Any Pro-Wrestling Fans Around?

[Sparklefan1234 170,700]

13 minutes ago, Denim&Venöm said:

You dont' get time honored logos like the NWA, New Japan or CMLL logos by reformatting every decade. 

 

I miss the "block" and "scratch" WWF and WWE logos. 

[Pastel Heart 6,466]

Thanks for everything, ROH. Bully Ray era aside.

You Sherrly had a good farewell show~

[Sparklefan1234 170,700]

Moments ago, Pastel Heart said:

Thanks for everything, ROH. Bully Ray era aside.

 

Deciding to place Bubba Ray Dudley as a "Main Event" wrestler is something I will never fully understand. 

[Pastel Heart 6,466]

10 minutes ago, Sparklefan1234 said:

 

Deciding to place Bubba Ray Dudley as a "Main Event" wrestler is something I will never fully understand. 

I digged his main event run in TNA. Even though I was always a bigger fan of D-Von, nyaha~

I moreso had a problem with how ROH operated when he became part of the creative team. Overbooking himself, turning the product PG, weird WWE-like angles. It was... questionable.

My favorite era of ROH was either the Bullet Club era or the CZW invasion. I was really liking the program with Violence Unlimited vs. The Foundation cos it reminded me of the latter.

SOMEONE (not WWE) SIGN TONY DEPPEN btw

[Denim&Venöm 18,955]

11 minutes ago, Sparklefan1234 said:

 

Deciding to place Bubba Ray Dudley as a "Main Event" wrestler is something I will never fully understand. 

It actually worked in Impact. Dude can garner MJF levels of heat. Just that in ROH he didn't have the in ring cred to back it up. Kinda why Matt Hardy flopped during his second run in the company, despite also being a heat magnet. 

[Sparklefan1234 170,700]

Moments ago, Denim&Venöm said:

It actually worked in Impact. Dude can garner MJF levels of heat. Just that in ROH he didn't have the in ring cred to back it up. Kinda why Matt Hardy flopped during his second run in the company, despite also being a heat magnet. 

 

"Broken/Woken" Matt Hardy was another IN MY OPINION stupid gimmick that I could never understand.

I know it was probably supposed to be a joke but I did not get it. 

[Denim&Venöm 18,955]

2 minutes ago, Sparklefan1234 said:

 

"Broken/Woken" Matt Hardy was another IN MY OPINION stupid gimmick that I could never understand.

I know it was probably supposed to be a joke but I did not get it. 

Wasn't quite my thing either, but I get that it was fun and out there at a time when everything was either too serious or just not funny enough. Wrestling isn't great at middle grounds. Either be realistic or be absurd.

[Sparklefan1234 170,700]

2 minutes ago, Denim&Venöm said:

Wrestling isn't great at middle grounds. Either be realistic or be absurd.

 

Wrestling humor doesn't age well for me, TBH.

John Cena's raps and other "funny" segments that I didn't find funny even when I was *really* into wrestling are totally fast forward worthy now. 

[Denim&Venöm 18,955]

45 minutes ago, Sparklefan1234 said:

 

Wrestling humor doesn't age well for me, TBH.

John Cena's raps and other "funny" segments that I didn't find funny even when I was *really* into wrestling are totally fast forward worthy now. 

That's because WWE is the definition of middle ground. It doesn't know what ti wants to be. It follows a cops style fly on the wall presentation but also plays all sorts of crazy stuff happening as totally straight as possible, yet at the same time leaving it kinda ambiguous as to if it's real or not. It's not DDT, Chikara or Lucha Underground levels of fantastical nor is it World of Sport, NOAH or UWFi levels of realistic. 

it's not wrestling humor that hasn't aged. It's WWE humor. 

[Sparklefan1234 170,700]

2 minutes ago, Denim&Venöm said:

it's not wrestling humor that hasn't aged. It's WWE humor. 

