SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
The following is the latest in a new series of weekly in-depth articles exclusive to PWTorch which will help put in perspective major wrestling promotions with a weekly overview, looking at news and roster developments, results, future line-ups, social media activity, key interviews, plus a timely commentary at the end. We will be featuring similar features on other promotions each week and each will be updated weekly.
•Top Stories of the Week
-Some sad news to start off with as former WWF Junior Heavyweight Champion and New Japan Pro-Wrestling alumnus The Dynamite Kid passed away on Dec. 5 at the age of 60. Alongside the late Davey Boy Smith, The British Bulldogs were one of the greatest teams in the 1980’s, successfully winning the WWF World Tag Team Championship in 1986 at WWF WrestleMania 2. Prior to that, Kid wrestled for NJPW from 1980 through 1984 and his matches with Satoru Sayama, better known as Tiger Mask, helped put Junior Heavyweights on the map. Kid’s matches with Tiger Mask are still talked about as some of the best to ever take place and their style can be seen in almost every promotion in the entire world more than 30 years later. Rest in peace Tom Billington.
-Current IWGP Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho was in the news this week but not for anything he did in the wrestling ring. At a Fozzy show in Regina, Saskatchewan, a fan took things too far by roughing up a drum tech while seeking an autograph and trespassing onto the band’s tour bus. Before getting arrested, the fan may have been taught a wrestling move or two by the “Ayatollah of Rock ‘n’ Rolla” before permanently getting added to “The List”.
-Various websites are reporting that current IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion and NJPW mainstay KUSHIDA is being scouted by the WWE. Rumor has it that the 35 year old’s contract with NJPW is set to expire in January 2019. While it seems that every major NJPW name is being talked about right now, KUSHIDA has been with the company since 2010 and it would defintely be a major blow for them. Regardless, Wrestle Kingdom 13 just became more interesting.
-Speaking of WK13, we’re now under four weeks away from NJPW’s biggest event of the year. Five official matches have been announced with “The Cleaner” Kenny Omega defending the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against former seven-time champion Hiroshi Tanahashi in the main event. Wrestle Kingdom 13 will air live on NJPW World, FITE and on delay on AXS TV.
-After sixteen nights of NJPW World Tag League 2018, here are your current standings:
- Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) 20 Points | 10 Wins 3 Losses
- Los Ingobernables de Japon (“King of Darkness” EVIL & SANADA) 20 Points | 10 Wins 3 Losses
- CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano) 18 Points | 9 Wins 4 Losses
- K.E.S. (Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr.) 18 Points | 9 Wins 4 Losses
- FinJuice (Juice Robinson & David Finlay) 16 Points | 8 Wins 5 Losses
- Suzuki-gun (Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi) 16 Points | 8 Wins 5 Losses
- “Unbreakable” Michael Elgin & Jeff Cobb 16 Points | 8 Wins 5 Losses
- Best Friends (Beretta & Chuckie T) 14 Points | 7 Wins 6 Losses
- “Hangman” Adam Page & Yujiro Takahashi 10 Points | 5 Wins 8 Losses
- Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka) 10 Points | 5 Wins 8 Losses
- Tencozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima) 10 Points | 5 Wins 8 Losses
- Togi Makabe & Toa Henare 8 Points | 4 Wins 9 Losses
- Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi 6 Points | 3 Wins 10 Losses
- Ayato Yoshida & Shota Umino 0 Points | 0 Wins 13 Losses
(This week’s edition of NJPW Lioncast, exclusive to PWTorch.com, features continued coverage, match opinions and analysis of Nights 9-12 of World Tag League 2018. You can check it out HERE.)
-This Week in NJPW History saw Shinsuke Nakamura defeat Hiroyoshi Tenzan for his first IWGP Heavyweight Championship on Dec. 9, 2003 in Osaka, Japan at NJPW Battle Final 2003.
