Before there was COVID-19, before there was Social Distancing and a Thunderdome, wrestling fans in Japan used their voices to react to things at wrestling shows they attended in-person. They used them at home too, but that doesn’t apply right now.
Korakuen Hall is famous in pro wrestling for those reactions, where a combination of quality acoustics and some of Japan’s most diehard wrestling fans could could make a nobody a somebody and a good match a great one. Since the pandemic though, Korakuen was like every other venue in Japanese wrestling: half-empty and quiet, besides claps and commentators.
For the third day of New Japan’s post-G1 Burning Spirit tour, noise restrictions were relaxed — no, eliminated! Seven-hundred fans were free to cheer, boo… you know, make sounds at the wrestlers and stuff. To ensure they remembered how, ball-of-energy Hiromu Takahashi ran around before the show began.
1. Minoru Suzuki vs. Bad Dude Tito
They shouted “KAZE NI NARE!” for the chorus of Minoru Suzuki’s theme song, then watched him trade wrestling holds with Bad Dude Tito. They hooted for chops on the floor, then hollered for elbows in the ring. Tito has a nice Blue Thunder Bomb but eventually got stuffed in this good basic match taken up a few levels by being the first match. ***1/4
2. Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, YOH & Toru Yano vs. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, SHO & Dick Togo
BOOS! There were boos for EVIL and his House of Torture! It might have been the ingredient that was missing all along. YOH took a beating then the crowd exploded for his dropkick. Not so much for Yano vs. Togo. ***
3. Jeff Cobb, Great O-Khan & Gideon Grey vs. Bad Luck Fale, Chase Owens & Hikuleo
Gideon Grey is connected with the United Empire through I assume Great O’Khan’s excursion there a few years ago, and he’s more manager than wrestler. He was here though, and he got pinned by Hikuleo. It seemed like fun for somebody but I’m not sure who. **1/4
4. Aaron Henare, Francesco Akira & TJP vs. Ryusuke Taguchi, Master Wato & The DKC
This junior heavyweight tag team feud is still kind of… it’s not raging, but it’s… continuing. Korakuen seemed to enjoy it: the L.A. Dojo’s The DKC was “over” for his first trip to Tokyo, and there was genuine adulation for a double plancha. Master Wato has developed a very pretty back elbow off the top rope too, though he also did a German suplex where he landed on his own head. Energetic match! ***
5. KUSHIDA & Jado vs. Taiji Ishimori & Gedo
Taiji Ishimori is the current IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion, did you know that? He tore it up for a little bit with KUSHIDA – styling, profiling, and in 2022 jet-flying. Each seemed motivated to be working together, especially in front of all the good noise. Jado and Gedo were there too. ***
6. Shingo Takagi & BUSHI vs. KENTA & El Phantasmo
Even before their fans’ vocal cords were unleashed, ELP was getting over in New Japan. His continuing rivalry with Shingo Takagi was the battery that powered this match, unless you’re really into KENTA beating people up with a paperback book. Shingo’s sudden Pumping Bomber and ELP’s 1-2-3 on BUSHI got particuarly awesome reactions. ***1/2
7. Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & Hiromu Takahashi vs. Zack Sabre Jr., Taichi & El Desperado
Korakuen Hall showered Tetsuya Naito in chants and other sounds of excitement, then continued as he got beat up by Suzuki-gun for a little while. Hiromu and Desperado got in at least half-a-minute of greatness against each other and ZSJ countered a slingshot dropkick with a cravate. There was too much talent in front of an extra hot crowd here for it to be anything less than delightful. ***1/2
8. Kazuchika Okada & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. JONAH & Shane Haste
It’s Korakuen Hall, it’s the main event, the crowd is hyped and so is Hiroshi Tanahashi who seemed impressively prepared for the silence (remember the air hugs!?) but took in the return of noise like nobody else.
There’s a new monster heel on the roster since the G1 Climax too and when he opened the match shoulder tackling Tanahashi’s to the mat the crowd lost their marbles. The heel beatdown, Tanahashi’s rally and Okada’s hot tag all received completely normal reactions that felt like euphoric nostalgia. JONAH is headed towards a rematch with Okada and was joined on this tour by Shane Haste, who flexed seductively to try and appear on Tana’s level. Honestly? I think it worked. He looked like he belonged at the finish too, even in defeat. ***1/2
Happy Thoughts: The wrestling was solid enough but this was probably the best New Japan spot show since the pandemic. Crowd noise is everything, to energize the wrestlers and each other, and it’s beginning to return to Japan — please clap. 4.0 / 5.0
