International Wrestling

[lboinyamouf4sho]

no CMLL or lucha movie this week on the brightside i have a bunch of japanese dvds to watch!!

[lboinyamouf4sho]

NJPW “ROAD TO KINGDOM 1ST”, 12/23/11 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1,900 Fans – No Vacancy

1. Kyosuke Mikami beat Hiromu Takahashi (6:20) with a crab hold.
2. Hirooki Goto, Ryusuke Taguchi & Hideo Saito beat Takashi Iizuka, Yujiro Takahashi & Gedo (10:41) when Saito used the Caribbean Death Grip on Gedo.
3. Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii beat Yuji Nagata, Wataru Inoue & King Fale (10:25) when Nakamura used the Boma Ye on Fale.
4. Special Singles Match: Satoshi Kojima beat Karl Anderson (9:23) with a lariat.
5. Special Singles Match: Hiroyoshi Tenzan beat Giant Bernard (9:28) with a side cradle.
6. Special 8 Man Tag Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Togi Makabe, Tiger Mask & KUSHIDA beat Minoru Suzuki, Yoshihiro Takayama, TAKA Michinoku Kaientai Dojo & Taichi (15:50) when KUSHIDA used the 9469 on Taichi.
7. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: Prince Devitt (c) beat Rocky Romero (18:35) with the Bloody Sunday (3rd defense).
8. IWGP Intercontinental Title: Masato Tanaka ZERO1 (c) beat Tomoaki Honma (22:40) with the Sliding D (3rd defense).

* Both IWGP titles defended successfully and both were said to be very good matches, especially Tanaka vs. Honma which saw the underdog Honma push Tanaka quite far in a 20+ minute match before ultimately succumbing to the Sliding D.

* TenKoji bested Bad Intentions in two singles matches but can they do the same for the IWGP Tag Team Title on 1/4?

* Jushin Thunder Liger made his long awaited return before the show after a very lengthy stay in CMLL.

* New Japan also paid tribute to the late Umanosuke Ueda, who passed away at the age of 71 the other day. Ueda was a top heel in the 1970s and was the inspiration for Tatsutoshi Goto, Mr. Gannosuke, and Toru Yano’s heel personas.

tenkoji looking strong, wonder if the end of bad intentions reign of terror could be coming to end in jan.

i hope honma wins that IC title eventually, really glad to see him even getting a match like that though, i hate seeing him used as a jobber.

[lboinyamouf4sho]

NJPW “ROAD TO KINGDOM ~BATTLE XMAS~”, 12/24/11 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1,950 Fans – No Vacancy

1. Rocky Romero, Jado & Gedo beat Tiger Mask, Ryusuke Taguchi & KUSHIDA (7:53) when Romero used a rolling front cradle on Taguchi.
2. Special Singles Match I: Takashi Iizuka beat Hideo Saito (10:05) by referee stop.
3. Special Singles Match II: Karl Anderson beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan (9:29) with the Gun Stun.
4. Special Singles Match III: Giant Bernard beat Satoshi Kojima (12:18) with the Bernard Driver.
5. Special Singles Match IV: Shinsuke Nakamura beat Wataru Inoue (9:50) with the Boma Ye.
6. Special Singles Match V: Yujiro Takahashi beat Hirooki Goto (10:00) with the Tokyo Pimps.
7. Special Singles Match VI: Toru Yano beat Yuji Nagata (10:00) by pinfall.
8. Special Tag Match: Minoru Suzuki & Yoshihiro Takayama beat Hiroshi Tanahashi & Togi Makabe (15:15) when Takayama used an Everest German suplex hold on Makabe.

* Suzuki and Takayama hold the edge over Tanahashi and Makabe going into the Dome after today’s main event win which saw Takayama pin Makabe.

* There were two huge upsets at Korakuen for CHAOS as Yano pinned Nagata while Yujiro downed Goto with his Tokyo Pimps.

* Bad Intentions struck back against TenKoji immediately from yesterday, winning both singles matches to make the singles contest 2-2 going into the Tokyo Dome.

