Episode 323: Tournament Edition

An epic battle is unfolding. A new challenger comes for Dylan's tournament predictor crown. In years past there have been a variety of genius level opponents who have gone toe to toe with the Fox, and all have fallen. And now. He takes on a new challenger. The Eevee Coin. That's right. The coin that comes in Pokémon TCG deck sets steps up. In a system that will lead the picks to fate against Dylan's scientific approach. Who will come out on top? Why is the coin based on Eevee? What is your favorite Eeveelution? Why is this the preview? All questions that don't get answered. But. Shockingly we come to the exact same winner!? That's right. Let's dive in and focus on the wrestlers of Pro Wrestling NOAH and go up and down their N1 Victory, for 2026!   For more coverage of Japanese wrestling, and wrestling past and present please check out our Patreon for literally 1000s of hours of audio and written content as well, including the brand new EL Weekly Newsletter: https://www.patreon.com/easternlariat    Follow us on Twitter/X:     https://www.twitter.com/easternlariat    https://www.twitter.com/viva_zero   https://www.twitter.com/strigga   Follow us on BlueSky: @easternlariat.bsky.social @vivazero.bsky.social @strigga.bksy.social   Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/easternlariat

The yearly tradition continues as Sondre Bjørn joins me from his home in Norway after a thrilling ride not just in the World Cup, but a passion in wrestling reignited through both the G1 that D&A covered last week, but the 5STAR Grand Prix from STARDOM. And once again we are going through the entire tournament, breaking down every single wrestler's tournament, and of course the emotionally charged tournament story for Rina as she sealed the deal and became the winner of the 5SGP at just 19 years old! After talking about the tournament we also get into Natsupoi's match with Anou, where Natsupoi fit in, and where everyone in the company is going, along with certain booking gripes throughout that have manifested. After that we give a look at Marigold just for fun as we hope for good but have come away disappointed not just in the lineup but also the lack of promotion and buzz for their tournament.   It's almost 3 hours! So look out! And follow Sondre!   www.x.com/sondrebjorn   For more coverage of Japanese wrestling, and wrestling past and present please check out our Patreon for literally 1000s of hours of audio and written content as well, including the brand new EL Weekly Newsletter: https://www.patreon.com/easternlariat    Follow us on Twitter/X:     https://www.twitter.com/easternlariat    https://www.twitter.com/viva_zero   https://www.twitter.com/strigga   Follow us on BlueSky: @easternlariat.bsky.social @vivazero.bsky.social @strigga.bksy.social   Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/easternlariat

In a move neither of us expected when she agreed to do these Rey de Parejas shows, "The Fashionista" Amy Hay has been inexplicably promoted to Dylan's temporary co-host position, and she wasted no time diving into one of the busiest stretches on the puroresu calendar for the first Eastern Lariat after STRIGGA announced he was taking a step back. (And we still miss you!) But we move! And for now D&A take the helm!   Our first order of business is the G1 Climax 36 Final from Ryōgoku, where Ryohei Oiwa cinched in the Big Lock to submit Yuya Uemura in a battle of first-time finalists and captured the biggest prize of his career. We break down a main event loaded with callbacks and an old school feel landing the night after Hiroyoshi Tenzan's retirement, and what it means that New Japan has handed its signature win and the boldness of the match Oiwa and Uemura worked. Then we go long. All 19 competitors, one by one, with our honest verdict on each man's tournament. Who used these three weeks to change how the audience sees them, who coasted on reputation, who got buried in a block that never gave them a real chance to shine, and whether the youth movement that produced a final four of Oiwa, Uemura, Yota Tsuji and Callum Newman is the clearest sign yet of how New Japan intends to move forward. We close the segment as a transition to DG as we talk about Shun Skywalker's debut and how his future looks as the newest member of the House of Torture!   From there we head to Kobe for DRAGONGATE's Rey de Parejas, which is still very much in motion. 12 teams across two blocks, Dylan & Amy run through the block picture as it stands, go over how each team has looked so far and discuss our favorite match so far which just so happens to be the biggest win of one of DG's many great young talent's careers.   Thanks again to Amy for taking on the G1 with me and she'll be back to keep going through the Rey de Parejas with me!   Please follow Amy on both her accounts and keep your eyes out for Gear of the Year, not just her writing but to offer your own picks and suggestions if you want to be a fashionista (but said fancy) like her!   www.x.com/amyhay___ www.x.com/altamy___ amyhayx.bluesky.social   For more coverage of Japanese wrestling, and wrestling past and present please check out our Patreon for literally 1000s of hours of audio and written content as well, including the brand new EL Weekly Newsletter: https://www.patreon.com/easternlariat    Follow us on Twitter/X:     https://www.twitter.com/easternlariat    https://www.twitter.com/viva_zero   https://www.twitter.com/strigga   Follow us on BlueSky: @easternlariat.bsky.social @vivazero.bsky.social @strigga.bksy.social   Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/easternlariat

The Eastern Lariat returns with the big annual Half Year Awards show! For the 8th time now, we discuss YOUR and OUR choices in 12 different categories to track down the very best in japanese pro-wrestling in the fist half of 2026! Across all categories, STRIGGA and Dylan make arguments for and against wrestlers, create cases and while doing so also look at the grand scheme of the japanese pro-wrestling scene right now. With your ballots as guidelines, this show once again offers a comprehensive look at the state of puroresu.

