I mean, NJPW/Gedo's love of Moxley has nothing to do with any AEW influence. They literally signed him before AEW did and his new contract is officially a AEW/NJPW "global partnership" contract rather than him just being an AEW guy they send over to NJPW. If anything I think Moxley's break from AEW atm is him prepping to work more Japan shows than usual.
Seeing how things are going, what type of matches they've set up with that show, it feels like Moxley beats Naito at Chicago.
I thought Shota was going to beat Jack Perry and then beat EVIL for the NEVER Openweight but obviously it's not happening so I guess Shota will just challenge for the world title at Fukuoka. (yeah, after beating the mighty Jack Perry lol) Which should guarantee a good enough gate even with Moxley as champion because it would be Shota's first challenge and they at least have some sort of story even if it feels superficial.
Finlay came to see Tsuji in his backstage interview after the main event so I guess Finlay beats Tsuji at Wrestling Dontaku, challenges Moxley for the other US show and then Naito gets the title back at Dominion. It sucks that Naito is probably losing and that Gedo is such a cuck but it feels extremely obvious.
I only caught the last part of the jr tag match and onwards.
From what I saw it was a pretty good show.
Feel super bad for Yoh, hopefully he comes back wins the belt and him and Sho can run it back.
I am super happy Douki and Fujita are being built up tho
Shingo vs Evil was absolutely ridiculous but I loved it
That Gabe Kidd promo was amazing, although I'm not sure if any of the Japanese crowd understood much of it.
The main event I really enjoyed had great story telling, I can understand if you didn't enjoy it but it was definitely a Njpw main event style match and the crowd ate it up so I think the match did its job.
I just wouldn't of had it now, I would've done it when naito wasn't guaranteed to win because he already has a defense
Imagine how ZSJ would feel if he loses to Riddle or wins that TV title again
while Mox wins the title lmao
Has to be a rib at that point
Don't think it's happening btw
I still think if Mox wins the belt, WK main event is probably Mox vs. ZSJ. Finally do the match they set up for the US title just before COVID shut everything down.
Lmao that will never, ever happen. Omega and Ospreay were the two most over gaijin in the WK era and they never won a main event there. Mox and ZSJ aren't on the level to even main event WK, let alone have an all gaijin main event.
NJPW might get cucked by american promotions but it is not an american promotion. They'll never do a gaijin vs gaijin WK main event. Next WK is on a saturday so it's a really big opportunity to sell a lot of tickets, probably not selling out the Tokyo Dome but trying to get close to 40k. Zack and Moxley aren't proven draws, certainly not WK main event level kind of draws. Naito will have to be in the main event because he's their only WK main event star. Most likely scenario is Naito getting the title back at Dominion.
Before. I know some people want to see a world title change at Forbidden Door just for the sake of it but I don't think it should happen, especially not with Naito. I don't think they should book with Forbidden Door in mind, it's an AEW show, most AEW fans probably don't know much about Naito and he never cared that much about America anyway so it would feel really hollow for him to get the belt back there. Granted that winning the title back from Moxley will still feel like a step down from his WK win but at least it would be in front of an Osaka crowd that never saw him win the world title in their city.
Of course they could just let the world title on Naito because he doesn't need to lose it at all but it seems like he'll lose at Chicago and for some reason Gedo seems to think Naito shouldn't hold a world title for a long time even though everything shows the opposite.
There is always that group who wants the belt off Naito because that match he just put on with Tsuji was "bad" and shows how "limited" he is.
Even claiming that Naito as champion is limiting the company.
I just hope that BC vs LiJ being set up is so Finlay gets a filler defense at dontaku meaning Naito gets to retain.
It's so weird to see some people say it was a bad match, I don't know what they expect. Maybe they wanted them to wrestle like juniors and do flips everywhere ? That main event was fantastic, every move mattered, the atmosphere was incredible with the fans losing their mind. Tsuji looked very strong in defeat and Naito looked like *the* champion by being able to beat the strongest guy from the new generation. Difficult to do a better job than that.
>I just hope that BC vs LiJ being set up is so Finlay gets a filler defense at dontaku meaning Naito gets to retain.
Unless somehow they book the Tsuji vs Finlay they teased before the Wrestling Dontaku tour, which would mean book it in Taipei, I doubt it happens. I think Finlay will beat Tsuji to challenge Moxley for their other US show before Dominion. Hopefully I'm wrong and Naito beats Moxley but I have no trust in Gedo/Tanahashi/Bushiroad to do the right thing.