* Manabu Nakanishi made his long awaited return today, not in the ring but on the microphone where he promised he would be back as soon as possible from a serious neck injury that has kept him out for half a year so far.

looks like a hot card, really surprised to see yujiro beat goto.

[Gryphon]

http://www.lordsofpain.net/indy/NJPW...me_1_4_12.html

NJPW`s 40th Anniversary “Wrestle Kingdom VI” Card for Tokyo Dome 1/4/12

1. IWGP Jr. Tag-Team Championship: Rocky Romero & Davey Richards© vs. Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt

2. Aerial Kingdom Feat . CMLL Super Estrellas: Mascara Dorada, KUSHIDA, Tiger Mask & Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Taichi, TAKA Michinoku, Valiente & Atlantis

3. Okada & YOSHI-HASHI Return Match: Kazuchika Okada vs. YOSHI-HASHI

4. Blue Justice Never Die: Wataru Inoue & Yuji Nagata vs. Masayuki Kono & Masakatsu Funaki

5. Tokyo Monster War: Shelton Benjamin & MVP vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Masato Tanaka

6. IWGP Tag-Team Championship: Bad Intentions (Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson)© vs Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan

7. NJPW vs. NOAH Battle Concentration I: Hirooki Goto vs Takashi Sugiura

8. Fighting With Out Honor Or Humanity: Togi Makabe vs. Yoshihiro Takayama

9. NJPW vs. NOAH Battle Concentration II: Toru Yano & Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Go Shiozaki & Naomichi Marufuji

10. Genius Faces Genius: Tetsuya Naito vs. Keiji Muto

11. IWGP Championship: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Minoru Suzuki

[Gryphon]

El Terrible is the new CMLL WHC

[Pól Rua]

this week blue demon is w/o santo in "Mansion de las Siete Momias" aka the mansion of the 7 mummies. hopefully no god damn futbol.

Fun film, with some fun monster bits. And Blue Demon's my favourite, so natch, I'm in hog heaven. Superzan is odd. At the time, he was seen as pretty worthless in terms of his acting, but his understated delivery has aged quite well.
Also, Maria Cardinal is ridiculously gorgeous. DAMN!

FUKYES!! i caught a few parts and the "mad scientist" dude looked cool, i also saw santo wrestling some guy who's crotch started smoking mid-match!! the mexican zombification process is fascinating.

'Santo contra Los Zombies' was his first Mexican film (he'd done 2 or 3 pretty forgettable ones in Cuba before then). The opening match in the film is a crackerjack outing with The Atomic Pair of El Santo and Gory Guererro!
Tragically, some of these films are the only places where a lot of this match footage still survives (albeit in edited form).

[lboinyamouf4sho]

El Terrible is the new CMLL WHC

nice, i'm pretty fond of terrible. wonder what happens with TRT since texano jr left?? maybe they can get toscano to replace him.

Fun film, with some fun monster bits. And Blue Demon's my favourite, so natch, I'm in hog heaven. Superzan is odd. At the time, he was seen as pretty worthless in terms of his acting, but his understated delivery has aged quite well.
Also, Maria Cardinal is ridiculously gorgeous. DAMN!


'Santo contra Los Zombies' was his first Mexican film (he'd done 2 or 3 pretty forgettable ones in Cuba before then). The opening match in the film is a crackerjack outing with The Atomic Pair of El Santo and Gory Guererro!
Tragically, some of these films are the only places where a lot of this match footage still survives (albeit in edited form).

good looking out pol, i had no idea.

[Gryphon]

Results for January 4 at the Tokyo Dome Show

Copied from Wikipedia.


