fujiwara armbar investigates: Inoki Genome Federation (IGF)

An occasional series in which, in a bid to further my spotty knowledge of Japanese wrestling promotions, I watch a recent event and assess whether or not I'd watch regularly given the time, money and ability to access.

Promotion: Inoki Genome Federation (IGF)

Event watched: Inoki-Bom-Ba-Ye, 31st December 2013, Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo.

What did I know about the promotion going in/what impressions was I led to?: Not a great deal and that which I did know was subject to contradiction, confusion and obfuscation. I knew that IGF was owned by Antonio Inoki and that in his latter days in control of New Japan Pro Wrestling, Inoki-san was more and more overcome with affection for a style of in-ring action with greater degree of verisimilitude vis-a-vis real fighting. No whipping into the ropes and bouncing back; this is more punches, kicks and submissions.

NJPW Dominion 6.21

Dominion 6.21

21^st June 2014, BODYMAKER Colosseum, Osaka.

The midsummer spectacular of New Japan Pro Wrestling has historically been an explosive affair. Just twelve months ago, Hirooki Goto and Katsuyori Shibata continued their boiling bloodfeud in an encounter many take to be the finest of their tear-ups. A flowering boy-prince named Kazuchika Okada was still our champion, defeating To(u)gi Makabe before being challenged by Prince Devitt, who had just downed Hiroshi Tanahashi in the semi-main.

Conversely, this would be the first defeat Tanahashi would suffer at Dominion, having defeated Okada in 2012, Goto in 2011, Yano in 2010 (in a hair vs. hair match that sounds fucking LOL) and the man who shall forever be prefixed with 'veteran' Manabu Nakanishi in 2009 in a 30+ minute encounter are you INSANE?