Man I have this cable channel that used to play old episodes of New Japan with Jim Ross on commentary and I saw some great matches that way and its really the only exposure I've had to NJPW wrestlers besides this Facebook group chat that I randomly found myself in. But I saw some banger matches from Omega, Kota Ibushi, the Jericho/Okada match, and more.
I also love the story of Kota Ibushi coming to USA and being offered the world by WWE. They wanted him to win that Cruiserweight Classic and be the face of 205 Live and he said no thanks so they had him job to fucking TJ Perkins.
Once again, I really regret not going to the New Japan tapings when they were in Tampa a few months ago.
On another note, Ric Flair has fully moved to Tampa and is regularly seen around town. I haven't run into him yet, but when I do I will be showing him my wedding video.
Oh man I didn't even know that ibushi story. That's so dumb but not at all surprising coming from the company that's currently photoshopping Sasha signs out of their broadcasts. Let's job maybe the best wrestler in the world (I really won't argue with anyone who puts Ibushi as #1) out to the fucking flim flam flash.
I got into modern NJPW via Chikara actually. My GF passed away in late 2015 and I was super depressed and just laying in bed all day and somehow stumbled across the Matt Classic (colt cabana) and Darkness Crabtree vs Sara del Ray match and the humor just struck a chord with me. I started watching King of Trios 2015 which had AJ and the Bucks representing Bullet Club and they put on a hell of a show and won the tournament. I watched it for a few months but it was harder to find English commentary uploads back then and I ended up kinda getting away from it after WWE bought AJ and tried to make their own Bullet Club.
I love those old JR and Josh Barnett shows too, if you want a blueprint for how to treat it seriously on commentary these days that's a good place to start. As far as pure modern pro wrestling goes it doesn't get much better than that era of NJPW. Have you ever seen the match where Jay White accidentally slammed a guardrail into JR and knocked him out of his chair? Barnett jumps up ready to shoot beat the fuck out of him and White runs away from him and you can tell he's shitting himself haha.
If you run into Naitch after you show him the video I want you to challenge him to a helicopter contest. Tell him to show these kids nowadays how to do a real thigh slap.
Hopefully Dynamite will be better this week. I'm wondering whether BD's announcement is going to be an injury or an angle to book the ZSJ match. I'm hyped as fuck for Penta vs Malakai Black. I know Malakai is going to win but hopefully they'll stop jobbing the lucha Bros out soon. Main event is Jericho and my tramp stamp boy Lance Archer vs Mox and Tanahashi. I'm guessing they just want to showcase Tana a little so he'll probably pin Archer but I'm hoping for some Suzuki gun shenanigans.
PS - Shaqueefster if you're ever in Pittsburgh let me know. I'll get you ripped and take you to the toy stores and on a pilgrimage to Bruno's house.