New Japan Professional Wrestling
Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Corridor
June 9, 2024
Osaka-jo Corridor
Osaka, Japan
Watch: NJPW WORLD
Meet our previewers:
J Michael: J. Michael believes that we’re naturally inclined to destroy this planet. Nobody is secure from the hypocrisy. Working example: he and his spouse run via these plastic containers, which technically must be infinitely reusable. However the prompt they get the slightest stain (like if you happen to go away a meat sauce in them for greater than 15 seconds), or J. Michael leaves them within the fridge too lengthy and the stuff in them goes unhealthy, or we simply merely don’t really feel like washing them… into the fucking trash. Simply inflicting exponentially injury with each toss. Plastic all the things. Embedded into our our bodies at a mobile stage.
As a result of folks like J. Michael and his spouse don’t just like the orange residue after bolognese is saved in these items. And, frankly, it’s cheaper to only toss them. If J. Michael calculated the wage he ought to earn from the washing and the drying and the attempting to get the fucking lid again on and all of the nonsense this entails, it could be extra than simply shopping for one other one on the retailer, like a 20 pack for $5. We’re incentivized to poison ourselves and the one liveable planet that we all know exists.
Anyway, benefit from the nothing J. Michael gives @ryugu_jo
Tetsuya Naito vs. Callum Newman
J Michael: This one emerged from the June third BOSJ Semi-Finals present at Korakuen. One of many undercard matches was a straight 2-on-2 tag between Shingo Takagi and Tetsuya Naito vs. HENARE and Newman. After the match, by which Newman was put down by the working Destino, Newman insisted that he might beat Naito, requesting, “another, give me another. No Empire, no LIJ. Simply Callum Newman, Tetsuya Naito, one-on-one.”
On his finish, Naito appeared genuinely intrigued by Newman in his backstage remark, and never simply his typical sledgehammer insincere irony:
Additionally, to Callum Newman, who I confronted tonight… Did you see his eyes after the match? Now that I noticed that look in his eyes, I’m considerably thinking about his path from right here.
Callum Newman was asking for an additional go, and I suppose I’m up for it, too. I’m very thinking about Callum Newman… CABRÓN!
Newman’s so younger and so fucking good already, and take a look at the folks they’ve had him face in singles matches the final 6 months: Ishii, Finlay, Kidd… Nicholls… and now Naito.
That is such a fruitful spot for Newman to be in, and a helpful one for Naito. Theoretically, Naito within the opening match ought to present early galvanization of the group. They haven’t any clue what to do with him proper now, they most likely simply need to tread water till the G1, and, to be clear, he by no means ought to have misplaced the title within the first place. Contemplating Naito’s current monitor report in opposition to the youthful guys, which have largely really feel under expectations, it is going to be fascinating to see how this one seems. Newman is likely to be the match-up to permit Naito to intensify the youth.
My technique with predictions this time is to clarify why somebody ought to win, after which choose the opposite individual for no different motive than this firm makes little fucking sense for the time being. It might be preposterous for Callum Newman to defeat Tetsuya Naito at this stage, a mere 9 months into his New Japan profession, nonetheless floating within the ambiguous soup between Younger Lion and nascent roster member, and of their first ever encounter. Prediction: Callum Newman
TMDK (Kosei Fujita, Robbie Eagles & Zack Sabre Jr.) vs Clark Connors, Drilla Moloney & LJ Cleary
J Michael: The normal post-tournament tag title present, the place one group defeated the opposite group in totality within the spherical robin stage. Eagles beat Moloney on Night time 2, after which Fujita beat Connors within the Night time 5 opener. And thus, right here we have now a very stacked Dominion card the place the tag champs defend… ah sure, nevermind all that. The Dominion undercard is getting used to hype the title match on a lesser present, which isn’t a foul technique, and it’s not like Dominion undercards of the previous didn’t have non-title matches or the banality of multi-man tags. It’s simply… it’s not 2018 anymore. Load these fucking issues up.
As a substitute, the title match will happen on June sixteenth, on the PFSC in Hokkaido semi-main eventing behind David Finlay vs. SANADA, on the primary New Japan Soul tour since 2011.
One factor to notice, not less than in our estimation: from every junior group, the highest performer within the event was the surprising one. Clark Connors had a considerably higher event than Drilla, who’s battling arm points, and succumbed to time points. For TMDK, Robbie Eagles, as a member of the Massive 4 of the division, was additionally booked throughout the cardboard, and his one important occasion, in opposition to Ishimori, was underwhelming. In the meantime, Kosei Fujita’s matches have been all compelling, far past his rookie standing.
