Wrestling Omakase #243: 2022 Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame w/ Mongo

Wrestling Omakase is back with another new episode! John is joined by returning guest Paul Volsch from the Emerald FlowShow (@EmeraldFlowShow on Twitter & Bsky) and first time guest Will Young from VOW and his Creative Control PW blog (@CreativeControlPW on Bsky) to break down three big shows from Japan! But first, John gives an update on the current podcast schedule (as you may have noticed, we're doing these things more often again now!) and some brief thoughts on two major recent joshi shows: STARDOM's All Star Grand Queendom and Sendai Girls' Meiko Satomura Retirement Show.Then all three of them get into the main topics, starting with NOAH's big Sumo Hall show from May 3rd. They discuss NOAH's best attendance number at Ryogoku in six years, OZAWA's title reign and whether or not it should have ended here, whether the booking has been affected by Tetsuya Naito possibly coming in (and actually get breaking Naito news during the middle of recording!), and break down every match on the card as well.Afterward they review NJPW's two Wrestling Dontaku shows from 5/3 & 5/4 in Fukuoka (after a brief overview of big matches from two previous stops on the tour in Hiroshima & Saga), including: full breakdowns of every match on both show, the Dog Pound Steel Cage match and how it compares to last year, directions heading into Dominion, Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI's goodbye to New Japan (for now?), LIJ's official breakup, Hirooki Goto's already record breaking title reign and how it compares to other recent title reigns, a bit of a mea culpa from John on Callum Newman, ZSJ & Shingo being the next title challengers and whether Shingo might win the title (and turn heel??), Kyushu Pro involvement, and much more! A packed, three hour-plus show with all the Japanese wrestling talk you can handle!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wrestling-omakase/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Wow, TWO new episodes of The Most Active Podcast in History™ in one month?! Aren't you lucky?? Yes, John is back again this time with a special double-sized episode of Omakase that's essentially two episodes in one!For the first half, John is joined by Beth (@lovesongwriter on X) as the two longtime Tetsuya Naito superfans talk about the shocking news of his & BUSHI's departure from New Japan Pro Wrestling. They get into their feelings when the news dropped, what it was like to get checked in on by everyone they both knew like someone just died, wild speculation on what might be next for Naito (and what they would personally like to see as fans), and discussion of his career and legacy with New Japan!The second half of the episode sees John joined by Velkej Bracha (@Velkej_Bracha on X), host of the ActWres Stage podcast (here's their most recent episode on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDfPF6W4M9U) and a longtime STARDOM/joshi fan for a full primer on the World Wonder Ring in 2025! John and Velkej go over what they both feel has been the promotion of the year so far, discussing the incredibly deep roster, various units, and some of the biggest moments and matches dating back to last December's Sumo Hall show. Then they launch into a preview of STARDOM's huge All Star Grand Queendom show from Yokohama Arena next week (which Velkej will be attending live!), plus a brief preview of the final Korakuen show a few days earlier as well.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wrestling-omakase/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We're back for our first new episode of Wrestling Omakase in quite a while, as John is once again coming to you live from Japan! First, they're joined by Joel from the Super J-Cast for a full review of the NJPW Sakura Genesis 2025 show, with John giving you the live perspective from the front row of Sumo Hall. Lots of talk about NJPW's current booking direction, where things may be going from here, and of course full reviews of all the matches. Then, John goes solo for an additional 45 minutes as they take you through their entire Japan trip so far, including shorter reviews of the NJPW Jr. Genesis show from Korakuen, STARDOM's 4/2 Korakuen featuring Tam Nakano vs. Saori Anou, Sendai Girls 4/3 and WAVE 4/1 (both from Shinjuku FACE) including Meiko Satomura vs. Minoru Suzuki, and, yes, a review of a Secret Base (!) show from the tiny Ring Soul bar in Kobe! Plus lots of other random Japan travel talk and complaining about tariffs!