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Csonka’s NJPW on AXS TV Review 10.09.15

October 9, 2015 | Posted by Larry Csonka
7.5
The 411 Rating
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Csonka’s NJPW on AXS TV Review 10.09.15  

NJPW on AXS TV Review 10.09.15

– The matches come from the WrestleKingdom 9 event, which took place on January 4th, 2015. For new fans of New Japan, WrestleKingdom is basically New Japan’s WrestleMania, their biggest show of the year.

IWGP Jr Tag Title Match: Champions reDRagon defeated Forever Hooligans, Young Bucks and Time Splitters @ 13:00 via pin [***¾]: The IWGP Jr Tag was a great way to open the show. In the Dome they don’t always react to the juniors as much as other crowds do, but I felt that they got into things by the end. The work was really enjoyable, with the guys hitting all of the trademark stuff you want to see. We got the superkick party, the Meltzer Driver, the Bucks backflipping out of this awesome looking double doomsday device spot; it was just a great way to kick off a PPV. This was a tremendous effort, with a mild crowd, but I really enjoyed it. Some uneven spots and the lack of crowd reaction holds this match back from a better rating. I also love reDRagon retaining, ensuring more NJPW dates for them. They have been a breath of fresh air for the division (both then and still), and have really thrived there and upped their stock overall as a team. They have only improved, and I really enjoy their New Japan work. Koslov “took a sabbatical” from wrestling days later on January 9th, and Romero now teams with Trent Baretta as Roppongi Vice.

* reDRagon speaks at the post match presser, and spoke about being the best team in pro wrestling. They came to NJPW to takeover, and did so in the Tokyo Dome.

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* Kenny Omega is the special guest for interviews this week. Omega spoke about being in Bullet Club and coming to New Japan. He was always relegated to the Super Juniors, and he would have been stuck being a special guest due to that. Bullet Club brought him in and told him they would get him a title shot. Omega mocks Taguchi for his ass attacks (PREACH BROTHER OMEGA), but did note that it does hurt. He and Taguchi struggled to get to where they are, and he feels they had good chemistry.

IWGP Jr Heavyweight Title Bout: Kenny Omega defeated Champion Ryusuke Taguchi @ 13:20 via pin [**¾]: This match was merely fine, and that was for a few reasons. First of all, with no intermission, they came right after the very good NEVER Title match and the crowd had a difficult time getting into it. Secondly they worked a more US style with the Bullet Club shenanigans, which sometimes really kills the crowd in undercard matches. Thirdly, Ryusuke Taguchi was a shit champion and no one cared about him. They made the right choice to change the title; Omega is simply so good, and I was really glad that he was getting a big shot with NJPW. They did some fun stuff, fun dive by Taguchi onto the Bullet Club and some fun counters, but largely I was waiting for the end and the new champion to be crowned so the division and the show could move on. I will say that I liked it a little more than I did in January, but it’s still only an average, slightly above average match. I really thought that Omega came off very good here, but he was working for two a lot of the time. Omega got to celebrate post match with fellow Bullet Club members the Young Bucks. Too sweet me bro…

* We got some of the post match presser, where Omega was completely awesome explaining that it too k him “four fuckin years” to get here, and tonight’s victory made him a legend. He praised Prince Devitt, and said that this is the new Bullet Club and he will be a great champion. “I’M A GOD DAMN STAR… I’M THE FUCKING BEST” Seriously, Omega was so great during the post match.

* Taguchi was not pleased that he lost the belt, and said he’d take things more seriously. Yes, by becoming a complete parody of himself with an offense based in 87.5% ass attacks. That’s a fact 52% of the time.

* Kenny Omega is back, discussing the match. He said he knew Taguchi better and beat him quicker than he used to. Taguchi is always working to improve and will be better, but Omega plans to clean him up like any other Japanese piece of garbage. “I appreciate that he tries… good for him”. Omega said his dream came true, he became a champion in the Tokyo Dome. But now he had to face all of these Japanese scrubs, and those NWA guys, “they really suck”. He wants to prove that he is the best junior in the world.

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* End scene.

* Thanks for reading.

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“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia.”

7.5
The final score: review Good
The 411
As far as the wrestling goes, this was a good but not great show. But where the show really thrived was the great commentary by Barnett and Ranallo as well as Omega’s interview stuff, which bumps up the show a bit. Make sure to watch for the Omega interviews.
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