Reminding us why we watch:

[Briareos]

Misawa vs Kawada from june 6th 1994 (makes alot of best match ever lists):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyJ8zRHlps0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-kDJVZhCSw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtIfbZhmmto
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chkLfFUrNE0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZoLIWFYQOo

Jushin "Thunder" Lyger vs The Great Sasuke June 16th 2004

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTftij9SgSo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmHBoI72vLY

Do fixer (Dragon Kid, Genki Horiguchi, Ryo Saito) vs Blood Generation (CIMA, Naruki Doi, Yoshino) March 31st 2006 (Ring of Honor match between wrestlers from Dragon's Gate in Japan, Considered by many best match of 2006)

http://video.google.com/url?docid=1282438626249664605&esrc=sr1&ev=v&q=blood%2Bgeneration&srcurl=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.google.com%2Fvideoplay%3 Fdocid%3D1282438626249664605&vidurl=%2Fvideoplay%3Fdocid%3D1282438626249664605% 26q%3Dblood%2Bgeneration%26total%3D267%26start%3D0 %26num%3D10%26so%3D0%26type%3Dsearch%26plindex%3D0&usg=AL29H20ORErb0XMz_gR8MwKPrqGOPP5SWQ

And finally a match by one of the most beloved wrestlers of all time I give to you KEN THE BOX!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqW3C-BpL1o

[Dennis]

i'm not getting the appeal of japanese wrestling and don't understand why the masawa kiwada matches are so thrilling. it seems like a fighting videogame that only has the basic moves: punch punch kick kick elbow elbow elbow. the powerbombs aren't particularly powerful and there's no insane high flying action. and there's a lot of elbow elbow kick kick both men on the ground rest rest rest. elbow rest suplex rest rest rest rest rest. why so much downtime? are they any good on the mic?

[DWEarhart]

Chances are, if someone grew up on WWE/F type of wrestling, the understanding of a liking for the Japanese style is minimal, but not inflexible. The Japanese put everything in the ring, and into learning wrestling and other mat and power based techniques, and perform with a stiff style of attack, while the WWE uses alot of theatrics, and rely heavily on mic time for their top performers, and favor a power based technique. The WWE wants stars (actors) not wrestlers. Alot of the Japanese wrestlers participate in Pancrase and other MMA leagues as well as the usual wrestling federations.

Off Topic: Chris Sabin is kicking ass in AJPW, even though I'm upset that he took out my main man, Shuji Kondo to win the Light Heavyweight Tournament.

And of course, there is the one, the only, the greatest heel in the world - Minoru Suzuki, who barely escaped Keiji Mutoh to keep the Triple Crown.

Zero 1 has the Fire Festival coming up, and ROH will be invading Japan and Dragon Gate very soon.

[bartl]

Chances are, if someone grew up on WWE/F type of wrestling, the understanding of a liking for the Japanese style is minimal, but not inflexible. The Japanese put everything in the ring, and into learning wrestling and other mat and power based techniques, and perform with a stiff style of attack, while the WWE uses alot of theatrics, and rely heavily on mic time for their top performers, and favor a power based technique. The WWE wants stars (actors) not wrestlers. Alot of the Japanese wrestlers participate in Pancrase and other MMA leagues as well as the usual wrestling federations.
One thing I noticed over the years: When I actively play golf, I enjoy watching it on television. When I don't play, I don't enjoy watching.

Sometimes, understanding is the key to interest.

[Leslie Lee III]

are they any good on the mic?

Puro is not for you.