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wrestling-omakase/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Most Active Podcast in History™ is back for our third episode of 2024! John is joined by returning guest Chris Samsa (@TheChrisSamsa) from Sport of Pro Wrestling/VOW and, somehow, first time guest J. Michael (@ryugu_go) from Voices of Wrestling for the most thorough and complete wrap-up of the 34th edition of the Grade One Climax you're going to find anywhere! John, Chris and J. Michael break down the tournaments of all twenty wrestlers, talk about where they ranked by match quality, their strengths & weaknesses throughout the tournament, and where they might be heading from here as NJPW transitions into the fall season and Wrestle Kingdom. Along the way a very wide range of topics are covered, with a lot of focus on how the new generation of NJPW is shaping up. Plus, an extensive discussion on the controversial booking decision to have Zack Sabre Jr. take his IWGP World Heavyweight Title challenge at King of Pro Wrestling in October instead of Wrestle Kingdom, and where things might be going for the Dome!Follow us on Twitter (I will never call it the other thing): @wrestleomakaseSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wrestling-omakase/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Wrestling Omakase is back for another new episode! John is joined by returning guest Joel of the Super J-Cast (@thesuperjcast) for a bit of a state of New Japan Pro Wrestling update. Where does NJPW stand after losing Okada & Ospreay to AEW? What does fan reaction look like after the controversial New Beginning in Sapporo shows? What strengths do NJPW still have, and what are their big threats heading into the future? Then John & Joel bring back a former annual Omakase tradition: the New Japan Cup Pick "Ems! They each give their (sometimes very different!) picks for each and every 2024 New Japan Cup match, right down to who they ultimately think will lift the trophy this time around! All this plus a (well deserved) burial of a popular wrestling website, wow!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wrestling-omakase/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We're back once again for another Very Special Episode of Wrestling Omakase! John is LIVE ON LOCATION from the Conrad and also a random AirBNB in Tokyo, as they're joined by returning guest Paul and THE BEBBLER to discuss all things Wrestle Kingdom 18! All three of them go over everything you could ever want to know about attending WK live, including various seat sections and what you might get when you choose them, beer girls (and their fanboys), fan calls, food options and much more! They also of course review the show in some detail and give their thoughts on the various matches. Once that's out of the way, it's time to go BACK IN TIME to earlier recorded audio with John & Paul from their AirBNB (which is why the sound is slightly different- it had a very high ceiling!) following the AJPW 12/31 show from Yoyogi National Gymnasium #2. John & Paul discuss the incredible Miyahara vs. Nakajima main event, Nakajima's Inoki tribute trolling, a big junior title change, and just talk about how much better it is to attend shows in Japan than in the West in general.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wrestling-omakase/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Wrestling Omakase is back for another very special episode! Tetsuya Naito has won the G1 Climax for the first time in six years, so you know John has some thoughts about it. John is joined by Chris Samsa (@TheChrisSamsa) to break down the entire G1 Climax 33, as the two of them start with a detailed review of the last two nights from Sumo Hall. They discuss of course the semi finals & finals but also all the other programs that were started for the upcoming Destruction tour, the young wrestlers who got to take a big step forward, what the fuck is going on with Kaito Kiyomiya, and much more. Then they go block-by-block and give some thoughts on each individual wrestler's tournaments (ranking them by John's average star rating), and give their overall top 10 matches of the tournament if you're looking for stuff you may have missed to go back and watch as well. Finally, they wrap up the episode with a quick check-in to the world of All Elite Wrestling, as they look ahead to the major upcoming PPVs, All In and All Out, with previews of both confirmed & rumored matches.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wrestling-omakase/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We're back for a very special episode! John is joined by returning guest Mongo (@mongo_ebooks), and only one thing can get them out of podcast semi-retirement: Tetsuya Naito is a 2022 Wrestling Observer Hall of Famer! John & Mongo talk a little about all of the new inductees but the most focus is on Naito, Kota Ibushi, and some of the other people who didn't get in (one CM Punk perhaps?). They discuss why Naito was such a slam dunk candidate even if you didn't necessarily love him or his fans, using some cold hard facts and business metrics to make their case. Plus, a look ahead to next year's nominees and more!