Eastern Lariat

It took a while for the Eastern Lariat crew to catch up with the events that took place on Bunka no Hi, the Day of Culture in Japan this past Monday – and it was a lot. STRIGGA & Dylan first discuss New Japan's Power Struggle including the big title matches, SANADA's turn, Umino's challenge and the reaction to it and the Tokyo Dome double shot in January taking shape. Moving on, All Japan's Hokkaido tour was less eventful than the NJPW show, but the sudden title switch to Davey Boy Smith Jr. Caught many spectators off guard and raises the question where former champion Aoyagi goes and for how long Smith holds the championship. The third big topic is last weekend's Gate of Destiny from DRAGONGATE that left many questions unanswered that fans expected to be answered. Finally, STRIGGA quickly goes over the DDT show from Sumida before the team discusses the Kota Ibushi/DDT situation and Yoshiki Inamura leaving for „unsual“ WWE training.

Join STRIGGA & Dylan Fox for episode 289 of the Eastern Lariat podcast as they dive into the latest developments in japanese pro wrestling. First, they discuss NJPW’s recent Royal Quest and the difference between the live experience and watching on stream. From there on, they touch on the ongoing Super Junior Tag League, Power Struggle and specifically Shota Umino's role in the lead up to Wrestle Kingdom. The Eastern Lariat crew then turns to AJPW, covering the star-making battle between Yuma Aoyagi and Ren Ayabe and the contrast between ELPIDA and Zennichi Hontai. In Marigold, the standout match was Sareee vs. Bozilla, with the rest of the card leaving more to be desired. The episode also covers the opening of Stardom's Goddesses of Stardom Tag League and finally it preview DRAGONGATE’s Gate of Destiny, where a Unit Disbands Match may shake up the promotion's entire landscape.

Against all odds (it was definitely happening all along) The Emerald FlowShow's own esteemed Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame voter Gerard di Trolio (@EmeraldFlowShow on SocMed) returns once again to argue with Dylan about who should be voted in to the Hall of Fame. We discuss every region and every candidate eligible for voting with Japan of course getting the main focus as we break down each candidate individually in the region which includes:   CIMA TenCozy Yoshiaki Fujiwara Hayabusa Antonio Inoki & Seiji Sakaguchi Kento Miyahara Zack Sabre Jr. Meiko Satomura Tiger Jeet Singh Shingo Takagi Yoshihiro Takayama Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada   Followed by segments breaking down every other region and revealing Gerard's ballot in depth with wrestlers from every region discussed as listed below:   Ballots were sent out to us over the weekend:      This is our ballot for the 2024 Hall of Fame. This ballot is being sent out to major wrestling stars, past and present, major management figures in

The Eastern Lariat is back bring you the latest from the world of japanese pro-wrestling. STRIGGA & Dylan kick things off by diving into NJPW's King of Pro-Wrestling that saw the coronation of Zack Sabre Jr. and many more developments! While New Japan has more and more positves to discuss, NOAH's big news of the week was the reveal of TEAM2000X. The Eastern Lariat crew breaks down this key moments of the show plus Kaito Kiyomiya's run as champion and Shinsuke Nakamura coming in yet again! Finally the talk of the town has been the lackluster streaming schedule of DRAGONGATE's upcoming King of Gate so STRIGGA & Dylan also dive into the promotion's developments in recent weeks!

On this episode STRIGGA & Dylan take a deep dive into most recent events in All Japan Pro Wrestling, first and foremost the Oudou Tournament, by analyzing standout matches, the booking of the tournament and its impact on AJPW’s future. The discussion then shifts to a spotlight on the best wrestlers in Japan under 30 in Japan and which company has the edge in this category. Lastly, Eastern Lariat crew covers Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling's Wrestle Princes V and also offers a look at Marigold Dream Star Grand Prix and where the company stands four months into its existence.

After a very poorly received final of Pro Wrestling NOAH's N-1 Victory The Eastern Lariat looks at what went wrong during the tournament and what bright spots are visible on the horizon for NOAH's Ark. More well received, but not in any way spectacular was All Japan's Summer Action Wars event from Fukuoka. That doesn't stop STRIGGA & Dylan from being excited for the immediate future of the entire roster and its unique characters as well as for the upcoming Oudou tournament. A former Triple Crown Champion was called out by the new KO-D Openweight Champion Shinya Aoki and the Lariat crew wonders if Katsuhiko Nakajima is really gonna wind up in DDT. Another former Triple Crown Champion wound up in NJPW in Jake Lee, which is the final talking point of a show that looks across the scene to find positives during a down time in japanese pro-wrestling,  

The Eastern Lariat returns to action after almost one month for its annual post-tournament edition, as STRIGGA and Dylan Fox dive deep into the just concluded G1 Climax 34. Recorded on the very day the tournament wrapped up, this episode provides the teams' unfiltered reactions and speculations to one of the most grueling and prestigious tours japanese pro-wrestling has to offer. STRIGGA and Dylan break down the tournament structure, standout matches, surprising upsets and key moments that defined this year's G1, while also giving you an in-depth analysis of each wrestlers' performance throughout the group stage not being shy of pointing out disappointments. The discussion leads to the final between Zack Sabre Jr. and Yota Tsuji and what the results mean for the future of New Japan Pro Wrestling heading towards Wrestle Kingdom. The final talking point about the G1 is an attempt to rank this tournament in comparison to the tournaments in the last 5 years. The end of the show gives a quick spotlight to Anzai vs

