DDT TV Show Episode 5 (30/5/20) Review

One hell of a trio. Credit: DDT

Hey everyone, after a week off it’s time to get back to the joys of rambling about pro-wrestling. This has been a tough time for more reason than one, and it isn’t something that I’ll be able to put behind me easily, but I want to reiterate that be you old friend or total stranger, the need to talk is common to us all, and I’m very easy to contact.

Anyway, let’s move on from the serious stuff and go find out what’s happening in DDT.

Continue reading “DDT TV Show Episode 5 (30/5/20) Review”

Tam Nakano vs Arisa Hoshiki: Communication Through Violence

Stardom Shining Destiny 2019 on 6/16/19 Review
Ow. Credit: Stardom

I’ve decided I’m not quite done with saying goodbye to Arisa Hoshiki. Having already said my thanks, I now want one more chance to sit back and appreciate her, and if I’m going to do that, there is only one match that I’m going to watch. Tam vs Arisa might not be one of Meltzer’s Classics, but it is a Stuart Classic, and while that lacks the SEO benefits, it’s just as big an honour.

Continue reading “Tam Nakano vs Arisa Hoshiki: Communication Through Violence”

DDT TV Show Episode 3 (16/5/20) Review

Endo clearly not stopped working out during lockdown. Credit: DDT

DDT Universe has rebranded! With the addition of NOAH, not to mention the numerous other companies available on it, they’ve become Wrestle Universe. A name that’s perhaps not their most inventive moment, but it gets to the point. Honestly, it’s probably the best value streaming service out there, so if you’re not signed up to it, get on that.

Continue reading “DDT TV Show Episode 3 (16/5/20) Review”

Meltzer’s Classics: John Cena vs CM Punk (17/7/11)

John Cena vs. CM Punk - WWE Championship Match | WWE
Credit: WWE

Unlike most of the matches I’ve covered in Meltzer’s Classics, I watched this one live. Back in 2011, CM Punk sat down and cut the now-infamous pipe bomb promo, calling out WWE and Vince McMahon in a shocking and real way. It felt like a game-changing moment, and it set up a storyline where the whole world knew his contract was expiring after Money in the Bank 2011. On what could have been his final show, he was put up against the WWE champion and the man Vince crafted in a test tube, John Cena. Surely he couldn’t win… right?

Continue reading “Meltzer’s Classics: John Cena vs CM Punk (17/7/11)”

Ice Ribbon #1038 (2/5/20) Review

Ice Ribbon has stringent rules about the pronunciation of the IW19 title as it must be juukyuu rather than nineteen. I’d love to brag about knowing that meant nineteen, but I’m sure even the most monolingual of you could have figured that one out. It’s been theorised on Twitter that it’s because it sounds a bit like IWGP? Whatever the reason, make sure and not get it wrong or they’ll come after you.

Continue reading “Ice Ribbon #1038 (2/5/20) Review”

Meltzer’s Classics: Kaientai Deluxe vs Super Delfin, Gran Hamada, Tiger Mask IV, Gran Naniwa and Masato Yakushiji (10/10/1996)

More bad screenshots.

We recently watched the Dragon Gate match that, arguably, introduced lucharesu to a broader audience in America, so this ten-man tag feels like a natural follow-up. For Dragon Gate were far from the first company to blend lucha and puro (there is a reason for the proliferation of masks in Japanese wrestling), and they weren’t even the first to use it to put together wild multi-man tags. In fact, we’re heading back to 1996, where Great Sasuke’s Michinoku Pro was doing something surprisingly recognisable to a modern day audience.

Continue reading “Meltzer’s Classics: Kaientai Deluxe vs Super Delfin, Gran Hamada, Tiger Mask IV, Gran Naniwa and Masato Yakushiji (10/10/1996)”

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