The Puro Thread

[FedEx227]

Filled in for Joe and reviewed the 12/21 "Road to Tokyo Dome":

http://www.voicesofwrestling.com/2013/12/21/njpw-road-to-tokyo-dome-1221-reviewrecap/

[Warner2BruceTD]

Dragon Gate "Final Gate" review:

http://www.voicesofwrestling.com/2013/12/22/dragon-gate-final-gate-review/

Good show, but the weakest DG iPPV so far. The others were great, this wasn't.

[Warner2BruceTD]

New Japan go-home show, 12/23 Korakuen

http://www.voicesofwrestling.com/2013/12/23/new-japan-road-to-wrestle-kingdom-8-1223-review/

A great opener between the young lions Tanaka & Komatsu that is a must see, and a great main event.

I also got a tip from someone who would know that Tanaka & Komatsu are headed on excursion to a place where I don't want them to go. Can't say yet until I confirm, but it's not good news.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Tokyo Sports Top Ten Stories of the Year

1. Kobashi retires.
2. All Japan divides.
3. Okada becomes MVP 2nd time in row.
4. Inoki returns to national politics.
5. KENTA makes 9 defenses.
6. Akebono wins Triple Crown.
7. Akai Saki makes her pro-wrestling debut.
8. Nagata wins Global League and becomes a man who has won three leagues, previously he won G1 and CC.
9. Ibushi is double contracted wrestler.
10. Takizawa is arrested after using his phone to take photos of women's underwear.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Embarrassingly nerdy puro playlist:

http://www.mixcloud.com/yottsume/30-minutes-of-puroresu-funk/

1. All Japan Champion Carnival theme
2. Inoki theme remix
3. Tatsumi Fujinami theme
4. Tatsumi Fujinami remix
5. Dr. Wily Mega Man theme
6. Dr. Wily Mega Man remix
7. TAKA's "Taka is coming...motherfucker!" theme (yes.)
8. Devitt's "Real Rock n Rolla" theme
9. From a Prince to a King
10. Some creepy J-pop that I recognize from something wrestling related but cant place it
11. STRONG MACHINE WE ARE #1
12. Complete Players theme
13. Insane in the Brain, Cypress Hill (DICK TOGO THEME)
14. Cream by Wu Tang for some reason
15. Okada Rainmaker theme
16. random Japanese hip hop

[Warner2BruceTD]

Has anybody seen any of these? It's like $4.99 per month, I can't pull the trigger, but they look like a lot of fun.

[Warner2BruceTD]

KENTA dropped the GHC title to Morishima, ending his long run. He's been banged up pretty badly and needs time off. Morishima went heel post match.

Morishima's two face runs with the title never worked. This won't either. KENTA did well in his first run, kept the company above water.

[Warner2BruceTD]

2014/02/09(日) 15:00 広島・広島サンプラザホール
NJPW "THE NEW BEGINNING IN HIROSHIMA", 2/9/14 ~3:00pm JST (1:00am EST)
Hiroshima Sun Plaza

▼IWGPインターコンチネンタル選手権試合 IWGP IC title match
棚橋弘至vs中邑真輔
Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Shinsuke Nakamura

▼IWGPタッグ選手権試合 IWGP tag team title match
ドクギャローズ、カールアンダーソン対デイビーボーイスミスJr、ランスアーチャー
Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson VS Davey Boy Smith Jr & Lance Archer

▼スペシャルタッグマッチ Special tag team match
柴田勝頼、後藤洋央紀対YOSHI-HASHI、オカダカズチカ
Katsuyori Shibata & Hirooki Goto VS YOSHI-HASHI & Kazuchika Okada

▼スペシャル8人タッグマッチ Special 8 men tag match
アレックスシェリー、KUSHIDA、田口隆祐、真壁刀義対ニックジャクソン、マットジャクソン、バッドラ ックファレ、プリンス・デヴィット
Alex Shelly & KUSHIDA & Ryusuke Taguchi & Togi Makbe VS Nick Jackson & Matt Jackson & Badluck Fale & Prince Devitt

