NJPW The New Beginning 2023 - January 22 - February 11, 2023

[CakeWalker]

Watch Session Two

#4 Six Man Tag Team Match
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Jado & Master Wato vs. BULLET CLUB (El Phantasmo, KENTA & Taiji Ishimori)

- From my point of view I think this might be Bullet Club best trio combination at the moment - BC 4 LIFE!!!

- ELP and KENTA interacting with the Bullet Club Kid's Fan Club section.

- TANAHASHIIIIIII!

- The chemistry of Bullet Club in this match is just fucking awesome. Nice to see World's Cutest Tag Team being a thing, even if ELP is no longer a Jr.

- The Tana and KENTA rivalry is fucking awesome. Long may it continue.

- Part of me really doing think that ELP is going to become the next leader of Bullet Club though. And El Phantasmo picks up the win. Solid. HEADBANGAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

- Oscar is either very brave or very stupid, for trying to break up KENTA beating on Tanahashi. I select stupid. BC 4 LIFE!!!!

- Ishimori doesn't have a fan post of his own. Send these kids back to school to learn some damn respect!


#5 Six Man Tag Team Match
United Empire (Aaron Henare, Francesco Akira & Will Ospreay) vs. Just Three Guys (DOUKI, Taichi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) (w/TAKA Michinoku)

- UNITED EMPIRE! All hail The Commonwealth Kingpin! Just get in their will and get those hands on Taichi.

- Francesco Akira is just so great to watch - completely missed all of his stuff last year, but making up for it now for sure. He knows how to connect so well with the others, even if his regular partner isn't present. A really talent.

- ITS THE DOUKI CHOKEY!

- Fucking hell that setup by Akira - for Ospreay to hit the Hidden Blade was fucking incredible. That was cool AF! Great combination!

- That was fucking brutal!


#6 Eight Man Tag Team Match
CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada & YOH), Ryusuke Taguchi & Shota Umino vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi, SANADA & Tetsuya Naito)

- LIJ have been busy lately - have to wonder how they are going to look going into this contest.

- Shota in real danger of become the fan's most popular wrestler.

- RAINMAAAAAAAAAAAAAKEEEEEEEEER! The vocal energy for Okada is fucking awesome. This is what has been missing for so long. Fuck C19! 2k23 is here baybaby!

- YOH and Hiromu is another match that I think will be a lot of fun.

- This Shota vs. Naito feud has got some real legs on it if they do it right.

- BUSH-A-ROONIE!

- Shota picking up the win - is very important. Jon Moxley's mentee is going strong in Japan now with that Death Rider.

- Even if (or rather when) Naito beats Shota - I don't think that will be the end. It could even be a great potential means for Umino to earn his respect and perhaps become the newest member of LIJ. I think that would be a good fit.

- Umino tossing Naito out of the ring and then mocking him with his pose is firing big shots. Let the tension in their future match build up.


#7 NJPW King Of Pro-Wrestling Title MMA Rules Match
Shingo Takagi (w/Hiromu Takahashi, SANADA & Tetsuya Naito) (c) vs. Great-O-Khan (w/Aaron Henare, Francesco Akira & Will Ospreay)

- I am really excited about this match, KOPW with a belt instead of a trophy already feels like it means so much more than previous years.

- Great-O-Khan looks fucking awesome in that gi. So glad I made that vote. The train following Khan down to the ring was also a special moment I feel.

- I must admit - I assumed Takagi would wear a red gi. That was all just wishful thinking though.

- Hope this MMA Rules match - is head and shoulders better than the one at NOAH "Bye Bye"

- The whole LIJ squad has arrived to cheer for their man.

- This match style is really cool though - and both men are handling it really well. And then Shingo removes his gi and tosses it away.

- Akira is a really hot head LOL. I love that he just bumped Hiromu though - kid has no fear at all.

- Gimmick infringement? "Hangman Khan?" Wow Ospreay just tossing Naito over the barriers and then the OsCutter on Shingo.

- Twenty minute mark! Wow this has gone so much longer than I thought it would, but it has not disappointed.

- Shingo squeezes the life out of Khan and makes him pass out. A really fun and impressive way to start this 2023 KOPW legacy - and thus book himself a match against Okada.​

 

[Kairi HoHo]

Boy I wait for the day that New Japan start pushing to the retirement list for Yano and Makabe. Too many guys slog up the Cards and I feel it's time to get rid of the old and bring in new talent and it's past due for that. I must say as I watch Day 1 in the New Beginning Tour Narita with Suzuki and Despy does interest me as a group. I need Narita to understand yeah you can do give all the props to your Mentor Shibata but make your own way as a Wrestler rather than a bland version of him. I hope Suzuki and Despy can bring that out of him.

 

[Kairi HoHo]

It still feels so weird seeing Sabre JR with TMDK for real guys. The group itself to me is worthless in New Japan outside of Sabre JR as TV Champ sorry Fujita.

 

[Kairi HoHo]

Finally three guys I wanna see in Power walking Kenta, ELP, and Ishimori. I don't know why Tana didn't like the Nipple grabbing I'm pretty sure a few groupies tried to do the same to him over the Years.

 

[Kairi HoHo]

Did these fools just laugh it up at the thought of Taichi winning the New Japan Cup?! I'm about to throw it down with the English Commentary.

 

[Comrade Khan]

didn't know you were a Taichi stan, I respect it

 

[Kairi HoHo]

didn't know you were a Taichi stan, I respect it

For sure and I hope the Match he has with Ospreay finally wakes up New Japan to show that he is World Champion worthy.

 

[Comrade Khan]

For sure and I hope the Match he has with Ospreay finally wakes up New Japan to show that he is World Champion worthy.

respectfully, if EVIL can get a run, I can make a case for Taichi. might have been easier when there was 2 belts. idk

 

[CakeWalker]

I love Taichi - and honestly him and Zack not being Dangerous Tekkers anymore still feels weird. Hopefully ZSJ steals Taichi from those three other guys.

 

[CakeWalker]

although until he stops singing himself to the ring - i don think he is ever going to ger that big push. I think when they gimmick remove that - that is when we will be excited about him getting a real singles push. Especially now - their are more global eyes on New Japan again

 

[Kairi HoHo]

respectfully, if EVIL can get a run, I can make a case for Taichi. might have been easier when there was 2 belts. idk

I would take a Never Openweight or a US Title run that lasts long because I believe he's good enough to do so. No T-Shirt Naito tonight love that he's taking the Shooters antics lately seriously.

 

[Comrade Khan]

gimme a Taichi Great Okhan feud

 

[Jay-Ashley]

gimme a Taichi Great Okhan feud

Weeb vs Weeb

 

[CakeWalker]

if Khan wins - he officially becomes Mr. Steal Your Muse

 

[Jay-Ashley]

The Weeb Emperor of the glorious United Empire