Dark match

Captain New Japan and Tama Tonga defeated Kyosuke Mikami and Tomoaki Honma – Tonga pinned Mikami

Tag team match

08:47



1

Apollo 55 (Prince Devitt and Ryusuke Taguchi) defeated No Remorse Corps (Davey Richards and Rocky Romero) (c) – Taguchi pinned Richards

Tag team match for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship

12:44



2

Jushin Liger, KUSHIDA, Máscara Dorada and Tiger Mask IV defeated Atlantis, Taichi, Taka Michinoku and Valiente – Liger pinned Valiente

Eight man tag team match

10:18



3

Kazuchika Okada defeated YOSHI-HASHI

Singles match

04:37



4

Masakatsu Funaki and Masayuki Kono defeated Blue Justice Army (Yuji Nagata and Wataru Inoue) – Funaki pinned Inoue

Tag team match

06:34



5

MVP and Shelton Benjamin defeated Complete Players (Masato Tanaka and Yujiro Takahashi) – MVP submitted Takahashi

Tag team match

09:41



6

Ten-Koji (Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima) defeated Bad Intentions (Giant Bernard and Karl Anderson) (c) – Tenzan pinned Bernard

Tag team match for the IWGP Tag Team Championship

12:40



7

Hirooki Goto defeated Takashi Sugiura

Singles match

12:35



8

Togi Makabe defeated Yoshihiro Takayama

Singles match

09:15



9

Go Shiozaki and Naomichi Marufuji defeated CHAOS Top Team (Shinsuke Nakamura and Toru Yano) – Shiozaki pinned Yano

Tag team match

15:10



10

Keiji Mutoh defeated Tetsuya Naitō

Singles match

22:35



11

Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) defeated Minoru Suzuki

[lboinyamouf4sho]

[Results] New Japan “WRESTLE KINGDOM IN TOKYO DOME VI”, 1/4/12

0. Captain New Japan & Tama Tonga beat Tomoaki Honma & Kyosuke Mikami (8:47) when Tonga used the Headshrinker on Mikami.
1. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: Prince Devitt & Ryusuke Taguchi beat Davey Richards & Rocky Romero (c) (12:44) when Taguchi used a front cradle on Richards to become the 30th champions.
2. AERIAL KINGDOM feat. CMLL SUPER ESTRELLAS: Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask, KUSHIDA & Mascara Dorada beat Atlantis, Valiente, TAKA Michinoku Kaientai Dojo & Taichi (10:18) when Liger used a brainbuster on Valiente.
3. NEW JAPAN RESPIRATION – Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI Return Match: Kazuchika Okada beat YOSHI-HASHI (Nobuo Yoshihashi) (4:37) with the Rainmaker.
4. BLUE JUSTICE NEVER DIE: Masakatsu Funaki All Japan & Masayuki Kono All Japan beat Yuji Nagata & Wataru Inoue (6:34) when Funaki used a left kick on Inoue.
5. TOKYO MONSTER WAR: MVP & Shelton Benjamin beat Masato Tanaka ZERO1 & Yujiro Takahashi (9:41) when MVP used the Irreversible Crisis on Takahashi.
6. IWGP Tag Team Title: Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima beat Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson (c) (12:40) when Tenzan used a moonsault press on Bernard to become the 58th champions.
7. NJPW vs. NOAH BATTLE CONCENTRATION I: Hirooki Goto beat Takashi Sugiura Pro Wrestling NOAH (12:35) with the Shouten Kai.
8. FIGHTING WITHOUT HONOR OR HUMANITY: Togi Makabe beat Yoshihiro Takayama (9:15) with a King Kong kneedrop.
9. NJPW vs. NOAH BATTLE CONCENTRATION II: Go Shiozaki Pro Wrestling NOAH & Naomichi Marufuji Pro Wrestling NOAH beat Shinsuke Nakamura & Toru Yano (15:10) when Shiozaki used the Go Flasher on Yano.
10. GENIUS FACES GENIUS: Keiji Muto All Japan beat Tetsuya Naito (22:35) with a moonsault press.
11. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) beat Minoru Suzuki (25:59) with the High Fly Flow (11th defense).

