Eastern Lariat

Wrestle Kingdom weekend is over and the end of Wrestle Kingdom always is the beginning of the new season for New Japan Pro Wrestling. So the Eastern Lariat takes a look back at New Year Dash which featured Jushin Thunder Liger's retirement and set the direction for some programs in months to come. Besides that STRIGGA & Dylan also discuss the mystery show Pro Wrestling NOAH had in Korakuen on 1/5 that had a great main event.

The second day of Wrestle Kingdom 14 is in the books and it was an historic event for many reasons. STRIGGA & Dylan got together to discuss their top 5 moments and matches from the show including the main event, Jushin Thunder Liger's retirement, Minoru Suzuki's entrance and the Jay White character. Other topics include a discussion about the general idea of running two Tokyo Dome shows, the post main event angle and – starting the show – a look at Joshi Wrestling in the year 2020.

It's Wrestle Kingdom weekend! This means that not only NJPW, but a lot of different promotions put on big shows for their fanbases so in the first 15 minutes of this show The Eastern Lariat duo talks about the beginning of the year for DDT and AJPW before turning their attention to the first day of Wrestle Kingdom 14! In a rundown STRIGGA & Dylan each present their top 5 moments and matches from the Tokyo Dome.

It's the Final Lariat of 2019! STRIGGA & Dylan first revisit the Year End Awards episode, name their Joshi MVP of 2019, debate about Hazuki, Kagetsu and Miyu Yamashita's plan to make TJP the #1 Joshi company before turning their attention to Dramatic Dream Team's D-King Grand Prix 2020 that also took place in 2019. From there on it's all about the future as the Eastern Lariat previews the AJPW double header on Januar 2nd & 3rd as well as the NOAH double header on January 4th & 5th. With NOAH's show on the 5th being a mystery show STRIGGA & Dylan go deep into fantasy booking bot mode. Last, but not least, Dylan brings up his thoughts on Tanahashi, AEW and The Elite which brings STRIGGA to an interesting business model between AEW and NJPW in the US.

Pure Heart, Pure Lariat returns! The #1 Joshi Podcast comes at you with a holiday gift and a special report of the last show of Stardom's 2019 and the first officially in the BUSHIROAD era, live from Korakuen Hall with WH Park. We talk about the difference between the Stardom live experience now compared to how it was before, some business talk on merchandising, followed by getting into the show and talking about one of the biggest Joshi shows of the year and how the matches came across, Hana Kimura on Terrace House, Hazuki's "retirement" and finishing up with talk on the announcement of STARDOM's offer match on NJPW's Wrestle Kingdom. Keep an eye out for part 2 of the show talking about the Stardom World version coming up soon on patreon.com/easternlariat - wait until the New Year to sign up so you don't get charged twice! And thank you for all the listeners and support of the first year of Pure Heart, Pure Lariat!

The Eastern Lariat proudly presents the Year End Awards 2019! Based on the Tokyo Sport Awards STRIGGA, Dylan and their guest WH Park present their picks for some of the Tokyo Sports categories and for some of their own which include best promotion, best show, most underrated and more! Dive into the year 2019 with us and join us in our look back at an exciting year in japanese pro-wrestling!

The newest edition of The Eastern Lariat comes to you with a complete coverage of the final day of New Japan's World Tag League as Dylan gives his opinion on every single of the 16 tag teams. In addition to that STRIGGA & Dylan go over All Japan's version of the World Tag League – the real one – and all the teams that fought for the big silver trophies. The third topic is Pro Wrestling NOAH's trifecta of YouTube airings from November that brought some good storyline development and an outstanding RATEL'S vs. Stinger match series. Experience Dylan being SHOOK by the idea of Go Shiozaki becoming GHC Heavyweight Champion!

In the latest Eastern Lariat episode STRIGGA & Dylan take a look back at the trifecta of Sumo Hall shows that Pro Wrestling NOAH, DDT and Big Japan put on in early November while also addressing the recent comments from Takaaki Kidani about Io Shirai, Kairi Hojo and an IWGP Women's Championship.

It is the year 1997. Scientists discovered a big curvature in the space-time-continuum which has led to the formation of a giant interstellar waiting room filled with professional wrestlers from allover Japan who are confused and are wondering why they're there and what's going to happen to them. At this point, STRIGGA, Dylan and their guest WH Park come into play as they each present a scenario that could've taken place in an alternate reality of 1997. From there on they each draft 25 wrestlers to create a new promotion to lead japanese pro-wrestling to the 2000s!

This week on Pure Heart, Pure Lariat, Dylan's Eastern Lariat co-host STRIGGA returns after sensing an all caps lock special, talking about STARDOM and their shocking purchase by BUSHIROAD, NJPW's parent company. We analyze it from multiple perspectives, have a rousing discussion for what it means for Stardom, potential crossover opportunity with NJPW, the ripple effect on Joshi and future plans already announced for Stardom and any potential changes. We follow it up with an update on Giulia's situation and especially from a promoter in Italy who has dealt with the fallout. Potential legal troubles for Giulia and Stardom, speculation about why this happened, and Tequila Saya being a treasure to this world. Finally we talk about Sendai Girls'tag tournament, as well as run down Chihiro Hashimoto's D-King tournament debut in DDT and her lineup of matches. Then Dylan makes a shocking discovery about a public holiday in the US he didn't even know about.   Follow us on Twitter @DylanZeroSky & @STRIGGA and suppor

A wild and crazy Taiiku no Hi (Health & Sports Day) lies behind us which in the very early hours brought us Giulia jumping from Ice Ribbon to Stardom which caused a lot of turmoil in the Joshi scene. STRIGGA & Dylan first address this topic and look at the possible motivations. In that context the two also debate a possible big breaking news story shaking up Japan. The main topic of the show however is New Japan Pro Wrestling's King of Pro Wrestling from Sumo Hall headlined by Kota Ibushi vs. EVIL and Kazuchika Okada vs. SANADA. Since the show traditionally sets up Wrestle Kingdom the Eastern Lariat once more dares to look ahead to January 5 & 5, 2020.

