Pro-Wrestling On My Mind

Catching up on New Japan Cup action today as I was able to work from home. I am on the 3/11 show now and I had to step away from my laptop because the timer went off for my spaghetti cooking. Before I left, only Walker Stewart was on commentary. When I came back, I became extremely confused. I thought Walker was doing a pirate impression, or perhaps an actual pirate had, for some reason, joined him on commentary. Turns out, that's just what Drilla Moloney sounds like. Fun fact to learn. For real (these are my dogs)* though, if someone told me he was related to the guy who sings the SpongeBob, I'd be inclined to believe them. On the topic of the New Japan Cup, I've noticed Naito reaching out to little kids to do a fist touch when he's heading to the back recently. It's adorable, but when did that start? I didn't think Naito was child friendly, or even people friendly for that matter. Is this what happens when you tag team with an actual ray of sunshine? And bless...

There's a new interview with Kosei Fujita up on the NJPW website:  https://www.njpw.co.jp/552948 Whenever I think about Fujita, this quote always pops up in my mind: "In an age of performative cruelty, kindness is punk as fuck. Be punk as fuck." - Daniel Abraham The article mentions an example of Fujita's punkness, that he addresses many people, including Hiroshi Tanahashi, as " オマエ." This is one of the many ways to say "you" in Japanese and is typically used by men to address those of equal or lesser standing than the speaker (or to insinuate that you believe the person you are addressing is of equal or lower standing than you). So the 22 year old referring to a decorated veteran who is also the company president with this term would be considered rude by some people. But you know what? Equality is also punk as fuck. Yet Fujita is both a Japanese Young Punk and a Number One Sweet Boy. You can see it in the way he talks and behaves in and outside t...

I attended one of the Super Junior Tag League shows at Korakuen Hall last year (10/27/2024 to be specific). This tournament was YOH's first return to the ring* after being out of action with an injury since Sakura Genesis in May of the same year. YOH has some very loyal and dedicated fans because this was on display in the lobby outside the arena area in Korakuen Hall. It's rare that I feel a combination of complete admiration and utter horror, but that is the power of jorts. I actually love the flowers. Beautiful colors and combinations. My bank account weeps at the thought of how much this cost, even split among multiple people. And, having grown up in the American South, I'm pretty sure I have seen this decor in someone's house before, possibly covering an end table.   *First return to fighting in the ring that is. He was in the ring when he did that... unique one man live at KOPW. I'll probably write about that at some point.

Posting my best Taiji Ishimori pic yesterday resulted in me scrolling through my thousands (and thousands, and thousands) of other pics from live events I have attended. Today my offering is YOH. I couldn't decide which one I liked better. The first is also from the first BOSJ event I ever attended, BOSJ 25 at Korakuen Hall on 5/18/2018. The second is from the BOSJ 29 finals at the Nippon Budokan on 6/3/2022. Two very different points in YOH's career (and two times when the Tag Team Partner and I got damn good seats). Dear reader, which is your preferred picture of our jorts-loving pretty boy? Which will it be, fingers or tongue? ...Wait, that did NOT come out right...

An allegedy 36 year old man (if you're one of those sheeple who believes time is real). Photo from Super Junior Tag League at Korakuen Hall on 10/27/2024, by me. I was chatting with one of my dear friends about her kids (for whom I have wholeheartedly accepted the role of Wine Aunt) and was once again reminded that time, as both a fact and a concept, is just a bunch of nonsense. Me: So your oldest is in 1st grade this year, right? Friend: ... Sweetie, no. He's in 4th grade. He's turning 10 soon. Me: *Brain blue screens for a solid minute* After arguing about whether or not the Covid years should actually count, I was forced to accept my new reality regarding the supposed  passage of time.  Incidentally, I had a similar conversation about YOH around the same time (after his return at KOPW in 2024) with my Tag Team Partner.* This happened over a chat: TTP: YOH’s 36!? Me: ??? No?! Me: *Checks one of my many NJPW live event pamphlets* Me: Oh my God, he is. Born in 1988! Reader,...

Been thinking lately about why I like the wrestlers I do. One great thing about New Japan is that I can say I’m a fan of pretty much everyone on the roster. But, as we all know, there is a difference between being a fan and being a stan. In a match with two wrestlers I like, I light my penlights for the one I stan more than the other. But what makes me stan someone? Having given some thought to this topic, I think it boils down to the following four points: 1) Ability/Style Wrestlers can do so many amazing moves, but I definitely have a style preference. When I was a child, I was deep in the trenches of the Monday Night Wars. One of the things that initially kept me tuned in to WCW was the cruiserweight division. The speed, power, and athleticism that comes with being in the lighter weight class has always fascinated me more than the heavyweight division. I’ve been to more New Japan Best of the Super Junior shows than any other type for that very reason. As I once told a friend who ask...