Boss Rock

Awesome!

That's why I didn't expect Okada to win the Cup. No way they were going to run the WK main event in a limited capacity building.

https://www.njpw1972.com/77207

Taichi has had some genuinely good matches when they take out the overbooking and nonsense. He's still a step below the elite wrestlers, but I think he's proven he can be a solid midcard/tag guy.

I don't quite agree with this comp mainly because EVIL has had at least a few flirtations with ME status. He's challenged for the title before and challenged Ibushi for the briefcase last year. So it was somewhat of a possibility he would receive a push, just not quite this sudden. Not saying Shingo wouldn't have been a far better option though.

He's one who I've really watched a lot of over the past 7-8 months and become a really big fan. Really one of those guys who you can put in any match type against any opponent and get something at least "pretty good". So many matches of him on Youtube against random dudes in front of maybe 100 people and still be pretty entertaining. I also wouldn't be surprised if EVIL was a transitional champ like Jay was last year. Give him the big title win to pay off the push and solidify him as main eventer before transitioning back to Okada or Naito.

Dick Togo! Holy crap. And yeah, while I figured EVIL had a much better chance to win now that jumped ship, still was not expecting that result. I like that they're doing something different, but it's unfortunate Naito never got a proper reign. Not to mention 30+ minute EVIL matches are not something I'm particularly looking forward to.

Haha. I figured that meant he was joining but the reveal was still really well-done. I agree that the match was solid but definitely their worst. The Okada Special is a reliable formula, but the overbooking and lack of a hot finishing stretch hurt it. I was fine with the Cobra Clutch but I think it's time to drop it.

Outside of my top 3 of Bryan, A.J., and Tanahashi I would go with (in no particular order): Okada Omega Akiyama Hero Sabre Ishii Suzuki Casas Ibushi Cesaro Possibly Nagata, Shingo, Cena, Shibata, Naito, and Zayn/Generico I wanna add Joe but it feels like he peaked rather early due to injury and apart from a few matches/periods, has never been able to reach the same heights as he did in 2005.

Yeah purely as an in-ring worker Jericho wouldn't register, but in terms of complete package, absolutely.

I actually liked Okada-Nagata quite a bit, thought it deviated from his formula. The Gedo and Taiji matches were fine for what they were, just had too much BC overbooking. But yeah, the Hiromu match ruled. Some folks seemed to think it underwhelmed and I suppose it could have been a tighter, more fast-paced match but what we got was pretty great.

Hiromu-Ishii was great as expected.

Today was easily the best card of the tournament thus far. Shingo-SHO was a banger as expected. From the Champion Carnival-onward, this is the best that Shingo has ever been in his career. Taguchi-SANADA did a bit too much comedy in the beginning, but once they turned things up Big Match Taguchi delivered. This Ibushi-Sabre match was probably their "worst" but was still good. Just such great chemistry but I feel as though it could have benefited from a few more minutes. Taichi-Tanahashi was a bit too overbooked but was still enjoyable. Tomorrow's card doesn't look great, but Kojima-EVIL could be a real hoot and YOSHI-HASHI tends to over-achieve in tournaments.

Ishii-Desperado was indeed great stuff. Not surprising because Ishii, but Desperado continues to step up in these showcase matches. He seemed destined for a push in BOSJ, so we'll see what happens. Honma-Hiromu was also better than it had any right to be because Honma really looks like he shouldn't be wrestling. Jado was also in really bad shape. I know they have a limited roster now, but those spots could have easily gone to a young lion and Douki.

Orton-Edge was definitely better than I expected. Don't think it rose above "fine" for me though.

Tentative pick for 2020.

Bryan's injuries and subsequent forced retirement definitely work against his case, but he was arguably number one from 2006 until at least 2013. And he was great as early as 2002. And even when he was handcuffed by bad booking or opponents (Bray, Kane, Cass), he still busted his ass to make the matches better than they had any right to be. And while I've been largely checked out on WWE for the last 2 years or so, the stuff I have seen of him (vs. Kofi and Gulak) he still looks great.

I'll also echo the Togo sentiment. He has so many Youtube matches against virtual unknowns in front of maybe 100 people that still have a floor of "pretty good".

Kane is indeed awful, but I thought their Extreme Rules match was way better than it had any right to be.

1. Daniel Bryan 2. A.J. Styles 3. Hiroshi Tanahashi

Reminds me of when Kobashi said he has a much greater attachment to Budokan than the Dome because the crowd is much closer to the ring and everything is easier to hear/see. Although I totally get why the Dome is considered a huge deal.

Okada also said in an interview back in January that he'd like to wrestle Kento and Kiyomiya.

I've always been of the belief that they should merge both tag divisions and tag titles. Gives them more depth and gets rid of a tag league, heh.

I wonder if they should even do G1 anyway considering it's such a big ticket mover for them.

Stadium Stampede was the greatest thing I've ever seen.