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God Made the World in Six Days, I’ll Perfect New Japan's on the Seventh Part Two: King George and the Dragon
2023.05.28 05:48 InfernoAA God Made the World in Six Days, I’ll Perfect New Japan's on the Seventh Part Two: King George and the Dragon
In Part One, Kazuchika Okada waged war on the wrestling world as part of his quest to purify NJPW, killing BULLET CLUB and giving CHAOS a much-needed facelift in the process. Hirooki Goto and company have since taken refuge under Katsuyori Shibata’s new “Takeover” stable, which has recruited Ren Narita’s services. Sabre-Gun’s been on the up too, expanding to include the likes of Blake Christian and Clark Connors with the recent Best of the Super Juniors, continuing to be at odds with Just6Guys. There’s one group that’s yet to be addressed though, and that’s… United Empire.
After finally vanquishing Kenny Omega at Forbidden Door, Will Ospreay sets his sights on the next logical step – the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. With another of his white whales clutching onto it tightly, he wants closure to this legendary saga too, and so, he calls out the Rainmaker. Big Brother Kazu isn’t fazed one bit by the challenge, telling Ospreay he’s been waiting for him, though not to expect a result any different to their many past matches. After all, from Okada’s point-of-view, Will isn’t NJPW’s next destined leader. There’s a different prodigal son waiting.
Under CHAOS’s new vision, not only has Okada been building a ruthless band of companions willing to follow his regime change, but also focusing on its future, no longer being a top-heavy unit destined to collapse the moment Kazuchika stops supporting its roof. With Hiroshi Tanahashi already bringing in his younger counterpart, Shota Umino, Okada recruits the man prophesised to take over his mantle of Ace one day, Yuya Uemura. His Forbidden Door victory over Wheeler YUTA marking the end of his American excursion, Uemura accompanies his leader’s victory against Blackpool Combat Club in major fashion by accompanying him on the Kizuna Road loop.
Kizuna Road - Night Four (July 3, 2023)
CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada & Yuya Uemura) vs United Empire (Will Ospreay & Jeff Cobb)
Impressing thus far, Yuya’s biggest test comes when he teams with Okada 2-on-2 for the very first time to confront UE’s Ospreay and Cobb, and he quickly silences their criticisms. A one-sided manhandling from Cobb soon turns into Uemura employing strategies passed down to him from Okada on how to beat the Hawaiian Hulk, giving him quite the culture shock, before Okada helps bang the big man’s drum. The flow shifts when Ospreay steps in though, severely outclassing Yuya to both his and Okada’s surprise. This is a different Will to the one Okada faced a year ago in the G1 Climax Finals.
And yet, the Rainmaker has an ego problem. Tagging in, he tries to shut Will down, only to find for once, Ospreay seems to have his number. When the Commonwealth Kingpin has him beat though, going for the Hidden Blade, Yuya throws himself in harm’s way to buy Okada a moment, allowing Kazuchika to Dropkick Will out the equation, before drilling Cobb with a Rainmaker to win! As Ospreay grits his teeth, he understands it’ll take more than that to outsmart Okada.
CHAOS def. United Empire (13:45)
Wrestle Dynasty (July 8, 2023)
Also on the show:
Sabre-Gun (El Phantasmo, Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste) (c) vs Ren Narita & Bishamon - NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship
Aussie Open (c) vs CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii & Shota Umino) - IWGP Tag Team Championship
Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs Jeff Cobb - IWGP United States Championship
Kazuchika Okada (c) vs Will Ospreay IX - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
Across 8 matches, Ospreay has never once beaten Okada cleanly, his only triumph coming from the night of his betrayal in the G1 3 years ago. But now, with a win over the man Okada failed to beat at Dominion, he’s in the best shape he’s ever been to end the reign of tyranny. The question is though, will he? Returning to Madison Square Garden for this historic show, the last time they were here Ospreay was losing to Cobb in a Winner Takes All opener, whilst Okada was winning back the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in the main event. This time, they’re equals.
Ospreay enters on a throne carried to the ring by UE, hamming up his Commonwealth Kingpin moniker and signalling the days of the Aerial Assassin to be long dead. Okada, on the other hand, is the same old Rainmaker, descending from the heavens on a platform, God mode in full effect. With pre-match introductions out the way, the bell rings, and the match gets underway! And in classic Okada/Ospreay fashion, Kazuchika expects to Big Brother Will with the Tanahashi/Okada-style headlock start… BUT OSPREAY RUSHES HIM WITH THE HIDDEN BLADE!!!
Caught off guard, Okada only barely evades him, but Ospreay moves like a lightning bolt, instantly transitioning to springboarding off the ropes for an OSCUTTER! Okada catches it and grabs the wrist, ripcording him into a RAINMAKER! Will ducks though, blasting him with a MARUFUJI HOOK KICK! Okada rocked, nails a SILENT WHISPER to the back of the head, before hooking the arms for the STORM BREAKER!!! But yet again, the Rainmaker barely gets out of dodge, shoving Will away and sliding outside for a breather!
Okada looks like he doesn’t know what’s just hit him, while Ospreay grins and mocks the Rainmaker pose. Snarling, Kazuchika slides back in and gets to trading blows with his challenger. Stiff elbows bounce off their heads in the centre of the ring, an Enzuigiri from Okada whiffing and a Handspring Enzuigiri from Will equally missing the mark! Kazu teases a Dropkick, causing Ospreay to leap, only to meet a stiff Uppercut once gravity gets hold of him.
Tossed into the ropes for a proper Dropkick attempt, Will instead slides to the apron and thunders in with a PIP PIP CHEERIO! A Running Shooting Star Press misses, Ospreay rolling through and racing back at Okada, though he’s launched onto the top turnbuckle. Again, a frustrated Okada wants the Dropkick, but Ospreay catches the leg and spins him around, nailing an INVERTED TORNADO DDT! Crunch. Here come the neck issues.
Okada dazed, nursing the injury in agony, Ospreay stomps the hell out of the neck, before connecting with a ROBINSON SPECIAL! He teases a follow-up OsCutter, Okada anticipating it, only to be faked into a SPIKE DDT! ONE! TWO! THR-KICK OUT! Okada DDT’d the life out of Will last time, so Ospreay’s making sure to return the favour here. He goes for broke one too many times though, a Hangman’s DDT attempt ending in Okada spearing Ospreay across the ring and through the ropes, both smacking off the apron to the floor!
Turning feral ringside, Okada kicks Ospreay senseless like he’s Kaito, before forcefully connecting a DDT of his own! He whips Will at the guardrail for his patented Crossbody spot but Ospreay leaps over, a Silent Whisper staggering Okada, before an OSCUTTER SOARS IN… NOT THIS TIME – OKADA COUNTERS INTO A TOMBSTONE ON THE CONCRETE!!! Getting him back for the G1 Finals, Kazu smugly takes in the boos as Will twitches lifelessly at his feet.
Tossing him in, a MISSILE DROPKICK guns into his neck, before another BEAUTIFUL DROPKICK smacks into his chest, Okada finally in control! A Flapjack plants Will face-first and an AIR RAID CRASH NECKBREAKER again targets the famously-troubled neck of Ospreay! ONE! TWO! THR-NO DICE! Cinching in the MONEY CLIP, he continues working it over, Will sputtering and gasping for breaths as he reaches out at the ropes. Right as he finds himself inches from them though, a GERMAN SUPLEX dumps him on his neck!
Okada hits the pose, before dialling up the RAINMAKER… Ospreay snapmares him over, learning from last time to not back him up. and throws the HIDDEN BLADE!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOO!!! Racing up top, Will prepares a Shooting Star Press, though Okada sluggishly rolls to the apron as he grabs at his head. Deciding to change trajectories… OSPREAY NAILS A SUPER OSCUTTER TO THE FLOOR!!! Body aching yet determined, Will rolls back in, only to soar back out with a SASUKE SPECIAL!!!
Dragging Okada behind him, he drapes him over the top rope, heading back up to finally hit the BURNING STAR PRESS!!! ONE! TWO! THR-OKADA GETS A FOOT ON THE ROPE!!! Keeping his composure, Ospreay murders Okada’s face with Kawada Kicks, before a CHELSEA GRIN knocks him loopy… OSCUTTER INCOMING – OKADA COLLAPSES UNDER!!! Will smacks off the mat, not anticipating it, and lets out a pained grunt as both lay flat on their backs, New York roaring in approval!
Ospreay finds his feet first and tries to pick Okada from his knees, though it results in him being tripped into the ropes throat-first! DROPKICK MEETS OSPREAY AS HE TURNS AROUND! Okada’s noticeably slower than usual, though he doesn’t let it hinder him, picking Will up to nail a SHORT-ARM RAINMAKER! Ospreay stays upright, returning a forearm smash, but another SHORT-ARM RAINMAKER takes him down! Okada teases the finishing blow, though Will resists, prompting Kazu to spike him with a LANDSLIDE instead! ONE! TWO! THR-OSPREAY SURVIVES!
Hauling him right back up, Okada shoots again… WILL COUNTERS WITH AN OSCUTT- DROPKICKED OUT THE SKIES! Okada sets up the SPINNING RAINMAKER, but Ospreay nails the DISCUS ELBOW first! HOOK KICK drops him, before the HIDDEN BLADE closes in… OKADA DUCKS AND FIRES A JOHN WOO DROPKICK, SENDING OSPREAY INTO THE OPPOSITE CORNER! AND A HESITATION DROPKICK – SHADES OF SHIBATA! Will in the drop zone, Okada gets an idea, heading up top… HIGH FLY FLOW!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Okada scowls, picking Will up for the TOMBSTONE… OSPREAY REVERSES INTO A HITODENASHI DRIVER!!! ONE! TWO! THR-OKADA KICKS OUT!!! And now Ospreay hits the Rainmaker pose again! Securing wrist-control, he nails a RAINHAM MAKER!!! ONE! TWO! THR-STILL NO LUCK!!! Ospreay’s running out of options, though refuses to let his confidence waver, sticking to his gameplan. Mauling Okada’s arms, neck, and back with stomps, he picks him for only his second attempt at the ultimate final blow! OSPREAY WANTS STORM BREAKER!!!
Getting Okada up… KAZU DROPS OUT AND NAILS THE RAINMAKER!!! BUT HE CAN’T COVER, HAVING TO NURSE THE ARM! Both men returning to their feet at the same time, they knock each other dead with strikes, Okada scoring the ENZUIGIRI this time, Ospreay returning the POP-UP FOREARM SMASH! Tearing off the elbow pad, OSPREAY FIRES UP THE HIDDEN BLADE… OKADA COUNTERS INTO THE SPINNING EMERALD FLOWSION!!! NOT AGAIN – THIS COMBO ENDED WILL LAST TIME! Okada spells the end… RAINMAKERRRRRRRRRRRR!!! ONE! THIS IS IT! TWO! MSG IS ON THEIR FEET! THRE… OSPREAY KICKS OUT!!! HE’S STILL IN IT!!!
Okada looks like he’s seen a ghost, a barely twitching Ospreay laying at his feet with one shoulder raised! Refusing to accept it, the Rainmaker lifts him back up, BEFORE NAILING ANOTHER ON A DEFENCELESS WILL! Ospreay on his knees, head bowed, Kazu lifts him up by the hair to lock gazes with Will’s glazed-over eyes, before throwing a THIRD AND FINAL- OSPREAY HITS THE RAINMAKER!!! Okada drops like he’s been shot!
And now Will realises this could be it. Struggling back up whilst maintaining wrist-control, he lets out a roar, before nailing a RIPCORD HIDDEN BLADE!!! Okada at his knees now, Will lifts his head up by the hair this time as Kazu dares him to finish him off, too weak to fight back… AND OSPREAY OBLIGES, FISHING HIM INTO A STORM BREAKERRRRRRRRRR!!! ONE! TWO! THREE!!! OSPREAY’S FINALLY DONE IT!!! WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!!!
Will Ospreay def. Kazuchika Okada (c) to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (38:09)
MSG loses its mind as both men lay exhausted, UE rushing out to celebrate with their leader, helping him to his feet and handing him his prize. Golden tickertape hails from the rafters like Okada Dollars, Ospreay seated on a makeshift arm throne by Cobb and O-Khan, raising his title high, whilst Aussie Open and Catch 22 stand on either side, brandishing their respective titles too! And as Okada recovers, rolling out the ring and returning up the ramp, he locks eyes with Ospreay, giving him a look which reads “I’ll be back.” Will doesn’t let it phase him though. This is his night. He’s earned this moment.
G1 Climax 33
Not having to wait long for his first test, he enters his fourth G1 for the first time as reigning champion, redeeming the chance that a neck injury robbed him of in 2021. Heading A Block, he battles CHAOS’s Hiroshi Tanahashi on Night One, who tries to avenge Okada’s loss, though meets the same fate. Will dominates his block, dropping his first match after an undefeated 6 nights, losing to Katsuyori Shibata after their teased program last year at Forbidden Door! Still first though, having victimised SANADA, Shota Umino, EVIL, PAC, and KENTA along the way, he murders El Phantasmo on his 8th night, before meeting Tetsuya Naito in the Block Finals after a 5* duology last year! Finally, El Ingobernable avenges his past losses to punch his ticket to the Finals! As for B Block, a Shingo Takagi victory over Sabre puts him through, setting up a rematch from 2019’s G1 between Naito and Takagi for the Finals, adding fuel to the fire of LIJ’s already turbulent year with SANADA’s betrayal!
(Other key underlying stories are Naito’s loss to SANADA, KENTA beating Shibata in their first match as part of the TakeoveCHAOS feud, PAC finally returning to the ring as AEW’s representative to throw a spanner into LIJ’s works, Kaito taking Okada to a draw, Goto getting his win back over Okada, Sabre equalising his series with Taichi, and Yuya beating Yota in the first chapter of their Ace vs Dark Ace rivalry that’ll propel NJPW once Okada and Naito pass on the respective mantles.)
G1 Climax 33 Finals (August 13, 2023)
Also on this show:
Tetsuya Naito vs Shingo Takagi II - G1 Climax Finals
United Empire (Will Ospreay & Catch 22) vs Los Ingobernables de Japon (Yota Tsuji, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI)
With Naito returning last year’s favour of having the Finals robbed from him by Ospreay, Will instead faces his potential Wrestle Kingdom main event opponent’s factionmates, bringing longest-reigning IWGP Junior Tag Team Champions Catch 22 along for the ride. Whilst using the opportunity to run back his critically acclaimed rivalry with Hiromu Takahashi, he also makes an example out of NEVER Openweight Champion Yota Tsuji, cracking down on the New Generation star to remind Naito and Shingo what he plans to do to them, before pinning BUSHI for the win!
United Empire def. Los Ingobernables de Japon (14:10)
As UE celebrate their win… BANG! DOUBLE SUPERKICK TO OSPREAY! STEEL CHAIR TO TJP AND FRANCESCO AKIRA! THE ELITE IS HERE!!! No rest for the wicked, Omega plants his boot on Will’s head as he holds the IWGP World Title up, making his intentions crystal clear. His match with Okada ended without a clear victor, and so, he not only wants another crack at the belt, but to crush Ospreay to avenge Forbidden Door. And what better place to do that than Wembley Stadium!
RevPro 11 Year Anniversary Show (August 26, 2023)
Will Ospreay vs Ren Narita
Whilst Ospreay/Omega III is announced for the following night, Will takes care of business in Copper Box Arena the night prior against one Ren Narita, continuing to test out the youth of NJPW, having already faced Yuya, Yota, and Shota in the past month. With Shibata holding a win over Ospreay’s head, promising to be back for the victor of ALL IN’s main event, Will batters his student in the meantime to remind him who the best wrestler in the world is right now, a Hidden Blade slaying Ren!
Will Ospreay def. Ren Narita (16:07)
ALL IN: London (August 27, 2023)
Also on the show:
Zack Sabre Jr. (c)(c) vs Bryan Danielson – NJPW World Television/ROH Pure Championships
FTR (c) vs Aussie Open - AEW World Tag Team Championship
Will Ospreay (c) vs Kenny Omega III - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
They’ve fought in Japan’s Tokyo Dome, Canada’s Scotiabank Arena, and now, they finally settle the score in England’s Wembley Stadium. 90,000 strong in attendance, there’s a clear crowd favourite here, football chants raining down for Ospreay. Omega decides to lean into it, tapping fully into his Cleaner look and tendencies with Devil’s Sky, absorbing the hatred. Will, on the other hand, receives a standing ovation in an emotional homecoming, prepared to prove his superiority over Omega once and for all and silence those accusing him of lucky past couple months.
The big first test for Will as champion starts with Kenny trying to get under Ospreay’s skin, stalling him out each time the Commonwealth Kingpin guns for him. Forcing him to work for his golden snitch, Kenny slides out and does jumping jacks until Will takes the bait, Omega quickly repossessing the ring, shutting Ospreay out. Will yells at the referee to back Kenny up, who obliges… ONLY TO EXPLODE FOR A V-TRIGGER THE MOMENT WILL RE-ENTERS!
Ospreay leapfrogs him and comes off the ropes with a hurricanrana, Omega cartwheeling through and throwing one back, Will handstanding out, though not fast enough, eating a DROPKICK TO THE FACE! Ospreay stunned, Kenny launches him into the corner and dogs on him with vicious kicks and stomps until the referee intervenes, Omega throwing one last chest-slicing chop! Incensed, Ospreay rushes out with forearms for Kenny, lighting him up, the Kawada Kicks finding their mark, before a CHELSEA GRIN’S BLOCKED BY A V-TRIGGER!
Ospreay shaking off his arm, Kenny capitalises with another V-TRIGGER, but Will ducks, nailing a Hook Kick, an OSCUTTER due to follow… OMEGA SUPERKICKS OSPREAY OVER THE ROPES! Will floored, a RISE OF THE TERMINATOR wipes him out! Gloating as England boos him, an even better idea crosses Kenny’s mind, sliding back in to nail a SASUKE SPECIAL! Nuclear heat. Battering Ospreay about the ring, he teases smashing his head through a table like WK17, though frantic back elbows force him off!
Kenny seeing stars, Ospreay attempts an OSCUTTER OFF THE GUARDRAIL- V-TRIGGER TO THE BASE OF THE SKULL SNIPES HIM!!! A sickening thud reverberating through the arena as Ospreay’s head snaps forward, a sadistic Kenny lays the section of railing on Will’s body… BEFORE CONNECTING A DIVING DOUBLE FOOT STOMP OFF THE APRON!!! Champion crushed, Omega cackles and dusts off his hands, before kissing Will’s title, eager to bring it home.
As Kenny taunts the crowd, Ospreay’s managed to feebly crawl out the rubble after the referee checking on him, though as Omega senses this, he’s immediately on his tail. Watching Will try to pull himself up using the steel post, KENNY CHARGES FOR ANOTHER V-TRIGGER… CRACK! OSPREAY MOVES OUT THE WAY, OMEGA’S KNEE HITTING THE STEEL INSTEAD!!! The Cleaner yowls in sheer agony as what was starting to look like another dominant showing takes a drastic left turn!
Realising this, Will quickly capitalises, grabbing Omega’s wrists from the opposite side of the post, pulling him up to his feet… Kenny hysterically tries to fight Ospreay off, begging him to spare him, realising what’s coming, WILL YANKING OMEGA HEAD-FIRST INTO THE POST!!! Bouncing it off it over and over again, now it’s Kenny that’s busted open! Omega collapsing back to his knees, Ospreay next grabs the leg and SMASHES KENNY’S KNEE INTO THE POST!!! THEN THE GUARDRAIL!!! AND BACK!!! There’s no mercy from Ospreay tonight.
Rolling Kenny in, he nails Omega’s YOU CAN’T ESCAPE! ONE! TWO! THR-KICK OUT! Forcing Omega to use the bad leg to free himself, Will goes right back to targeting it, kicking the inside of the knee and slamming it against the mat! SHOOTING STAR PRESS TO THE LEG! Omega can’t even be whipped across the ring, collapsing half-way, a ROBINSON SPECIAL crushing him instead! AND A SLINGSHOT CUTTER! ONE! TWO! THR-NO LUCK!
Hooking the arms, Ospreay wants STORM BREAKER, but Omega counters into a hurricanrana pin for 2! A Running Knee Strike from Will comes up empty, Kenny flattening him with a SNAP DRAGON SUPLEX! AND A SECOND! KOTARO KRUSHER FOLLOWS! Smacking the leg to keep up, an AOI SHOUDOU plants Ospreay! ONE! TWO! THR-WILL STAYS IN IT! A Doctor Bomb attempt is subdued, Ospreay hammering the knee to escape, before a ROUNDHOUSE cleans Kenny’s clock, a POISONED FRANKENSTEINER standing him up, and an ESSEX DESTROY- POP-UP V-TRIGGER!!!
Kenny desperately tries getting a limp Will on his shoulders for the ONE WINGED ANGEL, using the ropes for help, but Ospreay leans forwards, tumbling onto the apron to escape! SILENT WHISPER blasts Kenny… OMEGA THROWS A V-TRIGGER BACK, KNOCKING WILL OUT! Leg searing yet title more important, Kenny gingerly lifts Ospreay up the ropes with him, before going for OH GOD A MIDDLE ROPE CROYT’S WRATH!!! OSPREAY FLIPS TO HIS FEET!!!
The sneer on Omega’s face slowly fades as realisation strikes him, shades of Ibushi/Ospreay, Will not even giving him a chance to respond, HOOK KICK CONNECTING! OSCUTTERRRRRRRRR!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Frustrated, Ospreay hammers on the cut on Kenny’s forehead, painting his own chest with Omega’s blood, BEFORE REMOVING THE TURNBUCKLE PAD! He wants to return the favour from WK! Taking Kenny to the top rope, Ospreay teases a DDT onto the exposed steel… Omega slips between his legs to the mat and CROTCHES WILL ON THE METAL!!!
Kenny cackles as Ospreay howls, before packaging his head and nailing a CHEEKY NANDOS KICK! Blasting Will repeatedly, a V-TRIGGER FOLLOWS, SMASHING WILL’S HEAD INTO THE STEEL!!! AND HE SPINS HIM AROUND – AVALANCHE PHOENIX-PLEX!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Kenny beats on Will’s fresh cut, leaving both men bloody messes, before readying a V-TRIGGER… Ospreay grabs Omega’s foot! Pissed, Kenny shakes him off, nailing a STANDING V-TRIGGER straight to the cut, BEFORE SPIKING HIM WITH AN IBUSHI-STYLE BASTARD DRIVER!!! ONE! TWO! THR-OSPREAY SURVIVES AGAIN!!!
Ospreay’s body limply leaning on the ropes, Kenny cocks and fires a V-TRIGGER, Will simply bouncing back head-first onto the Canadian! Setting him back, Omega takes another run-up, NAILING HIM WITH A SECOND IN SUCCESSION!!! The champion still out on his knees, twisted thoughts run through Kenny’s mind, prepping his elbow… HE WANTS TO CONCUSS WILL LIKE OSPREAY DID IBUSHI AT WK13!!! OMEGA THROWS THE HIDDEN BLADE… V-TRIGGER FROM OSPREAY!!! Sparking to life, he grabs the wrists and ripcords for a RAINHAM MAKER!!! ONE! TWO! THR-KENNY’S STILL IN IT!!!
Omega on dream street, Ospreay locks and loads THE HIDDEN BLADE, CONNECTING FLUSH ON KENNY’S JAW!!! But as Will goes to cover, Omega collapses out the ring! Ospreay’s lets out a frustrated wail, but he makes the chase all the same, kicking the lifeless Kenny about ringside. A weak chop from Omega meets a sickening forearm, and a wild punch completely misses, Kenny’s legs giving out. TIGER SUPLEX DUMPS HIM ON THE FLOOR!!! Kenny now fully collapsed, Ospreay gets an idea… PULLING OUT A LADDER FROM UNDER THE RING!!!
Clearing the commentary table, he hoists The Cleaner onto it, before propping the ladder next-door and climbing! Sending a silent prayer to the skies, OSPREAY LAUNCHES OFF WITH A PHOENIX SPLASH, CONNECTING ALL OF IT!!! The crowd goes ballistic with the two men dead in the rubble, both unmoving for several seconds until Will finally faintly grins to himself for returning a taste of WK17’s table. Dragging himself inside, he flops into his corner, lying in wait for the challenger, who has the look of a soulless corpse once he finds his feet and locks eyes with Ospreay, barely rolling inside at 9 but immediately collapsing again.
Ready to end it, Will crawls over and lifts Kenny to his knees by the wrists, SCORING A KAMIGOYE-STYLE HIDDEN BLADE!!! Omega rocked, Ospreay backs up to his corner for seconds, BUT KENNY PULLS THE REFEREE INTO THE WAY! Will catches himself in time, pausing in his tracks, though is left exposed to a LOW BLOW!!! Wembley goes mental with boos as Kenny weakly chuckles, feebly clawing up to his feet up a confused referee to nail a V-TRIGGER!!! Lifting him by the wrists, a RAIN TRIGGER FOLLOWS!!! AND HE GETS THE ELECTRIC CHAIR AGAINST ALL ODDS… BUT HE COLLAPSES!!!
Omega shakes his head in denial, tearing up, his golden ticket in the palm of his hands! Heaving himself back up, he tries again, but Will anchors his body to the ground! Incredulous, he grabs Ospreay by the hair, who grins mockingly, AND SLAMS AN UGLY REAR KAMIGOYE INTO THE BACK OF HIS HEAD!!! COVER!!! ONE! T-KICK OUT!!! OSPREAY KICKS OUT AT ONE!!! Though still completely out of it, the act of sheer defiance certainly sees Kenny’s confidence shatter in real time, who like an unhinged animal beats on Ospreay’s forehead gash until Omega too collapses next to him!
In a last-ditch effort, he staggers to his feet and puts Will’s head between his legs, wanting a CLASSIC PILEDRIVER!!! OSPREAY HANDSTANDS OUT!!! Omega’s horrified- HIDDEN BLADE!!! ONE TO THE BACK OF THE HEAD!!! Kenny kneeled, Ospreay stands next to him, prepping the OsCutter, but Omega grabs him by the tights! No force in him though, he tells Will to look him in the eyes… AND HE FLIPS HIM OFF!!! SILENT WHISPER TO KENNY!!! AND AN OSCUTTER!!! Rolling through, he deadlifts him up, CONNECTING THE STORM BREAKERRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!! ONE! TWO! THREE!!!
Will Ospreay (c) def. Kenny Omega to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (43:29)
At long last, it’s over. In front of his own people, the Commonwealth Kingpin has proven he’s Japan’s top gaijin and the most valuable wrestler today. Handed his gold, he watches as a prideful Omega refuses help, mustering up the strength to drag himself up using the ropes, before meeting Will’s gaze. At the end of the first match, he gloated. At the end of the second, he was crushed. But now? He gives Will a subtle nod of respect, officially passing the torch as he takes his bow, leaving Ospreay to take over the world.
Whilst he may have knocked down his two biggest obstacles in Okada and Omega, a dark horse third awaits him back in Japan by the name of Katsuyori Shibata! The only other individual to beat Will in the G1 other than the winner himself, he calls him out for a shot, still waiting on a reign of his own. A determined Ospreay doesn’t back down, though when he goes for a rare show of respect in a press conference heading in, extending a hand as the bigger man, Shibata outright refuses to shake! Seeing through Will’s superficialness, he declares that he owes Ospreay no respect, refusing to accept him as the company’s face that they’ve so desperately tried to mould him into. He was held back for choosing to carve his own path away from the Musketeers, and now he’s going to stick it to the company by exposing their golden boy like Sakura Genesis 2017! Will grits his teeth but says nothing, knowing he’ll just need to prove himself again.
Wrestle Grand Slam in Belluna Dome (September 10, 2023)
Also on the show:
Yota Tsuji (c) vs Yuya Uemura - NEVER Openweight Championship
Catch 22 (c) vs CHAOS (SHO & Taiji Ishimori) - IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
Aussie Open (c) vs FTR - IWGP Tag Team Championship
Will Ospreay (c) vs Katsuyori Shibata III - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
In only the third IWGP World Title match of his career, 6 years since the infamous incident, The Wrestler receives a chance to redeem all the troubles he was put through and avenge his pupil Narita in the process. As for Ospreay, having lost to Shibata in both their matches in 2017 and 2023 respectively, he must carve out his spot definitively by knocking down another of his white whales. Taking place interestingly in KENTA’s hometown, Katsuyori’s even more driven to stick it to the man he despises most and lost to in the G1 by winning here, a pair of rather simple, stoic entrances setting the tone for the main event.
Initially, just like the G1, Shibata starts by beating the hell out of the much younger star to humble him, though Ospreay’s much quicker to put up his fists this time, learning. Youthful arrogance sees him get a couple teeth knocked down his throat though, his patented elbows instantly receiving a much stiffer receipt from Shibata, dropping him dead! Unable to outstrike the most dangerous man in New Japan, Will instead leans on his weight advantage, brutally slamming him down with London Has Fallen and scoring a vicious Liger Bomb to boot. Growing comfortable, he attempts the OsCutter, BUT IS CAUGHT WITH A SLEEPER!
Choked to a plum colour, the finishing PK narrowly misses, Ospreay dropping him with an ESSEX DESTROYER instead! Cruelling focusing on the skull, Will regains advantage, getting nasty with Kawada Kicks and a CHELSEA GRIN that rocks Shibata! An aerial attempt is again blocked, Shibata evading a Shooting Star Press and simply slapping the hell out of Will! A B*TCHMAKER almost ends him, Katsuyori mocking him as a lesser Okada, but Will takes it personally, rocking him with a brutal Running Knee Strike and nailing a SPIKE PILEDRIVER! Shibata on his knees, inviting Will to give him his best, a (protected) HIDDEN BLADE cracks him upside the head, Ospreay knocking the striker out cold for 3 to retain!
Will Ospreay (c) def. Katsuyori Shibata to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (31:46)
Doubt him, and you’ll be made to regret it. Though earlier in the night, Catch 22’s legendary reign came to an end, United Empire is stronger than ever with Ospreay taking down a murderer’s row of competition. Selling out MSG, Wembley, and a Dome, he only continues to elevate to higher heights. Whilst Shibata is left to be mugged by KENTA to close the show, Will can walk away proud of himself, on the run of a lifetime.
With the Burning Spirit tour up next leading into a second homecoming in one reign for Ospreay at Royal Quest III, there’s one man in particular that’s been barking up his tree as of late, and that’s the NJPW World Television and ROH Pure Champion Zack Sabre Jr.! Someone who’s been a thorn in Will’s side every step of the way and vice versa, he’s not content holding just two titles, wanting to reclaim his status as Zacky Three Belts, and what better way to do that than with the World Championship! Citing his far superior record and win in their last meeting in 2022’s New Japan Cup, Ospreay grants him a chance to show how deserving he truly is.
Burning Spirit - Night Six (September 23, 2023)
Birds of Prey (Will Ospreay & Robbie Eagles) vs Sabre-Gun (Zack Sabre Jr. & Gabriel Kidd)
Will picking his close friend Robbie Eagles to join him (who defected to United Empire during CHAOS’s rebranding after dissension with Lio Rush over Sakura Genesis’s IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship shot), Sabre chooses an interesting ally of his own in Sabre-Gun’s rising star Gabriel Kidd! Zack’s empire slowly growing across 2023 with the additions of El Phantasmo, El Desperado, TMDK, Blake Christian, Clark Connors, and Kosei Fujita, Kidd’s been another that’s greatly impressed since his return from excursion, joining Zack in a tag on the G1 Finals Night to officially become part of the stable, playing off their history of fighting until respect was reached. Originally set to challenge Ospreay for his RevPro Undisputed British Heavyweight Championship last year until a mental health break cancelled those plans, unfinished business stands between the two, Kidd still looking to get Will back for chipping his elbow in a Ladder match back in WCPW 6 years ago.
The animosity between the two very much shows here, as even with Ospreay ascending to untouchable heights in the past year, he’s still the same Will to Kidd, who incessantly targets him throughout the match, wanting his pound of flesh. Will, of course, outclasses him, using his incredible chemistry with Eagles to keep Gabriel at bay, though their shifted focus does open the doors for ZSJ to employ his cunning, bending Ospreay’s arm over the guardrail with an Article 50 before massacring Robbie, an Orienteering With Napalm Death decisively tapping him out! Holding up all three belts as a hurt Will composes himself, Zack sends a definitive statement of things to come.
Sabre-Gun def. Birds of Prey (14:25)
Royal Quest III - Night Two (October 8, 2023)
Also on the tour:
Aussie Open (c) vs Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi) - IWGP Tag Team Championship
Jon Moxley (c) vs Katsuyori Shibata - IWGP United States Championship
Will Ospreay (c) vs Zack Sabre Jr. XVI - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
And so, for the 16th time ever, Ospreay and Sabre are set to go head-to-head! The record 9-6 in Zack’s favour, the Windy Man is nothing short of wholly confident in his own abilities, whilst Will once more enters with a chip on his shoulder, needing to show himself he’s outgrown Sabre for good. For once, London is split directly down the middle between these two, both men having grown up an hour either side from the venue, each in a completely different position since their last meeting, Ospreay on top as the World Champion and Okada-beater, and Sabre now heading a stable of his own like Will, with NJPW singles gold of his own like Will.
Duelling chants of United Empire and Sabre-Gun, both men are perhaps at their most ruthless they’ve been all year here, which is saying something for Ospreay considering his clashes with Omega, the hatred he shows Sabre unlike anything he’s felt for anyone else, wanting to wipe the sneer off his face. He had Okada figured, he had Omega figured, he even eventually had Shibata figured, but ZSJ is one puzzle which feels like running into a brick wall for Captain Dyslexia, the Technical Wizard tying the champion up into knots that are unheard of!
Taunting, bullying, torturing, Sabre picks Ospreay apart with such drive and intensity that it becomes crystal clear just how starved he’s been of NJPW’s top title. Conversely, Will’s just forced to do his best, picking his spots to remind the world he’s still very much in there, not letting the challenger shake him down to his core. A Selected Technical Works Vol 2. does get Ospreay in a bind, though he shows progression from all his matches with Sabre, managing to hang with him technically just enough to survive, forcing Zack to keep switching up his submissions. A European Clutch gets the closest call though, ZSJ very nearly flash-pinning Will for the strap!
That unlocks a whole other beast inside Ospreay, exploding with an uninterrupted 5-minute stretch of offence that has Sabre utterly overwhelmed, Will standing his ground! A HIDDEN BLADE nearly captures another victim, though the impact’s cushioned by Ospreay’s damaged arm dating back to their tag, keeping Zack alive! Still, Will keeps pushing, solely working a striking game despite the searing pain in his limbs, all in the name of strategy, managing to convince an overconfident Sabre to strike with him, though as has been a recurring theme in 2023, Zack gets mauled! And with his guard let ever so slightly down, the hyperfocus on an Article 50 gives way to a STORM BREAKER after being broken on the mat! ONE! TWO! THREE!!!
Will Ospreay (c) def. Zack Sabre Jr. to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (33:50)
Yet again, it’s Ospreay that rules the kingdom with world-class wrestling acumen! As Will collects his title, Sabre cursing under his breath and vowing to be back someday as he leaves with his own two… OUT COMES SHINGO!!! Losing with Naito against Aussie Open for the Tag Titles earlier in the night, the two growing more distant with each other ever since SANADA’s LIJ betrayal put the faction on shaky grounds, Naito’s G1 Finals victory over Shingo only causing further dissension, which they failed to smooth over against the Aussies, the Dragon’s reaching his last wits. And as he eyes Ospreay’s title, it’s clear what he’s here for.
Not receiving a rematch ever since losing the title at Wrestle Kingdom 16, he’s been kept on an empty stomach long enough, his patience wearing thin. Extending a challenge to Will, he wants to be the one walking into WK defending the strap against Naito! Ospreay, uber-confident in his ability to slay his rival once more, accepts!
Battle Autumn - Night Eight (October 23, 2023)
United Empire (Will Ospreay, Jeff Cobb, Aussie Open) vs Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, Yota Tsuji, Hiromu Takahashi)
The Battle Autumn tour pits UE and LIJ against each other in various tags, with Ospreay and co. winning every single one thus far, the issues between Takagi and Naito even spilling into here whilst the rest of LIJ tries to play the role of mediator. With UE dominating and Shingo’s shot mere days away though, they agree something needs to change. And so, for the sake of the greater LIJ family, they do their best to stay out of each other’s ways, finally stringing together some respectable momentum.
As Aussie Open goes for the Coriolis on Naito, Shingo bursts in off tagging Tetsuya’s back, nailing a PUMPING BOMBER on Davis to knock Tetsuya off his shoulders, before a Pumping BombeDestino combo on Kyle and a LAST OF THE DRAGON breaks the LIJ curse, though going right back to sharing tense stares, Naito ultimately nodding to Shingo, wishing him luck. Ospreay, however, stands unfazed, knowing Takagi’s the one with the chip on his shoulder this time.
Los Ingobernables de Japon def. United Empire (18:38)
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After finally vanquishing Kenny Omega at Forbidden Door, Will Ospreay sets his sights on the next logical step – the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. With another of his white whales clutching onto it tightly, he wants closure to this legendary saga too, and so, he calls out the Rainmaker. Big Brother Kazu isn’t fazed one bit by the challenge, telling Ospreay he’s been waiting for him, though not to expect a result any different to their many past matches. After all, from Okada’s point-of-view, Will isn’t NJPW’s next destined leader. There’s a different prodigal son waiting.
Under CHAOS’s new vision, not only has Okada been building a ruthless band of companions willing to follow his regime change, but also focusing on its future, no longer being a top-heavy unit destined to collapse the moment Kazuchika stops supporting its roof. With Hiroshi Tanahashi already bringing in his younger counterpart, Shota Umino, Okada recruits the man prophesised to take over his mantle of Ace one day, Yuya Uemura. His Forbidden Door victory over Wheeler YUTA marking the end of his American excursion, Uemura accompanies his leader’s victory against Blackpool Combat Club in major fashion by accompanying him on the Kizuna Road loop.
Kizuna Road - Night Four (July 3, 2023)
CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada & Yuya Uemura) vs United Empire (Will Ospreay & Jeff Cobb)
Impressing thus far, Yuya’s biggest test comes when he teams with Okada 2-on-2 for the very first time to confront UE’s Ospreay and Cobb, and he quickly silences their criticisms. A one-sided manhandling from Cobb soon turns into Uemura employing strategies passed down to him from Okada on how to beat the Hawaiian Hulk, giving him quite the culture shock, before Okada helps bang the big man’s drum. The flow shifts when Ospreay steps in though, severely outclassing Yuya to both his and Okada’s surprise. This is a different Will to the one Okada faced a year ago in the G1 Climax Finals.
And yet, the Rainmaker has an ego problem. Tagging in, he tries to shut Will down, only to find for once, Ospreay seems to have his number. When the Commonwealth Kingpin has him beat though, going for the Hidden Blade, Yuya throws himself in harm’s way to buy Okada a moment, allowing Kazuchika to Dropkick Will out the equation, before drilling Cobb with a Rainmaker to win! As Ospreay grits his teeth, he understands it’ll take more than that to outsmart Okada.
CHAOS def. United Empire (13:45)
Wrestle Dynasty (July 8, 2023)
Also on the show:
Sabre-Gun (El Phantasmo, Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste) (c) vs Ren Narita & Bishamon - NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship
Aussie Open (c) vs CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii & Shota Umino) - IWGP Tag Team Championship
Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs Jeff Cobb - IWGP United States Championship
Kazuchika Okada (c) vs Will Ospreay IX - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
Across 8 matches, Ospreay has never once beaten Okada cleanly, his only triumph coming from the night of his betrayal in the G1 3 years ago. But now, with a win over the man Okada failed to beat at Dominion, he’s in the best shape he’s ever been to end the reign of tyranny. The question is though, will he? Returning to Madison Square Garden for this historic show, the last time they were here Ospreay was losing to Cobb in a Winner Takes All opener, whilst Okada was winning back the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in the main event. This time, they’re equals.
Ospreay enters on a throne carried to the ring by UE, hamming up his Commonwealth Kingpin moniker and signalling the days of the Aerial Assassin to be long dead. Okada, on the other hand, is the same old Rainmaker, descending from the heavens on a platform, God mode in full effect. With pre-match introductions out the way, the bell rings, and the match gets underway! And in classic Okada/Ospreay fashion, Kazuchika expects to Big Brother Will with the Tanahashi/Okada-style headlock start… BUT OSPREAY RUSHES HIM WITH THE HIDDEN BLADE!!!
Caught off guard, Okada only barely evades him, but Ospreay moves like a lightning bolt, instantly transitioning to springboarding off the ropes for an OSCUTTER! Okada catches it and grabs the wrist, ripcording him into a RAINMAKER! Will ducks though, blasting him with a MARUFUJI HOOK KICK! Okada rocked, nails a SILENT WHISPER to the back of the head, before hooking the arms for the STORM BREAKER!!! But yet again, the Rainmaker barely gets out of dodge, shoving Will away and sliding outside for a breather!
Okada looks like he doesn’t know what’s just hit him, while Ospreay grins and mocks the Rainmaker pose. Snarling, Kazuchika slides back in and gets to trading blows with his challenger. Stiff elbows bounce off their heads in the centre of the ring, an Enzuigiri from Okada whiffing and a Handspring Enzuigiri from Will equally missing the mark! Kazu teases a Dropkick, causing Ospreay to leap, only to meet a stiff Uppercut once gravity gets hold of him.
Tossed into the ropes for a proper Dropkick attempt, Will instead slides to the apron and thunders in with a PIP PIP CHEERIO! A Running Shooting Star Press misses, Ospreay rolling through and racing back at Okada, though he’s launched onto the top turnbuckle. Again, a frustrated Okada wants the Dropkick, but Ospreay catches the leg and spins him around, nailing an INVERTED TORNADO DDT! Crunch. Here come the neck issues.
Okada dazed, nursing the injury in agony, Ospreay stomps the hell out of the neck, before connecting with a ROBINSON SPECIAL! He teases a follow-up OsCutter, Okada anticipating it, only to be faked into a SPIKE DDT! ONE! TWO! THR-KICK OUT! Okada DDT’d the life out of Will last time, so Ospreay’s making sure to return the favour here. He goes for broke one too many times though, a Hangman’s DDT attempt ending in Okada spearing Ospreay across the ring and through the ropes, both smacking off the apron to the floor!
Turning feral ringside, Okada kicks Ospreay senseless like he’s Kaito, before forcefully connecting a DDT of his own! He whips Will at the guardrail for his patented Crossbody spot but Ospreay leaps over, a Silent Whisper staggering Okada, before an OSCUTTER SOARS IN… NOT THIS TIME – OKADA COUNTERS INTO A TOMBSTONE ON THE CONCRETE!!! Getting him back for the G1 Finals, Kazu smugly takes in the boos as Will twitches lifelessly at his feet.
Tossing him in, a MISSILE DROPKICK guns into his neck, before another BEAUTIFUL DROPKICK smacks into his chest, Okada finally in control! A Flapjack plants Will face-first and an AIR RAID CRASH NECKBREAKER again targets the famously-troubled neck of Ospreay! ONE! TWO! THR-NO DICE! Cinching in the MONEY CLIP, he continues working it over, Will sputtering and gasping for breaths as he reaches out at the ropes. Right as he finds himself inches from them though, a GERMAN SUPLEX dumps him on his neck!
Okada hits the pose, before dialling up the RAINMAKER… Ospreay snapmares him over, learning from last time to not back him up. and throws the HIDDEN BLADE!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOO!!! Racing up top, Will prepares a Shooting Star Press, though Okada sluggishly rolls to the apron as he grabs at his head. Deciding to change trajectories… OSPREAY NAILS A SUPER OSCUTTER TO THE FLOOR!!! Body aching yet determined, Will rolls back in, only to soar back out with a SASUKE SPECIAL!!!
Dragging Okada behind him, he drapes him over the top rope, heading back up to finally hit the BURNING STAR PRESS!!! ONE! TWO! THR-OKADA GETS A FOOT ON THE ROPE!!! Keeping his composure, Ospreay murders Okada’s face with Kawada Kicks, before a CHELSEA GRIN knocks him loopy… OSCUTTER INCOMING – OKADA COLLAPSES UNDER!!! Will smacks off the mat, not anticipating it, and lets out a pained grunt as both lay flat on their backs, New York roaring in approval!
Ospreay finds his feet first and tries to pick Okada from his knees, though it results in him being tripped into the ropes throat-first! DROPKICK MEETS OSPREAY AS HE TURNS AROUND! Okada’s noticeably slower than usual, though he doesn’t let it hinder him, picking Will up to nail a SHORT-ARM RAINMAKER! Ospreay stays upright, returning a forearm smash, but another SHORT-ARM RAINMAKER takes him down! Okada teases the finishing blow, though Will resists, prompting Kazu to spike him with a LANDSLIDE instead! ONE! TWO! THR-OSPREAY SURVIVES!
