{"id":36985,"date":"2017-01-01T12:56:23","date_gmt":"2017-01-01T18:56:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=36985"},"modified":"2017-01-05T16:08:56","modified_gmt":"2017-01-05T22:08:56","slug":"1223-njpw-axs-tv-review-shinsuke-nakamura-yoshi-hashi-vs-styles-omega-tanahashi-vs-omega","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2017\/01\/01\/1223-njpw-axs-tv-review-shinsuke-nakamura-yoshi-hashi-vs-styles-omega-tanahashi-vs-omega\/","title":{"rendered":"12\/23 NJPW on AXS TV Review: Shinsuke Nakamura &#038; Yoshi-Hashi vs. Styles &#038; Omega, Tanahashi vs. Omega"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-4145183783\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><h3>NJPW on AXS TV Report<br \/>\nDecember 23, 2016<br \/>\nRyogoku Kokugikan Part 3 &amp; Hakata Starlanes<br \/>\nBy R.W. Andrews, PWTorch contributor<\/h3>\n<h3><b>A.J. Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura\u2019s Last Nights in NJPW w\/ The IWGP Intercontinental Aftermath \u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><b><\/b>A replay of a replay after only three weeks of reviews?\u00a0 Why the hell not.\u00a0 But first, let\u2019s backtrack on the reason for reviewing this replay of a replay.\u00a0 For those of you who have followed this series since its inception &#8211; all three weeks\u2019 worth &#8211; you\u2019ve probably noticed bits and pieces of my return to wrestling sprinkled within the lines.\u00a0 Well, let me expound on that story for a moment.<\/p>\n<p>After years of being out of the game because of this\/that\/the other\/and just a general distaste for WWE, I had a reawakening one night while flipping channels.\u00a0 What I stumbled across was AXS TV, and more importantly, pro wrestling.\u00a0 God, it must have been over a decade besides one failed attempt in 2014 to try RAW and immediately vow to never watch it again.\u00a0 But what came on that screen set the hook deep.\u00a0 The event took place in Japan, the wrestlers completely alien to me at the time.\u00a0 It was a replay of a replay of a show called Wrestle Kingdom 9, and everything changed after one match.\u00a0 I turned the channel to the very moment two men, Kota Ibushi and Shinsuke Nakamura, made their entrances amongst a sea of fans in the Tokyo Dome.<\/p>\n<p>As I\u2019m sure you know, one look at Nakamura sashaying to the ring and one second of watching Ibushi wrestle is enough to make anyone take notice.\u00a0 The match was captivating, the display of wrestling imprinting an instant level of excellence.\u00a0 And after it was done, I found myself wanting more.<\/p>\n<p>The match gave me a glimmer of hope that wrestling was still great.\u00a0 And so I tried watching again, dipping my toe in and out of the NJPW water here and there until news broke that Shinsuke Nakamura was headed to WWE.\u00a0 This was my chance.\u00a0 Low price per month plus a library of everything I enjoyed PLUS Shinsuke Nakamura?\u00a0 I decided to dive in, ponying up the $9.99 for Takeover: Dallas and my march back into wrestling fandom full time.\u00a0 Nakamura\u2019s match with Sami Zayn was proof that I had made a wise investment, so I kept going, watching old shows from my fandom and everything NXT that I could.\u00a0 But a funny thing happened along the way.<\/p>\n<p>Although Nakamura, Samoa Joe, The Revival, Asuka, DIY, and Tye Dillinger gained a fan for life, the intrigue fizzled away as I branched out to the main roster to watch AJ Styles.\u00a0 What lied beneath the surface of his greatness left that old feeling of dislike and boredom still injected into my core.\u00a0 Some of you probably know what I\u2019m talking about when it comes to WWE\u2019s main roster shows.\u00a0 So I left again, though not because of any of the aforementioned names above.<\/p>\n<p>BUT, I still had the itch.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t pro wrestling that was the problem, it was the promotion that I was watching and their presentation of the art form within the ropes.\u00a0 I had to come crawling back to the show that piqued my interest in the first place, hat in hand in the hopes that the few matches I had seen was just the tip of the iceberg.