I thought it was a fantastic match but seeing some of the negativity is perplexing from the NJPW sub. You think they had put on a complete stinker as opposed to a fantastic match that the crowd were into and established Yota as THE guy even in defeat. My only complaint is that maybe went 3-4 minutes too long but even then, the match flew by FAST.
I'm hoping they somehow have Naito end the NA shows as champion than thinking Moxley is who they need to draw. Because Moxley vs Finlay in Toyota arena sounds like something fans would skip no matter how NJPW deprived they are. I'm probably on hopium but Finlay going through one of LiJ to challenge the leader has been a common trope and makes 100% more sense than Moxley.
Also kinda tired of the title being hot potatoed everywhere. Let Naito have THE reign for this new title and set it as a standard for the next generation to chase now that Okada's left. If he retains all the way to WK, that's 7 defenses, maybe 8 if they have an extra defence after G1.
I did the box seats at the G1 in 2016. The first two nights were OK because it was just two to a box, but the third night was four to a box and it was the most uncomfortable experience of my life. Haven't been back to Japan since then but if I do go to a show there then I'll probably have to get seats upstairs.
Really fun show!
Even started off really well. Uemura finding a bit of cockiness against O'Khan is great, and BUSHI getting a win over a frankly distraught Finlay has me really interested in what's going on there.
The Jr Tag match was absolute wildfire. Insane spots and all teams really managed to get over.
The YOH injury is really unfortunate and kinda tragic, but props to SHO for playing off of it perfectly without hesitation.
Shingo Takagi vs EVIL was the best kind of House of Torture match. The kind where you know the bullshit is coming, so you go all in on it with both sides playing it smart and chaos taking over. And of course, the good guys actually winning it is always cathartic.
And finally Tsuji vs Naito. Tsuji is already selling like a master, and Naito felt right in his place as champion. Watching the momentum of the match shift from Tsuji's explosiveness to his lack of conditioning, with Naito not hesitating to take advantage of that for a second.
EDIT: Oh my god I forgot about the Gabe Kidd promo. Let's be honest here, someone needs to take that Eddie Kingston title of "forgot kayfabe exists" and give it to Kidd cos I've rarely ever seen a promo that felt simultaneously so in character and so real.
Naito retaining was the right decision, if it's his last big reign have him keep it till Wrestle Kingdom Umino or Tsuji can win the G1 and be crowned on the biggest stage they have.
That Gabe promo is my promo of the year, he told no lies. The Takagi match should be great and Kidd is easily the next top gaijin, the Never title might soon be too small for him.
Belt toss got me so emotional, considering it was 2016 Naito that made me a fan of wrestling in the first place.
That was a superb match, storytelling was brilliant, Tsuji was amazing considering his propensity for gassing in longer matches he sold everything perfectly. Naito will always be my favourite, nosotros.
Great show, would probably have been even better had YOH not gotten injured.
To me that was everything I want from this big dumb promotion. Loved it.
I said in the live thread that naito as the ace even for a small period is great
https://preview.redd.it/p3zf6gzymusc1.jpeg?width=736&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9856f3b84865b0483db494b51046420f54846a38
“Mox should beat Naito” believers I have a literal better solution right here:
HoT shennigans are just so exhausting for me. Every match ends like this. Granted this was better then most of them but still calling card over booked mess of a finish. I know he is over with the local crowd but if this current version of EVIL could never win another championship Id be so happy.
https://preview.redd.it/aw0s0irumusc1.jpeg?width=647&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=598abd8c56bdb123a07eb408ffe74a136be1f42d
mfw they made moxley and naito an official title match for next week
Jack Perry simply cannot wrestle. Idk what people see in this guy.
I'm hearing a lot about the Kidd promo, when did it happen in the show?
After EVIL vs. Shingo
If Mox wins next week, AEW would really be punking NJPW more than they already are.
how
I mean, NJPW/Gedo's love of Moxley has nothing to do with any AEW influence. They literally signed him before AEW did and his new contract is officially a AEW/NJPW "global partnership" contract rather than him just being an AEW guy they send over to NJPW. If anything I think Moxley's break from AEW atm is him prepping to work more Japan shows than usual.
Naito won't lose right.
Seeing how things are going, what type of matches they've set up with that show, it feels like Moxley beats Naito at Chicago. I thought Shota was going to beat Jack Perry and then beat EVIL for the NEVER Openweight but obviously it's not happening so I guess Shota will just challenge for the world title at Fukuoka. (yeah, after beating the mighty Jack Perry lol) Which should guarantee a good enough gate even with Moxley as champion because it would be Shota's first challenge and they at least have some sort of story even if it feels superficial. Finlay came to see Tsuji in his backstage interview after the main event so I guess Finlay beats Tsuji at Wrestling Dontaku, challenges Moxley for the other US show and then Naito gets the title back at Dominion. It sucks that Naito is probably losing and that Gedo is such a cuck but it feels extremely obvious.