Hauling him right back up, Okada shoots again… WILL COUNTERS WITH AN OSCUTT- DROPKICKED OUT THE SKIES! Okada sets up the SPINNING RAINMAKER, but Ospreay nails the DISCUS ELBOW first! HOOK KICK drops him, before the HIDDEN BLADE closes in… OKADA DUCKS AND FIRES A JOHN WOO DROPKICK, SENDING OSPREAY INTO THE OPPOSITE CORNER! AND A HESITATION DROPKICK – SHADES OF SHIBATA! Will in the drop zone, Okada gets an idea, heading up top… HIGH FLY FLOW!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Okada scowls, picking Will up for the TOMBSTONE… OSPREAY REVERSES INTO A HITODENASHI DRIVER!!! ONE! TWO! THR-OKADA KICKS OUT!!! And now Ospreay hits the Rainmaker pose again! Securing wrist-control, he nails a RAINHAM MAKER!!! ONE! TWO! THR-STILL NO LUCK!!! Ospreay’s running out of options, though refuses to let his confidence waver, sticking to his gameplan. Mauling Okada’s arms, neck, and back with stomps, he picks him for only his second attempt at the ultimate final blow! OSPREAY WANTS STORM BREAKER!!!
Getting Okada up… KAZU DROPS OUT AND NAILS THE RAINMAKER!!! BUT HE CAN’T COVER, HAVING TO NURSE THE ARM! Both men returning to their feet at the same time, they knock each other dead with strikes, Okada scoring the ENZUIGIRI this time, Ospreay returning the POP-UP FOREARM SMASH! Tearing off the elbow pad, OSPREAY FIRES UP THE HIDDEN BLADE… OKADA COUNTERS INTO THE SPINNING EMERALD FLOWSION!!! NOT AGAIN – THIS COMBO ENDED WILL LAST TIME! Okada spells the end… RAINMAKERRRRRRRRRRRR!!! ONE! THIS IS IT! TWO! MSG IS ON THEIR FEET! THRE… OSPREAY KICKS OUT!!! HE’S STILL IN IT!!!
Okada looks like he’s seen a ghost, a barely twitching Ospreay laying at his feet with one shoulder raised! Refusing to accept it, the Rainmaker lifts him back up, BEFORE NAILING ANOTHER ON A DEFENCELESS WILL! Ospreay on his knees, head bowed, Kazu lifts him up by the hair to lock gazes with Will’s glazed-over eyes, before throwing a THIRD AND FINAL- OSPREAY HITS THE RAINMAKER!!! Okada drops like he’s been shot!
And now Will realises this could be it. Struggling back up whilst maintaining wrist-control, he lets out a roar, before nailing a RIPCORD HIDDEN BLADE!!! Okada at his knees now, Will lifts his head up by the hair this time as Kazu dares him to finish him off, too weak to fight back… AND OSPREAY OBLIGES, FISHING HIM INTO A STORM BREAKERRRRRRRRRR!!! ONE! TWO! THREE!!! OSPREAY’S FINALLY DONE IT!!! WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!!!
Will Ospreay def. Kazuchika Okada (c) to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (38:09)
MSG loses its mind as both men lay exhausted, UE rushing out to celebrate with their leader, helping him to his feet and handing him his prize. Golden tickertape hails from the rafters like Okada Dollars, Ospreay seated on a makeshift arm throne by Cobb and O-Khan, raising his title high, whilst Aussie Open and Catch 22 stand on either side, brandishing their respective titles too! And as Okada recovers, rolling out the ring and returning up the ramp, he locks eyes with Ospreay, giving him a look which reads “I’ll be back.” Will doesn’t let it phase him though. This is his night. He’s earned this moment.
G1 Climax 33
Not having to wait long for his first test, he enters his fourth G1 for the first time as reigning champion, redeeming the chance that a neck injury robbed him of in 2021. Heading A Block, he battles CHAOS’s Hiroshi Tanahashi on Night One, who tries to avenge Okada’s loss, though meets the same fate. Will dominates his block, dropping his first match after an undefeated 6 nights, losing to Katsuyori Shibata after their teased program last year at Forbidden Door! Still first though, having victimised SANADA, Shota Umino, EVIL, PAC, and KENTA along the way, he murders El Phantasmo on his 8th night, before meeting Tetsuya Naito in the Block Finals after a 5* duology last year! Finally, El Ingobernable avenges his past losses to punch his ticket to the Finals! As for B Block, a Shingo Takagi victory over Sabre puts him through, setting up a rematch from 2019’s G1 between Naito and Takagi for the Finals, adding fuel to the fire of LIJ’s already turbulent year with SANADA’s betrayal!
(Other key underlying stories are Naito’s loss to SANADA, KENTA beating Shibata in their first match as part of the TakeoveCHAOS feud, PAC finally returning to the ring as AEW’s representative to throw a spanner into LIJ’s works, Kaito taking Okada to a draw, Goto getting his win back over Okada, Sabre equalising his series with Taichi, and Yuya beating Yota in the first chapter of their Ace vs Dark Ace rivalry that’ll propel NJPW once Okada and Naito pass on the respective mantles.)
G1 Climax 33 Finals (August 13, 2023)
Also on this show:
Tetsuya Naito vs Shingo Takagi II - G1 Climax Finals
United Empire (Will Ospreay & Catch 22) vs Los Ingobernables de Japon (Yota Tsuji, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI)
With Naito returning last year’s favour of having the Finals robbed from him by Ospreay, Will instead faces his potential Wrestle Kingdom main event opponent’s factionmates, bringing longest-reigning IWGP Junior Tag Team Champions Catch 22 along for the ride. Whilst using the opportunity to run back his critically acclaimed rivalry with Hiromu Takahashi, he also makes an example out of NEVER Openweight Champion Yota Tsuji, cracking down on the New Generation star to remind Naito and Shingo what he plans to do to them, before pinning BUSHI for the win!
United Empire def. Los Ingobernables de Japon (14:10)
As UE celebrate their win… BANG! DOUBLE SUPERKICK TO OSPREAY! STEEL CHAIR TO TJP AND FRANCESCO AKIRA! THE ELITE IS HERE!!! No rest for the wicked, Omega plants his boot on Will’s head as he holds the IWGP World Title up, making his intentions crystal clear. His match with Okada ended without a clear victor, and so, he not only wants another crack at the belt, but to crush Ospreay to avenge Forbidden Door. And what better place to do that than Wembley Stadium!
RevPro 11 Year Anniversary Show (August 26, 2023)
Will Ospreay vs Ren Narita
Whilst Ospreay/Omega III is announced for the following night, Will takes care of business in Copper Box Arena the night prior against one Ren Narita, continuing to test out the youth of NJPW, having already faced Yuya, Yota, and Shota in the past month. With Shibata holding a win over Ospreay’s head, promising to be back for the victor of ALL IN’s main event, Will batters his student in the meantime to remind him who the best wrestler in the world is right now, a Hidden Blade slaying Ren!
Will Ospreay def. Ren Narita (16:07)
ALL IN: London (August 27, 2023)
Also on the show:
Zack Sabre Jr. (c)(c) vs Bryan Danielson – NJPW World Television/ROH Pure Championships
FTR (c) vs Aussie Open - AEW World Tag Team Championship
Will Ospreay (c) vs Kenny Omega III - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
They’ve fought in Japan’s Tokyo Dome, Canada’s Scotiabank Arena, and now, they finally settle the score in England’s Wembley Stadium. 90,000 strong in attendance, there’s a clear crowd favourite here, football chants raining down for Ospreay. Omega decides to lean into it, tapping fully into his Cleaner look and tendencies with Devil’s Sky, absorbing the hatred. Will, on the other hand, receives a standing ovation in an emotional homecoming, prepared to prove his superiority over Omega once and for all and silence those accusing him of lucky past couple months.
The big first test for Will as champion starts with Kenny trying to get under Ospreay’s skin, stalling him out each time the Commonwealth Kingpin guns for him. Forcing him to work for his golden snitch, Kenny slides out and does jumping jacks until Will takes the bait, Omega quickly repossessing the ring, shutting Ospreay out. Will yells at the referee to back Kenny up, who obliges… ONLY TO EXPLODE FOR A V-TRIGGER THE MOMENT WILL RE-ENTERS!
Ospreay leapfrogs him and comes off the ropes with a hurricanrana, Omega cartwheeling through and throwing one back, Will handstanding out, though not fast enough, eating a DROPKICK TO THE FACE! Ospreay stunned, Kenny launches him into the corner and dogs on him with vicious kicks and stomps until the referee intervenes, Omega throwing one last chest-slicing chop! Incensed, Ospreay rushes out with forearms for Kenny, lighting him up, the Kawada Kicks finding their mark, before a CHELSEA GRIN’S BLOCKED BY A V-TRIGGER!
Ospreay shaking off his arm, Kenny capitalises with another V-TRIGGER, but Will ducks, nailing a Hook Kick, an OSCUTTER due to follow… OMEGA SUPERKICKS OSPREAY OVER THE ROPES! Will floored, a RISE OF THE TERMINATOR wipes him out! Gloating as England boos him, an even better idea crosses Kenny’s mind, sliding back in to nail a SASUKE SPECIAL! Nuclear heat. Battering Ospreay about the ring, he teases smashing his head through a table like WK17, though frantic back elbows force him off!
Kenny seeing stars, Ospreay attempts an OSCUTTER OFF THE GUARDRAIL- V-TRIGGER TO THE BASE OF THE SKULL SNIPES HIM!!! A sickening thud reverberating through the arena as Ospreay’s head snaps forward, a sadistic Kenny lays the section of railing on Will’s body… BEFORE CONNECTING A DIVING DOUBLE FOOT STOMP OFF THE APRON!!! Champion crushed, Omega cackles and dusts off his hands, before kissing Will’s title, eager to bring it home.
As Kenny taunts the crowd, Ospreay’s managed to feebly crawl out the rubble after the referee checking on him, though as Omega senses this, he’s immediately on his tail. Watching Will try to pull himself up using the steel post, KENNY CHARGES FOR ANOTHER V-TRIGGER… CRACK! OSPREAY MOVES OUT THE WAY, OMEGA’S KNEE HITTING THE STEEL INSTEAD!!! The Cleaner yowls in sheer agony as what was starting to look like another dominant showing takes a drastic left turn!
Realising this, Will quickly capitalises, grabbing Omega’s wrists from the opposite side of the post, pulling him up to his feet… Kenny hysterically tries to fight Ospreay off, begging him to spare him, realising what’s coming, WILL YANKING OMEGA HEAD-FIRST INTO THE POST!!! Bouncing it off it over and over again, now it’s Kenny that’s busted open! Omega collapsing back to his knees, Ospreay next grabs the leg and SMASHES KENNY’S KNEE INTO THE POST!!! THEN THE GUARDRAIL!!! AND BACK!!! There’s no mercy from Ospreay tonight.
Rolling Kenny in, he nails Omega’s YOU CAN’T ESCAPE! ONE! TWO! THR-KICK OUT! Forcing Omega to use the bad leg to free himself, Will goes right back to targeting it, kicking the inside of the knee and slamming it against the mat! SHOOTING STAR PRESS TO THE LEG! Omega can’t even be whipped across the ring, collapsing half-way, a ROBINSON SPECIAL crushing him instead! AND A SLINGSHOT CUTTER! ONE! TWO! THR-NO LUCK!
Hooking the arms, Ospreay wants STORM BREAKER, but Omega counters into a hurricanrana pin for 2! A Running Knee Strike from Will comes up empty, Kenny flattening him with a SNAP DRAGON SUPLEX! AND A SECOND! KOTARO KRUSHER FOLLOWS! Smacking the leg to keep up, an AOI SHOUDOU plants Ospreay! ONE! TWO! THR-WILL STAYS IN IT! A Doctor Bomb attempt is subdued, Ospreay hammering the knee to escape, before a ROUNDHOUSE cleans Kenny’s clock, a POISONED FRANKENSTEINER standing him up, and an ESSEX DESTROY- POP-UP V-TRIGGER!!!
Kenny desperately tries getting a limp Will on his shoulders for the ONE WINGED ANGEL, using the ropes for help, but Ospreay leans forwards, tumbling onto the apron to escape! SILENT WHISPER blasts Kenny… OMEGA THROWS A V-TRIGGER BACK, KNOCKING WILL OUT! Leg searing yet title more important, Kenny gingerly lifts Ospreay up the ropes with him, before going for OH GOD A MIDDLE ROPE CROYT’S WRATH!!! OSPREAY FLIPS TO HIS FEET!!!
The sneer on Omega’s face slowly fades as realisation strikes him, shades of Ibushi/Ospreay, Will not even giving him a chance to respond, HOOK KICK CONNECTING! OSCUTTERRRRRRRRR!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Frustrated, Ospreay hammers on the cut on Kenny’s forehead, painting his own chest with Omega’s blood, BEFORE REMOVING THE TURNBUCKLE PAD! He wants to return the favour from WK! Taking Kenny to the top rope, Ospreay teases a DDT onto the exposed steel… Omega slips between his legs to the mat and CROTCHES WILL ON THE METAL!!!
Kenny cackles as Ospreay howls, before packaging his head and nailing a CHEEKY NANDOS KICK! Blasting Will repeatedly, a V-TRIGGER FOLLOWS, SMASHING WILL’S HEAD INTO THE STEEL!!! AND HE SPINS HIM AROUND – AVALANCHE PHOENIX-PLEX!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Kenny beats on Will’s fresh cut, leaving both men bloody messes, before readying a V-TRIGGER… Ospreay grabs Omega’s foot! Pissed, Kenny shakes him off, nailing a STANDING V-TRIGGER straight to the cut, BEFORE SPIKING HIM WITH AN IBUSHI-STYLE BASTARD DRIVER!!! ONE! TWO! THR-OSPREAY SURVIVES AGAIN!!!
Ospreay’s body limply leaning on the ropes, Kenny cocks and fires a V-TRIGGER, Will simply bouncing back head-first onto the Canadian! Setting him back, Omega takes another run-up, NAILING HIM WITH A SECOND IN SUCCESSION!!! The champion still out on his knees, twisted thoughts run through Kenny’s mind, prepping his elbow… HE WANTS TO CONCUSS WILL LIKE OSPREAY DID IBUSHI AT WK13!!! OMEGA THROWS THE HIDDEN BLADE… V-TRIGGER FROM OSPREAY!!! Sparking to life, he grabs the wrists and ripcords for a RAINHAM MAKER!!! ONE! TWO! THR-KENNY’S STILL IN IT!!!
Omega on dream street, Ospreay locks and loads THE HIDDEN BLADE, CONNECTING FLUSH ON KENNY’S JAW!!! But as Will goes to cover, Omega collapses out the ring! Ospreay’s lets out a frustrated wail, but he makes the chase all the same, kicking the lifeless Kenny about ringside. A weak chop from Omega meets a sickening forearm, and a wild punch completely misses, Kenny’s legs giving out. TIGER SUPLEX DUMPS HIM ON THE FLOOR!!! Kenny now fully collapsed, Ospreay gets an idea… PULLING OUT A LADDER FROM UNDER THE RING!!!
Clearing the commentary table, he hoists The Cleaner onto it, before propping the ladder next-door and climbing! Sending a silent prayer to the skies, OSPREAY LAUNCHES OFF WITH A PHOENIX SPLASH, CONNECTING ALL OF IT!!! The crowd goes ballistic with the two men dead in the rubble, both unmoving for several seconds until Will finally faintly grins to himself for returning a taste of WK17’s table. Dragging himself inside, he flops into his corner, lying in wait for the challenger, who has the look of a soulless corpse once he finds his feet and locks eyes with Ospreay, barely rolling inside at 9 but immediately collapsing again.
Ready to end it, Will crawls over and lifts Kenny to his knees by the wrists, SCORING A KAMIGOYE-STYLE HIDDEN BLADE!!! Omega rocked, Ospreay backs up to his corner for seconds, BUT KENNY PULLS THE REFEREE INTO THE WAY! Will catches himself in time, pausing in his tracks, though is left exposed to a LOW BLOW!!! Wembley goes mental with boos as Kenny weakly chuckles, feebly clawing up to his feet up a confused referee to nail a V-TRIGGER!!! Lifting him by the wrists, a RAIN TRIGGER FOLLOWS!!! AND HE GETS THE ELECTRIC CHAIR AGAINST ALL ODDS… BUT HE COLLAPSES!!!
Omega shakes his head in denial, tearing up, his golden ticket in the palm of his hands! Heaving himself back up, he tries again, but Will anchors his body to the ground! Incredulous, he grabs Ospreay by the hair, who grins mockingly, AND SLAMS AN UGLY REAR KAMIGOYE INTO THE BACK OF HIS HEAD!!! COVER!!! ONE! T-KICK OUT!!! OSPREAY KICKS OUT AT ONE!!! Though still completely out of it, the act of sheer defiance certainly sees Kenny’s confidence shatter in real time, who like an unhinged animal beats on Ospreay’s forehead gash until Omega too collapses next to him!
In a last-ditch effort, he staggers to his feet and puts Will’s head between his legs, wanting a CLASSIC PILEDRIVER!!! OSPREAY HANDSTANDS OUT!!! Omega’s horrified- HIDDEN BLADE!!! ONE TO THE BACK OF THE HEAD!!! Kenny kneeled, Ospreay stands next to him, prepping the OsCutter, but Omega grabs him by the tights! No force in him though, he tells Will to look him in the eyes… AND HE FLIPS HIM OFF!!! SILENT WHISPER TO KENNY!!! AND AN OSCUTTER!!! Rolling through, he deadlifts him up, CONNECTING THE STORM BREAKERRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!! ONE! TWO! THREE!!!
Will Ospreay (c) def. Kenny Omega to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (43:29)
At long last, it’s over. In front of his own people, the Commonwealth Kingpin has proven he’s Japan’s top gaijin and the most valuable wrestler today. Handed his gold, he watches as a prideful Omega refuses help, mustering up the strength to drag himself up using the ropes, before meeting Will’s gaze. At the end of the first match, he gloated. At the end of the second, he was crushed. But now? He gives Will a subtle nod of respect, officially passing the torch as he takes his bow, leaving Ospreay to take over the world.
Whilst he may have knocked down his two biggest obstacles in Okada and Omega, a dark horse third awaits him back in Japan by the name of Katsuyori Shibata! The only other individual to beat Will in the G1 other than the winner himself, he calls him out for a shot, still waiting on a reign of his own. A determined Ospreay doesn’t back down, though when he goes for a rare show of respect in a press conference heading in, extending a hand as the bigger man, Shibata outright refuses to shake! Seeing through Will’s superficialness, he declares that he owes Ospreay no respect, refusing to accept him as the company’s face that they’ve so desperately tried to mould him into. He was held back for choosing to carve his own path away from the Musketeers, and now he’s going to stick it to the company by exposing their golden boy like Sakura Genesis 2017! Will grits his teeth but says nothing, knowing he’ll just need to prove himself again.
Wrestle Grand Slam in Belluna Dome (September 10, 2023)
Also on the show:
Yota Tsuji (c) vs Yuya Uemura - NEVER Openweight Championship
Catch 22 (c) vs CHAOS (SHO & Taiji Ishimori) - IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
Aussie Open (c) vs FTR - IWGP Tag Team Championship
Will Ospreay (c) vs Katsuyori Shibata III - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
In only the third IWGP World Title match of his career, 6 years since the infamous incident, The Wrestler receives a chance to redeem all the troubles he was put through and avenge his pupil Narita in the process. As for Ospreay, having lost to Shibata in both their matches in 2017 and 2023 respectively, he must carve out his spot definitively by knocking down another of his white whales. Taking place interestingly in KENTA’s hometown, Katsuyori’s even more driven to stick it to the man he despises most and lost to in the G1 by winning here, a pair of rather simple, stoic entrances setting the tone for the main event.
Initially, just like the G1, Shibata starts by beating the hell out of the much younger star to humble him, though Ospreay’s much quicker to put up his fists this time, learning. Youthful arrogance sees him get a couple teeth knocked down his throat though, his patented elbows instantly receiving a much stiffer receipt from Shibata, dropping him dead! Unable to outstrike the most dangerous man in New Japan, Will instead leans on his weight advantage, brutally slamming him down with London Has Fallen and scoring a vicious Liger Bomb to boot. Growing comfortable, he attempts the OsCutter, BUT IS CAUGHT WITH A SLEEPER!
Choked to a plum colour, the finishing PK narrowly misses, Ospreay dropping him with an ESSEX DESTROYER instead! Cruelling focusing on the skull, Will regains advantage, getting nasty with Kawada Kicks and a CHELSEA GRIN that rocks Shibata! An aerial attempt is again blocked, Shibata evading a Shooting Star Press and simply slapping the hell out of Will! A B*TCHMAKER almost ends him, Katsuyori mocking him as a lesser Okada, but Will takes it personally, rocking him with a brutal Running Knee Strike and nailing a SPIKE PILEDRIVER! Shibata on his knees, inviting Will to give him his best, a (protected) HIDDEN BLADE cracks him upside the head, Ospreay knocking the striker out cold for 3 to retain!
Will Ospreay (c) def. Katsuyori Shibata to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (31:46)
Doubt him, and you’ll be made to regret it. Though earlier in the night, Catch 22’s legendary reign came to an end, United Empire is stronger than ever with Ospreay taking down a murderer’s row of competition. Selling out MSG, Wembley, and a Dome, he only continues to elevate to higher heights. Whilst Shibata is left to be mugged by KENTA to close the show, Will can walk away proud of himself, on the run of a lifetime.
With the Burning Spirit tour up next leading into a second homecoming in one reign for Ospreay at Royal Quest III, there’s one man in particular that’s been barking up his tree as of late, and that’s the NJPW World Television and ROH Pure Champion Zack Sabre Jr.! Someone who’s been a thorn in Will’s side every step of the way and vice versa, he’s not content holding just two titles, wanting to reclaim his status as Zacky Three Belts, and what better way to do that than with the World Championship! Citing his far superior record and win in their last meeting in 2022’s New Japan Cup, Ospreay grants him a chance to show how deserving he truly is.
Burning Spirit - Night Six (September 23, 2023)
Birds of Prey (Will Ospreay & Robbie Eagles) vs Sabre-Gun (Zack Sabre Jr. & Gabriel Kidd)
Will picking his close friend Robbie Eagles to join him (who defected to United Empire during CHAOS’s rebranding after dissension with Lio Rush over Sakura Genesis’s IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship shot), Sabre chooses an interesting ally of his own in Sabre-Gun’s rising star Gabriel Kidd! Zack’s empire slowly growing across 2023 with the additions of El Phantasmo, El Desperado, TMDK, Blake Christian, Clark Connors, and Kosei Fujita, Kidd’s been another that’s greatly impressed since his return from excursion, joining Zack in a tag on the G1 Finals Night to officially become part of the stable, playing off their history of fighting until respect was reached. Originally set to challenge Ospreay for his RevPro Undisputed British Heavyweight Championship last year until a mental health break cancelled those plans, unfinished business stands between the two, Kidd still looking to get Will back for chipping his elbow in a Ladder match back in WCPW 6 years ago.
The animosity between the two very much shows here, as even with Ospreay ascending to untouchable heights in the past year, he’s still the same Will to Kidd, who incessantly targets him throughout the match, wanting his pound of flesh. Will, of course, outclasses him, using his incredible chemistry with Eagles to keep Gabriel at bay, though their shifted focus does open the doors for ZSJ to employ his cunning, bending Ospreay’s arm over the guardrail with an Article 50 before massacring Robbie, an Orienteering With Napalm Death decisively tapping him out! Holding up all three belts as a hurt Will composes himself, Zack sends a definitive statement of things to come.
Sabre-Gun def. Birds of Prey (14:25)
Royal Quest III - Night Two (October 8, 2023)
Also on the tour:
Aussie Open (c) vs Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi) - IWGP Tag Team Championship
Jon Moxley (c) vs Katsuyori Shibata - IWGP United States Championship
Will Ospreay (c) vs Zack Sabre Jr. XVI - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
And so, for the 16th time ever, Ospreay and Sabre are set to go head-to-head! The record 9-6 in Zack’s favour, the Windy Man is nothing short of wholly confident in his own abilities, whilst Will once more enters with a chip on his shoulder, needing to show himself he’s outgrown Sabre for good. For once, London is split directly down the middle between these two, both men having grown up an hour either side from the venue, each in a completely different position since their last meeting, Ospreay on top as the World Champion and Okada-beater, and Sabre now heading a stable of his own like Will, with NJPW singles gold of his own like Will.
Duelling chants of United Empire and Sabre-Gun, both men are perhaps at their most ruthless they’ve been all year here, which is saying something for Ospreay considering his clashes with Omega, the hatred he shows Sabre unlike anything he’s felt for anyone else, wanting to wipe the sneer off his face. He had Okada figured, he had Omega figured, he even eventually had Shibata figured, but ZSJ is one puzzle which feels like running into a brick wall for Captain Dyslexia, the Technical Wizard tying the champion up into knots that are unheard of!
Taunting, bullying, torturing, Sabre picks Ospreay apart with such drive and intensity that it becomes crystal clear just how starved he’s been of NJPW’s top title. Conversely, Will’s just forced to do his best, picking his spots to remind the world he’s still very much in there, not letting the challenger shake him down to his core. A Selected Technical Works Vol 2. does get Ospreay in a bind, though he shows progression from all his matches with Sabre, managing to hang with him technically just enough to survive, forcing Zack to keep switching up his submissions. A European Clutch gets the closest call though, ZSJ very nearly flash-pinning Will for the strap!
That unlocks a whole other beast inside Ospreay, exploding with an uninterrupted 5-minute stretch of offence that has Sabre utterly overwhelmed, Will standing his ground! A HIDDEN BLADE nearly captures another victim, though the impact’s cushioned by Ospreay’s damaged arm dating back to their tag, keeping Zack alive! Still, Will keeps pushing, solely working a striking game despite the searing pain in his limbs, all in the name of strategy, managing to convince an overconfident Sabre to strike with him, though as has been a recurring theme in 2023, Zack gets mauled! And with his guard let ever so slightly down, the hyperfocus on an Article 50 gives way to a STORM BREAKER after being broken on the mat! ONE! TWO! THREE!!!
Will Ospreay (c) def. Zack Sabre Jr. to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (33:50)
Yet again, it’s Ospreay that rules the kingdom with world-class wrestling acumen! As Will collects his title, Sabre cursing under his breath and vowing to be back someday as he leaves with his own two… OUT COMES SHINGO!!! Losing with Naito against Aussie Open for the Tag Titles earlier in the night, the two growing more distant with each other ever since SANADA’s LIJ betrayal put the faction on shaky grounds, Naito’s G1 Finals victory over Shingo only causing further dissension, which they failed to smooth over against the Aussies, the Dragon’s reaching his last wits. And as he eyes Ospreay’s title, it’s clear what he’s here for.
Not receiving a rematch ever since losing the title at Wrestle Kingdom 16, he’s been kept on an empty stomach long enough, his patience wearing thin. Extending a challenge to Will, he wants to be the one walking into WK defending the strap against Naito! Ospreay, uber-confident in his ability to slay his rival once more, accepts!
Battle Autumn - Night Eight (October 23, 2023)
United Empire (Will Ospreay, Jeff Cobb, Aussie Open) vs Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, Yota Tsuji, Hiromu Takahashi)
The Battle Autumn tour pits UE and LIJ against each other in various tags, with Ospreay and co. winning every single one thus far, the issues between Takagi and Naito even spilling into here whilst the rest of LIJ tries to play the role of mediator. With UE dominating and Shingo’s shot mere days away though, they agree something needs to change. And so, for the sake of the greater LIJ family, they do their best to stay out of each other’s ways, finally stringing together some respectable momentum.
As Aussie Open goes for the Coriolis on Naito, Shingo bursts in off tagging Tetsuya’s back, nailing a PUMPING BOMBER on Davis to knock Tetsuya off his shoulders, before a Pumping BombeDestino combo on Kyle and a LAST OF THE DRAGON breaks the LIJ curse, though going right back to sharing tense stares, Naito ultimately nodding to Shingo, wishing him luck. Ospreay, however, stands unfazed, knowing Takagi’s the one with the chip on his shoulder this time.
Los Ingobernables de Japon def. United Empire (18:38)
2023.05.28 05:42 rosemyriad FP ep 247
The of the cliff hanger in episode 247 would've been better than decent if Rachel didn't abuse cliff hangers so much. I can't say that the cliff hanger in episode 247 wasn't effective because it'll definitely make more people (me included) but over all I'm still kind of appalled at Rachel's use of cliff hangers in relation to Apollo assaulting Persephone.
I want a full chapter, not just a scene amidst other scenes with other characters, of Persephone dealing with her SA. I'll take anything at this point instead of the breadcrumbs we've been getting. Any scene where Persephone talks or reflects about her assault feels like it was jammed in. It feels like the sexual assault wasn't written in a way to properly fit into the story it seems like more of an after thought. The truth about what happened to Persephone always seems to be forced out of her or Persephone isn't the one initiating the conversation about her assault.
I'm going to put my thoughts on Apollo here since I made a post about the fast pass preview a while ago and I forgot to talk about the panel of Artemis and Apollo embracing.
Characters are tools in an author's arsenal that they can use to further their story. Characters are supposed to have motivations that are fueled by their thoughts and emotions that drive them to do whatever it is they want to do in the story. Apollo isn't a character, and he was never allowed to be, he's a flanderized caricature of what Rachel thinks a rapist is. That statement in no capacity condones or diminishes what he did to Persephone in Lore Olympus. What Lore Olympus Apollo did is wrong we all know it. The narrative was just specifically designed to make the audience dislike him.
Apollo could've just been an abusive ex partner like Minthe and how he was in the pilot. Fans still would've hated his guts in the beginning for treating Perse like shit during their relationship but it would have given the assault more build up and reasoning behind it. When Apollo assaulted Persephone it felt like I was reading a stranger assault Persephone since he had just met her that day. There was no established relationship between these two characters prior to their meeting. Apollo found Persephone sexy and decided to rape her. It's so shallow.
A better example of assault in fiction, comparable to Lore Olympus, that I can think of off the top of my head, is the scene in Maleficent when King Stephen cuts off Malificent's wings and it's implied that he assaulted her while she was unconscious. I felt Malificent's pain more and the betrayal of King's Stephen was stronger because of their already established relationship that build the foundation of trust that could be destroyed.
When Rachel wrote in Apollo she didn't intend for him to be likable or to even be allowed to exist. He's only exists to cause conflict and insert himself into the narrative which wouldn't be so bad if he was at least a little bit compelling while doing it.
Now I'm starting to wonder if the assault is going to be brought up during group therapy session /hj. Kind of hate how the only way to paint Demeter in a positive light and put her towards the path of redemption is give her mommy issues. Like not a single damn character in this comic can take personal accountability for their actions. It's like when Thanatos told Hades he was a bad parental figure to him growing up but Hades used his childhood trauma as an excuse as to why he was negligent. Demeter can't just come to the self realization that maybe the way she treated Persephone and what she put her daughter through during the intervention was bad and maybe Demeter was a little harsh on Persephone growing up hence why Persephone turned out the way she did and does the things that she does.
Anyways those are just my thoughts feel free to leave yours in the comments I'm very interested in reading.
submitted by rosemyriad to UnpopularLoreOlympus [link] [comments]
I want a full chapter, not just a scene amidst other scenes with other characters, of Persephone dealing with her SA. I'll take anything at this point instead of the breadcrumbs we've been getting. Any scene where Persephone talks or reflects about her assault feels like it was jammed in. It feels like the sexual assault wasn't written in a way to properly fit into the story it seems like more of an after thought. The truth about what happened to Persephone always seems to be forced out of her or Persephone isn't the one initiating the conversation about her assault.
I'm going to put my thoughts on Apollo here since I made a post about the fast pass preview a while ago and I forgot to talk about the panel of Artemis and Apollo embracing.
Characters are tools in an author's arsenal that they can use to further their story. Characters are supposed to have motivations that are fueled by their thoughts and emotions that drive them to do whatever it is they want to do in the story. Apollo isn't a character, and he was never allowed to be, he's a flanderized caricature of what Rachel thinks a rapist is. That statement in no capacity condones or diminishes what he did to Persephone in Lore Olympus. What Lore Olympus Apollo did is wrong we all know it. The narrative was just specifically designed to make the audience dislike him.
Apollo could've just been an abusive ex partner like Minthe and how he was in the pilot. Fans still would've hated his guts in the beginning for treating Perse like shit during their relationship but it would have given the assault more build up and reasoning behind it. When Apollo assaulted Persephone it felt like I was reading a stranger assault Persephone since he had just met her that day. There was no established relationship between these two characters prior to their meeting. Apollo found Persephone sexy and decided to rape her. It's so shallow.
A better example of assault in fiction, comparable to Lore Olympus, that I can think of off the top of my head, is the scene in Maleficent when King Stephen cuts off Malificent's wings and it's implied that he assaulted her while she was unconscious. I felt Malificent's pain more and the betrayal of King's Stephen was stronger because of their already established relationship that build the foundation of trust that could be destroyed.
When Rachel wrote in Apollo she didn't intend for him to be likable or to even be allowed to exist. He's only exists to cause conflict and insert himself into the narrative which wouldn't be so bad if he was at least a little bit compelling while doing it.
Now I'm starting to wonder if the assault is going to be brought up during group therapy session /hj. Kind of hate how the only way to paint Demeter in a positive light and put her towards the path of redemption is give her mommy issues. Like not a single damn character in this comic can take personal accountability for their actions. It's like when Thanatos told Hades he was a bad parental figure to him growing up but Hades used his childhood trauma as an excuse as to why he was negligent. Demeter can't just come to the self realization that maybe the way she treated Persephone and what she put her daughter through during the intervention was bad and maybe Demeter was a little harsh on Persephone growing up hence why Persephone turned out the way she did and does the things that she does.
Anyways those are just my thoughts feel free to leave yours in the comments I'm very interested in reading.
2023.05.28 05:28 InfernoAA God Made the World in Six Days, I’ll Perfect New Japan's on the Seventh Part Four: Ring o' Roses
In Part Three, Shingo Takagi confronted both his duties as World Heavyweight Champion and member of Los Ingobernables de Japon, proceeding to right the wrongs of his first reign by winning the January 4 main event against Tetsuya Naito to squash their beef and become co-leaders. With PAC shockingly joining the group after having gone on a crusade against them, they seemed stronger than ever, all except for Shingo's neck. Feeling the weight of CHAOS crushing it, it took both Kazuchika Okada and Hiroshi Tanahashi to bring him to his knees, the Ace of the Universe back to his rightful spot after 5 years, restoring CHAOS’s purist regime. Ending off on keeping the riches from blood rival Katsuyori Shibata yet again, he now awaits the arrival of the 2024 New Japan Cup Winner...
New Japan Cup Finals (March 28, 2024)
“ZACK SABRE JR. HAS PAC IN HYPERNORMALISATION! PAC SUBMITS! LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FOR THE THIRD TIME IN HISTORY OUR NEW JAPAN CUP WINNER IS ZSJ!” After two failed attempts to translate his cup success into gold, the Bone Master has another chance to fulfil his career’s greatest goal. And out walks the man he beat in the 2018 Finals for his first win, the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, Hiroshi Tanahashi! One of Zack’s biggest rivals since coming to Japan, and one that’s had his number more time than he’s had theirs, he must beat the godly Ace of the Universe if he wishes to claim his first piece of IWGP-commissioned singles gold!
The stage set for Sakura Genesis, Sabre makes sure to rub in everyone’s faces the premonition he laid down at New Year’s Dash. He said to LIJ he’d be back for the title, and after beating one of their men, he’s made good on his claims. And now, he’s going to make ‘God’ bow to him, whether he wants to or not. When asked for his opinion on the challenger, Tanahashi says he’s amused by how earnestly the Windy Man’s tried to become a New Japan guy, moving his entire life to Japan in pursuit of the top prize. Whilst that dedication may be admirable, it’ll be for nought, Zack just another visitor to his grand kingdom, CHAOS remaining Sabre’s white whale at the end of every NJC journey.
Sakura Genesis (April 7, 2024)
Also on the show:
United Empire (Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, Aaron Henare) (c) vs Just6Guys (SANADA, Taichi, Ryohei Oiwa) - NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship
YOH (c) vs El Desperado - IWGP Junior Tag Team Championship
TMDK (c) vs Bishamon - IWGP Tag Team Championship
Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs Zack Sabre Jr. XI - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
They say third time’s the charm, but that remains to be seen in Sabre’s case. Sabre-Gun with mixed successes throughout the night, El Desperado coming up short whilst TMDK kept their gold, it’s up to their leader to set an example for his group. Popping his collar, he steels his gaze on the championship as Tanahashi makes his entrance, Zack blocking out the surrounding world. Despite channelling the controversial words of the polarising Okada for the past year, Hiroshi still has Ryogoku in the palm of his hands, remaining the people’s favourite no matter the shade of grey he envelops himself in. Back to his pomp and circumstance, he gives ZSJ the full show of what a true star looks like, ready to bring Sabre back down to reality.
It's a methodical opening from the two talented grapplers, Tanahashi standing toe-to-toe with the best technical wrestler in the world with merely his sheer aura. Sabre shoots for an early Article 50, but Tana sidesteps him into the ropes, before condescendingly patting him on the cheek! Zack retaliates with a forearm, knocking Tana to the mat, a deluge of stomps raining down on his face as the Hiroshi tries to cover up!
Escaping to the ropes, Sabre charges at him with a EUROPEAN UPPERCUT! Tana evades, connecting a DRAGON-STYLE HARITE, slapping respect into the challenger! Incensed, Sabre leaves a mark with a stinging slap of his own, before nailing a chain of Uppercuts! Tana fights back for a TWIST AND SHOUT, though Sabre counters with a FLATLINER! A High-Angle German is stuffed, Zack decked with an ALL OUT and a MIDDLE-ROPE SENTON BOMB! ONE! TWO! THR-KICK OUT!
Tana guns for the leg like he did Shibata, but a Feint Roundhouse into a Legsweep from ZSJ floors him! AND A NECK TWIST!!! With Hiroshi distracted by his neck, Sabre immediately switches for the legs, applying SUNDAY RAIL ENGINEERING WORKS REPLACEMENT BUS SERVICE!!! Tana’s quick to make the ropes, though has to physically pull himself to the apron when Sabre doesn’t release! No breather for him, Zack hooks his leg in the ropes and connects a DRAGON SCREW!
Tana receiving a taste of his own medicine, Sabre slides out and scores one directly on the apron, bashing Hiroshi’s leg into the hardest part of the ring! He attempts to Irish Whip Tanahashi into the ring post, but the Once in a Century Talent nails a SLING BLADE ON THE APRON! DRAGON SUPLEX TO THE FLOOR!!! Playing the starpower card, Tana poses with a grin as the cameras catch a shot of Sabre beneath him. He doesn’t notice Zack’s little twitches though, committing to a HIGH FLY FLOW TO THE OUTSIDE!!! A POSSUM SABRE PUSHES HIM MID-AIR ONTO THE BARRICADE!!!
As Tokyo gasps, it’s academic from Sabre as he threads Tana’s leg through a steel chair, PILMANISING IT!!! Evidence long discarded by the time the referee walks over, he wraps Hiroshi’s leg around the steel post, using it to apply a SASORI-GATAME!!! Tana lets out shouts of agony, Zack milking the suffering as Hiroshi begs the referee to get the challenger to stop. Eventually letting go, he forces Tanahashi to walk himself back into the spider’s web, a SPRINGBOARD ENZUIGIRI awaiting! BRIDGING NORTHERN LIGHTS SUPLEX! ONE! TWO! THR-KICK OUT!
Swivelling into a KNEEBAR now, he rolls around with Tana’s leg in his grasp, countering Hiroshi’s each attempts at escape, before going for the SELECTED TECHNICAL WORKS VOL. 2 combination, but Tana stacks his shoulders up! ONE! TWO! THR-NO LUCK! Forced to release to kick out, he scrambles to his feet to batter Hiroshi with a elbows, a DISCUS ELBOW SMASH staggering him, but a Pele Kick is caught, Tana nailing his own DRAGON SCREW!!!
A TWIST AND SHOUT follows, before Tana wraps on the DRAGON SWING! Wrenching on the neck, he makes a good few rotations before suddenly dropping to a knee, his leg unable to hold up for too long. Going for a DRAGON SUPLEX, it’s blocked by a barrage of back elbows, though Hiroshi nails the DARUMA-SHIKI GERMAN INSTEAD!!! ONE! TWO! THR-SABRE KICKS OUT! Nursing his neck, Sabre gets no reprieve as a HASE URANAGE spikes him, and a HIGH FLY ATTACK… IS CAUGHT IN AN ANKLE LOCK!!!
Tana rolls through but Sabre rolls with him, though he can’t get the grapevine, Tana booting him off with the other leg! TWIST AND SHOUT! Sabre subdued, a SLING BLADE takes him down, a HIGH FLY FLOW FOLLOWING SUIT!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Tana rushes for a TEXAS CLOVERLEAF, putting the hurt on Zack’s legs now! The Submission Master searches for escapes yet Hiroshi commits his everything to this move, not letting him free for the life of him! That is, until his own leg gives way! Grounded, he can’t stop a PENALTY KICK!!! AND A ZACK DRIVER!!! ONE! TWO! THR-TANA STAYS ALIVE!!!
Ragdolling Hiroshi with a pair of Double Underhook Suplexes, Zack puts Tana in a prone position to stomp the insides of the knees, before applying a CALF SLICER!!! Yet again, the Ace of the Universe is in trouble, his condition deteriorating with each submission. Knowing he needs to change that and fast… HE GRABS ZACK’S SKULL AND RAMS IT INTO THE MAT REPEATEDLY TO BREAK!!! Gears turning in his mind from Sabre’s tribute, HE GETS HIM UP FOR A STYLES CLASH!!! ONE! TWO! THR-SABRE SURVIVES!!!
Connecting a SLING BLADE, he dumps Zack with a DRAGON SUPLEX! ZACK RESPONDS WITH ONE OF HIS OWN! Open palm strikes from Tana light up Zack, only for him to wring out the arm for a PELE KICK!!! Sabre teases a Legsweep, but Hiroshi hops over this time and nails a GROUNDED HIGH FLY FLOW!!! Air driven out of ZSJ’s lungs, Tana hoists him up… AND NAILS A TOMBSTONE PILEDRIVER!!! SHADES OF OKADA!!! The CHAOS Leader beating him like this both past Sakura Geneses, it’s going to happen again!
Scaling the ropes, Tana crashes down with a HIGH FLY FLOWWWWWWWWWW!!! But he’s not done! Wanting to make an example out of Sabre, he takes his time posing atop the world like the star he is… BUT IT ALLOWS ZACK TO RECOVER, GRABBING HIS LEG!!! Hammering the knee before Tana has a chance to respond, he yanks him off… RUNNING LIGER BOMB!!! ONE! TWO! THR-KICK OUT!!! STRAIGHT INTO CLARKY CAT BAD BALLOON REMIX!!! Folding Tana’s leg over his shoulder, he utterly destroys the geriatric knees over the champion, who wails in agony, doing anything he can to break free… BUT HE’S TOO FAR FROM THE ROPES!!! TANAHASHI TAPS OUT!!! THIRD TIME’S THE CHARM – ZSJ’S THE NEW KING OF NEW JAPAN!!!
Zack Sabre Jr. def. Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (30:23)
Cutting Tanahashi’s reign brutally short, Sabre-Gun has claimed its spot on the throne! Raising up both his trophy and championship, he’s lifted onto TMDK’s shoulders, the three men flaunting their gold to the world as the remainder of the stable joins them! Tana shell-shocked, he hangs his head in shame and despair as he limps off, Ryogoku the first of many dark days for NJPW…
As the new monarch, Sabre’s first order of business is simple – kill off his counterpart. And by that he means the man who successfully defended the title against him last year, Will Ospreay. Though he may hold the title, jealousy courses through ZSJ’s veins knowing the Commonwealth Kingpin’s considered the company’s top gaijin despite Zack’s superior record over him. Wanting to change that, he calls out Ospreay, who’s fresh off dropping the NEVER 6-Man Titles to Just6Guys, having had quite the identity crisis since having the WK main event taken from him. Eager at the chance at a do-over, he accepts without hesitation.
Wrestling Hinokuni (April 27, 2024)
Sabre-Gun (Zack Sabre Jr. & TMDK) vs United Empire (Will Ospreay & Aussie Open)
Whilst Sabre and Ospreay have kept their distance since their Royal Quest match, the same can’t be said about the greater stables. World Tag League Winners TMDK taking Aussie Open’s IWGP Tag Team Championship at Wrestle Kingdom and United Empire successfully defending the NEVER Titles against Sabre-Gun at the Anniversary Show, this conclusion was only inevitable. Aussie Open also wanting a chance to get their titles back, they team with Ospreay here against the champion unit, the Commonwealth Nations going to war for supremacy.
Unlike Royal Quest, Sabre’s notably a lot surer of himself against Will here, no longer compensating by matching his striking game, rather trying to make Ospreay play his game instead. However, even with Zack being in his best possible form, SG falters against UE once more, the Coriolis to Mikey Nicholls setting the stage for Wrestling Dontaku! Zack grits his teeth as much like Tanahashi, Ospreay looks down on him.
United Empire def. Sabre-Gun (17:34)
Wrestling Dontaku (May 4, 2024)
Also on the show:
Ren Narita (c) vs Shota Umino - NEVER Openweight Championship
Taichi (c) vs Hiromu Takahashi - NJPW World Television Championship
YOH (c) vs Robbie Eagles - IWGP Junior Tag Team Championship
KENTA (c) vs PAC - IWGP United States Championship
TMDK (c) vs Aussie Open - IWGP Tag Team Championship
Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs Will Ospreay XVII - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
A rivalry extending back an entire decade to the UK Indies, the spot for best British wrestler in the world has long been contested between these two. Back at it again, it’s time they settle the score once more. Ospreay strides out comfortably, having been in this position plenty of times by now as a potentially soon-to-be 3x World Champion, this his domain. As for Sabre, it’s his first time defending a title of this magnitude, pressure clearly weighing on his shoulders, but taking a deep breath, he prepares himself for victory just like TMDK earlier in the night.
