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"Huh? Never heard of it"

I don't know what this whole Wrestle Kingdom thing is.. but I figured I'd help the cause by posting what's available of their version of a Pre-WM Rumble show (i.e. setting up the big matches). Also good to see the Sooners lose another game on Saturday, being that a third loss on the season was all Jim Ross needed, as far as clearing his January schedule.

00) -- Mascara Dorada & BUSHI vs. Tiger Mask IV & Fuego

The dark match, think "Sunday Night Heat". Dorada & Fuego are from CMLL, just in for a tour. The other two I wouldn't expect to see on the Kingdom card.


Pre-show Match BUSHI & Mascara Dorada vs... by original_bonski



00) -- Opening Video Package
The title pretty much explains it all. A sharp little video package breaking down the match card.


NJPW Power Struggle 11-8-14 Opening VTR by original_bonski


01) -- Young Bucks vs. Forever Hooligans vs. TAKA Michinoku & El Desperado

The Bucks are going to get their fair share of votes for Best Tag Team this year, and justly so. While it's fun to watch them play to the Reseda crowd in PWG, this is front of about 20 times as many people, and they're just as effective on the bigger stage. Forever Hooligans are former ROH tag team standout Rocky Romero, and former WWE developmental guy Alex Kozlov, as underrated as any tag team going today and extremely entertaining. And yes, TAKA is still looking young at 40. A more-than-suitable opener, 3-way Jr. tag style, presumably to set up a number one contender for Wrestle Kingdom (more on that later). Meltzer even gets his name dropped after the match. Hilarious.

Forever Hooligans (Alex Koslov & Rocky Romero... by original_bonski


02) -- Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka vs. Kazuki Sakuraba & Toru Yano

The final build to a Suzuki/Sakaraba match on January 4th, as the two have gone at it in a seemingly endless string of tag matches this year. For those unfamiliar with these two, they're both products of the 90's MMA scene, with Suzuki being the more established pro wrestler and Sakaraba being the biggest MMA star in Japan, their version of a Randy Couture so-to-speak.


Suzukigun (Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka) vs... by original_bonski


03) -- Chase Owens (c) vs. Jushin "Thunder" Liger for the NWA Jr. Heavyweight Championship
A title new to NJPW, as it had been the Tag Team and Heavyweight titles representing the NWA previously. After defeating BUSHI last month on pay-per-view to retain the title, Owens called out Liger (turning 50 years old in two weeks) and the title match was set. Also, if this is your first introduction to Bruce Tharpe as the wacky American manager, you're in for a treat. For some reason there's a Liger vs. Muta rumor floating around for the Tokyo Dome show, but I could live without that.


NWA World Jr Heavyweight Championship Match... by original_bonski


04 -- Bullet Club (Machine Gun Anderson, Doc Gallows, Bad Luck Fale & Yujiro Takahashi) vs. Togi Makabe, Tetsuya Naito, Tomoaki Honma & Captain New Japan
Just your standard multi-man Bullet Club low-card filler match to get a bunch of big names on the show. Gallows & Gun will most likely be defending the titles they won in January at the last Tokyo Dome show, marking a one year title reign, against the winners of this month's World Tag Leauge. Makabe will be challenging for the NEVER Openweight Title against the winner of that match, while Naito looks to redeem himself after losing his world title match at this year's Wrestle Kingdom, in a mighty big singles match of his own against a former IWGP champion.


Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale, Doc Gallows, Karl... by original_bonski


05) -- "The Time Splitters" Alex Shelley & KUSHIDA (c) vs. "reDRagon" Kyle O'Reilly & Bobby Fish for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championships
This is a good one, and hits a fever pitch by the end. Two of the best tag teams in the world, as the ROH stalwarts take on the improved version of the Motor City Machine Guns. This is a rematch of their encounter at the G1 Climax Finals in August, also a killer match. Definitely New Japan's most important tag belts, and you can't ask for more than what these four guys are doing right here, putting it all on the line. The post match also serves to break down what you're going to be seeing at Wrestle Kingdom (spoiler: a 4-way for the titles).


IWGP Jr Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Match... by original_bonski


06) -- "The Funky Weapon" Ryusuke Taguchi (c) vs. Taichi for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship
Hey look, they tried. I just don't know if Taguchi is the right guy to be carrying the title. More importantly though, the post-match includes a Karl Anderson promo concerning the reveal of the newest member of the Bullet Club, and he's coming for the Jr. Heavyweight Title at Wrestle Kingdom.