▼スペシャルタッグマッチ Special tag match
本間朋晃、内藤哲也vs高橋裕二郎、石井智宏
Tomoaki Honma & Tetsuya Naito VS Yujiro Takahashi & Tomohiro Ishii

▼NWA世界ヘビー級選手権試合 NWA World Heavy Weigh title match
小島聡vsビッグダディ・ヤムヤム
Satoshi Kojima VS Big Daddy Yumyum

▼スペシャルシングルマッチ Special single match
天山広吉vsマイケル・ターヴァー
Hiroyoshi Tenzan VS Michel Tarver.

▼スペシャルタッグマッチ Special Tag Team match
永田裕志、桜庭和志vs飯塚高史、矢野通
Yuji Nagata & Kazushi Sakuraba VS Takashi Iizuka & Toru Yano

▼スペシャルシングルマッチ Special Single match
鈴木みのるvsタマトンガ
Minoru Suzuki VS Tama Tonga

▼オープニングマッチ Opening match
BUSHI、飯伏幸太vs獣神サンダーライガー、エル・デスペラード
BUSHI, Kota Ibushi VS Jushin Thunder Liger & El Desperado
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014/02/11(火) 17:00 大阪・大阪府立体育会館～BODY MAKER コロシアム～
NJPW "THE NEW BEGINNING IN OSAKA", 2/11/14 ~ 5:00pm JST (3:00am EST)
Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium

▼IWGPヘビー級選手権試合 IWGP heavy weight title match
オカダカズチカvs後藤洋央紀
Kazuchika Okada VS Hirooki Goto

▼NEVER無差別級選手権試合 NEVER Open Weight title match
内藤哲也vs石井智宏
Tetsuya Naito VS Tomohiro Ishii

▼IWGPJrヘビー級選手権試合 IWGP Jr Heavy Weight title match
飯伏幸太vsエル・デスペラード
Kota Ibushi VS El Desperado

▼スペシャルタッグマッチ Special Tag team match
獣神サンダーライガー、棚橋弘至vs高橋裕二郎、中邑真輔
Jushin Thunder Liger & Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Yujiro Takahashi & Shinsuke Nakamura

▼スペシャルタッグマッチ Special Tag team match
桜庭和志、永田裕志vsホーレスグレイシー、ダニエルグレイシー
Kazushi Sakuraba & Yuji Nagata VS Rolles Gracie & Daniel Gracie

▼NWA世界タッグ王座ナンバーワンコンテンダーマッチ NWA Word tag title No.1 contender match
小島聡、天山広吉vsマイケル・ターヴァー、ビッグダディ・ヤムヤム
Satoshi Kojima & HIroyoshi Tenzan VS Micheal Tarver & Big Daddy Yumyum

▼スペシャルタッグマッチ Special Tag match
田口隆祐、真壁刀義vsバッドラックファレ、プリンス・デヴィット
Ryusuke Taguchi & Togi Makabe VS BadLuck Fale & Prince Devitt

▼スペシャル6人タッグマッチ Special 6 men tag match
デイビーボーイスミスJr、ランスアーチャー、鈴木みのるvsタマトンガ、ドクギャローズ、カールアンダー ソン
Davey Boy Smith Jr & Lance Archer & Minoru Suzuki VS Tama Tonga & Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson

▼スペシャルシングルマッチ Special Single match
柴田勝頼vsYOSHI-HASHI
Katsuyori Shibata VS YOSHI-HASHI

▼IWGPジュニアタッグ選手権試合 IWGP Jr Tag Team title match
ニックジャクソン、マットジャクソンvsアレックスシェリー、KUSHIDA
Nick Jackson & Matt Jackson VS Alex Shelly & KUSHIDA
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Michael. Tarver. In. New. Japan.