 

Because Vince McMahon has an unusual sense of humor? I don't find R-Truth (Or however you spell his name.) funny but

apparently Vince thinks he's hilarious. 

Edited December 13, 2021 by Sparklefan1234

[TheRockARooster 51,189]

RIP Jimmy Rave

 

I hate saying these things.

[Denim&Venöm 18,955]

14 hours ago, TheRockARooster said:

RIP Jimmy Rave

 

I hate saying these things.

He had it super rough these last few years. Dude was only 39. No one should have to endure the hardship he did. At the very least, he can finally be at peast. 

Rest in Power Jimmy. May your legacy live on. 

 

Earlier this week, we also lost Black jack Lanza, tag partner to Black jack Mulligan and one of the all time great road agents for the WWF. aged 86. 

Rest in Power Lanza. May your legacy also live on. 

 

[Denim&Venöm 18,955]

On  bit of better news, look what I found. Wouldn't have thought of these two ever having fought. 

 

[Sparklefan1234 170,700]

17 hours ago, Denim&Venöm said:

On  bit of better news, look what I found. Wouldn't have thought of these two ever having fought. 

 

Every time I see someone wrestle in a room like that I always think they're going to bonk their head on the ceiling while performing a backdrop. 

[Denim&Venöm 18,955]

On 2021-12-16 at 1:15 PM, Sparklefan1234 said:

 

Every time I see someone wrestle in a room like that I always think they're going to bonk their head on the ceiling while performing a backdrop. 

It was either Matt Sydal, Jack Evans or Ricochet that found that out the hard way. 

 

You know what doesn't have a low ceiling? The Tokyo dome. All three nights of WrestleKingdom have been announced. We've got Tanahashi vs. KENTA in a street fight. Hiromu vs. El Despy one more time. The drama behind Shingo/Okada and the winner facing Will Ospreay. The lovely ladies of Stardom getting a match at the dome. The return of Katsuyori Shibata! And of course, the craziness that is night 3 from the Yokohama Budokan: NJPW vs. Pro Wrestling NOAH. Especially looking forward to LIJ vs. Kongoh. 

 

Night 1

Night 2

Night 3

[BrawnyCharger 512]

Are there any Pro wrestling associated Christmas presents you remember from your past? Here are some of mine:

1992: WWF Hasbro figures and Championship Belt

1998: WCW/nWo Revenge for N64

1999: WWF WrestleMania 2000 for N64

Other Christmas' in between: Various WWE DVD sets.

2020: WWE Network subscription.

 

[TheRockARooster 51,189]

On 2021-12-19 at 8:33 AM, BrawnyCharger said:

Are there any Pro wrestling associated Christmas presents you remember from your past? Here are some of mine:

1992: WWF Hasbro figures and Championship Belt

1998: WCW/nWo Revenge for N64

1999: WWF WrestleMania 2000 for N64

Other Christmas' in between: Various WWE DVD sets.

2020: WWE Network subscription.

 

I can'tremember the last time I got anything involving wrestling for Christmas.

[Denim&Venöm 18,955]

On 2021-12-18 at 3:33 PM, BrawnyCharger said:

Are there any Pro wrestling associated Christmas presents you remember from your past? Here are some of mine:

1992: WWF Hasbro figures and Championship Belt

1998: WCW/nWo Revenge for N64

1999: WWF WrestleMania 2000 for N64

Other Christmas' in between: Various WWE DVD sets.

2020: WWE Network subscription.

