Day…something of quarantine and chill, we had a bright spot with a few Japanese promotions returning to fan filled events; while some still did empty arena. The Top 5 Matches voting has been very telling to me, since the Puroresu fans have been more active claiming their enjoyment; as opposed to the North American TV promotions.
With that said, DDT Judgement: Ko-D Openweight Title: Masato Tanaka (c) vs Konosuke Takeshita, won the week. Funnily enough, the Dragon Gate match was in second place. Now this week we have a tie at the 5th position, because I like to look across many promotions. A few known names pop up this week!
There will be a good bit of Japanese wrestling on the Top 5 this week. Let’s hope everyone has been expanding their horizons with more time at home and access to the internet.
Quick Top 5:
- AJPW Dream Power Series: Triple Crown Championship: Kento Miyahara (c) vs Suwama
Rating: **** 3/4 - NOAH The Chronicle Vol. 2: GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship: Yoshinari Ogawa (c) vs Daisuke Harada
Rating: **** 1/2 - BJW Ikkitousen ~Strong Climb~ Block A: Daichi Hashimoto vs T-hawk
Rating: **** - NOAH The Chronicle Vol. 2: GHC National Championship: Minoru Tanaka vs Takashi Sugiura (c)
Rating: **** - AEW Dynamite: AAA Mega Championship: Kenny Omega (c) vs Sammy Guevara
Rating: *** 3/4 - MLW Fusion: MLW National Openweight Championship: Alex Hammerstone (c) vs T-Hawk
Rating: *** 3/4
Honorable Mentions:
- NOAH The Chronicle Vol. 2: GHC Heavyweight Championship: Go Shiozaki (c) vs Kazuyuki Fujita
Rating: *** 1/2 - AJPW Dream Power Series: All Asia Tag Championship: Jake Lee & Koji Iwamoto (c) vs Yankee Two Kenju (Yuko Miyamoto & Isami Kodaka)
Rating: *** 1/2 - IMPACT!: Michael Elgin & Taya Valkyrie vs Tessa Blanchard & Eddie Edwards
Rating: *** 1/4 - NXT: Roderick Strong vs Matt Riddle
Rating: *** 1/4 - BJW Ikkitousen ~Strong Climb~ Block C: Ryota Hama vs Yuji Okabayashi
Rating: *** 1/4 - NOAH The Chronicle Vol. 2: GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Championship: Atsushi Kotoge & Kotaro Suzuki (c) vs YO-HEY & HAYATA
Rating: *** 1/4 - WWE Raw: Ricochet & Cedric Alexander vs Angel Garza & Andrade
Rating: *** - NXT UK: Cruiserweight Championship: Jordan Devlin (c) vs Travis Banks
Rating: *** - AEW Dynamite: Darby Allin vs Kip Sabian
Rating: *** - AJPW Dream Power Series: KAI, Yuma Aoyagi & Zeus vs Gianni Valleta, Ayato Yoshida & Ryoji Sai
Rating: *** - IMPACT!: Reno Scum vs Dez & Wentz
Rating: *** - AJPW Dream Power Series: World Junior Heavyweight Championship: Susumu Yokosuka (c) vs Izanagi
Rating: ***
5t. MLW Fusion: MLW National Openweight Championship: Alex Hammerstone (c) vs T-Hawk
Now this is the first match this week that T-Hawk is in; the power of tapings is wonderful at times. Openweight matches allow for interesting matchups since the weight classes are less stringent. Hammerstone is one of the bright spots of MLW and T-Hawk is making his way around a bunch of promotions; proving himself to be a major player for years to come.
Hammerstone kept T-Hawk in check for most of the match with his power, but T-Hawk did make a great comeback towards the end. The Philadephia crowd was very supportive of T-Hawk, helping him lift Hammerstone for feats of power spots. But Hammerstone is very athletic for being the Beefcastle that he is.
With that, Hammerstone managed to stifle T-Hawk’s offense and put things away with the Nightmare Pendulum. But not until T-Hawk got a few believable near falls in.
Winner: Hammerstone via Nightmare Pendulum
5t. AEW Dynamite: AAA Mega Championship: Kenny Omega (c) vs Sammy Guevara
Sammy catches his breath as he stands and heads for a corner. The party rallies for Omega but he’s in the drop zone. Sammy reaches the top rope and says BANG, Shooting Star! It FLOPS as Omega moves! Omega aims at Sammy as he stands, for a V-TRIGGER!! Omega drags Sammy up, takes aim, but Sammy BITES the bad hand again! The ref counts, but Omega POINT-BLANK V-TRIGGERS! Omega drags Sammy into position, then runs, but Sammy dodges! Sammy waistlocks, Omega standing switches, SNAP DRAGON! But Sammy lands on his feet! Sammy kicks, Omega blocks and spins Sammy, but Sammy Dragon Whips! Sammy torture racks and flips Omega, FEAST YOUR EYES! Omega staggers but he V-TRIGGERS back!
Omega drags Sammy up, underhooks, and hits a JAY DRILLER! Cover, TWO!?! Sammy survives Omega’s take on a move from #DemBoys! But Omega has ammo to spare. Omega watches Sammy rise, and Sammy flips Omega off. So he gets a V-TRIGGER! Omega drags Sammy into the Electric Chair, ONE WINGED ANGEL!! Cover, Omega wins!!