[BigBiss]

Big Daddy YumYum is Byron Wilcott

[Warner2BruceTD]

Big Daddy YumYum is Byron Wilcott

I have no idea why on earth they are billing him as the goofy nickname he uses for heat, but Satoshi Kojima tweeted this last night, so it's all worth it:

"Who the hell is Big Daddy YAM YAM ? ! ? !"

[Warner2BruceTD]

[NJPW News Part 1] New Japan announced the full cards for the upcoming CMLL FANTASTICA MANIA shows that will run from January 14 to the 18th.

Among the announcements heading into the show. The recently debuted El Desperado will be competing on the shows, BUSHI will be going under his CMLL name in BUSHIROAD, Kota Ibushi will be on the 1/18 show, Mascara Don, Manabu Nakanishi, derived from his “Nakanishi Land” tv spots will be on the 1/19 show, then lastly Tiger Mask IV will be returning from a minor injury that kept him out of the WK8 show.

Below are the announced cards including two CMLL titles set to be defended on the shows.

NJPW PRESENTS CMLL FANTASTICA MANIA 2014, 1/14/2014 [Tue] 18:30 @ Osaka BODYMAKER COLOSSEUM, 2nd Stadium

(1) BUSHIROAD & Titan vs. TAKA Michinoku & Taichi
(2) Fuego, Rey Cometa & Stuka Jr. vs. Vangelis, OKUMURA & Niebla Roha
(3) Jushin Thunder Liger & Maximo vs. Gedo & Jado
(4) Tetsuya Naito & Volador Jr. vs. KUSHIDA & Mascara Dorada
(5) Rush & La Sombra vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Ultimo Guerrero
(6) 6 Man Tag Match: El Desperado, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Mistico vs. Kazuchika Okada, Rey Escorpion & Mephisto

NJPW PRESENTS CMLL FANTASTICA MANIA 2014, 1/15/2014 [Wed] 18:00 @ KBS Hall in Kyoto

(1) BUSHIROAD & Titan vs. Gedo & Jado
(2) Fuego, Rey Cometa & Stuka Jr. vs. OKUMURA, Vangelis & Rey Escorpion
(3) Jushin Thunder Liger & Maximo vs. TAKA Michinoku & Taichi
(4) KUSHIDA & Volador Jr. vs. Tetsuya Naito & Mascara Dorada
(5) RUSH & Mistico vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Mephisto
(6) 6 Man Tag Match: El Desperado, Hiroshi Tanahashi & La Sombra vs. Kazuchika Okada, Niebla Roha & Ultimo Guerrero

NJPW PRESENTS CMLL FANTASTICA MANIA 2014, 1/17/2014 [Fri] 19:00 @ Shinkiba 1stRING in Tokyo

(1) Fuego, Rey Cometa & Stuka Jr. vs. Taichi, TAKA Michinoku & OKUMURA
(2) Titan & Mascara Dorada vs. Vangelis & Mephisto
(3) CMLL World Light Heavyweight Championship Match: [Champion] Maximo vs. [Challenger] Rey Escorpion
(4) Special Tag Match ~Brothers Tag vs. Guerreros~: Rush & Mistico vs. Niebla Roha & Ultimo Guerrero
(5) MATCH RELAMPAGO VIP: La Sombra vs. Volador Jr.

NJPW PRESENTS CMLL FANTASTICA MANIA 2014, 1/18/2014 [Sat] 18:30 @ Korakuen Hall in Tokyo

(1) 3WAY Match: Maximo vs. Jado vs. Taichi
(2) Stuka Jr. & Rey Cometa vs. Yujiro Takahashi & OKUMURA
(3) KUSHIDA, Tiger Mask IV, Fuego & Titan vs. YOSHI-HASHI, Niebla Roha & Rey Escorpion
(4) BUSHIROAD & Volador Jr. vs. El Desperado & Mascara Dorada
(5) Special Single Match: Rush vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
(6) Special 6 Man Tag Match: Tetsuya Naito, Hiroshi Tanahashi & La Sombra vs. Tomohiro Ishii, Kazuchika Okada & Ultimo Guerrero
(7) National Light-Heavyweight Championship Match: [Champion] Mistico vs. [Challenger] Mephisto