•Live Event Results
NJPW World Tag League 2018 – Night 11
Nov. 30, 2018
Korakuen Hall at Tokyo, Japan
Aired on NJPW World
(1) Togi Makabe & Toa Henare defeated Ayato Yoshida & Shota Umino by pinfall after Henare pinned Umino in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(2) Best Friends (Beretta & Chuckie T) defeated Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi by pinfall after Chuckie T pinned Nagata in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(3) FinJuice (Juice Robinson & David Finlay) defeated Tencozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima) by pinfall after Robinson pinned Kojima in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(4) Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka) defeated “Hangman” Adam Page & Yujiro Takahashi by pinfall after Suzuki pinned Takahashi in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(5) K.E.S. (Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr.) defeated Suzuki-gun (Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi) by pinfall after Archer pinned Taichi in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(6) CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano) defeated “Unbreakable” Michael Elgin & Jeff Cobb by pinfall after Ishii pinned Elgin in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(7) Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) defeated Los Ingobernables de Japon (“King of Darkness” EVIL & SANADA) by pinfall after Loa pinned SANADA in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(8) Bullet Club OG (Gedo & “Bone Soldier” Taiji Ishimori & Bad Luck Fale & “Switchblade” Jay White) defeated Rocky Romero & KUSHIDA & Kazuchika Okada & Hiroshi Tanahashi by pinfall after Ishimori pinned Romero
NJPW World Tag League 2018 – Night 12
Dec. 2, 2018
EDION Arena Osaka at Osaka, Japan
Aired on NJPW World
(1) K.E.S. (Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr.) defeated Ayato Yoshida & Shota Umino by pinfall after DBS Jr. pinned Yoshida in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(2) Los Ingobernables de Japon (“King of Darkness” EVIL & SANADA) defeated Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi by pinfall after SANADA pinned Nakanishi in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(3) FinJuice (Juice Robinson & David Finlay) defeated “Hangman” Adam Page & Yujiro Takahashi by pinfall after Robinson pinned Page in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(4) Togi Makabe & Toa Henare defeated Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka) by pinfall after Makabe pinned Iizuka in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(5) “Unbreakable” Michael Elgin & Jeff Cobb defeated Best Friends (Beretta & Chuckie T) by disqualification in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(6) CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano) defeated Tencozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima) by pinfall after Yano pinned Tenzan in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(7) Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) defeated Suzuki-gun (Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi) by pinfall after Loa pinned Taichi in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(8) Bullet Club OG (Gedo & “Bone Soldier” Taiji Ishimori & Bad Luck Fale & “Switchblade” Jay White) defeated Rocky Romero & KUSHIDA & Kazuchika Okada & Hiroshi Tanahashi by pinfall after Ishimori pinned Romero
NJPW World Tag League 2018 – Night 13
Dec. 3, 2018
Kochi Prefectural Gymnasium at Kochi, Japan
(1) Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka) defeated Ayato Yoshida & Shota Umino by pinfall after Suzuki pinned Umino in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(2) Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) defeated Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi by pinfall after Tonga pinned Nakanishi in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(3) “Hangman” Adam Page & Yujiro Takahashi defeated Tencozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima) by pinfall after Page pinned Kojima in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(4) K.E.S. (Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr.) defeated FinJuice (Juice Robinson & David Finlay) by pinfall after DBS Jr. pinned Finlay in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(5) “Unbreakable” Michael Elgin & Jeff Cobb defeated Suzuki-gun (Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi) by pinfall after Cobb pinned Taichi in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(6) CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano) defeated Togi Makabe & Toa Henare by pinfall after Ishii pinned Henare in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(7) Los Ingobernables de Japon (“King of Darkness” EVIL & SANADA) defeated Best Friends (Beretta & Chuckie T) by pinfall after SANADA pinned Chuckie T in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(8) Bullet Club OG (Gedo & “Bone Soldier” Taiji Ishimori & Bad Luck Fale & “Switchblade” Jay White) defeated Rocky Romero & KUSHIDA & Kazuchika Okada & Hiroshi Tanahashi by pinfall after White pinned Romero
NJPW World Tag League 2018 – Night 14
Dec. 4, 2018
