• Tag Archives: NJPW

    All Aboard the S.S. Strong Style: WRESTLE KINGDOM 10 RUNDOWN

    Shelly Deathlock cares too much about Japanese wrestling and, as Captain of the S.S. Strong Style, she’s here to welcome you on board and fill you in on what’s going on in the world of puro.

    Hello shipmates & crew! I’ve been away for a while but I HAVE RETURNED for this most beautiful time of year: Wrestle Kingdom. This year is #10 by number, but New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Tokyo Dome show itself has been running annually since 1992. That’s before some of you were EVEN BORN, so you know it’s a big deal.

    NJPW-Wrestle-Kingdom-10-645x370

    How to watch Wrestle Kingdom 10

    If you’re new and wondering how to tune in to Wrestle Kingdom 10, let me tell you! It takes place on January 4, 2016 at 4PM in Japan (so 2AM EST). For about $9 USD, you can get WK10 and a whole month of NJPW’s streaming service, NJPWWorld, right on your computer machine (AND it works with Chromecast now!). Here’s how:

    1. Wait until January 1 (billing starts at the first of the month).
    2. Go to NJPWWorld’s English signup page at https://njpwworld.com/auth?lang=en
    3. Sign up & select a payment method (I use a credit card & my bank has no problem with the international transaction; others have been able to use pre-paid Visas and the like).
    4. Watch wrestling!

    I keep a calendar of events that air live on NJPWWorld, so you can reference this to find out what’s going on during WK weekend and what time the events start in your timezone. As of now, I keep this up to date through the year, and it’s pretty handy in general.

    You can also reference the official NJPWWorld Schedule to find out what’s going on and when.

    WK10 will air in both Japanese and English. It should be easy to select whichever stream you want at the time it airs. The English commentary team this year is Matt Striker & Kevin Kelly, with an appearance by YOSHITATSU to do some translating. Good luck, guys! I’ll be tuning into the Japanese stream. I don’t understand it all but I love hearing them yell about things, it’s fantastic. You can feel free to do the same if you’re adventurous, or stick with Matt, Kevin, & YOSHITATSU if you want some more info about the combatants & the action in English during the broadcast.

    Another event of note is the BIG WRESTLING FESTIVAL 2016. This takes place around noon Japan time on the Sunday before WK10. Last year it was a lot of fun and included Gedo & Okada squaring off in Taiko no Tatsujin, a press conference, etc. If you can’t catch it live, the replay should be up for viewing on demand on NJPWWorld soon after. Cross your fingers for more footage of our IWGP Heavyweight Champion playing video games, please.

    If all goes well, NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom 10 should be a beautiful evening of pro wrestling that everyone can enjoy. Let’s get to the card rundown, including my incredibly biased opinions!

    Pre-show:
    NJPW Battle Royal

    The info:

    Participants will enter every sixty seconds. Participants are eliminated by going over the top rope. Last year was the first NJPW Battle Royal, and it looks like it’s becoming tradition! WK9’s saw a number of surprise entrants and was a lot of wild fun. Yuji Nagata was victorious last year and received an IWGP Intercontinental Championship match somehow, but as far as I know, nothing is actually guaranteed to this year’s winner. We’ll see.

    The participants:

    It could be literally anyone. Last year, The Great Kabuki showed up. With nunchaku. Expect to see Tiger Mask V, Jushin Liger, Satoshi Kojima, Yuji Nagata, and more!

    Kaomoji excitement rating: o((*^▽^*))o

    IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Four Way Match:
    RPG Vice vs. Young Bucks vs. ReDRagon (c) vs. Matt Sydal & Ricochet

    tag

    The info:

    Look, what the hell. We had a whole tournament in recent months between these teams to decide which *two* teams would face off at WK10 for the belts, only to have everyone come out after the finals and make it a four-way match again. Oh well! More wrestling is more wrestling. This should be a lot of fun, and you can guarantee the Tokyo Dome crowd will be into it. A great choice for an opener.

