This year's G1 starts on July 6 in Dallas, then continues back in Japan the week after.

G1 Blocks:

A Block:

Kazuchika Okada
Zack Sabre Jr.
Hiroshi Tanahashi
Kota Ibushi
EVIL
SANADA
Bad Luck Fale
Lance Archer
Will Ospreay
KENTA

B Block:

Tetsuya Naito
Tomohiro Ishii
Juice Robinson
Toru Yano
Hirooki Goto
Jay White
Jeff Cobb
Shingo Takagi
Taichi
Jon Moxley

Who do you got winning each block and going on to face the IWGP Heavyweight Champion at Wrestle Kingdom 14?

--------

AEW Fyter Fest is streaming for free on June 29th:

Cody v. Darby Allin
Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks vs. Lucha Brothers and TBA
Jon Moxley v. Joey Janela
Hangman Page vs. Jimmy Havoc vs. Jungle Boy vs. MJF

--------

And don't forgect, WWE Stomping Grounds is LIVE on the WWE Network this weekend featuring fresh new match-ups like:

Seth Rollins v. Baron Corbin
Kofi Kingston v. Dolph Ziggler
Roman Reigns v. Drew McIntyre
Becky Lynch v. Lacey Evans
Bayley v. Alexa Bliss

--------

Other noteworthy summer happenings:

AEW Fight for the Fallen - Jul. 13
WWE Extreme Rules - Jul. 14
NXT Takeover: Toronto - Aug. 10
WWE SummerSlam - Aug. 11
NJPW G1 Finals - Aug. 12
NXT UK Takeover: Cardiff - Aug. 31
AEW All Out - Aug. 31

--------

And tomorrow, June 18, we get Tony Khan on The Steve Austin Show, so there should be a lot of clips the media will salivate at, I'm sure.

Just reading that Stomping Grounds card, realizing I haven't watched Raw or SD in months and haven't missed it.

Bye WWE network, I had you since day 1.

No Shane McMahon beating actual wrestlers that are 20 years younger than him at this one? What a missed opportunity.

it felt weird. like i was getting out of a toxic relationship lol. i'll miss nxt tho, they're like the pets that you give back to the ex in the divorce.

the njpw on demand service is cheaper. streaming experience sucks and there's no app but jesus the product itself is so refreshing.

The G1 is one of the things I look forward to the most each year when it comes to Wrestling. I watch every single card and when I'm off on the weekends I make it a point to get up early in the AM to watch them live.

If you want to enhance your experience I suggest using this extension if you use google chrome to watch.
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/njpwext/kdelcebcdheimimhenmhndnbefbkbien

Amazon has a NJPW app if you're using the fire stick or fire tv.

I normally use the edge browser on my xbox to watch on the tv, there are several other ways to do this as well.


Also this is a good list of some matches with direct links to view them. These are highly recommended matches starting all the way back to the 70s up to the end of 2018
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZsZCBTpKjHzdbCpKZ1No1KAdpmOd2OcgSMfC1-oa7pI/edit#gid=0

=================
Official Okay-Super Villain™

I only play the games that I win at -
Gamertag: Innovator
PSN: DurtyGambino
Steam: Durty Gambino
Twitch.tv/durtygambino

But I have no idea who's winning A block.

I'd like to see a Natio win at Wrestle Kingdom for the title. A block is so stacked with major players I honestly have no clue who could take it, and its awesome that way because I'm sure I'll be on the edge of my seat.

That Stomping Grounds card looks horrible.

=================
Official Okay-Super Villain™

I only play the games that I win at -
Gamertag: Innovator
PSN: DurtyGambino
Steam: Durty Gambino
Twitch.tv/durtygambino

That way they don't have their WK main event already done in the G1. Obviously that's assuming the current champion is still champion come WK, but that is usually the case, and if you look at the recent history, this theory is pretty consistent.

With that said, Naito looks to be the favorite coming out the B block and I'd imagine Ibushi comes out the A block, with Naito going over Ibushi in the finals, but please guys DON'T DIE.

The last 2 days' main events are:
Kazuchika Okada vs. Kota Ibushi
Tetsuya Naito vs. Jay White

Those are obviously matches that will decide the winner of each block.

