http://www.cheap-heat.com WWE, TNA, ROH, NJPW - Blogs, Reviews, Top Lists, Indy News & Results Sat, 17 Oct 2015 23:34:41 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.3.1

http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-ocho-wrestlers-i-miss/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-ocho-wrestlers-i-miss/#comments Wed, 15 Apr 2015 20:49:41 +0000 Scott Hayes Top Lists Brian Pillman CM Punk ECW Eddie Guerrero Edge Extreme Championship Wrestling Hall of Fame HBK Hollywood Blondes Kurt Angle MMA New Japan Pro Wrestling NJPW Owen Hart Ring of Honor ROH Shawn Michaels Shelton Benjamin Tajiri The Ocho UFC WCW World Championship Wrestling World Wrestling Entertainment Wrestle Kingdom 9 WWE WWF http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=11141 In this 2015 the "Year of the List", I sat down and figured… Why not ME? Why not MY LIST?! SO? Ladies, and Gentlemen, Cheap-Heaters of all literacy levels? Welcome to: I am Pepper Brooks… or at the very least I AM wearing sunglasses and haven't combed my hair, but do lack the neck tattoos […]

In this 2015 the "Year of the List", I sat down and figured… Why not ME? Why not MY LIST?!

SO? Ladies, and Gentlemen, Cheap-Heaters of all literacy levels? Welcome to:

I am Pepper Brooks… or at the very least I AM wearing sunglasses and haven't combed my hair, but do lack the neck tattoos of the above pictured, fictitious Dodgeball color commentator. Tonight I'm bringing you a simple list and I urge you to share yours.

The OCHO: Wrestlers I Miss

This is vague, and in a couple instances these wrestlers might still be active, but I don't see their work (My #1 definitely falls under this umbrella… BOOM! TEASERS!)

Edge rose through the ranks during the Attitude Era, debuting as something of a Vampire Slayer and feuding with WWE's resident Vampire, Gangrel. Eventually he worked his way out of that, was one half of one of the Era's greatest tag teams, in Edge and Christian, and showed a lot of versatility both in the ring and on the mic. He was wildly entertaining and as the "Rated R Superstar" reached new levels of popularity and success. Unfortunately a neck injury forced him to hang up the boots. He also was part of the greatest era of Smackdown which also leaned heavily on THIS man…

Similar to Edge in that he was a total package. Debuted in the WWE with the "Radicalz", after having lots of success in both ECW and WCW. In WWE was part of so many memorable stories and segments. Be it tagging with Chavo in Los Guerreros, or the genesis for "Latino Heat". His win over Brock Lesnar and celebration is something I'll always remember. In ring he was damn near peerless, and something that stood out to me, is when he was out there in an arena? He seemed to enjoy the hell out of everything he did. Of course Eddie was in ECW and so was he!

Okay… when I started this I wasn't thinking it'd be THIS heavy. Pillman was one of my favorites when I became a wrestling fan in the early to mid 90s, watching WCW. Hollywood Blondes are one of my favorite tag teams of all time. Then his stuff in ECW and eventually bringing the Loose Cannon to WWF was spectacular. I think any of us during that time will remember the manic eyes, and of course Pillman pointing a gun at Stone Cold. Injuries kept him out of a WWE ring for most of his time there, before his untimely death in October of 1997. Pillman was part of a stable with…

I swear… I really wasn't supposed to be like this. The theme going so far for me is talented in ring competitors and guys who could entertain in any segment they were involved in. Owen was my Hart family member of choice. I always felt like he got lost in the shuffle during that era. After the Montreal Screwjob and basically the entire Hart Foundation had left and it seemed uncertain as to WHAT Owen would do, he returned and attacked….

YAY! This one isn't sad! Shawn Michaels is arguably the greatest in ring competitor this business has ever seen. He is a WWE Hall of Famer, and I can't recall a bad match the man was in. His ego was on par with his talent, and in both cases he was many times head and shoulders above everyone around him. You don't get nicknames like "The Showstopper", and "Mr. Wrestlemania" to stick without having the chops to back it up. I still hope for one more match from Michaels, though I'm guessing that is not going to happen. Michaels really could have great matches with anyone, but put him in the ring with someone like this?

And it would be magical. Stop screaming. I KNOW Shelton is still active. Hell, I saw his match at Wrestlekingdom 9. I know he has been involved with RoH, but I don't follow Ring of Honor close enough to know if that is still an ongoing place of employment for Benjamin. Doesn't mean I see him regularly. Also doesn't mean I can't miss him. One of the greatest athletes the WWE has ever had in their ring. One of a generation of performers they brought in from the world of Amateur wrestling, and a guy who was close friends with Brock Lesnar… so why not bring him in too to make sure Brock was happy? Introduced to us as a "Tag Team" presented to Kurt Angle (Team Angle… eventually "Worlds Greatest Tag Team") Shelton could do anything in the ring. He could do it smoothly. He could do it powerfully. If I'd do an OCHO of "guys they dropped the ball with"? He'd be at or near the top of the list. And he had some good matches in the WWE with…

I'm not alone in missing CM Punk. So many different ways he could have been used the last year. Especially with Lesnar being the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. A guy who was valuable and memorable in any segment on the show. One of the best promos in wrestling. One of the best wrestlers. Not having him around, stinks. But… ladies and gentlemen? Just because we miss him doesn't mean we have to chant for him whenever for whatever reason his name pops into his head… just something to keep in mind. You know who WOULDN'T randomly chant "CM PUNK"?

Yes, Like Shelton I'm acutely aware that he's still active. Well I THINK he's still active. I'm not positive of such things. But Tajiri is one of my favorites. From his arrival in ECW through his WWE run, I was always entertained by him. Super underrated. He could be a standout in backstage segments, and wouldn't speak a word. His non verbals were spectacular. While the rest of the list was set up so I could loosely tie them together? Tajiri is the top of the list for me.

So what about you? Who are the wrestlers you miss the most?

http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-puroresu-perspective-new-japan-on-axs-1/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-puroresu-perspective-new-japan-on-axs-1/#comments Mon, 19 Jan 2015 03:43:07 +0000 Mark Adam Haggerty Blogs Other Blogs Other Reviews Reviews AXS Hiroshi Tanahashi Hulk Hogan Josh Barnett Kazuchika Okada Mauro Ranallo Mr. T New Japan Pro Wrestling NJPW puroresu TNA UFC Wrestle Kingdom 7 Wrestle Kingdom 9 WWE http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=9022 The Puroresu Perspective New Japan on AXS #1 By Mark Adam Haggerty Welcome to The Puroresu Perspective: The Geijin Guide to Japanese Wrestling here in America. My name Is Mark Adam Haggerty and in addition to my five regular once-weekly reviews, I've taken on the responsibility of introducing the Cheap-Heat community to NJPW and the […]

The Puroresu Perspective
New Japan on AXS #1
By Mark Adam Haggerty

Welcome to The Puroresu Perspective: The Geijin Guide to Japanese Wrestling here in America. My name Is Mark Adam Haggerty and in addition to my five regular once-weekly reviews, I've taken on the responsibility of introducing the Cheap-Heat community to NJPW and the wonderful world of puroresu. Wrestle Kingdom 9 was the first ever Japanese wrestling show broadcast to American pay-per-view providers and it was incredible, an amazing product from top to bottom that you can read about in my first installment of �Puroresu Perspective.' Coming off the heels of what might be the biggest international event in company history, NJPW is furthering its reach into Western Culture with the debut of New Japan Pro Wrestling on AXS TV. I heard a few rumblings in regard to what I might expect, but the finished product blew me away. Without getting too deep into the extraordinary in-ring action, let's quickly discuss some of what could make NJPW the best hour of wrestling on television.

