I'd kinda like to see Los Ice Creams get a decent run one day, this could be a good tournament to do it in and it would make for a big upset in the first round. I'm definitely pulling for The Batiri, though.
One thing the big Japanese promotions do really well is highlighting the prestige of their titles - the whole ceremony before and after the match, the little intro IWGP title matches have that list through all the previous champions, etc. And, yeah, just because someone's a heel doesn't mean they're incapable of winning matches clean. The cowardly heel archetype wouldn't bother me quite so much if it wasn't what WWE resort to 75% of the time.
Absolutely, Okada was a heel in the match, but not because he was cheating and cowardly, just because he was cocky and full of himself over Tanahashi. All this comes through without any words from the wrestlers and not understanding the commentary, it's all non-verbal stuff. Meanwhile across the ocean, you've got Sheamus acting like an absolute dickhead while the commentary screams "WHAT A GREAT GUY, YOU SHOULD LIKE HIM, HE'S THE GOOD GUY". There's always room for a cowardly worm of a heel, but like a monster heel, they should be kept to a smaller number of the heel roster, so that their impact remains fresh (if ALL the heels are weak cowards, then there's no point in hating any one of them more than the others, killing a possible main event heel).
Also, I've heard the whole Japanese Cena thing for Tanahashi, and while I'm sure that comes across in his general booking, considering he is the same age as Cena and has been wrestling equally as long (maybe even longer), the difference in their performance level is staggering. No wonder the Japanese crowd haven't turned on him like the US crowd turned on Cena, he's still exciting and energetic, and any victory he would have had in that match would have felt earned.
They also did something I really love, where the climax is not "50 thousand finishers), but instead it's constant attempts to hit said finishers. Only two Rainmakers actually hit in the match, but there were lots of attempts countered, and the first one was only kicked out of because there was like a 15 second gap before the pinfall attempt. The second was a decisive ending (after that great exchange trying to hit the Tombstone). That's what you call a satisfying ending. Compare that to the shitfest that was Rock/Cena II, where it's "ten thousands finishers, then one of them randomly ends the match". Wow, thrilling.
Christ I wish someone who actually liked wrestling was in charge of WWE.
That's how I do, and if something is noted as being exceptionally good (ie Saturday Morning Slam w/Cesaro vs Kofi, etc) I go out of my way to see it. NJPW is mandatory viewing for me, WWE PPVs I may watch after the fact, if something goes down.
Kind of a shame, really - I want to support what they're doing with Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins (and a little Ambrose) - and Extreme Rules should be an awesome showcase for all of them.
Hands down the Shield's breakout star is Roman Reigns. I've never seen a man with such a good look in quite some time. He's the star, baby!
I actually see them all being breakout stars, if they are kept away from Vince's mindless booking, that is. They've all got the stuff to be top guys, and I'm sure that is the intention with the Shield, to make them all stars, not just one.