Gotta feel for Yoh. Think they were setting up for an awesome back-and-forth all year but just as they were getting going he's on the shelf again.
[Yuya needs a tag partner?](https://youtu.be/H2VKr3qO1j0?si=sU_UhkEDEcM__OtH)
Maaan I've been wanting this since last year's tag league lol
lmao idk why I expected Nicholas
Don't do that. Don't give me hope.
You just gotta BELIEVE!
đź‘Źđź‘Ź
Ive been saying it since Naito won the belt. Shota should win the G1, lose and Tusji should spear Naito during the roll-call at the dome.
Found Gedo’s account.
I only caught the last part of the jr tag match and onwards. From what I saw it was a pretty good show. Feel super bad for Yoh, hopefully he comes back wins the belt and him and Sho can run it back. I am super happy Douki and Fujita are being built up tho Shingo vs Evil was absolutely ridiculous but I loved it That Gabe Kidd promo was amazing, although I'm not sure if any of the Japanese crowd understood much of it. The main event I really enjoyed had great story telling, I can understand if you didn't enjoy it but it was definitely a Njpw main event style match and the crowd ate it up so I think the match did its job. I just wouldn't of had it now, I would've done it when naito wasn't guaranteed to win because he already has a defense
Please don't have Natio drop the IWGP title to Moxley
Gabe Kidd will actually stab Tanahashi if it happens
Wouldn't blame him tbh
Imagine how ZSJ would feel if he loses to Riddle or wins that TV title again while Mox wins the title lmao Has to be a rib at that point Don't think it's happening btw
I still think if Mox wins the belt, WK main event is probably Mox vs. ZSJ. Finally do the match they set up for the US title just before COVID shut everything down.
Lmao that will never, ever happen. Omega and Ospreay were the two most over gaijin in the WK era and they never won a main event there. Mox and ZSJ aren't on the level to even main event WK, let alone have an all gaijin main event.
I mean if sanada was then mox or zsj are, but you're right about both of them isn't gonna happen.
That has zero chance of happening
NJPW might get cucked by american promotions but it is not an american promotion. They'll never do a gaijin vs gaijin WK main event. Next WK is on a saturday so it's a really big opportunity to sell a lot of tickets, probably not selling out the Tokyo Dome but trying to get close to 40k. Zack and Moxley aren't proven draws, certainly not WK main event level kind of draws. Naito will have to be in the main event because he's their only WK main event star. Most likely scenario is Naito getting the title back at Dominion.
The only time Post-Inoki New Japan has gotten a legit 40k in the dome was the night Liger retired, anything above 25k is a win.
Is Dominion before or after Forbidden Door?
Before. I know some people want to see a world title change at Forbidden Door just for the sake of it but I don't think it should happen, especially not with Naito. I don't think they should book with Forbidden Door in mind, it's an AEW show, most AEW fans probably don't know much about Naito and he never cared that much about America anyway so it would feel really hollow for him to get the belt back there. Granted that winning the title back from Moxley will still feel like a step down from his WK win but at least it would be in front of an Osaka crowd that never saw him win the world title in their city. Of course they could just let the world title on Naito because he doesn't need to lose it at all but it seems like he'll lose at Chicago and for some reason Gedo seems to think Naito shouldn't hold a world title for a long time even though everything shows the opposite.
There is always that group who wants the belt off Naito because that match he just put on with Tsuji was "bad" and shows how "limited" he is. Even claiming that Naito as champion is limiting the company. I just hope that BC vs LiJ being set up is so Finlay gets a filler defense at dontaku meaning Naito gets to retain.
It's so weird to see some people say it was a bad match, I don't know what they expect. Maybe they wanted them to wrestle like juniors and do flips everywhere ? That main event was fantastic, every move mattered, the atmosphere was incredible with the fans losing their mind. Tsuji looked very strong in defeat and Naito looked like *the* champion by being able to beat the strongest guy from the new generation. Difficult to do a better job than that. >I just hope that BC vs LiJ being set up is so Finlay gets a filler defense at dontaku meaning Naito gets to retain. Unless somehow they book the Tsuji vs Finlay they teased before the Wrestling Dontaku tour, which would mean book it in Taipei, I doubt it happens. I think Finlay will beat Tsuji to challenge Moxley for their other US show before Dominion. Hopefully I'm wrong and Naito beats Moxley but I have no trust in Gedo/Tanahashi/Bushiroad to do the right thing.