The first face we see smiling back at us is that of the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi, who humbly introduces himself before presenting the first match in this landmark series. Tanahashi is a genuine individual who makes light of his own shortcomings and relies greatly on the support of his fans. Rather than relying on three to four ten minute house-show matches like every other wrestling show, NJPW has chosen its greatest bouts from the past two years to showcase for a brand new audience. Therefore the first match of the series is the 33-minute championship bout between Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada from Wrestle Kingdom 7 in 2013.

Immediately we're transported back to the Tokyo Dome just in time for "The Rainmaker" to make his appearance on the stage. The biggest drawback for English-speaking fans has always been the language barrier, leaving plenty to be desired as far as context. I know that my friends have trouble sitting through entire NJPW events because they don't find the stories as compelling as those told by "Stone Cold" and Mr. McMahon or Ric Flair and Dusty Rhodes. But the story is most certainly there, it's just lost in translation. We're introduced to our play-by-play announcer Mauro Ranallo, a celebrated sports broadcaster with experience in football, hockey, boxing and mixed martial arts. His partner and color-analyst for this new venture is former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett, who uses his own professional wresting experience to help explain what's happening inside the ring.

The match is of course outstanding complete with everything you'd expect from Tanahashi and Okada, two years to the day of their most recent clash at Wrestle Kingdom 9. Although calling a match from 2013, Barnett and Ranallo worked as if it was live and they were sitting ringside. Barnett talked about his own experiences inside the Toyko Dome which gave a great sense of presence to both announcers as they got set to call one of the best matches of 2013. I really value having an English-speaking broadcast team, especially for some of the biggest matches in recent NJPW—matches that are already enchanting, but given the right context are downright uncanny. As he proceeded to describe the individual combatants, Ranallo made mention that Okada had a brief stint in TNA, even joking about how he was used while in America. On the occasion that Ranallo would speak of outside promotions such as TNA and WWE, he did so in a tactful and informative manner which is a welcome change from either pretending the other companies aren't there, or attacking them head-on.

Tanahashi of course won the confrontation and retained his title in 33 minutes, in front of a sell-out Tokyo crowd. Immediately following the match were subtitled interview excerpts from both Tanahashi and Okada, cut from the Wrestle Kingdom 7 post-show and arranged accordingly as an epilogue to the battle itself. Standing in the ring victorious, Tanahashi smiled and spoke between bated breaths, telling his adoring fans that his era was not yet over. The most appealing aspect of New Japan on AXS outside of the unparalleled ring-work has to be the broadcast duo of Mauro Ranallo and Josh Barnett, who within one episode might have already become the best commentators in the industry. Both individuals present themselves in a professional manner and treat wrestling like a sport. Mauro isn't selling an app, he's taking the viewer through the colorful history of the IWGP title in an easy to understand way by including household names such as Vader and Brock Lesnar. Barnett applies his hybrid expertise to the contest by explaining the significance of every maneuver and how it will effect each competitor going forward.

When the program had drawn to an end, I sat in front of my frozen DVR screen humbled by the chance to watch a professional wrestling show again. The pride that the Japanese wrestlers take in their work is unimaginable to the average American who hears "pro wrestling" and thinks of Hulk Hogan and Mr. T. The two biggest drawbacks to being a puroresu fan have always been the scarce availability and the stark contrast in communication. This show presents the biggest names on the current roster in some of the best wrestling contests on the planet, skillfully narrated by one of the leading names in all of sports casting. Ladies and gentlemen the hour-long wrestling market is getting hotly competitive, please take my advice and set your cable or satellite to AXS TV every Friday night at 9. Until next week, my name is Mark Adam Haggerty and this has been The Puroresu Perspective.

http://www.cheap-heat.com/honorable-mention-roh-tv-1315-review/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/honorable-mention-roh-tv-1315-review/#comments Sat, 10 Jan 2015 04:52:40 +0000 Mark Adam Haggerty Other Reviews Reviews Adam Cole AJ Styles Bobby Fish Bullet Club Chris Adams Doc Gallows Impact IWGP Jerry Lawler Karl Anderson Kevin Steen Kyle O'Reilly Matt Jackson New Japan Pro Wrestling Nick Jackson NJPW NWA NXT Randy Orton reDRagon Ring of Honor Roderick Strong ROH Steve Corino TNA Wrestle Kingdom 9 Young Bucks http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=8717 Honorable Mention ROH TV 1/3/15 Written by Mark Adam Haggerty Everyone will always remember 2014 as the year ROH stepped onto the "Sports Entertainment" battlefield with huge successes including their first-and-second classic pay-per-view events, the return of many former ROH stars, but most importantly for me? The ACTION FIGURES! Ring of Honor signed a merchandising […]

Honorable Mention
ROH TV 1/3/15
Written by Mark Adam Haggerty

Everyone will always remember 2014 as the year ROH stepped onto the "Sports Entertainment" battlefield with huge successes including their first-and-second classic pay-per-view events, the return of many former ROH stars, but most importantly for me? The ACTION FIGURES! Ring of Honor signed a merchandising deal this year that includes a variety of Ring of Honor Action Figures! How cool is that? Yes 2014 was a cataclysmic year for professional wrestling which is why I decided to write about this week's episode of ROH TV, even though it was nothing more than a "Best of 2014" clip show. We're going to cover an array of bouts from earlier in the year, including the Ring of Honor Match of the Year. If you would instead prefer to read more recent match reviews then I suggest you check out my extensive reaction to Wrestling Kingdom 9 or the reboot of TNA Impact, also available here at Cheap-Heat, otherwise let's get right to business.

The first match that Ring of Honor would like you to remember this year was the duel between former Ring of Honor World Champion Roderick Strong and then-IWGP Heavyweight Champion AJ Styles. While the fundamentals were sound enough and the bell-to-bell was without flaw, I still found it awfully peculiar that ROH would want to highlight this match above any else. But more on that when we come to it. I enjoy Roderick Strong despite the mixed-to-negative reaction he seems to elicit from the majority of wrestling fans. I think that has a lot to do with how he's been booked and how quickly he was pushed in relation to his post-championship career. I think it's similar to several other wrestlers and superstars, I've even referred to him once-before as the "Randy Orton of Ring of Honor." I think he's got all of the necessary tools needed to build an outstanding career, but at the end of the day he lacks originality and the charisma needed to carry him beyond his current surroundings. Styles on the other hand is a man who made the most for himself in 2014. He abandoned what appeared to be a sinking ship in favor of uncertain waters, but has been met with unprecedented success by becoming the IWGP Heavyweight Champion, a title which I consider the most prestigious honor in the world of wrestling. From the moment the bell sounded it appeared as though AJ might have underestimated Strong who had no trouble in putting AJ through his paces. The war between aerial and ground based maneuvers is an ever-present backdrop in Ring of Honor, brought to the foreground in this contest. I wonder—is New Japan's most decorated champion allowed to lose a match in America? In the old days of the NWA, promotors would book accordingly so as to protect the champion without damaging the territorial stars. I'm curious if Ring of Honor's Roderick Strong ever stood a chance of winning, or if the politics of professional wrestling protected AJ clear through the summer. That leads me to the final moment of the match, and the reason I'm surprised ROH would want the fans to remember this contest. Twenty-fourteen was the year AJ Styles came under fire for continuing to use a supposed dangerous finishing maneuver—"The Styles Clash." More than one worker came forward including Roddy Strong claiming the move is not only unsafe but goes against the core instincts developed by professional wrestlers. As AJ lifted Roderick Strong into position to perform the �Clash, you could clearly see Strong tuck his head at the last moment—a reflex that's almost impossible for any wrestler to ignore. By the end, the match belonged to Styles, although I debate whether or not this was his best showing in Ring of Honor all year. Maybe his best SINGLES match, or his best match against ROH talent. Three stars, although I don't generally award star ratings in my ROH reviews. But I figured this edition was a special occasion.