 

Oh my parents were generous with mine:

2006: SD vs. Raw '07

2007: SD vs. Raw '08 w/ guidebook & exclusive Rey Mysterio action figure & TNA Impact,  

2008: PWI Almanac, signed photos from Kurt Angle, HHH & John Cena and HBK Fury Unmatched figurine  

Stuff I don't know the year: World Wildlife Fund parody shirt, WWE Raw roster shirt circa 2016, WWF calendar, & entire 2005 PPV box set 

 

[Sparklefan1234 170,700]

1 hour ago, Denim&Venöm said:

2006: SD vs. Raw '07

 

My favorite WWE game of all-time! I even created Christian and AJ Styles using caw formulas and I made my best version of this attire for AJ:

 

[Denim&Venöm 18,955]

8 hours ago, Sparklefan1234 said:

 

My favorite WWE game of all-time! I even created Christian and AJ Styles using caw formulas and I made my best version of this attire for AJ:

 

Maybe it's cause I haven't played it in a while, but did any of the games prior to '09 have the styles clash? I only remember it being in the OG SD v. Raw. 

[Sparklefan1234 170,700]

1 hour ago, Denim&Venöm said:

Maybe it's cause I haven't played it in a while, but did any of the games prior to '09 have the styles clash? I only remember it being in the OG SD v. Raw. 

 

Yes. It was called "Landing Pin" which was based on "Crash Landing" which was Crash Holly's finishing move for a short time. 

[Denim&Venöm 18,955]

5 minutes ago, Sparklefan1234 said:

 

Yes. It was called "Landing Pin" which was based on "Crash Landing" which was Crash Holly's finishing move for a short time. 

TIL that Crash Holly did the Styles Clash 

[Sparklefan1234 170,700]

22 minutes ago, Denim&Venöm said:

TIL that Crash Holly did the Styles Clash 

 

Yup and NXT UK's Tyler Bate occasionally does the Spiral Tap.

 

Edited December 30, 2021 by Sparklefan1234

[Denim&Venöm 18,955]

So in two days time, we've got Pro-Wrestling NOAH': The new year. Headlined by Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. Go Shiozaki for the GHC Heavyweight tile after Shiozaki's return from injury, Naomichi Marufuji

& Keiji Mutoh defending their tag titles against Dragon gate's Masaaki Mochizuki & Zero-1's Masato Tanaka, and the tag match of Yoshiuakai Inamura, Masa Kitamiya and Daiki Inaba vs. Takeshi Sugiura, Kazushi Sakuraba and making his return after 14 years away, KENTA. 

Need more convincing? Here;'s Marufuji himself talking his career in Budokan Hall, the imortance of the venue to wrestling and what this show means for the future. 

 

 

Naomichi Marufuji English Interview Marufuji previews the Nippon Budokan show

By Mark Pickering

Naomichi Marufuji English Interview
Marufuji previews the Nippon Budokan show
The Genius of The Ark talks exclusively about the Nippon Budokan

Pro Wrestling NOAH. Nippon Budokan. Naomichi Marufuji.

These three, when combined, have been a focal point of modern pro wrestling in Japan for two decades and in 2022 their mutual story will consume a global audience on 1 January when ABEMA presents NOAH THE NEW YEAR at the famed Tokyo 1964 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic venue on Saturday.

Pro Wrestling NOAH’s long-time lynchpin Marufuji, 42, has a rich association with the venue which started 30 years, several years before he actively pursued a career in professional wrestling.

“The first time I went to the Nippon Budokan was to see a singer while I was in junior high school when I was 12,” said the four-time NOAH GHC Heavyweight Champion, who is always obliging when it comes to media duties and opportunities to promote the company to whom he’s been such a loyal servant for exactly half of his life.

A native of Saitama, a one hour train ride from Tokyo (and now the home location of NOAH’s dojo), Marufuji, came through ranks at the All Japan Pro Wrestling dojo under the watchful eye of his mentor Mitsuharu Misawa who would later found NOAH in 2000.

“I first wrestled at the Budokan very early in my career when I was 18 years old,” said Marufuji.

The now world-renowned wrestler was only two weeks into his pro wrestling journey when he was presented with the opportunity to wrestle at the Nippon Budokan which was the eighth match of his young career.

Marufuji debuted on 28 August 1998 against Yoshinobu Kanemaru and just 14 days later was part of a 6-man tag team match at the iconic venue which was originally built to host the Tokyo 1964 judo event.