A full wrap-up of Stardom's singles tournament, going break by break through the Finals show and contrasting opinions on various Stardom wrestlers in the successful financially, though not without controversy 5*GP. Dylan is joined by first time guest and longtime friend and Eastern Lariat co-host STRIGGA in his Pure Heart debut to discuss every participant's run through the tournament and have a hoot of a time at it. Hopefully you enjoy the show and let us know your thoughts on the tournament, your favorite matches and Stardom wrestlers! Follow us on Twitter and discuss all things STARDOM, Joshi, and Japanese Wrestling: @DylanZeroSky & @STRIGGA Don't forget to support us on Patreon and gain access to Pure Heart 2 days earlier plus entire single day recaps of the 5*GP, as well as content from every Puroresu company at patreon.com/easternlariat

The Eastern Lariat returns with a new episode highlighting the final of Pro Wrestling NOAH's N-1 Victory tournament from Osaka and the built towards their Sumo Hall show at the beginning of November. STRIGG A & Dylan discuss all the matches, the production of the show, potential feuds and stories. At the beginning of the show though the spotlight is on Dragon Lee and his firing from CMLL as well as New Japan announcing New Year Dash.

In their quest to find what sets their world on fire STRIGGA & Dylan Fox return with a new episode which focuses on WRESTLE-1, All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling. At first the Eastern Lariat crew extensively debates the positives, the negatives and the business model of WRESTLE-1 while looking back at their big Yokohama show from early September. Then STRIGGA & Dylan take a look back at AJPW's Oudou Tournament and its future implications before talking about the main matches of NJPW's Destruction tour that – truth be told – didn't set their world on fire.

This is the culmination of the Patreon exclusive 1990 year of The 90's Project, a podcast series reflecting on the top 50 matches of every year of the 1990's until we culminate with an ultimate "All Decade" list for the entire decade. The 90's were widely considered to be the golden era of nearly every form of wrestling and wrestling company at one point or another. Out of the Patreon hatch and free for all, this episode chronicles and discusses Dylan's picks for the top 10 matches of the year in 1990, and he's not alone. Joining him is his good friend, Lucha Talk partner and owner of retrowrasslin.com, Alfredo Esparza (@therealfredo on Twitter). They have a lively conversation about the music scene in 1990 and then suddenly get to wrestling going over matches from CMLL, NWA, Hamada's UWF, AJW, & of course multiple matches from AJPW, and then also a surprise right before #1 which was Fredo's To listen to all 4 episodes leading up to the top 10 ranking and discussing #s 50-11 as well as the Observer Awards

There's a lot going on in japanese pro-wrestling so The Eastern Lariat crew took their time to discuss a bunch of different subjects including OWE troubles, DDT Beer Garden Shows, Summer Vacation Memories and Osaka Octopus, All Japan's recent Korakuen Hall show and the upcoming Oudou Tournament as well as a look back to the group stage of NOAH's N-1 Victory. Besides that STRIGGA & Dylan take a look at next Monday's big NOAH show in Osaka that features the final of the N-1 Victory.

The Eastern Lariat Potpourri returns! The big anchor of the Summer Potpourri is this past weekend's Big Japan show that was headlined by the big boy battle between Daisuke Sekimoto and Michael Elgin. STRIGGA & Dylan also discuss the new Strong World Heavyweight Champion and the chances for young guys within Big Japan. A preview of the Saikyou Tag League concludes the Big Japan topic before the Eastern Lariat crew talks about Dragon Gate's Dangerous Gate show, New Japan's Super J-Cup and the Young Lions Cup, WRESTLE-1's upcoming show in Yokohama and some other news and notes on Ice Ribbon, OZ Academy and HEAT UP … and what about the Zodiac?

This week on Pure Heart, Pure Lariat we've got a special edition of the show with another interview! I sit down with Pumi Boonyatud, the GM of Gatoh Move in both Thailand and Japan! We talk a bit about the wrestling scene in Thailand and the surprising longtime presence of Joshi wrestling before diving into Gatoh Move's beginnings with himself and the great Emi Sakura. After that we get a bit meta talking about the realities of running a wrestling company in an emerging country. The conversation steers towards Gatoh Move and it's current roster, what he feels running the show, the current roster, what he looks for and where Gatoh Move is going in the future with it Returning to #1 in it's numbering system at the end of the month. Also we talk about his commentary on Gatoh Move YT videos, the reasons for the lack of rings at times and the positives of the mat based wrestling, his favorite style to watch personally, and advice for foreigners in Thailand. Special thanks to Pumi for making time for Pure Heart.

On the eve of the 7th Super J-Cup The Eastern Lariat returns with a review of the 2nd Stage in 1995 that was won by Gedo. Travel back time with STRIGGA & Dylan to relive a magical time in japanese pro-wrestling and a tournament that had a questionable winner, but also many good to great matches and unique characters.

With Pro Wrestling NOAH's N-1 Victory tournament already underway the Eastern Lariat team got together to pick every single of the remaining matches in the tournament up until September 16 when the final takes place in the big EDION Arena Osaka. Following the Pick'Em STRIGGA & Dylan speculate more about the N-1 Final show as well as about Sumo Hall and what the attendance could look like. Other topics at the beginning of the episode include Stardom,All Japan's Atsushi Aoki Memorial show and the September 3rd card.