- Big Japan wrestler Yuji Okabayashi announced that he’s taking an indefinite hiatus away from the ring starting in July.
Chat! culturecrossfire.slack.com
Puroresu Love & Resources V4
- Thread starter cobainwasmurdered
- Start date
I'm listening to the englishc ommentary which i'm realizing once again why I don't. During Yoshittatsu vs Shota tKevin Kelly (and lesser extent Chris) is not only burying Tatsu but also the legendary ref Wada. Just totally shitting on all of it. This does nothing to help Wada and it's really unprofessional
A Block
Actual matches by Day
- SANADA
- Shota Umino
- Ren Narita
- Yota Tsuji
- Hikuleo
- Chase Owens
- Gabe Kidd
- Kaito Kiyomiya
- Kazuchika Okada
- YOSHI-HASHI
- Tanga Loa
- El Phantasmo
- Taichi
- Will Ospreay
- Great O-Khan
- KENTA
- Tama Tonga
- Tomohiro Ishii
- Shingo Takagi
- Mikey Nicholls
- Aaron Henare
- Eddie Kingston
- David Finlay
- EVIL
- Hiroshi Tanahashi
- Hirooki Goto
- Toru Yano
- Tetsuya Naito
- Zack Sabre Jr.
- Shane Haste
- Jeff Cobb
- Alex Coughlin
Actual matches by Day
Day 1: July 15 @ Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center
- A Block: Shota Umino vs. Ren Narita
- A Block: Yota Tsuji vs. Kaito Kiyomiya
- A Block: SANADA vs. Hikuleo
- A Block: Chase Owens vs. Gabe Kidd
- B Block: Tanga Loa vs. KENTA
- B Block: YOSHI-HASHI vs. El Phantasmo
- B Block: Kazuchika Okada vs. Great O-Khan
- B Block: Taichi vs. Will Ospreay
- C Block: Tomohiro Ishii vs. David Finlay
- C Block: Tama Tonga vs. EVIL
- C Block: Shingo Takagi vs. Eddie Kingston
- C Block: Mikey Nicholls vs. Aaron Henare
- D Block: Tetsuya Naito vs. Jeff Cobb
- D Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
- D Block: Shane Haste vs. Alex Coughlin
- D Block: Hirooki Goto vs. Toru Yano
- A Block: Kaito Kiyomiya vs. Chase Owens
- A Block: SANADA vs. Shota Umino
- A Block: Hikuleo vs. Gabe Kidd
- A Block: Ren Narita vs. Yota Tsuji
- B Block: Kazuchika Okada vs. El Phantasmo
- B Block: YOSHI-HASHI vs. Will Ospreay
- B Block: Great O-Khan vs. KENTA
- B Block: Taichi vs. Tanga Loa
- C Block: Eddie Kingston vs. EVIL
- C Block: Shingo Takagi vs. Aaron Henare
- C Block: Mikey Nicholls vs. David Finlay
- C Block: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tama Tonga
- D Block: Jeff Cobb vs. Alex Coughlin
- D Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Shane Haste
- D Block: Hirooki Goto vs. Tetsuya Naito
- D Block: Toru Yano vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
- A Block: SANADA vs. Yota Tsuji
- A Block: Ren Narita vs. Gabe Kidd
- A Block: Hikuleo vs. Chase Owens
- A Block: Shota Umino vs. Kaito Kiyomiya
- B Block: El Phantasmo vs. Great O-Khan
- B Block: YOSHI-HASHI vs. Tanga Loa
- B Block: Will Ospreay vs. KENTA
- B Block: Kazuchika Okada vs. Taichi
- C Block: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Shingo Takagi
- C Block: Tama Tonga vs. Mikey Nicholls
- C Block: David Finlay vs. EVIL
- C Block: Aaron Henare vs. Eddie Kingston
- D Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Jeff Cobb
- D Block: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Alex Coughlin
- D Block: Hirooki Goto vs. Shane Haste
- D Block: Toru Yano vs. Tetsuya Naito
- A Block: SANADA vs. Kaito Kiyomiya
- A Block: Yota Tsuji vs. Chase Owens
- A Block: Shota Umino vs. Gabe Kidd