Up next is one of my favorite matches from 2014, the heartfelt farewell bout between Steve Corino and "Mr. Wrestling" Kevin Steen. On the one hand you have a much-despised villainous wrestler and heel commentator combination in Steve Corino who, on the flip-side, is the close friend and mentor to one of the most visible professional wrestlers in the world, Kevin Steen. For those who have followed Ring of Honor for the past few years, I don't need to define the depth of the relationship between Corino and Steen. Former tag partners but more often-than-not opponents, Kevin Steen was given the chance to wrestle anyone he wanted in his last match and he chose the semi-retired Jerry Lawler of ROH Steve Corino. The first thing you'll notice about Corino is his ridiculous wardrobe, as well as his uncanny ease of movement despite having succumbed somewhat to middle-age. One of the most amazing parts of Ring of Honor is the "Code of Honor" and the inherent personal accountability that appears to come with it. I know from speaking to several �Universe Residents,' they don't like the handshake because it doesn't make for a provocative storyline. "Why are they fighting if they like each other? It doesn't make sense" Why are football teams playing one another? Why do karate students kick their friends in the face? Tennis players don't HATE other tennis players, do they? Ring of Honor is about competition and not comedy; for fans of professional wrestling and not soap operas. I was entirely too emotionally invested in this match due to the way in which both Corino and Steen interacted. You could tell that both were taking great care not to injure the other all while at the same time trying to give the fans a match of the year contender. Part of the story of course were the words not being mentioned: what of the relationship outside of this ring when all is said and done? Would it be too far to venture a guess that some little part of Steve Corino might be jealous that Steen's been called up? Or does he view Kevin more through the eyes of a big brother, simply proud of the man that this kid has become? None of these question-marks found sentences as we were riddled with a machine-gun fire of exclamation points. Stiff chops made way for harsher clotheslines and even package pile-drivers. When Kevin Steen got the pin and had his hand raised, the local fans were in tears as they chanted, "Thanks, Steen, Thanks," while wearing t-shirts adorned with the same sentiment. Ring of Honor is known for borrowing the streamer aspect of their presentation from Japan; as Steen stood in the squared-circle, the audience proceeded to decorate the former champion and future NXT Superstar, tossing what must have been miles of colored paper into the ring. If you're looking for another Star Rating, I'd have to think about that. On the one hand you have one of the most emotional match-ups of the year fought between two industry legends. On the other the contest was kind of hindered by neither man wanting to hurt the other, a result of Steen moving to Florida maybe? Regardless I'd be willing to meet halfway and then-some so I'll award this match: Three and a Half Stars.

After an array of vignettes highlighting some of the more impactful programs from the previous year, we're back to the action and this time it is the 2014 Ring of Honor Match of the Year featuring reDragon taking on the Young Bucks for the ROH World Tag Team Titles. The Ring of Honor tag teams are in many ways an extension of NJPW's vibrant junior-tag division. Both the Bucks and reDragon have held both sets of titles, in fact both teams have held both sets of titles simultaneously! If it's Ring of Honor or NJPW, you've got about four or five teams you can always count on to provide an engaging show. At the top of the mountain however has to sit the best team in the world, and this match proved worthy of declaring the kings of tag team wrestling. The Young Bucks are always being discussed in some capacity or another; traditionalists mock their flamboyant attitude while we—the hipsters of wrestling—consider their antics an homage to the wrestling that we grew up with. Too sweet me! The "Superkick Parties" as they've been nicknamed are only abhorrent if you consider the super kick a viable finishing move—which I do not. I really love how Nick and Matt Jackson have been able to modernize a move made popular by Chris Adams in the 1980's so that it works in a variety of settings. The Young Bucks are way beyond super kicking chins, but more on that in a moment. Across the ring are the challengers, the equally talented and highly decorated duo of Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly. O'Reilly has been named one of the best wrestlers on the planet but I think Fish does more than his fair share to ensure reDragon is a team name that strikes fear in the hearts of their opponents. Much the way The Young Bucks do inside the squared circle, reDragon has been able to evolve outside of the ring by taking their promos and interviews to a whole new level. When not competing you might catch Fish and O'Reilly sporting sweater vests and spectacles, but once the bell sounds it's all about business—it's MOUTH GUARD TIME! Now that I'm done selling you on both teams and what they're doing to further the industry as a whole, let's discuss what made this The Ring of Honor Match of the Year.

This contest of course went down at ROH's joint-venture with NJPW in New York City, War of the Worlds. Going in I think the crowd was split regardless of who may be pegged a heel and who's the babyface, because like most of ROH's big money matches, this was about respect. As soon as the bell sounds we're hit with the flagrant disregard of authority that is The Young Bucks. The match seems to go off the rails rather early as tagging one's opponent quickly loses all merit. The Bucks appeared to gain the offensive from the onset even delivering a yet-to-be-named Meltzer driver to a member of reDragon in the early going. It seems like Kyle O'Reilly is always bleeding from his mouth, which I guess is why he should keep that mouth guard in! There were some incredible spots scattered throughout this match, the first that really caught my eye featured the Bucks once again on offense stacking O'Reilly and Fish in "Tombstone Pile driver" formation, and then super kicking Fishes knees, thus drilling his partner in the process. This wasn't enough to stop reDragon however, and O'Reilly took the lead as Fish provided support; it seemed as though Kyle O'Reilly was insistent on winning the match and the titles by making the Jackson's submit. His hubris almost got the better of him toward the finale, when Nick Jackson proceeded to drop a 450 springboard splash on O'Reilly who had his brother on the verge of tapping out. Once the move was hit and the pin was attempted, the audience in NYC and around the world got to see what was perhaps the nearest fall in history—close but no cigar for the ROH Tag Champs the Young Bucks. That's when Fish found his way back into the action to help O'Reilly fend off the tireless Jackson brothers. Once again, O'Reilly set out to make the squirrely Bullet Clubbers tap. After all of the insane acrobatics and innovation that this match has become known for, the decision was eventually decided by a crippling Fujiwara Armbar—performed by Kyle O'Reilly! Your new tag team champions and still champions to this day are Kyle O'Reilly and Bobby Fish of reDragon! Was this the Ring of Honor Match of the Year? Without going back and digging too deep I'd say it's a number one contender, for sure. I'm happy to give this remarkable altercation for the coveted ROH tag titles a near perfect: Four and a Half Stars.

I don't generally waste my keystrokes on clip shows but in the case of this 2014 Ring of Honor Retrospective, I was happy to make an exception. From Michael Elgin's Cinderella-story victory over Adam Cole to Kevin Steen's final match with his friend and mentor Steve Corino, this was the first year in some time that Ring of Honor felt in any way relevant. Join me next week for the January 10th edition of Ring of Honor TV where I'll be dissecting and discussing every aspect of the fastest growing promotion on the planet. Until then my name is Mark Haggerty reminding you to be safe and make this week count for something other than a paycheck because life is too short not to have fun.

