2020 0

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom (4/1/20) 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 (6/12/19) Review

We’re onto our penultimate show, and honestly, there were times when I didn’t think we’d get here. I thought I was going to be stuck in a forever loop of alright tag wrestling watching matches, all bleeding into one as day after day I prayed for salvation. Then again, it might still happen.

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08/12/2019 0

NJPW World Tag League (5/12/19) Review

For the last three shows, World Tag League has gone back to being live while Gino and Double K have decided to turn up for the first time. Where were they on the cold night that was show 6,392? Anyway, nice to have them on board as we’re finally heading home.

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07/12/2019 0

NJPW World Tag League (3/12/19) Review

Koji dishing out chops for everyone. Credit: NJPW

We’re definitely in the home stretch now. After this, there are only three shows left, and as New Japan have made the interesting decision not to have a final, we’ll know our winner on Sunday. Who is still in contention? Honestly, I don’t have a fucking club, but maybe I’ll try and work it out as we go along.

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05/12/2019 0

NJPW World Tag League (1/12/19) Review

How is this tour still going? It feels like I’ve been reviewing these shows forever. Will it ever stop? Can it stop? Am I stuck in an infinite loop that will eventually see me drown in mediocre tag-team wrestling? Christ, what a shite way to go.

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03/12/2019 0

NJPW World Tag League (29/11/19) Review

World Tag League hit up its second straight night in Korkauen which pretty much guaranteed that this show was going to be worth a watch. That company + that venue very rarely leads to anything below great.

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01/12/2019 0