\u00a0 For those of you who have been following along as I soak my feet in the choppy waters of pro wrestling, I appreciate the help along the way.<\/p>\n<p>Heroes like Nick Jones, who caught me up on what exactly the hell happened when Okada went to TNA.\u00a0 Much appreciated!\u00a0 And even my guy, an astute gentleman who proclaimed that I didn\u2019t know anything about New Japan, because you know, that\u2019s the whole god damn point of this review series.\u00a0 Here\u2019s the thing.\u00a0 Any dumb f- can prop up a picket sign, but at least understand the issue before chanting the words.\u00a0 Come on guys, you know the deal if you\u2019ve actually read any of these reviews.\u00a0 If you\u2019re looking for the oracle on all things Japanese wrestling then start a review series of your own.\u00a0 Hell, I\u2019ll even hold your hand at let you Xerox the style until you find your own voice.<\/p>\n<p>These reviews are about a guy white-knuckling it through a breakneck pace of professional wrestling while frantically weaving in and out of immature penis jokes to find clarity in my resolve to give wrestling another chance.\u00a0 But hey, you\u2019re all welcome on this journey, positive and negative alike.\u00a0 I rely on YOU &#8211; those with a wealth spring of knowledge, those who are new to NJPW like me, and even my guy \u2013 to help steer this ship.\u00a0 And hopefully not into an iceberg.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-4054973415\" class=\"pwtor-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>So, with all that being said, why review a replay of a replay?\u00a0 Because of Shinsuke Nakamura &#8211; one of the two guys who brought me back home.\u00a0 One of the matches in the AXS block has his last match in NJPW.\u00a0 Yup, his last match in NJPW\u2026in a f***ing six-man tag.\u00a0 You did it again, AXS!\u00a0 But you know what? For Shinsuke Nakamura I think we can endure another one.\u00a0 Right?<\/p>\n<h3><b>Match#1 \u2013 Shinsuke Nakamura &amp; Yoshi-Hashi vs. A.J. Styles &amp; Kenny Omega<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Yoshi-Hashi come on down!\u00a0 I love when fresh names and faces get added to my que of wrestlers to watch.\u00a0 JR and Josh talk about Korakuen Hall, feathering in a few brush strokes about its history.\u00a0 Styles and Omega too-sweet each other and we start off with Styles and Nakamura in the ring.\u00a0 By the way, Nakamura has the Intercontinental title on him.\u00a0 The crowd break into an \u201cAJ Styles\u201d chant before the two lock up.\u00a0 While trading reversals, JR mentions that both men are WWE bound.\u00a0 I know it\u2019s best for their wallets, and so far they are going above and beyond, but what if they stayed?\u00a0 The lightning round of reversals and mat wrestling ends with a break and a round of applause.\u00a0 It\u2019s very interesting to hear this match.\u00a0 The venue is intimate so you can hear everything down to a cough and sniffle.<\/p>\n<p>A wristlock is cartwheel-reversed by Nakamura, which puts him in position to deliver a knee to the gut.\u00a0 Because of Nakamura\u2019s rep his knee shots carry much more weight than any other wrestler.\u00a0 Styles leapfrogs Nakamura, but Nakamura catches himself on the ropes and nearly rearranges Styles\u2019 neck dogleg right.\u00a0 Styles arm drags Nakamura into a headscissors that Nakamura wriggles out of for a break and a round of applause.\u00a0 We get a quick-cut, marking two weeks in a row, with Barnett acknowledging it this time.\u00a0 The quick-cut transplants us right in the middle of a deluge of stiff kicks by Nakamura to Styles\u2019 ribcage.\u00a0 An enzuigiri by Nakamura sends Styles to the corner.\u00a0 Good vibrations, followed by a running knee strike, but Styles moves out of the way.\u00a0 Styles eats one anyways, foolishly rushing back towards Nakamura to pay dearly.<\/p>\n<p>Styles fires back with a combo of forearm, slap to the face, low kick, and a spinning backhand before Nakamura cuts him off with a right forearm.\u00a0 He pulls back for another, leaving himself wide open and vulnerable for a leaping enzuigiri by Styles that leaves a smack sound that reverberates off the building\u2019s walls.\u00a0 Tag to Omega, who chops Nakamura HARD across the chest.