http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-puroresu-perspective-a-geijin-guide-to-njpw-wrestle-kingdom-9-review/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-puroresu-perspective-a-geijin-guide-to-njpw-wrestle-kingdom-9-review/#comments Mon, 05 Jan 2015 20:09:29 +0000 Mark Adam Haggerty Other Reviews Reviews AJ Styles Alex Koslov Alex Shelley Bad Luck Fale Bobby Fish Bullet Club Davey Boy Smith Jr. Doc Gallows Forever Hooligans GFW Global Force Wrestling Hirooki Goto Hiroshi Tanahashi Hiroyoshi Tenzan Jeff Jarrett Jim Ross Karl Anderson Katsuyori Shibata Kazuchika Okada Kazushi Sakuraba Kenny Omega Killer Elite Squad Kota Ibushi KUSHIDA Kyle O'Reilly Lance Archer Makabe Matt Jackson Matt Striker Meiyu Tag Mikey Nicholls Minoru Suzuki Naomichi Marufuji New Japan Pro Wrestling Nick Jackson NJPW NXT reDRagon Rocky Romero Ryusuke Taguchi Satoshi Kojima Shane Haste Shinsuke Nakamura Suzuki-gun Takashi Iizuka Tetsuya Naito The Bullet Club The Mighty Don't Kneel Time Splitters TMDK Tomoaki Honma Tomohiro Ishii Toru Yano Wrestle Kingdom 9 WWE Young Bucks Yujiro Takahashi http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=8513 The Puroresu Perspective A Geijin Guide to NJPW By Mark Adam Haggerty Welcome one and all to the Puroresu Perspective, an in-depth analysis of New Japan that also serves to educate the uninformed as to where to catch the most exciting wrestling action on Earth. I can't pretend as though this will be a regular […]

The Puroresu Perspective
A Geijin Guide to NJPW
By Mark Adam Haggerty

Welcome one and all to the Puroresu Perspective, an in-depth analysis of New Japan that also serves to educate the uninformed as to where to catch the most exciting wrestling action on Earth. I can't pretend as though this will be a regular periodical as I myself only catch the big events for New Japan and rely greatly on match reviews and podcasts in between. But I fancy myself something of an expert when compared to the casual Cena-supporter who may just now be getting with the NJPW program. There are sure to be some condescending smarks hiding away in cyber space who will be quick to belittle the less seasoned puroresu fans, but trust in Cheap-Heat.com as well as your pal Mark Haggerty. I’m here to make the learning process simple and more importantly enjoyable. First and foremost, "puroresu" is the Japanese term for what we in America have come to know as Sports Entertainment; it's sort of a reverse engineered cognate in that puroresu is merely the way most Japanese fans pronounce, "pro wrestling." "Geijin," is another Japanese word referring to the foreign talent working in Japan regardless of where they might be from originally.

Now that you've got a handle on the lingo we can dive right into what is already being called one of the best cards of the past 20 years. For those of you who might be making your residence underneath a rock, New Japan Pro Wrestling produced it’s first pay-per-view outside of Japan and the results have been overwhelming. Wrestle Kingdom is considered by many to be the Wrestlemania of Japan, and thanks to Jeff Jarrett and GFW, this year’s ninth edition reached more homes than ever before. The show was breathtaking from beginning to end, serving as the perfect introduction to a worldwide audience formerly unfamiliar with strong style wrestling or the Japanese performers. In addition to familiar faces such as AJ Styles and Jeff Jarrett, new fans were welcomed by comforting vocal tones—those of WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross and the voice of Lucha Underground Matt Striker. I thought Jim seemed a bit out of his element but did an incredible job nonetheless. Let’s break down each and every match from Wrestle Kingdom 9; I’ll give you the who, the what, and most importantly the why, as well as my 5-star match ratings.

IWGP Jr. HW Tag Team Championship
The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) vs. The Time Splitters (Alex Shelley & KUSHIDA) vs. Forever Hooligans (Alex Koslov & Rocky Romero) vs. reDragon (Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly) (c)

This was an impressive start to a fantastic show, broadcast in front of an incredibly wide audience and quite a bit of credit can be given to the co-bookers Jado and Gedo who chose to lead off in a traditional sense, featuring the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Titles. I feel as though a match featuring seven Geijin might have helped ease an otherwise apprehensive audience into what is, quite literally a FOREIGN CONCEPT. This was an incredible bout contested between four of the best tag teams in the world. I recently released my weekly "Honorable Mention," discussing the December 27th edition of Ring of Honor; this week's episode of ROH TV featured reDragon defending their other set of titles against six worthy adversaries in a 4-team elimination match. It was an extremely entertaining exhibition but could hardly stand on par with this carefully worked contest featuring The Young Bucks, The Time Splitters and Forever Hooligans. After the hype died down and the bell finally sounded it became clear that the duo of Rocky Romero and Alexander Koslov were just as impressive as the more talked-about-teams like The Young Bucks or Time Splitters. The match came down to a spot-fest as one might imagine, complete with a separate Super Kick party starring the Young Bucks playing on every one of their opponents. The story of the match was the heat between The Young Bucks and The Time Splitters; reDragon and Forever Hooligans played into the affair but the flashy bravado of The Young Bucks seemed to reignite a longstanding rivalry between Kushida and Shelley and the Bullet Club's Nick and Matt Jackson. That's Alex Shelley for anyone wondering who I'm mentioning at random—yes the former Motor City Machine Gun is enjoying an exceptionally successful career as teammate to former Junior Heavyweight Champion Kushida in what has always appeared to be a "Back to the Future" gimmick. While Romero and Koslov enjoyed their share of high spots, the most thrilling nuances of this particular match occurred at the hands of The Young Bucks and Time Splitters, and ultimately reDragon. Just as they did to retain their titles on Ring of Honor TV, Kyle O'Reilly and Bobby Fish managed to swoop in and pick up the victory using an elaborate assortment of trickery and technique. If you like high-flying acrobatics mixed with logical chain wrestling and old school ring psychology, why not give the opening contest of Wrestle Kingdom 9 a watch?
Winners: reDragon
Rating: 3.5/5

The Bullet Club vs. Tenzan, Kojimo, & Honma

This match was a let-down for a variety of reasons, none of which being the slovenly workrate of which there was plenty. It was an abysmal debut for the Bullet Club in front of a global audience. Even after the Young Bucks competed in the opening contest, this was obviously The Bullet Club's formal introduction and you're first privy to Bad Luck Fale, Yujiro Takahashi and part-time �Club member Jeff Jarrett? That seems like a strange decision however I can't argue with putting Jarrett on as early as possible. Their opponents were Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojimo, and Tomoaki Honma—a tremendous trio of seasoned athletes generally known as individual talents, come together to help vanquish the dastardly Bullet Club. I guess it's important to talk about why Japanese fans hate the Bullet Club and why Westerners can't get enough. The Bullet Club is essentially an homage to the "Kliq," drawing upon gimmicks and mannerisms made famous by both the NWO and Degeneration X. The Japanese wrestling culture has a long tradition of honor and respect, so an entire faction of Geijin pretending to be Shawn Michaels and Hulk Hogan tends to drive a lot or puroresu purists absolutely insane. The match was slow even by American Rasslin' standards and I would have much rather seen Jeff later in the evening, perhaps standing in AJ Style's corner—not wrestling. Yujiro is an interesting case as he's the only Japanese member of the Bullet Club outside of offshoot factions across indie America. He's a wonderful example of how charisma can transcend language barriers as I feel more in tuned to someone like him than I do Bad Luck Fale. This was my t-shirt match, meaning it was the bout where I would normally buy my mandatory souvenir had I been in the arena. In this case I started writing the intro for this very article and tuned out until the final bell. Not a very good match obviously which is unfortunate because I'm sure several people were excitied to see Double Jay mix it up in the ring once more. Although I'm giving this match a pretty lousy rating, I would implore you not to do yourself a disservice by skipping any bit of this pay-per-view; the worst match from Wrestle Kingdom 9 is better than 99% of what you're going to see on Raw all year.

