NJPW Thread

First off, WKX was fucking awesome, probably the best Wrestle Kingdom since I've been watching which is saying something.

2nd, really gutted Shinsuke is going to WWE. I still don't trust them booking japanese wrestlers, even in the nxt era. KENTA was kind of floundering before getting hurt. Asuka is doing well but the womens division is such a different thing.

As for NJPW, they'll be fine. Just push Ibushi and I'll be happy.

WK10 really feels like the end of an era now, Okada is the absolute ace, now I would imagine the rest of the year will be dedicated to getting Naito ready to be his main rival, with Naito winning the belt at Dominion and Okada winning it back at WK11

But of WK10 is the end of the era, what a way to go out

korakuen going nuts for Cheeseburger

Kevin Kelly talking about how its hard to tell Komatsu and Tanaka apart...

Karl pins Honma in a 10 men featuring HAKU!!!!

Looks like Gun and Gallows will be sticking around through The New Beginning

According to Matt Striker Naito does that finger to his eye pose because his eyes were open in Mexico last year, you know the pose he's done literally his entire career...

Kushida v Bushi is the Jr Heavyweight program

Spoiler:

Omega turned the antics way down and the AJ/Omega v Nak/Yoshihashi match was great, result spoilered because you should watch and enjoy it!

Definitley felt like a send off for AJ, incredible reaction for him after the match

If this was the end for AJ, one of the best 18 month runs I've ever seen

Goto/Okada is the IWGP program
Ishii/Shibata looks to be continuing as well

Great show! Just super fun top to bottom, less than 3 hours, highly reccomend the whole show

Nikk is gonna be so happy.

Nikk is so happy

So I found out about this book detailing the history of NJPW written by some former British indie wrestler that moved to Japan.

It's called "Lion's Pride" and I might check it out. Has anyone read it?

http://www.amazon.com/Lions-Pride-Turbulent-History-Wrestling/dp/4990865812/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1447165209&sr=8-1&keywords=lion's+pride+new+japan#productDescription_secondary_view_div_1451862442848

WWE Signs bulk signs NJPW talent

http://www.gerweck.net/2016/01/05/backstage-update-on-aj-styles-shinsuke-nakamura-and-other-njpw-stars-possibly-signing-with-wwe/

Tokyo Sports is reporting Nakamura will be done at the end of the month, and a few people are speculating the Omega title defense will be on the 1/30 Korakuen show

According to some people I follow on twitter Nakamura has vacated the title, Omega will face a yet to be named opponent at some point, likely one of the New Beginning shows


His last match will be a 6 man tag with Okada and Ishii v Goto/Shibata/Tanahashi

Looks like Tanahashi might be Omega's challenger which does not bode well for those of us hoping for a shakeup in NJPW and an Omega run

Is Ibushi healthy yet?

No.

The new beginning card looks unfuckingreal.

Man they must be really pissed at Nak if he is not even going to job to Omega on the way out.

Japan is weird though, Nakamura is still working on 1/30 so it's not like they told him to just fuck off. They probably think Kenny beating a lame duck champion won't mean anything so it's better to put him against someone else. I'm not sure if they're right, but they obviously know Japanese crowds better then I do, so we'll see.

Chris Charlton who lives in Japan and wrote a book about NJPW suggested it was actually the opposite and this to keep Nak happy by doing everything they can to help him transition smoothly because they want him to come back at some point

Don't know if this an official stip or not but Marufuji said if he beats Sugiura on 1/31 Suzukigun must leave NOAH forever

Suzuki, Sugiura, Archer and DBS would all be welcome additions back to NJPW especially now, Benjamin, Taichi and Taka are pretty meh but hopefully this happens

suzukigun has definitely been gone long enough, I'd be happy to have them back.

Yeah I'd like to see NOAH freshened up too.

It was announced today JR will officially be taking over for Mauro Ranallo on the AXS show, so that should continue to be great

Controversial opinion: it'll still be a big step down (though JR is probably the best replacement they could have got).