And in addition, right here we discover one other factor for a high firm, Zack Sabre Jr. to do, with nothing else to do for the time being. Humorous each Tetsuya Naito and Zack Sabre Jr. discover themselves fully bereft of course at Dominion, the #2 present of the yr on the New Japan calendar. I’m wondering what the fuck they could possibly be doing right here as an alternative of those meaningless opening matches? I’m wondering what we might change in regards to the lst few months of reserving to have conjured one thing extra impactful for them to do?
Lastly, there’s some NOAH man in right here. He’s in Jake Lee’s Good-looking Boy Modeling Faculty secure. And so, he’s naturally aligned with Battle Canines. He’s additionally actually Irish, really from the nation of Eire, which I imagine means he inherits the mantle of faction chief from Finlay, who like most Individuals, can proclaim their heritage however can’t stand as much as the true factor.. Prediction: TMDK
KOPW Provisional Title
Yuya Uemura © vs. Nice-O-Khan
15 Min. Time Restrict/No Hanging Allowed/Restricted Rope Breaks:
J Michael: KOPW 2024 had been shifting together with distinction, elegantly traversing Japan on Nice-O-Khan’s Maoist-sounding Rural Revitalization Plan. First, he kicked Tonga Loa the fuck out of our lives by trouncing the tummy-slapping motherfucking in a gyoza consuming contest and s entice match (whereas dropping a every-count-is-a-point fall). However then, Yuya Uemura one way or the other defeated Nice-O-Khan in Hiroshima, taking the tire stacking fall and the tables match, with O-Khan profitable the way more spectacular lemon consuming contest.
And thus ended yet one more half-hearted Nice-O-Khan experiment. And right here’s a match the place they didn’t even comply with the KOPW idea; they simply took the stipulation that Uemura proposed for Hiroshima, one which received completely wrecked within the fan vote. However you could possibly have anticipated this: each wrestlers adamantly defended the stipulation and expressed their intent to have the sort of match collectively. They really imagine that they will, I dunno, proselytize the fanbase to this sort of match?
All it does for me is remind me of the match GOK had in opposition to Toru Yano in November 2021, an Novice Guidelines Match, with Kenta Sato because the “Chairman of the Mat.” It was 6 abysmal minutes, largely as a result of there they gave the viewers no fucking probability at believability. Depressing fats bastard Yano, for no matter accomplishments he had as an novice two fucking decads in the past, mustn’t have a prayer in opposition to a former nationwide wrestling champion in his fucking prime. What a shame.
Uemura was a collegiate wrestler, and gained titles himself. What’s fascinating right here is that Uemura was Greco-Roman, whereas O-Khan gained his championships in freestyle. We don’t suppose it’s giving them an excessive amount of credit score to anticipate them to play upon these variations within the match. Clearly these two take this significantly, they usually each have proven to be pretty profound thinkers about this medium, so we anticipate one thing legitimately charming on this one. They’ll make it work.
Yuya Uemura shouldn’t be anchored to this gimmick title, however he additionally has stumbled out the gate, hampered by some form of perniciously laissez-faire reserving. It’s laborious to imagine he’s acquired any steerage since returning. It’s like some recreation to see how a lot they will hinder the golden boy to see if he can nonetheless succeed. However then once more, the choice consequence is GOK profitable a match, and at this level we’re ready to by no means predict a GOK win on this firm ever once more, even when it means choosing in opposition to him 8-9 straight occasions within the G1. Prediction: Yuya Uemura
NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Staff Championship
Oleg Boltin, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Toru Yano (c) vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Yota Tsuji, BUSHI, and Hiromu Takahashi)
J Michael: Nice-O-Khan delivers lengthy diatribes in regards to the Rural Revitalization factor, however that is the title that must be defended on the obscure venues. This placement doesn’t play to the strengths of this title in any respect, although with the wrestlers concerned it must be a enjoyable match.
That is one other one which stems from June third; on that evening, Tsuji pinned Yano in what was basically this very match, simply with Titan added to the LIJ aspect and Dragon Dia on the Hontai finish. It’s powerful to take a look at this match and never surprise how Tsuji, alongside together with his secure chief, or ZSJ, or Shota Umino, who isn’t even on the cardboard, or Ren Narita, who’s dangerously near evaporating out of existence… why are they both absent from the present or perfunctorily part of it?