Winner: Tenzan, Kojimo, & Honma
Rating: 2/5

TMDK, Marufuji, & Yano vs. Suzukigun (Killer Elite Squad: Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Lance Archer, and Takashi Iizuka)

I hope it wasn't lost on the first time viewers that this 8-man tag contest was a groundbreaking bout for New Japan and professional wrestling as an industry. "TMDK" is an impressive young duo comprised of Mikey Nicholls and Shane Haste—both wrestling out of Perth, Australia whose team name initials stand for "The Mighty Don't Kneel." What's most bizarre about this match and the way in which it was booked is that TMDK and Naomichi Marufuji are all signed to NOAH—a smaller but nonetheless competitive promotion also located in Japan. That's like if Wrestlemania 31 rolled around and Vince McMahon decided to book an 8-man tag featuring Ring of Honor wrestlers. That would be incredibly awesome, but we know it's not going to happen. They're lead into battle by Toru Yano, an NJPW mainstay who has promised to build a team to take down his longstanding rivals, Killer Elite Squad. Little did KES know however, Yano would explore alternative avenues when scouting talent for their collision at Wrestle Kingdom. On the opposite side of the ring stand Yano's most dreaded foes who just so happen to be former WWE Superstars—Shelton Benjamin, now sporting a stylish X in between both his first and family name; David Hart Smith, the son of Diana Hart and the late British Bulldog; and TNA-turned-WWE wrestler Lance Hoyt AKA Vance Archer, now operating under the moniker, "Lance Archer." Shelton Benjamin and Killer Elite are part of a faction known as "Suzukigun," meaning "Suzuki Army." Unlike the Bullet Club, this ragtag band of Geijin work closely with a number of Japanese wrestlers, this evening teaming with Suzukigun member Takashi Iizuka. The MVP's of this match were most certainly the explosive team of Nicholls and Haste who wasted little time in introducing themselves to not one, but two brand new sets of viewers. Despite their lumbering style when compared to the smaller and generally swifter native talents, take nothing away from Smith and Archer whose more traditional presentation makes for an all-original hybrid sports-product. Shelton X Benjamin was far more low-key than I would have preferred but I can't fault him had it been in an effort to mask his age and protect his image. He was impressive nonetheless in delivering some of his more signature spots such as the heel kick complete with the initial fake-out. I was really excited and surprised to see the outside team win, even though they were led by Yano. A very fast paced back and forth with staggering displays of strength. If you like insane acrobatics but you also want to see choke slams, this match is right up your alley,
Winner: TMDK, Marufuji, & Yano
Rating: 2.75/5

Minoru Suzuki vs. Kazushi Sakuraba

Minoru Suzuki is a name being brought up more commonly in conversation by wrestling fans across the planet and that's perhaps due to his match with AJ Styles last year—a contest deemed, "Match of the Year" by many insiders and outsiders alike. The announcers did their darnedest to put over both Suzuki and Sakuraba's ability inside the MMA arena, and with just-cause. Both individuals have garnered sterling reputations not only as fighters but as pioneers in the evolution of the sport of fighting. I find Sakuraba particularly interesting as pertains to fighting outside the admittedly pre-determined realm of wrestling; Sakuraba has defeated famed fighting family members Royler, Renzo, Ryan and Royce in individual competition earning himself the nickname, "The Gracie Killer." Under all that experience and ruthless determination, Kazushi Sakuraba seems like the nicest guy in the world. Especially in contrast to his opponent, the formidable Suzuki who Jim Ross claims, "Loves to hurt people." This was the first one-on-one battle of the night and was contested under alternative rules than a normal matchup, rather the only way to win was by knockout or submission. The match was a combination of both smash-mouth strong style and amateur wrestling. As the match waned, what had basically been a brawl evolved into a mat-based-game leading Suzuki to lock in the rear-naked choke. It wasn't long before the "Gracie Killer" was asleep. An incredibly violent bout lacking in the hardcore elements that make most mainstream matches intolerable. I will definitely consider this the next time I have a UFC friend that considers checking out professional wrestling.
Winner: Suzuki
Rating: 3.5/5

NEVER Openweight Championship
Togi Makabe vs. Tomohiro Ishii (c)

Another fast paced strong-style battle featuring two of the most recognizable faces in all of NJPW. Togi Makabe is a former IWGP Heavyweight champion in addition to holding a victory in the G1 Climax 2009, so securing championship titles is nothing new to the bleached blonde babyface brawler. In this match however, Makabe is challenging for a championship rather than defending one which always makes things a bit trickier. The NEVER Openweight Championship is a title without limits originally conceived as a means to highlight up-and-coming talent. But as is the case with the current title holder Ishii, only established wrestlers and former world champions have succeeded in claiming the belt. Makabe is an interesting talent to watch as he doesn't really resemble anyone in the west as far as his style, perhaps a handful of Japanese-influenced members of this generation but no one of importance. Ishii on the other hand uses his size and natural ability to his advantage in luring each of his opponents into a state of security, just before striking and saving his NEVER Title in the process. Makabe is a bit smarter than the Young Boys Ishii's been tangling with as of late and it was only a matter of time before Tomohiro's honor had depleted enough for Makabe to take full advantage and take what belonged to him. Although his youthful exuberance and amateur dye-job give Togi Makabe the appearance of being the youngest NEVER Openweight Champion in history, he is actually the oldest. NJPW is constantly setting precedents and raising the bar, and Togi Makabe's championship victory at The Tokyo Dome show at 42 years of age is another notch in the life expectancy of professional wrestlers.
Winner: Makabe
Rating: 3.5/5

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
Kenny Omega vs. Ryusuke Taguchi (c)

Words cannot describe how much I enjoyed this match, but seeing as how it's my job to write about wrestling I guess I'll give it a go. Kenny Omega has been hit with a fair amount of flak since opting to darken his image and align himself with the Bullet Club. Fans on both sides have voiced a variety of valid grievances with Omega as to their opinion on which way his career should have gone. I too struggled with the abrupt change in his otherwise happy demeanor, wondering why they'd turn such a white meat babyface heel for no foreseeable reason. Then I was watching Wrestle Kingdom 9 and during Kenny Omega's entrance I said, "Oh! He was boring as hell before!" While the idea of Kenny Omega turning heel and darkening his hair seemed at first ill-advised, it makes far more sense than wasting an unbelievable young competitor who's fluent in Japanese and able to perform within the single percentile of talent. As far as opponents, Kenny could have asked for none better and not just because Ryusuke Taguchi is currently in possession of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. Taguchi AKA Funky Weapon was one of the first Japanese stars I latched onto when I began watching NJPW on a regular basis. He's got an unequalled level of charisma and a nickname that English-speaking puroresu fans are clamoring to scream out loud. His skillset goes beyond his entrance and marketability however as Taguchi has held onto the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship since claiming it from Kushida on July 4th, exactly six months ago. During the match Matt Striker made mention of Kenny Omega's chainsaw spot so as not to completely confuse those who'd never seen stubble used as a weapon. I thought that this was the Match of the Night up until this point without question. Kenny Omega is an awesome addition to the Bullet Club and it was good to see the most talked-about faction in wrestling get at least one win on the biggest card of the year. As sad as it is to see Ryusuke drop a title he's carried with such pride, one can only wonder what's on the horizon for the wrestler known to millions around the world as "Funky Weapon."