As the bell rings… Ospreay explodes for a DROPKICK right away – shades of NJC 2021! Zack fishes the leg out the air and applies an ANKLE LOCK, LOOKING TO TAP HIM OUT WITHIN THE FIRST FEW SECONDS OF THE MATCH! Alarmed, Ospreay thrashes with kicks from his free leg to force Sabre off, rolling to the outside to recollect himself! Sabre doesn’t let him though, nailing a Baseball Slide Dropkick, before tossing him back in and wrangling the leg again!
A roll shakes him off, a HOOK KICK following, AND AN OSCUTTER! Sabre stops it though, countering with a SNAP DRAGON SUPLEX! Will rotates through to his feet and soars for a STANDING SHOOTING STAR PRESS, but again Zack dodges! BOW & ARROW ATTEMPT! Will flips into a cover, Zack kicking out instantly! Ospreay handsprings off the ropes, teasing his signature Enzuigiri, Sabre grasping the leg mid-air, but another follows, wrapping around his neck to twist through into a CROSS ARMBREAKER FROM WILL!
Sabre gets the monkey grip, preventing full extension, BUT WILL BITES THE FINGERS TO FORCE HIM OFF, now getting the full stretch, yelling at the referee to ask Zack if he submits! Sabre refuses however, rolling onto his stomach to turn the hold over and stand up, getting his legs around Will’s neck to score a NECK TWIST, getting him to release!
Zack knowing it to be a sore spot, he gets rallying with European Uppercuts to rock it like a bobblehead, before leaping into a GUILLOTINE CHOKE! Zack tightens his grip around Will’s neck, but a BUCKLE EXPLODER SUPLEX loosens it again as Sabre’s left dangling in a Tree of Woe! Ospreay sits cross-legged in front of him and SMASHES HIS NOSE WITH FOREARMS, busting a defenceless Zack open! Fish-hooking the nose, Will shakes his head about and lets crimson droplets paint the surroundings like a psychopathic Bob Ross, before letting go, cackling.
He heads to the top rope, but Zack meets him there, pulling himself up using his core strength and crotching Will on the neighbouring rope! The two face-to-face again, Zack sitting on the turnbuckle and Will on the rope, they trade forearms, blood continuing to leak down Sabre’s face, but he doesn’t care, INSTEAD GRABBING WILL’S LEG TO SUSPEND HIM UPSIDE-DOWN WITH A HANGING SUNDAY RAIL ENGINEERING WORKS REPLACEMENT BUS SERVICE!!!
Will’s in sheer agony as Sabre contorts his limb, but he’s saved by the referee’s count, Sabre forced to let go, Ospreay slumping to the apron. Zack turns to face the apron as he collects his wits and catches his breath, whilst Will nurses his leg, being checked on by the referee to make sure he’s good to continue, hopping to his base. Sabre settles down on the apron behind Will, grabbing him from behind, TESTING AN APRON TIGER SUPLEX!
Ospreay smashes the nose with a rear headbutt to ward him off! AND HE SPRINGS OFF ONE LEG TO DROP SABRE WITH AN APRON OSCUTTER, BOTH MEN SPILLING TO THE FLOOR!!! The referee starts their count as both lay still, no sign of movement as the 10 count nears. Reaching 12 now, they finally begin to stir, getting on all fours… 13… 14… 15… OSPREAY’S LEG GIVES OUT! 16… 17… 18… BOTH MEN MAKE ONE LAST PUSH, SABRE SHOVING HIMSELF INSIDE THE RING BY 19, WHILST OSPREAY PULLS HIMSELF UP ONTO THE APRON AND SPRINGS OFF ONE LEG ON THE ROPES FOR A PIP PIP CHEERIO!!! ONE! TWO! THR-KICK OUT!!!
Coming down hard on the leg though, Ospreay writhes in pain, but with Zack down, he pulls himself up with every last bit of energy he has up for STORM BREAKER… ZACK WITH AN OCTOPUS HOLD!!! Will immediately rams him into the turnbuckle until he lets up, Sabre instead sliding down his back like a bird hitting a window, OSPREAY COLLECTING HIM TO NAIL A HITODENASHI DRIVER!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOO!!!
Will shouts in frustration, having jammed the leg on the landing. Feeling victory nigh though, he preps the HIDDEN BLADE!!! SABRE SPINS AROUND AND COUNTERS WITH A ZACK DRIVER!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NO DICE!!! PENTALTY KICK! ANOTHER COVER!!! ONE! TWO! THR-STILL NO LUCK!!! NOW A NUMERO DOS A LA DESPERADO!!! Ospreay screams as Sabre tears the leg in half, Will dancing around in search of reprieve, until a FRANKENSTEINER stands ZSJ on his dome! BRAINBUSTER FOLLOWS!
Sabre rocked, Ospreay cracks the CHELSEA GRIN against his neck, before connecting the HIDDEN BLADE!!! ONE! TWO! THR-ZACK’S STILL IN IT!!! Will’s leg is falling apart as he stumbles back into the corner to try for seconds, losing balance and collapsing before he can reach his target! EUROPEAN CLUTCH FROM ZACK!!! ONE! TWO! THR-OSPREAY SURVIVES!!! BUT A PENALTY KICK TO THE SKULL! AND STRAIGHT INTO ORIENTEERING WITH NAPALM DEATH!!! OSPREAY THRASHES LIKE A MADMAN, FEELING HIS LIGAMENTS ON THE VERGE OF TEARING… AND HE TAPS!!!
Zack Sabre Jr. (c) def. Will Ospreay to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (34:18)
One more for the bad guys. Commonwealth Kingpin at his mercy, Ospreay a mess as he scrambles off, Zack’s the new Top Gaijin in town. Raising his title high from the turnbuckles, he juices every last drop out his victory, this moment perfect to him… or not. OH MY GOD IT’S MINORU SUZUKI!!! Any bit of colour that remains on ZSJ’s pale face drains off as the King’s music rings through Fukuoka, but there’s no sign of the man- WAIT, SABRE’S SPUN AROUND! KICK TO THE GUT – GOTCH-STYLE PILEDRIVER!!! HE’S HERE!!! Placing a boot on Zack’s chest, Suzuki holds the World Title high over his former stablemate’s body!
The ending of Dontaku has Japan buzzing as they question the true motive of Suzuki’s attack, and after an extended silence, the King sets the record straight. 1 ½ years ago, Suzuki-Gun was dissolved, and ever since, Sabre’s been writing checks with his mouth that he can’t cash. He walks around with the World Title like he’s the reason he even received recognition in NJPW in the first place. Suzuki gave him a home beside him, and as rapidly as he elevated Sabre, he can take it all away from him just as fast. He’s getting old and is still missing the final piece to the Japanese Triple Crown, so he plans to take that from Zack.
Sabre doesn’t take too kindly to these words, letting his actions speak for himself as he ASSAULTS SUZUKI on a Road To Dontaku show! Bringing Sabre-Gun with him, they brutalise the legend, before Zack plants his group’s flag on Suzuki’s chest! Mocking him for having no allies the next night, declaring Suzuki’s era of relevance to be long gone… this plays. SUZUKI’S HERE, AND HE’S NOT ALONE! IT’S JUST6GUYS!!! Racing to the ring, the two factions erupt in a massive brawl, bodies flying left and right! Sabre tries for a quick getaway but he’s stopped by Minoru, who gives him a devilish snarl before clobbering him with forearms until Sabre-Gun’s sent packing through the crowd, Zack yelling expletives at Suzuki as he retreats!
Back to Yokohama Arena (May 16, 2024)
Sabre-Gun (Zack Sabre Jr., El Desperado & TMDK) vs Minoru Suzuki & Just3Guys (Taichi, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, DOUKI)
With Sabre-Gun and Just6Guys feuding ever since their respective formations, switching between silent competitive warfare of racking up belts to fighting each other, notably the Sabre/Taichi saga, it all fully comes to a head in Suzuki’s home of Yokohama! With full freedom to destroy each other however they please, the two factions don’t hold back one bit, with Suzuki especially targeting ZSJ. He’s unable to give him grief the way he wishes to though, Zack tactfully hiding behind his partners until he can blindside Minoru, before scramming again. Ultimately, it’s Minoru putting Desperado away with the GOTCH PILEDRIVER, before signalling to Sabre that time’s running out for him, Suzuki to get his hands on him too soon enough!
Minoru Suzuki & J6G def. Sabre-Gun (15:03)
As much as Sabre tries to deny it, that day only speeds closer with each accusation of cowardice against the prideful champion’s name, the world questioning whether he’s afraid of Suzuki. Adamant to silence his doubters, he finally accepts Suzuki’s title challenge, setting the stage for Dominion, though promising he won’t have a career to go back to when Sabre’s done with him!
Dominion 6.2 (June 2, 2024)
Also on the show:
YOH (c) vs SHO - IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
Just2Guys (c) vs Sabre-Gun (Blake Christian & Clark Connors) - IWGP Junior Tag Team Championship
TMDK (c) vs The Lucha Brothers - IWGP Tag Team Championship
PAC (c) vs Katsuyori Shibata - IWGP United States Championship
Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs Minoru Suzuki - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
With Sabre-Gun beating Just6Guys earlier in the night, this war’s already at its boiling point by the time the main event arrives, Suzuki opting to enter second as Zack steps out- CRACK! STEEL CHAIR TO SABRE’S SPINE!!! Suzuki isn’t wasting even a second here, tearing the jacket off Sabre’s back before bending the steel over his spine! The Windy Man desperately tries to crawl away to the ring, but Suzuki steps on his ankle to stop him! Turning him around to meet his maker, MINORU GOES FOR A GOTCH PILEDRIVER ON THE CHAIR!!! LOW BLOW FROM SABRE TO COUNTER!!!
Suzuki drops to his knees as Osaka boos the smarmy champion, ZSJ now battering the King’s back, before finally sliding him in to get the match started! PENALTY KICK RIGHT AWAY!!! ONE! TWO! THR-KICK OUT!!! Sabre wrenches in a CLARKY CAT, working the arm as Suzuki writhes under him, but it’s not long before Minoru stands up out of it, hurling ZSJ to the mat! Booting him in the jaw, Suzuki backs him into the corner and tears into him with open palm strikes! He winds up a CORNER DROPKICK, but Sabre evades, blasting him with a rapid barrage of European Uppercuts against the turnbuckle!
Zack taking the run-up now, Suzuki bucks him over the ropes to the apron, SABRE BLASTING A THUMB IN HIS EYE! Minoru blinded, Zack leaps up for a SPRINGBOARD ENZUIGIRI- SUZUKI BLOCKS WITH A WILD SLAP TO THE CHEEK!!! Sabre stiffed, Suzuki applies a HANGING JUJI-GATAME FROM THE ROPES!!! Zack screams in agony as Minoru damn near rips his arm out the socket, the referee’s count the only thing keeping him from going!
Releasing, Sabre crumples to the floor, getting as far as he possibly can from Suzuki, though he’s not fast enough, Suzuki nailing a GOAL KICK to his skull from the apron! Grabbing Sabre, he HURLS him into the guardrail with it shoulder-first, the velocity sending Zack through! As he goes to collect his prey though, SABRE TOSSES A CHAIR AT HIS SKULL!!! Threading Suzuki’s arm through it, SABRE STOMPS THE ELBOW!!! AND AN ARTICLE 50!!!
Sabre abuses the legend, but he forgets about the other arm, Suzuki slapping his head in with it until Zack releases! Shaking off the arm, a BACK BODY DROP sends Sabre crashing back to ringside, Minoru following after him as ZSJ slinks inside the ring. Zack beats him to his feet though, stomping a hole through the mat with Suzuki’s skull, dribbling it! He cracks a ROLLING ELBOW off the skull, but Minoru walks through it, glaring at Sabre! Throwing an elbow of his own, it gets caught, Zack scoring the PELE KICK to the arm!
AND A KIMURA LOCK!!! Sabre brutally rips at the arm, bringing Suzuki to his knees from the pain even, but Minoru pins his shoulders to the mat! ONE! TWO! THR-SABRE RELEASES TO KICK OUT! As Zack rolls to his feet, a SHOTGUN DROPKICK awaits him! Suzuki clobbers him with slaps to the face, Sabre seeing stars as one knocks him clean off his feet! Turning to the turnbuckle… SUZUKI RIPS IT OFF!!! Steel exposed, he teases a SNAP SUPLEX INTO THE CORNER!!! SABRE COUNTERS WITH A BRAINBUSTER ON THE MAT!!! GUILLOTINE CHOKE!!!
Draining the life out of Suzuki, Sabre presses on the carotid artery, Minoru is deep trouble! BUT NOW THE KING BITES ON ZSJ’S FINGERS!!! Zack yelps and releases, allowing Suzuki to secure his wrists and STOMP HIS HEAD IN!!! Sabre catches a boot and applies SUNDAY RAIL ENGINEERING WORKS REPLACEMENT BUS SERVICE!!! ZSJ tortures Suzuki’s leg, though in doing so leaves his arm exposed, Minoru yanking off his grip and countering into HIS OWN HEEL HOOK!!!
Sabre desperately tries the same counter, but Suzuki’s grip is too tight to break, forcing Zack to roll to the ropes! SUZUKI ISN’T LETTING GO! Crawling on his hands, Sabre pulls himself to the floor and WHIPLASHES MINORU’S NECK OFF THE BOTTOM ROPE!!! Staggering about ringside on one foot, he grabs his title and rolls back in! Suzuki struggling up, Sabre tries to deck him with the belt… but the referee grabs it from behind! A tug-of-war ends in SUZUKI KNOCKING THE BELT INTO THE REF WITH AN ENZUIGIRI!
Both men hitting the deck, Minoru rocks ZSJ with a Dropkick! GOTCH PILEDRIVER ONTO THE TITLE!!! But there’s no one to count! Pissed, Suzuki limps out and abuses a couple young lions, before picking one out the crowd to toss in the ring, ripping the referee’s shirt off and telling the lion to put it on! SUZUKI COVERS! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Even more livid, HE DECKS THIS LION TOO! Turning back to Zack, he notices the champion feebly reaching for the belt! Kicking it out the ring, Suzuki goes for another GOTCH PILEDRIVER!!! BACK BODY DROP COUNTER!!!
Still hurting, Sabre struggles to get a rally of strikes going, Suzuki meeting him blow for blow! BUT SABRE WHIPS THE SHOULDER INTO THE MAT! Minoru stunned, sadistic thoughts run through Sabre’s mind… TIGER SUPLEX INTO THE EXPOSED STEEL!!! AND A RUNNING LIGER BOMB – ONE OF SUZUKI’S RIVALS MOVES!!! THE REFEREE’S BACK TO CONSCIOUSNESS! NOT LIKE THIS! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Sabre’s exasperated, thinking he had it! Running out of options, he teases a ZACK DRIVER, but Suzuki slips behind and applies the SLEEPER HOLD!!! Sabre’s quickly fading, frantically trying to tear the bad arm off, but Minoru doesn’t budge, shoving ZSJ to the mat for the PENALTY KICK!!! ONE! TWO! THR-ZACK KICKS OUT!!! Suzuki grabs Sabre by the chin, demanding him to strike Minoru if he thinks he’s so tough, ZSJ doing his best, but Suzuki eats it and returns a HARD SLAP! SLEEPER SUPLEX!!!
Tossing Sabre to the apron, Minoru steps onto the middle rope and cinches in an ELEVATED SLEEPER!!! Zack dangles in the air, unable to find his footing to escape, Suzuki lifting him higher and higher! Blood rushing to his legs, he needs to act fast, attacking the elbow again until the hold is finally slightly loosened! Leaning forwards, he pulls Suzuki his direction, allowing him to lower his feet onto the apron… YANKING SUZUKI INTO AN APRON ZACK DRIVER!!!
Sabre coughs up a lung as he kicks Minoru’s corpse back in, before lining up a PENALTY KICK!!! ONE! TWO! THR-SUZUKI’S ALIVE!!! Zack’s stunned as he comes face-to-face with Suzuki’s sneer, Minoru still having enough in him to throw slaps! Sabre returning Uppercuts, they go blow-for-blow until Zack collapses first, though he’s playing possum, HEADBUTTING THE SHOULDER as the King tries to grab him! He goes for YOU CAN’T PLAY CONKERS IN ENGLAND, though he’s immediately tossed down, SUZUKI NAILING A PENALTY KICK!!!
Winding up, Minoru goes for one more… ZACK SLAPS HIS HEAD OFF HIS SHOULDERS!!! Putting the head between his legs, HE NAILS A GOTCH PILEDRIVER!!! Suzuki collapses in position for a PENALTY KICK!!! AND NOW SABRE CINCHES IT IN – HURRAH! ANOTHER YEAR, SURELY THIS ONE WILL BE BETTER THAN THE LAST; THE INEXORABLE MARCH OF PROGRESS WILL LEAD US ALL TO HAPPINESS!!! Suzuki grits his teeth, trying to fight through it, Sabre keeping his eyes on his hands to see the tap… NOWHERE TO GO, MINORU FLIPS HIM OFF WITH BOTH HANDS AND VERBALLY SUBMITS!!!
Zack Sabre Jr. (c) def. Minoru Suzuki to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (32:50)
Surviving one of the toughest matches of his career, Zack’s kingdom still lives, though barely. As he’s handed his title though, he chucks it aside, this about far more than the gold to him! SABRE STOMPS OUT SUZUKI!!! Signalling to the back, out rush Sabre-Gun, coming to Sabre’s aid to conduct a mugging on the legend! SUDDEN DEATH FROM ELP! PINCHE LOCO FROM DESPERADO! THUNDER VALLEY FROM TMDK! TANDEM JEEP FLIP/DROPKICK FROM BLAKE, CONNORS AND FUJITA! And now, it's Zack’s turn. Dragging him to the concrete… HE’S GOING FOR THE GOTCH PILEDRIVER!!! HE WANTS TO RETIRE SUZUKI FOR GOOD!!!
BUT HERE COMES J6G!!! AND LANCE ARCHER TOO!!! Sabre tosses Suzuki aside to deal with the oncoming traffic, Taichi and co. putting up an honourable fight, but they’re still down a man, Sabre-Gun managing to retain their upper-hand, until… OH MY GOD, IT’S SUZUKI’S OLD TAG PARTNER NAOMICHI MARUFUJI!!! Sabre can’t even get a curse out before a KO-OH SMACKS HIM IN THE FACE!!! Marufuji beats on Zack to turn the tide, going for the POLE SHIFT, but Sabre manages to escape in the nick of time, Sabre-Gun once again sent on the retreat, the show closing on Marufuji helping Suzuki up!
NJPW/AJPW/NOAH All Together Again (June 7, 2024)
Zack Sabre Jr. vs Naomichi Marufuji
After the events of Dominion, it’s only natural these two fight, long, long overdue a one-on-one since their NOAH days together! Fighting in Suzuki’s honour, Marufuji steps to the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion and it’s like 2016 all over again the way he utterly humbles Sabre to start like he’s facing Okada! A match of two halves, it goes from Naomichi giving ZSJ the biggest whooping of his life to Sabre brutally breaking down the legend, reminding him he’s 8 years too old to still be winning these sorts of matches. Though Maru gives Zack grief one more than one occasion, he meets his demise at the hands of a CREMATION LILY, Sabre spitting on Naomichi as he leaves, declaring himself untouchable!
Zack Sabre Jr. def. Naomichi Marufuji (25:37)
With his war on J6G and friends officially behind him, Sabre sets his sights on a show he has quite some history with. Losing to Claudio Castagnoli at the first Forbidden Door, before beating Katsuyori Shibata at the second to take both the NJPW TV and ROH Pure Titles to ALL IN to submit Danielson, there’s naturally only one direction for him to head…
Dynamite (June 12, 2024)
Racking another AEW International Championship defence under his belt, Wheeler YUTA is on top of the world, and as he’s approached by Tony Schiavone for a post-match comment… WHACK! IWGP WORLD TITLE TO THE BACK OF HIS HEAD!!! SABRE-GUN’S HERE!!! Mugging Blackpool Combat Club’s young gun like they did Suzuki, a SABRE DRIVER leaves him broken on the mat as Zack yells down the camera that he wants Moxley’s head at Forbidden Door, scurrying away before BCC can make the save!
Collision (June 15, 2024)
Zack Sabre Jr. vs Wheeler YUTA
Off the back of Sabre’s assault on YUTA, a match is made between the two technically-gifted champions in a massive Collision main event! Though ZSJ’s far out his paygrade, an arrogant Wheeler does his best to knock off the Technical Wizard, impressing with a display of submissions he’s picked up from Danielson, before employing some of Claudio’s marquee athleticism and Mox’s grittiness. Never a fair match to begin with though, a TESCO MEAL DEAL cruelly silences YUTA!
Zack Sabre Jr. def. Wheeler YUTA (10:12)
Grabbing a mic, Zack runs down Moxley, reminding him how they were supposed to fight 4 years ago until the pandemic ruined that, Jon ducking him ever since. Now though, he’s the last member of BCC he needs to get through before he can shut up those babies too, so all he needs to know is if Jon is still afraid of him or not. And as Sabre awaits his response… HE RECEIVES IT IN THE FORM OF A PARADIGM SHIFT!!! Mox holds Zack’s title over his body, gaining some retribution for YUTA!
AEWxNJPW Forbidden Door (June 23, 2024)
Also on the show:
The Lucha Brothers (c) vs La Faccion Ingobernable (RUSH & Dralistico) - IWGP Tag Team Championship
PAC (c) vs Swerve Strickland - IWGP United States Championship
Tetsuya Naito vs Andrade El Idolo
Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs Jon Moxley - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
The final showdown of a lengthy saga, Sabre makes his third defence against New Japan’s Ace, and it’s quite literally a bloody clinic, Mox showing zero fear in the face of the Top Gaijin, who looks to plant his flag over another territory. From a Paradigm Shift to the floor to a Zack Driver through a table, both men are busted open by the surroundings, the blood loss only helping Sabre’s case when he locks in the HYPERNORMALISATION, causing Mox to pass out! Alas, ZSJ stands atop BCC, but perhaps a more personal challenge yet awaits him…
Zack Sabre Jr. (c) def. Jon Moxley to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (23:20)
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New Japan Cup Finals (March 28, 2024)
“ZACK SABRE JR. HAS PAC IN HYPERNORMALISATION! PAC SUBMITS! LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FOR THE THIRD TIME IN HISTORY OUR NEW JAPAN CUP WINNER IS ZSJ!” After two failed attempts to translate his cup success into gold, the Bone Master has another chance to fulfil his career’s greatest goal. And out walks the man he beat in the 2018 Finals for his first win, the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, Hiroshi Tanahashi! One of Zack’s biggest rivals since coming to Japan, and one that’s had his number more time than he’s had theirs, he must beat the godly Ace of the Universe if he wishes to claim his first piece of IWGP-commissioned singles gold!
The stage set for Sakura Genesis, Sabre makes sure to rub in everyone’s faces the premonition he laid down at New Year’s Dash. He said to LIJ he’d be back for the title, and after beating one of their men, he’s made good on his claims. And now, he’s going to make ‘God’ bow to him, whether he wants to or not. When asked for his opinion on the challenger, Tanahashi says he’s amused by how earnestly the Windy Man’s tried to become a New Japan guy, moving his entire life to Japan in pursuit of the top prize. Whilst that dedication may be admirable, it’ll be for nought, Zack just another visitor to his grand kingdom, CHAOS remaining Sabre’s white whale at the end of every NJC journey.
Sakura Genesis (April 7, 2024)
Also on the show:
United Empire (Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, Aaron Henare) (c) vs Just6Guys (SANADA, Taichi, Ryohei Oiwa) - NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship
YOH (c) vs El Desperado - IWGP Junior Tag Team Championship
TMDK (c) vs Bishamon - IWGP Tag Team Championship
Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs Zack Sabre Jr. XI - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
They say third time’s the charm, but that remains to be seen in Sabre’s case. Sabre-Gun with mixed successes throughout the night, El Desperado coming up short whilst TMDK kept their gold, it’s up to their leader to set an example for his group. Popping his collar, he steels his gaze on the championship as Tanahashi makes his entrance, Zack blocking out the surrounding world. Despite channelling the controversial words of the polarising Okada for the past year, Hiroshi still has Ryogoku in the palm of his hands, remaining the people’s favourite no matter the shade of grey he envelops himself in. Back to his pomp and circumstance, he gives ZSJ the full show of what a true star looks like, ready to bring Sabre back down to reality.
It's a methodical opening from the two talented grapplers, Tanahashi standing toe-to-toe with the best technical wrestler in the world with merely his sheer aura. Sabre shoots for an early Article 50, but Tana sidesteps him into the ropes, before condescendingly patting him on the cheek! Zack retaliates with a forearm, knocking Tana to the mat, a deluge of stomps raining down on his face as the Hiroshi tries to cover up!
Escaping to the ropes, Sabre charges at him with a EUROPEAN UPPERCUT! Tana evades, connecting a DRAGON-STYLE HARITE, slapping respect into the challenger! Incensed, Sabre leaves a mark with a stinging slap of his own, before nailing a chain of Uppercuts! Tana fights back for a TWIST AND SHOUT, though Sabre counters with a FLATLINER! A High-Angle German is stuffed, Zack decked with an ALL OUT and a MIDDLE-ROPE SENTON BOMB! ONE! TWO! THR-KICK OUT!
Tana guns for the leg like he did Shibata, but a Feint Roundhouse into a Legsweep from ZSJ floors him! AND A NECK TWIST!!! With Hiroshi distracted by his neck, Sabre immediately switches for the legs, applying SUNDAY RAIL ENGINEERING WORKS REPLACEMENT BUS SERVICE!!! Tana’s quick to make the ropes, though has to physically pull himself to the apron when Sabre doesn’t release! No breather for him, Zack hooks his leg in the ropes and connects a DRAGON SCREW!
Tana receiving a taste of his own medicine, Sabre slides out and scores one directly on the apron, bashing Hiroshi’s leg into the hardest part of the ring! He attempts to Irish Whip Tanahashi into the ring post, but the Once in a Century Talent nails a SLING BLADE ON THE APRON! DRAGON SUPLEX TO THE FLOOR!!! Playing the starpower card, Tana poses with a grin as the cameras catch a shot of Sabre beneath him. He doesn’t notice Zack’s little twitches though, committing to a HIGH FLY FLOW TO THE OUTSIDE!!! A POSSUM SABRE PUSHES HIM MID-AIR ONTO THE BARRICADE!!!
As Tokyo gasps, it’s academic from Sabre as he threads Tana’s leg through a steel chair, PILMANISING IT!!! Evidence long discarded by the time the referee walks over, he wraps Hiroshi’s leg around the steel post, using it to apply a SASORI-GATAME!!! Tana lets out shouts of agony, Zack milking the suffering as Hiroshi begs the referee to get the challenger to stop. Eventually letting go, he forces Tanahashi to walk himself back into the spider’s web, a SPRINGBOARD ENZUIGIRI awaiting! BRIDGING NORTHERN LIGHTS SUPLEX! ONE! TWO! THR-KICK OUT!
Swivelling into a KNEEBAR now, he rolls around with Tana’s leg in his grasp, countering Hiroshi’s each attempts at escape, before going for the SELECTED TECHNICAL WORKS VOL. 2 combination, but Tana stacks his shoulders up! ONE! TWO! THR-NO LUCK! Forced to release to kick out, he scrambles to his feet to batter Hiroshi with a elbows, a DISCUS ELBOW SMASH staggering him, but a Pele Kick is caught, Tana nailing his own DRAGON SCREW!!!
A TWIST AND SHOUT follows, before Tana wraps on the DRAGON SWING! Wrenching on the neck, he makes a good few rotations before suddenly dropping to a knee, his leg unable to hold up for too long. Going for a DRAGON SUPLEX, it’s blocked by a barrage of back elbows, though Hiroshi nails the DARUMA-SHIKI GERMAN INSTEAD!!! ONE! TWO! THR-SABRE KICKS OUT! Nursing his neck, Sabre gets no reprieve as a HASE URANAGE spikes him, and a HIGH FLY ATTACK… IS CAUGHT IN AN ANKLE LOCK!!!
Tana rolls through but Sabre rolls with him, though he can’t get the grapevine, Tana booting him off with the other leg! TWIST AND SHOUT! Sabre subdued, a SLING BLADE takes him down, a HIGH FLY FLOW FOLLOWING SUIT!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Tana rushes for a TEXAS CLOVERLEAF, putting the hurt on Zack’s legs now! The Submission Master searches for escapes yet Hiroshi commits his everything to this move, not letting him free for the life of him! That is, until his own leg gives way! Grounded, he can’t stop a PENALTY KICK!!! AND A ZACK DRIVER!!! ONE! TWO! THR-TANA STAYS ALIVE!!!
Ragdolling Hiroshi with a pair of Double Underhook Suplexes, Zack puts Tana in a prone position to stomp the insides of the knees, before applying a CALF SLICER!!! Yet again, the Ace of the Universe is in trouble, his condition deteriorating with each submission. Knowing he needs to change that and fast… HE GRABS ZACK’S SKULL AND RAMS IT INTO THE MAT REPEATEDLY TO BREAK!!! Gears turning in his mind from Sabre’s tribute, HE GETS HIM UP FOR A STYLES CLASH!!! ONE! TWO! THR-SABRE SURVIVES!!!
Connecting a SLING BLADE, he dumps Zack with a DRAGON SUPLEX! ZACK RESPONDS WITH ONE OF HIS OWN! Open palm strikes from Tana light up Zack, only for him to wring out the arm for a PELE KICK!!! Sabre teases a Legsweep, but Hiroshi hops over this time and nails a GROUNDED HIGH FLY FLOW!!! Air driven out of ZSJ’s lungs, Tana hoists him up… AND NAILS A TOMBSTONE PILEDRIVER!!! SHADES OF OKADA!!! The CHAOS Leader beating him like this both past Sakura Geneses, it’s going to happen again!
Scaling the ropes, Tana crashes down with a HIGH FLY FLOWWWWWWWWWW!!! But he’s not done! Wanting to make an example out of Sabre, he takes his time posing atop the world like the star he is… BUT IT ALLOWS ZACK TO RECOVER, GRABBING HIS LEG!!! Hammering the knee before Tana has a chance to respond, he yanks him off… RUNNING LIGER BOMB!!! ONE! TWO! THR-KICK OUT!!! STRAIGHT INTO CLARKY CAT BAD BALLOON REMIX!!! Folding Tana’s leg over his shoulder, he utterly destroys the geriatric knees over the champion, who wails in agony, doing anything he can to break free… BUT HE’S TOO FAR FROM THE ROPES!!! TANAHASHI TAPS OUT!!! THIRD TIME’S THE CHARM – ZSJ’S THE NEW KING OF NEW JAPAN!!!
Zack Sabre Jr. def. Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (30:23)
Cutting Tanahashi’s reign brutally short, Sabre-Gun has claimed its spot on the throne! Raising up both his trophy and championship, he’s lifted onto TMDK’s shoulders, the three men flaunting their gold to the world as the remainder of the stable joins them! Tana shell-shocked, he hangs his head in shame and despair as he limps off, Ryogoku the first of many dark days for NJPW…
As the new monarch, Sabre’s first order of business is simple – kill off his counterpart. And by that he means the man who successfully defended the title against him last year, Will Ospreay. Though he may hold the title, jealousy courses through ZSJ’s veins knowing the Commonwealth Kingpin’s considered the company’s top gaijin despite Zack’s superior record over him. Wanting to change that, he calls out Ospreay, who’s fresh off dropping the NEVER 6-Man Titles to Just6Guys, having had quite the identity crisis since having the WK main event taken from him. Eager at the chance at a do-over, he accepts without hesitation.
Wrestling Hinokuni (April 27, 2024)
Sabre-Gun (Zack Sabre Jr. & TMDK) vs United Empire (Will Ospreay & Aussie Open)
Whilst Sabre and Ospreay have kept their distance since their Royal Quest match, the same can’t be said about the greater stables. World Tag League Winners TMDK taking Aussie Open’s IWGP Tag Team Championship at Wrestle Kingdom and United Empire successfully defending the NEVER Titles against Sabre-Gun at the Anniversary Show, this conclusion was only inevitable. Aussie Open also wanting a chance to get their titles back, they team with Ospreay here against the champion unit, the Commonwealth Nations going to war for supremacy.
Unlike Royal Quest, Sabre’s notably a lot surer of himself against Will here, no longer compensating by matching his striking game, rather trying to make Ospreay play his game instead. However, even with Zack being in his best possible form, SG falters against UE once more, the Coriolis to Mikey Nicholls setting the stage for Wrestling Dontaku! Zack grits his teeth as much like Tanahashi, Ospreay looks down on him.
United Empire def. Sabre-Gun (17:34)
Wrestling Dontaku (May 4, 2024)
Also on the show:
Ren Narita (c) vs Shota Umino - NEVER Openweight Championship
Taichi (c) vs Hiromu Takahashi - NJPW World Television Championship
YOH (c) vs Robbie Eagles - IWGP Junior Tag Team Championship
KENTA (c) vs PAC - IWGP United States Championship
TMDK (c) vs Aussie Open - IWGP Tag Team Championship
Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs Will Ospreay XVII - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
A rivalry extending back an entire decade to the UK Indies, the spot for best British wrestler in the world has long been contested between these two. Back at it again, it’s time they settle the score once more. Ospreay strides out comfortably, having been in this position plenty of times by now as a potentially soon-to-be 3x World Champion, this his domain. As for Sabre, it’s his first time defending a title of this magnitude, pressure clearly weighing on his shoulders, but taking a deep breath, he prepares himself for victory just like TMDK earlier in the night.
As the bell rings… Ospreay explodes for a DROPKICK right away – shades of NJC 2021! Zack fishes the leg out the air and applies an ANKLE LOCK, LOOKING TO TAP HIM OUT WITHIN THE FIRST FEW SECONDS OF THE MATCH! Alarmed, Ospreay thrashes with kicks from his free leg to force Sabre off, rolling to the outside to recollect himself! Sabre doesn’t let him though, nailing a Baseball Slide Dropkick, before tossing him back in and wrangling the leg again!
A roll shakes him off, a HOOK KICK following, AND AN OSCUTTER! Sabre stops it though, countering with a SNAP DRAGON SUPLEX! Will rotates through to his feet and soars for a STANDING SHOOTING STAR PRESS, but again Zack dodges! BOW & ARROW ATTEMPT! Will flips into a cover, Zack kicking out instantly! Ospreay handsprings off the ropes, teasing his signature Enzuigiri, Sabre grasping the leg mid-air, but another follows, wrapping around his neck to twist through into a CROSS ARMBREAKER FROM WILL!
Sabre gets the monkey grip, preventing full extension, BUT WILL BITES THE FINGERS TO FORCE HIM OFF, now getting the full stretch, yelling at the referee to ask Zack if he submits! Sabre refuses however, rolling onto his stomach to turn the hold over and stand up, getting his legs around Will’s neck to score a NECK TWIST, getting him to release!
Zack knowing it to be a sore spot, he gets rallying with European Uppercuts to rock it like a bobblehead, before leaping into a GUILLOTINE CHOKE! Zack tightens his grip around Will’s neck, but a BUCKLE EXPLODER SUPLEX loosens it again as Sabre’s left dangling in a Tree of Woe! Ospreay sits cross-legged in front of him and SMASHES HIS NOSE WITH FOREARMS, busting a defenceless Zack open! Fish-hooking the nose, Will shakes his head about and lets crimson droplets paint the surroundings like a psychopathic Bob Ross, before letting go, cackling.
He heads to the top rope, but Zack meets him there, pulling himself up using his core strength and crotching Will on the neighbouring rope! The two face-to-face again, Zack sitting on the turnbuckle and Will on the rope, they trade forearms, blood continuing to leak down Sabre’s face, but he doesn’t care, INSTEAD GRABBING WILL’S LEG TO SUSPEND HIM UPSIDE-DOWN WITH A HANGING SUNDAY RAIL ENGINEERING WORKS REPLACEMENT BUS SERVICE!!!
Will’s in sheer agony as Sabre contorts his limb, but he’s saved by the referee’s count, Sabre forced to let go, Ospreay slumping to the apron. Zack turns to face the apron as he collects his wits and catches his breath, whilst Will nurses his leg, being checked on by the referee to make sure he’s good to continue, hopping to his base. Sabre settles down on the apron behind Will, grabbing him from behind, TESTING AN APRON TIGER SUPLEX!
Ospreay smashes the nose with a rear headbutt to ward him off! AND HE SPRINGS OFF ONE LEG TO DROP SABRE WITH AN APRON OSCUTTER, BOTH MEN SPILLING TO THE FLOOR!!! The referee starts their count as both lay still, no sign of movement as the 10 count nears. Reaching 12 now, they finally begin to stir, getting on all fours… 13… 14… 15… OSPREAY’S LEG GIVES OUT! 16… 17… 18… BOTH MEN MAKE ONE LAST PUSH, SABRE SHOVING HIMSELF INSIDE THE RING BY 19, WHILST OSPREAY PULLS HIMSELF UP ONTO THE APRON AND SPRINGS OFF ONE LEG ON THE ROPES FOR A PIP PIP CHEERIO!!! ONE! TWO! THR-KICK OUT!!!
Coming down hard on the leg though, Ospreay writhes in pain, but with Zack down, he pulls himself up with every last bit of energy he has up for STORM BREAKER… ZACK WITH AN OCTOPUS HOLD!!! Will immediately rams him into the turnbuckle until he lets up, Sabre instead sliding down his back like a bird hitting a window, OSPREAY COLLECTING HIM TO NAIL A HITODENASHI DRIVER!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOO!!!
Will shouts in frustration, having jammed the leg on the landing. Feeling victory nigh though, he preps the HIDDEN BLADE!!! SABRE SPINS AROUND AND COUNTERS WITH A ZACK DRIVER!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NO DICE!!! PENTALTY KICK! ANOTHER COVER!!! ONE! TWO! THR-STILL NO LUCK!!! NOW A NUMERO DOS A LA DESPERADO!!! Ospreay screams as Sabre tears the leg in half, Will dancing around in search of reprieve, until a FRANKENSTEINER stands ZSJ on his dome! BRAINBUSTER FOLLOWS!
Sabre rocked, Ospreay cracks the CHELSEA GRIN against his neck, before connecting the HIDDEN BLADE!!! ONE! TWO! THR-ZACK’S STILL IN IT!!! Will’s leg is falling apart as he stumbles back into the corner to try for seconds, losing balance and collapsing before he can reach his target! EUROPEAN CLUTCH FROM ZACK!!! ONE! TWO! THR-OSPREAY SURVIVES!!! BUT A PENALTY KICK TO THE SKULL! AND STRAIGHT INTO ORIENTEERING WITH NAPALM DEATH!!! OSPREAY THRASHES LIKE A MADMAN, FEELING HIS LIGAMENTS ON THE VERGE OF TEARING… AND HE TAPS!!!
Zack Sabre Jr. (c) def. Will Ospreay to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (34:18)
One more for the bad guys. Commonwealth Kingpin at his mercy, Ospreay a mess as he scrambles off, Zack’s the new Top Gaijin in town. Raising his title high from the turnbuckles, he juices every last drop out his victory, this moment perfect to him… or not. OH MY GOD IT’S MINORU SUZUKI!!! Any bit of colour that remains on ZSJ’s pale face drains off as the King’s music rings through Fukuoka, but there’s no sign of the man- WAIT, SABRE’S SPUN AROUND! KICK TO THE GUT – GOTCH-STYLE PILEDRIVER!!! HE’S HERE!!! Placing a boot on Zack’s chest, Suzuki holds the World Title high over his former stablemate’s body!
The ending of Dontaku has Japan buzzing as they question the true motive of Suzuki’s attack, and after an extended silence, the King sets the record straight. 1 ½ years ago, Suzuki-Gun was dissolved, and ever since, Sabre’s been writing checks with his mouth that he can’t cash. He walks around with the World Title like he’s the reason he even received recognition in NJPW in the first place. Suzuki gave him a home beside him, and as rapidly as he elevated Sabre, he can take it all away from him just as fast. He’s getting old and is still missing the final piece to the Japanese Triple Crown, so he plans to take that from Zack.
Sabre doesn’t take too kindly to these words, letting his actions speak for himself as he ASSAULTS SUZUKI on a Road To Dontaku show! Bringing Sabre-Gun with him, they brutalise the legend, before Zack plants his group’s flag on Suzuki’s chest! Mocking him for having no allies the next night, declaring Suzuki’s era of relevance to be long gone… this plays. SUZUKI’S HERE, AND HE’S NOT ALONE! IT’S JUST6GUYS!!! Racing to the ring, the two factions erupt in a massive brawl, bodies flying left and right! Sabre tries for a quick getaway but he’s stopped by Minoru, who gives him a devilish snarl before clobbering him with forearms until Sabre-Gun’s sent packing through the crowd, Zack yelling expletives at Suzuki as he retreats!
Back to Yokohama Arena (May 16, 2024)
Sabre-Gun (Zack Sabre Jr., El Desperado & TMDK) vs Minoru Suzuki & Just3Guys (Taichi, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, DOUKI)
With Sabre-Gun and Just6Guys feuding ever since their respective formations, switching between silent competitive warfare of racking up belts to fighting each other, notably the Sabre/Taichi saga, it all fully comes to a head in Suzuki’s home of Yokohama! With full freedom to destroy each other however they please, the two factions don’t hold back one bit, with Suzuki especially targeting ZSJ. He’s unable to give him grief the way he wishes to though, Zack tactfully hiding behind his partners until he can blindside Minoru, before scramming again. Ultimately, it’s Minoru putting Desperado away with the GOTCH PILEDRIVER, before signalling to Sabre that time’s running out for him, Suzuki to get his hands on him too soon enough!
Minoru Suzuki & J6G def. Sabre-Gun (15:03)
As much as Sabre tries to deny it, that day only speeds closer with each accusation of cowardice against the prideful champion’s name, the world questioning whether he’s afraid of Suzuki. Adamant to silence his doubters, he finally accepts Suzuki’s title challenge, setting the stage for Dominion, though promising he won’t have a career to go back to when Sabre’s done with him!
Dominion 6.2 (June 2, 2024)
Also on the show:
YOH (c) vs SHO - IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
Just2Guys (c) vs Sabre-Gun (Blake Christian & Clark Connors) - IWGP Junior Tag Team Championship
TMDK (c) vs The Lucha Brothers - IWGP Tag Team Championship
PAC (c) vs Katsuyori Shibata - IWGP United States Championship
Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs Minoru Suzuki - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
With Sabre-Gun beating Just6Guys earlier in the night, this war’s already at its boiling point by the time the main event arrives, Suzuki opting to enter second as Zack steps out- CRACK! STEEL CHAIR TO SABRE’S SPINE!!! Suzuki isn’t wasting even a second here, tearing the jacket off Sabre’s back before bending the steel over his spine! The Windy Man desperately tries to crawl away to the ring, but Suzuki steps on his ankle to stop him! Turning him around to meet his maker, MINORU GOES FOR A GOTCH PILEDRIVER ON THE CHAIR!!! LOW BLOW FROM SABRE TO COUNTER!!!
Suzuki drops to his knees as Osaka boos the smarmy champion, ZSJ now battering the King’s back, before finally sliding him in to get the match started! PENALTY KICK RIGHT AWAY!!! ONE! TWO! THR-KICK OUT!!! Sabre wrenches in a CLARKY CAT, working the arm as Suzuki writhes under him, but it’s not long before Minoru stands up out of it, hurling ZSJ to the mat! Booting him in the jaw, Suzuki backs him into the corner and tears into him with open palm strikes! He winds up a CORNER DROPKICK, but Sabre evades, blasting him with a rapid barrage of European Uppercuts against the turnbuckle!
Zack taking the run-up now, Suzuki bucks him over the ropes to the apron, SABRE BLASTING A THUMB IN HIS EYE! Minoru blinded, Zack leaps up for a SPRINGBOARD ENZUIGIRI- SUZUKI BLOCKS WITH A WILD SLAP TO THE CHEEK!!! Sabre stiffed, Suzuki applies a HANGING JUJI-GATAME FROM THE ROPES!!! Zack screams in agony as Minoru damn near rips his arm out the socket, the referee’s count the only thing keeping him from going!
Releasing, Sabre crumples to the floor, getting as far as he possibly can from Suzuki, though he’s not fast enough, Suzuki nailing a GOAL KICK to his skull from the apron! Grabbing Sabre, he HURLS him into the guardrail with it shoulder-first, the velocity sending Zack through! As he goes to collect his prey though, SABRE TOSSES A CHAIR AT HIS SKULL!!! Threading Suzuki’s arm through it, SABRE STOMPS THE ELBOW!!! AND AN ARTICLE 50!!!
Sabre abuses the legend, but he forgets about the other arm, Suzuki slapping his head in with it until Zack releases! Shaking off the arm, a BACK BODY DROP sends Sabre crashing back to ringside, Minoru following after him as ZSJ slinks inside the ring. Zack beats him to his feet though, stomping a hole through the mat with Suzuki’s skull, dribbling it! He cracks a ROLLING ELBOW off the skull, but Minoru walks through it, glaring at Sabre! Throwing an elbow of his own, it gets caught, Zack scoring the PELE KICK to the arm!
