NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 9 Late Review

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 9 In Tokyo Dome - 04.01.2015

15 Man Battle Royal
Captain New Japan vs. El Desperado vs. Hiro Saito vs. Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Manabu Nakanishi vs. Sho Tanaka vs. Taichi vs. TAKA Michinoku vs.Tama Tonga vs. The Great Kabuki vs. Tiger Mask vs. Yohei Komatsu vs. YOSHI-HASHI vs. Yoshiaki Fujiwara vs. Yuji Nagata

It was not good but eh... FUJIWARA BITCH! It was nice to see Saito and Kabuki too. At least the right guy won.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Title Four Way Match
reDRagon (Bobby Fish & Kyle O'Reilly) (c) vs. Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson), Forever Hooligans (Alex Koslov & Rocky Romero), Time Splitters (Alex Shelley & KUSHIDA)

Not a very good version of your classic jr opener spotfest, it somehow felt long at times. Still watchable but let's be honest the first 3 matches are not why you watch this show.
**1/2

BULLET CLUB (Bad Luck Fale, Jeff Jarrett & Yujiro Takahashi) vs. TenKoji (Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima) & Tomoaki Honma

HONMA WINS! AFTER HITTING HIS HEADBUTT!
**********

Suzuki-gun (Davey Boy Smith Jr., Lance Archer, Shelton Benjamin & Takashi Iizuka) vs. TMDK (Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste), Naomichi Marufuji & Toru Yano

I kwow they did it for the NOAH/NJPW "partnership" but it's the less interesting match on the show. If that means TMDK will be back in NJPW tho, it's all good. Nothing match except the Lance Archer Chokeslam, one of my favorites moves in wrestling right now.

UWFI Rules Match
Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Minoru Suzuki

I needed to rewatch it to like it, I didn't expect this. I thought they were going for a full UWFI match and I was really excited for it, I'm a big shoot wrestling fan and I was disappointed. I still that's what they should have done especially with so little time. But to be fair this is a really good match anyway. WHITE SUZUKI ~
***1/2

NEVER Openweight Title Match
Tomohiro Ishii (c) vs. Togi Makabe

Makabe is now better when is not against brawlers, he really is to slow and it's a little hard to think his elbows can be as devastaing as the ones from Ishii, Shibata, Goto, ... But eh they hit each other hard (that last lariat OUCH), they no-sell a bunch of things, exactly what you'll excpect. Makabe targetting Ishii's shoulder was nice. It's a good match, you just want more from an Ishii title match.
***1/4

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title Match
Ryusuke Taguchi (c) vs. Kenny Omega

I don't remember much about this one and I don't really want to watch it again now. The two competitors were bland and it just was not interesting.
**3/4?

IWGP Tag Team Title Match
BULLET CLUB (Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson) (c) vs. Hirooki Goto & Katsuyori Shibata

They had even less time than Suzuki and Sakuraba but they did a lot. Great match, seeing team best friends do all of these double moves was awesome. And it's Shibata winning his first gold! It's shame these two didn't have a long reign (I still hope they will).
****

AJ Styles vs. Tetsuya Naito

Not as good as their G1 Climax match but this was still awesome. They have great chemistry. I hope Naito will challenge for AJ's IWGP, these two could have an all time great match together. Naito escaping the Styles Clash at all cost was amazing. Bonus points for the Rush apron dropkick.
****

IWGP Intercontinental Title Match
Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Kota Ibushi

HOLLY SHIT
*****

IWGP Heavyweight Title Match
Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada

Everything that makes their previous matches great + a huge dive, a little more roughness with Okada channelling his inner Claudio Castagnoli, somehow an upset and this fucking post match! If you didn't understand the importance of that match before, there's no doubt possible after.
I see why they did it but I liked that the Rainaker was the killmove no matter what (except when there is arm work and long wait before the cover but that was not the case here). Okada wasn't on the top of his selling game, he was still really good but we know what he's capable of and stronger leg selling at the end could have make it even better. It's probably nitpicking but their series of matches are so great that's what you got to do. Judging by my star rating alone it's not even in their top 3 together, that's pretty crazy. Greatest rivalry of all time? Idk but the question deserves to be asked.
****1/2

So yea(o)h, it was a great show...