    The participants:

    RPG Vice: Rocky Romero & Trent Baretta! Part of NJPW’s stable CHAOS.

    The Young Bucks: Matt & Nick Jackson! The Bullet Club! Homeowners, fathers! Suck it!

    ReDRagon: Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly, good wrestlers, gonna kick the hell out of some dudes.

    Matt Sydal & Ricochet: Matt Sydal & Ricochet! They don’t even have an official team name yet! High flying madmen, you’ve probably heard of them.

    Kaomoji excitement rating: (ˆ ڡ ˆ) Continue reading →

    ScoopZone Elite: August 17, 2015

    We’ve consulted our inside sources to bring you the best and most EXCLUSIVE dirt on your favorite wrestling promotions from around the world. Unlike other sites, we’ll only bring you 100% accurate and truthful wrestling news every week. We’re still working on our paywall, so please only read these stories if you’re an elite member.

    [WELCOME ELITE MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR THE SUBSCRIPTION!]

    News for the Week of August 17, 2015

    WWE

    • Damien Sandow is planning to grow his hair out, dye half of it blonde and pitch teaming with Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose.

     

    • The Big Show has said that he hopes to be a part-time wrestler once his current contract is up so look for Big Show to headline Wrestlemania 36.

     

    • Daniel Bryan has Brie Bella show Vince McMahon videos of him wrestling a giant stuffed teddy bear from her phone every week to prove that he’s healthy enough to return.

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    NJPW

    • Hiroshi Tanahashi has never touched a real guitar in his life.

     

    • Shinsuke Nakamura coincidentally lost his phone this weekend.

     

    • The Young Bucks found Nakamura’s phone on the ground but instead of picking it up they crotch-chopped at it and walked off.


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    Other

    • Taz is expecting a last minute invite to Summerslam and NXT TakeOver to celebrate him in Brooklyn.

     

    • Eric Bischoff has a new beer coming out named “Please Remember Me.”

     

    • Lance Storm actually prefers PW Torch to the Wrestling Observer.

     

    ROH/NJPW Global Wars Preview & Predictions

    On May 15, 2015, Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling are putting on a joint event in Toronto. It’ll probably be lots of fun! Let’s see what’s scheduled to go down.

    Giving their thoughts and predictions on what to expect from the PPV are members of the site @JoeySplashwater, @BradFGN and @indiandeathlock.

    051515globalwarsfinal

    The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett with Maria Kanellis) vs. Matt Sydal & Jushin Thunder Liger

    Deathlock:

    So, these Kingdom boys are the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions now, and Maria has a win in New Japan over Amber Gallows. At the last NJPW show, Liger, on commentary, described getting motorboated by Maria and said, well, “It was like having two giant gummy bears against my face” more or less. Then Liger made this hilarious motorboat sound like “pururum pururum” and I swear I’m not making this up. Anyway, I’m sure there will be antics. I am hyped as ever for any Liger match all the time forever and amen.

    Interest Level: (/ω＼)
    Prediction: The Kingdom are victorious.

    Joey:

    Maria Kanellis vs. Jushin Liger is the hottest feud of the NJPW/ROH shows. The idea of a Matt Sydal and Jushin Liger team just seems like a perfect idea. The Kingdom should have instant chemistry with a team like this and the match should be good. Hopefully they do that over the top rope doomsday on the floor during the week shows at some point.

    Interest Level: 8/10
    Prediction: The Kingdom win

    Brad:

    The Kingdom has been so impressive in Japan that they were even able to capture tag team gold. Japan was just what Kingdom needed to boost their stock and looked at as more credible performers. Sydal and Liger should be a pretty good tandem, the ROH faithful should treat Liger as a big star and it will be a hot match to open the show. I am going with Kingdom to take the win here.

