tetsuyanaito

The holiday Umi no Hi traditionally is a very busy day in japanese pro wrestling so STRIGGA & Dylan at first focus on DDT's Wrestle Peter Pan show from Ota Ward Gymnasium before going over the G1 Climax show from Hokkaido that saw Jay White vs. Tomohiro Ishii and Tetsuya Naito vs. Taichi. In a rare preview the Eastern Lariat crew talks about the big Dragon Gate Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival that will see the return of Ultimo Dragon and towards the end they debate Jun Akiyama stepping down as president of All Japan Pro Wrestling.

It's this time of the year! STRIGGA & Dylan return to action with their review of the Ota Ward double header of the G1 Climax that saw some great matches for the G1 Climax beginning on japanese soil after it started in the United States. The Eastern Lariat crew discusses all the matches, stories and possible routes for some of the wrestlers and they also look a little bit more behind some of the characters and their motivations like Jay White, Hiroshi Tanahashi or KENTA.

With a crazy weekend of rumors surrounding Gedo STRIGGA & Dylan are back with a new episode discussing what led to STRIGGA tweeting about Gedo allegedly stepping down from the booking position of NJPW. Amidst all this turmoil the G1 Climax announcements can't be forgotten though and so the Eastern Lariat crew goes over both blocks, picks their favorites, runner ups, dark horses and the overall winner. How does the tournament compare to last year's? What about the drop outs and the newly added participants? Other topics include NOAH heavyweight & junior heavyweight tournaments as well as some bits about All Japan, 2AW and Dragon Gate.

Time for Dominion! STRIGGA & Dylan look back at one of the biggest and most important New Japan shows of the year since this is always kind of a midway point of New Japan's business year. The Eastern Lariat crew discusses all the matches from this show plus some from the final of the Best of the Super Junior. Another big talking point is of course KENTA's debut and the upcoming G1 Climax.

Was it a Golden Week for New Japan and Big Japan? In this new epiosde the Eastern Lariat crew debates about the pros and cons of a very long Wrestling Dontaku tour, outstanding performances and flaws in New Japan's booking, foreigners in New Japan and the promotion being between needing and having. When previewing the Best of the Super Junior STRIGGA & Dylan talk about Will Ospreay's weird 2019 and they also give a preview and predictions for the tournament as well as a short Dominion preview. When switching over to Big Japan the main talking point is the big success of Endless Survivor on one side and this success being built on sand on the other. There's Okabayashi, there's Sekimoto, but who else?

Check out STRIGGA & Dylan on Twitter at @STRIGGA and @DylanZeroSky

Check out the Eastern Lariat Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/easternlariat

The New Japan Cup has been a land of upsets for many, many years now, but this year it seems like the outcome is very predictable. In that regard STRIGGA & Dylan bring up some alternative ways besides the obvious pick and shed the light on some dark horses for the New Japan Cup victory and for the road to Madison Square Garden. Before they get to the New Japan Cup however, the Eastern Lariat cews reviews the Honor Rising shows and also talks about some news and notes including japanese talent in wXw's 16 Carat Gold, Atsushi Onita, WWE releases, the next Triple Crown defense for Kento Miyahara and Pro Wrestling NOAH's restart.

Wrestle Kingdom 13 and New Year Dash!! lie behind us and with Hiroshi Tanahashi the beloved ace is back on top – but for how long? In this episode STRIGGA & Dylan take an extrensive look at all the matches and developments of New Japan's anual Tokyo Dome show, praise New Japan for their booking decisions and criticise them for meaningless belts and the missing focus on for example the junior heavyweights. With the big dates of 2019 having been announced the Eastern Lariat crew also discusses the promotion's business plans for the year to come and wonders where this leaves the Elite guys.

Special guest WH Park (@whpark9 on Twitter) from POST Wrestling joins the Eastern Lariat crew to discuss this year's "Pro Wrestling Grand Prix", better known as the Tokyo Sports awards. The trio goes through every categorie and extensively debates the winners, names their choices and sometimes even tries to get to the bottom of what the awards actutally stand for. On top of that STRIGGA, Dylan and WH also talk about their top company and some of the most improved wrestlers in 2018.

It takes Understanding to accept NJPW as a whole, Knowledge to set the proper pace of watching an AJPW show, Courage to get through Danshoku Dieno's main event at DDT's Peter Pan, & Dedication to follow NOAH through their various ups & downs. All these skills are needed to finish off the MEGA SOLO PURO POTPOURRI! Dylan goes solo after a month away from the Eastern Lariat and cover all of the above, going in on NJPW, Power Struggle, & Naito's questionable booking, AJPW & Kento vs. Zeus, DDT & Peter Pan and one of the worst matches of the year (and a heartwarming personal favorite, as well as the Giant Baba/Tokyo Sports show and a daring main event idea. Check it out before STRIGGA's back next episode!