IWGP Jr Heavyweight Championship Match Ryusuke... by original_bonski


07 -- AJ Styles vs. Yoshitatsu
Despite Styles losing the title last month, he was in control and close to retaining. Jeff Jarrett was out and Hiroshi Tanahashi looked to be defeated, when out of nowhere Yoshi Freaking Tatsu made his return to NJPW, put the boots to Jarrett, and as a result Styles went on to lose his title. This is a revenge match of sorts for Styles, while Tatsu returns to both prove a point that he's still got it, and to put a target on the Bullet Club. Once again in a recurring theme, the post-match looks to set up one of the bigger matches on the Wrestle Kingdom card.


AJ Styles vs. Yoshitatsu 11-8-14(NJPW) by original_bonski


08 -- Tomohiro Ishii vs. Hirooki Goto

Featured on the BoD the other day. Absolute classic, G1 quality shit right here. Nothing quite like an Ishii match to get the beer in your veins flowing. He'll certainly be getting his fair share of votes for Wrestler of the Year in 2014, as his NEVER Openweight title defenses carried the company during the first half of the year when management decided to prevent Okada from defending the IWGP title for months at a time, while Nakamura was stuck in a dreadful feud with the frigging Gracie Family, of all people. Goto brings the goods here as well, and the result is one of the best matches of the year. Once again, post-match leads to a Kingdom match.


NEVER Openweight Championship Match Tomohiro... by original_bonski


09) -- Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi vs. Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI
This is one of the many things that sets New Japan apart. If WWE had two big title matches at the top of the card, they'd be separated by a Diva's match, the theory being to bring down the crown. Instead, we get IWGP Champion Kazuchika Okada and his opponent in the main event of Wrestle Kingdom, Hiroshi Tanahashi, in a tag match. Throw in Kota Ibushi and you have 3 of the Top 10 wrestlers in the world. No need to bring the crowd down before the main event, because that's why Nakamura and Shibata are in the main event, they don't need help getting the crowd into their match.


CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI) vs... by original_bonski


10) -- Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. "The Wrestler" Katsuyori Shibata for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship
Speaking of Nakamura & Shibata, here's your main event. As you can see, this version of the "secondary" title is prestigious enough to main event a pay-per-view. The Intercontinental title has provided killer matches since its inception and this one is no different. Just a great battle between two guys with a bunch of different techniques in their arsenal. The post-match sets up a killer match at Wrestle Kingdom, likely the semi-main, a rematch of the Tokyo Sports 2013 Match of the Year.


IWGP IC Title Match Shinsuke Nakamura(c) vs... by original_bonski


So there you go. A little insight into one of the biggest shows of 2015. In an era where people are still willing to throw money at pay-per-view providers, the GFW/NJPW connection looks to make a strong debut and plant their feet firmly in the game. With the talent they have, they won't need luck.

Comments

  1. If you're so passionate about NJPW, why do you post illegal videos of their events? Shouldn't you instead try to persuade us to buy the shows?

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  2. Because posting Power Struggle matches will prevent people from ordering the Tokyo Dome show! Wait.. what? I'm passionate about their finances? They're the only wrestling in the world that will turn a significant profit this year, I'm sure they'll be fine. And kudos, feigning concern at 5 in the morning, that's living the gimmick.

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  3. So distributing illegal videos is fine as long as the company is making a profit? That's a thief saying, "No, it's okay that I stole his wallet. He's a millionaire anyways."

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  4. "Yep Mode" Abeyance Brown ©November 12, 2014 at 6:14 AM

    I may have to watch some of these later if I find the time.

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  5. That's a bit unfair. Finding matches online is the only way people are going to become fans of stuff like this, at first. It's not like New Japan airs on TV, or you can rent a DVD. Watch some matches, get into it, order the iPPV is probably a pretty common rite of passage for new fans.

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  6. What you're saying is insane and what is even more insane is based on what you're saying you never had a hot box back in the day. Paying for televised wrestling is bullshit.

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  7. This was a PPV, not a televised event.

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  8. The thread title perfectly describes 99.99% of the North American wrestling population, when it comes to Japan wrestling.

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  9. So seriously, you didn't have a hot box back in the 90s?

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  10. Yes, you can order DVDs and you can order their PPVs. This wasn't the first time he's done this -- I remember him posting the entire G1 Climax event, too.