- A Block: Ren Narita vs. Hikuleo
- B Block: Will Ospreay vs. Great O-Khan
- B Block: Kazuchika Okada vs. YOSHI-HASHI
- B Block: Tanga Loa vs. El Phantasmo
- B Block: Taichi vs. KENTA
- C Block: Aaron Henare vs. EVIL
- C Block: Shingo Takagi vs. Mikey Nicholls
- C Block: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Eddie Kingston
- C Block: Tama Tonga vs. David Finlay
- D Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Toru Yano
- D Block: Tetsuya Naito vs. Shane Haste
- D Block: Hirooki Goto vs. Alex Coughlin
- D Block: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Jeff Cobb
- A Block: SANADA vs. Ren Narita
- A Block: Shota Umino vs. Chase Owens
- A Block: Hikuleo vs. Yota Tsuji
- A Block: Kaito Kiyomiya vs. Gabe Kidd
- B Block: Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay
- B Block: El Phantasmo vs. KENTA
- B Block: Tanga Loa vs. Great O-Khan
- B Block: YOSHI-HASHI vs. Taichi
- C Block: Tama Tonga vs. Shingo Takagi
- C Block: Tomohiro Ishii vs. EVIL
- C Block: Mikey Nicholls vs. Eddie Kingston
- C Block: Aaron Henare vs. David Finlay
- D Block: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Shane Haste
- D Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Hirooki Goto
- D Block: Tetsuya Naito vs. Alex Coughlin
- D Block: Toru Yano vs. Jeff Cobb
- A Block: Shota Umino vs. Yota Tsuji
- A Block: SANADA vs. Gabe Kidd
- A Block: Ren Narita vs. Chase Owens
- A Block: Hikuleo vs. Kaito Kiyomiya
- B Block: Tanga Loa vs. Will Ospreay
- B Block: Kazuchika Okada vs. KENTA
- B Block: Taichi vs. El Phantasmo
- B Block: YOSHI-HASHI vs. Great O-Khan
- C Block: Shingo Takagi vs. David Finlay
- C Block: Tama Tonga vs. Eddie Kingston
- C Block: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Aaron Henare
- C Block: Mikey Nicholls vs. EVIL
- D Block: Tetsuya Naito vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
- D Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Alex Coughlin
- D Block: Hirooki Goto vs. Jeff Cobb
- D Block: Toru Yano vs. Shane Haste
- A Block: Shota Umino vs. Hikuleo
- A Block: Ren Narita vs. Kaito Kiyomiya
- A Block: SANADA vs. Chase Owens
- A Block: Yota Tsuji vs. Gabe Kidd
- B Block: Taichi vs. Great O-Khan
- B Block: Kazuchika Okada vs. Tanga Loa
- B Block: El Phantasmo vs. Will Ospreay
- B Block: YOSHI-HASHI vs. KENTA
- C Block: Eddie Kingston vs. David Finlay
- C Block: Shingo Takagi vs. EVIL
- C Block: Tama Tonga vs. Aaron Henare
- C Block: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Mikey Nicholls
- D Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tetsuya Naito
- D Block: Hirooki Goto vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
- D Block: Jeff Cobb vs. Shane Haste
- D Block: Toru Yano vs. Alex Coughlin
- Quarterfinal 1: A Block 1st Place vs. C Block 2nd Place
- Quarterfinal 2: B Block 1st Place vs. D Block 2nd Place
- Quarterfinal 3: C Block 1st Place vs. B Block 2nd Place
- Quarterfinal 4: D Block 1st Place vs. A Block 2nd Place
- Semifinal 1: Quarterfinal 1 Winner vs. Quarterfinal 2 Winner
- Semifinal 2: Quarterfinal 3 Winner vs. Quarterfinal 4 Winner
- G1 Climax 33 Final: Semifinal 1 Winner vs. Semifinal 2 Winner
Block stage matches will have a time limit of 20 minutes, a change from the typical 30 minute limit.