Kobe Sanbo Hall at Hyogo, Japan
(1) Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) defeated Ayato Yoshida & Shota Umino by pinfall after Loa pinned Yoshida in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(2) Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi defeated “Hangman” Adam Page & Yujiro Takahashi by pinfall after Nagata pinned Takahashi in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(3) Suzuki-gun (Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi) defeated Tencozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima) by pinfall after ZSJ pinned Tenzan in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(4) K.E.S. (Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr.) defeated Togi Makabe & Toa Henare by pinfall after DBS Jr. pinned Henare in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(5) “Unbreakable” Michael Elgin & Jeff Cobb defeated Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka) by pinfall after Cobb pinned Iizuka in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(6) Best Friends (Beretta & Chuckie T) defeated CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano) by pinfall after Chuckie T pinned Yano in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(7) FinJuice (Juice Robinson & David Finlay) defeated Los Ingobernables de Japon (“King of Darkness” EVIL & SANADA) by pinfall after Robinson pinned SANADA in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(8) Bullet Club OG (Gedo & “Bone Soldier” Taiji Ishimori & Bad Luck Fale & “Switchblade” Jay White) defeated Rocky Romero & KUSHIDA & Kazuchika Okada & Hiroshi Tanahashi by pinfall after White pinned Romero
NJPW World Tag League 2018 – Night 15
Dec. 6, 2018
Yamagata Big Wing at Yamagata, Japan
Aired on NJPW World
(1) CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano) defeated Ayato Yoshida & Shota Umino by submission after Ishii made Umino tapout in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(2) “Unbreakable” Michael Elgin & Jeff Cobb defeated Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi by pinfall after Cobb pinned Nakanishi in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(3) K.E.S. (Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr.) defeated “Hangman” Adam Page & Yujiro Takahashi by pinfall after DBS Jr. pinned Takahashi in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(4) Suzuki-gun (Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi) defeated FinJuice (Juice Robinson & David Finlay) by pinfall after Taichi pinned Finlay in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(5) Tencozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima) defeated Togi Makabe & Toa Henare by pinfall after Kojima pinned Henare in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(6) Los Ingobernables de Japon (“King of Darkness” EVIL & SANADA) defeated Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka) by pinfall after SANADA pinned Iizuka in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(7) Best Friends (Beretta & Chuckie T) defeated Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) by pinfall after Beretta pinned Loa in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(8) Bullet Club OG (Gedo & “Bone Soldier” Taiji Ishimori & Bad Luck Fale & “Switchblade” Jay White) defeated Rocky Romero & KUSHIDA & Kazuchika Okada & Hiroshi Tanahashi by pinfall after Ishimori pinned KUSHIDA
NJPW World Tag League 2018 – Night 16
Dec. 7, 2018
Yurihonjo Arena at Akita, Japan
Aired on NJPW World
(1) Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi defeated Ayato Yoshida & Shota Umino by submission after Nagata made Umino tapout in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(2) Tencozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima) defeated Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka) by pinfall after Tenzan pinned Iizuka in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(3) Suzuki-gun (Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi) defeated Togi Makabe & Toa Henare by pinfall after Taichi pinned Henare in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(4) FinJuice (Juice Robinson & David Finlay) defeated Best Friends (Beretta & Chuckie T) by disqualification in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(5) “Hangman” Adam Page & Yujiro Takahashi defeated “Unbreakable” Michael Elgin & Jeff Cobb by pinfall after Page pinned Elgin in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(6) Bullet Club OG (“Switchblade” Jay White & “Bone Soldier” Taiji Ishimori & Bad Luck Fale & Gedo) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kazuchika Okada & KUSHIDA & Rocky Romero by pinfall after White pinned Romero
(7) Los Ingobernables de Japon (“King of Darkness” EVIL & SANADA) defeated K.E.S. (Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr.) by pinfall after SANADA pinned DBS Jr. in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(8) Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) defeated CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano) by pinfall after Loa pinned Yano in a World Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
•Upcoming Major Show Line-ups
NJPW World Tag League 2018 – Night 17
Dec. 9, 2018