AND A KIMURA LOCK!!! Sabre brutally rips at the arm, bringing Suzuki to his knees from the pain even, but Minoru pins his shoulders to the mat! ONE! TWO! THR-SABRE RELEASES TO KICK OUT! As Zack rolls to his feet, a SHOTGUN DROPKICK awaits him! Suzuki clobbers him with slaps to the face, Sabre seeing stars as one knocks him clean off his feet! Turning to the turnbuckle… SUZUKI RIPS IT OFF!!! Steel exposed, he teases a SNAP SUPLEX INTO THE CORNER!!! SABRE COUNTERS WITH A BRAINBUSTER ON THE MAT!!! GUILLOTINE CHOKE!!!
Draining the life out of Suzuki, Sabre presses on the carotid artery, Minoru is deep trouble! BUT NOW THE KING BITES ON ZSJ’S FINGERS!!! Zack yelps and releases, allowing Suzuki to secure his wrists and STOMP HIS HEAD IN!!! Sabre catches a boot and applies SUNDAY RAIL ENGINEERING WORKS REPLACEMENT BUS SERVICE!!! ZSJ tortures Suzuki’s leg, though in doing so leaves his arm exposed, Minoru yanking off his grip and countering into HIS OWN HEEL HOOK!!!
Sabre desperately tries the same counter, but Suzuki’s grip is too tight to break, forcing Zack to roll to the ropes! SUZUKI ISN’T LETTING GO! Crawling on his hands, Sabre pulls himself to the floor and WHIPLASHES MINORU’S NECK OFF THE BOTTOM ROPE!!! Staggering about ringside on one foot, he grabs his title and rolls back in! Suzuki struggling up, Sabre tries to deck him with the belt… but the referee grabs it from behind! A tug-of-war ends in SUZUKI KNOCKING THE BELT INTO THE REF WITH AN ENZUIGIRI!
Both men hitting the deck, Minoru rocks ZSJ with a Dropkick! GOTCH PILEDRIVER ONTO THE TITLE!!! But there’s no one to count! Pissed, Suzuki limps out and abuses a couple young lions, before picking one out the crowd to toss in the ring, ripping the referee’s shirt off and telling the lion to put it on! SUZUKI COVERS! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Even more livid, HE DECKS THIS LION TOO! Turning back to Zack, he notices the champion feebly reaching for the belt! Kicking it out the ring, Suzuki goes for another GOTCH PILEDRIVER!!! BACK BODY DROP COUNTER!!!
Still hurting, Sabre struggles to get a rally of strikes going, Suzuki meeting him blow for blow! BUT SABRE WHIPS THE SHOULDER INTO THE MAT! Minoru stunned, sadistic thoughts run through Sabre’s mind… TIGER SUPLEX INTO THE EXPOSED STEEL!!! AND A RUNNING LIGER BOMB – ONE OF SUZUKI’S RIVALS MOVES!!! THE REFEREE’S BACK TO CONSCIOUSNESS! NOT LIKE THIS! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Sabre’s exasperated, thinking he had it! Running out of options, he teases a ZACK DRIVER, but Suzuki slips behind and applies the SLEEPER HOLD!!! Sabre’s quickly fading, frantically trying to tear the bad arm off, but Minoru doesn’t budge, shoving ZSJ to the mat for the PENALTY KICK!!! ONE! TWO! THR-ZACK KICKS OUT!!! Suzuki grabs Sabre by the chin, demanding him to strike Minoru if he thinks he’s so tough, ZSJ doing his best, but Suzuki eats it and returns a HARD SLAP! SLEEPER SUPLEX!!!
Tossing Sabre to the apron, Minoru steps onto the middle rope and cinches in an ELEVATED SLEEPER!!! Zack dangles in the air, unable to find his footing to escape, Suzuki lifting him higher and higher! Blood rushing to his legs, he needs to act fast, attacking the elbow again until the hold is finally slightly loosened! Leaning forwards, he pulls Suzuki his direction, allowing him to lower his feet onto the apron… YANKING SUZUKI INTO AN APRON ZACK DRIVER!!!
Sabre coughs up a lung as he kicks Minoru’s corpse back in, before lining up a PENALTY KICK!!! ONE! TWO! THR-SUZUKI’S ALIVE!!! Zack’s stunned as he comes face-to-face with Suzuki’s sneer, Minoru still having enough in him to throw slaps! Sabre returning Uppercuts, they go blow-for-blow until Zack collapses first, though he’s playing possum, HEADBUTTING THE SHOULDER as the King tries to grab him! He goes for YOU CAN’T PLAY CONKERS IN ENGLAND, though he’s immediately tossed down, SUZUKI NAILING A PENALTY KICK!!!
Winding up, Minoru goes for one more… ZACK SLAPS HIS HEAD OFF HIS SHOULDERS!!! Putting the head between his legs, HE NAILS A GOTCH PILEDRIVER!!! Suzuki collapses in position for a PENALTY KICK!!! AND NOW SABRE CINCHES IT IN – HURRAH! ANOTHER YEAR, SURELY THIS ONE WILL BE BETTER THAN THE LAST; THE INEXORABLE MARCH OF PROGRESS WILL LEAD US ALL TO HAPPINESS!!! Suzuki grits his teeth, trying to fight through it, Sabre keeping his eyes on his hands to see the tap… NOWHERE TO GO, MINORU FLIPS HIM OFF WITH BOTH HANDS AND VERBALLY SUBMITS!!!
Zack Sabre Jr. (c) def. Minoru Suzuki to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (32:50)
Surviving one of the toughest matches of his career, Zack’s kingdom still lives, though barely. As he’s handed his title though, he chucks it aside, this about far more than the gold to him! SABRE STOMPS OUT SUZUKI!!! Signalling to the back, out rush Sabre-Gun, coming to Sabre’s aid to conduct a mugging on the legend! SUDDEN DEATH FROM ELP! PINCHE LOCO FROM DESPERADO! THUNDER VALLEY FROM TMDK! TANDEM JEEP FLIP/DROPKICK FROM BLAKE, CONNORS AND FUJITA! And now, it's Zack’s turn. Dragging him to the concrete… HE’S GOING FOR THE GOTCH PILEDRIVER!!! HE WANTS TO RETIRE SUZUKI FOR GOOD!!!
BUT HERE COMES J6G!!! AND LANCE ARCHER TOO!!! Sabre tosses Suzuki aside to deal with the oncoming traffic, Taichi and co. putting up an honourable fight, but they’re still down a man, Sabre-Gun managing to retain their upper-hand, until… OH MY GOD, IT’S SUZUKI’S OLD TAG PARTNER NAOMICHI MARUFUJI!!! Sabre can’t even get a curse out before a KO-OH SMACKS HIM IN THE FACE!!! Marufuji beats on Zack to turn the tide, going for the POLE SHIFT, but Sabre manages to escape in the nick of time, Sabre-Gun once again sent on the retreat, the show closing on Marufuji helping Suzuki up!
NJPW/AJPW/NOAH All Together Again (June 7, 2024)
Zack Sabre Jr. vs Naomichi Marufuji
After the events of Dominion, it’s only natural these two fight, long, long overdue a one-on-one since their NOAH days together! Fighting in Suzuki’s honour, Marufuji steps to the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion and it’s like 2016 all over again the way he utterly humbles Sabre to start like he’s facing Okada! A match of two halves, it goes from Naomichi giving ZSJ the biggest whooping of his life to Sabre brutally breaking down the legend, reminding him he’s 8 years too old to still be winning these sorts of matches. Though Maru gives Zack grief one more than one occasion, he meets his demise at the hands of a CREMATION LILY, Sabre spitting on Naomichi as he leaves, declaring himself untouchable!
Zack Sabre Jr. def. Naomichi Marufuji (25:37)
With his war on J6G and friends officially behind him, Sabre sets his sights on a show he has quite some history with. Losing to Claudio Castagnoli at the first Forbidden Door, before beating Katsuyori Shibata at the second to take both the NJPW TV and ROH Pure Titles to ALL IN to submit Danielson, there’s naturally only one direction for him to head…
Dynamite (June 12, 2024)
Racking another AEW International Championship defence under his belt, Wheeler YUTA is on top of the world, and as he’s approached by Tony Schiavone for a post-match comment… WHACK! IWGP WORLD TITLE TO THE BACK OF HIS HEAD!!! SABRE-GUN’S HERE!!! Mugging Blackpool Combat Club’s young gun like they did Suzuki, a SABRE DRIVER leaves him broken on the mat as Zack yells down the camera that he wants Moxley’s head at Forbidden Door, scurrying away before BCC can make the save!
Collision (June 15, 2024)
Zack Sabre Jr. vs Wheeler YUTA
Off the back of Sabre’s assault on YUTA, a match is made between the two technically-gifted champions in a massive Collision main event! Though ZSJ’s far out his paygrade, an arrogant Wheeler does his best to knock off the Technical Wizard, impressing with a display of submissions he’s picked up from Danielson, before employing some of Claudio’s marquee athleticism and Mox’s grittiness. Never a fair match to begin with though, a TESCO MEAL DEAL cruelly silences YUTA!
Zack Sabre Jr. def. Wheeler YUTA (10:12)
Grabbing a mic, Zack runs down Moxley, reminding him how they were supposed to fight 4 years ago until the pandemic ruined that, Jon ducking him ever since. Now though, he’s the last member of BCC he needs to get through before he can shut up those babies too, so all he needs to know is if Jon is still afraid of him or not. And as Sabre awaits his response… HE RECEIVES IT IN THE FORM OF A PARADIGM SHIFT!!! Mox holds Zack’s title over his body, gaining some retribution for YUTA!
AEWxNJPW Forbidden Door (June 23, 2024)
Also on the show:
The Lucha Brothers (c) vs La Faccion Ingobernable (RUSH & Dralistico) - IWGP Tag Team Championship
PAC (c) vs Swerve Strickland - IWGP United States Championship
Tetsuya Naito vs Andrade El Idolo
Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs Jon Moxley - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
The final showdown of a lengthy saga, Sabre makes his third defence against New Japan’s Ace, and it’s quite literally a bloody clinic, Mox showing zero fear in the face of the Top Gaijin, who looks to plant his flag over another territory. From a Paradigm Shift to the floor to a Zack Driver through a table, both men are busted open by the surroundings, the blood loss only helping Sabre’s case when he locks in the HYPERNORMALISATION, causing Mox to pass out! Alas, ZSJ stands atop BCC, but perhaps a more personal challenge yet awaits him…
Zack Sabre Jr. (c) def. Jon Moxley to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (23:20)
2023.05.28 05:27 InfernoAA God Made the World in Six Days, I’ll Perfect New Japan's on the Seventh Part Three: The Ungovernable Seven
In Part Two, Will Ospreay received his crowning moment at a broken Kazuchika Okada's expense, relieving him of his duties as IWGP World Heavyweight Champion and opening his doors to further bloodshed between CHAOS and Takeover. Proceeding to run through New Japan's elite, he took down Kenny Omega, Katsuyori Shibata, and Zack Sabre Jr. in one fell swoop, only for his dream of main eventing Wrestle Kingdom as champion to be crushed by one Shingo Takagi. Now, though the Dragon may be the titleholder, all is far from well in his den. Between Los Ingobernables de Japon in-fighting with G1 Climax 33 Winner Tetsuya Naito and PAC stealing his belt, he has much to address moving forwards.
Dynamite (November 1, 2023)
After shockingly robbing Shingo Takagi of his title, PAC interrupts mid-show, belt slung over his shoulder, scowl on his face. He rants about how ever since joining AEW, he’s been disrespected and overlooked, not even being booked for half a year after losing the AEW World Trios Championship, instead having to source work in NJPW with the G1 to finally pop back on the radar. Well now, he’s no longer sitting around in wait for others to give him opportunities. He’s taking them by force. Seeing as he beat Tetsuya Naito in the G1 yet Tetsuya’s been confirmed for WK’s main event without even defending his case against him, he’s decided he’s going to enter the match through his own means. He wants Shingo for the title! For his title. And until he gets his match, he’s not returning the strap.
Collision (November 4, 2023)
PAC vs CIMA
With PAC and Shingo’s obvious connection to Dragongate, The Bastard wrestles an exhibition match against one of the standout names who made his name there, CIMA! Tied to the early days of AEW’s legacy, the veteran reminds the world of his immense talent here, wrestling a very DG-style high-speed match, PAC matching him every step of the way. Though he gives him a solid fight, a Brutaliser cuts things mercifully short, PAC keeping it in until after the bell!
PAC def. CIMA (10:05)
PAC briefly pausing to snatch up the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship and raise it over his head, before going back to stomping out CIMA… HE’S INTERRUPTED BY SHINGO’S MUSIC!!! Takagi bolting out, the Black Arrow cuts his losses and flees, leaving the belt behind as Shingo checks on CIMA, hissing with anger. Reclaiming his belt, he tells PAC he’s on!
Full Gear (November 12, 2023)
Shingo Takagi (c) vs PAC - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
PAC’s first match outside WWE pitting him against Shingo in tag team action in Takagi’s final matches with Dragongate before signing with NJPW, they finally cross paths again in singles action for the first time since 2011, the Dragon having won all 3 past encounters. Two of the most intense wrestlers around, there’s no shortage of aggression between the two, Takagi raring for revenge on PAC for stealing his moment, and PAC simply wanting to ruin everyone’s lives for the betterment of his own.
Tearing into each other for the better part of half an hour, PAC is absolutely feral here, not letting this rare opportunity go to waste one bit, giving the champion all sorts of hell. Shingo, seeing some Ospreay in the Bastard, gives him the same respect he does his toughest rival, though the comparison only sets PAC off further, teasing introducing the title belt itself into the match, only to spike Shingo with a Tornado DDT off the distraction! Nailing the BLACK ARROW on the Dragon, he hooks the leg! ONE! TWO! THREE!!!
Or is it? PAC thinks he’s won the title, elated, only to turn around to the referee pointing on Shingo’s leg on the ropes! It’s Neville/Rollins all over again! If PAC was thought to have lost it so far, the depths he reaches at this point are undefinable, nailing every last trick in the book he knows before wrenching in THE BRUTALISER! Wanting to submit Shingo like he did CIMA, he puts him on the brink of passing out, but unlike the Flower of Evil, Takagi’s simply too strong for PAC, managing to shake him off, before eventually nailing the LAST OF THE DRAGON!!! ONE! TWO! THREE!!!
Shingo Takagi (c) def. PAC to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (25:13)
Though PAC lost at Full Gear, by the manner which he eyes Shingo and his title when leaving the ring, it’s clear matters are not yet over between them. However, for now, Takagi has the remaining month until January 4 to focus on. With Naito winning at Power Struggle in a tag match pitting him and Hiromu against Ospreay and Akira, El Ingobernable has all the momentum he needs behind him, though what lies between now and Tokyo Dome surprises him.
With Dragongate’s 20th Year Anniversary celebrations coming up, one of the most heated rivalries in the company’s history is revisited when Shingo’s called out by BxB Hulk! Their last interaction seeing them team up in the penultimate match of DG’s final big show of 2022 to great success in a surprise return by Takagi, Hulk now wants a shot at beating Shingo exactly one year later, seeing the title on his shoulder as a means of proving himself better than Takagi’s best version ever.
Naturally accepting an opportunity to knock Hulk’s head off once more, the blockbuster main event is set for The Final Gate, but before then, Hulk invites him and Naito to a preview tag match, knowing he can milk the uncomfortable setting and watch Shingo suffer by it. Though not pleased at the thought, Takagi does inform Tetsuya, who agrees to help him, better together than at each other’s throats.
Dragongate The Gate of Origin (December 10, 2023)
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito) vs GOLD CLASS (BxB Hulk & Ben-K)
Three of DG’s greats and one NJPW pillar all in the same ring, it’s as blockbuster a match as can be, the four megastars putting on a thrilling showcase of their talents, the beloved Shingo especially getting the spotlight to Naito’s subtle annoyance, no longer the most popular man in the building. Nonetheless, with a crucial match less than one month away, LIJ are at their best even with their issues, the Destino/Pumping Bomber combo to Ben-K getting the win, though Naito making a point to be the one making the cover as Shingo is left to lock eyes with Hulk.
Los Ingobernables de Japon def. GOLD CLASS (21:35)
Dragongate The Final Gate (December 17, 2023)
Shingo Takagi vs BxB Hulk XIV
A history built on friendship, betrayal, and subsequent hatred, the arrogant detestable Shingo and the adored underdog Hulk have long grown since their last match 5 years ago, Takagi currently his company’s frontman and BxB still hanging on in his 40’s for DG. With Shingo having never beaten Hulk with a World Title over his shoulder, BxB having done so twice to him, The Dragon channels every last fiery breath of his into silencing his career rival for good, knocking Hulk around the arena and into the ring post like the old days, even playing it heelish at points, ever the superstar Hulk always wished to be. And after a thoroughly personal trip down memory lane, 20 years of DG tip in favour of the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, who puts Hulk down for good! In a show of respect after the match, Takagi bows to Hulk, entrusting the people to him as he turns his attention back to his new home.
Shingo Takagi def. BxB Hulk (26:11)
Road To Tokyo Dome - Night Two (December 23, 2023)
Also on the tour:
CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomohiro Ishii) (c) vs United Empire (Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, Aaron Henare) - NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuji & Titan) vs Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI)
One final stop on the road to Wrestle Kingdom, and it’s arguably the most important one yet. With Shingo and Naito’s divide over leadership growing only stronger by the minute, what started as being mediated by LIJ has now turned into them being forced to pick sides against their wills. Takagi’s grown tired of existing in Naito’s shadow despite holding the title, believing he’s more cut out to lead them, receiving support from his fellow newer class of LIJ blood, Yota Tsuji, as well as another recent recruit in Titan. However, Naito’s still the familia’s franchise to the group’s OGs, Hiromu and BUSHI letting loyalty speak for itself by siding with their leader in his bid to end his 3-year chase for the title currently around Takagi’s waist. Battlelines drawn, the blockbuster showdown closes out the Road To Tokyo Dome tour!
Brute force colliding with agility, the familial bond between LIJ only continues to be blurred as Shingo and Naito bark out orders to their respective teammates, directing traffic in this psychological warfare grown physical. It’s a slow build of the tempo until the crescendo of Shingo and Naito finally touching for the first time since the G1 Finals is reached, Tetsuya leaning heavily on his mind games whilst Takagi simply throws mean bombs, adamant to finally prove he’s better than his leader. Not overexposing their strategies too much, the match ultimately sees Naito nail Titan with the Destino to win, once more having the last laugh over Shingo!
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI) def. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuji & Titan) (17:20)
In a final press conference heading into Wrestle Kingdom 18, Takagi and Naito share their thoughts on the upcoming match. Shingo declares that NJPW is no longer about Tetsuya, who squandered countless valuable opportunities between Takagi losing and regaining the title, those matches proving his days are over. He may not be the archetype Okada is, he may not be the fan favourite Naito is, he may not be the international star Ospreay is, but damn it, he doesn’t care for any of that. He's walking into New Japan’s biggest show of the year as champion, and he’s walking out of it as champion, simple as.
As for Naito, he muses that this could very well be his last moment in the Sun, the result of the match dictating the direction his career goes. Either he wins and reclaims his spot atop NJPW, getting to have the run the pandemic robbed him of. Or he loses on the grandest stage and leaves with nothing… but that’s not happening. He’s beaten Shingo both times they’ve fought and he doesn’t plan on dropping the third. But that’s not just because the title’s on the line. It’s the topic Shingo’s smartly chosen to avoid speaking on. He’d be a fool to think his spot isn’t under threat. EVIL betrayed him. SANADA did too. There’s nothing stopping Shingo from doing it either… so it’s up to him to chop down the Hydra before the issue persists. He loves LIJ and he loves Shingo, but this moment is about him and everything he’s sacrificed, so he asks Takagi to not take it to heart when Naito takes what’s long overdue his.
Wrestle Kingdom 18 (January 4, 2024)
Also on the show:
NEVER Openweight Championship: Jeff Cobb (c) vs Ren Narita
NJPW World Television Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs Taichi
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: KUSHIDA (c) vs Mike Bailey
PAC vs Hiromu Takahashi
IWGP Tag Team Championship: Aussie Open (c) vs TMDK
IWGP United States Championship: Katsuyori Shibata (c) vs Tomohiro Ishii
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Will Ospreay
Kazuchika Okada vs Kaito Kiyomiya III
Shingo Takagi (c) vs Tetsuya Naito III - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
As blockbuster as it gets on the Tokyo Dome stage, two LIJ members close out the night for the very first time in Naito’s home city! Two men that go back to their days together in high school, none of that matters now, the title all they care about. Dressed to the nines, Naito emerges from a helicopter like a true Ingobernable, sporting a black suit to represent his Dark Ace persona, an entire army of LIJ supporters backing him from the stage.
Before their first match, Naito declared he wanted to face a Shingo that could feasibly take LIJ from him and now more than ever he’s going to get it, but perhaps should be careful what he wishes for. Winning their past two matches, all he needs to do is replicate the feat one more time. Speak of the champ, Takagi emerges from the mouth of a Dragon’s lair, fireballs rising along the stage, Shingo in an all red regal fit, ready to spill blood. Losing to Okada two years ago when he was in this position, it’s about redemption for him and proving to his leader the future of LIJ is now, old man.
Once Naito slowly strips down out of his suit and Shingo sheds his skin, handing over the strap, the January 4 main event gets underway! It’s typical Naito behaviour from the jump, stalling for the opening minute as both men absorb the feel of the cheering crowd, split down the middle between the ways LIJ could go. Shingo’s stoic whilst Tetsuya smirks, sending some words Takagi’s way, before raising the LIJ fist! But Shingo rocks him with a jab!
A quick feeling out process sees Shingo gain the momentary upper hand off a rough Shoulder Tackle, only to turn into a Flying Forearm Smash from Naito! Tetsuya goes wild on Takagi with blows, the Dragon simply absorbing them, shaking them off and letting out a roar after another Shoulder Tackle! But Naito skids off the mat this time and recovers into his Tranquilo Pose instead, drawing the ire of Takagi!
Shingo smacks him with a boot to the cheek, backing Naito into the corner where he goes ham with piston strikes to the body, a CORNER BOMBER whiplashing Naito’s head against the turnbuckle! Swiping out the legs, he mocks Naito’s “Abre Los Ojos” taunt, going for Tetsuya’s COMBINACION CABRON! Naito has it scouted however, stopping the closing Mule Kick by snapping Takagi against the top rope with a SWINGING NECKBREAKER! TORNADO DDT crunches him on his dome, Shingo kicking out at 2!
Firing up, Takagi demands for more, Naito shrugging as he teases another Flying Forearm Smash, only to slip behind into the POLVO DE ESTRELLA COVER! ONE! TWO! THR-KICK OUT! Shingo doesn’t even have time to chew Naito out for doing the complete opposite as asked, instantly being rolled into a SICK DRAGON SUPLEX ON THE DRAGON! Takagi clutches his neck as Naito grins at him, now following up with a COMBINACION CABRON of his own, telling Shingo not to steal if he can’t take the fire himself!
Takagi dazed, Naito scales up top for a MISSILE DROPKICK- TAKAGI TURNS HIM INSIDE-OUT MIDAIR WITH A PUMPING BOMBER!!! NOSHIGAMI! ONE! TWO! THR-KICK OUT! Battering him with a Pumping Combo, chops and punches blister and bruise Tetsuya’s body, before a HIGH-ANGLE GERMAN DROPS HIM ON HIS NECK!!! Shingo looks satisfied with himself as he sits in his cross-legged pose… BUT NAITO RISES UP BEHIND HIM!
Rolling Wheel Kick to the back of the head snaps Takagi out of dream state as Tetsuya rallies with a series of forearms, before testing his luck with a PUMPING BOMBER OF HIS OWN! SHINGO SHRUGS IT OFF, PISSED! Realising he messed up, Naito tries to escape the Dragon’s wrath, but Shingo grabs him by the trunks to pull him back into a MADE IN JAPAN attempt! Tetsuya frantically fights free with back elbows to the neck, ONLY TO BE SPUN AROUND INTO A DRAGON SOUL LARIAT, NAITO ROCKED TO HIS CORE!
Naito collapsing outside, a TOPE CON HILO wipes him out! Shingo ragdolls his stablemate about ringside, hurling him from post-to-pillar, though a GUARDRAIL POWERBOMB is countered into a NECKBREAKER ON THE STEEL! ESPERANZA ON THE FLOOR BY NAITO! Shingo nursing the neck, Naito tosses him in and recovers for a moment, before heading up top, CONNECTING THE MISSILE DROPKICK! AND A GLORIA!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOO!!!
Shingo in the drop zone, Naito teases the RUNNING DESTINO, but Takagi catches him, TRYING FOR A FIRE THUNDER DRIVER!!! Tetsuya scrabbles like a cat falling out a tree, whacking Shingo in the nose with his boot to free himself! A stiff forearm connects with the damaged neck, but as Naito goes for a German, Takagi beats it and folds him with a SAITO SUPLEX! LEGEND FALCONRY CONNECTS!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NAITO SURVIVES!!!
Tetsuya in a dream state, Shingo clubs him with clotheslines, a YUKON LARIAT cleaning him off his feet! Grabbing him by the scruff, Takagi pulls him up… HOOKING AN STO, WANTING EVERYTHING IS EVIL!!! His cheeky smirk is wiped off by an EYE RAKE though, Naito furiously exploding with punches and a mouthful of SPIT in Shingo’s face, showing what he thinks of LIJ’s first traitor!
Knocking Shingo down with his own lariat, he sets up a SWING DESTINO, but Takagi grabs his leg! Naito tries to fight him off, though Shingo’s too powerful, yanking him into a draped position in the ropes! Heading to the adjacent corner, he climbs as Naito pulls himself up in hopes of freeing himself… COAST-TO-COAST BOMBER NAILS NAITO!!! MADE IN JAPAN!!! ONE! TWO! THR-ANOTHER CLOSE CALL!!!
Shingo roars, setting up the LAST OF THE DRAGON- NAITO COUNTERS INTO A SURPRISE DESTINO!!! Takagi crashing on the bad neck, he’s jelly-legged as Tetsuya bumrushes him with forearms, though as he kneels to counter another DESTINO, Naito dumps him with a GERMAN INSTEAD! AND A RUNNING DESTINOOOOOOOOO!!! ONE! TWO! THR-SHINGO GETS THE SHOULDER UP!!! Naito cracks Takagi with headbutts, but it only angers the bull, who launches one back despite the neck!
Tetsuya winces and smirks through the pain, knowing this hurts Shingo more than him, the Dragon remaining prideful with each counter headbutt, UNTIL A POISONED FRANKENSTEINER SPIKES HIM! SKULL END!!! Naito’s embracing the trauma! Keeping it in deep for a few moments as Takagi struggles, Tetsuya promptly lets go and looks at the turnbuckles… RAISING HIS FIST TO THE SKY, HE WANTS A STARDUST PRESS!!! Shades of his matches with Okada in the Dome, Naito goes for the Hail Mary… IT MISSES!!! TAKAGI GETS HIM UP FOR A LAST OF THE DRAGON!!! HE FINALLY HITS IT AFTER FAILING BOTH PAST MATCHES!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Takagi’s taken aback, certain it was the piece of the equation he’d been missing. Angered, he knocks his own brutal forearms into Naito’s non-existent neck, an AXE BOMBER KNOCKING HIM DOWN! Naito gasping for air, a SICKENING DRAGON SOUL LARIAT follows! Now staggered himself, he throws wild, yet feeble shots, missing Shingo each time as he pops up his foe. Looking him dead in the eyes, Shingo hits off the ropes once, twice, thrice… PUMPING BOMBERRRRRRRRRRRRR!!! Scooping him up for another LAST OF THE DRAGON… NAITO COUNTERS WITH A VALENTIA!!!
Both men down, Tokyo goes nuts as they slowly pull themselves up using each other, butting heads! Trading blows again, a Dragon Soul rocks Naito, BUT HE THROWS ONE BACK! AND A FOREARM! A HEADBUTT! Naito runs the ropes, but so does Shingo, once, twice, thrice, TORNADO DD- PUMPING BOMBER!!! Grabbing the wrist from behind, TAKAGI WANTS THE RIPCORD BOMBER!!! BUT NAITO WITH A DESTINOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOO!!!
Now Naito’s in shock, mere inches from the win! Seeing his hometown on their feet for him, new life rushes through him, nodding to himself as he sets up again the DESTINO! Shingo throws his body weight forwards though, both men collapsing to the apron! Trading punches, it’s the HEADBUTT which subdues Takagi, his neck in sheer agony! AND NOW NAITO WANTS THE APRON DESTINO INSTEAD… SHINGO SHOVES HIM OFF! APRON CANADIAN DESTROYER!!! REVENGE FOR THE 2019 G1!!!
Naito’s eyes are glazed over, all the years of abuse to his own neck catching up to him! Takagi hoists him up, seating him on the turnbuckle, before raising his own fist skywards! Meeting Tetsuya up there, who gives one last fight with forearms to the neck, a DRAGON SOUL silences him! Grabbing the wrist, Shingo picks him up on top of the world… STAY DREAM!!! ONE! TWO! THREE!!!
Shingo Takagi (c) def. Tetsuya Naito to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (40:40)
It’s over. Once more, Naito’s championship dreams have been shattered into stardust as Takagi finally scores the win that’s eluded him throughout his NJPW run! Tokyo’s a stunned silence as they watch Shingo be handed his title, holding his hand high as Tetsuya lays still on the mat. Is Naito truly finished? LIJ pour out, Hiromu and BUSHI rushing to check on the Stardust Genius, while Yota and Titan check on Takagi as he suddenly stumbles back into the corner, clutching his neck.
As Naito’s helped to his feet, there’s a standstill between the two halves of LIJ as they stare each other down, intensity stemming from Shingo and Naito. Takagi pushes Yota and Titan aside, stepping forward whilst nursing his neck, Naito doing the same, butting heads with the Dragon again! …But then a smirk appears on Naito’s face, raising high the LIJ fist! And Shingo smirks back, raising his own to meet it! AND THEY EMBRACE!
What was thought to be the war that could fracture LIJ in half forever has only brought its two strongest members closest together! Grabbing a mic, Naito congratulates Shingo for finally beating him. He knew this day would eventually come, and he couldn’t be prouder of his friend. Though this loss stings him, the journey is never over him, and rest assured, he’ll be coming back for the throne, rested and healthy again, Naito winking at Takagi as he says so, who reciprocates with an inviting grin.
But right now is not about him. In fact, he may not even be long for the wrestling world with the condition his neck and knees are in. That’s why he’d like to make an announcement. From henceforth, he’s no longer the sole leader of LIJ. He wants Shingo to lead beside him! Takagi’s stunned by the offer, but Naito insists, explaining that though EVIL and SANADA were corrupted by greed for power, it was never about that to him. LIJ is his family, and he only wants what’s best for them. If that means Takagi calling the shots when he’s unable to, he’ll do that. Shingo gives him a bow of acceptance!
LIJ all smiles, united stronger than ever, Naito beckons them all to the centre of the ring, before gesturing to Takagi to cement his leadership by doing the roll-call! Takagi nodding, he accepts the mic from him and raises his fist to the sky as everyone follows… but right as he’s about to speak, the crowd bursts into gasps which catches Shingo’s attention, as OUT WALKS PAC!!!
Having hunted down and beaten LIJ members since his loss to Shingo, he snarls as he stalks his way to the ring, LIJ falling into defensive position! Stepping inside, he looks them left to right, scowling at their clenched fists, before raising his mic. He says that ever since he set foot in NJPW at the G1 Climax, he’s been a man possessed with his goal to take what he’s been deprived of. He stomped out Naito, he stole Shingo’s belt, he just beat Hiromu earlier in the night… yet none of that has left him satisfied the way he thought it would. It had him thinking the question – why?
And then he realised. LIJ isn’t the enemy. They’re misfits, just like him. Oppressed, just like him. He banded together Death Triangle in the face of The Elite, but now, he seeks a far greater position. With contract negotiations having come up, his 5-year AEW deal finally expiring, he’s opted for one that’ll allow him to work both AEW and NJPW, covering his bases so he doesn’t go unbooked anymore. And with these recent matches causing him to gain respect for the Ingobernables and their unrestrained manner of operations, he knows from experience that if you wish to rise to the top in Japan… it’s good to have allies. Tossing his mic aside, PAC RAISES HIS FIST TO THE SKY!
LIJ’s taken aback by the gesture from the Bastard that’s almost tried to tear them apart in the past months as much as they have themselves… BUT SHINGO RECIPROCATES TO HIS DRAGONGATE BROTHER! AND NOW HIROMU! YOTA! TITAN! BUSHI! AND NAITO!!! Raising his mic back up, Shingo declares “TITAN! BUSHI! TSUJI! HIROMU! NAITO! PAC! Y SHINGO! NOSOTROS… LOS INNNNGOBERRRNAAAABLESSSSSSS DE JA-PON!!!”. Tickertape explodes from the turnbuckles as Tokyo erupts into cheers, LIJ closing the show a united family again!
New Year Dash!! (January 5, 2024)
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, PAC, Yota Tsuji, Hiromu Takahashi, BUSHI) vs Sabre-Gun (Zack Sabre Jr., El Phantasmo, TMDK, El Desperado, Kosei Fujita)
As usual, the night after Wrestle Kingdom is rife with excitement and new beginnings, and at the centre of it all lies the age-old rivalry between LIJ and Zack Sabre Jr.! Fresh off losing his Television Championship to Taichi after a year-long reign, he immediately sets his sights on the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, a victory here sure to propel him to the top. And with LIJ finally back to being a cohesive, functioning family again, their redefined chemistry is put up to the test here.
Batting off the initial concerns of another blow-up, the rebels have never been more in sync than now under Naito and Shingo’s shared guidance, the added element of PAC only further helping than hindering. Still, Sabre-Gun is menacing, a driven Sabre sicking his troops on the opposition like the masterful general he is, yet to his annoyance, the crowd remain enamoured by the Bastard, who taps out Fujita to the Brutaliser as he stares down the Technical Wizard, sending a statement!
Los Ingobernables de Japon def. Sabre-Gun (18:07)
Whilst ZSJ throws a fit, promising LIJ they haven’t seen the last of him as he leaves with Sabre-Gun, LIJ raise their fists to the sky with Shingo returning the favour from last night by letting Naito do the roll-call this time, grins all around. That is… until the coin drops. HERE COMES OKADA! Turning to Naito, Shingo gives him the nod that he’s got this sorted, Tetsuya tipping his cap back and taking LIJ away with him to give the two space as the rivals lock eyes.
Mic in hand, Okada runs down Shingo, calling his reign an insult to NJPW, despising the Dragon’s prideful embracement of his Dragongate past when he should be representing their company. With Okada’s trilogy against Kaito finished in his favour, playtime’s over and the Rainmaker’s come back knocking for his crown, having beaten Shingo in the G1. Shingo, remembering how his last reign ended… accepts! Butting heads with Okada, he warns him he’s even more dangerous now, so he shouldn’t expect to walk away with his gold this time.
Wrestle Kingdom 18 in Yokohama Arena (January 21, 2024)
Shingo Takagi (c) vs Kazuchika Okada VI - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
In the past year, Okada’s descent into madness has seen embark on an emerald voyage to kill off any outsider or youngster eyeballing his spot, even brutally exiling members from CHAOS to reshape it into men who fit his regime. Seeing Takagi as low-life scum, he’s adamant to ‘fix’ NJPW again so that his efforts from last year don’t go to waste, knowing the continued deviance LIJ’s control will cause from his ‘purer’ path. Shingo, on the other hand, has been collecting milestones, from finally beating Ospreay for the title, to finally knocking off Naito to affirm his spot at LIJ’s top and win a January 4 main event to redeem his loss two years prior against the man who now stands in his way again, the only natural next bucket list item hence being beating Okada back on the WK stage.
A gruelling war over New Japan’s vision spans over the next half hour (akin to the classic they’d actually have at New Beginning 2023), Okada mercilessly dumping Shingo over and over again on the neck Naito had loosened up, whilst Takagi holds his own more than he ever has in the past, blistering the Ace with lariats that leave welts all over! The first RAINMAKER hits like a gunshot though, damn near taking Shingo out, yet he keeps fighting through the damaged neck! MADE IN JAPAN has Okada rethinking his decisions to challenge, and a STAY DREAM tease almost gets him!
A vicious TOMBSTONE drills him on the floor though, sending spasms down from his neck to his limbs, another RAINMAKER pushing him to his last legs! As Okada preps one final one… TAKAGI NAILS HIS OWN RIPCORD BOMBER!!! The FIRE THUNDER DRIVER now has Kazu reeling himself, and a LAST OF THE DRAGON scores a mighty near-fall! OKADA RESPONDS WITH ONE OF HIS OWN, GETTING SHINGO BACK FOR THE RIPCORD!!! Inching closer and closer to the vaunted third Rainmaker, Okada has Shingo’s neck in dire straits with the Money Clip, but as he finally swings… TAKAGI CATCHES IT! ANOTHER LAST OF THE DRAGON!!! ONE! TWO! THREE!!!
Shingo Takagi (c) def. Kazuchika Okada to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (32:07)
Despite the odds stacked against him, Shingo’s managed to tie his score against Okada, 3-3, avenging his WK heartbreak from 2022, whilst Kazu’s grip on New Japan continues to falter, the ungovernables wrecking his ideal world. Refusing to let them slip however, LIJ and CHAOS continue to feud into the New Beginning tour, where a massive tag is set up pitting Shingo & Naito against Okada & Tanahashi!
The New Beginning in Sapporo - Night Two (January 28, 2024)
Also on the tour:
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: CHAOS (SHO & Taiji Ishimori) (c) vs Los Ingobernables de Japon (Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI)
Katsuyori Shibata (c) vs KENTA - IWGP United States Championship
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito) vs CHAOS (Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kazuchika Okada)
With Hiromu & BUSHI dethroning SHO & Taiji last night, matters are even more tense now in the power struggle between the stables. Endless shared history between these four men, it clearly shows with the animosity they greet each other with, Takagi and Okada continuing their war from Yokohama as Naito continues to drift further every day from the man he used to resemble in Tanahashi.
Tetsuya manages to get some well-earned revenge against the man who withheld the World Title from him throughout 2022, Okada, a Destino/Bomber showing Naito and Takagi to be fully in tune again, but when a Twist and Shout to Shingo’s neck takes him out, it’s down to Naito and Tanahashi again! Tetsuya trying to recover some momentum to speed up his rise back to challenging Shingo, he gives Hiroshi his all, though the Dragon Screws prove too much for his bad knees, a TEXAS CLOVERLEAF submitting him!
CHAOS def. Los Ingobernables de Japon (21:15)
With Tanahashi’s win over the LIJ leader duo, he calls out Shingo in a post-show interview, saying it’s been 3 years since he’s had a chance to challenge for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, his last match notably enough coming against Shingo himself. He’s not getting any younger as it seems and he wants nothing more than one last run at the top… so for the sake of sparing the company he broke his back for the past two decades from LIJ’s undesirable direction, he wishes to bring gold back to CHAOS! Record level 1-1 between the two, Takagi fearlessly accepts, setting up a blockbuster showdown for Osaka!
The New Beginning in Osaka (February 10, 2024)
Also on the show:
KUSHIDA (c) vs YOH - IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
TMDK (c) vs Los Ingobernables de Japon (PAC & Yota Tsuji) - IWGP Tag Team Championship
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI) (c) vs CHAOS (SHO & Taiji Ishimori) vs SixorNine (Master Wato & Ryusuke Taguchi) - IWGP Junior Tag Team Championship
Shingo Takagi (c) vs Hiroshi Tanahashi III - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
3 years ago on the New Beginning tour, Shingo and Tanahashi met for the first time, the Ace of the Universe taking the NEVER Openweight Championship from him, before Takagi returned the favour 6 months later, keeping the World Title from Hiroshi. Now, in a war of ideologies, they settle the score! Even at 47, Tana’s flamboyant as ever in his entrance, turning back the clocks with a full rockstar entrance as women swoon over the Japanese God. Shingo’s comparatively humble in his entrance, glaring taped-up neck keeping his head bowed, yet nostrils flaring, ready for battle.
It's a classic Tanahashi start, slapping on the headlock to grind down his foe, only now it means that much more with the condition of Shingo’s neck. As Hiroshi reaches for Takagi’s tape, Shingo butts into his chest with his shoulder to shove him off and fires up a Pumping Combo! Chop, punch, chop, punch, chop, punc- DRAGON-STYLE HARITE FROM TANA KNOCKS THE TASTE OUT OF SHINGO’S MOUTH! Takagi doubled over, Hiroshi hammers elbows into his exposed neck, a Low Dropkick cutting him down and a Neckbreaker flooring him for 2!
Heading to the middle rope, a SOMERSAULT SENTON BOMB is evaded, Tana crashing on his back! Now Shingo blasts him with the ground and pound! A Knee Drop sits Hiroshi up, before a SLIDING D knocks him back down for 2! Whipping Tana into the corner, a CORNER BOMBER heads his way like a missile, but a Big Boot and a HIGH FLY ATTACK cuts him off, before Tana strums the air guitar!
He grabs the waist, but a Snap DDT stops him, an ORIGINAL FALCONRY from Shingo slamming him down! Beating Tana’s chest like a drum, he guillotines him in the ropes with a PUMPING BREAKER! A Gallon Throw attempt follows, but Tana spins around into a FALL IN LOVE PIN! ONE! TWO! THR-KICK OUT! And before Shingo can do anything, Hiroshi nails the head with a Low Dropkick! HASE-STYLE URANAGE SPIKES HIM ON HIS NECK!!!
Hurt, Takagi collapses to the outside, prompting Tana to spear the Dragon into the guardrail with a DRAGON ROCKET! Climbing the ropes, Hiroshi measures for a HIGH FLY FLOW- CAUGHT ON SHINGO’S SHOULDERS!!! DEATH VALLEY BOMB ON THE FLOOR!!! The back that once carried NJPW now sears in agony as Takagi rolls him in, a SOL DE JAPON CONNECTING! Smacking a Dragon Soul Lariat off him, a HIGH-ANGLE BELLY-TO-BACK SUPLEX DROPS TANA! ONE! TWO! THR-NO DICE!
Loading the Ace of the Universe onto his shoulders, he nails a BUCKLE BOMB… BUT TANA EXPLODES BACK WITH A SLING BLADE!!! Both downed for a moment, Tana beats a Yukon Lariat with a SNAP DRAGON SUPLEX! Shingo seeing stars, Tana grabs him for another, but Takagi desperately fights him off, ONLY FOR A DARUMA-SHIKI GERMAN SUPLEX TO FLOOR HIM!!! ONE! TWO! THR-SHINGO STAYS IN!
Tana tries to get a hold of the neck, but Takagi turtles and kicks him away, prompting Tana to secure the leg instead, connecting a DRAGON SCREW! Shingo hobbling to his feet, a TWIST AND SHOUT awaits him! Hiroshi rolls through for seconds, but now Takagi grabs his leg and RETURNS A DRAGON SCREW!!! Tana’s famously bad knees give way, Shingo now with free reign to stomp the chest, before hoisting him into a MICHINOKU DRIVER II! Heading up, he winds up the DIVING BOMBER, but taking too long, Tana cuts him off!
Beating on Shingo’s exposed neck, he drapes him from the top rope… AND SNAPS HIM INTO A VICIOUS DRAGON SCREW NECK WHIP!!! Takagi’s head damn near popping off, Tana quickly grabs a DRAGON SLEEPER and starts swinging him around Giant Swing style! Slamming him into the mat after 10 rotations, Tana glides up top… NAILING THE HIGH FLY FLOW!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Securing the wrists, Tana goes for a RYUGOYE like last time… TAKAGI CATCHES IT! MADE IN JAPAN!!! Hiroshi smartly rolls away to the ropes before Takagi can cover though, leaving both men to nurse their wounds. Meeting in the middle, they bounce elbows off each other’s skulls, TANA CRACKING SHINGO WITH A HEADBUTT!!! TAKAGI RETURNS ONE, DROPPING HIROSHI!!! Battering the back, he tries for a LAST OF THE DRAGON- SLING BLADE FROM TANA!!!
As the Pumping Hawk rises, Tana cracks a swift TWIST AND SHOUT, before nailing ANOTHER SLING BLADE!!! Back turned to Takagi, Tanahashi’s confident he’s got him… BUT HE TURNS INTO A PUMPING BOMBER!!! Hiroshi rocked, Shingo hits the ropes a few times, before firing off a PUMPING BOMBER THAT TURNS HIM INSIDE OUT!!! Now grabbing the wrist, he teases the Ripcord variant, but Tana counters with the SLING BLADE!!!
Returning up top, Tana crashes into Shingo with a STANDING HIGH FLY FLOW!!! Going back up for seconds, he looks over his kingdom… but Takagi grabs his leg! Tana tries kicking him off, but Shingo pulls himself up, trading blows with Hiroshi! He eats a Headbutt to the neck but firms it, wrecking Tana’s back with punches… BEFORE NAILING AN AVALANCHE EXPLODER ’98!!! LAST OF THE DRAGON!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Gritting his teeth, Shingo winds the arm, going for a PUMPING BOMBER, but Tana just collapses under! Takagi stomps over to him, only to fall into a SMALL PACKAGE! ONE! TWO! THR-TAKAGI KICKS OUT! SLING BLADE!!! Tana attempts a BRAINBUSTER, but the back gives out, letting Takagi fall into the ropes and rebound with a PUMPING BOMBER!!! Securing the Double Hammerlock, he nails a TAKAGI DRIVER ’98!!! ONE! TWO! THR-TANAHASHI WITH A FOOT ON THE ROPES!!!
