I Learned Something Today

Confession: Today's title is a lie. A double lie, actually, because

1)  I actually learned two things

and

2) I learned both of those things yesterday.

However, I learned both of these things too close to bedtime, so writing about them happens today. That, and I can rarely resist a reference.

So what did I learn? First, I learned that I need to ruminate more. Or perhaps I learned that I should not trust my first instinct. The result of the main event of New Japan's anniversary show last night was that Goto beat Tanahashi to retain the title. Based on what I wrote yesterday about my reconsideration of my initial thoughts on the match, it makes sense. Also, Tag Team Partner watched the match and said he doesn't think Tanahashi's knees are capable of another title run. Sad to hear, and it also puts the kibosh on my thoughts about Tana having a G1 run, though I thought that was a pretty unlikely scenario. On the plus side, maybe I am not as bad at predicting NJPW outcomes as I assumed; maybe I just need to give it more thought (although the thought that the inner workings of Gedo's mind are just bizarre and unknowable has an eldritch horror appeal to it that I kind of like and may go with just to amuse myself. Am now picturing Gedo having brunch with Cthulhu, because that's immediately where my mind goes when I think the words eldritch horror*).

The second thing I learned is that New Japan is really not good at surprises, or, at least, they are not good at mystery opponent angles. What was the point of having Wato be the mystery opponent of ELP? He's just a regular member of the roster and wasn't making a return from being away with an injury or another promotion. A mystery opponent should be someone unexpected, or expected but has been gone for a significant amount of time, to justify the excitement created by the secrecy. It almost makes me wonder if there was originally someone else who was supposed to be ELP's opponent, but they were unable to make it at the last minute. If not, the decision to go with the mystery opponent angle for this match seems really weird and unnecessary. Now I really wish I could get into Gedo's brain as I would love to know the reasoning behind this.

Update to this post: So the mystery opponent is an open challenge scenario, and that makes more sense. I wish, then, that they would change the promotion of the match and not call it a mystery opponent. Unless they are going to start bringing in some big surprises, which, to me, is what a mystery opponent implies, they should clarify that it could be anyone on the roster.

*It also makes me think about the H.P. Lovecraft Archive, where I first read his stories. It's worth a visit if you have never read anything Lovecraft and are curious about what the big deal is, or if you have read his works and want a quick, easy way to read them again.