Blocks are pretty balanced this year. Kaito Vs Okada feels like it'll be a quarter or semi final match which will make the heat even bigger.
the 20 minute time limit is a nice change and will keep things moving.
A Block has the most pairings I'm interested in with all the young dawgs Shota/Narita/Yota plus SANADA and Kaito.
B Block has Okada, Phantasmo, Taichi, Ospreay, OKhan, and to a lesser extent YOSHIHASHI and KENTA so that will be solid.
C Block has EDDIE and he gets to work Shingo and Ishii. Henare has been breaking out lately so this is a good chance for him too.
D Block is probably the second most intriguing because Tanahashi has been really depowered lately but he's always a threat, Goto is always great in the G1, Naito is always a nut, Sabre is great, Coughlin has a lot potential if they don't ruin him with interference, Cobb is solid. Really only Yano is a weak spot and he's there to give guys a night off.
It's still too many people by half in the tournament but it looks like a fun one.
the 20 minute time limit is a nice change and will keep things moving.
A Block has the most pairings I'm interested in with all the young dawgs Shota/Narita/Yota plus SANADA and Kaito.
B Block has Okada, Phantasmo, Taichi, Ospreay, OKhan, and to a lesser extent YOSHIHASHI and KENTA so that will be solid.
C Block has EDDIE and he gets to work Shingo and Ishii. Henare has been breaking out lately so this is a good chance for him too.
D Block is probably the second most intriguing because Tanahashi has been really depowered lately but he's always a threat, Goto is always great in the G1, Naito is always a nut, Sabre is great, Coughlin has a lot potential if they don't ruin him with interference, Cobb is solid. Really only Yano is a weak spot and he's there to give guys a night off.
It's still too many people by half in the tournament but it looks like a fun one.
- Messages
- 7,112
- Reaction score
- 1,513
- Points
- 228
Important clip I don't think I've ever seen.
No opponent announced but I'd love to see him work THawk, Lindaman, or Kaito Ishida
Cackling Co Pilot Kamala
Integral Poster
WWE trolls are having a field day with that picture but they actually think Austin Theory is talented so who cares what they think
Cackling Co Pilot Kamala
Integral Poster
HELL YEAH BROTHER! NOW WIN THE G1 NEXT!
Tino Standard
Integral Poster
- Messages
- 2,640
- Reaction score
- 821
- Points
- 188
It looks like the opening weekend of the G1 will be available in English for free on njpwworld.com, no signup required. I don’t know if that’s something that happens every year, but there ya go.
i really love the 20 minute format of the g1 this year. The matches feel so much more fast paced and refreshing
running a huge building with Finlay Vs EVIL on top was not NJPW's smartest move. This is the emptiest I've seen one of their shows look. Still far more people than you'd see for anything but the biggest shows for anyone else really but not a good look
they did 1100 apparently which yeah that should kill those two as draws so I almost consider that good news.
Is the main issue EVIL, David Finlay, or both? The little I've seen of Finlay and this whole "war dogs" faction seems pretty decent? I just want all of BC, at least within Japan, to be united and stop with the factions ala WCW nWo
I think more Finlay than EVIL but I couldn't say for sure. Finlay doesn't seem to be particularly over at all. The War Dogs guys are generally good workers but almost all of them were brought in at the same time (or turned heel at the same time) with nothing really to distinguish them. There's not really any reason to care about them. The faction thing is almost purely a merch thing and I don't think it really matters big picture because it isn't like they are infighting or anything.
Finlay doesn't do anything to stand out. He's ok in the ring. He doesn't have much charisma on the mic. He feels like he got the spot purely because he was Jay White's tag partner at one time. ELP would have been a far better choice as the next leader if we HAD to have BC keep going.
They should lean into the Reiwa Three Musketeers more because they have something special there. BC might be a merch driver but it is clearly diminishing returns at this point. Blow it up now while you can make it into a hot angle. You can still do BC in the US and bring it back at some point if you really want.
