Ryohei Oiwa vs. Yuya Uemura, NJPW 8/16
This is the first New Japan main event I've checked out in a long time. My first impression is that they both look like Tanahashi clones. Okay, that's the most cynicism you'll get from me. The first 20 minutes of this are worked like a classic 70s or 80s match and it's fantastic stuff. They absolutely knew what they were doing. Getting into headlocks, trying to escape from headlocks, preventing escapes from headlocks, avoiding getting-counter headlocked and so on. Textbook stuff and they absolutely knew what they were doing. They mixed in a few more modern movements like a cartwheel or banderas, but for what it's worth, it was genuine classic pro wrestling in the vein of Flair/Steamboat, Dory Jr/Briscoe or Animal Hamaguchi/Mighty Inoue. So they basically did the thing that nerds like me were wishing for, and it rocked. It was genuinely some of the most compelling opening work to an NJPW big match I've seen in god knows how long. It felt like it mattered, because they were really hanging on to those headlocks and armlocks. Both guys acknowledged the squeeze too. I particularily enjoyed Oiwa selling his aching jaw after being tortured in the headlock for 5 minutes or so. The armdrag work and switches were spectacular. Just when I thought this was on it's way to becoming the greatest singles match NJPW has had since the Hashimoto era, the middle portion happened. There was a flimsy looking DDT, and both guys started no-selling. They continued to work tightly with a few neat spots and moments of genuine struggle, but it threw me off a little. You just worked hard to make people believe in a side headlock in 2026, and now you're getting up right away after a german suplex? That stuff doesn't compute with me. That said, they got back on track and settled for a finishing run in which they basically tried to tap each other out with the most basic holds and it was really compelling. I liked how they hit the shoot headbutts like battering rams, Fujiwara style. The overhead armdrag was also an amazing spot. All is well that ends well so I thought it was a lovely match and a great piece of work from both guys. They solved the modern big match problem where nothing really matters until one guy hits his finisher, and that's a big achievement. I'd thought this kind of wrestling would remain in the underground in promotions like Mutoha with matches like GENTARO/Arai or even Koichi Wakikaido doing experimental headlock-only matches in his dojo. Seeing it on a big stage like this and totally having the crowd by the balls the whole way was amazing in itself. Alas, even my complaints about the middle section are just a minor nitpick. The match had the excellent build and struggle of a classic match and the balls to try something completely different. The praise is deserved and New Japan might actually be on a good track now with these two at the front.
This is the first New Japan main event I've checked out in a long time. My first impression is that they both look like Tanahashi clones. Okay, that's the most cynicism you'll get from me. The first 20 minutes of this are worked like a classic 70s or 80s match and it's fantastic stuff. They absolutely knew what they were doing. Getting into headlocks, trying to escape from headlocks, preventing escapes from headlocks, avoiding getting-counter headlocked and so on. Textbook stuff and they absolutely knew what they were doing. They mixed in a few more modern movements like a cartwheel or banderas, but for what it's worth, it was genuine classic pro wrestling in the vein of Flair/Steamboat, Dory Jr/Briscoe or Animal Hamaguchi/Mighty Inoue. So they basically did the thing that nerds like me were wishing for, and it rocked. It was genuinely some of the most compelling opening work to an NJPW big match I've seen in god knows how long. It felt like it mattered, because they were really hanging on to those headlocks and armlocks. Both guys acknowledged the squeeze too. I particularily enjoyed Oiwa selling his aching jaw after being tortured in the headlock for 5 minutes or so. The armdrag work and switches were spectacular. Just when I thought this was on it's way to becoming the greatest singles match NJPW has had since the Hashimoto era, the middle portion happened. There was a flimsy looking DDT, and both guys started no-selling. They continued to work tightly with a few neat spots and moments of genuine struggle, but it threw me off a little. You just worked hard to make people believe in a side headlock in 2026, and now you're getting up right away after a german suplex? That stuff doesn't compute with me. That said, they got back on track and settled for a finishing run in which they basically tried to tap each other out with the most basic holds and it was really compelling. I liked how they hit the shoot headbutts like battering rams, Fujiwara style. The overhead armdrag was also an amazing spot. All is well that ends well so I thought it was a lovely match and a great piece of work from both guys. They solved the modern big match problem where nothing really matters until one guy hits his finisher, and that's a big achievement. I'd thought this kind of wrestling would remain in the underground in promotions like Mutoha with matches like GENTARO/Arai or even Koichi Wakikaido doing experimental headlock-only matches in his dojo. Seeing it on a big stage like this and totally having the crowd by the balls the whole way was amazing in itself. Alas, even my complaints about the middle section are just a minor nitpick. The match had the excellent build and struggle of a classic match and the balls to try something completely different. The praise is deserved and New Japan might actually be on a good track now with these two at the front.