Iwate Industrial Cultural Center at Iwate, Japan
Airs at 1:00 a.m. ET on NJPW World
- Hirooki Goto (c) vs. Kota Ibushi in a NEVER Openweight Championship Match
- Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (“King of Darkness” EVIL & SANADA) in the World Tag League 2018 Tournament Finals
•Upcoming Events
12/09/2018: NJPW World Tag League 2018 – Night 17 in Iwate, Japan
12/14/2018: NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome – Night 1 in Tokyo, Japan
12/15/2018: NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome – Night 2 in Tokyo, Japan
01/03/2019: NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13 Fan Festa 2019 in Tokyo, Japan
01/04/2019: NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13 in Tokyo, Japan
01/05/2019: NJPW New Year Dash in Tokyo, Japan
01/11/2019: NJPW presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2019 – Night 1 in Osaka, Japan
01/12/2019: NJPW presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2019 – Night 2 in Ehime, Japan
01/13/2019: NJPW presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2019 – Night 3 in Kyoto, Japan
01/14/2019: NJPW presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2019 – Night 4 in Gifu, Japan
01/16/2019: NJPW presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2019 – Night 5 in Chiba, Japan
01/18/2019: NJPW presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2019 – Night 6 in Tokyo, Japan
01/20/2019: NJPW presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2019 – Night 7 in Tokyo, Japan
01/21/2019: NJPW presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2019 – Night 8 in Tokyo, Japan
01/26/2019: NJPW Road to The New Beginning – Night 1 in Saitama, Japan
01/28/2019: NJPW Road to The New Beginning – Night 2 in Tokyo, Japan
01/29/2019: NJPW Road to The New Beginning – Night 3 in Tokyo, Japan
01/30/2019: NJPW Road to The New Beginning – Night 4 in Miyagi, Japan
02/02/2019: NJPW The New Beginning in Sapporo – Night 1 in Hokkaido, Japan
02/03/2019: NJPW The New Beginning in Sapporo – Night 2 in Hokkaido, Japan
02/06/2019: NJPW Road to The New Beginning – Night 5 in Nagano, Japan
02/07/2019: NJPW Road to The New Beginning – Night 6 in Aichi, Japan
02/08/2019: NJPW Road to The New Beginning – Night 7 in Mie, Japan
02/09/2019: NJPW Road to The New Beginning – Night 8 in Osaka, Japan
02/11/2019: NJPW The New Beginning in Osaka in Osaka, Japan
02/22/2019: NJPW Honor Rising: Japan 2019 – Night 1 in Tokyo, Japan
02/23/2019: NJPW Honor Rising: Japan 2019 – Night 2 in Tokyo, Japan
03/02/2019: NJPW Anniversary Tour 2018 – Night 1 in Nagano, Japan
03/04/2019: NJPW Anniversary Tour 2018 – Night 2 in Fukushima, Japan
04/06/2019: NJPW/ROH G1 Supercard in New York, New York
•Latest TV Highlights: NJPW on AXS TV (11/30/2018)
Power Struggle 2018: Super Jr. Tag League 2018
Nov. 3, 2018
Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium at Osaka, Japan
Originally aired on NJPW World
(1) Hirooki Goto defeated Taichi by pinfall to win the NEVER Openweight Championship
(2) Tomohiro Ishii defeated Minoru Suzuki by pinfall to retain the RPW British Heavyweight Championship
•NJPW in the Media
The Jim Ross Report: 7-Star conversation with Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s Dave Meltzer: LINK
EGGSHELLS Podcast Companion: 2012 w/ Sean Radican: LINK
EVIL, SANADA vs Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2017 FINAL – Monday Free Match: LINK
King Of Sports – New Japan Podcast – Episode 25: 2018 Year in Review – Pt. 1: LINK
The Wire: NEVER OPENWEIGHT News at World Tag League: LINK
“Premonition” – Being The Elite Ep. 128: LINK
Killing the Town: Big Chris Jericho meeting!! AWA Memories! Cyrus travel!! LINK
HBO to Release Kenny Omega Documentary in 2019: LINK
Obituary: Dynamite Kid passes away: LINK
Dynamite Kid Tom Billington passes away at age 60: LINK
Industry reacts to “Dynamite Kid” Tommy Billington, innovator of junior heavyweight style, dazzled U.S. fans in British Bulldogs tag team on NBC specials: LINK
PWTorch VIP AUDIO 12/5 – The Fix w/Todd Martin (pt. 1 of 2): The career and lasting industry influence of Dynamite Kid, The New Daniel Bryan, Becky-Charlotte-Asuka, Rousey, Ambrose, Drew-Dolph, New Japan Tag League, Lars-Lee, more (76 min): LINK
PWTorch VIP AUDIO 12/5 – The Fix w/Todd Martin (pt. 2 of 2): Mailbag – Is Bryan regretting resigning with WWE? Is Jay White headed toward main event at WrestleKingdom? Omega or Bret? Booker on Rousey-Charlotte-Becky? More! Plus UFC/Bellator talk (68 min): LINK
PWTorch VIP AUDIO 12/6 – WKH – The News: Industry remembers Dynamite Kid, memories of Larry “The Axe” Hennig, Raw & Smackdown all-time low ratings this week, Jarrett at NFL game on Fox, AAW, Evolution, Tribute to the Troops (20 min): LINK
FREE PODCAST 12/6 – WKPWP Thursday Flagship: Keller & Martin discuss the career and lasting industry influence of Dynamite Kid, The New Daniel Bryan, New Japan Tag League, more (89 min): LINK
•LATEST “TALKING HONOR” PWTORCH LIVECAST COVERING ROH
“Changing of the Guard.” This week Emily Fear and Harley R. Pageot discuss PCO and Brody King signing with ROH, Silas Young re-signing, the build to Christopher Daniels vs. Marty Scurll and Jeff Cobb vs. Adam Page at Final Battle, and what an ROH without The Elite might look like.