Shingo’s at a loss, but in this game of natural progression, he looks to replicate his WK success, smacking Dragon Souls off Tana, before another PUMPING BOMBER flooring him! Dragging him up the ropes with him, he wants the STAY DREAM… but it left his neck exposed, Tana raining down 12-6 elbows on it! Shingo forced to let go, he instead trades forearms with Hiroshi, but a HEADBUTT knocks him down this time into a prone position! Tana in perfect position, HE NAILS THE HIGH FLY FLOW TO THE BACK!!! Rolling Shingo over, Tana heads back up… HIGH FLY FLOW!!! ONE! TWO! THREE!!!
Hiroshi Tanahashi def. Shingo Takagi (c) to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (35:36)
For the 9th time in his career, Tanahashi’s the World Champion! Shingo’s neck finally crumbling at his hands, the CHAOS regime is back on top! A remarkable reign from the Dragon, but he’s forced back into his cave. As Tana celebrates though, he doesn’t have to wait at all for competition to line up, KATSUYORI SHIBATA’S THEME HITTING! The fellow Three Musketeer losing his US Title earlier on the tour, he’s had a bone to pick with CHAOS for the past year since their exile of the likes of Goto, who have since been in his corner as part of the Takeover faction. The two long-time rivals staring each down, Tana raises his title with a grin, as Shibata returns a murderous look!
New Japan Road (February 23, 2024)
CHAOS (Hiroshi Tanahashi & Shota Umino) vs Takeover (Katsuyori Shibata & Ren Narita)
Outspoken in his rekindled hatred for Tanahashi since the CHAOS move, there’d be nothing sweeter to him than ending his reign before it can even begin. Bringing their respective protégés along for a preview tag, Narita holding the title Shibata’s so synonymous with, the NEVER Openweight Championship, since Wrestle Kingdom, the shared loathing is uncontainable here, the match quickly devolving into a ringside brawl between champion and challenger! Shibata kicks a chair into Hiroshi’s face, Tana crossbodies him through the guardrail, and both smack ruthless strikes off one another, paying no attention to the referee’s count, who reaches 20 as Katsuyori’s beating Tana’s head in until the referees pull him off!
CHAOS and Takeover fought to a double countout (8:10)
Hurling insults at one another as they’re dragged away by their respective partners, who tell them to save their strength for the match, it’s as volatile as can be, victory starting to seem secondary to the bloodlusts both want to satisfy!
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Dynamite (November 1, 2023)
After shockingly robbing Shingo Takagi of his title, PAC interrupts mid-show, belt slung over his shoulder, scowl on his face. He rants about how ever since joining AEW, he’s been disrespected and overlooked, not even being booked for half a year after losing the AEW World Trios Championship, instead having to source work in NJPW with the G1 to finally pop back on the radar. Well now, he’s no longer sitting around in wait for others to give him opportunities. He’s taking them by force. Seeing as he beat Tetsuya Naito in the G1 yet Tetsuya’s been confirmed for WK’s main event without even defending his case against him, he’s decided he’s going to enter the match through his own means. He wants Shingo for the title! For his title. And until he gets his match, he’s not returning the strap.
Collision (November 4, 2023)
PAC vs CIMA
With PAC and Shingo’s obvious connection to Dragongate, The Bastard wrestles an exhibition match against one of the standout names who made his name there, CIMA! Tied to the early days of AEW’s legacy, the veteran reminds the world of his immense talent here, wrestling a very DG-style high-speed match, PAC matching him every step of the way. Though he gives him a solid fight, a Brutaliser cuts things mercifully short, PAC keeping it in until after the bell!
PAC def. CIMA (10:05)
PAC briefly pausing to snatch up the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship and raise it over his head, before going back to stomping out CIMA… HE’S INTERRUPTED BY SHINGO’S MUSIC!!! Takagi bolting out, the Black Arrow cuts his losses and flees, leaving the belt behind as Shingo checks on CIMA, hissing with anger. Reclaiming his belt, he tells PAC he’s on!
Full Gear (November 12, 2023)
Shingo Takagi (c) vs PAC - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
PAC’s first match outside WWE pitting him against Shingo in tag team action in Takagi’s final matches with Dragongate before signing with NJPW, they finally cross paths again in singles action for the first time since 2011, the Dragon having won all 3 past encounters. Two of the most intense wrestlers around, there’s no shortage of aggression between the two, Takagi raring for revenge on PAC for stealing his moment, and PAC simply wanting to ruin everyone’s lives for the betterment of his own.
Tearing into each other for the better part of half an hour, PAC is absolutely feral here, not letting this rare opportunity go to waste one bit, giving the champion all sorts of hell. Shingo, seeing some Ospreay in the Bastard, gives him the same respect he does his toughest rival, though the comparison only sets PAC off further, teasing introducing the title belt itself into the match, only to spike Shingo with a Tornado DDT off the distraction! Nailing the BLACK ARROW on the Dragon, he hooks the leg! ONE! TWO! THREE!!!
Or is it? PAC thinks he’s won the title, elated, only to turn around to the referee pointing on Shingo’s leg on the ropes! It’s Neville/Rollins all over again! If PAC was thought to have lost it so far, the depths he reaches at this point are undefinable, nailing every last trick in the book he knows before wrenching in THE BRUTALISER! Wanting to submit Shingo like he did CIMA, he puts him on the brink of passing out, but unlike the Flower of Evil, Takagi’s simply too strong for PAC, managing to shake him off, before eventually nailing the LAST OF THE DRAGON!!! ONE! TWO! THREE!!!
Shingo Takagi (c) def. PAC to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (25:13)
Though PAC lost at Full Gear, by the manner which he eyes Shingo and his title when leaving the ring, it’s clear matters are not yet over between them. However, for now, Takagi has the remaining month until January 4 to focus on. With Naito winning at Power Struggle in a tag match pitting him and Hiromu against Ospreay and Akira, El Ingobernable has all the momentum he needs behind him, though what lies between now and Tokyo Dome surprises him.
With Dragongate’s 20th Year Anniversary celebrations coming up, one of the most heated rivalries in the company’s history is revisited when Shingo’s called out by BxB Hulk! Their last interaction seeing them team up in the penultimate match of DG’s final big show of 2022 to great success in a surprise return by Takagi, Hulk now wants a shot at beating Shingo exactly one year later, seeing the title on his shoulder as a means of proving himself better than Takagi’s best version ever.
Naturally accepting an opportunity to knock Hulk’s head off once more, the blockbuster main event is set for The Final Gate, but before then, Hulk invites him and Naito to a preview tag match, knowing he can milk the uncomfortable setting and watch Shingo suffer by it. Though not pleased at the thought, Takagi does inform Tetsuya, who agrees to help him, better together than at each other’s throats.
Dragongate The Gate of Origin (December 10, 2023)
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito) vs GOLD CLASS (BxB Hulk & Ben-K)
Three of DG’s greats and one NJPW pillar all in the same ring, it’s as blockbuster a match as can be, the four megastars putting on a thrilling showcase of their talents, the beloved Shingo especially getting the spotlight to Naito’s subtle annoyance, no longer the most popular man in the building. Nonetheless, with a crucial match less than one month away, LIJ are at their best even with their issues, the Destino/Pumping Bomber combo to Ben-K getting the win, though Naito making a point to be the one making the cover as Shingo is left to lock eyes with Hulk.
Los Ingobernables de Japon def. GOLD CLASS (21:35)
Dragongate The Final Gate (December 17, 2023)
Shingo Takagi vs BxB Hulk XIV
A history built on friendship, betrayal, and subsequent hatred, the arrogant detestable Shingo and the adored underdog Hulk have long grown since their last match 5 years ago, Takagi currently his company’s frontman and BxB still hanging on in his 40’s for DG. With Shingo having never beaten Hulk with a World Title over his shoulder, BxB having done so twice to him, The Dragon channels every last fiery breath of his into silencing his career rival for good, knocking Hulk around the arena and into the ring post like the old days, even playing it heelish at points, ever the superstar Hulk always wished to be. And after a thoroughly personal trip down memory lane, 20 years of DG tip in favour of the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, who puts Hulk down for good! In a show of respect after the match, Takagi bows to Hulk, entrusting the people to him as he turns his attention back to his new home.
Shingo Takagi def. BxB Hulk (26:11)
Road To Tokyo Dome - Night Two (December 23, 2023)
Also on the tour:
CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomohiro Ishii) (c) vs United Empire (Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, Aaron Henare) - NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuji & Titan) vs Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI)
One final stop on the road to Wrestle Kingdom, and it’s arguably the most important one yet. With Shingo and Naito’s divide over leadership growing only stronger by the minute, what started as being mediated by LIJ has now turned into them being forced to pick sides against their wills. Takagi’s grown tired of existing in Naito’s shadow despite holding the title, believing he’s more cut out to lead them, receiving support from his fellow newer class of LIJ blood, Yota Tsuji, as well as another recent recruit in Titan. However, Naito’s still the familia’s franchise to the group’s OGs, Hiromu and BUSHI letting loyalty speak for itself by siding with their leader in his bid to end his 3-year chase for the title currently around Takagi’s waist. Battlelines drawn, the blockbuster showdown closes out the Road To Tokyo Dome tour!
Brute force colliding with agility, the familial bond between LIJ only continues to be blurred as Shingo and Naito bark out orders to their respective teammates, directing traffic in this psychological warfare grown physical. It’s a slow build of the tempo until the crescendo of Shingo and Naito finally touching for the first time since the G1 Finals is reached, Tetsuya leaning heavily on his mind games whilst Takagi simply throws mean bombs, adamant to finally prove he’s better than his leader. Not overexposing their strategies too much, the match ultimately sees Naito nail Titan with the Destino to win, once more having the last laugh over Shingo!
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI) def. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuji & Titan) (17:20)
In a final press conference heading into Wrestle Kingdom 18, Takagi and Naito share their thoughts on the upcoming match. Shingo declares that NJPW is no longer about Tetsuya, who squandered countless valuable opportunities between Takagi losing and regaining the title, those matches proving his days are over. He may not be the archetype Okada is, he may not be the fan favourite Naito is, he may not be the international star Ospreay is, but damn it, he doesn’t care for any of that. He's walking into New Japan’s biggest show of the year as champion, and he’s walking out of it as champion, simple as.
As for Naito, he muses that this could very well be his last moment in the Sun, the result of the match dictating the direction his career goes. Either he wins and reclaims his spot atop NJPW, getting to have the run the pandemic robbed him of. Or he loses on the grandest stage and leaves with nothing… but that’s not happening. He’s beaten Shingo both times they’ve fought and he doesn’t plan on dropping the third. But that’s not just because the title’s on the line. It’s the topic Shingo’s smartly chosen to avoid speaking on. He’d be a fool to think his spot isn’t under threat. EVIL betrayed him. SANADA did too. There’s nothing stopping Shingo from doing it either… so it’s up to him to chop down the Hydra before the issue persists. He loves LIJ and he loves Shingo, but this moment is about him and everything he’s sacrificed, so he asks Takagi to not take it to heart when Naito takes what’s long overdue his.
Wrestle Kingdom 18 (January 4, 2024)
Also on the show:
NEVER Openweight Championship: Jeff Cobb (c) vs Ren Narita
NJPW World Television Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs Taichi
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: KUSHIDA (c) vs Mike Bailey
PAC vs Hiromu Takahashi
IWGP Tag Team Championship: Aussie Open (c) vs TMDK
IWGP United States Championship: Katsuyori Shibata (c) vs Tomohiro Ishii
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Will Ospreay
Kazuchika Okada vs Kaito Kiyomiya III
Shingo Takagi (c) vs Tetsuya Naito III - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
As blockbuster as it gets on the Tokyo Dome stage, two LIJ members close out the night for the very first time in Naito’s home city! Two men that go back to their days together in high school, none of that matters now, the title all they care about. Dressed to the nines, Naito emerges from a helicopter like a true Ingobernable, sporting a black suit to represent his Dark Ace persona, an entire army of LIJ supporters backing him from the stage.
Before their first match, Naito declared he wanted to face a Shingo that could feasibly take LIJ from him and now more than ever he’s going to get it, but perhaps should be careful what he wishes for. Winning their past two matches, all he needs to do is replicate the feat one more time. Speak of the champ, Takagi emerges from the mouth of a Dragon’s lair, fireballs rising along the stage, Shingo in an all red regal fit, ready to spill blood. Losing to Okada two years ago when he was in this position, it’s about redemption for him and proving to his leader the future of LIJ is now, old man.
Once Naito slowly strips down out of his suit and Shingo sheds his skin, handing over the strap, the January 4 main event gets underway! It’s typical Naito behaviour from the jump, stalling for the opening minute as both men absorb the feel of the cheering crowd, split down the middle between the ways LIJ could go. Shingo’s stoic whilst Tetsuya smirks, sending some words Takagi’s way, before raising the LIJ fist! But Shingo rocks him with a jab!
A quick feeling out process sees Shingo gain the momentary upper hand off a rough Shoulder Tackle, only to turn into a Flying Forearm Smash from Naito! Tetsuya goes wild on Takagi with blows, the Dragon simply absorbing them, shaking them off and letting out a roar after another Shoulder Tackle! But Naito skids off the mat this time and recovers into his Tranquilo Pose instead, drawing the ire of Takagi!
Shingo smacks him with a boot to the cheek, backing Naito into the corner where he goes ham with piston strikes to the body, a CORNER BOMBER whiplashing Naito’s head against the turnbuckle! Swiping out the legs, he mocks Naito’s “Abre Los Ojos” taunt, going for Tetsuya’s COMBINACION CABRON! Naito has it scouted however, stopping the closing Mule Kick by snapping Takagi against the top rope with a SWINGING NECKBREAKER! TORNADO DDT crunches him on his dome, Shingo kicking out at 2!
Firing up, Takagi demands for more, Naito shrugging as he teases another Flying Forearm Smash, only to slip behind into the POLVO DE ESTRELLA COVER! ONE! TWO! THR-KICK OUT! Shingo doesn’t even have time to chew Naito out for doing the complete opposite as asked, instantly being rolled into a SICK DRAGON SUPLEX ON THE DRAGON! Takagi clutches his neck as Naito grins at him, now following up with a COMBINACION CABRON of his own, telling Shingo not to steal if he can’t take the fire himself!
Takagi dazed, Naito scales up top for a MISSILE DROPKICK- TAKAGI TURNS HIM INSIDE-OUT MIDAIR WITH A PUMPING BOMBER!!! NOSHIGAMI! ONE! TWO! THR-KICK OUT! Battering him with a Pumping Combo, chops and punches blister and bruise Tetsuya’s body, before a HIGH-ANGLE GERMAN DROPS HIM ON HIS NECK!!! Shingo looks satisfied with himself as he sits in his cross-legged pose… BUT NAITO RISES UP BEHIND HIM!
Rolling Wheel Kick to the back of the head snaps Takagi out of dream state as Tetsuya rallies with a series of forearms, before testing his luck with a PUMPING BOMBER OF HIS OWN! SHINGO SHRUGS IT OFF, PISSED! Realising he messed up, Naito tries to escape the Dragon’s wrath, but Shingo grabs him by the trunks to pull him back into a MADE IN JAPAN attempt! Tetsuya frantically fights free with back elbows to the neck, ONLY TO BE SPUN AROUND INTO A DRAGON SOUL LARIAT, NAITO ROCKED TO HIS CORE!
Naito collapsing outside, a TOPE CON HILO wipes him out! Shingo ragdolls his stablemate about ringside, hurling him from post-to-pillar, though a GUARDRAIL POWERBOMB is countered into a NECKBREAKER ON THE STEEL! ESPERANZA ON THE FLOOR BY NAITO! Shingo nursing the neck, Naito tosses him in and recovers for a moment, before heading up top, CONNECTING THE MISSILE DROPKICK! AND A GLORIA!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOO!!!
Shingo in the drop zone, Naito teases the RUNNING DESTINO, but Takagi catches him, TRYING FOR A FIRE THUNDER DRIVER!!! Tetsuya scrabbles like a cat falling out a tree, whacking Shingo in the nose with his boot to free himself! A stiff forearm connects with the damaged neck, but as Naito goes for a German, Takagi beats it and folds him with a SAITO SUPLEX! LEGEND FALCONRY CONNECTS!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NAITO SURVIVES!!!
Tetsuya in a dream state, Shingo clubs him with clotheslines, a YUKON LARIAT cleaning him off his feet! Grabbing him by the scruff, Takagi pulls him up… HOOKING AN STO, WANTING EVERYTHING IS EVIL!!! His cheeky smirk is wiped off by an EYE RAKE though, Naito furiously exploding with punches and a mouthful of SPIT in Shingo’s face, showing what he thinks of LIJ’s first traitor!
Knocking Shingo down with his own lariat, he sets up a SWING DESTINO, but Takagi grabs his leg! Naito tries to fight him off, though Shingo’s too powerful, yanking him into a draped position in the ropes! Heading to the adjacent corner, he climbs as Naito pulls himself up in hopes of freeing himself… COAST-TO-COAST BOMBER NAILS NAITO!!! MADE IN JAPAN!!! ONE! TWO! THR-ANOTHER CLOSE CALL!!!
Shingo roars, setting up the LAST OF THE DRAGON- NAITO COUNTERS INTO A SURPRISE DESTINO!!! Takagi crashing on the bad neck, he’s jelly-legged as Tetsuya bumrushes him with forearms, though as he kneels to counter another DESTINO, Naito dumps him with a GERMAN INSTEAD! AND A RUNNING DESTINOOOOOOOOO!!! ONE! TWO! THR-SHINGO GETS THE SHOULDER UP!!! Naito cracks Takagi with headbutts, but it only angers the bull, who launches one back despite the neck!
Tetsuya winces and smirks through the pain, knowing this hurts Shingo more than him, the Dragon remaining prideful with each counter headbutt, UNTIL A POISONED FRANKENSTEINER SPIKES HIM! SKULL END!!! Naito’s embracing the trauma! Keeping it in deep for a few moments as Takagi struggles, Tetsuya promptly lets go and looks at the turnbuckles… RAISING HIS FIST TO THE SKY, HE WANTS A STARDUST PRESS!!! Shades of his matches with Okada in the Dome, Naito goes for the Hail Mary… IT MISSES!!! TAKAGI GETS HIM UP FOR A LAST OF THE DRAGON!!! HE FINALLY HITS IT AFTER FAILING BOTH PAST MATCHES!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Takagi’s taken aback, certain it was the piece of the equation he’d been missing. Angered, he knocks his own brutal forearms into Naito’s non-existent neck, an AXE BOMBER KNOCKING HIM DOWN! Naito gasping for air, a SICKENING DRAGON SOUL LARIAT follows! Now staggered himself, he throws wild, yet feeble shots, missing Shingo each time as he pops up his foe. Looking him dead in the eyes, Shingo hits off the ropes once, twice, thrice… PUMPING BOMBERRRRRRRRRRRRR!!! Scooping him up for another LAST OF THE DRAGON… NAITO COUNTERS WITH A VALENTIA!!!
Both men down, Tokyo goes nuts as they slowly pull themselves up using each other, butting heads! Trading blows again, a Dragon Soul rocks Naito, BUT HE THROWS ONE BACK! AND A FOREARM! A HEADBUTT! Naito runs the ropes, but so does Shingo, once, twice, thrice, TORNADO DD- PUMPING BOMBER!!! Grabbing the wrist from behind, TAKAGI WANTS THE RIPCORD BOMBER!!! BUT NAITO WITH A DESTINOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOO!!!
Now Naito’s in shock, mere inches from the win! Seeing his hometown on their feet for him, new life rushes through him, nodding to himself as he sets up again the DESTINO! Shingo throws his body weight forwards though, both men collapsing to the apron! Trading punches, it’s the HEADBUTT which subdues Takagi, his neck in sheer agony! AND NOW NAITO WANTS THE APRON DESTINO INSTEAD… SHINGO SHOVES HIM OFF! APRON CANADIAN DESTROYER!!! REVENGE FOR THE 2019 G1!!!
Naito’s eyes are glazed over, all the years of abuse to his own neck catching up to him! Takagi hoists him up, seating him on the turnbuckle, before raising his own fist skywards! Meeting Tetsuya up there, who gives one last fight with forearms to the neck, a DRAGON SOUL silences him! Grabbing the wrist, Shingo picks him up on top of the world… STAY DREAM!!! ONE! TWO! THREE!!!
Shingo Takagi (c) def. Tetsuya Naito to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (40:40)
It’s over. Once more, Naito’s championship dreams have been shattered into stardust as Takagi finally scores the win that’s eluded him throughout his NJPW run! Tokyo’s a stunned silence as they watch Shingo be handed his title, holding his hand high as Tetsuya lays still on the mat. Is Naito truly finished? LIJ pour out, Hiromu and BUSHI rushing to check on the Stardust Genius, while Yota and Titan check on Takagi as he suddenly stumbles back into the corner, clutching his neck.
As Naito’s helped to his feet, there’s a standstill between the two halves of LIJ as they stare each other down, intensity stemming from Shingo and Naito. Takagi pushes Yota and Titan aside, stepping forward whilst nursing his neck, Naito doing the same, butting heads with the Dragon again! …But then a smirk appears on Naito’s face, raising high the LIJ fist! And Shingo smirks back, raising his own to meet it! AND THEY EMBRACE!
What was thought to be the war that could fracture LIJ in half forever has only brought its two strongest members closest together! Grabbing a mic, Naito congratulates Shingo for finally beating him. He knew this day would eventually come, and he couldn’t be prouder of his friend. Though this loss stings him, the journey is never over him, and rest assured, he’ll be coming back for the throne, rested and healthy again, Naito winking at Takagi as he says so, who reciprocates with an inviting grin.
But right now is not about him. In fact, he may not even be long for the wrestling world with the condition his neck and knees are in. That’s why he’d like to make an announcement. From henceforth, he’s no longer the sole leader of LIJ. He wants Shingo to lead beside him! Takagi’s stunned by the offer, but Naito insists, explaining that though EVIL and SANADA were corrupted by greed for power, it was never about that to him. LIJ is his family, and he only wants what’s best for them. If that means Takagi calling the shots when he’s unable to, he’ll do that. Shingo gives him a bow of acceptance!
LIJ all smiles, united stronger than ever, Naito beckons them all to the centre of the ring, before gesturing to Takagi to cement his leadership by doing the roll-call! Takagi nodding, he accepts the mic from him and raises his fist to the sky as everyone follows… but right as he’s about to speak, the crowd bursts into gasps which catches Shingo’s attention, as OUT WALKS PAC!!!
Having hunted down and beaten LIJ members since his loss to Shingo, he snarls as he stalks his way to the ring, LIJ falling into defensive position! Stepping inside, he looks them left to right, scowling at their clenched fists, before raising his mic. He says that ever since he set foot in NJPW at the G1 Climax, he’s been a man possessed with his goal to take what he’s been deprived of. He stomped out Naito, he stole Shingo’s belt, he just beat Hiromu earlier in the night… yet none of that has left him satisfied the way he thought it would. It had him thinking the question – why?
And then he realised. LIJ isn’t the enemy. They’re misfits, just like him. Oppressed, just like him. He banded together Death Triangle in the face of The Elite, but now, he seeks a far greater position. With contract negotiations having come up, his 5-year AEW deal finally expiring, he’s opted for one that’ll allow him to work both AEW and NJPW, covering his bases so he doesn’t go unbooked anymore. And with these recent matches causing him to gain respect for the Ingobernables and their unrestrained manner of operations, he knows from experience that if you wish to rise to the top in Japan… it’s good to have allies. Tossing his mic aside, PAC RAISES HIS FIST TO THE SKY!
LIJ’s taken aback by the gesture from the Bastard that’s almost tried to tear them apart in the past months as much as they have themselves… BUT SHINGO RECIPROCATES TO HIS DRAGONGATE BROTHER! AND NOW HIROMU! YOTA! TITAN! BUSHI! AND NAITO!!! Raising his mic back up, Shingo declares “TITAN! BUSHI! TSUJI! HIROMU! NAITO! PAC! Y SHINGO! NOSOTROS… LOS INNNNGOBERRRNAAAABLESSSSSSS DE JA-PON!!!”. Tickertape explodes from the turnbuckles as Tokyo erupts into cheers, LIJ closing the show a united family again!
New Year Dash!! (January 5, 2024)
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, PAC, Yota Tsuji, Hiromu Takahashi, BUSHI) vs Sabre-Gun (Zack Sabre Jr., El Phantasmo, TMDK, El Desperado, Kosei Fujita)
As usual, the night after Wrestle Kingdom is rife with excitement and new beginnings, and at the centre of it all lies the age-old rivalry between LIJ and Zack Sabre Jr.! Fresh off losing his Television Championship to Taichi after a year-long reign, he immediately sets his sights on the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, a victory here sure to propel him to the top. And with LIJ finally back to being a cohesive, functioning family again, their redefined chemistry is put up to the test here.
Batting off the initial concerns of another blow-up, the rebels have never been more in sync than now under Naito and Shingo’s shared guidance, the added element of PAC only further helping than hindering. Still, Sabre-Gun is menacing, a driven Sabre sicking his troops on the opposition like the masterful general he is, yet to his annoyance, the crowd remain enamoured by the Bastard, who taps out Fujita to the Brutaliser as he stares down the Technical Wizard, sending a statement!
Los Ingobernables de Japon def. Sabre-Gun (18:07)
Whilst ZSJ throws a fit, promising LIJ they haven’t seen the last of him as he leaves with Sabre-Gun, LIJ raise their fists to the sky with Shingo returning the favour from last night by letting Naito do the roll-call this time, grins all around. That is… until the coin drops. HERE COMES OKADA! Turning to Naito, Shingo gives him the nod that he’s got this sorted, Tetsuya tipping his cap back and taking LIJ away with him to give the two space as the rivals lock eyes.
Mic in hand, Okada runs down Shingo, calling his reign an insult to NJPW, despising the Dragon’s prideful embracement of his Dragongate past when he should be representing their company. With Okada’s trilogy against Kaito finished in his favour, playtime’s over and the Rainmaker’s come back knocking for his crown, having beaten Shingo in the G1. Shingo, remembering how his last reign ended… accepts! Butting heads with Okada, he warns him he’s even more dangerous now, so he shouldn’t expect to walk away with his gold this time.
Wrestle Kingdom 18 in Yokohama Arena (January 21, 2024)
Shingo Takagi (c) vs Kazuchika Okada VI - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
In the past year, Okada’s descent into madness has seen embark on an emerald voyage to kill off any outsider or youngster eyeballing his spot, even brutally exiling members from CHAOS to reshape it into men who fit his regime. Seeing Takagi as low-life scum, he’s adamant to ‘fix’ NJPW again so that his efforts from last year don’t go to waste, knowing the continued deviance LIJ’s control will cause from his ‘purer’ path. Shingo, on the other hand, has been collecting milestones, from finally beating Ospreay for the title, to finally knocking off Naito to affirm his spot at LIJ’s top and win a January 4 main event to redeem his loss two years prior against the man who now stands in his way again, the only natural next bucket list item hence being beating Okada back on the WK stage.
A gruelling war over New Japan’s vision spans over the next half hour (akin to the classic they’d actually have at New Beginning 2023), Okada mercilessly dumping Shingo over and over again on the neck Naito had loosened up, whilst Takagi holds his own more than he ever has in the past, blistering the Ace with lariats that leave welts all over! The first RAINMAKER hits like a gunshot though, damn near taking Shingo out, yet he keeps fighting through the damaged neck! MADE IN JAPAN has Okada rethinking his decisions to challenge, and a STAY DREAM tease almost gets him!
A vicious TOMBSTONE drills him on the floor though, sending spasms down from his neck to his limbs, another RAINMAKER pushing him to his last legs! As Okada preps one final one… TAKAGI NAILS HIS OWN RIPCORD BOMBER!!! The FIRE THUNDER DRIVER now has Kazu reeling himself, and a LAST OF THE DRAGON scores a mighty near-fall! OKADA RESPONDS WITH ONE OF HIS OWN, GETTING SHINGO BACK FOR THE RIPCORD!!! Inching closer and closer to the vaunted third Rainmaker, Okada has Shingo’s neck in dire straits with the Money Clip, but as he finally swings… TAKAGI CATCHES IT! ANOTHER LAST OF THE DRAGON!!! ONE! TWO! THREE!!!
Shingo Takagi (c) def. Kazuchika Okada to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (32:07)
Despite the odds stacked against him, Shingo’s managed to tie his score against Okada, 3-3, avenging his WK heartbreak from 2022, whilst Kazu’s grip on New Japan continues to falter, the ungovernables wrecking his ideal world. Refusing to let them slip however, LIJ and CHAOS continue to feud into the New Beginning tour, where a massive tag is set up pitting Shingo & Naito against Okada & Tanahashi!
The New Beginning in Sapporo - Night Two (January 28, 2024)
Also on the tour:
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: CHAOS (SHO & Taiji Ishimori) (c) vs Los Ingobernables de Japon (Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI)
Katsuyori Shibata (c) vs KENTA - IWGP United States Championship
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito) vs CHAOS (Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kazuchika Okada)
With Hiromu & BUSHI dethroning SHO & Taiji last night, matters are even more tense now in the power struggle between the stables. Endless shared history between these four men, it clearly shows with the animosity they greet each other with, Takagi and Okada continuing their war from Yokohama as Naito continues to drift further every day from the man he used to resemble in Tanahashi.
Tetsuya manages to get some well-earned revenge against the man who withheld the World Title from him throughout 2022, Okada, a Destino/Bomber showing Naito and Takagi to be fully in tune again, but when a Twist and Shout to Shingo’s neck takes him out, it’s down to Naito and Tanahashi again! Tetsuya trying to recover some momentum to speed up his rise back to challenging Shingo, he gives Hiroshi his all, though the Dragon Screws prove too much for his bad knees, a TEXAS CLOVERLEAF submitting him!
CHAOS def. Los Ingobernables de Japon (21:15)
With Tanahashi’s win over the LIJ leader duo, he calls out Shingo in a post-show interview, saying it’s been 3 years since he’s had a chance to challenge for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, his last match notably enough coming against Shingo himself. He’s not getting any younger as it seems and he wants nothing more than one last run at the top… so for the sake of sparing the company he broke his back for the past two decades from LIJ’s undesirable direction, he wishes to bring gold back to CHAOS! Record level 1-1 between the two, Takagi fearlessly accepts, setting up a blockbuster showdown for Osaka!
The New Beginning in Osaka (February 10, 2024)
Also on the show:
KUSHIDA (c) vs YOH - IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
TMDK (c) vs Los Ingobernables de Japon (PAC & Yota Tsuji) - IWGP Tag Team Championship
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI) (c) vs CHAOS (SHO & Taiji Ishimori) vs SixorNine (Master Wato & Ryusuke Taguchi) - IWGP Junior Tag Team Championship
Shingo Takagi (c) vs Hiroshi Tanahashi III - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
3 years ago on the New Beginning tour, Shingo and Tanahashi met for the first time, the Ace of the Universe taking the NEVER Openweight Championship from him, before Takagi returned the favour 6 months later, keeping the World Title from Hiroshi. Now, in a war of ideologies, they settle the score! Even at 47, Tana’s flamboyant as ever in his entrance, turning back the clocks with a full rockstar entrance as women swoon over the Japanese God. Shingo’s comparatively humble in his entrance, glaring taped-up neck keeping his head bowed, yet nostrils flaring, ready for battle.
It's a classic Tanahashi start, slapping on the headlock to grind down his foe, only now it means that much more with the condition of Shingo’s neck. As Hiroshi reaches for Takagi’s tape, Shingo butts into his chest with his shoulder to shove him off and fires up a Pumping Combo! Chop, punch, chop, punch, chop, punc- DRAGON-STYLE HARITE FROM TANA KNOCKS THE TASTE OUT OF SHINGO’S MOUTH! Takagi doubled over, Hiroshi hammers elbows into his exposed neck, a Low Dropkick cutting him down and a Neckbreaker flooring him for 2!
Heading to the middle rope, a SOMERSAULT SENTON BOMB is evaded, Tana crashing on his back! Now Shingo blasts him with the ground and pound! A Knee Drop sits Hiroshi up, before a SLIDING D knocks him back down for 2! Whipping Tana into the corner, a CORNER BOMBER heads his way like a missile, but a Big Boot and a HIGH FLY ATTACK cuts him off, before Tana strums the air guitar!
He grabs the waist, but a Snap DDT stops him, an ORIGINAL FALCONRY from Shingo slamming him down! Beating Tana’s chest like a drum, he guillotines him in the ropes with a PUMPING BREAKER! A Gallon Throw attempt follows, but Tana spins around into a FALL IN LOVE PIN! ONE! TWO! THR-KICK OUT! And before Shingo can do anything, Hiroshi nails the head with a Low Dropkick! HASE-STYLE URANAGE SPIKES HIM ON HIS NECK!!!
Hurt, Takagi collapses to the outside, prompting Tana to spear the Dragon into the guardrail with a DRAGON ROCKET! Climbing the ropes, Hiroshi measures for a HIGH FLY FLOW- CAUGHT ON SHINGO’S SHOULDERS!!! DEATH VALLEY BOMB ON THE FLOOR!!! The back that once carried NJPW now sears in agony as Takagi rolls him in, a SOL DE JAPON CONNECTING! Smacking a Dragon Soul Lariat off him, a HIGH-ANGLE BELLY-TO-BACK SUPLEX DROPS TANA! ONE! TWO! THR-NO DICE!
Loading the Ace of the Universe onto his shoulders, he nails a BUCKLE BOMB… BUT TANA EXPLODES BACK WITH A SLING BLADE!!! Both downed for a moment, Tana beats a Yukon Lariat with a SNAP DRAGON SUPLEX! Shingo seeing stars, Tana grabs him for another, but Takagi desperately fights him off, ONLY FOR A DARUMA-SHIKI GERMAN SUPLEX TO FLOOR HIM!!! ONE! TWO! THR-SHINGO STAYS IN!
Tana tries to get a hold of the neck, but Takagi turtles and kicks him away, prompting Tana to secure the leg instead, connecting a DRAGON SCREW! Shingo hobbling to his feet, a TWIST AND SHOUT awaits him! Hiroshi rolls through for seconds, but now Takagi grabs his leg and RETURNS A DRAGON SCREW!!! Tana’s famously bad knees give way, Shingo now with free reign to stomp the chest, before hoisting him into a MICHINOKU DRIVER II! Heading up, he winds up the DIVING BOMBER, but taking too long, Tana cuts him off!
Beating on Shingo’s exposed neck, he drapes him from the top rope… AND SNAPS HIM INTO A VICIOUS DRAGON SCREW NECK WHIP!!! Takagi’s head damn near popping off, Tana quickly grabs a DRAGON SLEEPER and starts swinging him around Giant Swing style! Slamming him into the mat after 10 rotations, Tana glides up top… NAILING THE HIGH FLY FLOW!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Securing the wrists, Tana goes for a RYUGOYE like last time… TAKAGI CATCHES IT! MADE IN JAPAN!!! Hiroshi smartly rolls away to the ropes before Takagi can cover though, leaving both men to nurse their wounds. Meeting in the middle, they bounce elbows off each other’s skulls, TANA CRACKING SHINGO WITH A HEADBUTT!!! TAKAGI RETURNS ONE, DROPPING HIROSHI!!! Battering the back, he tries for a LAST OF THE DRAGON- SLING BLADE FROM TANA!!!
As the Pumping Hawk rises, Tana cracks a swift TWIST AND SHOUT, before nailing ANOTHER SLING BLADE!!! Back turned to Takagi, Tanahashi’s confident he’s got him… BUT HE TURNS INTO A PUMPING BOMBER!!! Hiroshi rocked, Shingo hits the ropes a few times, before firing off a PUMPING BOMBER THAT TURNS HIM INSIDE OUT!!! Now grabbing the wrist, he teases the Ripcord variant, but Tana counters with the SLING BLADE!!!
Returning up top, Tana crashes into Shingo with a STANDING HIGH FLY FLOW!!! Going back up for seconds, he looks over his kingdom… but Takagi grabs his leg! Tana tries kicking him off, but Shingo pulls himself up, trading blows with Hiroshi! He eats a Headbutt to the neck but firms it, wrecking Tana’s back with punches… BEFORE NAILING AN AVALANCHE EXPLODER ’98!!! LAST OF THE DRAGON!!! ONE! TWO! THR-NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Gritting his teeth, Shingo winds the arm, going for a PUMPING BOMBER, but Tana just collapses under! Takagi stomps over to him, only to fall into a SMALL PACKAGE! ONE! TWO! THR-TAKAGI KICKS OUT! SLING BLADE!!! Tana attempts a BRAINBUSTER, but the back gives out, letting Takagi fall into the ropes and rebound with a PUMPING BOMBER!!! Securing the Double Hammerlock, he nails a TAKAGI DRIVER ’98!!! ONE! TWO! THR-TANAHASHI WITH A FOOT ON THE ROPES!!!
Shingo’s at a loss, but in this game of natural progression, he looks to replicate his WK success, smacking Dragon Souls off Tana, before another PUMPING BOMBER flooring him! Dragging him up the ropes with him, he wants the STAY DREAM… but it left his neck exposed, Tana raining down 12-6 elbows on it! Shingo forced to let go, he instead trades forearms with Hiroshi, but a HEADBUTT knocks him down this time into a prone position! Tana in perfect position, HE NAILS THE HIGH FLY FLOW TO THE BACK!!! Rolling Shingo over, Tana heads back up… HIGH FLY FLOW!!! ONE! TWO! THREE!!!
Hiroshi Tanahashi def. Shingo Takagi (c) to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (35:36)
For the 9th time in his career, Tanahashi’s the World Champion! Shingo’s neck finally crumbling at his hands, the CHAOS regime is back on top! A remarkable reign from the Dragon, but he’s forced back into his cave. As Tana celebrates though, he doesn’t have to wait at all for competition to line up, KATSUYORI SHIBATA’S THEME HITTING! The fellow Three Musketeer losing his US Title earlier on the tour, he’s had a bone to pick with CHAOS for the past year since their exile of the likes of Goto, who have since been in his corner as part of the Takeover faction. The two long-time rivals staring each down, Tana raises his title with a grin, as Shibata returns a murderous look!
New Japan Road (February 23, 2024)
CHAOS (Hiroshi Tanahashi & Shota Umino) vs Takeover (Katsuyori Shibata & Ren Narita)
Outspoken in his rekindled hatred for Tanahashi since the CHAOS move, there’d be nothing sweeter to him than ending his reign before it can even begin. Bringing their respective protégés along for a preview tag, Narita holding the title Shibata’s so synonymous with, the NEVER Openweight Championship, since Wrestle Kingdom, the shared loathing is uncontainable here, the match quickly devolving into a ringside brawl between champion and challenger! Shibata kicks a chair into Hiroshi’s face, Tana crossbodies him through the guardrail, and both smack ruthless strikes off one another, paying no attention to the referee’s count, who reaches 20 as Katsuyori’s beating Tana’s head in until the referees pull him off!
CHAOS and Takeover fought to a double countout (8:10)
Hurling insults at one another as they’re dragged away by their respective partners, who tell them to save their strength for the match, it’s as volatile as can be, victory starting to seem secondary to the bloodlusts both want to satisfy!
2023.05.28 05:24 Edge-The-Fiend How I Would Book SummerSlam 2022 (My Universe)
The Awesome Truth def. Grizzled Young Veterans (c) for the Raw Tag Team Championship
The Awesome Truth have been on a mission to reclaim the Raw Tag Team Championships from the dominant Grizzled Young Veterans. They prove their worthiness by defeating several teams in impressive matches, earning a highly-anticipated rematch against GYV at SummerSlam. The match is an intense battle with both teams giving it their all. The Awesome Truth's experience and shocking new chemistry as a team shine through as they outsmart and outmaneuver GYV. In a thrilling climax, Miz and Truth secure the victory and capture the Raw Tag Team Championships, sending shockwaves through the WWE Universe and solidifying their status as one of the top tag teams on Raw.
The Flair Dynasty def. The Fury
A fierce rivalry ignites between The Flair Dynasty, consisting of Charlotte Flair and Aliyah, and The Fury, composed of SmackDown Women's Champion Liv Morgan and Alexa Bliss. The Flair Dynasty assert their dominance as a formidable force in the women's division, while The Fury brings a unique combination of athleticism and mind games. Liv becomes the prime target of Charlotte Flair's determination and Aliyah's desire to prove herself. The battles intensify week after week, with mind games, sneak attacks, and jaw-dropping matches. At the grand stage of SummerSlam, The Flair Dynasty and The Fury clash, with The Flair Dynasty managing to secure the win, leaving Liv and Alexa disappointed but determined to regroup and come back stronger than ever.
Kevin Owens def. Logan Paul
Logan Paul is determined to make his mark in WWE and challenges Raw GM Stone Cold Steve Austin for a match at SummerSlam. However, Austin, skeptical of outsiders infiltrating the wrestling world, denies Logan's request. Instead, he devises a plan to teach him a lesson. Austin sees an opportunity to showcase the relentless power of his prizefighter, Mr. Money in the Bank Kevin Owens, who is entrusted with the task of facing Logan Paul. At SummerSlam, the match unfolds with a vengeance as Kevin unleashes his aggression on Logan. The crowd watches in awe as Kevin dominates the match, leaving no doubt about his prowess inside the ring. In a display of strength and skill, Kevin decimates Logan, sending a clear message that WWE is no place for casual challengers. As the crowd roars in approval, Kevin stands tall, cementing his status as a formidable force and silencing any doubts about Logan Paul's place in the wrestling world.
Drew McIntyre def. Jordan Devlin
Drew McIntyre finds himself locked in a heated rivalry with the talented Jordan Devlin, under the watchful eye of his coach, Titus O'Neil. Titus believes in Devlin's potential and constantly boasts about his protege's abilities, fueling the animosity between the two superstars. The tension reaches its peak as they clash at SummerSlam in a high-stakes showdown. The match is a hard-hitting contest, showcasing their strength, agility, and resilience. Both Drew and Devlin push themselves to the limit, leaving everything inside the ring. However, in a display of pure determination, Drew McIntyre emerges victorious, delivering his devastating Claymore Kick to secure the win. Devlin is left to reassess his strategy and learn from the defeat, with Titus O'Neil guiding him to bounce back stronger in the future.
Finn Balor def. Bobby Lashley
Bobby Lashley, seething with anger and betrayal after being cost the WWE Championship by Finn Balor at Money in the Bank, sets his sights on revenge in a highly anticipated clash at SummerSlam. The tension between Lashley and Balor intensifies as they exchange fierce words and engage in physical altercations in the weeks leading up to the event. Determined to avenge his loss and prove his dominance, Lashley vows to dismantle Balor and the entire Judgment Day faction. However, as the match unfolds, Balor reveals a cunning side, enlisting the assistance of fellow member Damian Priest. The odds are stacked against Lashley as Priest's interference proves crucial in Balor's victory. The WWE Universe is left stunned as Balor, with a sly smile, stands tall over the fallen Lashley, solidifying his allegiance to Edge's Judgment Day and sending a powerful message to the entire WWE roster.
Gunther def. Ricochet (c) for the Intercontinental Championship
The Intercontinental Championship scene is set ablaze as the high-flying sensation Ricochet finds himself pitted against the dominant powerhouse Gunther in an epic clash at SummerSlam. Gunther, having already made a significant impact on the main roster, craves an opportunity to prove himself and secure championship gold. The match between Ricochet and Gunther becomes an instant classic, captivating the WWE Universe with its display of athleticism, intensity, and contrasting styles. Both competitors push their limits, leaving everything inside the squared circle. In a hard-fought battle that resembles the intensity of an NXT TakeOver event, Gunther ultimately emerges victorious, seizing the Intercontinental Championship from Ricochet's grasp. The WWE Universe erupts in awe as Gunther hoists the title high above his head, solidifying his place as a force to be reckoned with on the main roster.
Rhea Ripley (c) def. Bianca Belair for the Raw Women's Championship
Raw Women's Champion Rhea Ripley, seeking to assert her dominance over the entire women's division, grants Ms. Money in the Bank Bianca Belair an opportunity at SummerSlam. The rivalry intensifies as Ripley takes verbal jabs at The Street Profits, Bianca's husband Montez Ford and his tag team partner Angelo Dawkins, adding an extra layer of personal animosity to the feud. The anticipation builds as SummerSlam arrives, and the match between Ripley and Belair unfolds in front of a raucous crowd. Both competitors showcase their incredible athleticism and fighting spirit, delivering a match that leaves the WWE Universe on the edge of their seats. In a hard-fought battle that is widely regarded as a match of the year candidate, Ripley manages to retain her championship, displaying her unwavering dominance and leaving Bianca to contemplate her next move. The aftermath of the match sets the stage for further clashes between these fierce competitors, as both Ripley and Belair refuse to back down from the challenge.