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  11. Pretty sure google ad sense doesn't let you earn click revenue off illegal content

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  12. Well then you better write an angry letter to Disqus!!

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  13. Hey, i'm in favor of anything that makes Dock Muraco post less.

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  14. Just because he didn't illegally post random Randy Orton matches doesn't mean he's a bad guy.

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  15. My name is confusing, so....no harm there.


    I'm just saying, last I checked the point of watching Raw was to watch to the end (thus the point of making the most important match on the card the last one).


    Anyway, I couldn't seem to get through 10 minutes without being annoyed about 5 weeks ago, so I just stopped altogether. But I can still say, "Hey it's annoyingly long, boring and stupid", because those are the actual reasons why I stopped watching.

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  16. He always tells us to support NJPW, then he illegally posts their entire library on here. It's counterproductive. In 2006, people used to promote and shill ROH by being persuasive. They would convincingly promote a show that they loved watching, and told people they were missing out by not watching it. Eventually, I bought into the hype and ordered one of their best DVDs. People didn't say you should support ROH and watch Final Battle 2006. By the way, here's an illegal link where you can watch it.


    No, I'm not saying watching illegal wrestling is bad (per se). Like Time said above, people might want to support a company after watching a stream or something from dailymotion.


    But when Dock is saying we should support NJPW and then distributes a ton of illegal content - a few days after each other their PPVs - it's just very counterproductive.

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  17. LULZ, I'M A WWE SUPER MARK LULZ

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  18. relax guise, no one cares about japanese rasslin anyways.

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  19. The true mark of a sociopath is assuming everyone else is one also.

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  20. I don't get what the big deal is about promoting a match that's going to get changed before it happens. It's television.

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  21. Wait, you think giving a company money that you love watching is bullshit?

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  22. I can understand you wanting be honorable and pay for a media based product in 2014 but awareness is just as valuable as money in this day and age. You have to know that.

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  23. 100%, I never paid for a single ECW PPV, EVER.

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  24. Being called a sociopath is a bad thing?

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  25. I'm pretty sure Vince had pegged Ahmed as "the guy" to next carry the company before the injury happened.

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  26. I doubt Vince had any serious plans for the Kid anyway even with the big heel turn.

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  27. They really coulda used the money, you know.

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  28. "So there you go, the last time Kevin Nash would ever sniff the WWF title was this show"

    That is pretty surprising just because Nash was a pretty dominant champion, and surprising he only got a single reign with the belt.

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  29. "Man, once they turned him face and decided that they knew better than
    the fans what people wanted to see out of Shawn, they killed his cool
    factor dead."

    Babyface mid-90s Shawn Michaels is one of the oddest combinations of fantastic wrestler and horrible character.

    You wanted to cheer for him because he was an amazing performer, but you want to boo him for his "too cool for school" routine and male stripping antics that would make Vince go "Woah-oh-oh-oh!" on commentary.

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  30. Paid front row for every house show that came around, T shirts, videos. Just not for PPVs, as it should be.

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  31. Is a hot box an illegal cable box?

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  32. Yes, that's the vernacular we used to describe it.

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  33. Why, Scott, Why? What happened the Nitro, bro?

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  34. Shawn's charisma was on a whole other level compared to everyone else in 1995, and once 96 rolled round they downplayed his charisma quite a bit and tried to make him more of a serious character that ruined him.

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  35. Under the ECW Exposed section with the short clips for some reason.

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  36. Mixed bag? It was a great show with the exception of the Goldust match and while the Undertaker match was boring, it was pretty cool seeing him kill everyone at the end.

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  37. Waitasecond... AJ Styles vs Yoshi Tatsu??? Sign me up!!!!

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  38. Stranger in the AlpsNovember 12, 2014 at 7:21 AM

    ECW Exposed in the Vault section.

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  39. How do we define "sniff?" Because he main evented IYH against Bret for the title in February...

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  40. Don't forget the last PPV he headlined was IYH7 against Shawn. And he also got a title shot against HHH in 2003 if you want to count that too.

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  41. I think the first noticeable botch I ever noticed as a kid was at WM8 when Sid kicked out of Hogan's legdrop.

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  42. He was over enough as a face without needing a manager, and having a manager may have ruined his character and heat anyway especially if they got Oscar back for that role.


    Best time Ahmed needed a manager was when he turned heel and they sort of gave him Faarooq as his mouthpiece.

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  43. I'll say it: putting all the aristocrat gimmicks on one team as The Royals (well, Yankem, but he was aligned with Lawler so it's okay) was fucking AWESOME.