Another big weekend of action in japanese pro wrestling is in the rear view mirror which brought STRIGGA & Dylan back together to discuss five different companies on the newest Eastern Lariat! First, they dive into the opening days of the G1 Climax 34 with the question in mind of who's starting strong and who's already facing an uphill battle. Korakuen Hall saw a double header of TJPW and AJPW with strong title matches on top so STRIGGA & Dylan also break down these two events. Sunday then saw DDT's Sumo Hall spectacle and Dragon Gate's biggest event of the year in Kobe – it was a lot to unpack and unwind, so join in for a potpourri of different takes on japanese pro wrestling!

The Eastern Lariat returns with the big annual Half Year Awards show! Join in for a detailed discussion about YOUR and OUR choices in 12 different categories to explore the very best in japanese pro-wrestling in the fist half of 2024! STRIGGA & Dylan dive into compelling arguments about the MVP winners, what an MVP should bring to the table and what impact business had on these awards. Futhermore, the show offers debates about best wrestlers, outstanding matches, hidden gems, talent in development and much, much more. Guidelined by your ballots, this episode once again offers a comprehensive look at a fascinating wrestling landscape.

Join STRIGGA & Dylan for another episode as they dive into the vibrant world of japanese pro wrestling. First of all, The Eastern Lariat breaks down the G1 Climax blocks and dissects participants as well as potential outcomes. Next, the show shifts gears to discuss Bloodsport Bushido, an unique event blending the worlds of pro-wrestling and martial arts. Stardom's "The Conversion" had the promotion's fans worried what might be conversed, so STRIGGA & Dylan take a look at how the promotion continues to evolve amidst Marigold getting much more attention after their launch. Pro Wrestling NOAH and All Japan Pro Wrestling both have young champions on top, but one is not like the other as the buzz both promotions create from within couldn't be any different.

In this episode of the Eastern Lariat STRIGGA & Dylan look at the grand scheme of things in DRAGONGATE and New Japan Pro Wrestling. Between DG's double shot in Korakuen Hall in early June and Kobe World in July, there are a lot of moving parts that the Eastern Lariat analyses. Who walks out of Kobe World with the belts? Who turns on whom? Which stable is going the way of the dodo? As for NJPW, STRIGGA & Dylan look back at Dominion and the frenetically celebrated Despe Invitacional with STRIGGA presenting a hot take on EL Desperado. Final talking point is  the upcoming G1 Climax. The big tournament of the summer has a new format and with that there need cuts to be made from 32 participants last year to 20 while at the same time there could be newcomers pushing into the field. Other topics include Iyo Sky being announced for Marigold and Katsuhiko Nakajima's appearance at GLEAT.  

Hanami season is officially over in Japan, but the flowers bloom nonetheless with Marigold's debut Show Marigold Fields Forever and the yearly Hana Kimura Memorial show. The Eastern Lariat takes a detailed look at Rossy Ogawa's new project with a match-by-match analysis and a projection for some of the roster members' prospects within the new company. A few days later, also in Korakuen Hall, Kyoko Kimura presented the 2024 Memorial Show for her late daughter Hana. For this one, STRIGGA & Dylan discuss how far you can go with yearly memorial shows of this kind. The men's side of puroresu is represented by Pro Wrestling NOAH's One Night Dream 2 that featured Kenoh vs. Minoru Suzuki and Masa Kitamiya vs. Tomohiro Ishii as well as with a half tiem check on New Japan Pro Wrestling's Best of the Super Junior 31. With the final headlining Dominion, the die seems to be cast – or is it?

In a BIG recap of Golden Week, the Eastern Lariat returns after a month-long hiatus. STRIGGA & Dylan are back to discuss recommendations between April 27 and May 6 including Stardom, Ryukyu Dragon Pro, DDT, Wrestling Dontaku and BJW. The next big chunck of the show revolves around Pro Wrestling NOAH's Wrestle Magic with Kaito Kiyomiya regaining the GHC Heavyweight Championship, DRAGONGATE's Dead or Alive with the highly emotional Cage Match and an unsuccessful All Together. The final two topics fist give you an impression of the situation NJPW in May 2024 between Dontaku, Resurgence and the Best of the Super Junior and secondly deliver a recap of All Japan's 2024 edition of the Champion Carnival.  

