Emerald FlowShow #96: The Shoot Fool

Paul and Gerard discuss the NOAH Jr. Tag League, NOAH's current directions and its problems. Then it's on to All Japan with another Jr. tag tournament and a big show at Ota Ward Gym with lots of title matches including Kento Miyahara vs. Jun Saito for the Triple Crown. Plus previews of upcoming NOAH & All Japan shows.

In celebration of our 100th episode, Paul is back to talk about his trip to Japan and seeing All Japan, Big Japan and ZERO1 live. Then it's on to discuss the Jr. Heavyweight tag team tournaments in All Japan and NOAH. Plus more complaining about NOAH's main event scene and discussion of who got left out of this year's Champion Carnival field. Thanks for listening to our first 100 episodes and listening to many more!

Gerard is joined by Dylan Fox of the Eastern Lariat to talk about EVIL leaving New Japan, the FSM 50, NOAH's booking, All Japan's surprisingly strong January and which company is putting their best foot forward in 2026 so far.

Gerard flies solo to cover DDT, GLEAT, Big Japan, and of course NOAH and All Japan. With the end of the year and the start of a new one there is a lot of news, great matches and some not so great booking directions. All Japan put on a Match of the Year Contender while NOAH leaned in way too much into Team 2000X. So who came out looking the best at the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026? Give a listen and find out!

Paul and Gerard end the year by discussing Kaito Kiyomiya's awesome tenth anniversary show with one of the greatest Iron Man matches ever and the back half of the Real World Tag League that saw a recently formed (and very tall) tag team emerge victorious. Plus they preview All Japan and NOAH's end of the year/new year shows.

On this episode Paul and Gerard discuss Yuma Aoyagi's The Fool gimmick being a shoot and the consequences of his suspension. Then it's on to Big Japan where So Daimonji continues a great run as Strong Champion. NOAH had a big show in Sendai with Yoshiki Inamura vs. Kaito Kiyomiya for the GHC title and All Japan began its annual Real World Tag League.

An absolutely jam-packed episode where Paul and Gerard cover GLEAT's debacle in Yokohama, ZERO1's triumphant return to Korakuen Hall, DDT's big show at Sumo Hall, another NOAH sellout in Korakuen with a new champion, and the last show of All Japan's Hokkaido Tour with a great Triple Crown match.

After a longer than expected absence, Paul and Gerard are back to talk about GLEAT, So Daimonji winning the Big Japan Strong Title, recent NOAH shows and a huge jump by Go Shiozaki to All Japan. Plus a preview of the Real World Tag League.

Gerard welcomes two guests to the show - Dylan Fox of the Eastern Lariat and Dr. Jonathan Foye, author of the books Ganbaru and The Muto Years about All Japan and who also has an upcoming book about Pro Wrestling NOAH. They discuss All Japan's Giant Dream show and NOAH's N-1 finals and break down the long awaited title change in All Japan and the new directions that each promotion is headed in. Plus lots of digressions into pro wrestling history.

Paul and Gerard remember Taishin Nagao and take stock of this tragic loss. There is also Big Japan, NOAH N-1 and the finals of All Japan's Royal Road Tournament.