Stardom went all out for the evening show in Sapporo, putting two titles matches at the top of the card. They apparently only make the trip once a year, so they wanted to make it a good one.
Stardom rocked up in Sapporo for a two-show day. I like the set-up of these shows with the afternoon building to the evening, but it must be exhausting for the wrestlers. Still, fun is waiting to be had, so let’s go have it.
I feel like I’m chasing after Stardom at the moment, desperately trying to catch up on my reviews. Well, I am determined to do so this week because between them and New Japan, there is a shitload of wrestling on the horizon. Let’s do this!
It’s becoming a recurring theme for this list to go up a bit late, but in my defence, there is a lot of wrestling that I want to review. I have a habit of giving that precedence and I’m not even sure why. Anyway, I need to apologise because this is a New Japan heavy list. I watched every single Super Juniors’ show and while I did catch some other bits and pieces, it was less than I would have liked. Still, it was one hell of a tournament, so I’m pretty sure that every match justified its spot on the list.
Stardom kicked off June in Yokohama and had put together a wee Unit’s Tournament for our enjoyment. It’s a simple knockout affair with both semi-finals and the final happening on this show, but still, it should be fun.
New Japan’s insistence on having a million shows means I’ve fallen behind on Stardom, so it’s time to catch up beginning with Konami’s Homecoming. We opened the show with a video of Konami outside the venue, welcoming us and saying that she wanted to get the win with her Triangle Lancer. Makes sense.
After an incredible Best Of The Super Juniors, New Japan has thrown together one hell of a card for Dominion. It is stacked from top to bottom with little to no fat on show. The BOSJ Final was a show of the year contender, but it might be outclassed by the same company just a few days later.
After years in Korakuen Hall, New Japan rolled the dice and moved the Best Of The Super Junior final to Ryogoku. It was a massive statement of intent, and they backed it up by giving us the debut of Jon Moxley and Tanahashi’s return from injury underneath the tournament conclusion. Now, did they justify that move?
With A Block all wrapped up, it’s time to see who will be losing to Shingo in the final. The important match is Taguchi vs Ospreay as the Funky Weapon battles the Aerial Assassin, but there is a couple of ways in which someone else could sneak in. Thankfully, they are incredibly improbable, so let’s not spend time worrying about them. Onto the show!
After a short break post-Korakuen, Stardom made their way to Osaka for a double bill. With two new champions on top and Tokyo Cyber Squad continuing to make their impact, it’s an exciting time for the company. Let’s see if they can keep that momentum going.