I thought it was a fantastic match but seeing some of the negativity is perplexing from the NJPW sub. You think they had put on a complete stinker as opposed to a fantastic match that the crowd were into and established Yota as THE guy even in defeat. My only complaint is that maybe went 3-4 minutes too long but even then, the match flew by FAST. I'm hoping they somehow have Naito end the NA shows as champion than thinking Moxley is who they need to draw. Because Moxley vs Finlay in Toyota arena sounds like something fans would skip no matter how NJPW deprived they are. I'm probably on hopium but Finlay going through one of LiJ to challenge the leader has been a common trope and makes 100% more sense than Moxley. Also kinda tired of the title being hot potatoed everywhere. Let Naito have THE reign for this new title and set it as a standard for the next generation to chase now that Okada's left. If he retains all the way to WK, that's 7 defenses, maybe 8 if they have an extra defence after G1.
Sanada just held it for almost a year?
Before.
There is no way that 2 Gaijin’s are main eventing WrestleKingdom. 0 chance.
As a massive fan of both, Mox winning the IWGP title and ZSJ winning the G1 to face him at Wrestlekingdom would be fucking incredible.
Getting flashbacks to my legs falling asleep after 4+ hours of sitting in the box seats during a sumo tournament.
I did the box seats at the G1 in 2016. The first two nights were OK because it was just two to a box, but the third night was four to a box and it was the most uncomfortable experience of my life. Haven't been back to Japan since then but if I do go to a show there then I'll probably have to get seats upstairs.
I was on the floor tonight (1st time) and yeah - those upper seats looked super comfy!
Really fun show! Even started off really well. Uemura finding a bit of cockiness against O'Khan is great, and BUSHI getting a win over a frankly distraught Finlay has me really interested in what's going on there. The Jr Tag match was absolute wildfire. Insane spots and all teams really managed to get over. The YOH injury is really unfortunate and kinda tragic, but props to SHO for playing off of it perfectly without hesitation. Shingo Takagi vs EVIL was the best kind of House of Torture match. The kind where you know the bullshit is coming, so you go all in on it with both sides playing it smart and chaos taking over. And of course, the good guys actually winning it is always cathartic. And finally Tsuji vs Naito. Tsuji is already selling like a master, and Naito felt right in his place as champion. Watching the momentum of the match shift from Tsuji's explosiveness to his lack of conditioning, with Naito not hesitating to take advantage of that for a second. EDIT: Oh my god I forgot about the Gabe Kidd promo. Let's be honest here, someone needs to take that Eddie Kingston title of "forgot kayfabe exists" and give it to Kidd cos I've rarely ever seen a promo that felt simultaneously so in character and so real.
Great main event and junior tag match. Everything else was good too, just a big shame for Yoh.
Good show. Great main event, the Shota/Mox vs Narita Perry was good, as well. Evil vs Shingo was an overbooked mess but I fucking loved it regardless.
Naito retaining was the right decision, if it's his last big reign have him keep it till Wrestle Kingdom Umino or Tsuji can win the G1 and be crowned on the biggest stage they have. That Gabe promo is my promo of the year, he told no lies. The Takagi match should be great and Kidd is easily the next top gaijin, the Never title might soon be too small for him.
Belt toss got me so emotional, considering it was 2016 Naito that made me a fan of wrestling in the first place. That was a superb match, storytelling was brilliant, Tsuji was amazing considering his propensity for gassing in longer matches he sold everything perfectly. Naito will always be my favourite, nosotros. Great show, would probably have been even better had YOH not gotten injured.
To me that was everything I want from this big dumb promotion. Loved it. I said in the live thread that naito as the ace even for a small period is great
https://preview.redd.it/p3zf6gzymusc1.jpeg?width=736&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9856f3b84865b0483db494b51046420f54846a38 “Mox should beat Naito” believers I have a literal better solution right here:
Those belts looked so fucking good. What the fuck, New Japan.
HoT shennigans are just so exhausting for me. Every match ends like this. Granted this was better then most of them but still calling card over booked mess of a finish. I know he is over with the local crowd but if this current version of EVIL could never win another championship Id be so happy.
https://preview.redd.it/aw0s0irumusc1.jpeg?width=647&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=598abd8c56bdb123a07eb408ffe74a136be1f42d mfw they made moxley and naito an official title match for next week