* New Japan’s biggest announced Tokyo Dome attendance since 2006 (also 43,000) witnessed a spectacular show as the leader of the Japanese professional wrestling industry began its 40th anniversary year in style with the biggest event of the Japanese calendar. This was also the tenth 1/4 Tokyo Dome show that I’ve covered since launching this site in 2001 (but I did cover others on the old RSPW newsgroup before then!).

* Hiroshi Tanahashi, the iconic figure of the modern era in Japan, smashed Yuji Nagata’s IWGP Heavyweight Title defense record and became the most successful IWGP Heavyweight Champion of all time with the joint-most reigns and of course this defense record. Minoru Suzuki presented a difficult challenge in a 26 minute main event that could have gone either way before Tana landed his High Fly Flow to ensure a year to the day after winning back the belt, he begins 2012 with a firm grip on it. Tanahashi now has 11 successful defenses but there are still wrestlers lining up to face him. And one of them, Kazuchika Okada, stormed into the ring after the match and challenged Tanahashi to a title shot next (more below on Okada).

* Professional wrestling’s ultimate genius Keiji Muto returned home to New Japan to take on one of the emerging young stars of the company Tetsuya Naito. Naito has won comparisons to Muto with his excellent athletic ability and charisma and for a wrestler such as this (and Tanahashi in the past) facing the Wrestling Master has become something of a tradition. Naito starred in this Tokyo Dome semi main event opposite Muto (who entered to his memorable old New Japan theme TRIUMPH) in a 22 1/2 minute battle that saw him ultimately succumb to a moonsault press but only after a great battle and as any long-term New Japan fan knows a competitive loss to Muto (or the late, great Hashimoto) is as good as a win for a young wrestler. Naito refused to shake hands with Muto after the match but 2012 promises to be a big year for him.

* New Japan and NOAH locked horns once more on January 4th with two matches, including a tag match that saw a big confrontation between Nakamura (teaming with Yano) and Shiozaki (teaming with Marufuji). These two have history and with Shiozaki now the GHC Heavyweight Champion many eyes were on this bout. In the end Shiozaki pinned Yano but there were sparks between Nakamura and Marufuji after the match but Nakamura dismissed him backstage saying he hoped Marufuji enjoyed fighting him today as he won’t entertain the thought of fighting this mere junior again in singles or tag matches.

* Togi Makabe took on his former tag partner and now bitter rival Yoshihiro Takayama in a fierce match to settle their grudge. The two wasted very little time, getting straight to the heavy strikes and slams. Makabe won a complete victory over the once dominant force of Japanese pro wrestling to show just how far he has come in recent years, pinning Takayama following a King Kong kneedrop.

* The other New Japan vs. NOAH match saw another old rivalry renewed as the most successful GHC Heavyweight Champion in NOAH history Takashi Sugiura went to war with New Japan’s Hirooki Goto (who made a Kabuki style entrance in costume). Goto had another up-and-down 2011, still lacking the consistency needed to stay at the very top so this was very important as in the past he couldn’t beat Sugiura so had to change that at the Tokyo Dome in order to progress. And that he did, overcoming the powerful Sugiura with his Shouten Kai for the huge win and possibly just what he needs to make 2012 a great year. No doubt his ultimate target is the elusive IWGP Heavyweight Title but Goto suggested backstage that his main priority now are CHAOS’ Masato Tanaka and Yujiro Takahashi, and specifically Tanaka’s IWGP Intercontinental Title as of course Tanaka recently beat Goto in a defense.

* The most successful IWGP Tag Team Title holders of all time finally relinquished their grip on the belts today but it took a very special tag team to end a reign that began in 2010 and ended in 2012 for Bad Intentions. New Japan’s beloved TenKoji – Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima – back together, began their latest adventure with an emotional win over Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson. It took a lot to keep Bernard down but a moonsault from Tenzan finally did and TenKoji began their third reign as champions and first since their memorable run in 2000/2001. The two gave a great microphone performance after the match and in 2012 one of the most popular tag teams in Japanese history are back! Of course Bad Intentions still hold NOAH’s GHC Tag Team Title but have a difficult defense coming up against Jun Akiyama & Akitoshi Saito – history has shown double champions often lose both titles in quick succession, can they avoid that?