I'm wondering who beats Okada to earn a title shot between the G1 and WK. I'm thinking Ospreay.

ordered the replay Saturday night, and ehat a fun event

nothing but clean finishes, no camera fuckery, and some goddamned realistic selling

and MJF and Y2J had me dying laughing without doing overt comedy routines

im officially a fan

WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE

This will be my first NJPW show and (since Moxley won't be there) my first time seeing any of the guys on the card. And what a card:

https://www.njpw1972.com/tornament/45217?showCards=1

---------------------

http://www.last.fm/user/dagu85

I travel around the country for a lot of wrestling and I can honestly say nothing has touched NJPW when it comes to in ring work.

You get to see Tanahashi vs Okada live. That's a fucking experience right there!

Hope you enjoy it. Gonna make it hard to be pleased by another live wrestling show after this.

=================
Official Okay-Super Villain™

I only play the games that I win at -
Gamertag: Innovator
PSN: DurtyGambino
Steam: Durty Gambino
Twitch.tv/durtygambino

last year at the cow palace in sf. i knew maybe 50% of the card but had such a great time.

<--- Big Baller World Order

More importantly, they are a VERY new couple to be going all in on. I wouldn't acknowledge any relationship on screen for at least a year. These things usually end in disaster... although they could be banking on that now that I think about it.

https://www.si.com/wrestling/2019/06/27/wwe-paul-heyman-monday-night-raw-eric-bischoff-smackdown-live-vince-mcmahon?utm_medium=social&xid=socialflow_twitter_si&utm_campaign=sinow&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_source=reddit.com

<--- Big Baller World Order

Maybe 1997.

>Maybe 1997.

Too many people are convinced that the late 90s boom was soooooooo amazing compared to anything before or since. They aren't wrong about the ratings and how ridiculously over the most over folks are. They ARE wrong about assuming that making it like its 1998 is a fix-all.

The biggest improvement I expect is on the undercard. WWE has no business having a bad/boring undercard. They have entirely too many good wrestlers. The challenge is the same tho: once someone gets over with improved booking in the midcard, how do you mix that person into the main event scene without hot-shotting everything?

Bischoff is much better as an on screen character, and outside of the nWo (which he eventually ran into the ground) never had much of a creative bone.

Regardless, they are still both going to be reporting to Vince so who knows if this even makes a difference. It may just means more creative ideas go to his desk to die.

It's good to see WWE recognizing the changes that need to be made are behind the curtain though. We'll see where this gets them.

Can't get rid of it and don't want it to go to waste. Close seats. If you're in the Maryland area let me know you can have it.

=================
Official Okay-Super Villain™

I only play the games that I win at -
Gamertag: Innovator
PSN: DurtyGambino
Steam: Durty Gambino
Twitch.tv/durtygambino

=================
Official Okay-Super Villain™

I only play the games that I win at -
Gamertag: Innovator
PSN: DurtyGambino
Steam: Durty Gambino
Twitch.tv/durtygambino

I get that this is the whole schtick and he might prove to be a solid midcard character but I'm having a hard time with this being Mox's debut match.

was totally ridiculous.

____
Some will tell you that they love you but they've got an ulterior motive - Oh what a shame
They will tell you that they need you but they've got an ulterior motive - Personal gain

(c) Luciano


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg0-qndkemo

<--- Big Baller World Order

Starts at 6pm est.

Holla at me if you haven't already been set up.

=================
Official Okay-Super Villain™

I only play the games that I win at -
Gamertag: Innovator
PSN: DurtyGambino
Steam: Durty Gambino
Twitch.tv/durtygambino

Ya boy got fantastic seats right on the hard cam side, can't wait!

Also, Rabbit got shut down so if you want the invite for the new site I stream wrestling to shoot me another inbox and I'll kick the link out to you.

=================
Official Okay-Super Villain™

I only play the games that I win at -
Gamertag: Innovator
PSN: DurtyGambino
Steam: Durty Gambino
Twitch.tv/durtygambino

Obviously this one has the hype of the first show and all, and you gotta imagine they are saving something big for their TV debut, so the real test is how they do over the course of the first few months. Can't imagine they'll be doing big arenas like that weekly, but I think they can sell out 2.5-3k seaters confidently on a weekly basis.