    Interest Level: 6/10
    Prediction: The Kingdom win

     

    Continue reading →

    All Aboard the S.S. Strong Style (Love Boat Edition): Valentine Breakdown of NJPW’s New Beginning in Sendai

    Shelly Deathlock cares too much about Japanese wrestling and, as Captain of the S.S. Strong Style, she’s here to welcome you on board and fill you in on what’s going on in the world of puro. This time, you’re all her Valentines.

    I wondered for a bit who was going to put up a Valentine’s Day themed breakdown of the New Beginning in Sendai show before I realized that this falls squarely in the Wrestling On Earth wheelhouse, which means I must be the one who has to write it, SO:

    NJPW’s The New Beginning in Sendai

    On Saturday, February 14th, at 6:00 PM Japan time, 4:00 AM Eastern, New Japan Pro Wrestling presents THE NEW BEGINNING IN SENDAI live exclusively on NJPWWorld. This card features a few title matches, some of which will be great, and a bunch of tag matches because why not make everyone work for their money?

    See below for a match-by match breakdown, and to see all the custom Valentine cards I’ve made for you. They’re all for you. You’re all my Valentines here on the S.S. Strong Style (Love Boat Edition). Feel free to steal them and give them to someone you love (YOU CAN CLICK THROUGH TO BIGGER VERSIONS OF THE LITTLE ONES, JUST SAYING). Here’s a preview:

    tanahashi

    Satoshi Kojima, Tomoaki Honma & Yohei Komatsu vs. Manabu Nakanishi, Captain New Japan & Sho Tanaka

    Breakdown: Basically – a tag match for the NJPW Young Lions Sho Tanaka and Yohei Komatsu to get some ring time with some legends (Kojima, Honma, and Nakanishi) and Captain New Japan (because Tenzan is busy fighting for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship I assume).

    The Young Lions are great and we’re all very excited for their excursion and subsequent returns to take over the whole promotion to the surprise of NO ONE who saw their excellent singles match at the New Beginning in Osaka the other day.

    Kaomoji excitement level rating for this match: (♥_♥)

    Tiger Mask & Jay White vs. Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish

    Breakdown: Jay White is the very new Young Lion that we all just learned about this year. reDRag0n have been doing nothing but delivering great matches in NJPW and this should be no exception. It’ll be fun to see what this kid is made of in the ring with Kyle & Bobby.

    Kaomoji excitement level rating for this match: ヾ（＾ヮ＾)ﾉ

    Special Six Man Tag Match: Mascara Dorada, Alex Shelley & KUSHIDA vs. Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson

    splitters kenny

    Breakdown: Mascara Dorada signed a one year contract with NJPW so it’s great to see them using him already. I’m not too familiar with his work in CMLL but he was great on the Fantasticamania show that NJPW puts on jointly with CMLL.

    The Bullet Club half of the team currently hold the IWGP junior heavyweight title (Kenny Omega) and the IWGP jr heavyweight tag titles (The Young Bucks), so they will come to the ring all cocky and dripping with gold and too-sweets and crotch-chops and super kicks and whatnots. Hopefully Dorada & the Time Splitters can beat the snot out of them.

    Kaomoji excitement level rating for this match: b(~_^)d Continue reading →

    All Aboard the S.S. Strong Style: What To Do Now That You’re Ready To Accept Shinsuke Nakamura As Your Pro Wrestling Lord and Savior

    Shelly Deathlock cares too much about Japanese wrestling and, as Captain of the S.S. Strong Style, she’s here to welcome you on board and fill you in on what’s going on in the world of puro.

    Antonio Inoki is no longer here.

    Strong Style lives within me — I am Strong Style personified.

    For the fans that remain, and the fans that shall be.