\u00a0 He\u2019s off to the races, hitting the ropes for a wonderful forward-forward-dash slide that helps him redirect and sprint back to Nakamura, but ultimately takes a knee to the gut.\u00a0 Nakamura missed a spinning kick, but keeps the rotation to spin back around and boot Omega in the face.\u00a0 I did my best, but I\u2019m sure you guys know that move well.\u00a0 Nakamura\u2019s exploder suplex is fought out of, but while Omega wrestles with Nakamura, Yoshi-Hashi shoots into camera view and hits a rolling neck breaker on Omega.\u00a0 Nakamura hounds after Omega, sliding in with a big knee to the face.\u00a0 Styles leaps into camera view to break up a pinfall attempt.\u00a0 Nakamura signals for the Bomaye, but Omega catches him, lifting Nakamura over his shoulders to hit a rolling backdrop and hop up top for a moonsault.\u00a0 Nakamura gets his knees up and Omega rolls around holding his stomach.<\/p>\n<p>Omega is up first, charging Nakamura with a big clothesline.\u00a0 A stalling gut wrench pickup into a doctor bomb is broken up by Yoshi-Hashi, who is in and out in a matter of a blink.\u00a0 Well, so far I can say that he\u2019s fast.\u00a0 That\u2019s about it.\u00a0 Omega hoists Nakamura up on his shoulders, but the one-winged angel is blocked.\u00a0 Yoshi-Hashi is back in, missing Omega with a clothesline and colliding into Nakamura.\u00a0 Styles is in, hitting a Bloody Sunday DDT on Yoshi-Hashi and he\u2019s right back out of camera view.\u00a0 Omega DETONATES Nakamura\u2019s skull with a high knee.\u00a0 With Nakamura dazed, Omega hits the ropes and lands another running knee to the back of Nakamura\u2019s head.\u00a0 It sounded nasty.\u00a0 He only gets a one on the cover.\u00a0 A one!?\u00a0 Nakamura gets to his feet and punches Omega right in the eye socket, nearly plucking a page right out of Pai Mei\u2019s playbook.\u00a0 A wicked reverse powerslam sets Omega up in the 619 position.\u00a0 Nakamura dashes forward for the Bomaye, but Styles springboards into the ring and hits the phenomenal jab to the face.\u00a0 Nakamura eats a Pele kick, shuffling back into Omega who scales his back and stuffs Nakamura\u2019s neck with a reverse Frankensteiner.\u00a0 Nakamura\u2019s limbs are splayed all over the place.\u00a0 JR calls it a \u201cdangerous application of offense\u201d.\u00a0 Omega gets Nakamura up and lands the one-winged angel for the three.\u00a0 The expression of Omega\u2019s face is priceless, eyes bulged and wild with an ear-to-ear smile at the fact that he just pinned Nakamura.\u00a0 JR:\u00a0 \u201cThe Kenny Omega era is about to begin in New Japan Pro Wrestling!\u201d\u00a0 They even say that Kenny Omega has defeated Shinsuke Nakamura, as opposed to Omega and Styles have defeated Nakamura and Yoshi-Hashi.\u00a0 Where the hell was Yoshi-Hashi anyways?<\/p>\n<p>Winners: Kenny Omega &amp; AJ Styles in 12:01<\/p>\n<p><i>(Andrews\u2019 Analysis:\u00a0 Jesus.\u00a0 I nearly forgot that Nakamura and Styles were leaving so it was time to elevate Omega\u2019s stature within the company, hence Nakamura getting beat up for twelve minutes.\u00a0 Scoring the pin on Nakamura sure helped Omega\u2019s cause, which by the look of things was the catalyst that set off a spectacular 2016 for him.\u00a0 Again, it\u2019s just weird seeing Nakamura get beat up for twelve minutes.\u00a0 Hell, Yoshi-Hashi was there just to dive into camera view once or twice and that was it.\u00a0 I know as much about the guy as I did going in, nothing.\u00a0 It\u2019s like the Men in Black flashy-thinged me because I think Yoshi-Hashi was there, but maybe he wasn\u2019t and Nakamura had to do it all on his own.\u00a0 The lack of Yoshi-Hashi was kind of a bummer because besides Omega, Yoshi-Hashi is a guy I\u2019ll likely be seeing in the future.\u00a0 Is he a good wrestler or not?\u00a0 Hell if I know based on this match.)<\/i><\/p>\n<p>After the match, with Styles celebrating on the top turnbuckle, Omega scoops him up and drops him with the one-winged angel.\u00a0 It IS the Kenny Omega Show!\u00a0 Omega looks completely insane, stomping away at Styles and smashing his skull against the mat to christen the change in leadership of the Bullet Club.\u00a0 Anderson &amp; Gallows, The Young Bucks, and Cody Hall come out and stand over Styles.