-On Apple Podcasts HERE
-Or search “PWTorch” or “Pro Wrestling Torch” on your podcast app of choice
•Social Media Scene
You said you wanted it, now go and prove it.https://t.co/AQ0o8UAyRH pic.twitter.com/0SeMPbruXJ
— Switchblade (@JayWhiteNZ) November 30, 2018
May 14th, 2008 we wrestle in Tokyo, Japan for the first time, for Dragon Gate. pic.twitter.com/pC0wKh9foU
— The Young Bucks (@MattJackson13) December 1, 2018
30
— The Young Bucks (@MattJackson13) December 1, 2018
Starving artists’, try to enjoy the journey. If you’re good at what you do, there’s often a great reward. Hang in there.
— The Young Bucks (@MattJackson13) December 2, 2018
https://twitter.com/Tama_Tonga/status/1069171272532221952
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq1hlwHl_7E
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq3-Z7CnXA7
https://twitter.com/CodyRhodes/status/1069728503803854848
Signed a deal with an old company that’s making a return. You might be familiar with ‘em? Coming soon… pic.twitter.com/BaQYEZc1Ll
— The Young Bucks (@MattJackson13) December 3, 2018
The cigar company @FrankieKazarian & @aarongcigars have started!
I’ve also got a podcast coming in the next few months, it’s non-wrestling and I’m pretty pumped to announce it! https://t.co/mlQe1fOWQi
— Cody Rhodes (@CodyRhodes) December 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/DBSmithjr/status/1070270186224181248
https://twitter.com/DBSmithjr/status/1070270221183672320
RIP Dynamite Kid. Hands down on of the most influential wrestlers of all time. I'll never forget the first time I saw him vs tiger mask, and the countless hours of trying everything they did. You will be missed, but never forgotten. Thank you for all your contributions! pic.twitter.com/GizS5aVqc1
— BigMike (@MichaelElgin25) December 5, 2018
A great background and history on Dynamite Kid, Allan. Well done… https://t.co/DmJbyAycYF
— Kevin Kelly (@realkevinkelly) December 5, 2018
New haunted mansion inspired tee available to purchase now athttps://t.co/SBfGjRYIrF#villain ☔️ pic.twitter.com/LUTJmPBonN
— Marty Scurll (@MartyScurll) December 5, 2018
New Japan Pro-Wrestling is saddened to hear of the passing of Thomas Billington better known as Dynamite Kid. Our thoughts are with his loved ones in this moment and we wish them all the best in this difficult time.