Marufuji teamed up with Kentaro Shiga and Satoru Asako in a losing effort against Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Masao Inoue and Mitsuo Momota in a bout which opened the sold out show.

“I debuted after just five and a half months of training,” said the Genius of the Ark who appeared to be enjoying a trip down memory lane.

“I don’t remember the match well,” said Marufuji with a chuckle before acknowledging that he was still just 18 year olds at the time of the Budokan match.

It’s relatively rare nowadays for pro wrestlers to debut while still in their teenage years in Japan and for Marufuji to be summoned for a Nippon Budokan bow at such a tender age and at the infancy of his career speaks volumes of how highly he was regarded by his seniors and in particular his mentor Misawa.

“I remember that I did the best I could do at that stage of my career.

“It was a great era for pro wrestling and I could learn from legends such as Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi, Akira Taue and Jun Akiyama.”

When quizzed about how many times he thinks he’s wrestled at the beacon of Kitanomaru Park, Marufuji pauses for a second before replying in English: “I don’t know, I think many times!”.

Marufuji has wrestled at the Nippon Budokan on 57 occasions.

“Wow, it’s a lot,” replied the founding member of the highly-successful M’s alliance faction.

“I’m surprised. I don’t remember all the matches but I’m pleased with this number.”

Marufuji first captured the greatest prize in Japanese wrestling in 2006 when he defeated Jun Akiyama to win the NOAH GHC Heavyweight Championship in front of 15,000 fans. You can guess the location.

“I couldn’t believe it,” said the well-travelled poster boy turned poster man of Pro Wrestling NOAH.

“To be in the main event at the Budokan and to win the GHC Heavyweight Title just eight years into my career was unbelievable.”

The is one of many great memories for the all-time great at the Budokan.

“I’ve wrestled there for over 20 years. I faced Misawa in the main event when I was the GHC Heavyweight Champion in 2006. This stands out for me.”

In 2021 Marufuji finally became reacquainted with the venue, which has been such a happy battleground for him and the spiritual home of NOAH, the company he cherishes so dearly, after an eight-year absence.

NOAH was unable to visit the Nippon Budokan for eight years between 2013-2021 and Marufuji admits that it was a testing time.

“I always wanted to go back to wrestle at the Nippon Budokan one day but unfortunately the business side was not strong in this time for us.

“I started to think that it could be difficult for me to wrestle there again.”

NOAH has provided regular English commentary since the end of 2020 and has overhauled its production, presentation and fan experience, to help grow business domestically and internationally, as a flagship company under the CyberFight banner.

NOAH finally returned to the Budokan in February 2021 which to many signalled the newly-found visibility and prominence of the company in a congested marketplace.

“When I found out that we would run the Nippon Budokan in 2021 all my memories of the venue came flashing back to me. Everything from the car parking spaces to the locker room and where the vending machines are.”

For many of the younger members of the NOAH roster, the 2021 homecoming, entitled ‘Back to Budokan’, offered them a sought after opportunity to put themselves where the greats of NOAH always stood tallest and cemented their legacies in front of capacity crowds.

Instead of rewatching old footage, and living vicariously through tales from seniors, this hungry, new generation of burgeoning talent could at last grace NOAH’s promised land for themselves.

“There’s lots and lots of professional wrestlers in Japan but there’s a limited number that can wrestle at such a great venue as the Nippon Budokan.

“It means a lot to a professional wrestler to compete there. Our younger wrestlers must be aware of how important it is and how much of an honour it is for them. It’s in these kinds of venues you truly realise that you are a professional wrestler.”

The Budokan clearly means a great deal to Marufuji and, when asked why the venue is so special, his reply was instant and full of conviction.

“First of all, you can feel the Japanese culture at the Nippon Budokan. It’s not just inside the venue but also the surroundings. When you enter you feel like you’ve entered a holy place, it’s spiritual. The Budokan has so much history and prestige.”