Cody Rhodes (c) def. Seth Rollins for the United States Championship
The blood feud between United States Champion Cody Rhodes and Seth "Freakin" Rollins continues to escalate, with Rollins showing an unwavering determination to strip Rhodes of his coveted title. Rollins resorts to any means necessary, utilizing mind games, ambush attacks, and manipulating those close to Rhodes to gain the upper hand. The tension between these two rivals reaches its boiling point at SummerSlam, where Rhodes successfully defends his championship in a hard-fought match. However, the battle doesn't end there. As Rhodes celebrates his hard-fought victory, Rollins launches a vicious assault on him, sending a chilling message that this feud is far from over. The attack leaves Rhodes battered and vulnerable, emphasizing the depths to which Rollins is willing to sink to achieve his goal. With their rivalry intensifying and the thirst for vengeance fueling their actions, the WWE Universe braces itself for the next chapter in this brutal and personal war between Rhodes and Rollins.
Roman Reigns (c) def. Sami Zayn for the Universal Championship
In an unexpected twist, Universal Champion Roman Reigns finds himself embroiled in a heated rivalry with fellow villain Sami Zayn. Although both superstars are typically despised by the WWE Universe, a strange phenomenon occurs as fans begin to rally behind the underdog, Sami Zayn. Sami's charismatic antics and unrelenting determination endear him to the crowd, who see him as the unlikely hero against the dominant Reigns. As the event unfolds, the energy in the arena is palpable, with the audience firmly supporting Sami Zayn. Despite the odds stacked against him, Sami unleashes a remarkable display of resilience and cunning, giving Reigns the fight of his life. The match becomes an epic battle between power and determination, with Sami pushing Reigns to his limits. However, just when it seems that Sami might pull off a stunning upset, the tides turn in a shocking twist. The Usos intervene and disrupt the match, providing a crucial distraction that allows Roman to seize control. The assistance from his family proves to be the turning point, as Roman capitalizes on the chaos and secures the victory, retaining his Universal Championship. The outcome leaves the WWE Universe stunned and disappointed, as their newfound allegiance to Sami Zayn goes unrewarded.
Edge (c) def. Rey Mysterio for the WWE Championship
Rey's triumph in a hard-fought number one contenders match earns him the opportunity to challenge Edge, but Edge wastes no time in making it clear that he is not the same man Rey once faced over two decades ago. Edge warns Rey that this version of himself is darker, more ruthless, and determined to prove his dominance. As the weeks progress, the tension between Edge and Rey continues to escalate, with mind games and personal attacks becoming the norm. Rey's unwavering determination to succeed is fueled by Edge's taunts, and he vows to overcome every obstacle thrown his way. However, Edge ensures that Rey's journey is far from smooth, asserting that not even the presence of Rey's son will save him from the chaos that awaits at SummerSlam. When the highly anticipated showdown arrives, the atmosphere is electric, with the WWE Universe on the edge of their seats. Edge and Rey unleash a masterpiece of a match, showcasing their incredible athleticism and ring prowess. Each moment is filled with high-flying maneuvers, hard-hitting strikes, and near-falls that keep the audience on the edge of their seats. But just as the match reaches its climax, chaos ensues. Interference from Finn Balor and Damian Priest intensifies the encounter. Dominik Mysterio also gets involved in a desperate attempt to protect his father. Despite the chaotic distractions, Edge manages to remain focused and capitalizes on the commotion, seizing the moment to deliver a decisive blow. With a devastating maneuver, Edge secures the victory, retaining his WWE Championship and further solidifying his dark reign.
submitted by Edge-The-Fiend to fantasybooking [link] [comments]
The Awesome Truth have been on a mission to reclaim the Raw Tag Team Championships from the dominant Grizzled Young Veterans. They prove their worthiness by defeating several teams in impressive matches, earning a highly-anticipated rematch against GYV at SummerSlam. The match is an intense battle with both teams giving it their all. The Awesome Truth's experience and shocking new chemistry as a team shine through as they outsmart and outmaneuver GYV. In a thrilling climax, Miz and Truth secure the victory and capture the Raw Tag Team Championships, sending shockwaves through the WWE Universe and solidifying their status as one of the top tag teams on Raw.
The Flair Dynasty def. The Fury
A fierce rivalry ignites between The Flair Dynasty, consisting of Charlotte Flair and Aliyah, and The Fury, composed of SmackDown Women's Champion Liv Morgan and Alexa Bliss. The Flair Dynasty assert their dominance as a formidable force in the women's division, while The Fury brings a unique combination of athleticism and mind games. Liv becomes the prime target of Charlotte Flair's determination and Aliyah's desire to prove herself. The battles intensify week after week, with mind games, sneak attacks, and jaw-dropping matches. At the grand stage of SummerSlam, The Flair Dynasty and The Fury clash, with The Flair Dynasty managing to secure the win, leaving Liv and Alexa disappointed but determined to regroup and come back stronger than ever.
Kevin Owens def. Logan Paul
Logan Paul is determined to make his mark in WWE and challenges Raw GM Stone Cold Steve Austin for a match at SummerSlam. However, Austin, skeptical of outsiders infiltrating the wrestling world, denies Logan's request. Instead, he devises a plan to teach him a lesson. Austin sees an opportunity to showcase the relentless power of his prizefighter, Mr. Money in the Bank Kevin Owens, who is entrusted with the task of facing Logan Paul. At SummerSlam, the match unfolds with a vengeance as Kevin unleashes his aggression on Logan. The crowd watches in awe as Kevin dominates the match, leaving no doubt about his prowess inside the ring. In a display of strength and skill, Kevin decimates Logan, sending a clear message that WWE is no place for casual challengers. As the crowd roars in approval, Kevin stands tall, cementing his status as a formidable force and silencing any doubts about Logan Paul's place in the wrestling world.
Drew McIntyre def. Jordan Devlin
Drew McIntyre finds himself locked in a heated rivalry with the talented Jordan Devlin, under the watchful eye of his coach, Titus O'Neil. Titus believes in Devlin's potential and constantly boasts about his protege's abilities, fueling the animosity between the two superstars. The tension reaches its peak as they clash at SummerSlam in a high-stakes showdown. The match is a hard-hitting contest, showcasing their strength, agility, and resilience. Both Drew and Devlin push themselves to the limit, leaving everything inside the ring. However, in a display of pure determination, Drew McIntyre emerges victorious, delivering his devastating Claymore Kick to secure the win. Devlin is left to reassess his strategy and learn from the defeat, with Titus O'Neil guiding him to bounce back stronger in the future.
Finn Balor def. Bobby Lashley
Bobby Lashley, seething with anger and betrayal after being cost the WWE Championship by Finn Balor at Money in the Bank, sets his sights on revenge in a highly anticipated clash at SummerSlam. The tension between Lashley and Balor intensifies as they exchange fierce words and engage in physical altercations in the weeks leading up to the event. Determined to avenge his loss and prove his dominance, Lashley vows to dismantle Balor and the entire Judgment Day faction. However, as the match unfolds, Balor reveals a cunning side, enlisting the assistance of fellow member Damian Priest. The odds are stacked against Lashley as Priest's interference proves crucial in Balor's victory. The WWE Universe is left stunned as Balor, with a sly smile, stands tall over the fallen Lashley, solidifying his allegiance to Edge's Judgment Day and sending a powerful message to the entire WWE roster.
Gunther def. Ricochet (c) for the Intercontinental Championship
The Intercontinental Championship scene is set ablaze as the high-flying sensation Ricochet finds himself pitted against the dominant powerhouse Gunther in an epic clash at SummerSlam. Gunther, having already made a significant impact on the main roster, craves an opportunity to prove himself and secure championship gold. The match between Ricochet and Gunther becomes an instant classic, captivating the WWE Universe with its display of athleticism, intensity, and contrasting styles. Both competitors push their limits, leaving everything inside the squared circle. In a hard-fought battle that resembles the intensity of an NXT TakeOver event, Gunther ultimately emerges victorious, seizing the Intercontinental Championship from Ricochet's grasp. The WWE Universe erupts in awe as Gunther hoists the title high above his head, solidifying his place as a force to be reckoned with on the main roster.
Rhea Ripley (c) def. Bianca Belair for the Raw Women's Championship
Raw Women's Champion Rhea Ripley, seeking to assert her dominance over the entire women's division, grants Ms. Money in the Bank Bianca Belair an opportunity at SummerSlam. The rivalry intensifies as Ripley takes verbal jabs at The Street Profits, Bianca's husband Montez Ford and his tag team partner Angelo Dawkins, adding an extra layer of personal animosity to the feud. The anticipation builds as SummerSlam arrives, and the match between Ripley and Belair unfolds in front of a raucous crowd. Both competitors showcase their incredible athleticism and fighting spirit, delivering a match that leaves the WWE Universe on the edge of their seats. In a hard-fought battle that is widely regarded as a match of the year candidate, Ripley manages to retain her championship, displaying her unwavering dominance and leaving Bianca to contemplate her next move. The aftermath of the match sets the stage for further clashes between these fierce competitors, as both Ripley and Belair refuse to back down from the challenge.
Cody Rhodes (c) def. Seth Rollins for the United States Championship
The blood feud between United States Champion Cody Rhodes and Seth "Freakin" Rollins continues to escalate, with Rollins showing an unwavering determination to strip Rhodes of his coveted title. Rollins resorts to any means necessary, utilizing mind games, ambush attacks, and manipulating those close to Rhodes to gain the upper hand. The tension between these two rivals reaches its boiling point at SummerSlam, where Rhodes successfully defends his championship in a hard-fought match. However, the battle doesn't end there. As Rhodes celebrates his hard-fought victory, Rollins launches a vicious assault on him, sending a chilling message that this feud is far from over. The attack leaves Rhodes battered and vulnerable, emphasizing the depths to which Rollins is willing to sink to achieve his goal. With their rivalry intensifying and the thirst for vengeance fueling their actions, the WWE Universe braces itself for the next chapter in this brutal and personal war between Rhodes and Rollins.
Roman Reigns (c) def. Sami Zayn for the Universal Championship
In an unexpected twist, Universal Champion Roman Reigns finds himself embroiled in a heated rivalry with fellow villain Sami Zayn. Although both superstars are typically despised by the WWE Universe, a strange phenomenon occurs as fans begin to rally behind the underdog, Sami Zayn. Sami's charismatic antics and unrelenting determination endear him to the crowd, who see him as the unlikely hero against the dominant Reigns. As the event unfolds, the energy in the arena is palpable, with the audience firmly supporting Sami Zayn. Despite the odds stacked against him, Sami unleashes a remarkable display of resilience and cunning, giving Reigns the fight of his life. The match becomes an epic battle between power and determination, with Sami pushing Reigns to his limits. However, just when it seems that Sami might pull off a stunning upset, the tides turn in a shocking twist. The Usos intervene and disrupt the match, providing a crucial distraction that allows Roman to seize control. The assistance from his family proves to be the turning point, as Roman capitalizes on the chaos and secures the victory, retaining his Universal Championship. The outcome leaves the WWE Universe stunned and disappointed, as their newfound allegiance to Sami Zayn goes unrewarded.
Edge (c) def. Rey Mysterio for the WWE Championship
Rey's triumph in a hard-fought number one contenders match earns him the opportunity to challenge Edge, but Edge wastes no time in making it clear that he is not the same man Rey once faced over two decades ago. Edge warns Rey that this version of himself is darker, more ruthless, and determined to prove his dominance. As the weeks progress, the tension between Edge and Rey continues to escalate, with mind games and personal attacks becoming the norm. Rey's unwavering determination to succeed is fueled by Edge's taunts, and he vows to overcome every obstacle thrown his way. However, Edge ensures that Rey's journey is far from smooth, asserting that not even the presence of Rey's son will save him from the chaos that awaits at SummerSlam. When the highly anticipated showdown arrives, the atmosphere is electric, with the WWE Universe on the edge of their seats. Edge and Rey unleash a masterpiece of a match, showcasing their incredible athleticism and ring prowess. Each moment is filled with high-flying maneuvers, hard-hitting strikes, and near-falls that keep the audience on the edge of their seats. But just as the match reaches its climax, chaos ensues. Interference from Finn Balor and Damian Priest intensifies the encounter. Dominik Mysterio also gets involved in a desperate attempt to protect his father. Despite the chaotic distractions, Edge manages to remain focused and capitalizes on the commotion, seizing the moment to deliver a decisive blow. With a devastating maneuver, Edge secures the victory, retaining his WWE Championship and further solidifying his dark reign.
2023.05.28 05:18 pastalot Therapist ignoring in-person session requests?
Towards the end of last year my T (who, during our sessions, works from home) said she was figuring out what in-person was going to look like for 2023 because she wanted to start getting clients in-person to build stronger relationships etc and I told her I was interested and she said we'll figure out what it will look like.
So in February I was like uhh soo.. in person? And she said "I've been meaning to ask you!"
So I went in-person the following week. I emailed her later letting her know it was nice to finally meet after a year and that I would enjoy more in-person sessions as I think they would be easier for me to open up. She never responded to the email, which I thought was odd, considering she responds to just about every single one of my emails ever.
Since then, there has been no mention. I'm considering bringing it up, but it seems like she reserves in-person spots for people on certain medication (she mentioned late last year some people have to go in-person). I'm just a little disappointed because what she said at the end of last year, and then just now ignores it. It feels like she ignores very specific things rather than just telling me, and this is one of those things.
Have any of you navigated something similar? How did it go?
P.S. - Could be totally wrong, but there have been signs throughout the past year that she could have motherly feelings towards me and I have a great relationships with her. Is it ever possible a therapist may keep a client to video sessions rather than in-person because of countertransference or the client's transference?
I'd rather be told the real deal instead of sugarcoating or having a question/topic be avoided. 🤷♀️
submitted by pastalot to TalkTherapy [link] [comments]
So in February I was like uhh soo.. in person? And she said "I've been meaning to ask you!"
So I went in-person the following week. I emailed her later letting her know it was nice to finally meet after a year and that I would enjoy more in-person sessions as I think they would be easier for me to open up. She never responded to the email, which I thought was odd, considering she responds to just about every single one of my emails ever.
Since then, there has been no mention. I'm considering bringing it up, but it seems like she reserves in-person spots for people on certain medication (she mentioned late last year some people have to go in-person). I'm just a little disappointed because what she said at the end of last year, and then just now ignores it. It feels like she ignores very specific things rather than just telling me, and this is one of those things.
Have any of you navigated something similar? How did it go?
P.S. - Could be totally wrong, but there have been signs throughout the past year that she could have motherly feelings towards me and I have a great relationships with her. Is it ever possible a therapist may keep a client to video sessions rather than in-person because of countertransference or the client's transference?
I'd rather be told the real deal instead of sugarcoating or having a question/topic be avoided. 🤷♀️
2023.05.28 05:16 Agreeable_Tip8121 Bounty hunter is not that bad
You guys just aren’t that good at pking. If it wasnt for voidwaker no one would die its 2023 people are much better now that guaranteed damage is necessary to keep pvp entertaining. Instead of spending 5 hours trying to kill someone worse than you it would take much less with the voidwaker. Learn how to properly eat food and you’ll never die. Vls is arguably much stronger than voidwaker just wait till more people get that weapon.
submitted by Agreeable_Tip8121 to 2007scape [link] [comments]
2023.05.28 05:15 FeedBi Proposal For An Italian Struggle Region: Guelphs and Ghibellines
With the Fate of Iberia DLC, Paradox introduced the new Struggle mechanic. They next intend to apply this system in Persia this year, and I'm very interested to see what they come up with, and in what ways the system can be expanded. That said, I think Italy would be a fantastic place for a new Struggle region. This is a long post discussing what that would look like.
For a TLDR; At around the 1066 start date, there is a power struggle between the Holy Roman Emperors and the Papacy, about who has authority over who, and about rights of investitute. Later (~1125) The Italian states in the Empire find themselves caught in the middle, and deep factionalism develops between the Guelphs (pro-Church) and Ghibellines (pro-Imperial). A lot of battles and wars, big and small, are fought over this, including the glorious War of the Bucket!
The rest of this post is me spitballing an idea about how this might be implemented. If you have any ideas about how this could be done, I'd be really interested to hear it.
However, unlike the Iberian Struggle, which has already begun at both start dates, I imagine a super-event for Catholics about the "Investiture Controversy" or something of the sort, which would start the struggle.
For the actors involved (Struggle Participants), I imagine five types:
The outcomes are as follows:
One last note is that this entire thing would also very much benefit from an overhaul of republics and city-states. They were an extremely important part of this conflict, and no representation of Medieval Italy would be complete without proper mechanics for them.
I guess the Struggle parts of this could be a mod. I haven't made a mod for CK3 yet, but I happen to be a programmer with some free time. I think I can do that. This would require Investiture/College of Cardinal mechanics though, with its own UI and all. I have no how to do that.
Let me know what you think of this, I would really love to hear someone else's take on how Struggle mechanics can be applied to Italy, and specifically the Guelphs and Ghibellines wars, since I find them very interesting. This has been sitting in my head for too long, and I'm happy to have it structured and proposed.
submitted by FeedBi to CrusaderKings [link] [comments]
Guelphs and Ghibellines
If you're not familiar with the topic, I recommend watching this video from M. Laser History, it gives an excellent overview of the topic.For a TLDR; At around the 1066 start date, there is a power struggle between the Holy Roman Emperors and the Papacy, about who has authority over who, and about rights of investitute. Later (~1125) The Italian states in the Empire find themselves caught in the middle, and deep factionalism develops between the Guelphs (pro-Church) and Ghibellines (pro-Imperial). A lot of battles and wars, big and small, are fought over this, including the glorious War of the Bucket!
The rest of this post is me spitballing an idea about how this might be implemented. If you have any ideas about how this could be done, I'd be really interested to hear it.
Ideas About Implementation
For starters, the region of the struggle would at least be Northern and Central Italy, and probably all of it. To the best of my knowledge, South Italian rulers didn't play a direct role in this struggle historically, but it's not hard to envision an alternate history where they do.However, unlike the Iberian Struggle, which has already begun at both start dates, I imagine a super-event for Catholics about the "Investiture Controversy" or something of the sort, which would start the struggle.
For the actors involved (Struggle Participants), I imagine five types:
- Imperial: The Holy Roman Emperor.
- Papal: The Pope. In in-game terms, whoever's Head of Faith for the Catholic faith.
- Neutral: Every landed character whose capital is in Italy and is inside the Holy Roman Empire. This would include vassals of vassals. All Italian rulers will start in this camp. Some will stay, most will move to one of the following two types.
- Guelphs: Those who wish to support the Pope.
- Ghibellines: Those who wish to support the Emperor.
- Dormant: Relatively few effects from the struggle. Progresses to Limited.
- Limited: A Casus Belli is unlocked for Guelphs against Ghibellines and Ghibellines against Guelphs. Each side can call others of their faction to the war. Imperial and Papal characters (so, just the Emperor and the Pope) can support their respective members if they are in such a war through character interaction (give money, add combat modifiers at the cost of prestige/piety, etc.), but cannot get involved. Character interactions exist for the Pope and Emperor to entice those not in their faction and who are not at war to join it. Progresses to Hostile.
- Hostile: Emperor and Pope unlock a Casus Belli on each other which allows them to end the struggle. Neither side can call allies into the war. Guelphs join Pope, Ghibellines join Emperor. Regardless of who is attacker and defender, ticking warscore does not start for the Emperor until they occupy Pope's capital (Rome, probably), and does not start for the Pope until all Ghibelline land in struggle region is occupied by Pope and Guelphs. If Emperor wins, struggle goes to Imperial Victory Ending. If Pope wins, struggle goes to Papal Victory Endin. If it's a white peace, struggle progresses to Peace.
- Peace: Very few (or no) effects from the struggle. Progresses to Dormant.
The outcomes are as follows:
- Imperial Victory: Effects on Catholic faith would be that the Holy Roman Emperor gets some sort of disproportional say in the College of Cardinals and the election of a Pope. Free Investiture rights are maintained for all Catholic rulers, never to be challenged again until the end of the game. Effects on Italy would be that a number of the biggest Ghibellines (either by size, or contribution to the final Imperial-Papist war that led to this) would get a special contract type with the Emperor that gives significant bonuses and some reduced obligations. They would also be made into electors in the empire.
- Papal Victory: Effects on Catholic faith would be that, by default, free Investiture rights are disallowed, and Catholic rulers passing free investiture laws get a significant opinion malus with the Pope, as well as from their own Zealot stance vassals. Effects on Italy would be that all Guelphs would get a special contract type that disallows title revocation, allows war declaration, and has no obligations at all.
One last note is that this entire thing would also very much benefit from an overhaul of republics and city-states. They were an extremely important part of this conflict, and no representation of Medieval Italy would be complete without proper mechanics for them.
I guess the Struggle parts of this could be a mod. I haven't made a mod for CK3 yet, but I happen to be a programmer with some free time. I think I can do that. This would require Investiture/College of Cardinal mechanics though, with its own UI and all. I have no how to do that.
Let me know what you think of this, I would really love to hear someone else's take on how Struggle mechanics can be applied to Italy, and specifically the Guelphs and Ghibellines wars, since I find them very interesting. This has been sitting in my head for too long, and I'm happy to have it structured and proposed.
2023.05.28 05:14 Suspicious-River-767 [online][5e][est]A demon slayer campaign that uses 5e as a base needs one more member for Mondays from 9-12
How this will work: Since I can share content on dnd beyond my plan is that every character makes a martial class, be it a fighter, monk, barbarian, or anything else the rule is no magic, or magic like effects.
Breathing techniques: For the breathing techniques you can either chose one from the show(standard ones, not sun breathing or moon breathing), or you can make your own and I will make a magic item weapon that has the ability's of the breathing techniques
Blood arts: For those of you who want to play demons that an option too, the same no magic rule applies but if you want a demon make a martial class and give me an idea of what you want for your blood demon art, and I will see about making it into a working item similar to the breathing techniques
Setting: The story takes place around 20 years after muzans defeat. At this point the main cast from the demon slayer series is retired as most demons are on the ropes. In the final struggle some demons, converted by those who are seeking to regrow the demon population trough a medicine the demons have produces have been given supervision status to help the slayers due to the example set by the kamado siblings. It seems like the battle would be over until a demon killed an entire town, using the blood for their blood demon art, blood gate, the blood overloaded the gate and made a literal crack in the world. Causing a gateway to another world to open. When this gateway opened it was immediately noticed by the Nichirin resonance, as the once mimicking style of the demon slayers now evoked the elements they were based after. For a time the slayers, despite their defeat at the blood shard village as it was dubbed, found that their jobs were easier than ever, that was until demons started pouring out of the crack, some had green skin, others had horns and tails, there as even a dragon like demon. The demon slayers were being pushed back, and after great efforts created their own portal, they have assigned teams of 4 to be sent into this new world, they are sending newer recruits because they can't risk sending their stronger members in case its a bloodbath, so the first groups being sent has been dubbed the dead generation. It is up to your group to kill demons, find the source, and hopefully figure out how the hell to read and speak this new language in this world.
What time do we play: The games would be Wednesdays from 9-12 pm Est, session zero will be on the 24th.
If your interested: Send me a discord friend request and comment below and the first 4 will make up team 8 of the dead generation
Discord:Cassinoman#6511
submitted by Suspicious-River-767 to lfg [link] [comments]
Breathing techniques: For the breathing techniques you can either chose one from the show(standard ones, not sun breathing or moon breathing), or you can make your own and I will make a magic item weapon that has the ability's of the breathing techniques
Blood arts: For those of you who want to play demons that an option too, the same no magic rule applies but if you want a demon make a martial class and give me an idea of what you want for your blood demon art, and I will see about making it into a working item similar to the breathing techniques
Setting: The story takes place around 20 years after muzans defeat. At this point the main cast from the demon slayer series is retired as most demons are on the ropes. In the final struggle some demons, converted by those who are seeking to regrow the demon population trough a medicine the demons have produces have been given supervision status to help the slayers due to the example set by the kamado siblings. It seems like the battle would be over until a demon killed an entire town, using the blood for their blood demon art, blood gate, the blood overloaded the gate and made a literal crack in the world. Causing a gateway to another world to open. When this gateway opened it was immediately noticed by the Nichirin resonance, as the once mimicking style of the demon slayers now evoked the elements they were based after. For a time the slayers, despite their defeat at the blood shard village as it was dubbed, found that their jobs were easier than ever, that was until demons started pouring out of the crack, some had green skin, others had horns and tails, there as even a dragon like demon. The demon slayers were being pushed back, and after great efforts created their own portal, they have assigned teams of 4 to be sent into this new world, they are sending newer recruits because they can't risk sending their stronger members in case its a bloodbath, so the first groups being sent has been dubbed the dead generation. It is up to your group to kill demons, find the source, and hopefully figure out how the hell to read and speak this new language in this world.
What time do we play: The games would be Wednesdays from 9-12 pm Est, session zero will be on the 24th.
If your interested: Send me a discord friend request and comment below and the first 4 will make up team 8 of the dead generation
Discord:Cassinoman#6511
2023.05.28 05:04 cherryon Is every 5 star character better than every 4 star?
I have 3 5 stars so far and yes, they are stronger than any of my 4 stars. Is it really the case? How do c6 4 stars compare to c0 5 stars? What about c0 and c0? Is it always worth leveling up a 5 star even if you lost pity? Basically what exactly makes a 5 star besides the ult animation?
submitted by cherryon to Genshin_Impact [link] [comments]
2023.05.28 04:58 OvenHasTheBestFruit Jesus Burgess is stronger than Kaido
Physically
submitted by OvenHasTheBestFruit to OnePiecePowerScaling [link] [comments]
2023.05.28 04:39 AlphaDizzyx I'm at a crossroad with my feelings.
I need an outlet. I don't want anyone to pass judgement on the decisions or actions made, that I'm about to convey; I simply need some ears and thoughts.
So, I recently met an incredible woman on here, of all places, because you know dating apps suck, and it was completely unexpected; I had no expectations other than to make her feel better about her situation. But we clicked right away, realising we had more in common than anyone I'd ever met and felt such a strong connection. I'm spiritual and believe in astrology, but I keep that aspect to myself since it's a little too overt, but it's the only thing I have when I've lost all hope. Anyway, we talked for two weeks and It was as if the connection we both felt was growing stronger; I quickly realised that I liked this girl, but why so fast? Is this right? Society encourages us to be patient, but how can you prevent a heart from experiencing what it feels?! Thankfully, I wasn't in this alone; she felt the same way, and the way we spoke to each other and how happy we made each other was enough for us to simply say "let's make it official." Yes, I know what you're thinking: two weeks and you're together?! Are you good? To be honest, I have no regrets. I cannot emphasise enough how much I like this woman, the connection we have and I wasn't about to pass up this opportunity, once I had it I took it because when I know what I want, I will stop at nothing until I have it.
We met a few days ago, she stayed the night, and I can't tell you how much I liked every second I had with her; the feelings were so powerful when she was physically present, but as soon as she wasn't, I went back to feeling dead. Is there a problem with me? Am I making the right choice? I've been single for four years, and it took a lot for me to get out of a truly poisonous violent relationship. The issue is that she recently ended a relationship, but it was one that ended years ago, and she is finding it difficult to let go because of the commitment, memories, and suffering that it brought her. Which I entirely get, but am I unknowingly pushing her? I move at her pace and don't do or say anything that makes her feel rushed. She's driving the relationship, and I'm following her lead. It's not about controlling me; it's about providing her independence but yet having someone there for her if she needs it. I'm not sure how to explain it, but it makes sense to me, and I'm happy, and she's happy. I'm just simply afraid of falling hard for her, and it's one-sided, even if she's stated she's well on her way to falling, but I've learned my lesson about having high hopes, so I'm not sure what to think when she says that.
I'm simply babbling. I got up today and typically I do message her good morning, but after last night's chat about the fear of us breaking up and the what ifs, I'm completely torn and at a crossroads with my feelings. So here I am... typing up as much as I can because I need guidance or anyone who has had a similar experience.
Man.. I really want this to work out. 😔
submitted by AlphaDizzyx to actuallesbians [link] [comments]
So, I recently met an incredible woman on here, of all places, because you know dating apps suck, and it was completely unexpected; I had no expectations other than to make her feel better about her situation. But we clicked right away, realising we had more in common than anyone I'd ever met and felt such a strong connection. I'm spiritual and believe in astrology, but I keep that aspect to myself since it's a little too overt, but it's the only thing I have when I've lost all hope. Anyway, we talked for two weeks and It was as if the connection we both felt was growing stronger; I quickly realised that I liked this girl, but why so fast? Is this right? Society encourages us to be patient, but how can you prevent a heart from experiencing what it feels?! Thankfully, I wasn't in this alone; she felt the same way, and the way we spoke to each other and how happy we made each other was enough for us to simply say "let's make it official." Yes, I know what you're thinking: two weeks and you're together?! Are you good? To be honest, I have no regrets. I cannot emphasise enough how much I like this woman, the connection we have and I wasn't about to pass up this opportunity, once I had it I took it because when I know what I want, I will stop at nothing until I have it.
We met a few days ago, she stayed the night, and I can't tell you how much I liked every second I had with her; the feelings were so powerful when she was physically present, but as soon as she wasn't, I went back to feeling dead. Is there a problem with me? Am I making the right choice? I've been single for four years, and it took a lot for me to get out of a truly poisonous violent relationship. The issue is that she recently ended a relationship, but it was one that ended years ago, and she is finding it difficult to let go because of the commitment, memories, and suffering that it brought her. Which I entirely get, but am I unknowingly pushing her? I move at her pace and don't do or say anything that makes her feel rushed. She's driving the relationship, and I'm following her lead. It's not about controlling me; it's about providing her independence but yet having someone there for her if she needs it. I'm not sure how to explain it, but it makes sense to me, and I'm happy, and she's happy. I'm just simply afraid of falling hard for her, and it's one-sided, even if she's stated she's well on her way to falling, but I've learned my lesson about having high hopes, so I'm not sure what to think when she says that.
I'm simply babbling. I got up today and typically I do message her good morning, but after last night's chat about the fear of us breaking up and the what ifs, I'm completely torn and at a crossroads with my feelings. So here I am... typing up as much as I can because I need guidance or anyone who has had a similar experience.
Man.. I really want this to work out. 😔
2023.05.28 04:31 Autumn_Rens Ren's genlocke leg 1, part 2 - lost and gained
Welcome back! Last time we left off I killed my very first encounter Twelve the Rattata and was left with just Atticus the charmander(lvl 14) and Omlette the pidgey(lvl 12) going into the first gym. not sure if I mentioned this in my first post but I also killed my viridian forest encounter, Caterpie, so I'm out of luck.
We enter the gym with a good amount of potions (keep in mind I'm doing a basic nuzlocke so healing items are allowed and level caps aren't in play.) and feeling confident... enough. Atticus sweeps the trainer's team with Metal claw and things are looking good. I heal up real quick and head for Brock. Atticus does fine against his geodude, but then enters his Onix. fuck. At this point I realize the only thing I can do is heal, take a rock tomb, heal, take a rock tomb, over and and over until his rock tomb pp runs out, or I'm dead.
Atticus gets down to 6 hp and I realize the safest bet is to switch into omlette for a bit to save our stronger hitter. Omelettes doing great and is getting Onix to miss way more rock tombs than Atticus had. Finally, Omlette gets hit, and Onix crits. Our loyal birds is dead, and now it's all up to Atticus, or it's all over.
Things are going good, but I'm finally on my last potion. I give it to Atticus, and lady luck seemed to be on my side today. Onix uses a tackle, and that's when I know we're in the clear. Atticus finishes him off with some Metal Claws, and the rock gym is conquered.
Wish me luck as I grind up our teams levels and take on Misty!
submitted by Autumn_Rens to nuzlocke [link] [comments]
We enter the gym with a good amount of potions (keep in mind I'm doing a basic nuzlocke so healing items are allowed and level caps aren't in play.) and feeling confident... enough. Atticus sweeps the trainer's team with Metal claw and things are looking good. I heal up real quick and head for Brock. Atticus does fine against his geodude, but then enters his Onix. fuck. At this point I realize the only thing I can do is heal, take a rock tomb, heal, take a rock tomb, over and and over until his rock tomb pp runs out, or I'm dead.
Atticus gets down to 6 hp and I realize the safest bet is to switch into omlette for a bit to save our stronger hitter. Omelettes doing great and is getting Onix to miss way more rock tombs than Atticus had. Finally, Omlette gets hit, and Onix crits. Our loyal birds is dead, and now it's all up to Atticus, or it's all over.
Things are going good, but I'm finally on my last potion. I give it to Atticus, and lady luck seemed to be on my side today. Onix uses a tackle, and that's when I know we're in the clear. Atticus finishes him off with some Metal Claws, and the rock gym is conquered.
Boudler badge secured!Now, in a desperate need for new encounters, our newly evolved Atticus the charmeleon and I run for route 3, where we catch Drizzle the Nidoran male, and in Mt. Moon we get Bazooka the Zubat. Not the best team for a water gym, but we'll work with what we've got.
Wish me luck as I grind up our teams levels and take on Misty!
2023.05.28 04:24 ContestChamp Personal Thoughts on iiRcade
I recently bought an iiRcade back when the "limited time" Retromania sale started. I have spent some time with it and looked around online and these are my thoughts on it. I understand there are fan boys who are going to be upset based on other comments I have made and replies I received but I am not a fan boy of any particular home arcade. This is just my opinion.
Strengths:
submitted by ContestChamp to iiRcade [link] [comments]
Strengths:
- Build Quality - The build quality of this system is great to me. It's not perfect but it's much better than A1UP. Could be a little more sturdy and have better controls.
- Game Library - The ability to pick from a large selection of games and maintain multiple games on one system with no modding needed is a huge advantage. With the new A1UP softmods this advantage is less than it used to be but if they can get some top tier titles it would be a huge plus for them.
- Ease of Assembly - Putting this thing together was fast and easy. Compared to A1UP it's no contest. I had no frustration or moments of panic when assembling this at all. The instructions were clear and concise and the steps were simple. This is one of the biggest pluses to me.
- Height - I feel like this cabinet is a great height right out of the box.
- Looks - I personally do like the art on this cab, my wife doesn't. But obviously the shape is something many people don't find attractive and the lack of a marquee is just bad. The new Gold cabinets look great but they also cost a pretty penny. The marquees and artwork on the A1UPs are generally better than these.
- Licensing - Obviously this is one they need to get a handle on. They really need to work on securing licenses from Capcom and Konami as well as some of the older games. When I think of arcade games these are what I think of and these are what many of my cohorts think of. Getting these licenses would give much more mass appeal to this cabinet.
- Community - There are some dedicated people but they are the few and the loud. Very little quality Youtube content. Very little conversation on reddit. This product has a small group of owners. Many are happy with their purchase but it is likely not enough to keep the company afloat long term.
- Support - I had an issue where the Retromania character was moving all by himself when the game started running in one or two directions. I was able to fix this on their recommendation of moving the 2P joystick in the direction he was running but I will note this line from them "RetroMania shouldn't have that issue in the latest version but if it occurs, the way to resolve it would be to press the right joystick in the direction the player is going as well once then it would work normally." Ok well it does have that issue. Saying something like it shouldn't have that issue is just ignoring that it does have that issue and it needs to be fixed.
- Stock - They are out of stock on all of their gold cabinets and most of their regular cabinets besides Retromania. Those are all potential missed sales. There would only be a few reasons for this. 1) There isn't enough demand to support another production run. 2) Their lead times are big and their planning is bad and they don't know how many to tell their manufacturer to produce. 3) They don't have enough cash to afford the raw materials and/or production. No matter what the reason is, a healthy company can deliver all of their product lines to meet customer demand. So either they are already doing that and demand is so bad they don't need to make more or they are not healthy enough to supply the demand.
- Funding - Looking at the LinkedIn page for the CEO of the company his name on LinkedIn is "Jong Shin - RAISING SERIES-A" Series-A funding is funding for a start up that is still trying to gain market share. According to Crunchbase they announced a Series-A round in late 2020 and in Mid-2021. I feel like having the "Raising Series-A" in his name really smacks of desperation as LinkedIn is nowhere near the first source of finding investors when you have a profitable business and a good business plan. I would guess cash doesn't look good for these guys. Going back to the last point I think they are burning a lot as many start ups do but not proving enough profitability and demand to attract further investors. With demand for home arcades falling after the lockdowns were lifted and people returned to their regular lives it is inevitable that some participants will be squeezed out of the market and iiRcade is looking like one of the first to go. As I stated I purchased my machine during the Retromania sale that was supposed to end May 7th. The sale is still going on, all of the signage still says May 7th. To me this says one of a few things. 1) They need cash so they are having a fire sale to generate revenue by lowering the price and increasing the quantity demanded or 2) They have no staff to end the sale and change the signage.
2023.05.28 04:17 Simeo77 PvE Build to Stick through the game?
I'm playing through the game first time and I'm looking for a build which will plow through to the end bosses (so I'm not respecing multiple times in the game). I'm still early-mid. Level 65. Beat Margit, Godrick, and Renalla. Got to Altus plateau. Currently going through Ranni's quest line. I was using Bloodhounds Fang +4 and a pure dex build but I was lacking a ranged attack and I didn't like how slow BH swing was. I also wasn't hot over the bow.
I wanted something faster and that has a ranged attack so I respeced to a Moonveil build. Now I'm running Moonveil +4 and Acadamy Glinstone staff +3. I enjoy this build more and I really like yhe magic/swordsman combo but I heard Moonveil would be staggering enemies with Transient Moonlight and I felt it would be slightly more powerful than I'm experiencing.
My playing experience is more enjoyable than BH was but I don't feel any stronger. Hoping you guys could point me in a good direction or encourage me to stay on this path.
Samerai Level 65, Vigor 30, Mind 17, Endurance 15, Strength 12, Dexterity 19, Intelligence 35, Faith 8, Arcane 8
Using Crimson Hood, Carian Knight Armor, Land of Reeds Gauntlet, Exile Greaves (mostly because I like the way this looks)
Talismans Carian Filigreed Crest, Assassin's Cerulean Dagger, Radagon Icon
Thank you foe your help!
submitted by Simeo77 to EldenRingBuilds [link] [comments]
I wanted something faster and that has a ranged attack so I respeced to a Moonveil build. Now I'm running Moonveil +4 and Acadamy Glinstone staff +3. I enjoy this build more and I really like yhe magic/swordsman combo but I heard Moonveil would be staggering enemies with Transient Moonlight and I felt it would be slightly more powerful than I'm experiencing.
My playing experience is more enjoyable than BH was but I don't feel any stronger. Hoping you guys could point me in a good direction or encourage me to stay on this path.
Samerai Level 65, Vigor 30, Mind 17, Endurance 15, Strength 12, Dexterity 19, Intelligence 35, Faith 8, Arcane 8
Using Crimson Hood, Carian Knight Armor, Land of Reeds Gauntlet, Exile Greaves (mostly because I like the way this looks)
Talismans Carian Filigreed Crest, Assassin's Cerulean Dagger, Radagon Icon
Thank you foe your help!