\u00a0 Anderson &amp; Gallows pick Styles up, incidentally putting him in perfect position for The Elite to triple superkick him.\u00a0 Anderson &amp; Gallows wonder what the hell is going on.\u00a0 Omega holds up the familiar hand sign and asks them if they\u2019re with him.\u00a0 They raise their demon dogs, going muzzle to muzzle with the rest of the faction.\u00a0 Everyone beats up Styles, officially snatching his stripes away.\u00a0 JR: \u201cAll Styles did was lead them to stardom and prominence and what does he get for it?\u00a0 An ass whippin\u2019!\u00a0 It\u2019s a damn mugging!\u201d<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-2647878159\" class=\"pwtor-content-1 pwtor-entity-placement\"><!-- Tag ID: pwtorchcom_test_300x600 -->\r\n<div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __300x600\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>Omega grabs the mic and laughs sadistically.\u00a0 He tells the fans that they` couldn\u2019t have been surprised because AJ had it coming.\u00a0 Omega tells Styles that while \u201cthey\u201d made him a star, he was starving and wasting away as a junior.\u00a0 He tells Styles that he\u2019s been fired and the beating was his severance package.\u00a0 Omega says that he will not challenge KUSHIDA (huge bummer there) and says that he\u2019s coming for Nakamura and his title.\u00a0 He says that the Bullet Club is for life, except for AJ Styles.\u00a0 Styles reaches for help, but the guys just look at him on their way out of the ring.\u00a0 JR says that Styles is leaving the country in an embarrassing way, but I\u2019d say that everything worked out just fine for all parties not named Anderson and Gallows.\u00a0 Oh hell they\u2019re not done.<\/p>\n<p>Omega boots two \u201cyounger wrestlers\u201d out of the ring and picks Styles up for a Styles Clash.\u00a0 Matt Jackson superkicks Styles while he\u2019s dangled between Omega\u2019s legs before Omega completes the move.\u00a0 \u201cInsult and injury,\u201d Barnett states as they push Styles aside and leave.\u00a0 Styles eventually makes his way back to his feet to \u201cAJ Styles\u201d chants.\u00a0 He bows to the crowd as they applaud his service.\u00a0 In a backstage interview he says that he respects NJPW and everything that was offered to him.\u00a0 He respects what has happened to him in the ring.\u00a0 What a nice freaking guy.\u00a0 Damn it, there is a small part of me saying that I should give Smackdown another chance just to watch Styles.\u00a0 S-!\u00a0 And if Nakamura gets called up?\u00a0 Damn you WWE and your deep pockets lined with a worldwide audience!<\/p>\n<h3><b>(2)\u00a0Shinsuke Nakamura &amp; Kazuchika Okada &amp; Tomohiro Ishii vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi &amp; Katsuyori Shibata &amp; Hirooki Goto<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><b>All-Star Six-Man Tag<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Okada, Tanahashi, Goto, Ishii, and &#8211; holy s- it\u2019s Shibata &#8211; are already in the ring.\u00a0 Nakamura comes out to a seismic ovation from the crowd as Okada and Ishii hold the ropes for him to enter.\u00a0 Two things.\u00a0 One, Nakamura\u2019s NXT music is damn near iconic at this point to me, but son of a bitch if his NJPW theme isn\u2019t just as good, if not better!\u00a0 And two, after last week\u2019s Naito match, Ishii is more than welcome to show up on AXS whenever he damn well pleases.\u00a0 He made a fan for life that episode.\u00a0 If I make the switch to New Japan World I might very well start with his catalog of matches, though the choices are really stacking up at this point.<\/p>\n<p>Goto points to Okada before the bell rings and gets the matchup that he wants.\u00a0 JR tells us that at one time Tanahashi, Nakamura, and Shibata were referred to as the new three musketeers when they started in New Japan.\u00a0 That\u2019s interesting to me.\u00a0 I wouldn\u2019t have thought that Shibata was as old as the other two.\u00a0 Apparently they unseated the old musketeers of Keiji Mutoh, Masahiro Chono (friend of the Batsu game), and Shinya Hashimoto.\u00a0 The fans chant for Okada as he and Goto lock up.\u00a0 Goto boots Okada in the stomach as JR adds a little more clarity to his line last week about comparing Goto to Bret Hart.