NJPW PRESENTS CMLL FANTASTICA MANIA 2014, 1/19/2014 [Sun] 12:00 @ Korakuen Hall in Tokyo

(1) Mascara Don & Maximo vs. Taichi & TAKA Michinoku
(2) Stuka Jr. & Rey Cometa vs. YOSHI-HASHI & OKUMURA
(3) BUSHIROAD, Tiger Mask IV, El Desperado, Fuego & Titan vs. Gedo, Jado, Toru Yano, Niebla Roha & Vangelis
(4) Special Tag Match: Tetsuya Naito & Rush vs. Tomohiro Ishii & Rey Escorpion
(5) Special Single Match: La Sombra vs. Ultimo Guerrero
(6) Special 6 Man Tag Match: Kota Ibushi, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Mistico vs. Yujiro Takahashi, Shinsuke Nakamura & Mephisto
(7) Special Single Match: Volador Jr. vs. Mascara Dorada
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The two Korakuens are iPPV's, and probably Osaka, too.

Pretty obvious El Deperado is Namajague now.

Also, TAKA is leaving New Japan full time (will work big shows), and rumored to be headed to All Japan. BUSHI may be headed to Wrestle-1.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Doing TWO New Beginning PPV's is pretty ambitious, but the result of some damn good long term booking. I posted the following on another board:

[In hindsight, using Namamura to build the IC title into such a strong secondary title may turn out to be one of the biggest stories of 2013/14.

Nakamura establishes the title, they hand it off to the biggest star in the company, and next month on the strength of Tanahashi & Okada each headlining one show and 8 total title matches, they are running TWO New Beginning PPV shows.

Some very ambitious chances being taken this year. And a chance to see Tanahashi vs Okada head to head as draws. Tanahashi got the better opponent (Nakamura) and card, Okada got the stronger town (Osaka) and semi final (Naito).

If nothing else, the long term booking was pretty clever in hindsight, and they are attempting to strike while the iron is hot. It's pretty exciting seeing something interesting happening somewhere aside from WWE for once.

[BigBiss]

https://scontent-b-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/1558557_191365224398462_1538307301_n.jpg

[Warner2BruceTD]

Somebody pointed out that New Japan is running Invasion Attack the day of WrestleMania again. Looks like another stacked weekend, especially so if i'm driving to New Orleans for indie shows.

[Warner2BruceTD]

1/16/2014 Tokyo, Korakuen Hall ~OPEN THE NEW YEAR GATE~
1. Jimmy Kanda, Genki Horiguchi H.A.Gee.Mee!!, Jimmy Kagetora vs. Don Fujii, Gamma, Hollywood Stalker Ichikawa
2. Dragon Kid vs. Yosuke♡Santa Maria
3. K-ness, Super Shisa, Kenichiro Arai vs. BxB Hulk, Mondai Ryu, Kzy
4. 2 Count & 3 Escape Rules: CIMA, Chihiro Tominaga vs. Kotoka, Ryotsu Shimizu
5. Akira Tozawa, Shingo Takagi vs. T-Hawk, U-T
6. YAMATO, Naruki Doi, Cyber Kong vs. Jimmy Susumu, Ryo "Jimmy" Saito, Mr. Quu Quu Tanizaki Naoki Toyonaka Dolphin
7. Open the Dream Gate Championship Match ~Masaaki Mochizuki 20th Anniversary Match~: Masato Yoshino vs. Masaaki Mochizuki

I'm going to turn off my brain and pretend Mochi has a chance to win this. Yoshino is really killing it as champion, second to Okada right now worldwide as a guy who is really doing a great job as the top guy.