Let’s talk Wrestle Kingdom/Wrestle Dynasty. If you’re not excited, watch the 12/23 main event from the Road To show. Shota showed awesome fire and nothing hits like big Tom Ish in Korauken.
Wrestle Kingdom: Excited for the 4 way for TV title for return of ELP, Shingo vs Takeshita- this should absolutely rule. I hope they give them 20 minutes and say beat the hell out of each other and the Junior and World Heavyweight title.
Wrestle Dynasty: I’m looking forward to ZSJ vs Ricochet, Takeshita vs Ishii, Shota vs Claudio
Zero interest in either show. Won’t be watching. Not a fan of no storylines and random matches. And I don’t even know who the hell Zach Sabre Junior is facing in the main event. I’ve never heard of this guy.
Are both these shows going to be on New Japan World? If so, I’ll probably pick it up for a month for the first time in years. Interested in seeing Kenny/Gabe and Takeshita/Takagi.
I always watch wrestlekingdom. I’ll watch both this year. Love the WK19 poster.
ZSJ vs Shooter should be a lot of fun and, obviously, I love seeing Zack on the top of the card.
Takeshita vs Takagi should be outstanding. Tsuji vs Finlay as well.
While I can take or leave the bucks at this point, the AEW inclusion in these shows is fun and I like the idea of Rick O’Shea losing to ZSJ, there’s a much bigger match for me…
If Kenny Omega () loses to Gabe Kidd as some sort of “putting over lesser stars in a return from injury story,” I’m going to start a one-person riot in my bedroom. Kidd will get his spots in, but this should be the re-emergence of the Best Bout Machine and I need that in my life.
I’m exact opposite. I’ve seen every one of them for the past maybe 7-8 years but this is the first one I just have zero interest cause I don’t even know who’s in the main event. I can’t believe that card is so so weak
Any idea what the attendance for this is? There’s no way they’re selling ou with that main event.
I saw something today proclaiming they’ve sold more tickets to international fans for this than any show since pre-covid. That said, absolutely no idea overall.
I can see that because of the double showing in the second one having a lot of AEW talent. I’m definitely interested in the Kenny Omega match just to see if he can still go.
No buys from me for either show. Been out of the NJPW loop for a while and this card isn’t very inspiring. The Wrestle Dynasty card is cool looking but like @Alex_Patel said, it’s just a bunch of matches. AEW barely seems to care that it’s happening.
I’ll agree in general that Wrestle Dynasty is just a bunch of matches, but Omega/Kidd is the exception there, with both chirping at each other in promos and interviews going back months, and a very well done backstage brawl angle happening a month ago. In terms of Wrestle Kingdom, a few of the matches have been set up with pretty direct, one major show ‘cycle’ challenges (Finlay/Tsuji, Takeshita/Shingo, and the TV title match), but everything else has been stewing for a LONG time, with Hiromu/Naito being something they’ve teased since before COVID and Douki/Despe’s history going back just as long. If you want to get caught up and possibly more invested in some of these, allow me to make a cheap plug for mine and @KarenSensei’s primer show for both which just went up on the Cafe.
Just because you’re not watching the product regularly doesn’t mean there aren’t stories being told. Aren’t matches themselves supposed to be stories, be it a chapter in a larger story or a stand alone story in and of itself?
And I’m sure the announcers and video packages will do the work of getting the English speaking casual audience up-to-date in each of the stories, akin to how WWE or AEW’s video packages are to help tell the story to people like me who aren’t living and dying with every card.
Thanks, @Contrasoma. Agree the Wrestle Dynasty show is more “just matches” but I think it’s supposed to lean that way by design. Guarantee the primer is worth the listen.
And @Alex_Patel, I’ve gotta ask, when did you stop watching anything NJPW? Because to say you don’t know who Shota Umino implies you haven’t watched or payed attention since 2018-2019. I mean his “Shooter” moniker goes back to being Moxley’s second in the G1 when he was still a young lion. Anyway, for those who will watch, let’s enjoy!
Strongly considering it on the strength of my interest in a number of matches. I haven’t had NJPW World for a while now. Has it gotten easier to watch through a TV app (I used to use the Firestick for it), or is it still better through a web browser? Ordering the shows as a $48 bundle on TrillerTV (with replays only available until April 5) makes sense because of how easy their user interface is, but it makes even more sense financially by just subscribing to NJPW World for a month at about $10.
Absolutely I will, it’s my most anticipated show every year, always great, always killer matches, and I’ve been watching Umino since he was a Young Lion so I’m heavily invested in that title match, the rest of the show I’m quite invested as well. Maybe not Evil, but pretty much anything else lol
Dynasty is just a cool as hell lineup! Cool matches, fun show, and I can’t wait for Kenny to whoop Kidd lol can’t wait!!
I also just learned (thanks to Karen in her primer with Bruce) that Wrestle Dynasty has an even earlier start time. 10 PM Saturday on the East Coast of North America.
I stopped watching around the time Omega left, but I would still catch them wrestle kingdom. I did watch the G1 with Moxley.
I shouldn’t say I don’t know who he is. I do know who he is, but I couldn’t really tell you anything about him or really care to see him wrestle. Like he’s not a star to me.
I mean it’s an odd choice for main event I guess but maybe they’re trying to create a new star so hopefully it’s a good show for those who watch
Because to say you don’t know who Shota Umino implies you haven’t watched or payed attention since 2018-2019. I mean his “Shooter” moniker goes back to being Moxley’s second in the G1 when he was still a young lion. Anyway, for those who will watch, let’s enjoy!