The NEW This Weekend In Pro Wrestling.
The Forbidden Door, was a good show. It needed some sexiness and elegance however.
Welcome To The New This Weekend In Pro Wrestling.
There were a few huge events and more trouble with injuries. Lets get started with the Big Shows.
Many have considered the Stardom Cage Match Show to be one of the better ones this year. There were some questionable storyline aspects at the start of the show – but did it effect the finish? Maybe it did.
There was an interesting quote by Mina Shirakawa in English concerning forbidden door. Many fans were quite confused by the statement – but later on in the essay, I will explain on why that statement has been made.
I like to send congratulations on Saori Anou on her recent victory. She has getting roles in the industry recently, and her last 18 months of matches have been great to quite inspiring. With this recent win it puts her at one of the best women’s wrestlers in the world now. I hope just like with Maki Itoh and others coming to the states – that she will be given a chance.
Ice Ribbon gets a new logo. Its interesting. They will be helping to build evolution girls however.
AJPW is in a restructuring phase when it comes to teams and wrestlers. It makes sense – there are weaknesses that must be handled and when more Americans and other wrestlers come over it wouldn’t seem to be over bearing.
The CyberAgent group of wrestling shows will start to have sections of cheering fans starting within the next two weeks.
Now let’s show the results from America.
The Forbidden Door: Part of the New Japan Pro Wrestling 50th Anniversary Events series.
Notes from The Forbidden Door
· Despite the injuries that happened on the show… and some of the fan craziness on the show, the show survived all of the bad luck and some mistakes here and there, to become a great show.
· The Japanese wrestlers were given great respect – even despite the language barrier. Shibata looked like a stud and star. Okada is Okada (hes great). Outside of the 30 seconds at the main event – this was the first great Jon Moxley match he had in the Company. Tanahashi despite the loss was great (as always)
· The Keith Lee Match needs to be studied in every single wrestling school in the United States (yes even Al Snow’s school).
· FTR is the best going today.
· Will Osprey – still won, but the wrestler is back. Shibata wants the US Title. Orange Cassidy Approves.
· CHAOS was the lead Group. But United Empire had to win matches. Suzuki Gun and JAS are not done.
· We needed Tokyo Pimps and Pieter.
· Sad that we could not have the two divisions of Ingovernables show up. Tony Kahn’s next plan is to figure out how to calm the leaders of the Tried-and-True down some. Andrae and Rush will have their day and then the teams are unified.
· Lack of a Bullet Club storyline. Strange but not surprising.
· At the media scrum, two important notes. First about Stardom. I mentioned Earlier about the Instagram post that Mina Shirakawa made in English. Tony Kahn mentioned from a question asked in the media scrum that they couldn’t get any wrestlers from Stardom for two reasons, visa issues (they were not cleared to come to the States, which is obvious) and two – they had a PPV. But this does prove that Tony Kahn and Rossy and Bushiroad have been talking for a significant amount of time. If the visa issues can be fixed – Stardom could be apart of a future event for the Forbidden Door event in the future. Mina would obviously have a fanbase that will stop at nothing to get to that show - even if they have to deal with the American Otakuish fanbase AEW sort of brings around. That and the fact of the teams and the history some of them have with Stardom. Toni Storm would be like CM Punk returning for Stardom and that would be huge for Stardom. Riho and Utami reuniting. How many of the Joshi would interact with the American Female Wrestlers, some who they all know – and some who they spoil the party. Similar to Cassidy, this would be the biggest platform for Kris Stalander and a match between her – and a Thelka, Mina, Hazuki or outside chance – Gulia – would make her a made woman. Jade would take on a Utami and also be made fully. Britt Baker is a gigantic wild card in such a show. I would love to see her vs Tora or Tam Tam – they would tear the house down. There may be a large unification of teams and wrestlers – Depending on what they do at the other Major anniversary show for New Japan with Stardom that effects AEW (and other western wrestling promotions)
· The second big answer from a question came from JD from New York when he asked Dax this question about why in the tournament for the Owen Hart trophies, that they used a move from years ago. Dax gave a answer that was well stated but somewhat made things quite surprising. He stated that the wrestlers that they looked up too – the Rock, Stone Cold, and others had moved on to Hollywood, fully retired, passed away. So, they had to study film. This goes hand in hand with the myriad of criticism that Russo, Al Snow, Cornette, Disco and others have against AEW in partular and the style of wrestling they employ and the characterization they used for their wrestlers. In many ways – Meltzer stated that Konnan, learned from tape how others got over in the past. I will mention more about this issue next week – but in many ways it’s a generational issue than anything else. Tony Kahn has used everything from the mentioned men before in subtle ways. In the next several weeks however, he will have something he can say – it is his own.
· The other major news from the scrum is as follows, ROH has a new Logo. And they will return to Lowell, Mass in July 27th for Death Before Dishonor.
· AEW is returning to the Big House In Arthur Ashe Stadium – September 21. I do expect one massive match for one of the shows – and both shows will be two hours.
MLW has bought in Parker Bordeaux and he is in a Program with Kross at the moment.
The Upcoming Events for Next Week Are As Follows.
GCW will have 4 events.
The Brand will have their Brand Premiere Event – Money In the Bank.
The story concerning Vince McMahon and what happened in 1986 is coming to the fore, and its quite a story that was told years ago. This goes on top on the other reasons why things are going down for the company. This story will be on going and more will be told.
The industry is showing its cracks.
This has been The *New* This Weekend In Pro Wrestling.