* MVP attempted to reverse the bad fortune put on him by CHAOS by bringing Shelton Benjamin to New Japan today as the two battled Masato Tanaka & Yujiro Takahashi. Tanaka has had MVP’s number lately, often thanks to outside interference, and after winning the IWGP Intercontinental Title from the former WWE superstar in October, again beat him in a defense last month. But with the help of Shelton today, MVP got one back on Tanaka and made Yujiro tap out to the Irreversible Crisis.

* Masakatsu Funaki made a long overdue return to the place it all started for this fighting icon, New Japan, teaming with former NEW JAPAN FACTORY (New Japan’s MMA branch) member Masayuki Kono against Yuji Nagata & Wataru Inoue. Fans enjoyed seeing Nagata vs. Funaki but after Funaki downed Wataru in 6 1/2 minutes, there was a definite feeling that a great rivalry between Nagata and Funaki had begun with the hope that they will meet again.

* Two of New Japan’s brightest young stars returned at once as Kazuchika Okada’s long stay in the USA and Nobuo Yoshihashi aka YOSHI-HASHI’s long stay in Mexico came to an end. Both made impressive entrances with elaborate new looks and YOSHI-HASHI made a sneak attack on Okada before the bell to try and seize the chance to beat the much larger man. But after some back and forth Okada won a complete victory over CHAOS’ newest member with his Rainmaker finisher, looking strong and dominant, which led to his challenge issued to Tanahashi later in the show.

* Jushin Thunder Liger made a triumphant return home to New Japan after a very long stay in Mexico’s CMLL and brought with him a colorful cast of CMLL stars in preparation for the upcoming “NJPW PRESENTS CMLL FANTASTICA MANIA 2012″ double header at Korakuen Hall. Liger led Tiger Mask, KUSHIDA & Mascara Dorada to victory over Atlantis, Valiente, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi in this entertaining match, the living legend dropping Valiente with a brainbuster for the win.

* The main show kicked off with an IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title match as Davey Richards & Rocky Romero made their V2 defense of the belts against previous champions Devitt & Taguchi (in crazy costume, see the top left picture in the collage above!). A lively opener ended when Taguchi cradled Richards, meaning the belts are once again in the hands of Apollo 55 who now begin their fourth reign having largely dominated this title since 2009 now. Devitt, the ultimate ace of New Japan’s junior division, is again a double champion as he also holds the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title. The only problem for New Japan is finding challengers for Devitt & Taguchi as they have beaten just about everyone in their last few reigns.

no real big shockers but a good looking show. i dig apollo 55 new entrance gear, as well as goto's kabuki get up. big wins for goto and makabe, bad intentions finally fell, and great defense for tanahashi. the stuff with marufuji and nakamura is interesting as well.

[Alex]

[Results] New Japan “WRESTLE KINGDOM IN TOKYO DOME VI”, 1/4/12



no real big shockers but a good looking show. i dig apollo 55 new entrance gear, as well as goto's kabuki get up. big wins for goto and makabe, bad intentions finally fell, and great defense for tanahashi. the stuff with marufuji and nakamura is interesting as well.

I downloaded it but haven't watched yet.

[lboinyamouf4sho]

I downloaded it but haven't watched yet.

i'm always at least a year behind on my actual NJPW viewing, i'm watching stuff from summer of 2010 right now.

[Alex]

i'm always at least a year behind on my actual NJPW viewing, i'm watching stuff from summer of 2010 right now.

So by the time you get current you forgot you already read results?

[lboinyamouf4sho]

So by the time you get current you forgot you already read results?

i never get current but yeah it works out pretty well that way xcept for the big matches. i usually remember who won the IWGP HW title matches, G1, and BOSJ finals.

