Csonka’s NJPW on AXS TV Review 11.20.15

NJPW on AXS TV Review 11.20.15

– The matches this week come from the February 11th NJPW New Beginning in Osaka event.

– Hiroshi Tanahashi is the guest for the special interviews this week. Tanahashi was amazing here, discussing al of his matches and history with AJ, including their matches in TNA. Tanahashi felt that AJ was a top performer back then, but lacked the sexiness that he has now. Tanahashi is obviously completely secure with his sexuality and doesn’t give a fuck if you judge him.

AJ Styles defeated Champions Hiroshi Tanahashi to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship [***¾]: A.J. Styles defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi to win the IWGP Title. They worked a slower beginning, Tanahashi eventually got sent to the floor and the entire Bullet Club was out there to lay the boots to him. Later on Tanahashi sent Styles to the floor and hit a high fly flow into the Bullet Club. Tanahashi collided heads with Matt Jackson and got busted open badly. I felt that overall they worked a good match. They had good counters; they played well off of their previous encounters and in the end Styles won clean and decisively. When this match happened, I was actually disappointed; not that it was bad, but both guys have produced such high quality matches over the last year that I was left wondering what happened to what I thought would be an excellent match. Overall this comes off as a very good match, but not what I was expecting. Upon reflection, and another viewing, I did like it a little more star rating wise than I did last year, and can see that they were trying to work a different style of match than the regular IWGP Main Event match. I think the disappointment for me has nothing to do with the different style, but these two had been hot and delivering excellent matches almost in their sleep, and when I didn’t get that here, I was partially shocked.

– We got the post match press conference footage, with Karl Anderson putting over Bullet Club huge. AJ and Omega concluded that since they had all of the titles that they should do what they do every night, try to take over the world.

– In the final reflective interview, Hiroshi Tanahashi explained that when he got busted open the blood went into his eye and behind his contact lenses, which gave him some vision issues for the remainder of the match. While he lost the title, he knows that other chances for the title will present themselves.

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia.”

7.4

The final score: review Good

The 411

This was a good show, featuring a strong match and the usual good commentary. I wouldn’t call it a must see show, but it’s a quick 40-minutes or so to sit through and a good look at AJ if you haven’t been following him in Japan.