There’s nothing to this one in addition to the truth that BUSHI is consuming one among these:
.@OlegBoltin ” KAMIKAZE”
Join Now & Keep tuned to https://t.co/CcdQ1XamUA#NJPW #njcup #njpwworld pic.twitter.com/6QtKylys0r
— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) March 17, 2024
And Hiromu is getting a totally wrenched intestine by the top of this:
.@OlegBoltin “Boltin Shake💪”
Join Now & Keep tuned to https://t.co/CeQLGjTmZ5#NJPW #njpwworld pic.twitter.com/d4Ty7iOXAR
— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) Might 16, 2024
Probably the most fascinating factor accomplished by any of those guys on this final tour was Tsuji as soon as once more (misplaced doubtless) going into enterprise for himself within the backstage feedback on Might twenty eighth. It was a spectacularly brazen sequence which shattered all kayfabe allegiances, in a legitimately endearing means. What did Tsuji do? He mentioned that TJP doesn;t have the stuff to be United Empire chief, and that just one man does: GIDEON FUCKING GREY:
He actually mentioned, “you want Gideon Gray right here,” then spoke to Gray straight, since, as he put it, “I do know you watch these feedback.” We’re getting dangerously near Tsuji having to depart the sport earlier than he actually breaks out, just because we want him on the reserving desk, full time, actually all day, to nullify the godawful incompetence proven there currently.
Anyway, despite the fact that Boltin ought to all the time have a title of some form, and the advantages the title can deliver him, Tanahashi is actually invalid, taking as a lot effort to regulate his waistband all match then the vitality he can create his stop-action working. Yano, to his credit score, sucks and isn;t humorous anymore, and doesn’t even attempt to appear to be he’s attempting. LIJ ought to win right here to deliver this title again to the heights it reached underneath Prince YSH-HSH’s period. Prediction: Boltin, Yano, and Tanahashi
NJPW World TV Championship
Jeff Cobb © vs. Tomohiro Ishii
J Michael: As soon as once more, this match exists in isolation, merely to happen and be mesmerizingly nice, which is actually one thing this firm wants a bit extra of lately. Or, not less than, they should know when to e-book these matches, and to not e-book already established rivalries and pairing that means. That is that match.
These two have solely met 4 occasions in singles competitors, solely twice in New Japan. And people matches have been ages in the past, within the 2019 and 2020 G1 Climaxes. That was a a lot completely different New Japan Cobb. The cavalier assurance of Cobb is exponentially increased than the teddy bear hole moe persona Cobb was portraying pre-Empire.
Ishii’s been battling accidents all yr. He hasn’t wrestled a match for New Japan in Japan in three months, since his loss to Chase Owens. In actual fact, as a illustration of the sorry state of New Japan priorities, Ishii is 2-3 for the yr in singles matches. All of his losses have been to white Individuals of various ranges of excellence: the extremely glorious Orange Cassidy, the professionally (vacuously) glorious Nic Nemeth, and Chase Owens. His two wins this yr have each come in opposition to Masa Kitamiya. The domino impact, the vicious cycle of abuse continues. AEW pours it down on New Japan, and New Japan makes positive to kick Masa Kitamiya round and have Dragon Dia go 1-8 in Tremendous Juniors.
Cobb lastly surmounted Zack Sabre Jr. for this title final month, on his third attempt within the final yr. There’s no motive for him to lose it right here, with the advantages the title would deliver to him as a G1 Climax contender. Prediction: Tomohiro Ishii
NJPW STRONG Tag Staff Championship/IWGP Tag Staff Championship Twister Elimination 4 Method Match
BULLET CLUB (Chase Owens & KENTA) © vs. Guerrillas of Future (Hikuleo & El Phantasmo) (c) vs. Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) vs TMDK (Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls)
J Michael: No, fuck this. As a substitute of losing my time analyzing this example, I current KENTA’s Might 3 backstage remark, as KENTA has already shored up Buster Posey, the Backstage Remark MVP and Backstage Remark Comeback Participant of the 12 months awards:
You’re not Fatty! The place did he go?
He’s not right here immediately? I haven’t mocked him for being fats for a lot too lengthy. I really feel like I’d get out of shape. Truly, my throat hurts from saying it to followers upon request on the meet and greet. You’re fats, and also you’re fats! Give me a break…
Did you see the press convention yesterday? You actually watched it? You’re not mendacity? Did you actually watch it?
What the hell was with Uggo? He mentioned my cool outfit seemed like pajamas! Did you see that half? He’s soured the ‘reversal’ clothes model for me.’reversal’ is one among my finest sponsors. They all the time have me within the best threads. Yeah, they’re a sponsor of mine. Now he’s received me second-guessing issues.