\u00a0 See, this was reason enough to go back and watch a replay of a replay.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t an isolated incident.\u00a0 JR\u2019s further detail is that Goto is a great wrestler.\u00a0 Wait, that\u2019s the backbone of your point?\u00a0 Maybe I\u2019ve overestimated to heft of JR\u2019s words.<\/p>\n<p>A shoulder block by Goto makes Okada roll outside to collect himself, but the cat and mouse chase that follows sets Goto up for a dropkick.\u00a0 Ishii gets tagged in, as does Shibata, and all is right in the world.\u00a0 \u201cNot just another pretty face,\u201d JR quips of Ishii.\u00a0 Shibata wrestles Ishii to the ropes which ends in a clean break.\u00a0 Yeah, I wouldn\u2019t think he would whitewash the back of Ishii\u2019s head like he did to Nagata.\u00a0 Ishii does the same to Shibata, but the hell with sportsmanship, Ishii chops Shibata\u2019s chest!\u00a0 It sounded like an M-80 went off next to the mics.\u00a0 Shibata looks down at the red imprint on his chest and brushes it off, but five more stiff chops smear the red around.<\/p>\n<p>Shibata fights back with a forearm and here we go.\u00a0 Batsu game!\u00a0 Forearm by Shibata, forearm by Ishii, forearm by Shibata, forearm by Ishii, forearm by Shibata, forearm by Ishii\u2026the crowd erupts at the tenth rapid-fire forearm exchange\u2026forearm by Shibata, forearm by Ishii\u2026three more exchanges before Shibata rocks Ishii, big boot by Shibata misses, forearm by Ishii, big boot by Shibata, scream from Ishii before hitting the ropes into a big boot by Shibata to end the Batsu.\u00a0 Good Lord!\u00a0 The thuds coming off of both men\u2019s jawbones was insane!\u00a0 JR echoes my thoughts on Shibata: \u201cHe looks like a champion.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Shibata slaps on a figure four in the middle of the ring.\u00a0 I\u2019m not sure what Ishii yelled to him, but it got a rise out of the crowd and made Shibata add more pressure to the hold.\u00a0 Ishii reverses, rolling into an Indian Deathlock, which Shibata rolls out of to break at the ropes.\u00a0 Tanahashi slaps Shibata on the back to get in, and while the crowd goes ballistic for the ace, JR says that because of PC the deathlock should be dubbed the Native American deathlock.\u00a0 He goes on, saying, \u201call due respect to my Cherokee Nation brethren\u201d, as Barnett chimes in that he has family who are of Cherokee descent in Oklahoma.\u00a0 Ishii tags in Nakamura, whipping the crowd into a frenzy over the anticipation of the matchup while JR and Barnett surmise that they might be cousins.<\/p>\n<p>Anyways, Nakamura and Tanahashi tie up and fight for position on the ropes.\u00a0 Nakamura pops right back up from a Tanahashi arm drag and bolts after him.\u00a0 Tanahashi tags in Shibata so they can hit a double-team shoulder block.\u00a0 Tanahashi steps outside, leaving solely Shibata and Nakamura, and my interest is piqued.\u00a0 Shibata and Nakamura lock up, with Shibata backing Nakamura into the ropes, resting his head on Nakamura\u2019s chest, and copies his signature rope taunt.\u00a0 That was pretty cool to see out of someone as serious as Shibata.\u00a0 They slap the s- out of each other, dead center of the cheek!\u00a0 Numerous reversals by both men, spinning in and out for control of a headlock.\u00a0 Shibata flips Nakamura onto the mat and crinkles the skin on his back with a line drive kick.\u00a0 He begins shoving the back of Nakamura\u2019s head with his boot, showing zero interest in treating Nakamura well on his last night.\u00a0 Nakamura\u2019s chest gets pasted by two hard kicks, the latter of the two lifting Nakamura back to his feet.\u00a0 Nakamura sends a high kick at Shibata, which is ducked, but the other one got him as that move tends to do.<\/p>\n<p>Okada and Ishii bolt into the ring, assaulting Goto and Tanahashi to the floor.\u00a0 In the ring, Nakamura whips Shibata into the corner, the force dropping Shibata in a heap.\u00a0 Good vibrations.\u00a0 A jumping knee by Nakamura gets a two and he tags in Ishii.\u00a0 Both Ishii and Okada enter as Nakamura sends Shibata into the ropes.