Episode 326: DRAGONGATE Kobe World 2026 Review (w/Special Guest Amy Hay)   The biggest show of the year for DG is in the books and for it I decided to bring along one of my favorite people and also one of my favorite people to see/listen to opinions on wrestling about, the Writer of her world famous Gear of the Year list for 5 years running, Amy! We talk about DG's Kobe Pro Wrestling Festival and go over the climactic final climbing of the mountain for one of DG's most beloved stars, with the ultimate Kzy Time achievement! In addition we talk about the card and how things are looking at headed into the future for the company, along with more fun to be had with our typical shenanigans and at times mental booking ideas. Amy for the first time, but not the last. Just like this may not be the last time we see Shun in DG! But after going through the whole show we give a final grade to Kobe World as it is put in the books.   (The audio has some rocky parts at times, but I worked really hard to get it up to listenable status which I believe I did! Next time will be better. It's her first time recording in over a year after all!)   Please follow Amy on both her accounts and keep your eyes out for Gear of the Year, not just her writing but to offer your own picks and suggestions if you want to be a fashionista (but said fancy) like her!   www.x.com/amyhay___ www.x.com/altamy___ amyhayx.bluesky.social   For more coverage of Japanese wrestling, and wrestling past and present please check out our Patreon for literally 1000s of hours of audio and written content as well, including the brand new EL Weekly Newsletter: https://www.patreon.com/easternlariat    Follow us on Twitter/X:     https://www.twitter.com/easternlariat    https://www.twitter.com/strigga       https://www.twitter.com/viva_zero   Follow us on BlueSky: @easternlariat.bsky.social @vivazero.bsky.social @strigga.bksy.social   Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/easternlariat

Who's gonna be nihon ichi kakkoii, the coolest guy in Japan, this summer? STRIGGA & Dylan first discuss New Japan Pro Wrestling's recent set of events going back to Dominion and the G1 Qualifier show in Korakuen Hall and then transition to early G1 predictions after going through both blocks. They rate the blocks, participants and the composition of the tournament itself as some of the entrants raise questions regarding the internal logic of some choices. Another big talking point addresses the future top guy and where guys like Aaron Wolf, Yuya Uemura and Yuto-Ice fit in. While The Eastern Lariat voices some clear criticisms about New Japan, All Japan Pro Wrestling is met with much more content as the direction of the company seemingly has changed significantly within the last few months. STRIGGA & Dylan praise the junior division, the way matches and rivalries are set up and how most wrestlers on the roster have a clearly defined role. Join in for a detailed look at the two legacy promotions in Japan!

After a Best of the Super Juniors final that left STRIGGA & Dylan with plenty to say, the two review the tournament's conclusion that left a lot to be desired for their liking. They rate all the participants, discuss noteworthy matches and moments and from there on discuss the upcoming Dominion card that – much like the BOSJ – leaves a lot to be desired.More interesting than the in-ring itself is the biggest business story of the year as Bushiroad sold its shares to TV Asahi and CyberAgent. What does this mean for New Japan's future? What does that mean for its relationship with other companies, and the balance of power within the industry?The second promotion discussed is DRAGONGATE and the latest developments over there causing headaches and worries about the future, including Shun Skywalker's exit. What does it mean for DRAGONGATE's identity going forward, and is the company entering a period of major transition?

STRIGGA & Dylan return for episode 323 of The Eastern Lariat to discuss the conclusion of AJPW's Champion Carnival, where Hideki Suzuki emerged victorious while Go Shiozaki suffered a heartbreaking defeat after coming so far. The show also covers the two opening nights of NJPW's Best of the Super Junior, as well as the latest developments in DDT and GLEAT and their King of DDT and G-CLASS tournaments set up the semi finals.

STRIGGA & Dylan celebrate Dylan's 10th Anniversary show the only way they know and could: With a jam-packed episode covering current and upcoming events, stories and matches from seven japanese promotions. They kick things off with the joshi block on the show with Sendai Girls in Korakuen from 4/12, Stardom's All Star Grand Queendom card for 4/26, and Marvelous heading to Yokohama Buntai on May 5. Turning to the men's side, Pro Wrestling NOAH enters the conversation with Apex Conquest 2026 in Nagoya, a card that brought its own share of intrigue with the return of Shane Haste, while Dragon Gate's Golden Colosseum lineup continues to build momentum leading to a big Six Way Cage Match. Finally, New Japan's big matches on the Road to Wrestling Dontaku and on Dontaku itself are part of the discussion as well as Callum Newman as IWGP Heavyweight Champion and the upcoming Best of the Super Junior.

Returning from a hiatus, The Eastern Lariat jumps right back into the mix of japanese pro wrestling starting with TJPW's Texas Tour and Grand Princess, where Yuki Arai stood tall above all. Then they shift to Sendai Girls with Chihiro Hashimoto continuing to be the measuring stick of joshi wrestling. Since the world of professional wrestling is ever evolving, STRIGGA & Dylan also discuss the departures of Chi Chi & ZONES from Evolution and Dragon Dia aka. DIA from DRAGONGATE. This leads right away to NJPW and the preview of Sakura Genesis plus the roster for the Best of the Super Junior 33 (so far). The final topic of the show is another preview with All Japan's Champion Carnival coming up in mid April.