What a fucking tournament! Ibushi-Ospreay is my favorite match so far but there are multiple matches I'd put in the 4.5-5 star range. Ibushi beating Tanahashi followed by Sanada beating Okada the other day was incredible. Obviously this isn't happening anymore, but Okada is such a boss I wouldn't have minded if he just swept everybody.

Yano is endlessly entertaining. I died when Red Shoes asked him about the roll of tape in his pants and he said he didn't know how it got there. Moxley's face when Yano beat him was priceless. Then they followed it up with Yano actually squaring up with Ishii and looking like a badass. Awesome.

>What a fucking tournament! Ibushi-Ospreay is my favorite
>match so far but there are multiple matches I'd put in the
>4.5-5 star range. Ibushi beating Tanahashi followed by Sanada
>beating Okada the other day was incredible. Obviously this
>isn't happening anymore, but Okada is such a boss I wouldn't
>have minded if he just swept everybody.
>
>Yano is endlessly entertaining. I died when Red Shoes asked
>him about the roll of tape in his pants and he said he didn't
>know how it got there. Moxley's face when Yano beat him was
>priceless. Then they followed it up with Yano actually
>squaring up with Ishii and looking like a badass. Awesome.

The G1 man...WWE should've stolen the format years ago. It would force them to book at least more things 'together' than they have a habit of doing. And it ain't like they don't have a badass roster to get the rasslin part right. And it would let folks like Cesaro get wins against real folks without having to give him a title.

Dude has been trying forever to take his title, although this was a non title match he still got the win.

The best part about Gedo's booking is I have no fucking clue who's going to win this thing!

=================
Official Okay-Super Villain™

I only play the games that I win at -
Gamertag: Innovator
PSN: DurtyGambino
Steam: Durty Gambino
Twitch.tv/durtygambino

---------------------------------
Photo zine(some images NSFW): http://bit.ly/USaSPhoto

"This (and every, actually) conversation needs more Chesterton and less Mike Francesa." - Walleye

<--- Big Baller World Order

and that includes the gobbledygooker

>

It wasn't me!

I'm so outrageously done with Ziggler that I can't even pretend to be interested in his stuff. He's clearly on the scene to lose to everyone and then go away again. Now he's doing a 'hey, we let you take off all the time, right? Isn't that great!? Okaaaay, so we need someone to make Goldberg look good at Summerfest. C'mon down sir'.

Count me in for the Boston show.

If they want this to count for anything, Dolph needs to show some brains and pull the rug out from under Goldberg.

I'm zzz's on Dolph now and don't see how this makes a lick of sense.

But they have a shot to make this worthwhile if they go left, find a way to give Dolph a bit of savvy that gives Bill the L without killing the mystique, and they could actually get some decent mileage out of this.

Seth wins clean!!!
In a real match!!!

No nutt shots.

This was excellent. I'm glad I watched. I almost skipped it, and I'm glad I didn't.

That was a great moment. They've built some quality momentum with him, and this should be an excellent building block to put him up a notch or two.

There is no coincidence there.

http://i.imgur.com/vPqCzVU.jpg

That will pull me back in temporarily. Hope they give her a real title run, as a heel.

i just want Becky vs Sasha. and keep them far far away from Charlotte

<--- Big Baller World Order

I thought everything before the fight was pretty good but I'm not a big fan of the mandible claw pin finisher. I was hoping for a Demon-like squash to send Balor away on his break. Maybe there will be a follow-up tonight.

I think they need to be a little more judicious with the use of that high pitch screech thing too.

---------------------

http://www.last.fm/user/dagu85

and got damn i'm physically exhausted from watching so much good wrestling.

i've only watched njpw in matches and one live event. meaning, i never really followed storylines. it's so crazy how they really make sure everything matters. even the opener tag matches all build up to the next days' tourney matches.

ishii's ankle which was such a small thing on the first day, gets added to the storyline of the main event match weeks later. such good storytelling that you don't need crazy matches every night, yet every G1 show had at least two awesome matches.

i dunno what lies after G1, but I'm really looking forward to it.

