Coming off the back of last year's article Ranking the WrestleManias that were re-written this year for SteelChair.co.uk, the SCG Radio panel discuss my list covering the pros and cons of every edition of "The Granddaddy Of Them All" ever produced, and we take listener feedback as well to debate their placement. A hugely fun and entertaining series - it's Mania week, so check 'em out~!
Part 1 - The Bottom 10
Featuring Manias: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 11, 15, 27 and 29
http://squaredcirclegazette.podbean.com/mf/play/aixp2f/SCGRadio31-RankingtheWrestleManias-TheBottom10.mp3
Part 2 - The Middle 10
Featuring Manias: 7, 8, 12, 13, 16, 18, 22, 24, 25 and 26
http://squaredcirclegazette.podbean.com/mf/play/w7ueqx/SCGRadio32-RankingtheWrestleManias-TheMiddle10.mp3
Part 3 - The Top 10
Featuring Manias: 3, 10, 14, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23, 28 and 30
http://squaredcirclegazette.podbean.com/mf/play/er62xj/SCGRadio33-RankingtheWrestleManias-TheTop10.mp3
Monday, 23 March 2015
Friday, 2 January 2015
Wrestle Kingdom 9 for the Uninitiated
Following on from our interview with Jeff Jarrett that you REALLY should listen to (found here: http://squaredcirclegazette.podbean.com/mf/web/sd5yr4/SCGRadio25-JeffJarrettandGFW.mp3), I've decided that given the number of potential first-time viewers to New Japan Pro Wrestling this Sunday, it would be wise to give those diving in for the first time a glimpse of what to expect on this show.
New Japan has been an awesome product for about three straight years now, but my efforts to convince people to give it a shot fall on deaf ears at times due to the language barrier or cultural differences. Jim Ross as announcer is all the excuse you need, and if that doesn't seal the deal, then I'll say right now - if you're a wrestling fan to any serious degree, you really should be watching this event on January 4th. The presentation will be spectacular, the matches are potentially amazing, the commentary could be incredible if Jim Ross is prepared and Matt Striker knows his role, and at a time when wrestling in America all seems very blase, this will be a wake-up call for the disenfranchised, a backhand to the cock to tell them that there is still good major league wrestling in the world.
Simply put - YOU. MUST. WATCH. Breaking down the matches, bottom to top, here's what to to expect:
IWGP Jr. Tag Titles: reDRagon (Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly) (c) vs. Forever Hooligans (Alex Koslov and Rocky Romero) vs. Time Splitters (Alex Shelley and Kushida) vs. The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson)
If you're a fan of nonstop no-selling, whacky moves and creative spots, this will be for you. For lack of a better term, this match will be what the X Division was intended to be, what indy wrestling always tries to be, and what WWE will most likely never be. It won't be for everybody, and I'll be very surprised if it's the best match on the show, but it'll be fun. The question is if the Tokyo Dome crowd, which tends to be cold to matches like this (spotfests), bite early. My expectation is for the Bucks or the Splitters to get the belts.
The Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale, Jeff Jarrett and Yujiro Takahashi) vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima and Tomoaki Honma
I've never been a big fan of the Bullet Club personally, and this match groups up the two weaker regular members (Fale and Yujiro) with a guy in Jeff Jarrett who, while I was a big fan of his work as a heel as "Big Daddy" in TNA, is a question mark based on how the Japanese audience takes to him. Tenzan is a legend best kept hidden in a match like this so as not to overexpose his weaknesses, but Kojima still has a lot of zing on his fastball as evidenced by last years G-1 Climax, and Tomoaki Honma is FAN-FUCKING-TASTIC. If you've not seen him before, you'll love him. That said, this probably isn't the best use of Honma, but if he gets the win over Fale here, the crowd would piss their pants, and to me, that's the right outcome. The match won't be a classic, but it should be good.
Mikey Nicholls, Naomichi Marufuji, Shane Haste and Toru Yano vs. Suzukigun (Davey Boy Smith, Jr., Lance Archer, Shelton X Benjamin and Takashi Iizuka)
This is a bit of a clusterfuck on paper. Toru Yano is a comedy wrestler that you'll love or hate, depending on your propensity for a tubby gentleman with an awful dye job and tights that look like they were peeled off an Indian restaurant wall, punching people in the balls and making funny faces. Shelton Benjamin doesn't really click in New Japan as well as Smith and Archer on the heel side, and the best worker in the match is, of course, Naomichi Marufuji, though he isn't what he once was either due to a litany of injuries. This is likely a launching point for a bigger picture, a potential New Japan Vs. NOAH angle later in the year. The effort will be there, and it won't be bad, but this doesn't threaten to steal the show either.
UWFi Rules: Minoru Suzuki vs. Kazushi Sakuraba
Pancrase badass and awesome worker Suzuki against K-1 and Pride superstar Sakuraba in an MMA influenced match with no pinfalls, KO or submission only. Suzuki is an excellent heel, and this match has been teased for months. Not sure how much Sakuraba has in the tank at this stage, though he and Shinsuke Nakamura had a superb match at the Dome two years ago in a similar style. I have no real expectations for this, but it could be a real surprise. The physicality should be there, and Suzuki knows what he is doing and always works hard on the big shows. May not end up as spectacular, but will be solid at worst.
Never Championship: Tomohiro Ishii (c) vs. Togi Makabe
Now we are talking! For those seeing Tomohiro Ishii for the first time, you're in for a treat. The "Stone Pitbull" has engaged in some of the best matches in the world for the last few years with a style that is incredibly physical, to the point of almost being cringeworthy at times, but has superb psychology, and a never-say-die attitude in his matches that is no less than compelling. Togi Makabe, while no favourite of mine, is more than capable of having such a match with Ishii to live up to the lofty standards we're used to, and this will probably be the first really good to great match on the show. Note to the squeamish - there will be unprotected headbutts.
IWGP Jr. Title - Ryusuke Taguchi (c) vs. Kenny Omega
To me, this a real test for both. I know Omega is good, even if his style isn't always my cup of tea, and Taguchi is no slouch. But this is an excellent stage for both to prove something, Omega to prove he belongs at the highest level, and Taguchi, who has always felt a little bit flat in the role of a champion, or even as a feature match wrestler at times, to show that his presence is truly valuable. They'll have a tough time following Ishii, and they'll need more than cool moves to get the job done. It could be very fun and is a dark horse for a great match, but could also be a disappointment if the individuals come across like they're not over, which has happened with Taguchi before.
IWGP Tag Titles - Bullet Club (Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson) (c) vs. Meiyu Tag (Hirooki Goto and Katsuyori Shibata)
Shibata deserves better. In fairness, with the exception of Gallows, who has been rather unimpressive in New Japan so far, truth be told, everybody in the match is really damn good. Shibata has a great shooter style that involves kicking the shit out of people, a reverse backhand chop to the face that'll make you sympathise with the receiver, no matter who it is, and a running dropkick to the face that you'd have to pay me a lot of money to take. But he's so completely credible and knows exactly what he's doing. Goto is brilliant, an underappreciated great worker in his own right, and this match, provided they don't get fucked on time, which is possible, could surpass expectations and be a blinder. I feel a title change is in the works here as well.
A.J. Styles vs. Tetsuya Naito
On to the big three matches. If this isn't excellent, I'll be very surprised. They had a cracker in the G-1 last August, and this should be no different. AJ is a stellar big match wrestler, and you're all familiar with him, so I'll focus on Naito, who was unfortunate enough last year to be voted out of the main event of Wrestle Kingdom by fans despite challenging for the World Title, because they didn't accept him as a top guy. Granted, his hair looks like a rat has chewed it, and his fast lucha-inspired offense doesn't scream tippy-top guy, but he's an outstanding wrestler who had a cornucopia of fantastic matches to his name. Styles will likely get the win, needing a big victory after doing some jobs towards the end of last year, to set him up for a title shot. But this is mouth-watering, and the best is yet to come.