He actually mentioned pajamas. The place does he get off saying that? He simply wanted to finish his schoolboy outfit. You seemed like a positive younger man. Give me a break… He stored speaking about taking the occasion significantly, however he wore that actual outfit final G1 presser! Replace your wardrobe! Evolve a bit. Don’t keep in reruns. You suppose that exhibits enthusiasm? Give me a break… Attempt to enthusiastically purchase a brand new outfit! Sporting the identical outdated factor…
I can’t let a schoolboy run round with a belt. That’s far too harmful. The adults will deal with it from right here. He must be sporting a backpack, not a belt.
Perceive? Perceive?
No matter…
Anyway, what I got here right here to say was… I actually miss Fatty.
Truly, no! Once they present up, I all the time lose! Don’t present up! Prediction: Shane Haste and Hikuleo (please take the belts with you)
NEVER Openweight Championship
Shingo Takagi © vs. HENARE
J Michael: These two nearly single-handedly legitimized the KOPW title a yr in the past with their Final Triad match. Dave Meltzer gave the match 5.25 fucking stars, and cagematch has it at 8.80. With out bothering to look, we’re assuming these are the very best respective rankings for any KOPW match (in addition to mine, once I gave the Yano-Kanemaru Korakuen consuming match 5.6 stars).
HENARE misplaced that match, however he gained the 2023 sequence, having defeated Shingo in each the 2023 New Japan Cup and 2023 G1 Climax. That brings their sequence to 2-2 (Shingo beat HENARE again in 2019). HENARE missed almost 4 months after Gabe Kidd actually cracked his fucking cranium open within the United Empire vs. Battle Canines Metal Cage Match, someplace at first phases of that epic contest. And by “epic”, we imply like if you happen to took an epic poem from no matter historic civilization you like, after which imagined how lengthy it could be if the poem’s occasions really occurred.
HENARE is prepared. The time has come. This title was by no means secure, however this yr has been completely disastrous, from Tama Tonga profitable the title, solely to have a good time by asserting his departure, to EVIL, to Shingo… simply fucking run with one man. Tanahashi, right here’s the first step in Level #2 of the Resurrection Plan: stabilize this title, and put it on a younger embodiment of the title’s elementary spirit. HENARE has to win right here. Prediction: Shingo Takagi
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship – Lumberjack Match
Jon Moxley (c) vs. EVIL
J Michael: Bloody fuck, the discourse. I don’t perceive why the belt was taken off of Naito, or placed on Moxley, however I used to be prepared to present it an opportunity. If any foreigner has earned the suitable to put on that title, it’s him. However this simply feels bizarre. He’s wrestling matches on AEW, and nobody appears to know when or how they contain this title. He wrestled Konosuke Takeshita on no matter PPV they simply had, which appears completely fucking psychological. If Konosuke Takeshita is difficult for this title, he ought to win it. However, from what I perceive, Takeshita, the very best wrestler alive, simply loses on a regular basis in that firm. So if you happen to’re questioning why I’ll be skipping FD3, there’s one motive. YOU WERE ALWAYS RIGHT, HAROLD. All the time belief the instincts of a Dutch businessperson.
The winner of this first-time match-up principally goes to Wrestle Kingdom, or they need to, since this title shouldn;t even be defended on FD3. The winner right here must be the G1 Climax champion. However, we are able to’t assume that Moxley will even be within the G1 Climax. However then, it could be pretty catastrophic if EVIL turned champion, since he hasn’t confirmed himself to be a draw exterior of mid-size venues, or in opposition to anybody exterior LIJ. Then once more, he hasn’t confirmed he isn’t a draw, both.
There are not any good choices right here, however the best choice might be for Moxley to fend this off and arrange an eventual bigtime match at Wrestle Kingdom. Prediction: EVIL
Better of the Tremendous Juniors 31 Closing
El Desperado vs. Taiji Ishimori:
J Michael:
First off, learn this:
El Desperado, Taiji Ishimori & A Rivalry Hidden Behind the Pandemic Wall
Predicting that is so troublesome. They’re two of my high favorites, and Desperado is my favourite. Despy has his weirdo produce present on the tenth, the place he’ll group with Pheremones, or some form of Pheremones sort group, as a result of Desperado has the completely finest style, and essentially the most abysmal.
Ishimori, however, has some weird new catchphrase about Kami-sama and beauty and regardless of the fuck any of that’s alleged to imply. He seems to be the identical, he talks the identical, he wrestles the identical, however now he grafts some form of fervent declaration of his blessed consecration. Is {that a} signal that he’ll win?
Isn’t the very best story right here Desperado getting a shot at redemption in opposition to SHO? Prediction: 1. Learn my article. 2. This match gained’t get as a lot reward because it deserves, because of the restraint and technicality of those two. 3. Despy, I feel
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