Follow Dylan on Twitter @DylanZeroSky & STRIGGA @STRIGGA - Cagematch.net & Purolove.com

The 28th G1 Climax is over and not only does New Japan Pro Wrestling have a survivor, but we are survivors as well, because for 19 events this tournament has been an incredible ride. On this show STRIGGA & Dylan go in depth with everything (no C Block, sorry) surrounding the G1 Climax final shows from Tokyo Nippon Budokan which includes one more look at the Firing Squad storyline and possible go away heat, the setup of Budokan, the tournament matches form Friday until Sunday, each person's tournament, the best matches and MVPs. Witness yet another altercation about Hangman Page as STRIGGA & Dylan get in a heated argument about the G1 newcomer. With the post G1 press conference in the rear mirror the Eastern Lariat crew also view at what lies ahead in the months to come and even talk about some possible Wrestle Kingdom matches. It's an XXLariat for extra large topic!

Before addressing G1 Climax business from Osaka STRIGGA & Dylan shed the light on DDT's Beer Garden shows, All Japan's Junior Tag League and the WRESTLE-1 Grand Prix. The main subject however are the two G1 shows from Osaka this past weekend. The Eastern Lariat crew goes in depth with the much loved Kenny Omega vs. Tomohiro Ishii and Kota Ibushi vs. Tetsuya Naito matches and also debates where the Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Michael Elgin and Kazuchika Okada vs. EVIL matches rank in the grand scheme of things. This and much more in a new Eastern Lariat episode!

Since the quest for fire is an ongoing theme on this episode of the Eastern Lariat STRIGGA & Dylan first take a look at ZERO1's Fire Festival and then about the King of DDT tournament that also started this week. Then the duo moves on to nights 11, 12 and 13 of the G1 Climax that again saw some great, but also some lackluster matches. The grind is there and midway through the G1 Climax some of the participants are clearly hurting, but the burning fighting spirit is undeniable.

Two more G1 Climax shows in the books, another Eastern Lariat episode in the books! STRIGGA & Dylan are back yet again with their reviews of night 6 & 7 of the 28th G1 Climax from Korakuen Hall and Hajioji. In the center of attention are outstanding matches like Hirooki Goto vs. Tomohiro Ishii and Zack Sabre Jr. vs. SANADA, but once again also the Tongans and their controversial actions within the tournament. Not less controversial were Okada's demeanors in recent weeks that leads to the question: Is the Rainmaker back? Another topic besides New Japan is Shigehiro Irie – his match against HARASHIMA and the overall impression of him since returning to Dramatic Dream Team.

STRIGGA & Dylan are back yet again with their review of nights 4 & 5 of this year's G1 Climax that saw more controversy unvail when it comes to the Tongans and their way of handling business within the tournament and that controversy also impacts the Eastern Lariat crew. Besides arguing about that topic STRIGGA & Dylan talk about the wholesome Sabre vs. Yano bout, the great Naito vs. Ishii, Omega vs. Goto and White vs. Elgin matches as well as part 2 of Hangman Page's coming out party in his first ever G1 quest.

Three events down, 16 still to go! STRIGGA & Dylan give their first opinions on participants, matches and stories after the third day of the G1 Climax. The two talk about every tournament bout, mention their favorite and least favorite matches and go beyond the in-ring action as they discuss Jay White's very successful start in the tournament and where his chaos theory might lead us and how it could change the landscape of New Japan Pro Wrestling.

On the eve of the 28th G1 Climax tournament the band is back together as STRIGGA & Dylan join forces again to talk about the most recent events in New Japan Pro Wrestling including Strong Style Evolved UK and the G1 Special in San Francisco and to preview the biggest tournament of the summer. The Eastern Lariat crew gives an insight on their dream scenarios, block winners, possible upsets and drop a few names they are keeping an eye out for. Oh yeah, there's still that damn briefcase!

STRIGGA & Dylan return to discuss NJPW's Dominion from this past Saturday that was an eventful and trend setting show for many reasons. The Eastern Lariat crew goes in depth on everything on the show and surrounding it from the monumental Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega match and its aftermath over Chris Jericho making a huge impact to New Japan's ambitious program in the near future and the new president's visions. Besides that STRIGGA & Dylan also go back to the Best of the Super Junior and answer some questions regarding Okada's future and the upcoming G1 Climax.

After a couple of weeks of being out of action STRIGGA & Dylan return with an episode focusing on recent events and upcoming cards for New Japan, All Japan and Pro Wrestling NOAH. While discussing some of the top matches in February the duo takes a look at the roster of all three groups to talk about what's next for the likes of Okada, Naito, Ospreay, Hiromu Takahashi,Taichi, Kento Miyahara, Kenou, Naomichi Marufuji and shooting star Kaito Kiyomiya.

Wrestle Kingdom and New Year Dash are behind us which means STRIGGA & Dylan present their full analysis of what happened in front of over 35,000 fans in the Tokyo Dome. Join the Eastern Lariat crew in their run down of the matches, their takes on winners and losers, on stories, individual performances and especially on the outcome of the main event between Kazuchika Okada and Tetsuya Naito. Since New Year Dash is in the books as well they also highlight the rivalries that began at New Year Dash as New Japan starts their new “season” - and Chris Jericho seems to be a part of it!