IWGP Intercontinental Title: Shinsuke Nakamura (c) Vs. Kota Ibushi
A rematch from the G-1 Climax two years ago, where these two had one of the best matches of the entire tournament. I mean, an utterly AWESOME match. That is a high standard to live up to, but it's not impossible. Nakamura is one of the most charismatic guys in the business, is tremendously expressive and the finishing stretches to his matches are almost always edge-of-your-seat viewing. Ibushi is cut from the modern mould, a junior heavyweight who has added a little bulk, doesn't sell as much as he perhaps should at times, does a lot of flips and is very exciting. But as a psychologist, Nakamura is top-notch, and a lot of the reason why the G-1 match was as good as it was, was his influence in positioning when Ibushi did the style he always does, and when it was time to just throw punches and hard clotheslines in a fight to the finish. If both are on form, which they surely will be, this follows on from the last match as a potential Match of the Year Contender. The outcome could go either way, but my gut feeling says Ibushi takes the title.
Main Event - IWGP World Heavyweight Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) Vs. Kazuchika Okada
Everything that's been said about this series is true. They've had a superb, top of the line series that makes it an all-time great rivalry. It's tough to sense what people in Japan make of this match. Ticket sales for this show in Japan are going extremely well, and clearly putting this match together has something to do with that. But they've wrestled against each other a lot, and from an artistic standpoint it feels like going back to the well, and I have a sense of the outcome not mattering too much, because the landscape has been set-up now. No matter what, these are the two top guys, regardless of who wins.
As for the match, it's probably best to watch one or two of the previous matches first if you can, as they will probably be crossing up spots they've done before with an extra twist, as that's been the pattern of the series.
Look, they're both extraordinary. Tanahashi is phenomenal, and always puts on a great performance in the Dome. Okada wants a legendary match and is capable of having one here. Simply put, you're going to see a brilliant match, unless the crowd is tired or someone gets injured. Jim Ross will shine in this match like a diamond. For the last few years, the formula has been the same: the biggest star, Tanahashi, goes over at the Dome, and plays air guitar to send the people home happy. A win for Okada may be a changing of the guard in that sense, or it might just be business as usual for both as they move forward. I have no expectation for a winner here, but Okada makes more sense for the long term.
Final Thoughts:
Traditionally, the Tokyo Dome show isn't pieced together in such a way where so many matches look like potential show-stealers, and it's usually put together in such a way to appeal to a wider audience to get a big attendance, and rightly so. But this is one of those lovely years where both of those things coincide with each other, and we've got the emotion and experience of Jim Ross, who is looking to put on a performance that gives a big fuck you to his doubters, to guide newcomers by the hand.
To conclude, I want to say to anybody that reads this - it is easy to half-ass enthusiasm for wrestling now. It's always there, always prevalent, and nothing really changes anyway in WWE, so who cares. But if you want to watch a great show that takes you through peaks and valleys, has the production values of a WrestleMania, potential match-of-the-year candidates and a voice you know looking at it through much the same eyes as you, just give it a shot. Try it out. At some point, this show will remind you of why you love, or loved, professional wrestling.
New Japan has been an awesome product for about three straight years now, but my efforts to convince people to give it a shot fall on deaf ears at times due to the language barrier or cultural differences. Jim Ross as announcer is all the excuse you need, and if that doesn't seal the deal, then I'll say right now - if you're a wrestling fan to any serious degree, you really should be watching this event on January 4th. The presentation will be spectacular, the matches are potentially amazing, the commentary could be incredible if Jim Ross is prepared and Matt Striker knows his role, and at a time when wrestling in America all seems very blase, this will be a wake-up call for the disenfranchised, a backhand to the cock to tell them that there is still good major league wrestling in the world.
