Whoa, I thought this was dead.  Anyway, anyone else watch Wrestle Kingdom 9?  If you did not then I'll tell you now, it will probably be the best show of the entire year, so watching it could spoil 2015 (and the WWE) for you.

Honestly, it might have had the best 1-2 punch for a PPV in years.  Dave Meltzer rated Nakamura vs. Ibushi a perfect 5-stars (calling it an all-time classic) and Okada vs. Tanahashi 5-3/4-stars.  I actually agree with that, as that was my rating before I came across Meltzer's scores.  I also can't help but wonder if I would have given Tanahashi/Okada 5-stars if it had not followed the brilliant match between Nakamura and Ibushi, which I've already watched three times (and counting)--once in Japanese and twice with Jim Ross and Matt Striker on commentary.

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada- NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 9   ****3/4

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kota Ibushi- NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 9   *****

AJ Styles vs. Tetsuya Naito- NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 9  ****1/4

reDRagon vs. Forever Hooligans vs. Young Bucks vs. Time Splitters- NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 9   ****

Togi Makabe vs. Tomohiro Ishii- NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 9  ****½

Those aren't all the match, I just linked to matches four stars or over.  Pretty damn amazing that it had so many to fit the criteria.  

JR. did pretty well on the call but you could tell that he didn't always know what he was talking about.  Striker was really good and you can tell that he's an active NJPW fan.  He even called Nakamura his favorite wrestler on the planet, an opinion that I share.  I think Nakamura is the best in-ring storyteller in the industry, to be quite honest.

If you want to see two guys beat the hell out of each other, watch Makabe vs. Ishii.  Completely old-school, stiff-as-hell wrestling.

One last point I'd like to make regarding the Heavyweight Title match.  The selling at the end was absolutely golden and a perfect example of why New Japan "gets it".  The match was fantastic but when the loser started crying, just selling being totally ripped apart by the outcome, it made the whole thing feel so much more important than it would otherwise.  It felt meaningful.  Compared to the WWE where the loser just seems kind of vexed, because they know they have that "rematch clause", it holds an entirely different kind of weight.

I do not understand :/ ?

Did TNA do a complete reboot on storylines since switching networks? I need to see if it's hosting shows online.

Whoa, I thought this was dead.  Anyway, anyone else watch Wrestle Kingdom 9?  If you did not then I'll tell you now, it will probably be the best show of the entire year, so watching it could spoil 2015 (and the WWE) for you.

Honestly, it might have had the best 1-2 punch for a PPV in years.  Dave Meltzer rated Nakamura vs. Ibushi a perfect 5-stars (calling it an all-time classic) and Okada vs. Tanahashi 5-3/4-stars.  I actually agree with that, as that was my rating before I came across Meltzer's scores.  I also can't help but wonder if I would have given Tanahashi/Okada 5-stars if it had not followed the brilliant match between Nakamura and Ibushi, which I've already watched three times (and counting)--once in Japanese and twice with Jim Ross and Matt Striker on commentary.

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada- NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 9   ****3/4

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kota Ibushi- NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 9   *****

AJ Styles vs. Tetsuya Naito- NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 9  ****1/4

reDRagon vs. Forever Hooligans vs. Young Bucks vs. Time Splitters- NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 9   ****

Togi Makabe vs. Tomohiro Ishii- NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 9  ****½

Those aren't all the match, I just linked to matches four stars or over.  Pretty damn amazing that it had so many to fit the criteria.  

JR. did pretty well on the call but you could tell that he didn't always know what he was talking about.  Striker was really good and you can tell that he's an active NJPW fan.  He even called Nakamura his favorite wrestler on the planet, an opinion that I share.  I think Nakamura is the best in-ring storyteller in the industry, to be quite honest.

If you want to see two guys beat the hell out of each other, watch Makabe vs. Ishii.  Completely old-school, stiff-as-hell wrestling.

One last point I'd like to make regarding the Heavyweight Title match.  The selling at the end was absolutely golden and a perfect example of why New Japan "gets it".  The match was fantastic but when the loser started crying, just selling being totally ripped apart by the outcome, it made the whole thing feel so much more important than it would otherwise.  It felt meaningful.  Compared to the WWE where the loser just seems kind of vexed, because they know they have that "rematch clause", it holds an entirely different kind of weight.

As always, thank you for keeping me plugged into the NJPW and Japan market. I'm damn near done with the American wrestling scene, or at least watching entire shows. I'm at the point now where I could not care less a bout storylines, and I want all my storytelling done from opening bell to pin or submission.

I pretty much quit WWE 12 or 13 years ago and have  been a consistent TNA fan for a decade, but I'm about ready to part ways with that promotion too. Samoa Joe and The Wolves are leaving me hanging by a thread, although I still appreciate the work of Austin Aries, Eric Young and Bobby Roode, and I loved Lashley's WT run.

The links are much appreciated! Been meaning to check it out for a few days now.

Also, such a feel good moment last night when they announced Macho Man being inducted into the HoF! I don't think there is anyone who isn't in it already that deserves it more.

I do not understand :/ ?

Last time I watched TNA it was filled with backstage skits recored via camcorder.

Honestly, I'm pretty much done with RAW.  I'll watch individual matches from WWE special events if I hear good things about them, like that Survivor Series match (which really was good).  I usually watch NXT, though, because it's honestly a lot better than RAW and has some of my favorite wrestlers.

TNA is so bipolar.  It was pretty bad at the start of last year, yet was really enjoyable over the summer.  Lashly has impressed the hell out of me and the tag team division is back.  Awesome Kong returning should be a good thing, too.  That they can put on bad shows with all that talent is mind-boggling.  If I hear good things, I might give TNA another look.

New Japan has definitely taken over as my main promotion.  They do so many things that I agree with and like.  As an example, the most popular guy in the company, Nakamura, holds their IC belt and it's presented as being nearly on par with their HWC belt.  That's awesome.  When someone loses in New Japan, they often still come out looking strong.  I LOVE that.  You don't need to make one guy look like a catdamn super hero while devaluing the other guy.  Have them BOTH look like they've been in a war and both guys will benefit. 

I also like a lot of the PWG stuff.  Adam Cole vs Zack Sabre Jr. and Kenny Omega vs. ACH were two of my favorite matches from last year and they happened in PWG's Battle of Los Angeles event.