Tag: NJPW
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Big Audio Nightmare: Jay White, NJPW & the IWGP title
The original alternate goes solo with 45 minutes of coverage of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s New Beginning tour and more. Topics with Adam Summers include: heavy breathing with the Switchblade, is Jay White ready, history is repeating itself, and where does this leave the G1 Supercard at Madison Square Garden’s main event? Also, the rest of…
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WOR: David Von Erich, Curt Hennig, WWE financials, UFC ratings, AEW
Wrestling Observer Radio with Dave Meltzer and myself, guest co-host Garrett Gonzales, is back with a discussion about our trip to Las Vegas for All Elite Wrestling’s Double Or Nothing Ticket Announcement Party. We talk about the interviews that we did with Kenny Omega and Tony Khan. We discuss how successful and unprecedented the ticket…
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Wrestling Weekly: ‘Mean’ Gene, AEW, NJPW in 2019
Photo: NJPW On a new edition of Wrestling Weekly, longtime pro wrestling trainer and former wrestling Les Thatcher and I talk about the passing of “Mean” Gene Okerlund, AEW, and a slew of announcements from New Japan Pro Wrestling following Wrestle Kingdom regarding their 2019 schedule. Thanks for listening and have a great weekend~!
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BAN: Japanese tag leagues, Nakajima, and the winds of change
The original alternate returns with a bit of banter ‘bout Japan…just sliding in before the end of the month. After a short reintroduction, yours truly and Adam Summers talk about the state of the current team leagues: New Japan’s World Tag, and All Japan’s original recipe Real World Tag. Also, as WWE continues to sink…
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WOR: UFC 230, Power Struggle, Daniel Cormier, Brock Lesnar, more
Image: UFC.com It’s the post-UFC 230 edition of Wrestling Observer Radio with Dave Meltzer and myself, guest co-host Garrett Gonzales. Dave and I go over the entire UFC 230 card, including a discussion about Daniel Cormier’s possible next fight, and how Brock Lesnar and Jon Jones fit into it. We also talk about UFC’s early…
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Big Audio Nightmare: The 2018 G1 Climax prediction show
The original alternate here at the Empire is back to bring you the vaunted G1 Climax Prediction Show! The annual adventure where Adam Summers and Mike Sempervive run down each night of New Japan’s summer showcase, giving their predictions for every single match, as well as dropping knowledge and opinion along the way. It’s two…
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WOR: Juice Robinson and Jay White
Before they go head-to-head on Saturday night at the NJPW G1 Special in San Francisco, Wrestling Observer founder and editor Dave Meltzer sat down with Juice Robinson and IWGP U.S. Champion Jay White in separate interviews. We begin with Dave’s 15 minute talk with Robinson (seen above) about the promo that reminded Dave of Dusty…
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WOR: NJPW legend Hiroshi Tanahashi
As part of our coverage of the NJPW G1 Special in San Francisco, CA, Saturday night, Wrestling Observer founder and publisher Dave Meltzer sat down with former IWGP Champion and New Japan Pro Wrestling legend Hiroshi Tanahashi. Recorded on Friday morning, this 45-minute interview discusses where Tanahashi is at in this point of his career,…
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Big Audio Nightmare: AJPW Champion Carnival, Minoru Suzuki mea culpa
The original alternate returns to the Empire airwaves as Mike Sempervive and I are back to stumble through the Japanese wrestling landscape. We give our thoughts on WrestleMania weekend, the ongoing All Japan Champion Carnival and the company’s streaming service, the ballad of Yoshitatsu, Minoru Suzuki mea culpas, Yuji Hino love, Zack Sabre Jr, Okada,…
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WOL: New Japan Strong Style Evolved preview
Wrestling Observer Live with yours truly today, riding solo for the Mothership Edition of the show. We talk all about tonight’s New Japan Pro Wrestling Strong Style Evolved and the company’s big American adventure weekend, the week that was Daniel Bryan, plus your calls, tweets, and more. As the kids say, it’s a a fun show…
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WOR: IWGP Champion Kazuchika Okada
With New Japan Pro Wrestling returning to Long Beach, CA, for the second straight year, it was a perfect time for our Dave Meltzer to take the drive and meet up with IWGP Champion Kazuchika Okada for a 48-minute in-person interview, recorded Friday. Dave and Okada talked about Okada’s career, his unforgettable series of matches with…
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BAN: NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12 reviewed and what lies ahead
The original alternate is coming in hot after the main event of today’s Wrestle Kingdom XII. We discuss the somewhat controversial finishes of the IWGP and IC title matches, and answer all the important questions like: – Was this one of the best shows of all-time? – Did you lose a Suzuki-Hiromu-White-Naito parlay? – Can…
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BAN: NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12 Preview~!
The original alternate returns with a look at the upcoming New Japan Wrestle Kingdom at the Tokyo Dome, including our predictions (aka the winds of title change). Plus, we talk about NOAH’s most recent Korakeun Hall show, this weekend’s AAW, and much more. It’s the show that’s already looking forward to the The Best of…
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Big Audio Nightmare: Did the Omega-Jericho brawl work?
Brought to you by Mike Sempervive and Adam Summers, the original alternate is back and almost coherent for a Big Audio Nightmare show filled with topics that will include, but are not limited to: our thoughts on whether the big Chris Jericho-Kenny Omega heat-up angle worked, Wrestle Kingdom 12’s prospective lineup, the Best kind of…
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Big Audio Nightmare: All Japan, STARDOM, NOAH, NJPW, more
Somehow, someway, keeping to their word, the original alternate is back after only a few day layoff to present to YOU, the fine purveyor of this website, even more audio activity for your dollar. This week’s topics on Adam & Mike’s Big Audio Nightmare include: – Adam’s thoughts on WWE SummerSlam and TakeOver – MYC…
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NJPW G1 Special: Josh Barnett conference call audio
As part of the build for this weekend’s NJPW shows in the U.S. with Saturday night’s show airing live on AXS TV, color commentator, pro wrestler, and former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett answered media questions for about 45 minutes on Wednesday afternoon. A few of the topics Barnett talked about: – Whether he’s had…
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NJPW G1 Special: Cody Rhodes conference call audio
On Tuesday, AXS TV continued their PR push in anticipation of this weekend’s NJPW G1 Special shows in Long Beach, CA, by hosting Cody Rhodes for a one-hour media call. Rhodes will face Okada for the IWGP title on Night 1 of the event, aired live on AXS TV Friday. Among the topics covered today:…
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NJPW G1 Special: Kenny Omega conference call audio
In an effort to promote this weekend’s NJPW G1 Special shows in Long Beach, CA, on AXS TV, Kenny Omega spent an hour Monday speaking to the wrestling media about the shows and his career. A few of the topics discussed: – The weekend’s IWGP U.S. title tournament and the potential impact for the title…
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WOL: WWE Elimination Chamber preview plus weekend news
Wrestling Observer Live with Mike Sempervive is back today with all the last minute news and notes leading into WWE’s Elimination Chamber! Plus thoughts on the passing of Chavo Guerrero, UFC 208, New Japan’s New Beginning, What Culture, your calls, and more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
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Big Audio Nightmare: Adam & Mike break down Wrestle Kingdom 11
The original alternate is back, very much sleep-deprived and tongue-tied, but also full of the type of fighting spirit that can only be received by staying up all night to watch the 2017 New Japan Wrestle Kingdom 11 show. Second only to WWE’s WrestleMania as a destination spot on the calendar, Adam and Mike quickly run…