Simply put - YOU. MUST. WATCH. Breaking down the matches, bottom to top, here's what to to expect:
IWGP Jr. Tag Titles: reDRagon (Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly) (c) vs. Forever Hooligans (Alex Koslov and Rocky Romero) vs. Time Splitters (Alex Shelley and Kushida) vs. The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson)
If you're a fan of nonstop no-selling, whacky moves and creative spots, this will be for you. For lack of a better term, this match will be what the X Division was intended to be, what indy wrestling always tries to be, and what WWE will most likely never be. It won't be for everybody, and I'll be very surprised if it's the best match on the show, but it'll be fun. The question is if the Tokyo Dome crowd, which tends to be cold to matches like this (spotfests), bite early. My expectation is for the Bucks or the Splitters to get the belts.
The Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale, Jeff Jarrett and Yujiro Takahashi) vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima and Tomoaki Honma
I've never been a big fan of the Bullet Club personally, and this match groups up the two weaker regular members (Fale and Yujiro) with a guy in Jeff Jarrett who, while I was a big fan of his work as a heel as "Big Daddy" in TNA, is a question mark based on how the Japanese audience takes to him. Tenzan is a legend best kept hidden in a match like this so as not to overexpose his weaknesses, but Kojima still has a lot of zing on his fastball as evidenced by last years G-1 Climax, and Tomoaki Honma is FAN-FUCKING-TASTIC. If you've not seen him before, you'll love him. That said, this probably isn't the best use of Honma, but if he gets the win over Fale here, the crowd would piss their pants, and to me, that's the right outcome. The match won't be a classic, but it should be good.
Mikey Nicholls, Naomichi Marufuji, Shane Haste and Toru Yano vs. Suzukigun (Davey Boy Smith, Jr., Lance Archer, Shelton X Benjamin and Takashi Iizuka)
This is a bit of a clusterfuck on paper. Toru Yano is a comedy wrestler that you'll love or hate, depending on your propensity for a tubby gentleman with an awful dye job and tights that look like they were peeled off an Indian restaurant wall, punching people in the balls and making funny faces. Shelton Benjamin doesn't really click in New Japan as well as Smith and Archer on the heel side, and the best worker in the match is, of course, Naomichi Marufuji, though he isn't what he once was either due to a litany of injuries. This is likely a launching point for a bigger picture, a potential New Japan Vs. NOAH angle later in the year. The effort will be there, and it won't be bad, but this doesn't threaten to steal the show either.
UWFi Rules: Minoru Suzuki vs. Kazushi Sakuraba
Pancrase badass and awesome worker Suzuki against K-1 and Pride superstar Sakuraba in an MMA influenced match with no pinfalls, KO or submission only. Suzuki is an excellent heel, and this match has been teased for months. Not sure how much Sakuraba has in the tank at this stage, though he and Shinsuke Nakamura had a superb match at the Dome two years ago in a similar style. I have no real expectations for this, but it could be a real surprise. The physicality should be there, and Suzuki knows what he is doing and always works hard on the big shows. May not end up as spectacular, but will be solid at worst.
Never Championship: Tomohiro Ishii (c) vs. Togi Makabe
Now we are talking! For those seeing Tomohiro Ishii for the first time, you're in for a treat. The "Stone Pitbull" has engaged in some of the best matches in the world for the last few years with a style that is incredibly physical, to the point of almost being cringeworthy at times, but has superb psychology, and a never-say-die attitude in his matches that is no less than compelling. Togi Makabe, while no favourite of mine, is more than capable of having such a match with Ishii to live up to the lofty standards we're used to, and this will probably be the first really good to great match on the show. Note to the squeamish - there will be unprotected headbutts.
IWGP Jr. Title - Ryusuke Taguchi (c) vs. Kenny Omega
To me, this a real test for both. I know Omega is good, even if his style isn't always my cup of tea, and Taguchi is no slouch. But this is an excellent stage for both to prove something, Omega to prove he belongs at the highest level, and Taguchi, who has always felt a little bit flat in the role of a champion, or even as a feature match wrestler at times, to show that his presence is truly valuable. They'll have a tough time following Ishii, and they'll need more than cool moves to get the job done. It could be very fun and is a dark horse for a great match, but could also be a disappointment if the individuals come across like they're not over, which has happened with Taguchi before.