Special guest longtime AJPW expert and podcaster formerly of Talking Triple Crown, Jess joins Dylan to talk about the Champion Carnival, go through every single match of the first 3 shows as well as lay out what she thinks will be the final of the tournament. After that Dylan brings it home solo with some breaking news updates and gives his thoughts on the news of the BUSHIROAD corporate reshuffling ending up with Stardom being a subsidiary of NJPW, followed by the news of Jake Lee's shocking attack on Naito, where it could go and the online response to it. Follow Jess and all her coverage of AJPW and consistent updates on her account: https://www.twitter.com/RoyalRoad72 As well as her personal account: https://www.twitter.com/SisterJessiee And if you wanna hear more of us then check us out on our Patreon, she'll be joining me for more show reviews of the CC in the next couple of weeks so you'll always be updated with the tournament + more coverage of Japanese wrestling, and wrestling past and present please

The second episode of the Sakura Potourri features an extensive look at the joshi scene in Japan as STRIGGA & Dylan not only discuss the Marigold press conference and its future outlook, but they also take a ride through almost the entire scene with a focus on Ice Ribbon, WAVE, Sendai Girls & TJPW before turning to NOAH's most recent Korakuen Hall show and DRAGONGATE's Rey de Parejas Final & Dead or Alive card. Final topic of the show is New Japan with their Windy City Riot featuring Jon Moxley's title win and many more matches to discuss as well as the upcoming cards for Wrestling Dontaku.  

Join STRIGGA & Dylan for another episode as they dive into the ever evolving world of japanese pro wrestling! In another potpourri episode the Eastern Lariat covers a lot of ground covering no less than 8 different promotions. The discussion begins with DDT, TJPW & DRAGONGATE on WrestleMania weekend and quickly moves to a more general discussion about the DG roster and the missing game changing high flyer for all of japanese pro wrestling. This also brings the Eastern Lariat crew to NJPW and the line up for the Best of the Super Junior as well as a discussion about a very mediocre Sakura Genesis show including that Gabe Kidd promo, Tetsuya Naito vs. Yota Tsuji and the possibilities for the IWGP World Heavyweight Title at Windy City Riot. Following that, they take a deep dive into the latest events in AJPW, including some harsh words on Anzai vs. Nakajima, speculations about Nakajima's exit and a the post-title change ramifications for the Champion Carnival.

Welcome back to the Eastern Lariat! STRIGGA & Dylan dive right back into the hottest topics in the world of japanese pro wrestling! As Stardom sees the departure of five wrestlers who are very likely heading to Rossy Ogawa's new project, STRIGGA & Dylan explore the implications for both sides and what impact it could have on the scene as a whole. In NJPW, Yota Tsuji's New Japan Cup victory is the talk of the town right now, while at the same time the quality of the tournament and of the roster as a whole raises questions and concerns about the future. Towards the end of the show, AJPW's Champion Carnival lineup and Katsuhiko Nakajima's Triple Crown run take center stage.

Another Eastern Lariat awaits you with almost two hours full of news, discussions and opinionated takes on the world of japanese pro wrestling. After a brief talk about Jun Akiyama vs. Bryan Danielson,  STRIGGA & Dylan present Wrestle Universe's latest upgrades and price modeling before they go to the much-anticipated and very well received debut of Kasei Takechi. Following some quick notes on Pro Wrestling NOAH & REALZERO1 the next big talking point is All Japan and the Excite series with some questions looming above the promotion and it's direction towards the Champion Carnival. Last and maybe least(?) STRIGGA & Dylan take about an hour to break down the atrocious week in Sapporo with some head scratching title changes and decisions that washed away lots of excitement they had built just two weeks before. While doing so, the Eastern Lariat crew also breaks down the roster in an attempt to figure out who could be trusted with the World Title right now.

The Eastern Lariat returns with an analysis of the most recent developments across various promotions in Japan. From El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr.'s GHC Heavyweight Championship win in Pro Wrestling NOAH to Rei Saito's unfortunate injury keeping him out of the Triple Crown match with Nakajima, we discuss championship changing hands, the reasoning behind Kenoh losing YET AGAIN and also look at upcoming All Japan cards. Additionally, we address Bushiroad firing Stardom founder and long time booker Rossy Ogawa amidst accusations of poaching and allegedly being far advanced in setting up a new promotion. This sent shock waves through the wrestling world much like the highly acclaimed Danielson vs. Zack Sabre match and the Dog Pound Cage Match from Osaka. We provide in-depth analysis of the the New Beginning in Osaka including Kazuchika Okada's weird retirement road, so join us for a 2 hour discussion the major stories in japanese pro-wrestling!

After addressing the impact of the Vince McMahon lawsuit on the media and (japanaese)wrestling, STRIGGA and Dylan relax and sit back to give their thoughts on three big shows from this past weekend. First of all, Dragon Gate's Gate of Bayside is in the focus with discussions about Luis Mante as Dream Gate Champion, the Dream Gate & Brave booking as well as Kiyomiya & Alejandro excelling in DG. Championships are also the topic of debate with AJPW's event in Hachioji featuring Nakajima vs. Ashino and Tamura vs. Iwamoto and what possible title matches could be ahead. Shuji Ishikawa leaving is of course another topic that also is connected to DDT, so Dramatic Dream Team's Sweet Dream! 2024 is the final talking point with another look at the champions and the direction of the company at the start of the year.