Winner: Omega via One Winged Angel
4. NOAH The Chronicle Vol. 2: GHC National Championship: Minoru Tanaka vs Takashi Sugiura (c)
Much like the MLW National Openweight Championship, this title is basically an Openweight title as well. Minoru Tanaka is the first Junior Heavyweight to challenge for it, and Sugiura is a bonafide killing machine. So…yeah I don’t feel good for Tanaka.
This was a fun match once Tanaka started using his speed and striking ability to get an advantage. Sugiura was working on Tanaka’s legs, even though Tanaka had heavy tape on his right arm. So I feel there was a psychology oversight, since, yes we know Sugiura uses an Ankle Lock…but tape is basically a bullseye.
Anyway, if you look past the questionable offense from Sugiura; it was hard fought and showed that the Juniors aren’t out of their depth. It took Sugiura applying the Ankle Lock for a third time, and this time having to drop down on the leg; applying extra pressure at the knee and ankle, nearly stopping Tanaka’s ability to move. Tanaka taps out, and we see Katsuhiko Nakajima step up as the next challenger.
Winner: Sugiura via Ankle Lock
3. BJW Ikkitousen ~Strong Climb~ Block A: Daichi Hashimoto vs T-hawk
We get an early matchup between two great wrestlers. Daichi is currently the BJW Strong World Heavyweight Champion; and T-Hawk is a popular and talented member of Strong Hearts.
This match starts fast, they take the action into the crowd and fight, duck and dodge outside of the ring. T-Hawk is definitely filled with an attitude, especially when the crowd starts chanting for Daichi. Yes, as the last name may explain; Daichi is the son of NJPW legend Shinya Hashimoto. So it’s to be expected that he’d have some built in crowd support.
Since Strong Hearts tend to fluctuate between heel and face depending on promotion; and I’m not fluent in BJW, I can’t expound on the dynamic. I can say that this was a tremendous tournament match which saw tons of hard strikes, blocked signatures and near falls for both wrestlers. Daichi has an early lead in the tournament after this victory, but damn it set the a tone.
Winner: Daichi via Rising DDT
2. NOAH The Chronicle Vol. 2: GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship: Yoshinari Ogawa (c) vs Daisuke Harada
Well this seems like it was the culmination of the Stinger versus RATEL’S feud. Harada wanted one more shot at Ogawa, after winning the Global Junior League. Ogawa however, has been basically co-leader of Stinger with Kotaro Suzuki; and always the consummate veteran.
The contrast of styles was gorgeous in this match. Harada used his athleticism early to try and roll, twist and flip out of mat wrestling attempts. However, when Ogawa caught him, he made it hurt.
Ogawa spends a lot of time focusing on the left arm of Harada. This plays into the match since Harada likes to use a Bridging German Suplex as a finish, and Ogawa knows many submissions. So the match really became a test of how long Harada could create space, before Ogawa twisted him up.
We see Cross Armbreakers, Key Locks, Anaconda Vice, Fujiwara Armbar, Armbar variations…Ogawa just put on a clinic of how to break someone’s arm. Harada did however start taking control back one he hit two of his signature delayed Knee Lifts; and then tried for his Katayama German Suplex Hold. But the arm that Ogawa was working over, couldn’t quit hold together.
Getting a little desperate Harada goes back to the suplex, Ogawa breaks it, runs the ropes, Harada telegraphs the backdrop, so Ogawa sunset flips. Fighting off the flip, Harada Mushroom Stomps Ogawa’s chest, but slips and falls backwards, perfectly for Ogawa to score the pinfall with an opportune Crucifix Cradle.
The finish was great because it was realistic. One of my favorite finishes in a while.
Also, after the match we got a turn! Kotaro Suzuki attacked Ogawa and made his intentions crystal clear. So what’s the future for Stinger?
Winner: Ogawa via Crucifix Cradle
1. AJPW Dream Power Series: Triple Crown Championship: Kento Miyahara (c) vs Suwama
Kento took things in his usual irreverent and chiding way, as he’d take an Irish Whip just to slip back into the ring and pose. The sarcastic charisma of the champion is on full display; while Suwama just peppers in shots when there’s an opening. We see the understanding eventually wash over Kento’s face, but it might be a little late. After a Piledriver on the apron, Kento thinks Suwama is done, but the veteran doesn’t go down like that. Getting that look in his eye, Kento fires off with a few Blackouts and a German Suplex Hold, but only a two count.
Suwama hits a few big Double Chops and has the Manriki Sleeper in for a bit, before Kento can reach to the ropes. The playfully arrogant light is gone from the champion and he starts trying desperately to find an answer. Suwama breaks out of the Shutdown Suplex twice, so Kento tries for Blackouts from almost every conceivable angle, but still nothing. The Giant’s Slam from Suwama didn’t get the job done a little earlier, so now he hits the Giant’s Slam with a Bridge, for the pinfall! NEW CHAMPION! Suwama begins his 7th reign as Triple Crown Champion!
Winner: Suwama via Bridging Giant’s Slam
Thoughts:
It’s a lot of fun to see two matches involving the same person. T-Hawk is going to be a major player in wrestling; it’ll just be interesting if he stays away from New Japan or eventually goes there.
As much as I loved the All Japan match, my vote for the matches of the week will go to; NOAH The Chronicle Vol. 2: GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship: Yoshinari Ogawa (c) vs Daisuke Harada. The way that Yoshinari Ogawa wrestles is beautiful logical, old school and technical gorgeous. Ogawa has done nothing but blow me away this year.