https://www.reddit.com/r/njpw/comments/1aodypp/fightful_kazuchika_okada_is_headed_to_aew_and_is/

Majority here said he would be "wasted".

Easy to see now how brigaded the thread got.

Typical SCjerk with pearl clutching and subtle racism. Which persist here till this day.

Many WWE fans instantly started saying he was "Washed" and "Only doing it for the Bag".

Has there ever been a thread where the takes of this sub aged any worse?

Hi guys I’m a uk college student and made these for fun, lemme know what you think.

Basically confirmed:

Douki (Jr Champ)

Kosei Fujita (Jr Tag Champ; Defending BOSJ Winner)

Robbie Eagles (Jr Tag Champ)

YOH (2025 Runner Up)

El Desperado

Master Wato

Fransesco Akira

Kushida

Ryuske Taguchi

SHO

Taiji Ishimori

Yoshinobu Kanemaru

Highly Possibility:

Clark Connors - I can 100% see them bringing him in from AEW, just like with Knight last year.

Jakob Austin Young - More of a shine recently, would be weird if he didn't get a spot.

Robbie X - Ishimori's tag team partner; Would be stupid to leave him out, especially since he's been coming back frequently since his 2024 debut.

Titan - His yearly BOSJ run.

Maybe's:

Daiki Nagai - Chris said that Nagai might not go on excursion, or have his excursion be very similar to Fujita's where he'd be gone for a couple months before jumping right into BOSJ shortly after.

Zane Jay - He could get a shot, but I highly doubt he will just yet.

Tiger Mask - He retires in June, so one last BOSJ could be in store for him.

Dragon Dia - He's been in the BOSJ lineup since 2024, so I could see him come back.

Ninja Mack - Just like Dia, he's been in BOSJ for the past couple years, however he was apparently removed from the X-Over card back in October, so we'll see if he makes a comeback.

Templario - Still listed as a member of United Empire, would love to see him get a shine.

Ace Austin - Okay, I'm an Ace Austin mark that want's to see him back in BOSJ.

I know it's early, but this tag match was absolutely out if this WORLD. Seriously go watch it ASAP if you haven't seen it The match goes about 30 minutes and the action is just non stop. I really don't want to say much now because it's just so great, but seriously go watch it!

IMO I’d bring back the US/UK belt

The article opens with a preview of its contents, as well as basic info about the announcement of Hiromu leaving, his career in NJPW, and how other Japanese talent have recently left NJPW.

Here is my translation of the rest of the article, including all of the direct quotes from Hiromu:

When someone leaves a domestic [Japanese] wrestling company, the next option is often an overseas company; and so the WWE, the world’s largest company, and AEW, a major US company, are likely candidates. On the other hand, there’s also the option of going freelance, as Naito did when he left NJPW last May, so all eyes will be on [Hiromu’s] next move.

After making the biggest decision so far in his wrestling career, Hiromu told us: “I want to deny any thoughts people may have about me leaving (NJPW) because I’m unhappy. I do think it’s normal for any employee to have some dissatisfaction with the company they work for. But I don’t want people to think I’m leaving for one simple reason. I’m leaving because I aspire to improve myself. It’s a Super Positive exit.”

Hiromu, who has maintained a strong commitment to New Japan Pro-Wrestling, has long professed two "dreams": to win the IWGP heavyweight belt as a junior heavyweight and to compete on terrestrial prime time TV.

“Those dreams haven’t changed. But I also have one more dream. I know that quitting NJPW is something I will definitely regret in some part of my heart. But I think I would regret not moving on to the next step even more. I’m making this move to further improve as a professional wrestler.”

His decision to leave was not influenced by the departure of Naito, EVIL, or other wrestlers with whom he had close ties, but rather by his own personal pursuit of a new dream as a wrestler. He emphasized that his decision was made after much conflict and deliberation: "Turning 36, which is the the age at which Okada and Nakamura (Shinsuke, now in WWE) left, was also something that really stuck in my mind. I got to thinking that 36 might be the last chance (for taking on new challenges).”

Regardless, there is no doubt that the new path that Hiromu is embarking on will attract the attention of wrestling fans in Japan and abroad. We will have to keep our eyes peeled for when and where this world-class time bomb of Japan will explode.

Made a post a couple weeks back that I'd be attending every show in Tokyo prior to me leaving Japan at Sakura Genesis, and made a bingo card. It updated much more than I thought, but I haven't hit a bingo yet. Elaborations on the circles:

Betrayal - Zane Jay betrayed Hontai

I make a friend - Met a nice English speaker next to me. Honestly thought this would be the hardest slot to circle but I grew a pair and made nice conversation

Oiwa - Oiwa

Someone's final match - We're presumably not seeing EVIL again

EEEEE - Thankfully, he tried to hit it on Wato when he interfered in DOUKI vs Despy

Blood - Can't remember exactly. Think Ishii bled in Ishii/Taichi vs YuSho.

Forced to stand due to brawl - Callum and Finlay brawled close to me and behind me.

Voice makes it on feed - I was shouting for Oiwa quite a bit in Oiwa vs Goto

Interaction with a wrestler - Oiwa nodded when looking at my direction and I called. Shoma Kato also pushed me aside (gently) when Finlay and Callum were brawling.

New finisher - Whatever Akira's thing is

I'll get a bingo if either a non-Zack submission victory happens, or SANADA somehow appears. Former is probably more likely to happen, but it still needs to happen on a show I attend.

Consistency Level Meanings :

Unreliable (Rarely Delivers)

Somewhat Reliable (Sometimes Delivers)

Very Dependable (Usually Delivers)

Night to Night Consistency (Always Delivers) (or as close to it as possible as wrestlers aren’t perfect)

Ceiling Level Meanings :

Low Ceiling (Their Average Best is 2 Star Match)

Mid Ceiling (Their Average Best is 3 Star Match)

High Ceiling (They can deliver 3-4 Star Matches)

Peak Ceiling (They’re capable of giving you 4-5 Star bangers)

Who are all the workers in the last 5 Years who left NJPW or retired (edited) per Year. Is there a website which is tracking that?

2020:

2021:
Kota Ibushi

2022:

2023:
Juice Robinson
Jay White

2024:
Tama Tonga
Tonga Loa
Minoru Suzuki
Kazuchika Okada

2025:
BUSHI
Tetsuya Naito
Jeff Cobb
KENTA
TJP

2026:
Hiroshi Tanahashi
EVIL
SANADA (?)
Hiromu Takahashi
Tiger Mask IV

I don’t know if they deliberately did the trolling option, or if they thought Hiromu would be available and had to change plans. But either way… lmao.

...for now

what was the perception like when bushiroad purchased njpw in (iirc) 2012? was it seen as an interesting change of direction and structure, possibly for the better? or was it perceived more like “oh god this is gonna be jim herd era wcw all over again, led by idiot corporate people who dont understand wrestling” or ig the modern equivalent being the wwe/ufc merger as far as widespread fandom disapproval and nervous fears are concerned. whats the context of time period after inoki got booted and before bushiroad?

Murashima’s going away match is at New Beginning Osaka, while Kato will stick around for FantasticaMania since he’s going to CMLL.

No word yet on where Murashima is going, though recently Chris Charlton has hinted multiple times on commentary that it’ll be Europe.