    – Shinsuke Nakamura

    Maybe you just watched Wrestle Kingdom 9, saw Shinsuke Nakamura enter the Tokyo Dome in a crown and cape and wrestle an incredible match and proceeded to completely lose your shit and vow to name your firstborn after him. Welcome to the club! [EDIT: This post has been updated in May 2015 to account for all the people who lost their shit and became overwhelmed by Nakamuraness during the US/Canada tour, okay thanks.]

    One of the best things about being on the Shinsuke Nakamura bandwagon is that I, Captain Deathlock of the S.S. Strong Style, will boma ye the hell out of anyone who wants to treat you badly for being a newbie, a fangirl or for just asking too many questions.

    We’re family now, so I want to help you get started and support you when you feel like you just can’t deal with your life anymore because Shinsuke Nakamura is tearing it apart with every five star match he wrestles and making you reconsider your entire being as a wrestling fan and everything you knew. I know, I know. Come here, it’s okay to cry.

    Let’s get started.

    Shinsuke’s wrestling:

    nakamuraibushimatch

    Shinsuke connects with fans on a number of levels, but if you’re here, you’re primarily in this for the wrestling. He has lots of that, and he would appear to be the best in the world at it right now [ever – ed].

    If you haven’t yet, watch Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kota Ibushi at Wrestle Kingdom 9 right now, as it is a beautiful display of everything he does best: grace, storytelling, flawless technicality, brutality, and downright nasty arrogance. He’s always like this, and we are so lucky to have him. That Ibushi kid is alright too.

    One very good idea is to subscribe to NJPWWorld (there is an ENGLISH SIGNUP PAGE now!) and reference SenorLARIATO’s list of great matches available on the service. A number of them include Shinsuke, naturally. You should aim to see every big Shinsuke match from 2014 at least. Then you can go back through the years and fill in the rest of the hole in your heart where Shinsuke never was and now needs to be.

    NJPWWorld is adding more content all the time, but not a whole lot from before 2011 is up yet for Shinsuke. Here are my 2014 favorites:

    Continue reading →

    ScoopZone Elite: December 23, 2014

    We’ve consulted our inside sources to bring you the best and most EXCLUSIVE dirt on your favorite wrestling promotions from around the world. Unlike other sites, we’ll only bring you 100% accurate and truthful wrestling news every week. We’re still working on our paywall, so please only read these stories if you’re an elite member.

    [WELCOME ELITE MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR THE SUBSCRIPTION!]

    News for The Week of December 23, 2014

    WWE

    • Instead of traditional Christmas bonuses, WWE Superstars and Divas were given Roku boxes and vouchers for Roman Reigns and/or John Cena merchandise.

     

    • Sheamus doesn’t know what the fuck is going on with his facial hair.

     

    • There was a quite a scene caused at the recent WWE Christmas party over Santa hats that were handed out. Vince McMahon threw his drink all over an intern because his hat wasn’t “long enough” which led to every employee walking up and throwing their drinks on the same intern in support of McMahon.

    -Advertisement-
    ReignsCologne

     

    CM Punk

    • CM Punk is getting a tattoo of something weird and obscure as a Christmas gift to himself.

     

    • CM Punk has been hard at work trying to find a way to draw X’s on his MMA gloves without the ink smearing.

     

    • No word yet on what CM Punk‘s new yearly hairstyle will be as we get ready to enter 2015.


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    The Reason For The Season

    Other

    • Various 2nd tier independent wrestling promotions are trying to gain popularity by starting a “Boycott RAW” movement. WWE’s fans are responding by boycotting knowledge of this existing.

     

    • Destination America is working on announcing four more TNA shows to air on their network so they can have one TNA show for every day of the week.

     

    • Lance Storm licks candy canes and puts them back on the Christmas tree when it loses the taste.

     

    Sexy Wrestler of The Week

    Back from TIME TRAVEL, I arrive in the present just in time to name The Sexy Wrestler of The Week

    Well, I can’t tell you how I got back from the bizarro 1970’s because the government had to get involved but I can tell you I am happy to be back. Anyway, The big news is The Sexy Wrestler of The Week this time around is a first time winner!