2015 MOTY list

2015 Top 10 SOTY

WrestleMania 31 (aka Play Button) Review (aka quick and random thoughts)

WWE WrestleMania 31 - 29.03.2015

Kickoff:  WWE Tag Team Title Fatal Four Way Match
Cesaro & Tyson Kidd (w/Natalya) (c) vs. Los Matadores (Diego & Fernando) (w/El Torito) vs. The New Day (Big E & Kofi Kingston) (w/Xavier Woods) vs. The Usos (Jey Uso & Jimmy Uso) (w/Naomi)

Are they gonna do a 4 way tag every year, Wrestle Kingdom style? Cesaro is awesome. Every managers participating in the action was nice. A fun spotfest, perfect for an opener.

Kickoff: Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal 
Adam Rose vs. Alex Riley vs. Big E vs. Bo Dallas vs. Cesaro vs. Curtis Axel vs. Damien Mizdow vs. Darren Young vs. Diego vs. Erick Rowan vs.Fandango vs. Fernando vs. Goldust vs. Heath Slater vs. Hideo Itami vs. Jack Swagger vs. Jimmy Uso vs. Kane vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Konnor vs. Mark Henry vs. Ryback vs. Sin Cara vs. The Big Show vs. The Miz vs. Titus O'Neil vs. Tyson Kidd vs. Viktor vs. Xavier Woods vs. Zack Ryder

Why not give Mizdow is win, who cares about this trophy? You need to push that newcomer Big Show!
Not bad for a battle royal. I enjoyed it.

Intercontinental Title Seven Way Ladder Match
Bad News Barrett (c) vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Luke Harper vs. R-Truth vs. Stardust

Ok the most important thing first: Stardust custom ladder was awesome. I hate fake wwe ladders but the Ambrose bump was terrifying. I still don't know why R-Truth was in that match. Slightly better than your average modern multi man ladder match. Great punches by Bryan!

Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins (w/Jamie Noble & Joey Mercury)

Your usual Randy Orton match except it was with a shitty random powerbomb no sell and a trully great finish. Not your fake RKO OUTTTA NOWHERE in almost every Orton match. That was in Evan Bourne's level of RKO. Orton marking out for his own finisher was fun.
Wasn't good.

No Disqualification & No Count Out Match
Sting vs. Triple H

Japanese Crow vs Shitty Terminator ~
Why these entrances? Why the first (and possibly only) Sting match in WWE is against HHH? How is this a WCW vs WWE thing? How did it become NWO vs DX?
I'll stop here with a quote from Sting on the last Raw before Mania: "I'm not here to fight for WCW that would be ridiculous at this point"
Wasn't good.

AJ Lee & Paige vs. The Bella Twins (Brie Bella & Nikki Bella)

The new thing is to give time to the divas in the main roster but eh it's Wrestlemania so fuck them, they've got 6 minutes.
Wasn't good.

WWE United States Title Match
Rusev (w/Lana) (c) vs. John Cena

Entrance of the night from Rusev.
So everybody kicks out of the AA except the man who is undefeated for 1 year at Wrestlemian where you have multiple finishers kick outs in every matches. You better not make Rusev a fucking jobber.
Wasn't good.

Ronda vs Stephany needs to happen, plz UFC authorize it. She does not even have to wrestle, a slap turn into a Shinsuke Armbar and it would be the huge wrestlemania moment that WWE wants.


Bray Wyatt vs. The Undertaker

This is my second favorite match of the show but I'm a pretty big Taker mark. Great selling by the old man. It has the spider walk/sit up spot that you want. It also has a Tombstone kick out that you don't really want. And a stupid Wyatt hurting his knee with the stairs by himself.

WWE World Heavyweight Title Triple Threat Match
Brock Lesnar (w/Paul Heyman) (c) vs. Roman Reigns

Shiiiiit that was stiff and it was indeed Suplex City Bitch. The ending wad kind of a cop out, the match was so good it deserved a proper finish. I like him so good for him I guess. It did have too many finishers, like the rest of the show...
****1/4

I liked that show, not great wrestling quality, it did have a lot flaws and it wasn't as good as last year awesome edition but fuck it's still a good show!

