The Puro Thread

[Warner2BruceTD]

Naito working a more aggressive style has been working for him. He needs that edge to keep up with this roster. I like when he does heelish shit.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

3/6 New Japan Anniversary show Tokyo sold out (Okada vs Ibushi non title)

4/6 Invasion Attack just about sold out, Sumo Hall, no matches announced.

New Japan hasn't sold out Sumo Hall for a non G1 in roughly a decade. So this is a major growth benchmark if they sell it out, which looks very likely right now.

Maybe they aren't nuts for running Seibu Dome for G1 after all.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

3/6 New Japan Anniversary show Tokyo sold out (Okada vs Ibushi non title)

4/6 Invasion Attack just about sold out, Sumo Hall, no matches announced.

New Japan hasn't sold out Sumo Hall for a non G1 in roughly a decade. So this is a major growth benchmark if they sell it out, which looks very likely right now.

Maybe they aren't nuts for running Seibu Dome for G1 after all.

Been awesome seeing the growth of NJPW over the last few years.

They are legitimate a #2 in the world as you'll ever see. AND SLOWLY EXPANDING. This hot period hasn't even peaked yet.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Invasion Attack will be an afternoon show on Sunday in Japan, meaning it will air in America at a very decent hour the night before Mania (probably around 11pm or 12am eastern).

Pretty convenient, as it will start pretty much just as whatever indie iPPV of your choosing (ROH, whatever Gabe brand runs that night, the WrestleCon Supercard, the Mid South/TCW thing) is ending, and will wrap up between 12am-3am depending what time zone you live in, which is not bad for a Saturday night at all.

Looks like another crazy loaded weekend.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

Invasion Attack will be an afternoon show on Sunday in Japan, meaning it will air in America at a very decent hour the night before Mania (probably around 11pm or 12am eastern).

Pretty convenient, as it will start pretty much just as whatever indie iPPV of your choosing (ROH, whatever Gabe brand runs that night, the WrestleCon Supercard, the Mid South/TCW thing) is ending, and will wrap up between 12am-3am depending what time zone you live in, which is not bad for a Saturday night at all.

Looks like another crazy loaded weekend.

I'll bring the HDMI cable.

 

[FedEx227]

You geeks gonna get a room together or what?

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

You geeks gonna get a room together or what?

Two adjacent rooms for our personal Craigslist conquests.

 

[FedEx227]

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Nagata def. KENTA in his v.1 GHC defense.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

This ruled:

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Ricochet def. Masato Yoshino, and is your new Open the Dream Gate champion!

First gaijin to with the title.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

3/2/2014 Osaka, BODYMAKER COLOSSEUM #2 ~CHAMPION GATE in Osaka 2014~
0. Eita (3:38 Numero Uno) Chihiro Tominaga
1. T-Hawk, Yosuke♡Santa Maria{W}, Flamita (9:34 M Jikaikyaku Pinfall after T-Hawk BT Bomb) Masaaki Mochizuki, Gamma, Hollywood Stalker Ichikawa{L}
2. Challenge Match: Don Fujii (6:03 HIMEI) U-T
3. Challenge Match: Cyber Kong (7:24 Pineapple Bomber) Ryotsu Shimizu
4. Genki Horiguchi H.A.Gee.Mee!!, Jimmy Kagetora{W} (7:04 Gurumakakari) YAMATO, Mondai Ryu{L}
5. Naruki Doi{W}, BxB Hulk, Kzy (15:09 Bakatare Sliding Kick) Akira Tozawa{L}, Shingo Takagi, Uhaa Nation
6. Open the Triangle Gate Championship Match: Jimmy Susumu, Jimmy Kanda, Mr. Quu Quu Tanizaki Naoki Toyonaka Dolphin{W} (17:16 Libido) CIMA, K-ness, Super Shisa{L}
*1st Defense
7. Open the Dream Gate Championship Match: Ricochet (24:30 Benadryller) Masato Yoshino
*Yoshino fails in his 5th defense, Ricochet becomes the 18th Champion

The Horiguchi vs. Flamita Brave Gate match set up yesterday was added to MEMORIAL GATE.

Doi challenged Tozawa & Takagi for a Twin Gate match. Takagi asked him who his partner would be. He initially said Hulk, then wondered aloud if that was such a good idea. Hulk, taking this as an insult, got upset. Kzy mediated the situation, calming things down and convincing the duo to team together. The match was set for MEMORIAL GATE.

Doi & Hulk attacked Kanda & Tanizaki after the semi-final. CIMA got caught in the cross fire again, which lead to him berating everyone.

Tozawa was speechless by the incredible display put on in the main event. Once he regained his composure, he asked Ricochet to answer his question from yesterday. Which unit would he fight with? Ricochet responded by saying MONSTER EXPRESS was his unit, and his home. Nation congratulated Ricochet on winning the title, but added that it was also his dream. He was a bit miffed at being beaten to it by Ricochet. Because of that, he wouldn't be shaking his hand until after they fight in Korakuen. He left the ring. Tozawa told Ricochet not to be offended by it, Uhaa would get over his jealousy soon enough.

