February 2023

This was like an old-school grappling match transported to the modern era. I get that sixty-one minutes mostly spent on the mat is a lot, especially when it takes place in front of less than sixty people at the Ice Ribbon dojo. But when the match is dripping with as much substance as this is, it’s hard not to be glued to the screen. The first few minutes were like a game of chess, with neither player able to gain an advantage. Arai made GENTARO earn everything, with even something as simple as a Gator Roll feeling like a struggle. I dug Arai countering GENTARO’s attempts at the hold by deadweighting. Arai busting out short headbutts to maintain control was pretty nif…

Every movement in the opening exchange felt purposeful. Take, for example, the moment where Togo had Urano down on the mat and drove his knee into the point of Yasu’s arm. That quick-witted thinking briefly allowed Togo to gain the upper hand. Togo remains one of the great punchers in wrestling, and he softens up Urano on the floor. When Togo tries to re-enter the ring, Urano trips him, and the tide changes. Urano’s attack is focused and spiteful. He ruthlessly hones in on Togo’s leg, pulling it down to the mat and bending it at unsightly angles. Urano takes his eye off the ball and goes for a splash from the top rope, but Togo gets the knees up. Togo’s selling is ph…

Roman Reigns defends the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. This had a lot of the Roman Reigns main event match features that suck: you get him controlling things way too much w/ spotty (in regards to how interesting it is) work on top, melodramatic dialogue of course (even though it wasn't actually THAT bad this time - still annoying tho), Bloodline run-ins, a super lame, energy-sucking finish, but goddamn it, there was still that magic in the air that this match was bound to have. There was close to zero fucking chance that Sami Zayn was gonna win the World Championship here, especially right before WrestleMania, but he still made me believe. One of the best, m…

Darby Allin defends the TNT Championship. This was fucking awesome. Exactly what a No Holds Barred match between these two should look like. Memorable spots & visuals throughout. Violence. Joe gets to be the best Samoa Joe-in-2023 possible because of Darby's willingness to get completely ragdolled. Fuck yes. ***3/4

The match starts tentatively with a lock-up, but Virus quickly gains control. Blue Panther places his foot in the fold of Virus’ leg to get leverage on an arm wringer. Blue Panther is in his sixties. His bridging on his head and hitting a monkey flip would be an impressive spot for someone forty years younger. Virus hones in his arm, with Panther opting to target his opponent’s leg. Virus controlling the bulk of the match isn’t how you’d expect this to go on paper, but it works and is a way to subvert expectations. Blue Panther rallies the crowd, and the pace begins to quicken. Panther hits a hurricanrana from the top rope and goes for a topé , but Virus places his f…

Kazuchika Okada defends the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. It's a NJPW main event, so of course there's some filler-padding in there that's super forgettable & really just a bunch of absolutely nothing, but man, when Okada & Shingo kicked it up to another gear, this shit got fantastic. Awesome reversals, selling, moments. If you're into the NJPW big match formula, this really (probably) is an exceptional match, because even for someone like me who is very much tired of that said formula, it still ended up being a big time banger. ***1/2

ROOSH gets to be the best nasty, violent, charismatic motherfucker that he is possible as he delivers an absolutely lovely & brutal pummeling. A pummeling which Danielson sells absolutely perfectly throughout. Perfeeeeectly. Just a motherfucking badass match, man. Rocked my world. ****3/4