2015 MOTY list

Hideki Suzuki vs. Masakatsu Funaki

ZERO1_FOURTEEN - 01.03.2015 

Hideki Suzuki vs. Masakatsu Funaki

No, I won't only post when I stumble across awesome sub 10 minute matches but I had to post something about this one. It's only 7 minutes long, I watched this 3 times already and absolutely love it.
The firs half was great matwork where they really don't want to make a mistake and make you believe the first submision locked can end the match. Being a Shoot Wrestling fan I greatly enjoy this part.
The second part starts when Funaki don't let Suzuki stand up and kick him HARD and from this point on we're in the finishing run. This could end at any time. Awesome action featuring neat counters.
Everything felt important and it's probably because... everything was important. They went for the kill right away. I guess that's the way you have to work a SEVEN MINUTES blow off match. But when you see what they can do in so little you can't help but wanting more. I hope we'll have a rematch one day and after that match they'll be crazy not to do it.
Still don't know how to rate or where to put it on my MOTY list but I assure you it's a MUST SEE.

Kamaitachi vs. Valiente

CMLL - 23.01.2015 

Lightning Match

Kamaitachi vs. Valiente

Great! Kamaitachi rapidly became one of the guys to watch in CMLL. And granted I don't watch Lucha since a long time but Valiente is always someone I liked. Everything looked really good especially when Valiente was on offense, it looks vicious and Kamaitachi was willing to bump well for it. Good matwork to start the match, a bunch of big chops and a SICK suicide dive. All of that in less than 9 minutes. Watch it!
****

2015 MOTY list

G1 Climax 2003 - Day 2

NJPW G1 Climax 2003 - Tag 2 - 11.08.2003

G1 Climax 2003 Block B Match 

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Yutaka Yoshie

Do every Yoshie matches in this tournament will be as fun? He was in the best match of the first show and here he's in a good power vs speed/technique match. Good selling by Nakamura. Perfect for an opener.
***3/4

G1 Climax 2003 Block B Match 

Katsuyori Shibata vs. Tadao Yasuda

Yasuda just lay down and let Shibata pin him.

G1 Climax 2003 Block A Match 

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan 

Way better than their match a few months back. I like the craddle Tanahashi couldn't do because it was late in the match and Tenzan was too big.
***1/4

G1 Climax 2003 Block A Match 

Jun Akiyama vs. Osamu Nishimura

That was glorious, You have the underdog Nishimura against Akiyama going MUGA for the first part of the match but let it go for being is dickish self. But is Nishimura that big of an underdog? Even winning a strike exchange. Akiyama maybe get too cocky and Nishimura make him pay destroying the legs of that NOAH guy. Easy MOTN. I highly recommend this.
****1/4

G1 Climax 2003 Block A Match 

Manabu Nakanishi vs. Masahiro Chono

Surprisingly a really good match. They worked around their limitations. The legwork was well done.
***1/2

G1 Climax 2003 Block B Match 

Yoshihiro Takayama vs. Yuji Nagata

A bit disappointing. Sure, it's a good match but it's Takayama and Nagata in the Main Event of a great show, it should be better. 

***1/2

2015 Lucha

Promociones Cara Lucha - 01.01.2015 

El Hijo de Fishman, Flamita & Sky Man vs. El Hijo del Fantasma, Fenix & Pentagon Jr.

THAT MATCH! That interpromotional heat! That violence!
Pentagon in indy is one of my favorites things in westling. He's over as hell and destroys random fuckers. What more can you ask? Flamita and Fenix just hate each other and it's awesome. The AAA trio is ruthless.
Cara Lucha seems to book great matches, it's too bad so little is available. Need more.
I love this match.
****3/4

CMLL Super Viernes - 09.01.2015 

Lightning Match 
Dragon Lee vs. Kamaitachi

Short and sweet. Not as good as their previous match but if the mask stuff means they will have a mascara match, these two in a longer match with drama, it could be truly great. Whatever they'll do I look forward to it anway.
***1/2

CMLL Domingos Arena Mexico - 25.01.2015 

Goya Kong, La Vaquerita & Skadi vs. La Comandante, La Seductora & Zeuxis

It was all fine but nothing especially great. Zeuxis is one more time the MVP of the match, a singles match against Goya Kong could be good. It's not planned but this match make me think about that.
***

2015 MOTY list

The Best Of Yoshihiro Takayama

*****

****3/4

****1/2

****1/4

****

Yoshihiro Takayama (c) vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan (IWGP Heavyweight Title Match - NJPW Best Of The Super Junior X - Tag 15 - 10.06.2003)

***3/4