Following a successful return in 2021, Pro Wrestling NOAH starts a new venture in 2022 with a New Year’s Day show at the Budokan and there’s a feeling of optimism once again around the company’s future.

“We want to keep growing and to return again for a second year in a row, even though there’s still troubles around the world, shows our spirit and desire to become more popular.”

With the 2021 show at the Budokan NOAH realised a long-term ambition and to Marufuji the 2022 instalment marks a new chapter for the company.

“For the February event in 2021 the goal was to host a show back at the Nippon Budokan. Now, in 2022, this represents a new beginning, so we have to start the year strongly and make this year’s show even better. I feel pressure now but it’s in a good way.”

A host of Marufuji’s most meaningful and talked about moments at the Budokan came alongside his long-time tag team partner turned rival KENTA who will return to the NOAH ring on 1 January.

The former one-time NOAH GHC Heavyweight Champion was with NOAH for 14 years until he moved to America in 2014. KENTA returned to Japan in 2019 to wrestle for New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW).

KENTA made a surprise visit to NOAH’s 27 December show at Korakuen Hall to greet Takashi Sugiura after the main event as Marufuji watched closely from the balcony.

KENTA teams with Sugiura and Kazushi Sakuraba to face Masa Kitamiya, Daiki Inaba and Yoshiki Inamura on Saturday.

“I’m interested to see a new KENTA, he will probably be different from the past, from what NOAH fans remember. I encountered him once as Hideo Itami, but now he’s someone new and he has my attention,” said Marufuji who shared a ring with KENTA at the Budokan on 16 occasions.

As for Marufuji himself, who in the second half of 2021 transformed his body to a new leaner and more muscular physique, in between title reigns as the GHC Heavyweight Champion and GHC Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, NOAH’s ever dependable standout explained what prompted him to work tirelessly to get into the best shape of his career.

“I’ve been through a lot of injuries, including some serious injuries, and I’m now past 40 years old, and I started to feel that my condition was dropping a little.

“I started to take extra care with my diet and started to do the training which I wasn’t always doing in the past and now I feel like I’m in really good condition.”

Marufuji links up with former GHC Heavyweight Champion and living legend Keiji Muto to defend their GHC Heavyweight Tag Team Championships for the first time on Saturday against fellow M’s alliance members Masato Tanaka (Zero-1) and Masaaki Mochizuki (Dragon Gate).

“Right now there’s not a great number of significant tag teams in NOAH but with this match and this event we want to show what tag team wrestling is all about and we want to be at the centre of all the tag teams in NOAH.

“I believe that I can achieve this with Keiji Muto by my side.”

It’s impossible not to discuss Saturday’s New Year’s Day extravaganza with one of the most innovative and influential wrestlers of all time without asking for his thoughts on the seismic main event which pits the NOAH GHC Heavyweight Champion Katsuhiko Nakajima against former champion Go Shiozaki.

“I’m certain that those two wrestlers will do something beyond the fans expectations and probably beyond my expectations at the Budokan.”

Marufuji is one of the most well-known and popular Japanese wrestlers around the world and appealed to his legions of international fans to watch NOAH’s New Year’s Day showpiece event on Wrestle Universe.

“NOAH is still in the process of becoming more notable around the world but right now I want more people from all over the world to watch NOAH.

“When the pandemic situation settles down I would like to see you all in different places around the world but until then please watch NOAH on Wrestle Universe!”

“1 January at the Budokan marks a new start for us, we have been through hard times, and the wrestlers also couldn’t show what they wanted to show. We’ve come out the other side now and to have another Budokan event means we have the best platform to show what NOAH is!.”

[Sparklefan1234 170,700]

Does anyone have a favorite wrestling video game move set? 

I really enjoyed playing as Rey Mysterio in WCW/NWO Revenge, Stone Cold Steve Austin in pretty much everything and AJ Styles in WWE2K19.