Ai Houzan vs Mio Momono, Marvelous 2/5
More of a psychological test than a wrestling match. Houzan has been kind o a perennial loser, so in this one Momono dares her to fight and they just stand in front of each other and hit each other as hard as humanly possible for a few minutes. Would've been pretty awesome stuff if they had integrated it into a bit more of a match but it was still pretty harrowing pro wrestling.
More of a psychological test than a wrestling match. Houzan has been kind o a perennial loser, so in this one Momono dares her to fight and they just stand in front of each other and hit each other as hard as humanly possible for a few minutes. Would've been pretty awesome stuff if they had integrated it into a bit more of a match but it was still pretty harrowing pro wrestling.
Hiroto Okubo & Tetsuya Goto vs Ayato Horiuchi & Hiroaki Taniguchi, Shi-En 3/21
Neat indy match where they went out of their way to make every section interesting. Horiuchi is a promising looking thickly built rookie who sticks to the basics and has some cool judo-style moves. Goto and Okubo sure to make him eat some hard dropkicks and stomps to the neck. Taniguchi is a fun powerhouse cleaning house and press slamming a guy to the floor, and I was surprised that when Horiuchi tagged back in he actually kept selling that neck. It made the finishing stretch a lot more dramatic as they put some good struggle even into basic stuff like a German suplex.
Masanori Kanu Watanabe vs. Super Taira, Sportiva 5/6
I always thoroughly enjoy Super Taira whenever he shows up, and this was no exception in his streak of interesting little matches. There was some quite good shootstyle matwork to begin here. Watanabe dominated the action, locking in a beautiful Mariko Yoshida-esque armbar, until Super Taira was able to catch him in an awesome llave in a Volk Han-like moment. During standing Watanabe tried to cave Taira chest in with some insanely hard kicks. Dig Tairas focus on trying to catch Watanabe with a flash pin, and he does throw the greatest european uppercut in the world. I guess the last couple minutes could've been a bit more interesting as basically Taira survived a bunch of offense before catching Watanabe slipping on a banana peel.
Rio vs. Sakura Mizushima, AWG 6/13
Nice little match, the kind that made AWG so fun last year. Mizushima avoiding Rios shoulderblock early on and cutting her down with some stomps to the shoulder before stretching her was some basic but very fun pro wrestling. Subsequent action was also quite good due to the building up of basic things like a body slam as important and showing some struggle. I like Rio, despite being bigger and packing more of a punch still came across as the underdog against the more experienced Mizushima who had a few believable ways to stay in control. The build to Rios Fireman Carry Slam was also excellent. Also really liked Mizushima coming back by catching Rio with a drop toe hold and then just stomping away at her. I always like a good stomping.
Karl Malenko vs. Tim Bosby, PRODUCE 8/3/2026
Probably my favourite Karl match since his return. Bosby reminded me a bit of an Alexander Otsuka type here, a burly amateur wrestler in a singlet who will suplex and banana split the fuck out of you. He actually looked like a worthy opponent for Karl, putting some pressure on him. Karl again showed little sign of his age and came up with some great counters and transitions. I loved how Bosby initially seemed to dominate on the ground with his powerful takedown only for Karl to tie him up in seconds. Bosby hurling the older guy around without holding back was great. Deadlift backbreaker was an awesome spot. I kind of expected something bigger after the Bosby strap drop ( he needs to learn to time those a bit better) but they wrapped it up with a nice finish.
Probably my favourite Karl match since his return. Bosby reminded me a bit of an Alexander Otsuka type here, a burly amateur wrestler in a singlet who will suplex and banana split the fuck out of you. He actually looked like a worthy opponent for Karl, putting some pressure on him. Karl again showed little sign of his age and came up with some great counters and transitions. I loved how Bosby initially seemed to dominate on the ground with his powerful takedown only for Karl to tie him up in seconds. Bosby hurling the older guy around without holding back was great. Deadlift backbreaker was an awesome spot. I kind of expected something bigger after the Bosby strap drop ( he needs to learn to time those a bit better) but they wrapped it up with a nice finish.