2023.05.28 04:03 micronesiarain Episode 4- "Design Gone Galactic" ⭐️🪐
 | the queens return to the workroom after Yuka's elimination submitted by micronesiarain to XtinasDragRace [link] [comments] Wren: Awww, Yuka! 🏁Wren CF: Seeing Yuka leave is bittersweet. I had gotten really close with her. But when you're in the bottom two, you can only focus on it not being your name on that lipstick. One of us had to go, better her than me! Fleur: I'd say I can't believe she's gone this early, but I'm afraid I saw it coming. Sue: Really? Fleur: If there's one thing about me and Yuka being in a competition together, it's that I'll make it farther. Bring out the tiny violins, bye bitch! 🏁Fleur CF: Did Yuka do anything to me? Hmm, that's a dumb question. But I do know that she was in the competition, and now she's not! Morgs: Blondie and Zodya, congratulations. I'll admit, I was hoping this would be our week. But you did a nice job. Blondie: Thank you. Sharris: Let's hope that there aren't any more pity wins this season. That would be great. Zodya: There's a difference between a pity win and being the best team to follow the rules. Sharris: And I don't think you were either! Zodya: Sharris, I don't need you making this a miserable experience. 🏁Zodya CF: I feel like Sharris brings a dark cloud over the competition. I trust Morgs and Steph, and I know that they trust Sharris. For now, I can play nice. But when it comes down to the inner group of the alliance, she'll have to go. Kami: Blondie, how are you feeling after being in the top? Blondie: It felt right, it felt correct! Fleur: Oh shut up. Blondie: Alright, that came out of nowhere, but work. Wren: I'm sure my lipstick is in your bra right now, but it really was nice to see you get celebrated like that. Blondie: I actually chose Yuka. Wren: Girl, you don't need to lie. It's fine, really. Blondie pulls her lipstick out to reveal she truly did choose Yuka Blondie: Not lying. Wren: What the hell, I'm at a loss right now. 🏁Blondie CF: Saving Wren was not an easy decision. I know people want her gone. And after what went down between the two of us, I had a million reasons to get her out of here. But this is the new version of Blondie, and I've made the decision to fight for this friendship. And that can only happen once one of us decides to be the bigger person. And that's usually not me, but there's a first for everything! Blondie: What you did, it hurt me. But things I did on Season Six, that hurt you. If we keep going after each other, we can't move forward. the camera slowly pans over to Sue who is hysterically crying Steph: Sue? Sue: I just...I just love seeing the birth of a friendship! 🏁Steph CF: If any of you question why I love this bitch, now you know. The sweetest soul I know. Wren: Blondie, that means a lot to me. Thank you. Now, I still don't know if it should've been me in the bottom, but thank you. Fleur: Here we go again. Anthyy: Who do you think should've been in the bottom? Wren: Our challenge was to show up at a certain time and perform. Most of us did that. But two of us didn't. Sharris squints her eyes and takes off her earrings, handing them over to Morgs Sharris: Wren, you're a joke. Not just a joke, an embarrassment. Why the fuck are you even here? Wren: Excuse me? Sharris: You take this so seriously, and it makes me physically uncomfortable. It's a game, calm down. Wren: I'm not apologizing for showing up to a competition and wanting to compete. Sharris: You need to apologize for a lot more than that. Starting with that face. Fleur: And then work your way down. Zodya: Are we really doing this right now? You're all taking this too far, and it needs to stop. I'm serious. Sharris: Oh bug off, you don't need to play mediator. Zodya: Sharris, stop. I'm not letting you attack my friend. Sharris: If that's the kind of freak you're friends with, that says everything about you. 🏁Sharris CF: I won't rest until Wren is out of the competition. I don't like her, I haven't liked her, and I will never like her. It's not even about winning anymore. It's about breaking this bitch from the inside. The Next Day the queens enter the workroom, laughing and ignoring the drama from the previous night 🏁Anthyy CF: It's a new day in the workroom, and the stress of the competition is clearly getting to these girls! I feel good, staying out of the drama, and ready to slay. You won't see me safe again, that's not a cute look! Sue: Seeing how many people are still here just shows how big this season is going to be. Three girls down, and we can still barely fit around the table. Sharris: Some of you can skip some meals, and that'll change! 🏁Sue CF: I'm afraid that I'm fading into the background, and it's about time that I step forward. On Season Four, I never got to a win, even though I was close. I know that these girls think my attitude is more fun and relaxed, but I won't let them underestimate me. the workroom door swings open as Micro steps in, wearing a sliver puffer track suit with futuristic silver sunglasses Micro: Greetings Earth queens! When I invited each of you back, I did so because you are the best and brightest in the galaxy. And to prove that, it's time to take things out of this world. Behind me, there's a table full of celestial inspired materials. Each of you will design a high fashion look that takes us to infinity and beyond. Now, some of you may not love the idea of producing your own look. Which is why you have options! If you'd like, you are able to use a pre-existing look. The only catch is that you need to modify it enough so that it reads as your own unique creation. Good luck, and I can't wait to see what you come up with! Micro leaves the workroom, and the queens rush over to the table of materials, grabbing everything they can find 🏁Whorechata CF: This is what I've been waiting for! From the start of this competition, these queens have questioned whether or not I belong here. And I knew they were wrong. Because...duh, look at the material. But this is the challenge where I know I can outdo everyone else. Yeah, I feel pretty good about my chances. the queens spread throughout the workroom in different groupings Fleur, Morgs, and Sharris discuss the challenge and what their ideas are Sharris: I've decided to not make my own look. I know my limits, and there's more I can do with little embellishments than with a sewing machine. 🏁Morgs CF: Sharris is the person I'm the closest to here. I do trust that she can make this challenge work. But when she says she's not even taking out a sewing machine, I'm starting to worry. Fleur: I've taken my sewing classes after Season Four, and I didn't really have that much to improve on. Morgs: You had a design challenge on your season, right? Fleur: We did. We got these horrible boxes of trash and had to make it into something. 🏁Fleur CF: I felt great about my look on Season Four. Truly, how can you describe it without using the word beautiful? Some people said I should've been in the bottom, but "some people" got sent home two episodes ago. Hi Lectro, thanks for watching! Morgs: From what I can see of other people, I don't think we have anything to worry about this week. Sharris: Just say Wren... the camera cuts over to Wren on the floor, sculpting multiple arms and cutting out fabric 🏁Wren CF: I've always had a strong sense of what I want when it comes to the designs I wear. But it's taken some time to polish up the level of execution. This is my chance to show how much I've grown, even in the short time since Season Six. Zodya: Wren, you doing good? Wren: Can't talk, too busy serving cunt. 🏁Zodya CF: If you can't love yourself, then you must not be Wren! But hey, I can't knock the confidence. Zodya: Chata, what are you bringing with your look? Whorechata: I'm trying to embrace the materials as much as possible. I don't want to use any patterns I brought, any base garments, nothing. If it's not from that table, I'm not using it. Zodya: It's definitely a bold color choice. Whorechata: I need to stand out. Whatever it takes. 🏁Whorechata CF: Being able to create looks like this, that's why I applied for Season Five. And finally, I got a challenge where I can shine. Anthyy, Steph, and Sue chat by the mirrors as they sketch out look ideas 🏁Anthyy CF: I've come back to judge fashion challenges on MDR a million times. If I don't slay this, I need to apologize to everyone I ever critiqued! I need to bring a new silhouette, new materials, everything. You won't be able to clock a single detail. Steph: Last time I had a challenge like this, it caused me to spiral. Sue: You know you've gotten better since then. Steph: I think I have. Being back in these four walls, and feeling like I'm just starting to get the momentum going, it's hauntingly familiar to how I felt on Season Three. Anthyy: You have to believe in yourself! Let the infection take over. Well, not like that. But the fashion infection. Steph: Please, I need to catch the fashion infection first! 🏁Steph CF: Ever since my elimination on Season Three, I've felt like had I just made it through the design challenge, I could've won the whole thing. This is my chance to show that I can not just make it through this challenge, but I can come out unharmed, and ready to give this competition what I have. Call me dramatic, but you all saw the look, it was traumatizing! Sue plugs in her headphones and turns on Kylie Minogue, unlocking her full powers. She turns on the sewing machine and gets to work 🏁Sue CF: When it comes to sewing, I may not be Sue Essence Hall. But I have the drive and heart to win this thing. Nobody wants this more than me, and that's gotta count for something. Runway the lights flicker and an electric magenta light floods the runway as Micro struts down the center Micro Episode 4 Look Micro: Welcome back to the runway of Micro's Drag Race: All Stars! This week, the queens were asked to design a high fashion look utilizing or inspired by celestial materials. And joining me on the judging panel is a very special guest. Usually, we keep it in the family and have past queens return to judge. But this season, I've invited some legendary queens that I admire to help me out. And tonight, we have the amazing Hex! Hex Guest Judging Look Micro: Hex, thank you for being here! Hex: Honored to be here. Micro: You've been a legendary designer in the drag world for years. What do you think makes a good design? Hex: Finding a concept, and immersing yourself in that world. If you want to be an alien, become that alien and think about how they'd wear the look. You have to commit! Micro: That is fabulous advice. You ready to get started? Hex: I'm ready to feel inspired! Micro: Without further ado, let's see if these looks are truly out of this world! "Bad Juju" by Jujubee plays Anthyy: Coming down this runway I feel amazing! It’s a design challenge and you just know that miss Anthyy will deliver in those! Tonight the category was space at first I got a bit scared cause the home eis super broad if you look at it but then my. Mind went straight to my sister she is OBSSESED with space, so I called her and asked her what is her favorite planet! She said Uranus… and the rest is history! So tonight for my look I am channeling you the Uranus fantasy, my dress is a net made out of 27 of the Uranus’s moons and being me you can see a stunning set of it’s rings, not many people know that Uranus is one of the 3 planets with rings! Yup not only Saturn so tonight I wanted to make sure we don’t forget about those rings! Uranus is also one of the coldest planets that exsist so i made sure my alien puss is frozen the haus down boots! The parts holding together the moons on her dress are all coveed in galaxy dust and you can see my stunning 3 pairs of hands all going in diffrent directions! As for the look itself, it is a pretty gown (which you know i only do for special occasions!) with an amazing backpiece and stunning hair artistry! I would say this is soemthing that isnt often seen and its one of it's kind so im suoer happy to bring it to you on the design challenge! Lets hope this alien lands me my 3rd win! Finding out that this week's guest judge is my amazing friend Hex, she also is included in this look honey did you notice how my alien has 3 nostrills??? YUPPPPP thats what i call referencing Anthyy Look Blondie: You better beware, you're in for a scare! Run in fear when Captain Blondatrix arrives on your planet and goes for a pure femme pink fem-pire! For this look, I did use a pre-existing outfit but dyed the colours to a nice ballet slipper pink & a rose gold pink to add to colour theory. I did paint the mask and got a dazzling matching wig... I mean, styled my hair into a gorgeous blonde to meet my branding. Next, I got rid of some pesky details that weren't needed and created more of a space priestess vibe, and kept the alien incubator, as I'm here to spread my seed any way I can. Finally, I created a new banner and an amazing bi-sexual planet to create awareness. So beam me up, cuz I'm here to take y'all down~ Blondie Look Fleur: I love the Earth. The Earth just gives cunt 24/7 for the past billion years. She always finds some way to absolute slayyyyyy. For example when she decided that she wanted a desert, we were all like "yas girl sand is so sexy". Her brain is just so innovative and she is truly a lovely person. I love the Earth. It is just so calm, and peaceful and sweet. Everyday is amazing on Earth because the Earth is just amazing. It has not one bad quality. That is why I love it. This look resemblances the cuntiness Mother Earth is but also how serene it can be. She's so quirky. But sometimes... just sometimes... the Galaxy is jealous of Earth's cuntiness. Like for example, when the Galaxy decided to shoot a meteor onto it and kill all those leather wearing, katy perry roaring carnivores. Like that was bullying! But sometimes... just sometimes... the Galaxy is in a bad mood and it wants to recreate the devastation of the first meteor. Fuck the galaxy honestly. FUCK YOU. And when the Earth goes BOOM, so does the runway Fleur is modelling and strutting on. This gives her enough times to take of her jumpsuit and reveal her bare naked skin which is just coincidentally painted in a molten galaxy pattern. Science lesson: This is because the Earth has plates. The crust, the mantle and the core. The core is filled with molten lava and I think lava is so that bitch. Like it can burn a hoe like that! So obviously when the earth explodes, lava will ooze into the milkyway making the milkyway turn orange. Kind of like food colouring. And obviously, when the world does explode into the galaxy, you would probably be blinded by the light so you will always need some funky Lady Gaga looking sun glasses. And that's on period. Fleur Look Fleur Reveal Fleur Reveal Kami: Kami steps out onto the stage, and she is ready for space! She is serving you astronaut realness with her helmet in hand, and her bedazzled star space bodysuit when suddenly she trips - her belt unravels and suddenly you can see a fake face laying on the ground Oh my god! She's really an alien?? She's kind of serving though... Her alien wings held back by the belt that was previously cinching her waist (?) in, has revealed who she truly is. The wig seems to have melted down, and a bunch of the accessories are now falling off as well. The stars on the alien skin slowly falling off as the bodysuit from before is now revealed to have been her skin all along. how is she hiding humongous wings underneath a tiny belt ? these are questions that are unnecessary! Kami Look Kami Reveal Morgs: BLAM! for my intergalactic runway it’s getting hot in here, why? because i’m a star, litterally. i wanted to be the sun, the most important thing for life. i've got a warm dress on, glasses to protect me from the UV rays, and a backpiece that are supposed to be sunbeams. i’m slaying this runway and even though i hate designing my own stuff, i managed to make myself a whole outfit and sunbeams that shoot out! Morgs Look Sharris: For my Space Age Couture runway, my inspiration comes directly from the galaxy and the beautiful sky we see at nighttime. I didn’t want to go with an astronaut, or an alien, I wanted to go with the sheer beauty that the natural world holds. It’s couture, and just so so extravagant. This runway represents an entire celestial body. If a lady from the Capitol moved to space- this is what she’d be wearing. Upon walking onto the runway, the lights dim, and i’m SHINING. Practically radiating with beauty. I have never been in more awe than I have with what I’ve produced tonight Sharris Look Steph: for my runway look tonight i wanted to be a FIERCE celestial goddess. my entire body is painted in that same sparkling purple color as the mug which reminds me of Nebula one of my fav guardians of the galaxy. and honestly my look tonight IS THE SPACE AGE AND THE UNIVERSE MAMA. she is a space goddess and she has kidnapped the stars and the color purple to make this look. thx a bunch:) My vision is filled with this collage and i hope u enjoy her:) Steph Look Sue: So for my look tonight I am serving you intergalactic space pop star. She has her Ariana ponytail on and her microphone that she totally didn’t get inspired by from Fever by Kylie Minogue. Sue Look Whorechata: Tonight is my day to shine. Chata is living in the year 3000 and failed her astronaut astronomy space class exam thing and can’t use her spacesuit to go to the plant Whore anymore. So what does she do… she takes it apart MAWMA. This outfit is using a deconstructed padded astronaut suit. Some green tubing and inflatable thingys to create this futuristic Lewk. Tonight I hope to show these girls why micro let me in the doors. Whorechata Look Wren: Kneel. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3UhSk0Tk48k Zodya: Tonight on the runway, I am giving you space duchess to the extreme! I am the most fabulous diva at the annual Galatica Ball, and honey, you can’t outshine me! Get out of my way, girls, because none of y’all can be as glamorous as me! Zodya Look Critiques Micro: Thank you ladies! Based on your performances tonight, I've made some decisions. When I call your name, please step forward. Micro: Kami, Steph, Whorechata. The three of you...are safe. Steph: Oh thank lord. Whew! Kami and Steph thank the judges as Whorechata's face is drained of all life. Her legs begin to quiver, and her eyes lose emotion as they twitch 🏁Whorechata CF: Safe. Safe. Oh wow. Whorechata steps forward and walks towards the judging panel. She hunches over and grabs the base of the panel, as Micro and Hex look at her in confusion. Whorechata lifts with all of her might, and flips the panel. Her eyes turn bright red and she storms around the studio, throwing punches and kicks at everyone in sight 🏁Whorechata CF: Well, that's what I wanted to do at least... the scene snaps back into reality where Whorechata is standing on stage and faking a smile Micro: The three of you may leave the stage. Whorechata: Safe girls, woohoo! Micro: The rest of you represent the tops and bottoms of the week. It's time for your critiques. Micro: First up, Anthyy! Hex: Hello Anthyy! This look is fun, i know that this isn't really your style but i think that you did the theme's justice tonight. You decided to be inspired by one of the planets which is a really safe choice to do on a theme like that, but you went with one of the most interesting ones so its ok, We can see that the inspo was there from the color palette and the rings. The look is just a basic gown let's be real but you still make it interesting with the transparent parts and overall its giving me very Brooke Candy/slutish vibe which i am personally a fan of. What i am not a fan of is the makeup here, i like that you decided to pay homage to your drag sister - me, but idk i am not really feeling the eyes, they kinda look weird but i guess it fits the whole alien aesthetic so maybe i'm just quirky and nitpicking. The headpiece is really fun and playful. Overall it's a really strong look from you tonight, good job! Micro: Anthyy! I think this week was a great chance for you to show off a new style with your looks. Getting more into the alienesque and untraditional glamour. And you really nailed that in my opinion! I love when a look is simple, but has dynamic silhouettes and added bits. This strappy dress on its own would maybe be too simple, but the back piece and extra arms, it elevates it to an incredible level. I think the color palette of blue and gray was unexpected but worked well. And usually I’m begging for rhinestones, but I wouldn’t add any rhinestones to this look, I don’t know how you managed that! Great work. Micro: Next, Blondie! Hex: Blondie! Hi, i love how both you and Anthyy decided to go with 3 eyed aliens! I see what you tried to do with the theme, but i lowkey don't see space in it, your color palette is giving me just a normal person, maybe if you changed the hair and face to be pinkish too maybe it would help to sell the theme more? I also don't think that you edited your look enough to be that different from the original one which is a shame because i see some potential. Overall you were in the middle tonight, not the worst but not the best one either. Micro: Hi Blondie!! I think this base look was a great choice for this challenge, since it does lend itself to that outer space vibe. And you definitely put the work in to make this your own. I do think though that the new color palette makes the level of detail come down a bit. There’s a lot about this that I like, but I have to nitpick! Micro: Next up, Fleur Tation! Hex: Fleur! Hello girl, let me start with the positives first, well, so i liked that you decided to be inspired by earth which is an original choice for a theme like that not gonna lie, everyone would do something quirky but you decided to not look too far for your inspiration. You have a + for that from me. Now for your look, hmm i think that you could do way more with it, its just a simple bodysuit with a print on it, the reveal version is better, but still could've been more elevated. I just wish that you did something more with the hair and makeup in both of these, because even though your inspiration was really good for me, it just looks like you did not know what to do with it. Overall its not a good look from you tonight, I appreciate that you drew it and your description was fun to read. Micro: Let me start off by saying your runway commentary and how you sold this look was my absolute favorite. I love the effort you put into that. Now onto the looks. I think they told a great story. But the actual design elements, I’m not getting much from it if I’m being totally honest. If there was some sleeve action, some interesting cut to the pants, something to bring more to it. Micro: The always fabulous, Morgs! Hex: Hello Morgs! This is very safe for me, i like the inspiration because without the sun there wouldn't be us so good for you to appreciate that. There's nothing much to say here really, maybe other than i don't really see cosmos here but it's just not the worst look tonight so, at least you tried and drew it. Micro: Hi Morgs! I love the energy and vibe that this look conveys. It’s modern and has a cool look to it. I will say, I think the back piece really saves you here. It adds a unique element, and I think the look needed it. The rest of the look is a bit too simple to me. Maybe some stoning, a different neckline on the dress, some little adjustments could’ve amped this up. But as is, this doesn’t totally work for me, I’m sorry! Micro: Next, Sharris! Hex: Hello Sharris! Your look is good but i don't think you did enough for me to call it as 'your' look. Micro gave you all an option to edit one of many existing looks and while you picked a really good one, you barely did anything to edit it as yours, it just looks like you put a filter over it and called it a day, not even bothering to change the colors really. While Blondie did the same thing, she at least i don't know tried to make things a bit interesting by changing the whole color palette. That's all. Micro: Hi Sharris! With the option to take a pre-existing look and edit it, I think the potential to make something your own and really special was there. And while I think you look amazing right now, it is so similar to the original look. Small things like changing the hair, adding new jewelry, maybe a metal corset piece, those could’ve really worked to make this more of an original piece. Not a bad look by any means, but I have to look at how different it is from the original, and I’m not seeing much. Micro: Shining bright, it's Sue Pernova! Hex: Sue! This look is very adorable, i really like the color palette, it looks like some video game character thats a singer and has some cosmic related superpowers. Your inspiration here clearly shows because i can see each thing you mentioned in your description. I love how we can't really see her face because it also adds to the mystic element that the cosmos has because we still don't really know much stuff about it. Overall a really good job tonight, congrats! Micro: Sue, this look is adorable!! I love the outer space popstar vibe you went for, and the vibrancy of these colors work really well with that. The different textures and materials as well add some visual interest and keep it from being too simple. I maybe would’ve liked to see some lengthening to the legs and a tighter cinch on the corset, but this is a stand out look for me, you really impressed me here! Micro: Next up, Wren Wyvern! Hex: Wren, uhh hello? This was a letdown for me, you kinda did a similar look to Steph but i guess her's more elevated and just more interesting to look at. I don't think your look really sells the theme since it's barely cosmos related other than the cosmic print. I like what you tried to do with the arms but it reads more as angelic to me rather than some alien creature. I'm sorry but i don't like this. Micro: Hi Wren! I’m gonna have to disagree with Hex on this one. I really enjoyed this look. It’s very cosmic deity, and you stand out from the group tonight. I think a really big collar piece that had some height and sharp edges to it would’ve taken this look to an even stronger level, but I see where you were going with it! Some minor little edits I’d make, but solid look from you! Micro: Last but not least, Zodya Killer. Hex: Hello Zodya! This is one of my favorite looks tonight, you had a clear vision and presented it really well. I really like the color palette and how vibrant it is, i love the accessories and the overall shape of it. The backpiece with your blonde hair in front of it kinda reminds me of the sun which is also a really fun detail. The way that you drew this also is a big plus for me + the props? I am a prop queen so i like the use of them in this look. Overall a really good moment for you tonight. Micro: Zodya, you look like a goddess tonight. You found a way to take this sort of galaxy pattern and print and make it look regal and expensive. I love the way this look sparkles, and the golden accents against that deep blue and purple, it adds to that royalty look. If I had to nitpick, I wish there was a big necklace or set of earrings, but I can appreciate the simplicity in not going heavy with accessories. Great work! Micro: Thank you ladies. I've made some decisions. Micro: Blondie, Morgs, and Wren. The three of you are safe. You may step to the back of the stage. 🏁Wren CF: At this point, I'm not sure what else I could do. I gave you a full goddess, and then Micro has the nerve to put me in the same group as Blondie and Morgs? It's stupid, it really is. Micro: Anthyy. Tonight, your E.T. was a T-O-P. Micro: Sue Pernova. You took us all on a trip to Chromatica, and we didn't want to leave. Micro: Zodya Killer. Category is...MET Gala on Mars. Micro: Anthyy, Zodya. Congratulations, you are the top two queens of the week! 🏁Anthyy CF: Ah, screaming!! I put so much of my heart and soul into my designs, and the hard work paid off. 🏁Zodya CF: I didn't think I'd be the type of queen who looks forward to a design challenge. But I really believe in my skills, and having that validated by the judges, that means the world. Micro: Sue, you are safe. Great work this week. Sue: Thank you Miss Micro. 🏁Sue CF: This week was all about wanting to prove myself as a real competitor here. I have what it takes to win the crown, and this moved things in the right direction. I feel amazing! Micro: Fleur, Sharris. I'm sorry my dears, but that means you are the bottom queens of the week. 🏁Fleur CF: I don't have words. To be in a room full of people who look...like that, and be told I'm in the bottom? When I'm wearing custom couture? They're out to get me. 🏁Sharris CF: I'm fine being in the bottom. It doesn't bother me. I'd never throw a tantrum over a placement, unlike some people in this competition who shall not be named...but it's Wren. Micro: Anthyy, Zodya. In a moment, the two of you will lipsync for your legacy, and the power to chop one of the bottom queens. Head backstage to Untucked, and make your decision. Untucked the safe queens enter Untucked Kami: Redemption! Steph: And it feels oh so good! I'm so proud of us. Whorechata, are you happy to be safe? 🏁Whorechata CF: wHoReChAtA, aRe yOu hApPy tO Be sAfE? No bitch, I'm not! Whorechata: I'm thrilled. Steph: No you're not. Whorechata: Oh really, what gave it away? Kami: Let it out, let it out. Whorechata: The girls up on stage right now, you can see the stringy little bits of hot glue. The seams are jankier than Wren's book in the first episode. Not to sound arrogant, but this belongs in a museum. 🏁Whorechata CF: Whorechata shows off her look and letting the camera zoom in on the hems Kami: If it makes you feel better, I thought you should've been up on stage tonight. Whorechata: If you change your name to Micro and tan a good twelve shades darker, it would mean more. But still, thanks Kami. 🏁Kami CF: You can't argue with crazy. You just can't. the top and bottom queens enter Untucked Wren: The attempt to break my spirit continues. 🏁Wren CF: Heading back to Untucked, it really does sting that I didn't win. I thought I had the best look, and I love the way I presented it. I wouldn't change a thing, but clearly the judges would. Kami: I've heard the word "safe" enough times in the last hour to last me a lifetime, so can one of you fill us in on what happened on stage? Anthyy: I'm in the top with Zodya! Steph: Whyyyyyyy. Oop, not like that. Just you know, the Sue stan in me. Sue: I'm torn with my emotions right now. Getting praised on this look felt amazing. But then it almost gave me a false sense of hope. I thought maybe I could win. Zodya: And you could've. I'm so proud of your work here. It's amazing. 🏁Zodya CF: I know how much Sue wanted to win this challenge, but I'm also freaking out a little inside that I just won my third challenge! I mean really, what could go wrong now? Wren: Regardless of what the judges said, I'm proud of this look. Sharris: So why do you keep bringing it up? Wren: With the runway last week, it was a more masculine approach than what I'm used to. And this week, I wanted to give full cunty goddess. 🏁Wren CF: Exploring gender identity and expression through fashion is important to me. Like, really important. I won't apologize for that. Blondie: And just so I know, you use all the pronouns, right? I'm not trying to get cancelled again. Wren: After saving me, you can call me whatever. But yes, anything works. He, she, they, it's all okay to me. But it doesn't take away from my trans-ness. Sharris: Wren, what the fuck does that even mean? Wren: What does what means? Sharris: How are you a he, she, and they. Make up your mind. Wren: I don't think I need to make up my mind. It's my personal journey, and I don't need to conform to what you want. Sharris: You just represent everything that's wrong with the world to me. Blondie: Okay, that's a bit much. Fleur: Blondie, stay out of it. Blondie: No! Why can't I say anything without you all jumping to make me look like the bad person? Fleur: If people always think you're a bad person, maybe you just are. Morgs: Woop, there it is. 🏁Fleur CF: Blondie swears she's an angel on Earth. But she's not. She's nasty, she's an input ho, and I don't fuck with her. Screw any alliances, I want her gone. Sharris: The more I learn about you, Blondie, the more I understand why you and Wren are friends. The only upside to that is it means none of us have to be bothered by either of you. You can annoy each other instead. Wren: Talk that talk in your bottom outfit. You could never give what I give! Sharris: And thank god for that. Man, man, man. I see a MAN. Anthyy: Girl... 🏁Anthyy CF: Sharris took a low blow with that one. Wren has been so open about her identity, and really advocated for trans representation! I considered Sharris a friend, but that changes everything. Wren: Are you really going there? For real? Sharris: I am, care to continue? Wren: You know who I am and I've been nothing but transparent with how I feel in my identity. And for someone in this community to be the one coming after me, it's so gross. Sharris: Let's get one thing straight, we're not in the same community. Wren: Right, cause I'm some freak. Sharris: Wren, shut up and go play in traffic. Kami: Stop, don't go there. What's that even supposed to mean. Sharris: As in, go die. Go die, for the sake of humanity, please. the queens all clasp their hands over their mouths as they realize what Sharris said Wren: You want me to go kill myself? Sharris: Yes please, look at how easy that was! Wren: Give me a few years, and I'm sure I'll get there. Blondie: Wren, don't even say that. Don't give that bitch another moment of your time. Sharris: Blondie, you too. Blondie: You are a miserable and hateful little bitch. You're disgusting. You better be so ashamed of yourself. Fleur: You're the moral compass now? Why do you keep putting yourself in things?! Blondie: Sharris brought me into it, and I'm done sitting down and taking it. You both are vile. 🏁Fleur CF: Blondie spews the most venomous things out of that over-plumped mouth. Why are people surprised that it caused someone to snap? If you can't handle the heat, get out of the kitchen. Blondie and Wren, there's the door, dumb bitches. the queens return to the runway Micro: Welcome back ladies. It has been brought to my attention that there was an altercation in Untucked. Sharris rolls her eyes, as Blondie comforts Wren at the back of the stage Micro: If this behavior continues, I won't hesitate to start this whole thing over. From the top, new cast and everything. the queens snicker at Micro's comment, causing her to stand up and lean over the judging panel Micro: I am NOT joking! Don't make me name names. But if you think you're one of the girls I'd replace, you're probably right. the scene cuts to Lectro and Yuka standing outside of the studio and forming a prayer circle for the season to restart 🏁Kami CF: The behavior during Untucked shifted everything. I mean, it's really not that deep, and to stoop to that level? It's...it's just not acceptable. Micro: Now, as much as I'm sure you'd love to keep attacking each other, we have more important things to get to: a fake lipsync. Will the top two queens please step forward. Anthyy Lipsync Look Zodya Lipsync Look Micro: Anthyy, Zodya. Prior to tonight, you were asked to prepare a lipsync performance of "Supernova" by Kylie Minogue. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcTHJ05R2bQ Sue: Please say jk. 🏁Sue CF: I'm fine! I'm so fine, don't even worry about me. cries in Kylie Minogue Micro: This is your chance to impress me, and secure the right to give one of the bottom queens...the chop. 🏁Anthyy CF: I really felt like I was in a tough spot with these queens in the bottom. But after that moment in Untucked, I know what needs to be done. It was taken way too far! 🏁Zodya CF: I don't have a connection to either of the bottom queens this week. But I am ready to channel my inner Sue, and give this song what it deserves. Micro: Good luck, and don't fuck it up! Read lipsync here! Micro: Oh wow! the queens clap for Sue as she shrouds herself in a cloud of glitter before remembering that Anthyy and Zodya are on stage Micro: I think it's safe to say Sue was the real winner of that one. Sue: Kylie, that was for you, baby!! Micro: Ladies, I've made my decision. ... Micro: Zodya Killer, you're a winner baby! Zodya: Ah, thank you! Kylie, I am so sorry. Micro: Anthyy, you are safe to slay another day. Anthyy: I'm sorry mama, my feet were tired after doing three of these! Zodya giggles and raises her eyebrows Micro: Will the bottom two queens please step forward. Fleur and Sharris walk to the front of the stage as the safe queens glare at them 🏁Fleur CF: I don't think I should be in the bottom this week, and I shouldn't have been near the bottom last week either! If they send me home, it's just putting me out of my misery. But if I stay, I'll make this hell for each and every one of them. 🏁Sharris CF: I don't regret a thing. It went far, but there's only so much I could take from that...person doesn't feel appropriate. I think pathetic troglodyte fits Wren better. Whether they like it or not, I'd say it again! Micro: Zodya. With great power comes great responsibility. Which queen have you chosen...to get the chop? Zodya: I'm going to be honest, I don't have any strong connections to either of you. I think you both deserve to be here and can be able to bring something fun to the rest of the competition, but tonight, I'm going to have to go with the person I felt really took on the challenge to heart. My decision...is... ... ... Zodya: Sharris. Zodya's Lipstick Choice Sharris laughs as Morgs begins to tear up Micro: So it is written, so it shall be done. Sharris, I know that you have everything it takes to thrive in a competition like this. But now is not your time. Sharris: Womp womp. Micro: Now, sashay away. Sharris goes to the back of the stage to hug Morgs before walking off Micro: Moving forward, I hope we can treat each other with some more kindness, and enjoy this for what it is. Now, let the music play! "Banjo" by Bebe Zahara Benet plays Next Time on Micro's Drag Race Blondie: There is a killer on the loose, and nobody is safe. 🏁Whorechata CF: If this means I make a few enemies, oh well! Micro: I'm so sorry, I need to excuse myself. Micro steps away from the judging panel as her eyes fill with tears Track Record Cast Shot w/ Placements |
2023.05.28 04:03 the_flys_fly Lord Beerus, god of retcon
First SSJG is 60-70% of Beerus, then that turns into 0.5% of Beerus. Well, SSJB is x50 so that’s 25% of Beerus. Then kaioken x20 would put Goku over 100% of Beerus, but obviously he’s still considered to be below.
But we’re not done. Goku then masters Ultra Instinct in the ToP, and then continues to get stronger in the Moro and Granolah stories. We are thousands of times stronger than SSJG at this point which was originally 60-70% of Beerus then 0.5% of Beerus.
Vegeta learns Ultra Ego and essentially matches Goku. And Beerus tells him it would take him a few million years to get as strong as him.
Not one or two years or even decades, but a few million!
At this point I’m thinking SSJG is 0.0000000000000000000000000000001% of Beerus, if that. If they want it to be that way, ok, but I sure would like to see some real examples of Beerus’ true power. Someone that powerful would be entertaining to watch fight.
submitted by the_flys_fly to Dragonballsuper [link] [comments]
But we’re not done. Goku then masters Ultra Instinct in the ToP, and then continues to get stronger in the Moro and Granolah stories. We are thousands of times stronger than SSJG at this point which was originally 60-70% of Beerus then 0.5% of Beerus.
Vegeta learns Ultra Ego and essentially matches Goku. And Beerus tells him it would take him a few million years to get as strong as him.
Not one or two years or even decades, but a few million!
At this point I’m thinking SSJG is 0.0000000000000000000000000000001% of Beerus, if that. If they want it to be that way, ok, but I sure would like to see some real examples of Beerus’ true power. Someone that powerful would be entertaining to watch fight.
2023.05.28 04:01 WoefullyIneptPigeon A Guide on Nyx
First off this is going to be a bit long because I'm trying not to leave anything out. I also play her primarily as a point tank because she benefits from being near where the fight is centered around. If you don't want to read all of it, there's one thing I'm trying to spread about her that's super cool in the Royal Presence section that I bolded. I was just answering another post and it ended up being way too long so I'm putting this here since I haven't seen many guide on her around.
On to the guide and feel free to correct me on things or put your own ideas of the character in the comments!
General
Nyx is a much better point tank than a lot of people think. Being patient also really helps with her; not just in learning her, but also in stealing the point. She's not broken or the best, but she's good and can be pretty versatile when you get her down. It just takes bit of time to get a playstyle that works with her down.
The first thing to know is that she does a LOT of damage, but it's slow. You have to play point patiently with her and take your opportunities when you see them. She's great at denying space and dealing wide areas of damage. Even if that damage seems small, it adds up. Which you'll see me say over and over again. Instead of holding point more defensively than offensively like say an Inara would, Nyx does the opposite. She uses slow sneaky damage to steal the point and try and angle herself where she can poke a little close, but safe. You always want to be where your support can see you and protect them even more than another tank would. They're your lifeline and only source of healing.
When you use either her shield or presence and don't have a need for it to be active anymore, then re-activate them to end the effect so that you can get your cooldown back faster.
Last thing is that if your support isn't very good you're going to have a ton of trouble staying up so you have to play a lot safer and use your poison, rift slash, and poke to try and steal what space you can. If your dps isn't very good, then a lot of the slow damage you're doing is going to get wasted. It's your job to weaken the enemy and their job to finish them off. Not that you can't still get picks and burst people down, but bad dps is really going to make things much harder on you than another tank would especially if their target priority isn't good. Making enemies back up or just die is how you're going to survive along with knowing when to back yourself. But if your dps and/or your support is at least decent you can create so many opportunities for your team, which makes the character a lot of fun.
Weapon
Her weapon shots gets +75 damage within 20 units, which is not far at all. It's essentially nose to nose, but when you think it's within survivable space, try and get into that range for the extra dps. She goes from ~483 dps to ~608 dps if she hits all bonus damage shots in one combo (about 3 seconds when I timed it. Someone could correct me if I'm wrong there though.) It will really benefit you to move strafe forward and then back a little when you fire to try and get that bonus damage, but also maintain a little space. Mess around with it in the shooting range to get used to that if you don't already do it.
Abyssal Fortress
I have four tips for for the shield:
1.) When using it to protect yourself try to keep it close to you and of course strafe through it if enemies try and walk through to hit you. You can look a bit in front of you or straight down at the ground, but just remember 30 units isn't far and 1500 less shield is best to avoid when you can help it.
2.) Place the shield facing towards where the danger is. If most of the damage is in front of you, then place it there. If you're dueling the enemy tank because they're killable and there's two dps to your right, then place it towards them to block their damage.
3.) If you seen a teammate (especially your support) in need of protection don't be afraid to place the shield farther away near them to keep them from dying or to aid their retreat. If you're fighting point and think the save is more valuable, then retreat off point and protect the teammate by throwing a rift slash at whoever is chasing them or poking with your weapon if you can. But get away from the point if it'll kill you.
4.) If the enemy tank (like Barik, Ash, Atlas, or another Nyx) places their shield down before you do, don't be afraid to walk forward and put your shield past theirs to negate their value if you think it's survivable space.
Rift Slash
Rift slash isn't just good for damage or trying to get picks. It's also a great zoning/area denial tool. Don't be afraid to use it to keep people from being in a certain spot if you think you'll find more value than just damage. Also great for pushing the support from line of sight from their tank.
Also don't just use it for yourself. It can really help your flank get that pick if you notice it.
Using it is easier when you charge it for distance instead of damage. The distances are 25 units for 0-49% charge, 50 units for 50-99% charge, and 100 units for full charge. The damage increase is on the initial hit only and you can add more with your weapon than charging will and some players (not a lot, though) will hear the charge and know they need to dodge it, so faster is also better. Additionally, the hitbox when it's a projectile is smaller than the hitbox when it's stationary, so Show of Force cripple is easier to hit as well if you place it correctly. You'll still want to aim directly for enemies, but knowing this can make it a lot easier to hit. You also sometimes want to walk forward or back to get the the area where the slash will stop.
Pre-firing Rift Slash can be a good idea, especially if you know the enemy is going to be near a certain distance. But if the charge will go farther than the enemy you want to hit you have three options:
1.) Hit the enemy with the claw projectile
2.) Hit an object ~15 units near them (includes deployables)
3.) If you're on high ground, aim at the ground near them.
Last thing I'll add on this is that if you need to retreat, hit enemies with the slow or put it in a spot that'll get in their way so you can get out of trouble more safely.
FOR ENEMIES WITH SHIELDS: Fire your rift slash above them at roughly the units you would need to diagonally to get that initial hit damage (and cripple on Show of Force.) Sometimes you'll still hit the shield, but hey we tried. They'll still take the pulse damage like they would have if you just hit the shield.
Royal Presence
For Royal Presence (her F,) don't think of it as just a defensive ability that makes the damage you take slower. It's great for that, but it's also a great offensive ability for punishing enemies for grouping up near you and racking up that ult charge! You'll be surprised how fast you'll get it with Abyssal Authority and Center of Combat. Sure the damage on the poison is slow, but you don't have to aim it and it can only really be cleansed by ethereal like Grohk & Seris' movement abilities, Zhin billow, and Koga dash.
The poison can also be re-procced, so if you touch an enemy with the aura again near before it ends, they take double damage. Meaning with Center of Combat 5 they can take a total of 30% health over 12 seconds. That's 3 times the damage at base and 6 times if you just got it one them once! People will really just stand in it and not respect the slow damage, but even if it can seem minimal it really does add up; damage is damage after all!
The pull is also really useful for getting a support out of position and then throwing Rift Slash on them, stopping the momentum of an enemy trying to run away, or trying to get an enemy off of one of your teammates. The hitbox for it is a small cone in front of you and it also does 100 damage when you activate it, which the in-game description doesn't mention.
If you didn't know, you can cleanse all temp damage from Presence with her ult. But a really cool thing about Royal Presence is that there's a small window where any damage you would take as purple health is automatically healed back up; without even having to use your ult for it. This window is less than a second and basically where her wings go in front of her right when you first activate presence. You don't need to activate the chain pull at all, so you still also get all the other perks of the ability and can save your ult! This means that you can run into Drogoz ult and right before he hits you, pop presence and you'll take no damage. Good Drogoz players will adapt and choose a different target or dodge you, but it's an awesome counter to a death sentence. This also works for tanking Jenos ult, Skye ult, etc. Any big burst damage, but also really any damage in that small window. You can practice this against the Cassie bots in the shooting range. Just wait before one of them fires at you and pop the first activation of Presence. Of course this doesn't work against Vora ult. No idea about Maeve's Street Justice talent however, but to me that's nearly impossible to time.
Funny enough KamiVS just did this in a video he posted yesterday: https://youtu.be/H8gOxFzkTy8?t=125
Last two things to touch on for Presence, but important is you can use it to retreat to get back to your support. You can also touch the enemy tank and hopefully the support with the poison, throw a rift slash if you need to, back up and heal/poke, and then re-proc the poison to add more damage and point pressure. The ability is really a nice mix of offense and defense.
Ultimate
For her ult you almost always want to use it while using Presence. You can pop Presence and run into the enemy and ult to cleanse all that damage you took and to make space or punish them for being too closely grouped up and then put rift slash on whoever got caught up in it. Also don't be afraid to use the cleanse from her ult defensively just to survive! Sometimes an enemy will still get hit by it or get pulled out of position. There's also three other things you can do with your ult I'll add:
1.) Use Rift Slash before ulting to slow enemies so they can't just run out. This is also way better in Show of Force since anyone you hit with it will be crippled and unable to use a movement ability to dodge the ult. This also works with Subjugation's root on Presence pull.
2.) Use the chain pull from presence right before ulting so their momentum is going towards you or to try and get an additional enemy into it. This ends your aura early, so any damage you take after the initial cleanse from your ult will be taken normally. Use this when you know it's safe too.
3.) If your shield is off cooldown, you can put it in front of you before you ult to block damage or pull them through it if you run the Abyssal Breach talent (you can do the same with chain pull.) You can also just put the shield down just before enemies come out of stun to block their damage and keep space/retreat.
Items
As for items the best items in my opinion for her are:
Chronos - She's really depends on her cooldowns both defensively and offensively. A lot of my damage is often half ability damage or more.
Rejuv - She gets a scaling 20% healing bonus near the objective. So 20% on it and still a bonus even if you're just a bit away from it. I'm still not sure where that bonus ends, but both of these together also stack against caut. So at Rejuv 3 on point and 90% caut, you're only in 40% caut. Still try to get out of combat (ideally still near the objective, but out of enemy sightlines) to get healed up by your support. But if you have to fight on point in caut, then you have to wait until you can use your shield to cleanse it.
Nimble - No movement ability means you need faster movement speed to get in and out of fights. A lot of value for not a lot of credits, but there are situations where you might not have space to buy it
Haven - Less damage better. Especially in Royal Presence.
Resilience - CC can really mess up your day, so resi is a must buy for her in those situations.
Points if you noticed that three of her items (Nimble, Resi, Rejuv) are actually pretty low cost, so getting your build up can be pretty fast sometimes.
As for her best item starts (if your support is something like Jenos or Corvus or a solo damage furia, start a Rejuv build):
1.) Chronos + Nimble - If you buy this, your third buy should almost always be rejuv unless there's a situation that calls for something else like something that needs counter or your support is just cracked and doesn't need it quite yet. But Rejuv is inevitable on this character.
2.) Rejuv + Resi - Best start when there's CC you don't want to deal with. Once Resi is at 2 you can start building out more, but rush that unless your opponent isn't very good with CC.
3.) Rejuv + Nimble / Rejuv alone - You need more healing
Redundant items for her are:
Illuminate - You can actually just track enemies that are invisible with the tick damage from royal presence and then throw rift slash on them, hit them with your weapon, and either kill them or push them out. It takes some getting used to for you to hit your shots just tracking the numbers, but it's nice to have the item slot freed up.
Morale Boost - You get so much ult charge from Presence ticks if you have her build set up right with Center of Combat and Abyssal Authority, so only reason to really buy this is if you really need your ult and your build doesn't include those.
Last thing about items is that while she isn't great with Wrecker, if your team is low on it and you feel like you need it: get it.
Cards
Onto her cards, I'll preface by saying that strong card go brrrr isn't always the best option on this character. She's got a lot of stuff that's a little weak in base kit, but much stronger when you buff it. So a balanced spread can help you out a lot. But also some of this is my opinion and you do you; if you want a card at 5 then that's your expression of the character. Remember that you should try to build characters to suit your own playstyle.
Best (No particular order):
Abyssal Authority - Getting more enemies in your aura means more passive damage. That means more ult charge, damage numbers for credits, and adding kill potential to your team even for enemies you aren't actually looking at. It doesn't seem like a lot at first, but it adds up as I mentioned above. If you're point tank you want this card at 3-4. 5 is kind of overkill, but do you.
Center of Combat - This is where a lot of your damage numbers will come from. Boosting aura damage is great. I have this at 4 on my main build which can rack up to 26% max health on a single target over 12 seconds. There's still a good benefit to 5, but I like to put that point elsewhere to balance my build out. Except in a Nyx mirror. They go 5 then you go 5 on this card.
Forever Changed - HP adds to your bulkiness which can really help you out. But if you'd rather go for something else, totally respectable. But have at least one build that has this card at 4 or 5 if you notice you find yourself in a situation that demands bulkiness.
The Little Things - Rift Slash is a hugely important tool on this character, so reducing it's cooldown is fantastic. Personally I have this at 2 because I have my points elsewhere and at this level I rarely don't have slash when I need it. But it still happens now and again. 4-5 is kind of overkill unless you're going off-tank though.
Devastating Blows - This card is amazing when you need it. You'll find yourself against enemies that usually won't be close to you though. Which negates the benefit of the card. That's why I have a build that just uses this as a filler card. I find that at 3 you're generally in the space you would be fighting another tank on point, but if you find that space to put it at 4 then go for it! 5 isn't too far off from 4 though, so the benefit in a point in another card is a little better, but that's just my opinion.
Pretty Good:
All Will Kneel - Rift slash is amazing at denying space, so adding some radius to it's pulses. That's 200 damage total over 2s or 300 over 3s in Show of Force, but the slow is the biggest benefit.
Unchecked Power - I've faced Nyx's that send this card and ngl it can be pretty annoying at start until resil is up. Even at just 2-3 there's value in this card, but I personally don't use either this or the previous one because I find more than enough value with base rift slash and I like buffing other things better for my playstyle.
Brutal Pursuer - This card is ONLY good if you're going off tank. Otherwise you're better off putting points elsewhere. The value of the move speed just isn't high enough on point tank.
Unyielding Advance - This is a pretty good filler card. If you find it suits you, then go for it! But it doesn't have a lot of value past 1-2 compared to others.
Frontline Commander - This card is amazing! On another character. Nyx's base kit needs too much boosting to justify space for this at a level where it's really useful. She's pretty CC heavy, so the move speed decrease just gives resi more value against her. But still give it a shot if you like it, despite what I said it's a pretty fun card. Just remember that my take on this card is an opinion despite me wording it like it's a fact.
Meh:
World Torn Asunder - When you get used to Rift Slash, it's not super hard to hit even at 100 units as long as you space yourself correctly. So the real value in this is hitting agile enemies like Vatu, Maeve, or VII. But it's not a card you want to put a lot of points out of, and you can still work around having it. Not a bad idea to have it as a 1-2 pointer to deal with champions like that though if you find it helps you! I'm just saying in general there's much more value elsewhere. Personally I don't use it at all, but give it a shot still to draw your own conclusion.
A Swift End - Devastating blows gets you way more value. It's there all the time and this is only usable on shield. At level 5 this adds ~360 damage to a single combo (3s), but that number really isn't exact and is likely a little lower. Just an estimate. Biggest argument for this card is you can re-proc it by strafing your shield, so it's shield duration + 3s. But if an enemy shield is in your way then you lose value unless your aim is to try and burst down the shield. The card is still fun though. So if you're not looking to be optimal, go for it! Same applies to some other cards above.
No:
True Freedom - If you take one thing away from this comment. Don't use this card. It's a scrub trap. There's better one pointers and when you get used to the character you'll find this card is just training wheels that don't even really need to exist. Even if you miss a hit on your weapon or hold it for a bit longer, the value is just too small.
The New Order - Not as bad as True Freedom is, but the value is way too low and other cards are just way better. Most chains will hit 1-2 enemies max. Even at 5 that's a 150-300 shield for way too many points.
Unyielding Advance - It's like using Guardian as an item: don't. People will buy wrecker and decimate your shield even with this at 5. And if they don't your shield will last more than long enough.
Face to Face - I mean, you can kind of meme with this, but even then the value is just bad. Base pull does it's job just fine, and using this to soften the blow from the other team building resi doesn't help a whole lot in comparison to other cards.
Builds
If anyone wants my builds for reference, I'll put them here. Just remember this is for how I play the character and what personally found me the most success:
AA= Abyssal Authority, CoC = Center of Combat, FC = Forever Changed, TLT = The Little Things, DB = Devastating Blows, BP = Brutal Pursuer
Balanced - CoC 4, AA 3, FC 3, DB 3, TLT 2. Main build I use almost all the time.
Bulky - FC 5, CoC 4, AA 3, TLT 2, DB 1. I use this build either when I need more health, or more often when I know enemies are going to be farther from me so I won't get value out of DB.
Damage - CoC 5, AA 4, DB 3, TLT 2, FC 1. I use this build when facing another Nyx or really bulky comps. Especially with Lilith as the support with 2 tanks. Really messes with her resources.
Off-Tank - CoC4, DB 4, TLT 3, BP 3, AA 1. As off tank you need that extra bit of movement speed. Even though it isn't substantial, it helps a lot. You're not the center of the fight as off-tank, so AA doesn't get as much value, but CoC adds to your damage. DB is at 4 so you can get stronger pokes from a bit farther and TLT 3 lets you rift slash more and keep that move speed up. Don't use it exclusively for the speed though.
Talents
Show of Force - This is my favorite talent for her by far. The extra second lets you deny more space and the cripple increases pick potential for you and your team. Biggest downside if there's a lot of CC on your team you'll lose value so you might be better off going Abyssal Breach in those cases. But you can definitely still work around it even then.
Abyssal Breach - The talent I used on point before they buffed Show of Force. Having your shield more often on point is really helpful and it punishes anyone trying to push past your shield in narrow spaces or catch you while you're strafing it in open ones. Great if your team has a lot of CC like I pointed out above. Also don't forget you can use your chain pull to bring people through the shield for that extra damage if you find a good chance for a pick. This goes for pulling enemies through it with your ult as well, but if resi is up it's not nearly as viable tech.
Subjugation - A lot of people say it's her best, but I say it's situational. If you end your aura early with it, you lose a lot of that nice damage and ult charge. But this talent is still really useful. Great as an off-tank talent if your team doesn't have a lot of useful CC so you get more value out of this from forcing resi or someone on the enemy team ignoring resi. Make sure to track who has it for you picks. On point you would only use this if you know the enemy has an agile champion your comp isn't equipped to deal with and you know you won't hit those Show of Force cripples. If your team has a lot of CC then Show of Force is the better off-tank talent.