[lboinyamouf4sho]

REVIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEW TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIME!!!!
this is my 1st step into my journey through michinoku pro wrestling in 1997(actually starting in dec 96)
Michinoku Pro January 1997(from ivpvideos.com)
this is a TV show called "champs forum" in which a commentator watches taped matches with guests, this time the guests are kaientai DX members dick togo, TAKA, funaki, and mens teoh

January 18 (Taped 12-17 Kumamoto) M.Pro
1. Shiryu vs. Kendo Central American Middleweight Title 1st time seeing these guys for me, the match is decent but nothing blow away. seemed a little long but it was a title match so i guess it was about right.

2. Dick Togo/Mens Teoh/Shiryu vs. Gran Naniwa/Anami/Naohiro Hoshikawa this is just ol fashioned indy goodness, lots of action and tons of broken pinfalls. kaientai work real smooth as a unit, these 3 members are powerful, particularly teoh in this match. naniwa & anami are lucharesu style guys while hoshikawa is a kicking badass type. good stuff and you can tell it influenced stuff that followed it.

3. Jinsei Shinzaki vs. Taka Michinoku
January 25 (Taped 12-20 Nagoya) M.Pro this is a really good main event style match, imo the best on the dvd. hard fought between the vet and the ubertalented young punk.

4. Jinsei Shinzaki vs. El Vampiro unfortunately this is way clipped down, i dig vampiro not a lot to see and the finish is kind of abrupt but will keep you honest.

5. Great Sasuke/El Gran Hamada/Gran Naniwa/Masato Yakushiji vs. Dick Togo/Shiryu/Mens Teoh/Shoichi Funaki this is a wild one much like match 2. i'm starting to get the vibe of the young heels(kaientai) trying to take the the torch from the vets now. shiryu stood out to me in this 1

6. Taka Michinoku vs. Super Dolphin IND. Jr. Title
this is a soild match and feels important especially with the post match stuff.

overall a good buy and intro into M-pro of that era for me, worth the 3bucks though nothing is truly must see.

[lboinyamouf4sho]

REVIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEW TIME!!!!

stop #2 on my journey through M-pro 97

Michinoku Pro 01/14/1997
this one is in the format of a regular PPV show.

Wellington Wilkins Jr./Naohiro Hoshikawa vs. Masato Yakushiji/Yoshito Sugamoto good opener. 1st time for me seeing wilkins, stocky bastard and while this match doesn't allow me to give him a real ring psychological evaluation it's quickly obvious he's technically sound as fuk and has a background in some type of grappling arts. anyways it's kind of 1 sided but fun to watch some people get fukt up pretty badly.

Gran Naniwa vs. Shoichi Funaki really good stuff. you can tell this 1 is personal from the gate and things get nasty. i've never really seen funaki like this and it's rather cool. naniwa has an ugly gutwrench powerbomb, and by ugly i mean brutal looking neither man is willing to give and it's up to the ref to put an end to it.

Daisuke Ikeda/Takeshi Ono vs. Yuki Ishikawa/Alexander Otsuka
very good. this match seems kind of out of place on the card but in a good way imo. it's just like a bonus battlarts match(wrestlers and rules) right in the middle of the show and a good 1 at that. ikeda & ishikawa are top rivals in battlarts, i'm wasn't familiar with ono but he's good, and otsuka is just awesome. nice showcase and a good intro to the promotion.

Jinsei Shinzaki vs. Masayoshi Motegi good. i think i remember motegi from the infamous super J cup. he's solid but just doesn't hold my attention too much. still good work by both guys in the match. shinzaki is just bad ass.

Tiger Mask(Sayama) vs. Taka Michinoku damn good. TAKA is getting his ass handed to him with strike standing and twisted into a pretzel on the mat, but the punk shows heart and does what he has to(fly and use his speed) in order to get back into things. a good hard fought battle.

Dick Togo/Mens Teoh/Shiryu vs. Great Sasuke/Super Dolphin/El Gran Hamada this one is pretty hot. more kaientai vs the old guard with lots of high paced action. the victory seems like a big one for the winners.

overall a damn good buy for 3 bucks and i'm starting to get a good feel for the promotion as a whole.