At this point, the roster came out, and each of them took turns congratulating Ricochet on becoming the first foreign Dream Gate champion.

Comments of note:
Maria said she would surely become the first transgender Dream Gate champion.
T-Hawk said he enjoyed the brief time they spent as teammates, but was now looking forward to the next time they go toe to toe.
Kanda said he didn't believe a foreigner would ever become Dream Gate champion. But that had nothing to do with him because he had other things to worry about.
Kotoka asked if he could join MONSTER EXPRESS. He was flatly refused.
Mochizuki complimented him on the fine form of his finishing high kick. (The Benadryller is a go2sleep style high kick).

Yoshino thanked Ricochet for the fight. Even though he lost the title, he regained one of the strongest stablemates he has ever had.

Tozawa & MX closed things out.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

NJPW “42ND ANNIVERSARY SHOW”, 3/6/14 (TV Asahi ch2) iPPV USTREAM $25
Ota Ward Gymnasium

1. Anniversary Opening Match: Sho Tanaka & Yohei Komatsu vs. Minoru Suzuki & Taichi
2. Manabu Nakanishi & KUSHIDA vs. Jado & Gedo
3. Anniversary Special 6 Man Tag Match: Super Strong Machine, Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask vs. Captain New Japan, El Desperado & BUSHI
4. Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Prince Devitt, Tama Tonga & Bad Luck Fale
5. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Yuji Nagata & Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka, Yujiro Takahashi & YOSHI-HASHI
6. Hirooki Goto & Katsuyori Shibata vs. Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows
7. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tetsuya Naito vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Tomohiro Ishii
8. Anniversary Special Singles Match: Kazuchika Okada vs. Kota Ibushi

IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Kazuchika Okada, and IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion, Kota Ibushi, go to war in the main event of New Japan’s anniversary show on 3/6 at Ota Ward Gymnasium. These two fought on DDT’s Sumo Hall show last August, right after the G1 finished, with Okada winning. Also on that show, Tanahashi & Naito face Nakamura & Ishii and in a big non-title match, Goto & Shibata battle IWGP Tag Team Champions, Anderson & Gallows.

After a low key anniversary tour comes the New Japan Cup. The big news is that Katsuyori Shibata is in and has a chance to earn a shot at Okada in April at Sumo Hall. However, he doesn’t have an easy first round match as he takes on the Bullet Club’s Anderson, while Goto faces Gallows. No Tanahashi (as he promised not to challenge for the title after his last defeat to Okada), Nagata, Tenzan, Kojima or Nakanishi in this year’s NJC.

New Japan will run a retirement show for Wataru Inoue at Korakuen on 4/2. A day later they run Korakuen again and three days after that it’s the big “INVASION ATTACK” show at Sumo Hall that is likely to be headlined by Okada vs. the NJC winner.

KUSHIDA will be missing from 3/12-3/17 as he is heading to Germany to work some shows for the WXW promotion. New Japan said it is looking to expand all over the world and showcasing its wrestlers in places like Germany will help.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Dire news for two promotions in this week's Observer:

Osaka Pro Wrestling, which we reported being a mess financially and in danger, announced this weekend that they would close the promotion after a show on 4/20. Wrestlers, referees, and front office officials were all laid off. This got covered in mainstream sports pages.

Diamond Ring, which is the promotion Kensuke Sasaki and Akira Hokuto are running, also announced a hiatus that will start after a show in their gym on 3/9. They don't run often but that isn't good news, coming just weeks after Sasaki's sudden retirement announcement that nobody knew was coming until his loss to Katsuhiko Nakajima. It was announced that Mitsuhiro Kitamiya is now moving to Pro Wrestling NOAH, where Nakajima also is working. Nakajima is not officially signing with NOAH as he said his goal is to continue to keep the Diamond Ring name alive. Satoshi Kajiwara is becoming a free agent, since he has a regular job so can't work full-time for any promotion.

NOAH & AJPW are still not doing any better, either. So the New Japan explosion is self contained, and not any kind of wrestling boom in Japan as a whole. It's still only NJPW & Dragon Gate doing well.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

New Japan 42nd Anniversary Review:

http://www.voicesofwrestling.com/?p=4404&preview=true

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Minoru Suzuki is the best.

And Komatsu, who I already loved, just shot up my list of favorites with his TRASH CAN promo. If he ever beats Suzuki, the fans will explode.

"1st Match
×Yohei Komatsu / Sho Tanaka
vs 07:23 Chicken Wing Armlock
Taichi / ◯Minoru Suzuki

- What did you feel about the head-on fight with Young Lions?
Suzuki : Feel what? I only get impressed by women. Heh!