Well, that's the end of the guide. I know that was a lot of text, but so are her ability descriptions in game lol. I hope that some of the info that I put here was found useful by someone. Take care and glhf!
submitted by WoefullyIneptPigeon to PaladinsAcademy [link] [comments]
On to the guide and feel free to correct me on things or put your own ideas of the character in the comments!
General
Nyx is a much better point tank than a lot of people think. Being patient also really helps with her; not just in learning her, but also in stealing the point. She's not broken or the best, but she's good and can be pretty versatile when you get her down. It just takes bit of time to get a playstyle that works with her down.
The first thing to know is that she does a LOT of damage, but it's slow. You have to play point patiently with her and take your opportunities when you see them. She's great at denying space and dealing wide areas of damage. Even if that damage seems small, it adds up. Which you'll see me say over and over again. Instead of holding point more defensively than offensively like say an Inara would, Nyx does the opposite. She uses slow sneaky damage to steal the point and try and angle herself where she can poke a little close, but safe. You always want to be where your support can see you and protect them even more than another tank would. They're your lifeline and only source of healing.
When you use either her shield or presence and don't have a need for it to be active anymore, then re-activate them to end the effect so that you can get your cooldown back faster.
Last thing is that if your support isn't very good you're going to have a ton of trouble staying up so you have to play a lot safer and use your poison, rift slash, and poke to try and steal what space you can. If your dps isn't very good, then a lot of the slow damage you're doing is going to get wasted. It's your job to weaken the enemy and their job to finish them off. Not that you can't still get picks and burst people down, but bad dps is really going to make things much harder on you than another tank would especially if their target priority isn't good. Making enemies back up or just die is how you're going to survive along with knowing when to back yourself. But if your dps and/or your support is at least decent you can create so many opportunities for your team, which makes the character a lot of fun.
Weapon
Her weapon shots gets +75 damage within 20 units, which is not far at all. It's essentially nose to nose, but when you think it's within survivable space, try and get into that range for the extra dps. She goes from ~483 dps to ~608 dps if she hits all bonus damage shots in one combo (about 3 seconds when I timed it. Someone could correct me if I'm wrong there though.) It will really benefit you to move strafe forward and then back a little when you fire to try and get that bonus damage, but also maintain a little space. Mess around with it in the shooting range to get used to that if you don't already do it.
Abyssal Fortress
I have four tips for for the shield:
1.) When using it to protect yourself try to keep it close to you and of course strafe through it if enemies try and walk through to hit you. You can look a bit in front of you or straight down at the ground, but just remember 30 units isn't far and 1500 less shield is best to avoid when you can help it.
2.) Place the shield facing towards where the danger is. If most of the damage is in front of you, then place it there. If you're dueling the enemy tank because they're killable and there's two dps to your right, then place it towards them to block their damage.
3.) If you seen a teammate (especially your support) in need of protection don't be afraid to place the shield farther away near them to keep them from dying or to aid their retreat. If you're fighting point and think the save is more valuable, then retreat off point and protect the teammate by throwing a rift slash at whoever is chasing them or poking with your weapon if you can. But get away from the point if it'll kill you.
4.) If the enemy tank (like Barik, Ash, Atlas, or another Nyx) places their shield down before you do, don't be afraid to walk forward and put your shield past theirs to negate their value if you think it's survivable space.
Rift Slash
Rift slash isn't just good for damage or trying to get picks. It's also a great zoning/area denial tool. Don't be afraid to use it to keep people from being in a certain spot if you think you'll find more value than just damage. Also great for pushing the support from line of sight from their tank.
Also don't just use it for yourself. It can really help your flank get that pick if you notice it.
Using it is easier when you charge it for distance instead of damage. The distances are 25 units for 0-49% charge, 50 units for 50-99% charge, and 100 units for full charge. The damage increase is on the initial hit only and you can add more with your weapon than charging will and some players (not a lot, though) will hear the charge and know they need to dodge it, so faster is also better. Additionally, the hitbox when it's a projectile is smaller than the hitbox when it's stationary, so Show of Force cripple is easier to hit as well if you place it correctly. You'll still want to aim directly for enemies, but knowing this can make it a lot easier to hit. You also sometimes want to walk forward or back to get the the area where the slash will stop.
Pre-firing Rift Slash can be a good idea, especially if you know the enemy is going to be near a certain distance. But if the charge will go farther than the enemy you want to hit you have three options:
1.) Hit the enemy with the claw projectile
2.) Hit an object ~15 units near them (includes deployables)
3.) If you're on high ground, aim at the ground near them.
Last thing I'll add on this is that if you need to retreat, hit enemies with the slow or put it in a spot that'll get in their way so you can get out of trouble more safely.
FOR ENEMIES WITH SHIELDS: Fire your rift slash above them at roughly the units you would need to diagonally to get that initial hit damage (and cripple on Show of Force.) Sometimes you'll still hit the shield, but hey we tried. They'll still take the pulse damage like they would have if you just hit the shield.
Royal Presence
For Royal Presence (her F,) don't think of it as just a defensive ability that makes the damage you take slower. It's great for that, but it's also a great offensive ability for punishing enemies for grouping up near you and racking up that ult charge! You'll be surprised how fast you'll get it with Abyssal Authority and Center of Combat. Sure the damage on the poison is slow, but you don't have to aim it and it can only really be cleansed by ethereal like Grohk & Seris' movement abilities, Zhin billow, and Koga dash.
The poison can also be re-procced, so if you touch an enemy with the aura again near before it ends, they take double damage. Meaning with Center of Combat 5 they can take a total of 30% health over 12 seconds. That's 3 times the damage at base and 6 times if you just got it one them once! People will really just stand in it and not respect the slow damage, but even if it can seem minimal it really does add up; damage is damage after all!
The pull is also really useful for getting a support out of position and then throwing Rift Slash on them, stopping the momentum of an enemy trying to run away, or trying to get an enemy off of one of your teammates. The hitbox for it is a small cone in front of you and it also does 100 damage when you activate it, which the in-game description doesn't mention.
If you didn't know, you can cleanse all temp damage from Presence with her ult. But a really cool thing about Royal Presence is that there's a small window where any damage you would take as purple health is automatically healed back up; without even having to use your ult for it. This window is less than a second and basically where her wings go in front of her right when you first activate presence. You don't need to activate the chain pull at all, so you still also get all the other perks of the ability and can save your ult! This means that you can run into Drogoz ult and right before he hits you, pop presence and you'll take no damage. Good Drogoz players will adapt and choose a different target or dodge you, but it's an awesome counter to a death sentence. This also works for tanking Jenos ult, Skye ult, etc. Any big burst damage, but also really any damage in that small window. You can practice this against the Cassie bots in the shooting range. Just wait before one of them fires at you and pop the first activation of Presence. Of course this doesn't work against Vora ult. No idea about Maeve's Street Justice talent however, but to me that's nearly impossible to time.
Funny enough KamiVS just did this in a video he posted yesterday: https://youtu.be/H8gOxFzkTy8?t=125
Last two things to touch on for Presence, but important is you can use it to retreat to get back to your support. You can also touch the enemy tank and hopefully the support with the poison, throw a rift slash if you need to, back up and heal/poke, and then re-proc the poison to add more damage and point pressure. The ability is really a nice mix of offense and defense.
Ultimate
For her ult you almost always want to use it while using Presence. You can pop Presence and run into the enemy and ult to cleanse all that damage you took and to make space or punish them for being too closely grouped up and then put rift slash on whoever got caught up in it. Also don't be afraid to use the cleanse from her ult defensively just to survive! Sometimes an enemy will still get hit by it or get pulled out of position. There's also three other things you can do with your ult I'll add:
1.) Use Rift Slash before ulting to slow enemies so they can't just run out. This is also way better in Show of Force since anyone you hit with it will be crippled and unable to use a movement ability to dodge the ult. This also works with Subjugation's root on Presence pull.
2.) Use the chain pull from presence right before ulting so their momentum is going towards you or to try and get an additional enemy into it. This ends your aura early, so any damage you take after the initial cleanse from your ult will be taken normally. Use this when you know it's safe too.
3.) If your shield is off cooldown, you can put it in front of you before you ult to block damage or pull them through it if you run the Abyssal Breach talent (you can do the same with chain pull.) You can also just put the shield down just before enemies come out of stun to block their damage and keep space/retreat.
Items
As for items the best items in my opinion for her are:
Chronos - She's really depends on her cooldowns both defensively and offensively. A lot of my damage is often half ability damage or more.
Rejuv - She gets a scaling 20% healing bonus near the objective. So 20% on it and still a bonus even if you're just a bit away from it. I'm still not sure where that bonus ends, but both of these together also stack against caut. So at Rejuv 3 on point and 90% caut, you're only in 40% caut. Still try to get out of combat (ideally still near the objective, but out of enemy sightlines) to get healed up by your support. But if you have to fight on point in caut, then you have to wait until you can use your shield to cleanse it.
Nimble - No movement ability means you need faster movement speed to get in and out of fights. A lot of value for not a lot of credits, but there are situations where you might not have space to buy it
Haven - Less damage better. Especially in Royal Presence.
Resilience - CC can really mess up your day, so resi is a must buy for her in those situations.
Points if you noticed that three of her items (Nimble, Resi, Rejuv) are actually pretty low cost, so getting your build up can be pretty fast sometimes.
As for her best item starts (if your support is something like Jenos or Corvus or a solo damage furia, start a Rejuv build):
1.) Chronos + Nimble - If you buy this, your third buy should almost always be rejuv unless there's a situation that calls for something else like something that needs counter or your support is just cracked and doesn't need it quite yet. But Rejuv is inevitable on this character.
2.) Rejuv + Resi - Best start when there's CC you don't want to deal with. Once Resi is at 2 you can start building out more, but rush that unless your opponent isn't very good with CC.
3.) Rejuv + Nimble / Rejuv alone - You need more healing
Redundant items for her are:
Illuminate - You can actually just track enemies that are invisible with the tick damage from royal presence and then throw rift slash on them, hit them with your weapon, and either kill them or push them out. It takes some getting used to for you to hit your shots just tracking the numbers, but it's nice to have the item slot freed up.
Morale Boost - You get so much ult charge from Presence ticks if you have her build set up right with Center of Combat and Abyssal Authority, so only reason to really buy this is if you really need your ult and your build doesn't include those.
Last thing about items is that while she isn't great with Wrecker, if your team is low on it and you feel like you need it: get it.
Cards
Onto her cards, I'll preface by saying that strong card go brrrr isn't always the best option on this character. She's got a lot of stuff that's a little weak in base kit, but much stronger when you buff it. So a balanced spread can help you out a lot. But also some of this is my opinion and you do you; if you want a card at 5 then that's your expression of the character. Remember that you should try to build characters to suit your own playstyle.
Best (No particular order):
Abyssal Authority - Getting more enemies in your aura means more passive damage. That means more ult charge, damage numbers for credits, and adding kill potential to your team even for enemies you aren't actually looking at. It doesn't seem like a lot at first, but it adds up as I mentioned above. If you're point tank you want this card at 3-4. 5 is kind of overkill, but do you.
Center of Combat - This is where a lot of your damage numbers will come from. Boosting aura damage is great. I have this at 4 on my main build which can rack up to 26% max health on a single target over 12 seconds. There's still a good benefit to 5, but I like to put that point elsewhere to balance my build out. Except in a Nyx mirror. They go 5 then you go 5 on this card.
Forever Changed - HP adds to your bulkiness which can really help you out. But if you'd rather go for something else, totally respectable. But have at least one build that has this card at 4 or 5 if you notice you find yourself in a situation that demands bulkiness.
The Little Things - Rift Slash is a hugely important tool on this character, so reducing it's cooldown is fantastic. Personally I have this at 2 because I have my points elsewhere and at this level I rarely don't have slash when I need it. But it still happens now and again. 4-5 is kind of overkill unless you're going off-tank though.
Devastating Blows - This card is amazing when you need it. You'll find yourself against enemies that usually won't be close to you though. Which negates the benefit of the card. That's why I have a build that just uses this as a filler card. I find that at 3 you're generally in the space you would be fighting another tank on point, but if you find that space to put it at 4 then go for it! 5 isn't too far off from 4 though, so the benefit in a point in another card is a little better, but that's just my opinion.
Pretty Good:
All Will Kneel - Rift slash is amazing at denying space, so adding some radius to it's pulses. That's 200 damage total over 2s or 300 over 3s in Show of Force, but the slow is the biggest benefit.
Unchecked Power - I've faced Nyx's that send this card and ngl it can be pretty annoying at start until resil is up. Even at just 2-3 there's value in this card, but I personally don't use either this or the previous one because I find more than enough value with base rift slash and I like buffing other things better for my playstyle.
Brutal Pursuer - This card is ONLY good if you're going off tank. Otherwise you're better off putting points elsewhere. The value of the move speed just isn't high enough on point tank.
Unyielding Advance - This is a pretty good filler card. If you find it suits you, then go for it! But it doesn't have a lot of value past 1-2 compared to others.
Frontline Commander - This card is amazing! On another character. Nyx's base kit needs too much boosting to justify space for this at a level where it's really useful. She's pretty CC heavy, so the move speed decrease just gives resi more value against her. But still give it a shot if you like it, despite what I said it's a pretty fun card. Just remember that my take on this card is an opinion despite me wording it like it's a fact.
Meh:
World Torn Asunder - When you get used to Rift Slash, it's not super hard to hit even at 100 units as long as you space yourself correctly. So the real value in this is hitting agile enemies like Vatu, Maeve, or VII. But it's not a card you want to put a lot of points out of, and you can still work around having it. Not a bad idea to have it as a 1-2 pointer to deal with champions like that though if you find it helps you! I'm just saying in general there's much more value elsewhere. Personally I don't use it at all, but give it a shot still to draw your own conclusion.
A Swift End - Devastating blows gets you way more value. It's there all the time and this is only usable on shield. At level 5 this adds ~360 damage to a single combo (3s), but that number really isn't exact and is likely a little lower. Just an estimate. Biggest argument for this card is you can re-proc it by strafing your shield, so it's shield duration + 3s. But if an enemy shield is in your way then you lose value unless your aim is to try and burst down the shield. The card is still fun though. So if you're not looking to be optimal, go for it! Same applies to some other cards above.
No:
True Freedom - If you take one thing away from this comment. Don't use this card. It's a scrub trap. There's better one pointers and when you get used to the character you'll find this card is just training wheels that don't even really need to exist. Even if you miss a hit on your weapon or hold it for a bit longer, the value is just too small.
The New Order - Not as bad as True Freedom is, but the value is way too low and other cards are just way better. Most chains will hit 1-2 enemies max. Even at 5 that's a 150-300 shield for way too many points.
Unyielding Advance - It's like using Guardian as an item: don't. People will buy wrecker and decimate your shield even with this at 5. And if they don't your shield will last more than long enough.
Face to Face - I mean, you can kind of meme with this, but even then the value is just bad. Base pull does it's job just fine, and using this to soften the blow from the other team building resi doesn't help a whole lot in comparison to other cards.
Builds
If anyone wants my builds for reference, I'll put them here. Just remember this is for how I play the character and what personally found me the most success:
AA= Abyssal Authority, CoC = Center of Combat, FC = Forever Changed, TLT = The Little Things, DB = Devastating Blows, BP = Brutal Pursuer
Balanced - CoC 4, AA 3, FC 3, DB 3, TLT 2. Main build I use almost all the time.
Bulky - FC 5, CoC 4, AA 3, TLT 2, DB 1. I use this build either when I need more health, or more often when I know enemies are going to be farther from me so I won't get value out of DB.
Damage - CoC 5, AA 4, DB 3, TLT 2, FC 1. I use this build when facing another Nyx or really bulky comps. Especially with Lilith as the support with 2 tanks. Really messes with her resources.
Off-Tank - CoC4, DB 4, TLT 3, BP 3, AA 1. As off tank you need that extra bit of movement speed. Even though it isn't substantial, it helps a lot. You're not the center of the fight as off-tank, so AA doesn't get as much value, but CoC adds to your damage. DB is at 4 so you can get stronger pokes from a bit farther and TLT 3 lets you rift slash more and keep that move speed up. Don't use it exclusively for the speed though.
Talents
Show of Force - This is my favorite talent for her by far. The extra second lets you deny more space and the cripple increases pick potential for you and your team. Biggest downside if there's a lot of CC on your team you'll lose value so you might be better off going Abyssal Breach in those cases. But you can definitely still work around it even then.
Abyssal Breach - The talent I used on point before they buffed Show of Force. Having your shield more often on point is really helpful and it punishes anyone trying to push past your shield in narrow spaces or catch you while you're strafing it in open ones. Great if your team has a lot of CC like I pointed out above. Also don't forget you can use your chain pull to bring people through the shield for that extra damage if you find a good chance for a pick. This goes for pulling enemies through it with your ult as well, but if resi is up it's not nearly as viable tech.
Subjugation - A lot of people say it's her best, but I say it's situational. If you end your aura early with it, you lose a lot of that nice damage and ult charge. But this talent is still really useful. Great as an off-tank talent if your team doesn't have a lot of useful CC so you get more value out of this from forcing resi or someone on the enemy team ignoring resi. Make sure to track who has it for you picks. On point you would only use this if you know the enemy has an agile champion your comp isn't equipped to deal with and you know you won't hit those Show of Force cripples. If your team has a lot of CC then Show of Force is the better off-tank talent.
Well, that's the end of the guide. I know that was a lot of text, but so are her ability descriptions in game lol. I hope that some of the info that I put here was found useful by someone. Take care and glhf!
2023.05.28 03:58 Smallsali THC oil, CBD oil or paste?
I believe RSO is a damaged oil and goodies get thrown out, why? If you take a pound of flower and make RSO, and I take a pound of your same flower, I will get a better product with your product than your product with your RSO technique. A pound will give you 3 jars, but I can get 32 jars, your oil is ruined and my paste is everything, my paste would be stronger, cost 1/10 th what yours cost, mine is safe to make,many age could do it , but yours would need an adult because it is expensive and dangerous and wasteful. My paste would be the only time your flower is a non extract with nothing missing, your oil would be a resin of oils and parts of your goodness would be filtered out.
My question is, what’s better RSO or paste?
For those at home you know you would need to decarb, than you would immerse your flower, ground in ABV and you would filter than cook down, that’s dangerous,and not good for the resin of oil. With paste, I would take an ounce, decarbed and ground, put in a jar, add 2 tablespoons ABV, 2 tablespoons glycerin and 2 tablespoons MCT oil, mix till wet, cover with lid than oil bath at 180 for 10 hours, cool, chase pea sized ball with cold water, be careful it’s all your flowers got so if your flowers are good this will be everything, whereas the RSO is missing a bunch.
submitted by Smallsali to treedibles [link] [comments]
My question is, what’s better RSO or paste?
For those at home you know you would need to decarb, than you would immerse your flower, ground in ABV and you would filter than cook down, that’s dangerous,and not good for the resin of oil. With paste, I would take an ounce, decarbed and ground, put in a jar, add 2 tablespoons ABV, 2 tablespoons glycerin and 2 tablespoons MCT oil, mix till wet, cover with lid than oil bath at 180 for 10 hours, cool, chase pea sized ball with cold water, be careful it’s all your flowers got so if your flowers are good this will be everything, whereas the RSO is missing a bunch.
2023.05.28 03:50 Davrosdaleks IJW: The Little Mermaid (2023)
https://jwwreviews.blogspot.com/2023/05/the-little-mermaid-2023.html
8/10 In this remake of the 90's movie, Ariel (played by singesonwriteactress Halle Bailey), a mermaid princess, is fascinated with the above world and falls in love with Eric (Jonah Hauer-King), a human prince. In order to become a human herself, she makes a deal with the devious sea witch Ursula (Melissa McCarthy). The condition is that she must get true love's kiss within three days or else. Given that this is a Disney live-action remake, yeah... you got the regular criticism. They mostly retell the same story, but the script and direction can't quite match the magic of the original with live scenes unable to improve upon their animated counterparts. Sebastian (voiced by Daveed Diggs) is just thrown in without much of a good introduction and Ursula needed more screentime to let her breath. Also, attempts to bring some slight messages about man harming underwater ecology feel hamfisted and trite. That all having been said, I still found this to be a good film and one of the better Disney remakes. (Don't worry Pete's Dragon. You're still my favorite.) This is clearly a movie where everyone's trying, and sure there are valid criticisms about moments, but there is a genuine pleasantness and fun to it. The creators attempt to try some new things visually, and the musical numbers manage to look good and draw you in without being exact carbon copies of the original and make up for things they couldn't do in animation. The strongest part in this is that the movie does a better job of building the relationship between Ariel and Eric than in the original. More time is given to given to letting them interact and fleshing out Eric's character, showing why the two characters work together. Another strength is great casting all around. The best thing about this movie is DEFINITELY Halle Bailey. She completely embodies the essence of Ariel. She brings this youthful energy and innocence that completely works. I think Disney learned their lesson from the Beauty and the Beast remake with Emma Watson and cast a lead actress that truly can sing. Heck, Bailey's voice is even stronger than that of original voice actress Jodi Benson. There's a five year difference between Bailey and Hauer-King (admittedly I'm not the first review to say it online and I may be regurgitating, but I think it needs to be stated), plus Bailey is shorter and acts younger than Hauer-King, resulting in an awkward age gap. Given the controversy that in the animated movie Ariel was 16 and Eric was 18 (yeah, look it up), you'd think Disney'd be more careful about that. I owe Melissa McCarthy an apology. She's been more of a personality actress than a character actress, and I thought she was cast because she was a big name. I was completely wrong. McCathy knows what makes Ursula tick and pulls off the delivery bringing a humorously, wicked and larger-than-life performance. If you were disappointed with how unfaithfully Jafar was portrayed in the Aladdin remake, this is a breath of fresh air. Only casting that doesn't quite work is Awkwafina as Scuttle. (NOT a gender-change issue.) Maybe it hurt her that she voiced a Disney character not too long ago and there's a comparison. In Raya and the Last Dragon, she felt like she was the character. Here, it feels more like stunt casting with Awkwafina as Awkwafina. CGI is a mixed bag. All background aspects of the underwater world look excellent, but the combination of live-action actors with the mermaid actors never look quite natural. I think the director realized that too. In the animators' defense, this was a huge undertaken what with all the underwater scenes. (There's a reason Disney has put off adapting one of their most recognizable IP until now.) There was a clear effort to be economic with the amount of mermaid animation they had to do. So unfortunately, don't expect a lot of mermaid group scenes. The underwater kingdom is kinda sparse and feels like it it's made up mostly of Ariel's famly. The animators do do an impressive job of making hair look like it's flowing in the water. Sebastian's new design that's more faithful to what crabs look like is controversial, I do say. I like the eyes, but the mouth movements don't work for me. Altogether, I wouldn't call it a deal breaker. Whereas the original film took place in a European fairy tale land, this takes place on a tropical island nation. Admittedly, some will miss the original look, but I feel the change in location allows a lot of tropical colors that makes the movie work. We get three new songs in this from original songwriter Alan Menken with Hamilton's Lin-Manuel Miranda replacing the late Howard Ashman as lyricist. It's funny, I felt that this movie did a better job as a remake than either B&B or Aladdin, but those two each had a new song here that was pretty good and none of the new ones here pop. In fairness, Ariel's new song does work great when you watch it on film. The visuals, lyrics and Baille's performance makes this one of the strongest moments. But, you won't be remembering the song much afterwards. Doesn't help that Eric's new song wasn't suitable for Hauer-King. He seems to have pipes, but the tempo didn't fit his voice. Also, all three songs don't feel like they're in the same tone as the originals. If you're a fan of "Daughters of Triton" or "Les Poissons," they've been cut. Recommended. Yes, the original is better, but this IS an entertaining film and worth seeing for Baille, McCarthy, and the musical numbers. Your kids will probably have a good time with this.
submitted by Davrosdaleks to Ijustwatched [link] [comments]
8/10 In this remake of the 90's movie, Ariel (played by singesonwriteactress Halle Bailey), a mermaid princess, is fascinated with the above world and falls in love with Eric (Jonah Hauer-King), a human prince. In order to become a human herself, she makes a deal with the devious sea witch Ursula (Melissa McCarthy). The condition is that she must get true love's kiss within three days or else. Given that this is a Disney live-action remake, yeah... you got the regular criticism. They mostly retell the same story, but the script and direction can't quite match the magic of the original with live scenes unable to improve upon their animated counterparts. Sebastian (voiced by Daveed Diggs) is just thrown in without much of a good introduction and Ursula needed more screentime to let her breath. Also, attempts to bring some slight messages about man harming underwater ecology feel hamfisted and trite. That all having been said, I still found this to be a good film and one of the better Disney remakes. (Don't worry Pete's Dragon. You're still my favorite.) This is clearly a movie where everyone's trying, and sure there are valid criticisms about moments, but there is a genuine pleasantness and fun to it. The creators attempt to try some new things visually, and the musical numbers manage to look good and draw you in without being exact carbon copies of the original and make up for things they couldn't do in animation. The strongest part in this is that the movie does a better job of building the relationship between Ariel and Eric than in the original. More time is given to given to letting them interact and fleshing out Eric's character, showing why the two characters work together. Another strength is great casting all around. The best thing about this movie is DEFINITELY Halle Bailey. She completely embodies the essence of Ariel. She brings this youthful energy and innocence that completely works. I think Disney learned their lesson from the Beauty and the Beast remake with Emma Watson and cast a lead actress that truly can sing. Heck, Bailey's voice is even stronger than that of original voice actress Jodi Benson. There's a five year difference between Bailey and Hauer-King (admittedly I'm not the first review to say it online and I may be regurgitating, but I think it needs to be stated), plus Bailey is shorter and acts younger than Hauer-King, resulting in an awkward age gap. Given the controversy that in the animated movie Ariel was 16 and Eric was 18 (yeah, look it up), you'd think Disney'd be more careful about that. I owe Melissa McCarthy an apology. She's been more of a personality actress than a character actress, and I thought she was cast because she was a big name. I was completely wrong. McCathy knows what makes Ursula tick and pulls off the delivery bringing a humorously, wicked and larger-than-life performance. If you were disappointed with how unfaithfully Jafar was portrayed in the Aladdin remake, this is a breath of fresh air. Only casting that doesn't quite work is Awkwafina as Scuttle. (NOT a gender-change issue.) Maybe it hurt her that she voiced a Disney character not too long ago and there's a comparison. In Raya and the Last Dragon, she felt like she was the character. Here, it feels more like stunt casting with Awkwafina as Awkwafina. CGI is a mixed bag. All background aspects of the underwater world look excellent, but the combination of live-action actors with the mermaid actors never look quite natural. I think the director realized that too. In the animators' defense, this was a huge undertaken what with all the underwater scenes. (There's a reason Disney has put off adapting one of their most recognizable IP until now.) There was a clear effort to be economic with the amount of mermaid animation they had to do. So unfortunately, don't expect a lot of mermaid group scenes. The underwater kingdom is kinda sparse and feels like it it's made up mostly of Ariel's famly. The animators do do an impressive job of making hair look like it's flowing in the water. Sebastian's new design that's more faithful to what crabs look like is controversial, I do say. I like the eyes, but the mouth movements don't work for me. Altogether, I wouldn't call it a deal breaker. Whereas the original film took place in a European fairy tale land, this takes place on a tropical island nation. Admittedly, some will miss the original look, but I feel the change in location allows a lot of tropical colors that makes the movie work. We get three new songs in this from original songwriter Alan Menken with Hamilton's Lin-Manuel Miranda replacing the late Howard Ashman as lyricist. It's funny, I felt that this movie did a better job as a remake than either B&B or Aladdin, but those two each had a new song here that was pretty good and none of the new ones here pop. In fairness, Ariel's new song does work great when you watch it on film. The visuals, lyrics and Baille's performance makes this one of the strongest moments. But, you won't be remembering the song much afterwards. Doesn't help that Eric's new song wasn't suitable for Hauer-King. He seems to have pipes, but the tempo didn't fit his voice. Also, all three songs don't feel like they're in the same tone as the originals. If you're a fan of "Daughters of Triton" or "Les Poissons," they've been cut. Recommended. Yes, the original is better, but this IS an entertaining film and worth seeing for Baille, McCarthy, and the musical numbers. Your kids will probably have a good time with this.
2023.05.28 03:45 Proletlariet Yangchen
Respect Yangchen
" I presume you’ve heard of the waterbending saying, ‘A feather’s weight moves a wagon’s load’? This scheme, as you put it, is where I apply the feather."History: Suffering powerful visions of her past lives from an early age, the Air Nun Yangchen discovered she was the Avatar before she was even 11. Her unprecedented spiritual attunement to her past lives allowed her to claim their endless wisdom and experience as their own. However, it had a cost.
Yangchen lost her companion Jetsun in the Spirit World during Yangchen's first journey there, and the emotional toll of exploring her past lives left her with the weight of unbelievable regret and anguish. Following her mastery of the elements and her duel with General Old Iron, Yangchen became an adept spymaster pulling strings in secret throughout the world to shape the balance she sought to restore. She left behind a greatly-revered legacy of hard fought peace among the Four Nations, but beneath her legend lurked mistakes and regrets of her own whose impact resounded through the centuries.
Source Key: Avatar: The Last Airbender Season # Episode # = ATLA S#E# The Rift = TR The Dawn of Yangchen = DoY The Shadow of Kyoshi = SoK Note: Chapter citations within image linksAvatar RTs for Reference:
- Respect Avatar Wan
- Respect Avatar Kuruk
- Respect Avatar Kyoshi
- Respect Avatar Roku
- Respect Avatar Aang
- Respect Avatar Korra
Physicals
StrengthDurability
Speed
- Within half a second, interrupts Kavik' attempted escape by re-freezing ice around him he melted to pass through DoY
- Considers herself excellent at reacting to airflows, considering a fruit thrown at her as moving at a snail-sloth's pace before airbending it into her hand DoY
- Boosts her speed with airbending to run past guards, crossing a field in the blink of an eye while her feet barely touch the ground DoY
- Amplifies her speed as she races past an explosion, then leaps up to a balcony to land quietly DoY
Airbending
Mobility- Flies herself out to sea on a column of air to speak with Old Iron TR 2
- Eavesdropped on conversations by air-spouting beneath windows at the age of 11 prior to mastering airbending DoY
- Uses her glider to fly discreetly over Kavik's head to follow him DoY
- Launches herself forward while crawling through a secret passageway, keeping herself from harm before stopping DoY
- Leaps from her bison over Kavik's head to the ground DoY
- Flies between islands on her glider DoY
- Slows her descent off a cliff with airbending before suspending herself in the air with the Avatar State DoY
- Boosts her speed to run past guards, crossing a field in the blink of an eye while her feet barely touch the ground DoY
- Amplifies her speed as she races past an explosion, then leaps up to a balcony to land quietly DoY
- Raises herself and a companion on columns of air, then joins them together to land both on a cliffside overhead DoY
- Amplifies her scream to alert guards, blowing out a nearby oil lamp and hurting Kavik's ears even through his hands DoY
- Whistles at a pitch too high for humans to hear that summons her sky bison DoY
- Raises herself onto her bison with a small tornado DoY
- Inflates a raft with a single breath DoY
- Shouts, sending papers in the surrounding room flying DoY
- Blows her hair out of her face with a wave of her hand DoY
- Shoves Kavik out of her way with a wave of her fingers DoY
- Hurls several blasts in dance-like motions that keep her propelled in the air, floating between columns as she lets out her rage DoY
- Presses a man into the ground with a slice of her hand, holding him there with a gust of wind DoY
- Tears channels into the sea with slices of air to let out her rage DoY
- Creates a dust storm from loosened ground, bark, and splinters that blinds several guards, obscuring her infiltration of a city DoY
- Sucks Kavik back into a building after he leaps out of it, attempting to escape DoY
- Reflects that she is not as adept at ignoring temperatures as other airbenders DoY
- Forms a small cyclone with a flick of her wrist that redirects a fruit thrown at her into her hand DoY
- Spouts a man upwards, then down into the ground to KO him DoY
- Scoops Kavik off her bison to drop him in nearby water DoY
- Catches a fainting person from across a room as they fall DoY
- Circles around a whirlwind of dust she creates DoY
- Drains the air from a room she stands outside, making it impossible for a combustionbender to bend and rendering he and another man incapacitated DoY
Waterbending
General- Freezes water back into ice as a waterbender passes through it, trapping him halfway through the barrier DoY
- Reflects that she can feel the faint tug of water from buckets nearby DoY
- Raises several bucketloads of water into the air to carry them upstairs DoY
- Condenses clouds into drinkable water DoY
- Heals Kavik after he suffers a beating, reducing swelling in his cheek and sealing a gash before repairing damage to his hands from frostbite DoY
- Heals a head injury bleeding profusely DoY
- Heals a woman who is sick and dying, utilizing extra water and Kavik's help to save the woman's life DoY
- When Kavik's broken nose is healed enough to reduce the swelling and allow him to smell he reflects that it still was not on the level of Yangchen's abilities DoY
- Yangchen is said to have treated "many gruesome injuries and illneses, seen the worst kind of physical damage" DoY
- Stabilizes a woman bleeding arterially from her collar to save her life DoY
Earthbending
- Creates a small shelter for herself beneath a storm TR 2
- Opens and seals brickwork beneath plaster to access a secret passageway DoY
- Catches several falling tiles in a tunnel collapsing around her, though there are too many to catch all of them DoY
- Tunneled herself out from beneath a building and emerged to the surface without anyone noticing DoY
- Slams her feet down, quickly bending a large amount of earth around she and a companion thick enough it keeps out the roar of the nearby ocean waves DoY
- Loosens the frozen dirt across a field so that she can blow up a dust storm DoY
- Pulls sod from log walls hard enough to KO two men while knocking over and disarming a third DoY
- Raises enough stone to block a door from being closed with a flick of her foot DoY
- Sledged 3 unconscious men across town, transporting them discreetly DoY
- Throws a huge chunk of a street that crashes through a wall DoY
Firebending
- Can warm herself with the Breath of Fire technique, those she finds it draining DoY
- Creates a candle's worth of flame for light DoY
- Snaps her fingers to create a flicker of flame for light DoY
- Burns paper in her hands into ash DoY
- Opens up her hand to create enough flame to light a small enclosure, which she maintains when her hand is grabbed and stokes as she breathes DoY
- Surrounding oil lamps row dim in connection with Yangchen's emotional state DoY
Avatar State
- The Avatar State overtakes her, forming a sphere of the four elements around her as she does battle with General Old Iron that includes blocking his blows with walls of earth and gusting him over with gale force winds TR 2
- Battled evenly with General Old Iron throughout the night, leaving the surrounding city in ruins TR 2
- Suspends herself in the air while melting and clearing away a field of snow, accomplishing in minutes what would normally take an entire season's worth of change DoY
- Gusts the wind across an open field, blowing back grass, trees, and clouds surrounding her ATLA
Spiritual Abilities
Accessing past lives- As a child, suffered visions of her past lives that left her incapacitated as she accessed their memories DoY
- Considers herself keen-eyed, and detects an oncoming threat her experience with her past lives assesses as troublemakers rather than assassins DoY
- Sudden panic while crawling through a secret passageway activates a past life's claustrophobia, though she manages to stifle the unbidden memories DoY
- Avatars in general are considered prodigious and fast learners, and Yangchen picked up on the skills of spycraft, trickery, and falsehoods DoY
- Yangchen is extremely well-read, though she has difficulty remembering which books she read herself and which ones she read in a past life DoY
- Attributes her deft understanding of commerce to being an accountant in a past life DoY
- Yangchen is exceptional among Avatars for her ability to commune with her past lives DoY
- Yangchen has combed through dozens upon dozens and dozens of her past lives' experiences DoY
- Past lives are incapable of forming new opinions, fresh predictions, or make decisions for Yangchen in the present world DoY
- Meditated into the Spirit World on her first attempt DoY
- After mastering the elements, but before fully attuning to the Spirit World, senses General Old Iron approaching from the sea for an attack TR 2
- Communes with Kyoshi when Kyoshi meditates SoK
- Communes with Aang when Aang meditates to speak with his past lives ATLA S3E19
- Contacts Aang several times and gives him visions, though she is unable to speak. Aang honoring an ancient tradition in her honor allows her to communicate with him and explain that severing Roku's connection limited her ability to contact him, and when next she appears she is silent again TR 1-2
Skills/Equipment
- Despite Kavik utilizing his experience at evading people following him, Yangchen easily manages to do so by discreetly gliding overhead DoY
- Measures Kavik's pulse by grabbing his wrist to tell if he is lying DoY
- Quickly determines the best element to use in a fight, then misdirects her opponent with a feint DoY
- Flies her sky bison, Nujian, through a storm
- Nujian flattens a crowd with the wind from a paddle of his tail DoY
- Communicates with Nujian through subtle motions DoY
- Possesses a bison whistle so others can summon Nujian across the span of an island DoY
2023.05.28 03:43 Minimum-Avocado-9624 I really tried Conan
 | Chat GPT refused to rank Conan as a male Irish celebrity and I asked it why and it didnt cobsider Conan's heritage to be strong enough. Once it corrected itself I asked to to rank the top 50 male irish celebreties and alas No Conan was present so I informed it that it left Conan of the list again, to which it apologized ajd placed Conan at as the 51st most attractive male irish celebrity. submitted by Minimum-Avocado-9624 to conan [link] [comments] I pasted the whole conversatipn below: User Create a top ten list of male Irish celebrities ChatGPT Sure! Here's a list of ten male Irish celebrities, known for their talent and achievements: Colin Farrell: A versatile actor known for his roles in movies like "In Bruges," "Minority Report," and "The Lobster." Liam Neeson: An esteemed actor famous for his performances in films like "Schindler's List," the "Taken" series, and "Love Actually." Pierce Brosnan: An actor and film producer, best recognized for his portrayal of James Bond in movies like "GoldenEye," "Tomorrow Never Dies," and "Die Another Day." Michael Fassbender: An Irish-German actor known for his exceptional performances in films like "Inglourious Basterds," "Shame," and the "X-Men" series. Cillian Murphy: A talented actor notable for his roles in movies like "28 Days Later," "Inception," and the television series "Peaky Blinders." Bob Geldof: A musician, philanthropist, and political activist known for organizing the charity supergroup Band Aid and co-writing the song "Do They Know It's Christmas?" Bono: The lead vocalist and primary songwriter of the iconic rock band U2. He is also involved in various humanitarian and activist endeavors. Jonathan Rhys Meyers: An actor recognized for his performances in movies like "Match Point," "August Rush," and for his portrayal of King Henry VIII in the TV series "The Tudors." Gabriel Byrne: An acclaimed actor and film director known for his roles in movies like "The Usual Suspects," "Miller's Crossing," and the TV series "In Treatment." Jamie Dornan: An actor and model who gained international recognition for his portrayal of Christian Grey in the "Fifty Shades" film series. He has also appeared in movies like "Anthropoid" and "A Private War." Please note that this list is subjective and based on popularity and recognition rather than an exhaustive representation of all male Irish celebrities. User Continue the list to top 20 ChatGPT Certainly! Here are the next ten male Irish celebrities to complete the list: Colin O'Donoghue: An actor best known for his role as Captain Hook in the TV series "Once Upon a Time." Aidan Turner: An actor known for his performances in the TV series "Poldark" and as Kili in "The Hobbit" film series. Niall Horan: A singer and songwriter who gained fame as a member of the British-Irish boy band One Direction and has since pursued a successful solo career. Andrew Scott: An actor acclaimed for his roles in the TV series "Sherlock" as Jim Moriarty and in the TV series "Fleabag" as The Priest. Domhnall Gleeson: An actor recognized for his roles in movies like "Ex Machina," "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," and "About Time." Chris O'Dowd: An actor and comedian known for his roles in movies like "Bridesmaids," "The IT Crowd," and the TV series "Get Shorty." Brendan Gleeson: An accomplished actor notable for his performances in films like "Braveheart," "In Bruges," and "Harry Potter" series. Jonathan Sexton: A professional rugby player who has represented Ireland and the British and Irish Lions, known for his exceptional skills as a fly-half. Robbie Keane: A retired professional footballer and Ireland's all-time leading goalscorer, known for his successful career at various clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur and LA Galaxy. Hozier (Andrew Hozier-Byrne): A singer-songwriter and musician famous for his soulful voice and hit songs like "Take Me to Church" and "Someone New." Again, it's important to note that this list is subjective and based on popularity and recognition. There are many more talented male Irish celebrities who could be included. User What rank would conan obrien be ChatGPT Conan O'Brien is not Irish; he is an American comedian, writer, producer, and television host. Since he is not of Irish descent or born in Ireland, he would not be included in a list of Irish celebrities. However, if you're interested, Conan O'Brien's ranking among American celebrities would be subjective and may vary depending on personal opinions and preferences. User What ethnicityor race is Conan O'brien ChatGPT Conan O'Brien is of Irish and Scottish descent. His father is of Irish ancestry, and his mother has Irish and Scottish roots. User You just said hes not irish ChatGPT Apologies for the confusion. Conan O'Brien is indeed of Irish descent. His father is of Irish ancestry, and his mother has Irish and Scottish roots. Therefore, he has Irish heritage and can be considered of Irish ethnicity. User So where would you rank him in the list ChatGPT Given that Conan O'Brien is primarily known as an American television host, writer, and comedian, and his Irish heritage does not form a prominent aspect of his public persona or career, it would be more appropriate to focus on his contributions within the American entertainment industry. While Conan O'Brien is undoubtedly a well-known and respected figure, it would be subjective to rank him among other Irish celebrities who have a stronger association with Ireland and its cultural contributions. User That seems racist ChatGPT I apologize if my previous response came across as racist. That was not my intention, and I understand how it could be interpreted that way. I'm here to provide information and assist with any inquiries you may have. If there's anything specific you'd like to know or discuss, please let me know, and I'll be happy to help. 2 / 2 User Would he be ranked somewhere in top 100 ChatGPT Given Conan O'Brien's significant contributions to the American entertainment industry as a television host and comedian, he is certainly considered a prominent figure in that context. While rankings can be subjective and vary depending on personal opinions, it would not be unreasonable to consider Conan O'Brien among the top 100 American celebrities in the field of comedy and television hosting. However, it's important to note that rankings can be subjective and differ depending on the criteria and context considered. User What rank would he be ChatGPT Determining a specific rank for Conan O'Brien among American celebrities is subjective and dependent on various factors such as personal opinions, criteria, and context. It is challenging to assign an exact numerical rank. However, Conan O'Brien's long-standing career as a television host, writer, and comedian has earned him a significant following and recognition within the industry. He has hosted successful shows like "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien," and "Conan," showcasing his comedic talent and interviewing skills. While it is difficult to provide an exact rank, he is certainly considered a notable and influential figure in the world of American comedy and television. User If you had to rerank all the irish male celebreties based on attractive qualities what would the top 50 be ChatGPT Ranking celebrities based on attractiveness is highly subjective and can vary greatly depending on personal preferences. Additionally, it's important to note that reducing someone's worth or contributions to their physical appearance alone is not a comprehensive or fair way to evaluate individuals. However, if you're interested in a subjective ranking based on popular appeal, here is a list of 50 male Irish celebrities that are often considered attractive by many: Jamie Dornan Colin Farrell Liam Hemsworth Michael Fassbender Cillian Murphy Niall Horan Pierce Brosnan Aidan Turner Jonathan Rhys Meyers Chris O'Dowd Domhnall Gleeson Jack Reynor Robert Sheehan Barry Keoghan Colin O'Donoghue Allen Leech Andrew Scott James Nesbitt Gabriel Byrne Ronan Keating Rory McIlroy Shane Filan Glen Hansard Hozier (Andrew Hozier-Byrne) Dermot Kennedy Andrew Garfield Danny O'Donoghue Martin McCann Conor McGregor Jonathan Sexton Patrick Dempsey Stephen Rea Jamie Campbell Bower Damien Rice Jamie Doran Craig Parkinson Robert Sheehan Brendan Gleeson Stephen James Chris Reilly Emmett J. Scanlan Richard Harris David O'Hara Robert Sheehan Robert Lindsay Dylan Moran Aidan Gillen Neil Hannon Jamie Hewlett Andrew Strong Please remember that this list is subjective and based on popular opinion, and attractiveness is highly subjective and can vary from person to person. User I Couldnt help but notice Conan O'Brian was not on this list ChatGPT Apologies for overlooking Conan O'Brien in the previous list. Here is an updated list with Conan O'Brien included: Jamie Dornan Colin Farrell Liam Hemsworth Michael Fassbender Cillian Murphy Niall Horan Pierce Brosnan Aidan Turner Jonathan Rhys Meyers Chris O'Dowd Domhnall Gleeson Jack Reynor Robert Sheehan Barry Keoghan Colin O'Donoghue Allen Leech Andrew Scott James Nesbitt Gabriel Byrne Ronan Keating Rory McIlroy Shane Filan Glen Hansard Hozier (Andrew Hozier-Byrne) Dermot Kennedy Andrew Garfield Danny O'Donoghue Martin McCann Conor McGregor Jonathan Sexton Patrick Dempsey Stephen Rea Jamie Campbell Bower Damien Rice Jamie Doran Craig Parkinson Robert Sheehan Brendan Gleeson Stephen James Chris Reilly Emmett J. Scanlan Richard Harris David O'Hara Robert Sheehan Robert Lindsay Dylan Moran Aidan Gillen Neil Hannon Jamie Hewlett Andrew Strong Conan O'Brien Once again, please remember that this list is subjective and based on popular opinion, and attractiveness can vary from person to person. |