    SWOTWAJStyles

    Drawing inspiration from the most recent Impact In 5 Pictures Or Less, I have found the man you voted for out in the wild to snap a picture. I personally feel he deserves this award for having a career-revitalizing year and that is something everyone knows is “Sexy.” Hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving. I did not get to celebrate because happiness was banned in the bizarro 1970’s.

    Sexy Wrestler of The Week

    Good day, all. I am here to tell you that it is time to name The Sexy Wrestler of The Week.

    Hello. Today we have another first time Sexy Wrestler of The Week! I fully back this winner and am glad you all decided to vote for this one. Out of the 1,000,000 votes we received, 999,000 of them were for this wrestler. Those aren’t rounded numbers. Those are exact! Times are crazy and so is wrestling.

    Without any longer of a wait…
    ShinsukeNakamuraSOTW

    Shinsuke Nakamura is your new Sexy Wrestler of The Week! I can hear your partying in the streets already. The streets will be littered with streamers. It’s a beautiful thing. Thank you for voting.

    Seven Things: 7 Takeaways From The ROH/NJPW Shows

    Welcome to Seven Things, a list that will run weekly and consist of very eclectic topics. These are of my opinions and doesn’t express the views of others on WrestlingOnEarth.

    Let’s take a look at some things I took away from the ROH/NJPW joint shows in Canada and New York.

    Reminder: If you have any suggestions for future lists, feel free to share them in the comments or send them to me on Twitter: @JoeySplashwater.

    7. Tag team wrestling is alive and well.

    ROH71

    The two shows gave you so many great tag teams led by The Young Bucks having arguably the best match on each show. reDRagon cemented themselves as one of and in my opinion, the best tag team in wrestling right now. Another one of my favorites The Time Splitters (Alex Shelley and KUSHIDA) made their ROH debut and looked fantastic. The Briscoes, Bullet Club and Forever Hooligans also made their presences felt and are in the top tier of tag teams right now.

    The Marvel spoof post show credits scene after War of the Worlds saw Christopher Daniels announce his return to Ring of Honor with Kazarian so another top tier tag team is freed from the shackles of TNA and should make for some interesting matches. For those who love tag team wrestling, the genre of wrestling is alive as can be right now. If The Young Bucks and Bad Influence can be on shows consistently enough and the team of Hanson & Rowe mature, this could be the best tag team roster ROH has had since 2008.

    Continue reading →

    ROH All Star Extravaganza V Preview

    One of the best Ring of Honor cards in recent memory, I can’t wait to see this show when it becomes available onDemand. It’s a shame ROH couldn’t figure out how to solve their iPPV problems because this could very well have been among their most viewed events.

    Stacked from top to bottom with incredible and eclectic outside talent, I’m expecting a show of the year candidate.

    ROHALLstar

    Forever Hooligans vs. The American Wolves:

    Should be fantastic. Davey Richards and Rocky Romero in No Remorse Corps were one of my favorite ROH tag teams so it will be cool seeing these two interact. Two of the best tag teams in the world facing off can’t not produce good results.

    With the reDRagon rematch already booked for NYC and the Wolves lack of ROH contract security, I can’t see another tag title change happening this weekend.

    Interest Level: 7/10
    Prediction: Forever Hooligans win.

    Kevin Steen vs. Brian Kendrick:

    Like I mentioned in my ROH Title Tournament preview, I’m very fond of Brian Kendrick’s recent work so I have high expectations for this match. With the lack of matches announced for the NYC show in just two weeks, I’m hoping great performances from guys like Kendrick, Paul London, Kushida and the Young Bucks will lead to announcements of them all being booked for Manhattan Mayhem. I can only dream. This match should all sorts of wonderful, especially in front of that Canadian crowd.

    Interest Level: 9/10
    Prediction: Kevin Steen wins. Continue reading →