Finlay doesn't do anything to stand out. He's ok in the ring. He doesn't have much charisma on the mic. He feels like he got the spot purely because he was Jay White's tag partner at one time. ELP would have been a far better choice as the next leader if we HAD to have BC keep going.
They should lean into the Reiwa Three Musketeers more because they have something special there. BC might be a merch driver but it is clearly diminishing returns at this point. Blow it up now while you can make it into a hot angle. You can still do BC in the US and bring it back at some point if you really want.
Kiyomiya clicks for me so much more in NJPW than in NOAH. His work in the G1 has been really special. Steal him or make a trade.
Can he just defect like a Cuban national?
most puro contracts are only on a yearly basis traditionally, so if he decided to switch it wouldnt be hard
Ishii Vs Eddie is so fucking good. I missed the first half of the show so I'll catch it latter but that match is must watch. They beat the shit out of each other but all their stuff felt like it meant something. Eddie has such a great way of bonding with the crowd.
Cackling Co Pilot Kamala
Integral Poster
I love how much the Japanese love American urban culture.
Hikuleo being the second guy in A Block to advance with all the talent in that block is certainly...a choice. Really bummed about Kiyomiya being out even though he had a really fun tourny, but why should NJPW treat him with more respect than his home promotion does?
I love the G1 but it is just too long. They should go back to 20 guys tops. Reformulate the NJ Cup into a bigger tournament where either it's a worldwide heavyweight invitational or all the company's heavys and juniors take part. Just do the first two rounds on the first night with 15 minute time limits.
I love the G1 but it is just too long. They should go back to 20 guys tops. Reformulate the NJ Cup into a bigger tournament where either it's a worldwide heavyweight invitational or all the company's heavys and juniors take part. Just do the first two rounds on the first night with 15 minute time limits.
fuck yes finlay and evil advance, so happy!
Yuck.
I can see what he's trying for with the quarter's with all the stable's having at least one rep but I am not a fan. NJPW has been really doing interesting stuff until the G1 and this feels like a big wasted opportunity. Finlay is an ok wrestler but he just does not work as what is ostensibly your number 1 heel unit. HoT is just death to watch.
This whole tournament should have been about getting the Riewa 3 over as big stars, building to Okada Vs Kiyomiya, and making SANADA a credible champion. They only did one of those and if he loses to EVIL in the quarters it's going to hurt that a lot IMO.
Yuck.
I can see what he's trying for with the quarter's with all the stable's having at least one rep but I am not a fan. NJPW has been really doing interesting stuff until the G1 and this feels like a big wasted opportunity. Finlay is an ok wrestler but he just does not work as what is ostensibly your number 1 heel unit. HoT is just death to watch.
This whole tournament should have been about getting the Riewa 3 over as big stars, building to Okada Vs Kiyomiya, and making SANADA a credible champion. They only did one of those and if he loses to EVIL in the quarters it's going to hurt that a lot IMO.
Morishima was something special for sure.
I'm gonna need to find a gif of the tornado ddt Naito hit Tanahashi with tonight because good LORD he fucking planted him.
brackets are set for the quarters, spoiler tagged in case you havent watched the show this morning yet
my thoughts/hopes
I'm gonna need to find a gif of the tornado ddt Naito hit Tanahashi with tonight because good LORD he fucking planted him.
brackets are set for the quarters, spoiler tagged in case you havent watched the show this morning yet
my thoughts/hopes
Anything that doesn't involve EVIL and/or Hikuleo advancing another round is a win. I can't see Sanada making it to the finals unless they REALLY want to put him over strong. I would HOPE that Gedo has learned that EVIL is not the guy to headline a Dome show. Finlay isn't there either and I don't think he ever will be. The obvious thing to me would be to have Sanada lose to Sabre in the semis to set up a defence before WK, and then do Naito Vs Okada in the finals. Personally I'd have Naito win and do Naito Vs Sanada at WK (loser gets BUSHI)
Naito clearly got fucked up in the semi's last night. He really is cursed. I'm sure he'll work through it anyway.
2023.08.19 All Star Junior Festival USA | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING
this is tomorrow. the card is so random. the ladder match should be insane