IWGP Tag Titles - Bullet Club (Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson) (c) vs. Meiyu Tag (Hirooki Goto and Katsuyori Shibata)
Shibata deserves better. In fairness, with the exception of Gallows, who has been rather unimpressive in New Japan so far, truth be told, everybody in the match is really damn good. Shibata has a great shooter style that involves kicking the shit out of people, a reverse backhand chop to the face that'll make you sympathise with the receiver, no matter who it is, and a running dropkick to the face that you'd have to pay me a lot of money to take. But he's so completely credible and knows exactly what he's doing. Goto is brilliant, an underappreciated great worker in his own right, and this match, provided they don't get fucked on time, which is possible, could surpass expectations and be a blinder. I feel a title change is in the works here as well.
A.J. Styles vs. Tetsuya Naito
On to the big three matches. If this isn't excellent, I'll be very surprised. They had a cracker in the G-1 last August, and this should be no different. AJ is a stellar big match wrestler, and you're all familiar with him, so I'll focus on Naito, who was unfortunate enough last year to be voted out of the main event of Wrestle Kingdom by fans despite challenging for the World Title, because they didn't accept him as a top guy. Granted, his hair looks like a rat has chewed it, and his fast lucha-inspired offense doesn't scream tippy-top guy, but he's an outstanding wrestler who had a cornucopia of fantastic matches to his name. Styles will likely get the win, needing a big victory after doing some jobs towards the end of last year, to set him up for a title shot. But this is mouth-watering, and the best is yet to come.
IWGP Intercontinental Title: Shinsuke Nakamura (c) Vs. Kota Ibushi
A rematch from the G-1 Climax two years ago, where these two had one of the best matches of the entire tournament. I mean, an utterly AWESOME match. That is a high standard to live up to, but it's not impossible. Nakamura is one of the most charismatic guys in the business, is tremendously expressive and the finishing stretches to his matches are almost always edge-of-your-seat viewing. Ibushi is cut from the modern mould, a junior heavyweight who has added a little bulk, doesn't sell as much as he perhaps should at times, does a lot of flips and is very exciting. But as a psychologist, Nakamura is top-notch, and a lot of the reason why the G-1 match was as good as it was, was his influence in positioning when Ibushi did the style he always does, and when it was time to just throw punches and hard clotheslines in a fight to the finish. If both are on form, which they surely will be, this follows on from the last match as a potential Match of the Year Contender. The outcome could go either way, but my gut feeling says Ibushi takes the title.
Main Event - IWGP World Heavyweight Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) Vs. Kazuchika Okada
As for the match, it's probably best to watch one or two of the previous matches first if you can, as they will probably be crossing up spots they've done before with an extra twist, as that's been the pattern of the series.
Look, they're both extraordinary. Tanahashi is phenomenal, and always puts on a great performance in the Dome. Okada wants a legendary match and is capable of having one here. Simply put, you're going to see a brilliant match, unless the crowd is tired or someone gets injured. Jim Ross will shine in this match like a diamond. For the last few years, the formula has been the same: the biggest star, Tanahashi, goes over at the Dome, and plays air guitar to send the people home happy. A win for Okada may be a changing of the guard in that sense, or it might just be business as usual for both as they move forward. I have no expectation for a winner here, but Okada makes more sense for the long term.
Final Thoughts:
Traditionally, the Tokyo Dome show isn't pieced together in such a way where so many matches look like potential show-stealers, and it's usually put together in such a way to appeal to a wider audience to get a big attendance, and rightly so. But this is one of those lovely years where both of those things coincide with each other, and we've got the emotion and experience of Jim Ross, who is looking to put on a performance that gives a big fuck you to his doubters, to guide newcomers by the hand.
To conclude, I want to say to anybody that reads this - it is easy to half-ass enthusiasm for wrestling now. It's always there, always prevalent, and nothing really changes anyway in WWE, so who cares. But if you want to watch a great show that takes you through peaks and valleys, has the production values of a WrestleMania, potential match-of-the-year candidates and a voice you know looking at it through much the same eyes as you, just give it a shot. Try it out. At some point, this show will remind you of why you love, or loved, professional wrestling.
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