Little things like Ishii's ankle play out through the whole tourney and have such a great payoff. Just the fact that every person has their own narrative is amazing (the new guy trying to prove he belongs, the old guy trying to prove he still has it, the guy trying to improve on last year's showing, etc.). That's not easy with 20 competitors.

I don't really watch the tag matches just cause I don't have the time, but whenever I catch a glimpse or hear the announcers reference the preview match in a tourney match it's pretty clear they are well thought-out and play into the overall story.

I honestly hate to harp on "NJPW is great and WWE sucks!" but like, how can I not? WWE always looks like they're stumbling through the dark week-to-week and New Japan probably has the next 2 years planned out. People were worried that AEW was gonna gut NJPW, but they are still looking strong.

I will say I was disappointed that KENTA joined Bullet Club though. Outside of the Switchblade and Gedo pairing I don't give a fuck about Bullet Club. The whole thing is just dead and I don't want KENTA to become just another BC dude after having such a hot start.

obv there's some kind of relationship between aew and njpw because moxley is doing both. i heard that there's now bad blood w/ omega though. why specifically him or is it all of the aew "founders'?

<--- Big Baller World Order

@ Michael come saying that King of the Ring is the greatest tournament in sports entertainment... especially right in the middle of the G1.

Also how come every time my boys Gun & Gallows win the belts they have to lose them in two weeks to a pair of schmucks?

____
Some will tell you that they love you but they've got an ulterior motive - Oh what a shame
They will tell you that they need you but they've got an ulterior motive - Personal gain

(c) Luciano


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg0-qndkemo

Roster-wise WWE still has the advantage over AEW on Men's and Women's Singles competition, but the AEW tag division is already so much stronger and they don't even have champions yet.

>Also how come every time my boys Gun & Gallows win the belts
>they have to lose them in two weeks to a pair of schmucks?

WWE has been in the star prevention business, but they cant keep operating that way now

WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE

What a time to be alive.

http://i.imgur.com/vPqCzVU.jpg

For starters, NXT is still going to be on the network the next night, so if I'm picking which to watch live, I'm probably going to watch the one I can't see a night later.

Also they are just going to hurt NXT, doubling the show length and going live takes away from the entire feel of the show and reminder that it's a training grounds.

This is going to end bad for NXT and they're going to get killed in the ratings and look stupid which Vince will blame them for.

thats why RAW is on 30 day delay on the network

so unless you have cable (and a platform to stream USA to your TV) or Hulu thats not gonna work.

unless theyve negotiated a revised replay deal of course, but USA's deals with cable providers and Hulu are worth a LOT more than their deal with WWE

WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE

https://twitter.com/superwweupdates/status/1163834322740240384

ive actually never watched NXT, but i think im going to start

WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE

>ive actually never watched NXT, but i think im going to
>start

If you haven't seen any of the Takeovers, you should basically go back and watch all 20-something of them. The pleasure will be notable. It'll also make you wonder what in the bluest of blue hells happened with a few folks, but still...you'll enjoy the rasslin and the storytelling. It's very strong. And the cards are usually about 5 matches long, so things get time to cook.

>>ive actually never watched NXT, but i think im going to
>>start
>
>If you haven't seen any of the Takeovers, you should basically
>go back and watch all 20-something of them. The pleasure will
>be notable. It'll also make you wonder what in the bluest of
>blue hells happened with a few folks, but still...you'll enjoy
>the rasslin and the storytelling. It's very strong. And the
>cards are usually about 5 matches long, so things get time to
>cook.

---------------------------------
Photo zine(some images NSFW): http://bit.ly/USaSPhoto

"This (and every, actually) conversation needs more Chesterton and less Mike Francesa." - Walleye

Last week, a tag team gets thrown together for the first time, gets a title shot, and wins the belts.

This week, a second pair of guys that never tagged together run through the entire tag division and gets a title ahot at a PPV.

So.....WWE just ahit on the entire tag sivision for this match.