Winner: Omega
Rating: 4/5

IWGP Tag Team Championship
Meiyu Tag (Hirooki Goto & Katsuyori Shibata) vs. The Bullet Club (Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows) (c)

Meiyu is a much beloved tag team made up of high school classmates and lifelong friends Hirooki Goto and Katsuyori Shibata. The story here is a pair of small town All-Japan athletes defending themselves and their national pride against Luke "the Doc" Gallows and the defacto leader of the Bullet Club—"Machine Gun" Karl Anderson. First of all, I absolutely loved the detail involved in Anderson's entrance, stopping midway down the ramp to take his shot at the forty-thousand fans inside the Tokyo Dome. It's a spot he employs on a regular basis but on this night was captivating given the ambiance and grandeur of the arena. I got the feeling that Jim Ross did the most preparation for this match as he featured Karl Anderson on his show this past week. He also seemed all-too-comfortable falling back on his WWE wrestling knowledge to help steer away from water deemed too deep, and that's why a match involving Festus AKA Fake Kane AKA Doc Gallows is right up Good Ol' JR's alley. I thought this was an unimpressive contest that did little to excite but I was willing to cut it a fair amount of slack given it's position, nestled in between the Junior Heavyweight Title match and AJ Styles versus Naito. Not much to say except another poor showing for the Bullet Club, and this time from the man claiming to be in charge. Karl Anderson is one of the biggest stars of New Japan, I just wish the company would choose to market him as such rather than relegating him to yet another tag team on the roster. Anderson was once part of a far more imposing duo with retired WWE superstar and current NXT commentator Matt Bloom AKA Jason Albert. Now he's tagging up with Festus? I will give credit where it's due—Luke Gallows is a funny guy, especially on The Bullet Club's podcast, "Talkin' Shop." But Tag Team Champions? Once again, it's time for Karl Anderson to go his own way. By the end of the match the hometown boys were afforded their "Wrestle Kingdom Moment" as they sat stoically in the center of the ring, a tribute to a simpler time as school boys to symbolize just how far they had come.

Winner: Meiyu Tag
Rating: 3/5

AJ Styles vs. Tetsuya Naito

I wasn't sure this would be the best match on the card and I'm happy I kept my expectations low because as fun as it was, it didn't reach the heights of what either wrestler is capable of. Many fans had been waiting for this match more than most others on the card and with good reason I suppose; this could be the only time we hear Jim Ross call an AJ Styles match ever. But add to that the significance of two celebrated athletes squaring off in another historic battle, this time at the January 4th Dome Show, and you're on the precipice of a Match of the Year Contender. I'm slowly starting to see the value in Naito, a wrestler I've admittedly been down on since his revival earlier this year—I just don't get the eye thing, what is up with the eye thing? Regardless, his matches with some of the biggest names in the sport have started to sway me somewhat and this bout in which he's featured across from "The Phenomenal One" was another well-paced learning experience. AJ is just so good at what he does especially when tweaking his nice guy image to play a true heel. When working a crowd where words aren't an option, everybody needs to be at the top of their game in terms of big gestures and high yield sales tactics. AJ never phones anything in and commits to even the most evil character he's asked to portray, adopts a more carefree delivery of how he stomps Naito into the ground. I was surprised when the final pin fall was tallied and I was able to gauge the length of the match, discovering it lasted far longer than I would have guessed. AJ of course walked away with the win following an incredibly risky "Style's Clash" from up high. If you hadn't had the chance yet, give my "Top Fourteen Wrestlers of 2014" a read and see why I named AJ Styles the Number Two Wrestler of Twenty-Fourteen.

Winner: AJ Styles
Rating: 3.5/5

IWGP Intercontinental Championship
Kota Ibushi vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (c)


Until the final match was underway I would have called this the match of the night. Much like during the glory days of WWF the Intercontinental Championship is among the most prestigious titles available, and quite often even headlines pay-per-view events. Shinsuke Nakamura is a highly visible figure in Japanese culture; sporting an array of alternating bizarre hairdos along with his throwback threads from the 1980's, Nakamura has been considered by many, "The King of Strong Style." His kicks and forearm strikes are perhaps just as deadly as Okada's Rainmaker, or perhaps Roman Reigns' Super Man Punch would be a better example. This match was by my estimation the strongest style contest of the evening and that's including the earlier bout with Suzuki and Sakuraba. Both individuals have a keen understanding of what they are willing to do to steal the show, as well as an accurate idea of their personal limits. Nakamura was never the most technically proficient member of the NJPW roster, but his Freddie Mercury-inspired charisma is what has helped him to reach the top-most tier of stardom. The challenger for Nakamura's belt is 32-year old Kota Ibushi—described by both JR and Striker as a "young buck" compared to Nakamura, although he is only but a few years younger. Both performers had high spots and low points from the dawning of the contest until its conclusion but the action never waned. Although unable to attain victory, Ibushi was lucky enough to walk away better than before. His varied arsenal helped him earn the respect of Nakamura, perhaps most notably the kick which may have given Nakamura a concussion.

Winner:В Nakamura
Rating: 5/5

IWGP Heavyweight Championship
Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (c)

It's only January 4, but I think we have a solid contender for Match of the Year. I started following NJPW closely some years back and I've been afforded the opportunity to watch young Kazuchika Okada evolve from a Young Lion to the Rainmaker we know today. The story as it relates to Okada and the champion Hiroshi Tanahashi is respect or lack-thereof. Tanahashi is the aging champion who, although nearing the end of his career, is unable to pass the torch to someone as dishonorable as the 27 year old former IWGP champion Okada. I am personally enamored with Okada as I think he is one of the finest performers in the world. Any time you can get excited about a man's dropkick in 2015 is a moment worth celebrating. Not to take anything away from the record-setting Tanahashi and his seven illustrious title reigns, but I feel as though the time has passed and not only in a Kayfabe context. When Tanahashi hits the ring he's played out by an orchestra of stereotypical Japanese pop music with big flashy poor English translations reading phrases like "Ace Universe." Hiroshi Tanahashi might still be one of the greatest wrestlers in the world, but if the conversation is about the future, look no further than Okada. Tanahashi is a man out of time. I thought Striker and JR touched upon some interesting stuff and that's that Tanahashi will forever be remembered as the man who helped turn NJPW around; Okada is the man who took NJPW to the next level. This match was just as fluid as anything you're going to see anywhere in the world; the 38-year old Tanahashi has no trouble keeping in step with the star eleven years his junior and in most cases sets the pace for the match himself. Tanahashi and Okada each made use of their big spots and signature maneuvers, but as the clock ticked away and the four hours of Wrestle Kingdom 9 came to a close, there could only be one winner. After a continuous aerial assault bombarding Okada with a series of big splashes, Tanahashi managed to turn his 227-pound frame in midair securing one final cross body and thus saving the highly coveted IWGP Heavyweight Championship. If you're going to see just one match from Wrestle Kingdom 9, make sure it is the main event contest for the IWGP Title featuring Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada. Both men gave an extraordinary effort, the likes of which most wrestling fans have never seen before.

Winner: Tanahashi
Rating: 5/5

This event is already being hailed an overall masterpiece and I have to agree. During the final moments of the main event Jim Ross exclaimed, "If you can find two better matches back to back all year long, I want to be there to see them with you." His praise was in no way hyperbolic as the final three contests could have each headlined their own separate pay-per-view anywhere in the world. Jeff Jarrett really struck oil with this partnership and I hope GFW can continue showcasing international talent for years to come. If Wrestle Kingdom 10 can achieve half the success as did its predecessor, there might be a day where we say, "Wrestlemania—it's like the Wrestle Kingdom of America." Until that day I promise to keep you up to date on the most important movements inside the fascinating world of Japanese wrestling. As for now however, my work is finished—my name is Mark Adam Haggerty wishing you a Happy New Year and thanking the good folks at NJPW and GFW for a phenomenal first show of the year. Domo arigato.

http://www.cheap-heat.com/attendance-announced-for-njpws-wrestle-kingdom-9-from-the-tokyo-dome/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/attendance-announced-for-njpws-wrestle-kingdom-9-from-the-tokyo-dome/#comments Sun, 04 Jan 2015 21:33:03 +0000 Cassidy Haynes Indy/Puro/Lucha New Japan Pro Wrestling NJPW Tokyo Dome WK9 Wrestle Kingdom 9 http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=8496 New Japan Pro Wrestling has confirmed that the attendance for their Wrestle Kingdom 9 pay-per-view at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan was 36,000 fans.