- Your mentor Karl Gotch headlined the launching show of NJPW.
Suzuki : So what? That question sounds more like “Your master headlined the show, but all you deserve is an opener, bastard!”… After all, you gave no thought watching my match, did ya? You all talk “NJPW’s history this, NJPW’s history that.” but you don’t know shit! You’ve never seen it! There’s no way for a smart-ass guys who just came through college and talk bullshit, to understand the history of Puroresu! You know why I’m telling you this? Did you see the moves I used today? They’re all moves that Karl Gotch and Antonio Inoki used! I bet you didn’t know! Did ya? Did ya!? So, when I first heard that I’m wrestling for the bottom of the card, I thought to myself “Sure, I’ve got no problem with an opener”. NJPW has made a fresh start right? But you’ll never have the capacity to have a match like that. A Puroresu. Did those stories come out of you? Ever? And do you know who’s move I finished today’s match with? Tell me. You couldn’t tell the difference between a normal (chicken wing) armlock. Or worse, because you call our moves wrong all the time!

Taichi : Who is it? Come out, come out!

Suzuki : You’ve got to work your ass off and learn! That’s Puroresu!


Komatsu : Oh, damn it! Suzuki almost ripped my shoulders and elbows apart. Suzuki-Gun has always kicked our asses and dumped us into trash cans after the backstage interview, so this was our chance to have a revenge… Damn it. I’ll dump you guys into trash cans some day!

Tanaka : Suzuki may have been wrestling long before I've been born. I don’t give a damn about it. I have set yet another goal in my career today. I’ll defeat him before he retires from this business. And I will not cry before your grave. Become the wind like you always do!"

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

 

[FedEx227]

PROBZ gonna get that NJPW logo shirt with Miss Kitty hanging out in the circle.

 

[FedEx227]

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

3/16/2014 Wakayama, Wakayama Prefectural Gym ~MEMORIAL GATE 2014~
1. Don Fujii, Ryotsu Shimizu{W} (7:19 Kameari Kouen Mae Boston Crab) Shachihoko BOY, Kotoka{L}
2. Hollywood Stalker Ichikawa Bosou 10 Match Series: Yoshihiro Takayama (3:48 Pinned after Failed Ina Bauer German Suplex) Hollywood Stalker Ichikawa
3. Yoshihiro Takayama (2:32 Gave Up out of Embarrassment) Yosuke♡Santa Maria
4. CIMA{W}, Gamma (12:24 Meteora) Cyber Kong, Mondai Ryu{L}
5. Open the Brave Gate Championship Match: Flamita (12:15 Flame Fly) Genki Horiguchi H.A.Gee.Mee!!
*Horiguchi fails in his 5th Defense, Flamita becomes the 25th Champion
6. 3 Way Tag Team Match: Masato Yoshino, Uhaa Nation vs. YAMATO, Kzy vs. Masaaki Mochizuki, Super Shisa
-YAMATO (14:20 Gallaria) Shisa
-Nation (17:50 Uhaa Combination) Kzy
7. Open the Triangle Gate Championship Match: T-Hawk, Eita{W}, U-T (19:25 Numero Uno) Jimmy Susumu, Jimmy Kanda, Mr. Quu Quu Tanizaki Naoki Toyonaka Dolphin{L}
*Jimmyz fail in their 2nd Defense, the Millenials become the 48th champion team
8. Open the Twin Gate Championship Match: Akira Tozawa, Shingo Takagi (24:37 Package German Suplex Hold) Naruki Doi, BxB Hulk{L}
*3rd Defense for MONSTER EXPRESS

Stalker asked for an immediate rematch with Takayama. He refused. He said Ichikawa was a pathetic weakling, and would only fight someone stronger. This brought out Maria. She told Takayama that they could either fight or just share an intense kiss. Takayama demanded the bell ring at once.

CIMA & Yoshino interrupted the Millenials Triangle Gate celebration, but not for them. They apologized for the intrusion, they were here to mock Kanda and that loser Tanizaki. Yoshino was on commentary for the match, he said that from where he was sitting it looked like the pressure of being champion was too much for them. They were probably happy to have lost. Kanda actually agreed with them about Tanizaki. He was disgusted with him for letting some greenhorns submit him. Tanizaki called CIMA & Yoshino elitists. He said he would bounce back from this soon. CIMA said Tanizaki has been wrestling for over 10 years. It might be a little late for that. The Millenials were left to finally celebrate. They thanked the Wakayama fans for supporting their various title wins tonight.

Doi was upset with Hulk for losing. He asked whatever happened to showing the meaning of the MAD in MAD BLANKEY. Hulk said he lost because Doi was absolutely no help whatsoever during the match. They started fighting. Kzy had to play peacemaker, again. Doi ran off on his own. The rest of MB, sans Hulk, went after him. Hulk was the last to leave.

This left Tozawa & Takagi to close things out with the usual closing speech.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I love these promo breakdowns. CIMA mocking Mr Quu Quu Tanizaki Toyonoka Dolphin for losing to a "greenhorn", and Yoshino tweaking the Jimmyz for cracking under pressure.

And the Santa Maria stuff is always gold.