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wrestling-omakase/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week on Wrestling Omakase it's our fifth annual year end awards spectacular, as we break down the best and worst of 2021 in all of professional wrestling!John is joined by an all-star panel of 2021 guests: VOW contributors Sean Sedor (@SASedor2994), Suit Williams (@SuitWilliams), Gerard di Trolio (@GerarddiTrolio) and Paul Volsch (@Darth_Dragon), plus Devin (@MoreThanMeatJoy), Mongo (@mongo_ebooks) and Liam McCann (@liam_d_mccann). They all talk a little about what they liked and didn't like about 2021, and what they thought of wrestling as a whole, before getting into their individual award picks. John also gives the overall winners of the voting, with all Omakase guests from the year being invited to send in their picks. Here's the awards in the order covered on the show:-Worst Weekly TV-Worst Major Show-The WWE Memorial Award for Worst Promotion-Worst Feud-Worst Match of the Year-Best Weekly TV-Best Major Show-Best Promotion-Best Feud-Most Outstanding Wrestler-Tag Team of the Year-Match of the Year-Wrestler of the YearThanks for joining us at the end of another truly wild and somewhat awful year on this planet! Here's to 2022 being a whole lot better, both for wrestling and just the world in general!Follow Wrestling Omakase on Twitter to submit questions for future episodes and get alerts every time new episodes go up- @wrestleomakase!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wrestling-omakase/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week on Wrestling Omakase we take our third completely randomized look back at shows that took place inside the Big Egg, the Tokyo Dome!John is joined by returning guest & VOW contributor Jeri Evagood (@TheJerriest_Jer) for her record TENTH appearance of the year! Wow! John crowns her MVP (Most Valuable Podcaster) before they get into what they've both been up to, including Christmas, worrying about Omicron cancelling their plans, and a whole lot more. Plus there's some discussion of Jeri's semi-recent Atlantic City trip, and John's pre-emptive year end thoughts ahead of next week's 2021 Year End Awards episode. Once that's out of the way they get into their topic, which is six randomly selected matches from six randomly selected Tokyo Dome shows (all Dome shows were eligible, not just 1/4 and not just NJPW). As always, stop reading here if you want to be surprised, but if you'd like to know beforehand here they are below:1. Great Muta vs. Masahiro Chono, NJPW 1/4/93 (NJPW World: https://front.njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00114_1_7)2. Riki Choshu & Yoshiaki Yatsu vs. Kengo Kimura & Tatsutoshi Goto, NJPW 1/4/95 (NJPW World: https://front.njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00132_1_9)3. Randy Savage vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, NJPW 4/29/96 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYbamFhKl-g)4. Yuji Nagata vs. Yoshihiro Takayama, NJPW 5/2/02 (NJPW World: https://front.njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00160_1_2 or https://front.njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00160_2_2)5. Heat vs. Tiger Mask, NJPW 1/4/05 (NJPW World: https://front.njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00165_1_3)6. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Go Shiozaki, NJPW 1/4/10 (NJPW World: https://front.njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00174_1_8)Topics that come up along the way include: since we did get all NJPW this time John gives some background on the promotion's very turbulent history as we go through the years here, Chono's bizarre clean-cut years, Muta nearly commits a random murder, a little background on both Heisei Ishingun and Yatsu's very strange career journey to this point, a boring match with not much to talk about, how the hell did we get Savage vs. Tenzan again, Savage at least puts in some effort this time, Takayama on the verge of breaking out as a megastar, Yuji Nagata FUCKING OWNS, Minoru Tanaka's bizarre videogame gimmick, EVIL HEAT, Love & Energy forever, a damn great match to close things out, and much more!Follow Wrestling Omakase on Twitter to submit questions for future episodes and get alerts every time new episodes go up- @wrestleomakase!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wrestling-omakase/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy