Pure Grade Puroresu

Very minimal editing and no usual elaborate description today. Just a quick update so people don't think the podcast has died. It's just in hiatus for a bit. I'm late to all these shows, but figured I couldn't give an update episode without at least covering some actual wrestling content, so I very briefly cover: * New Japan's G1 show from Dallas * Dragon Gate's King of Gate tournament * NOAH's Misawa Memorial Shows * G1 winner prediction * Pac vs Ben-K prediction/analysis * GHC Tag-Title scene analysis * GHC Heavyweight Title prediction/analysis This was a very low effort episode, so I apologise and hope it somewhat holds people over before I upload my next, proper episode. * Follow me on Twitter: @puregradepuro * Official Podcast: Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYNipkfn4tHZQpaLkDIoWbw] – Apple Podcasts [https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/pure-grade-puroresu/id1448573144] – Podbean [https://puregradepuroresu.podbean.com/]

So much is happening in New Japan: outside stars are debuting, MOTY contenders are occurring, and now we have to start debating who will be champion at the end of Wrestle Kingdom. Points of interest from this episode: “Ospreay = 2019 Wrestler of the Year (this is not up for debate)” “Chris ’The Painmaker’ Jericho made that main event painful as promised” “I’m an Okada fanboy and even I’m seriously questioning his current reign” “I love danger in a match, but I also love Ibushi being capable of walking and breathing, so I’m conflicted” “Is Naito as IWGP Heavyweight Champion a thing anymore or?…” “New Japan poach yet ANOTHER outside talent, and I’m just smiling while others boycott” “Of course I’m travelling when the most stacked G1 of all time starts” “It is now illegal to accuse Taichi of having bad matches” "I don't have time to review every BOSJ match, and I barely remember most of them, so let me just wing it" * Follow me on Twitter: @puregradepuro * Official Podcast: Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYNipkfn4tHZQpaLkDIoWbw] – Apple Podcasts [https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/pure-grade-puroresu/id1448573144] – Podbean [https://puregradepuroresu.podbean.com/]

I’m back to my usual schedule of dropping reviews late, but hopefully that allowed everyone enough time to see this very, very good show. I heap praise on the Dream Gate title match, laugh at the crazy main event, and complain about the payoff to the ‘unit bonds’ stipulation. A summary of my thoughts: “Natural Vibes and Tribe Vanguard staying together = my week saved” “Doi and Shimizu’s choices = my week still saved, but less satisfying” “I’m not letting my kids in the official Dragon Gate funhouse playground, even if there’s silly string and streamers inside” “Headline: Newcastle Man and Dragon-masked Boy are persons of interest in an attempted 2-way homicide case” “U-T has officially become my boy, and I’ll support him through everything” “My charity work is that I respect and appreciate Sakamoto, Yoshida, and Kanda when no-one else will” “Why couldn’t Kai have been Strong Machine K?” * Follow me on Twitter: @puregradepuro * Official Podcast: Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYNipkfn4tHZQpaLkDIoWbw] – Apple Podcasts [https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/pure-grade-puroresu/id1448573144] – Podbean [https://puregradepuroresu.podbean.com/]

The show is finally back, and just in time to review AJPW’s Champion Carnival. I analyse all the major matches, go over the most/least impressive wrestlers, list my top 10 matches, and give my overall thoughts on the tournament and the winner, plus the implications for All Japan going forward. My bite-sized ideas: “Triple Crown champ Nomura by the end of 2019, or else I walk” “Zeus in the company for the next 15 years, in which case I stay” “Miyahara probably doesn’t deserve my vitriol” “Ishikawa, Okabayashi, and James are in the next Godzilla film” “You’re all wrong on which matches were great” “Hey, these wrestlers repeated their sh*t for 18 days, so excuse me if I likewise repeat my comments” * Follow me on Twitter: @puregradepuro * Official Podcast: Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYNipkfn4tHZQpaLkDIoWbw] – Apple Podcasts [https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/pure-grade-puroresu/id1448573144] – Podbean [https://puregradepuroresu.podbean.com/]

I review the joint NJPW & ROH G1 Supercard show from MSG. There were a few big developments here, so I try my best to analyse them in all my blissful ignorance and speculate wildly on where New Japan should go from here. Brief summary of the episode: “Okada is the king, but can we PLEASE keep the title off of him for more than a few seconds?” “Jay White preempts your unfounded criticism, evades your baseless mockery, and hits you with the Bladerunner, all while arrogantly chuckling at your pitiful opinions” “Naito and Ibushi put on a sub-par performance which obviously ends up still being great” “Tanahashi’s natural charm slows down the disintegration of his body” “Sabre continues to perplex yet kinda impress me” “Dragon Lee’s win should FINALLY bring ‘him’ back, right?” “What the hell was ROH thinking like half the time?” “Cobb has the last laugh” * Follow me on Twitter: @puregradepuro * Official Podcast: Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYNipkfn4tHZQpaLkDIoWbw] – Apple Podcasts [https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/pure-grade-puroresu/id1448573144] – Podbean [https://puregradepuroresu.podbean.com/]