I think "almost certain" is a bit strong. It's possible, I'll give it that. But ... there was a really good Youtube video someone made pre-WK explaining why, given NJPW's booking history with the IWGP title (and really, it's the same as in AJPW in the 1990s when, for instance, people thought Misawa dropped the Triple Crown to Kobashi years late), it was pretty likely that Okada was going to retain regardless. I can't find it now, but the reasoning given was pretty insightful.

Don't get me wrong, I still think they should have strapped Naito.

Kobashi never even beat Misawa for the Triple Crown championship. It wasn't until 2003 that Misawa allowed Kobashi to have the glory but that was in NOAH for the GHC title.

Misawa should've lost the TC to Kobashi at some point.

Whoops, I thought Kobashi beat Misawa in a 1999 match. Looks like I was wrong. Yeesh it's awful that AJPW never pulled that trigger.

I'm not sure if you're leveling or not. If you're not I assume you mean the "money match" comment I made. I meant the money match with Jericho, not overall. The money match for NJPW was always Naito/Okada.

I listened to Da Meltz's review of the show. He said the subscriber count is over 90k now. I remember hearing a month or two ago that some ppv systems contacted them to air it on tv/online but they said no because they wanted more subs to NJPW World. Apparently the goal for NJPW when launching it was 100k subs in the first year. It's been ~3 years now.

It's insane that their first championship match vs. each other was in 1995 and Kobashi never beat him until 2003. Kobashi was 0-6 vs. Misawa in TC matches from 95-99. Including the other singles matches they had, Kobashi was 0-8.

I was joking about my literal nightmare of turning Naito into the JTTS so Okada has new people he can easily beat

anywhere you can watch a replay of this on the internet?

Here's an option. That's where I watch WWE things. Alternatively, just googling Wrestlekingdom 12 dailymotion brings up all the matches.

Heard that. Thank you.

Also, AXS TV has WK12 coming on at 8PM EST tonight if you have the cable channel. I might tune in.

Jericho going over Naito is worse than Rock over Punk and Goldberg over Owens.

No Naito or Omega(or Ospray for my city) but **** yeah I'm pumped.

They taped this a day after Wrestle Kingdom. Some interesting stuff (but nothing about Jericho sticking around in New Japan/feuding with Naito etc.).

Also the latest "Being the Elite" video (I think No. 87) is pretty interesting, too. They are teasing Kenny leaving the Bullet Club hard.

As much as I was looking forward to that 4-way, there's no way I'd give it over ****. I wouldn't have Tana/White even reaching ***. I think Okada/Naito was 5* .

I think they're too high across the board. I do think Jericho/Omega was the best match but would only go 4.5 stars for it. I wouldn't go more than 4.25 for Okada/Naito even after a second watch, just didn't do it for me. I'd give 4 to the Junior Heavyweight four-man and 3.75 to Suzuki/Goto (yet I enjoyed both more than the main). Haven't seen the others yet. In general I think it's become way too easy to earn big stars (and going above 5 has always been silly).

Couple things -

Does anyone know where I can find a link to Lee vs Dijak from BOLA, the one everyone talks about. Dijak is my cousins former roommate, so I have to obviously become frinds with him to get free tickets to Mania every year, but figured I should know his work first.

Also, went to a Primal Conflict Wrestling card in Harpers Ferry, WV this past weekend. Nick Aldis was there with his NWA title in hand, and wrestled against Alexander James in a non-title match. This was shaping up to be a nice little match until James proceeded to puke all over the ring. I've never seen another human puke so much, and was legit worried for the guy, but nobody wanted to come near him at all. It made half the ring disgusting the rest of the night, which the rest of the card played up.

The grossest thing of it all was the guy who came to clean it up used his bare hands to wring out the mop. That almost made me puke more than the puke. I mean, people get sick, but god damn, pal, put on some gloves

I have a link to a torrent for that BOLA event.

Can we be friends?

While we are at it, I'm going to Evolve 101. I don't really know much about it and was gifted the ticket, but pretty excited for it.

No Holds Barred Match – Non-Title
WWN Champion Keith Lee vs. Tracy Williams with Stokely Hathaway & Dom Garrini

Non-Title Special Attraction Match
EVOLVE Champion Zack Sabre Jr. vs. EVOLVE Tag Team Champion Chris Dickinson

Four-Way Elimination Match
Matt Riddle vs. Austin Theory with Priscilla Kelly vs. Darby Allin vs. EVOLVE Tag Team Champion Jaka

NXT General Manager William Regal will make a special appearance. Mr. Regal will also be available for pictures and autographs before the event.

Plus more to be signed with:
-Fred Yehi
-Jason Kincaid
-The End
-James Drake
-Anthony Henry
-Jarek 1:20 with Candy Cartwright
-Shane Mercer
-Plus others to be added!

Whoa, I live in Hagerstown.

Nice, I live on the other side of Harpers Ferry, so to speak, in VA.

Nice, I’ll be there as well! Name drop opportunity, but Trevin Adams, the WWN Ambassador, is a good friend of mine. Here’s an interview I did with him if you want to learn more about EVOLVE:

http://thespectacleofexcess.com/2017...-trevin-adams/

The card looks great. In particular, you’ll love watching Keith Lee, ZSJ, Matt Riddle, and Darby Allin perform.

Yeah, I'm getting pretty excited for it. I bought a highspots account just to try to catch up before the show.

I've booked marked your interview to read for later after NXT, thanks!

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