Am I seeing this corrextly, or am I missing somethimg?

____
Some will tell you that they love you but they've got an ulterior motive - Oh what a shame
They will tell you that they need you but they've got an ulterior motive - Personal gain

(c) Luciano


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg0-qndkemo

I didn't see it, but what you described sounds like business as usual.

Too talented of a tag team to be wasted in wwe

=================
Official Okay-Super Villain™

I only play the games that I win at -
Gamertag: Innovator
PSN: DurtyGambino
Steam: Durty Gambino
Twitch.tv/durtygambino

WWE will make them a healthy "We don't want you to go to the other guys" offer and I hope they turn them down.

https://uproxx.com/prowrestling/keith-lee-dominik-dijakovic-gifs-nxt/

Remember this when these two headline . . . a Takeover or AEW show, because WWE is the ruiner of all.

---------------------------------
Photo zine(some images NSFW): http://bit.ly/USaSPhoto

"This (and every, actually) conversation needs more Chesterton and less Mike Francesa." - Walleye

Round 2 of BOLA. Just insane.I was very happy NXT was starting to tell a story with them, then very disappointed they hit the pause button, but now happy again!

It's from the dirt sheets, so take it with a grain of salt, but still... please don't do this Vince.

https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2019/8/29/20838498/report-wwe-reached-out-enzo-amore-big-cass-nxt-return

Yes, there are some drawbacks and they have their limitations.

But they're a quality act.

WWE creative is stilted and hackneyed anyways, and they make poor creative use of significantly greater talents anyways.

E&C at least have a credible, watchable act with built-in storylines on the reup.

I'm just gonna drop this link here
https://s.kast.gg/g/8lf7lrmxzl

I'll most likely be streaming AEW: All Out, and NJPW: Royal Quest

Link will be public until after this weekend then I'll switch it back to private. Get on it while you can.

They will be streaming live.

=================
Official Okay-Super Villain™

I only play the games that I win at -
Gamertag: Innovator
PSN: DurtyGambino
Steam: Durty Gambino
Twitch.tv/durtygambino

Left immediately after the ladder death match fuckfest where some bitch on a ladder with light tubes resulted in a dude SPRINTING backstage with a gushing arm.

Yeah, not for me.

cuz if so Cornette buried the fuck out of him for participating in shit like that and then asking fans to foot the bill to fix him

WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE

http://i.imgur.com/vPqCzVU.jpg

Also, meant "botch" in my post not "bitch"

I barely watch the weekly show, since there's just too much wrestling, and I tend to check out the NXT proper and 205 Live weekly shows if I'm on the network. But I put this on to see Cesaro and the few UK people I'm somewhat familiar with, like Toni Storm and Walter.

Really fun show. The Cesaro match was cool, as was the women's title match. The tag team triple threat was great, and the Walter/Tyler Black match was outstanding. Feel pretty comfortable saying that'll be one of the best WWE matches of the year when the year is finally up.

I wouldn't mind some of the NXT UK people getting some more shine on NXT once it expands to two hours. I'd like to see Pete Dunn stick around there, too. Love that dude.

Can't recommend everyone watch Walter vs. Tyler enough. Classic David vs. Goliath match.

http://i.imgur.com/vPqCzVU.jpg

Watched my first NXT tonight. A couple ofcomments...

1. The action was definitely better. Even better...very little talking (besides the announce team). Is this mormal or was it a set-up?

2.Except for the opening with Hunter no McMahan presence. Thank you.

3. The announcers...must thete be three in the booth for this? For me 2 is plenty.

4. I love that the old ROH gang is holding all the belts.

____
Some will tell you that they love you but they've got an ulterior motive - Oh what a shame
They will tell you that they need you but they've got an ulterior motive - Personal gain

(c) Luciano


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg0-qndkemo

This is really your first time watching?

What you saw last night was the norm. There are stories but its mostly in ring action.

You ever watch any Takeovers? If not I try to get together some best of NXT matches and stream it.

=================
Official Okay-Super Villain™

I only play the games that I win at -
Gamertag: Innovator
PSN: DurtyGambino
Steam: Durty Gambino
Twitch.tv/durtygambino