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  44. Ha. I just watched that match a day or two ago, and had the same thought. That was incredible. And he did it TWICE, so it's not like he made an isolated mistake.

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  45. And they call it a "Death Valley bomb," even though it's closer to a piledriver over there. Wackiness!

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  46. ... but would they have gotten it from the PPV provider?

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  47. They turned up his "flamboyance" even more.

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  48. Not really. He still did his "flamboyancy" things yes, but it was a lot more toned down.

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  49. Kyle enjoys starting shit with everyone.


    Nice post by the way. Love me some NJPW. Can't wait for WK9. Curious, are you ordering the English or Japanese version? It's going to be awesome and yet strange hearing Jim Ross call the action.


    I'm psyched that Ibushi is facing Nakamura. Their first match was insanely good. Tanahashi/Okada should be guaranteed at LEAST ****1/2+. Kenny Omega, now known as "The Cleaner" wtf lol....but at least he'll add a little spark to the Jr. division.


    What do you think is going to happen with AJ at the show? Match vs. Naito?

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  50. he got a couple against HHH. And its not really saying much that this was his only reign since he left for WCW the following spring

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  51. Oh shut up man. New Japan doesn't off Americans any way of watching their show outside of a website that is in all Japanese that you need a translator to even go on to order the show and watch it through a mediocre stream on your computer LEGALLY. It's not like they are losing money out of having these shows posted.


    If anything, NJPW is probably glad that these videos are posted online. It will help sell the Wrestle Kingdom show if anything.

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  52. I don't like enjoying starting shit. I just don't think he should post illegal content all the time. I think that's a fair thing to ask. NJPW deserves recognition. In the ring, it's been the best product this year. Albeit sometimes being little too passionate, I'm still glad he's passionate about it. Instead of disturbing the matches, he should convince us, with words, why we should watch the matches.

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  53. OK. Never ever go to YouTube again and watch something that came from TV or Cable. That is illegal and stealing.

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  54. Well I'm just referencing WWF in this case just because I always imagined Nash would have stayed longer with the company and bag more world titles in the process.

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  55. Isn't it time for your meltdown and for you quit the blog for the 100 time yet?

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  56. Isn't it time for you to post a picture of a BOD'er while using another user name and then bitch and moan for hours about how you didn't do it?

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  57. Wow, we keep bringing that up even though Scott confirmed it wasn't me. Whatever. You hide behind your fake name, slander people and then always become hypersensitive whenever people mock or make fun of something you like. You leave this blog whenever that happens. You are an insufferable person. Calling you a women would be an insult to women because they are less emotional than you are. I'm sick of giving you the benefit of the doubt. You're an immature, whiny and sad person.

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  58. You are sitting on a blog complaining about someone posting wrestling. How am I whining? I haven't bitched or moaned about people complaining about TNA for months, partially because I kind of understand it now.


    I'm done dignifying you with responses. You are a troll or a sociopath. Pick one. Have a good day.

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  59. Is there a way to pay for new japan ppvs already? This is all new to me, so this is a serious question.

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  60. I'm not a sociopath. Not even close. I've never had one problem with a person on here other than you. You just don't like me and haven't liked me ever since I wrote one column about how unsuccessful TNA was. And you have held that against me since July. Every time I say something, you have something to say. You're just like every TNA mark I've met - a biased delusional crybaby. I cannot believe I even give you the time of day. It's clear that you just like the attention because nobody outside the computer will give you any.

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  61. They used stream PPVs. They now put them on DVDs, but I think they're gonna start streaming again in 2015.

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  62. '95 Shawn was a much better character than '96 Shawn. '95 Shawn had a sneering edge to him as a babyface. It was almost like a gigolo version of CM Punk.


    But if you could combine the in-ring production of '96 Shawn with the character of '97-98 Shawn, you'd have the greatest wrestler ever by such a wide margin the internet might've stopped even trying to argue about it.

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  63. It always cracks me up that, just a couple years apart, there were two entirely different factions comprised of entirely different people both called The Corporation. It was like they decided, "Hey, no one was watching in '96 anyway. Fuck it."

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  64. Not always. I watched the Steve Austin "that's not for you" promo last night and it was heavily censored, up to and including bleeping the F in WWF.

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  65. I wouldn't call 96 his best in-ring year. Sure he brought the goods on PPV, but when it came to tv and houseshows, the guy just went through the motions.

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