Link to his obituary below:https://t.co/FHF3DMOG8l
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) December 6, 2018
Hey look it's me and @ShutUpExcalibur here ringside for live @njpwworld coverage of #NJWTL! pic.twitter.com/aJXTt0YfUC
— Kevin Kelly (@realkevinkelly) December 6, 2018
No matter what you do to us, we are still coming. This is #Grit. This is #Resilience. This is G.O.D #BulletClub pic.twitter.com/tt21U40FDt
— 'Bad Boy' Tama Tonga (@Tama_Tonga) December 6, 2018
From @theAdamPage's IG Stories #HangmanPage #NJPW pic.twitter.com/IBEeTIZIta
— Hangman Page Fans (@HangmanPageFans) December 6, 2018
So @IAmJericho said to shave my head down to the stubble! Mission accomplished and if you hate it then let’s make Chris buy me a hair weave pic.twitter.com/CKtR1dhu79
— Super Elitist (@CyrusOverHuge) December 7, 2018
https://www.instagram.com/p/BrEYME9Hum1
Please watch Dynamite Kid’s matches now in celebration of his career in NJPW’s ring. Watch for free on NJPW World until Monday:
1980 vs Tatsumi Fujinamihttps://t.co/AQEVoz7LRG
1981 vs Tiger Maskhttps://t.co/sUUFo5qvX2
1982 vs Tiger Maskhttps://t.co/ACJknT4vSx#njpw pic.twitter.com/eN1dEyyANI— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) December 7, 2018
WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2018 FINAL in Iwate, full card is set for tomorrow!!https://t.co/KYc4GB1vC2
WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2018 FINAL – @Tama_Tonga & @TangaloaNJPW vs @151012EVIL & @seiyasanada for 2 years in a row!@510njpw vs @ibushi_kota for Never openweight championship!!#njpw #njwtl pic.twitter.com/6bE6f8nw3x
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) December 8, 2018
https://www.instagram.com/p/BrE8qTYlRck
•Closing Commentary
This past Wednesday, the wrestling world lost a true innovator when The Dynamite Kid passed away at the age of 60.
While the past twenty years of his life weren’t the greatest for fans, the lasting impression he left on the industry will probably never be duplicated. I was a huge fan of The British Bulldogs growing up as a kid, so much so that they’re the main reason I became a wrestling fan. They had a look, a style, and of course Matilda. The strength, the agility, the speed, and the pure fact they were never a non-threat to any opponents they faced, no matter their size or strength. From the delayed vertical suplex to the running powerslam to the snap suplex to the diving headbutt, to steal a line from the late Gorilla Monsoon, they were the “Excellence of Execution” as far as tag team wrestling went.
And that was The Dynamite Kid in a tag team.
As a singles competitor, he helped revolutionize and pave the way for wrestling as we know it today thanks to a series of matches around the world featuring him and Tiger Mask. How does a wrestler who stands less than six feet tall stand out in the era of giants in the 1980s? You wrestle a debuting wrestler named Tiger Mask for a company called New Japan Pro-Wrestling over the course of three years.
Thanks to them, they helped put Jr. Heavyweight wrestling on the map. Because of those two guys, their in-ring style and series of matches, the WWE has a product called 205 Live. WCW had a Cruiserweight division. ROH, EVOLVE, and PWG exist. Guys like the late Chris Benoit, the late Brian Pillman, Jyushin Thunder Liger, Rey Mysterio, Chris Jericho, Will Ospreay, Tyson Kidd, Ricochet, and many more have had the honor to entertain us as wrestling fans and main events shows.
No longer is it the day of going to a wrestling show and seeing one guy pin the other guy with a leg drop in the main event. Because of guys like The Dynamite Kid performing at the level he did, risking his body at the level he did and showcasing his pure god-given talent at the level he did, he gave a glimpse of hope to guys wanting to be a star in the wrestling business that weren’t 6’5″ and 300 lbs.
22 years ago, The Dynamite Kid wrestled his last match in a six-man tag team match for Michinoku Pro. In 1997, he lost the use of his left leg and was confined to a wheelchair through his final days. After his body shut down thanks to drug abuse and the toll the wrestling business had on his body, he was unable to do what he loved most.
Do yourself a favor…
Enjoy the talent for every move they perform, every show they perform at and every memory they provide us with. As wrestling fans, we exist because they exist.
#RIPTomBillington
NOW CHECK OUT OTHER WEEKLY OVERVIEWS HERE.
OR JUMP TO LAST WEEK’S WWE OVERVIEW: WEEKLY OVERVIEW – NJPW (thru 11/29): Top stories of week, major show lineups, live event results, schedule of live events, noteworthy social media posts, more
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