New Japan Pro Wrestling has confirmed that the attendance for their Wrestle Kingdom 9 pay-per-view at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan was 36,000 fans.

http://www.cheap-heat.com/results-global-force-wrestling-presents-new-japan-pro-wrestlings-wrestle-kingdom-9-1415-tokyo-japan/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/results-global-force-wrestling-presents-new-japan-pro-wrestlings-wrestle-kingdom-9-1415-tokyo-japan/#comments Sun, 04 Jan 2015 21:03:37 +0000 Cassidy Haynes Indy/Puro/Lucha A.J Styles AJ Styles Alex Koslov Alex Shelley Bad Luck Fale Bobby Fish Bullet Club Captain New Japan Davey Boy Smith Jr. Doc Gallows El Desperado Forever Hooligans GFW Global Force Wrestling Great Kabuki Hiro Saito Hirooki Goto Hiroshi Tanahashi Hiroyoshi Tenzan Jeff Jarrett Jushin Thunder Liger Karl Anderson Katsuyori Shibata Kazuchika Okada Kazushi Sakuraba Kenny Omega Kota Ibushi KUSHIDA Kyle O'Reilly Lance Archer Manabu Nakanishi Matt Jackson Mikey Nicholls Minoru Suzuki Naomichi Marufuji New Japan Pro Wrestling Nick Jackson NJPW reDRagon Rocky Romero Ryusuke Taguchi Satoshi Kojima Shane Haste Shelton Benjamin Shinsuke Nakamura Sho Tanaka Suzuki-gun Taichi TAKA Michinoku Takashi Iizuka Tama Tonga Tetsuya Naito Tiger Mask IV Time Splitters Togi Makabe Tomoaki Honma Tomohiro Ishii Toru Yano WK9 Wrestle Kingdom 9 YOSHI-HASHI Yoshiaki Fujiwara Young Bucks Yuji Nagata Yujiro Takahashi http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=8484 Global Force Wrestling presents NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 9 Jan 4, 2015 Tokyo, Japan   Pre Show – battle royal was won by Yuji Nagata when he pinned YOSHI HASHI with backdrop driver Other participants included: Tiger Mask, Taichi, TAKA, Liger, Desperado, Sho Tanaka, Hiro Saito, Captain New Japan, Tama Tonga, Manabu Nakanishi, Yoshiaki Fujiwara, Great […]

Global Force Wrestling presents NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 9
Jan 4, 2015
Tokyo, Japan

Pre Show
– battle royal was won by Yuji Nagata when he pinned YOSHI HASHI with backdrop driver
Other participants included: Tiger Mask, Taichi, TAKA, Liger, Desperado, Sho Tanaka, Hiro Saito, Captain New Japan, Tama Tonga, Manabu Nakanishi, Yoshiaki Fujiwara, Great Kabuki

Main PPV Show

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
– reDRagon (Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly) def Forever Hooligans (Alex Koslov and Rocky Romero) / Time Splitters (Alex Shelley and Kushida) / The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) with chasing the dragon on Alex Koslov to retain

– Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima and Tomoaki Honma def Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale, Jeff Jarrett and Yujiro Takahashi) when Honma hit the diving headbutt on Takahashi

– Mikey Nicholls, Naomichi Marufuji, Shane Haste and Toru Yano def Suzukigun (Davey Boy Smith, Jr., Lance Archer, Shelton X Benjamin and Takashi Iizuka) when Marifuji pinned Iizuka

– Minoru Suzuki def Kazushi Sakuraba via ref stoppage after a rear naked choke

NEVER Openweight Championship
– Togi Makabe def Tomohiro Ishii with a diving knee to win the Title

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
– Kenny Omega def Ryusuke Taguchi to win the Title with the One Winged Angel

IWGP Tag Team Championship
– Hirooki Goto and Katsuyori Shibata def Bullet Club (Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson) to win the Titles

– A.J. Styles def Tetsuya Naito with the Styles Clash from the second rope

IWGP Intercontinental Championship
– Shinsuke Nakamura def Kota Ibushi to retain with the boma ye

IWGP Heavyweight Championship
– Hiroshi Tanahashi def Kazuchika Okada to retain after hitting the High Fly Flow twice

http://www.cheap-heat.com/results-new-japan-pro-wrestling-njpw-big-pro-wrestling-festival-2015-1315-tokyo-japan/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/results-new-japan-pro-wrestling-njpw-big-pro-wrestling-festival-2015-1315-tokyo-japan/#comments Sat, 03 Jan 2015 18:30:05 +0000 Cassidy Haynes Indy/Puro/Lucha Big Pro Wrestling Festival 2015 Captain New Japan El Desperado Jushin Thunder Liger Manabu Nakanishi New Japan Pro Wrestling NJPW Sho Tanaka Suzuki-gun Taichi TAKA Michinoku Tiger Mask 4 Tiger Mask IV Wrestle Kingdom 9 Yohei Komatsu Yuji Nagata http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=8465 The following results are from New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Big Pro Wrestling Festival 2015. В The event took place on January 3rd, 2015, at the Differ Ariake in Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan: Six-Man Tag Team Match – Suzuki-gun (El Desperado, Taichi and TAKA Michinoku) defeated Jushin Thunder Liger, Sho Tanaka and Yohei Komatsu Tag Team Match – […]

The following results are from New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Big Pro Wrestling Festival 2015. В The event took place on January 3rd, 2015, at the Differ Ariake in Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan:
Six-Man Tag Team Match
– Suzuki-gun (El Desperado, Taichi and TAKA Michinoku) defeated Jushin Thunder Liger, Sho Tanaka and Yohei Komatsu

Tag Team Match
– Yuji Nagata and Tiger Mask #4 defeated Manabu Nakanishi and Captain New Japan (10:57 minutes)

http://www.cheap-heat.com/jim-ross-talks-about-njpws-wrestle-kingdom-9-ppv-this-saturday-tna-wrestling-vinces-brass-ring-and-more/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/jim-ross-talks-about-njpws-wrestle-kingdom-9-ppv-this-saturday-tna-wrestling-vinces-brass-ring-and-more/#comments Thu, 01 Jan 2015 16:34:25 +0000 Cassidy Haynes Indy/Puro/Lucha Dixie Carter GFW Global Force Wrestling Jim Ross John Cena New Japan Pro Wrestling NJPW TNA Vince McMahon Wrestle Kingdom 9 WWE http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=8424 In an interview with The Daily Mirror to promote this Saturday's New Japan Pro Wrestling "Wrestle Kingdom 9″ pay-per-view, WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross commented on calling this Saturday's pay-per-view, if TNA Wrestling have reached out to him since he left the WWE in regards to him calling their product and more. Highlights of […]

In an interview with The Daily Mirror to promote this Saturday's New Japan Pro Wrestling "Wrestle Kingdom 9″ pay-per-view, WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross commented on calling this Saturday's pay-per-view, if TNA Wrestling have reached out to him since he left the WWE in regards to him calling their product and more.

Highlights of the interview are below:

On having the opportunity to call the Wrestle Kingdom 9 pay-per-view: "I'm not going to phone anything in, I'm going to be prepared, it may not be as smooth as with the WWE guys, because a lot of those guys, in one period in time, I hired, so obviously I knew them well. These are guys I've never watched wrestle in person ever, I'm going to let my instincts take over, I think it has the chance to be a good broadcast. People say, do you know what's going to happen in the matches? Well, yeah generally, but the less I know, the better my performance is."

