NJPW New Beginning in Osaka

New Japan Pro-Wrestling
New Beginning in Osaka
11th February 2015
BODYMAKER Colosseum, Osaka

As Dinah Washington did not sing, and as Maria Grever did not actually write, what a diff'rence a month or so makes (just 912 little hours). In the early joustings of 2015, New Japan Pro-Wrestling could not have been arrested anywhere from Sendai to Saratoga. Look:

http://t.co/VSu3CxRNR4 - 2 NJPW novices gush about the awesomeness that was #njwk9 on this week's episode of @GNetworked
— Dustin (@DSpenceCantLose) January 7, 2015

Professional wrestling at its finest #WrestleKingdom9 #WK9 #njwk9 @njpwworld pic.twitter.com/JLvjJn5HX3
— Arthur Shimko (@artshimko) January 7, 2015

#njwk9 pic.twitter.com/0pVEKLOiTt
— DP1? (@WV_CAWS) January 7, 2015

ZERO1 Fire Festival Finals

Pro-Wrestling ZERO1
Fire Festival Day 8
3rd August 2014, Korakuen Hall, Tokyo

Despite not being completely knocked out by the Zero1 event that I reviewed early in July, there were sufficient positives to offer the impression that a good day for Zero1 might be a good day for wrestling. I was also giddily high on the thrills and spills of tournament wrestling offered by New Japan's wildly successful G1 Climax, so reaching down the ladder to a smaller promotion offering the same experience seemed like both a nice thing to do in terms of exposure and personally beneficial to me w/r/t entertainment.

THE 24TH G1 CLIMAX IN TEN POINTS

Ladies and gentleman and children and dogs be calm even though the greatest multi-day wrestling spectacle is nearly upon us for another year. Soon the world shall not require that 'multi-day' appendage to distinguish itself from Wrestlemania as all shall know of the magnificence of New Japan Pro Wrestling's annual chicken-scratch to discover which of their heavyweight stars will enter the tournament a fearful boy and emerge a broken-but-victorious man.

Actually deserving of lens flare and all those plug-ins

fujiwara armbar investigates: Japanese Women Pro-Wrestling Project (JWP)

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: Japanese Women Pro-Wrestling Project (JWP)

Event: Tsubasa Kuragaki 15th Anniversary ~ WINGS!, Shinjuku FACE, Tokyo, 14th October 2013.

What did I know about the promotion going in?: Practically nothing. Whether through deliberate mass self-denial or the lack of quality information and media out there, joshi puroresu in 2014 is not the phenomenon of the late 1980s and early 1990s when legends such as Manami Toyota, Kyoko Inoue, Aja Kong and Bull Nakano routinely tore down houses and enthralled critics into the admission that women's wrestling was much more exciting and visceral than that colossal boob Hulk Hogan and his worn-out routine. 

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.

fujiwara armbar investigates: Dramatic Dream Team (DDT)

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: DRAMATIC DREAM TEAM (DDT)

Event watched: DDT Max Bump 2014, 29th April 2014, Korakuen Hall, Tokyo

What did I know about the promotion going in?: I knew a little bit. I knew that Kota Ibushi was one of the main players alongside his tag-team partner Kenny Omega. I knew that it was considered a 'comedy' promotion, or at least one with a stronger element of comedy as part of its regular presentation. I was passingly familiar with YOSHIHIKO, a puppet/sex doll treated with absolute reverence that wrestles in multi-person tag team matches.

I also knew a little about the DDT Ironman Heavy Metal Title, defended 24/7, similar enough to the WWE Hardcore Championship, but has been won by inanimate objects such as rice (which was 'pinned' by the roux ladled over it), ladders and posters, as well as by a trio of elementary school girls. Read this. Even if you never bother with the promotion, this is funny.