Geoffrey D. Wessel Aug 31, 2022. 6 minute read
That Kid’s Money: On Scott Hall vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
The now sadly deceased Scott Hall, fairly or unfairly, had a bit of a reputation backstage. After a certain point in his career, he was seen as lazy, unmotivated, and … a few other epithets. Whether or not that rep was justified is not the point of this story. What’s…
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WRESTLING
Geoffrey D. Wessel Aug 31, 2022. 6 minute read
After 33 Years of Terror, The Great Muta Returns to the Mist
On Saturday, September 3, 2022, one of the final matches that Keiji Muto will wrestle in his career will take place at Pro Wrestling NOAH’s N1 Victory 2022 Grand Final show in Osaka EDION Arena. Here, Muto will wrestle his final match in Osaka as The Great Muta, teaming with…
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WRESTLING
Geoffrey D. Wessel Aug 29, 2022. 6 minute read
Maybe You Can Go Home Again: Konosuke Takeshita in the United States
Two cliched phrases come to mind when looking at the extended excursion DDT’s Konosuke Takeshita just completed in the United States of America. The first one is “Travel broadens the mind.” The whole idea of Japanese wrestlers going on excursion, of course, is to get experience with multiple styles of…
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WRESTLING
Geoffrey D. Wessel Apr 13, 2022. 5 minute read
Minoru Suzuki Takes America (Again)
When Minoru Suzuki made his excursion of the United States last September and October, it was a bit of a revelation for many here stateside. A shock to the system, if you will, of wrestling in the United States. Certainly, many words were written on this very site by diverse…
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WRESTLING
Geoffrey D. Wessel Mar 15, 2022. 7 minute read
Crowning Underachievements: Tag Teams Collide at NJPW’s 50th Anniversary
Not everyone can be a superstar in professional wrestling. Indeed, the entire history of the business is littered with more “journeymen,” “good hands,” jobbers, midcarders, curtain jerkers, also-rans and never-weres, then your rare, bona-fide mainstream names and pop culture icons. But hey, someone has to fill the slots on the…
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WRESTLING
Geoffrey D. Wessel Jan 12, 2022. 5 minute read
In a NJPW vs. NOAH Clash, Four Generations Put On One Great Main Event
On Saturday, January 8, 2022, New Japan Pro Wrestling ran the third night of Wrestle Kingdom 16. After two fair-to-middling nights in the Tokyo Dome earlier in the week, two things made this particular show stand out. First, this was the first time a Wrestle Kingdom event happened outside of…
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WRESTLING
Geoffrey D. Wessel Dec 30, 2021. 7 minute read
Dragon’s Fire: How Shingo Takagi Salvaged New Japan’s 2021
It may not be the most controversial statement to make, that 2021 for New Japan Pro Wrestling was a bit of a down year. I think I’m in a good position to say this, having spent an inordinate amount of time covering NJPW on my own near-daily blog. Thankfully, one…
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WRESTLING
Geoffrey D. Wessel Dec 27, 2021. 7 minute read
In 2021, Matt Cardona Was Indie Wrestling’s Best Heel
The tag of somebody being an “ex-WWE” wrestler is not exactly a rare one. In the United States, in the 21st Century, WWE was practically the only major wrestling company until the advent of All Elite Wrestling in 2019. As a result, there are quite a few former employees of…
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WRESTLING
Geoffrey D. Wessel Oct 15, 2021. 8 minute read
The Kento Miyahara/Jake Lee Generation: On AJPW’s Top Feud
This coming Saturday, 10/16/2021, All Japan Pro Wrestling will hold Champions Night II, which will bring back to the forefront, for the Triple Crown Championship, challenger Kento Miyahara vs. champion Jake Lee. The history of any pro wrestling promotion worth its salt can be traced by the rivalries that define…
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WRESTLING
Geoffrey D. Wessel Aug 2, 2021. 8 minute read
For Shun Skywalker, the Mask Made the Man
Nobody can deny that one of the most important parts of the overall spectacle of pro wrestling is the look and presentation of the wrestlers performing the spectacle. Indeed, a wrestler with mediocre talent and a great look can sometimes go further in their career than a great wrestler with…
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WRESTLING
Geoffrey D. Wessel Apr 26, 2021. 8 minute read
Shine On You Crazy Wizard: On Keiji Muto and Reinvention
This past February 12, at the tender age of 58, Keiji Muto defeated Go Shiozaki at Pro Wrestling NOAH’s big return to Tokyo Nippon Budokan at a show aptly titled Back To Budokan. Muto became the 34th GHC Heavyweight Champion, stopping Shiozaki’s magnificent reign at 405 days and eight defenses.…
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WRESTLING