On whether TNA have reached out to him since he left the WWE: "No, they know I don't have any desire to get back in the weekly grind of that. Dixie and no-one else has asked about me coming back full-time and that's why this opportunity with GFW was so fit really, it was a one-time deal, a one-off. I like knowing I don't have any pressure on me beyond that, I can focus on this one big event, really try to nail it without any pressure that I've got to do something tomorrow, next week or next month."

On Vince McMahon's comments regarding John Cena and the brass ring: "Has anyone else since John Cena worked in every phase of their game to get really good? I think the arguement could be made that some have worked as hard as Cena in some areas, but not across the board as he has. Sometimes, if you look at your talent as athletes, not entertainers, they need to be challenged occasionally, we need you to play better, I need you to lose 20 pounds, I need you to work on your tan, as silly as that sounds. From an athletic point of view, every coach has those heart-to-hears with their team at some point in time, if you're going to go down the athletic road, every now and then they need a pep talk and every now and then, they need to ask themselves, what have I done to make myself better than I was last week, what am I doing to make myself a more valuable player. I think Vince is sending a subtle message there, or not-so-subtle, that Cena was the last guy that went the complete distance to grab the brass ring and then when he grabbed the brass ring, he didn't quit growing, he kept trying to get better. He's their guy right now, lord knows what they would be without John Cena."

The interview is available in full at this link .

http://www.cheap-heat.com/jeff-jarrett-talks-about-gfw-the-deal-with-njpw-the-indy-wrestling-scene-and-more/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/jeff-jarrett-talks-about-gfw-the-deal-with-njpw-the-indy-wrestling-scene-and-more/#comments Sun, 28 Dec 2014 22:04:00 +0000 Cassidy Haynes Indy/Puro/Lucha AJ Styles GFW Global Force Wrestling Jeff Jarrett Jim Ross Lucha Underground New Japan Pro Wrestling NJPW TNA WCW Wrestle Kingdom 9 WrestleKingdom 9 WWE WWF http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=8300 In Your Head Wrestling Radio sent out the following: Hosts Jack E. Jones and One Inch Biceps welcomed legendary wrestler and wrestling promoter Jeff Jarrett to IYH Wrestling Radio. Jeff is well-known from his multiple championship runs in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), as well as being the founder of […]

In Your Head Wrestling Radio sent out the following:

Hosts Jack E. Jones and One Inch Biceps welcomed legendary wrestler and wrestling promoter Jeff Jarrett to IYH Wrestling Radio. Jeff is well-known from his multiple championship runs in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), as well as being the founder of Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling and Global Force Wrestling (GFW). The interview centered primarily on GFW and their upcoming presentation of New Japan Pro Wrestling's (NJPW's) Wrestle Kingdom 9 in the Tokyo Dome on Sunday, January 4, 2015.

Highlights included the following:

How did the deal with New Japan to promote Wrestle Kingdom 9 come about? Was this something that GFW wanted to do or something New Japan wanted to do to get into the North American market?: "Well, a little of both. Back in April of 2014 when I announced the formation of my company and founded Global Force Wrestling, I had already been talking to the partners around the world and piecing things together. New Japan approached me and knew that they wanted to bring their product to the North American audience. It became real obvious real quick that what better way than to pick their biggest event, this is the 24th year, the annual Tokyo Dome show,…to really make a splash on the North American scene with the New Japan product. So we started piecing things together, and quite frankly we couldn't be happier with where we're at now: The Bullet Club red hot, Jim Ross getting on board, Matt Striker, all the videos and promotional stuff that we've put out, the buzz, the excitement. It all just sort of came together one thing after another and it has shaped up very nicely, and I'm really excited for January 4th."

Are the plans for GFW in the future to do more shows like Wrestle Kingdom 9 where you present different wrestling from around the world or will you have your own roster and have more of a traditional wrestling program?: "The answer is both. In 2015 we will continue the rollout of Global Force Wrestling. I am talking with several international companies about bringing their product to North America. We are in the process, and there was a press conference December 22nd in South Africa and we have big plans down there in 2015. Then there is the stand-alone company with talent and sponsorship and venue and distribution and everything that goes together; that rollout will continue in 2015 as well."

Have you seen a lot of guys on the Independent scene that you would like to bring into GFW?: "Absolutely. I've said it dating back to February of this year that I believe the professional wrestling business is just on the cusp of a boom period and I think a big component of that is that wrestling is healthy, and wrestling's healthy because the free-agent market …I don't like to refer to it as the Indy wrestlers; they may be independent promotions but I like to call them free-agents…is red hot. I'm sitting in my office right now and there's a white board and there are 64 names on it and 48 of them are guys who have never worked for a major company with worldwide distribution. The Independent scene is red hot in my opinion."

What do you think about TNA's new television deal with Destination America?: "Thank the Lord that they got a deal. You know there was a couple of months there that I didn't know, and certainly anybody else didn't know, and there were reports online. I don't think it would've been good for the industry whatsoever. Remove the fact that I'm still a minority owner; the wrestling business is my passion and I want everyone to succeed and I think there's plenty of room. You have ROH in the syndication market and they're just entering into the pay-per-view world. You have TNA with Destination America. You have New Japan coming on AXS TV. You have El Rey with Lucha Underground. You have Global Force – we're going to continue our rollout. With all of that being said, the WWE still probably has 75, 80, 85, 90 percent of the market share. Other promotions need to be healthy."

Other topics discussed included:

– Doing the commentary for Wrestle Kingdom 9 is a one-shot deal for Jim Ross. Does he think if this goes well JR could potentially do more shows in the future?

– Does he think it will be a detriment that Wrestle Kingdom 9 will be shown live worldwide?

– How would he compare the atmosphere in the Tokyo Dome to other arenas?

– What is it like for him to see A.J. Styles doing so well in New Japan?

– Would Global Force be interested in working with other promotions in the United States?

For further information on how to order Wrestle Kingdom 9 live on pay-per-view, go to http://globalforcewrestling.com/ .

http://www.cheap-heat.com/updated-card-for-new-japan-pro-wrestlings-wrestle-kingdom-9/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/updated-card-for-new-japan-pro-wrestlings-wrestle-kingdom-9/#comments Thu, 13 Nov 2014 17:15:34 +0000 Cassidy Haynes Indy/Puro/Lucha Alex Koslov Alex Shelley Bobby Fish Forever Hooligans Hiroshi Tanahashi IWGP Kazuchika Okada Kazushi Sakuraba Kenny Omega Kota Ibushi KUSHIDA Kyle O'Reilly Matt Jackson Minoru Suzuki New Japan Pro Wrestling Nick Jackson NJPW reDRagon Rocky Romero Ryusuke Taguchi Shinsuke Nakamura Time Splitters Togi Makabe Tomohiro Ishii Wrestle Kingdom Wrestle Kingdom 9 Young Bucks http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=6278 The following matches have been announced by NJPW to take place at Wrestle Kingdom 9: IWGP Heavyweight Championship: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada IWGP Intercontinental Championship: Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Kota Ibushi IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Ryusuke Taguchi (c) vs. Kenny Omega Four-way tag team match for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: […]

The following matches have been announced by NJPW to take place at Wrestle Kingdom 9:

IWGP Heavyweight Championship:
Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada

IWGP Intercontinental Championship:
Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Kota Ibushi

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship:
Ryusuke Taguchi (c) vs. Kenny Omega

Four-way tag team match for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship:
reDRagon (Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly) (c) vs. Forever Hooligans (Alex Koslov and Rocky Romero) vs. Time Splitters (Alex Shelley and Kushida) vs. The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson)

NEVER Openweight Championship:
Tomohiro Ishii (c) vs. Togi Makabe

“Knockouts and Submissions only” match:
Minoru Suzuki vs. Kazushi Sakuraba