\u00a0 He and Okada pick up Ishii and use him as a dropkick battering ram, followed by planting Ishii ass-first onto a prone Shibata for two.\u00a0 Ishii head-butts Shibata and begins brushing the back of HIS head with a boot.\u00a0 Four stiff chops lift Shibata back to his feet.\u00a0 I love that the impact of these hard shots can actually pop a guy back up to a full stand.\u00a0 Shibata answers back with three forearms that pound against Ishii\u2019s skull, followed by a snapmare and a hard boot bankshot between Ishii\u2019s shoulder blades.\u00a0 Whatever he screamed is probably translated to \u201cAhh, f-!\u201d\u00a0 Shibata hits the ropes, bypassing a slumped over Ishii to hit Nakamura with a sliding dropkick as he tries to enter back in.\u00a0 Ishii rolls back to his feet and catches Shibata with the same move.<\/p>\n<p>Okada hits a senton from the outside onto Shibata for two.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t legal, so he tags Nakamura, which is also not legal.\u00a0 Either way, it\u2019s not the best strategy considering Nakamura\u2019s condition at the moment.\u00a0 The hell with it.\u00a0 It\u2019s Nakamura\u2019s last match so they\u2019re going to squeeze as much life out of him as they can.\u00a0 Nakamura is in and out, tagging Okada in so Okada can eat a boot from Shibata.\u00a0 Okada runs the ropes to gain some momentum, but is kicked flush in the chest.\u00a0 Shibata rolls to his corner and tags in Goto.\u00a0 Goto kicks, kicks, and kicks Okada before landing a backdrop suplex.\u00a0 He\u2019s got Okada in the corner, firing off forearms, but misses a running clothesline when he gives Okada too much space.\u00a0 Okada hits a DDT, kips up, and hits a spinning elbow to Goto for two.\u00a0 Okada dishes out his own helping of forearms and scores with a flapjack.\u00a0 Tag to Nakamura.\u00a0 This guy can\u2019t catch a breather, and these are a set of lungs that have traveled their fair share of Marlboro miles.<\/p>\n<p>Nakamura hits an enzuigiri on Goto, but Goto recovers quickly and decks Nakamura with a clothesline.\u00a0 Tanahashi is in, squaring up with Nakamura and smacking him across the face.\u00a0 Oh s-.\u00a0 Batsu game!\u00a0 Forearm by Tanahashi, forearm by a very game Nakamura, forearm by Tanahashi, forearm by Nakamura\u2026yet again the crowd erupts after the tenth exchange\u2026four more forearm exchanges pass before Nakamura fouls out by missing a big forearm and getting rocked by a flying forearm.\u00a0 A scoop slam by Tanahashi sets up Nakamura for a top rope front flip splash.\u00a0 Nakamura tries to sneak in a kick, but he\u2019s stuffed at the goal line and dragon screw leg whipped.\u00a0 Exploder by Nakamura out of nowhere!\u00a0 Yeaaoh!\u00a0 He darts after Tanahashi for the Bomaye, but Shibata intercepts with a dropkick.\u00a0 Goto jumps in and slams Nakamura to the mat, setting up Tanahashi for the high fly flow.\u00a0 Nakamura gets his knees up, but in the scramble to get back up he\u2019s met by a sling blade.<\/p>\n<p>Ishii gets tagged, as does Shibata, and they square up.\u00a0 Shibata runs Ishii corner to corner, catching him with leaping high kicks.\u00a0 Shibata hits the floating dropkick, gobbling up Ishii moments later for a half hatch suplex (good man, Josh) that gets him a two count.\u00a0 Ishii isn\u2019t done, hitting a brainbuster on Shibata that sends him to crawling to the corner.\u00a0 A big clothesline by Ishii gets a two.\u00a0 Ishii tries to piledrive Shibata, but Goto flies in and clotheslines Ishii for the save.\u00a0 Goto doesn\u2019t break his stride, decking Okada off the apron.\u00a0 He bounces off the ropes to clothesline Ishii, but it\u2019s ducked and mows down Shibata.\u00a0 Okada is back in, hitting a running forearm on Goto while Ishii tries to backslide Shibata.<\/p>\n<p>In ring chaos erupts as everyone enters and hits forearms, dropkicks, knees, and general punishment until everyone is down on the mat.\u00a0 Somehow only the legal men remain.\u00a0 HUGE lariat by Ishii gets a two.\u00a0 Ishii picks up Shibata, but a lightning quick spinning back fist drops him.\u00a0 Awesome counter.\u00a0 Shibata traps Ishii in a Triangle which is broken up by Nakamura.\u00a0 Tanahashi sends Nakamura outside, leaving the legal men in the ring once more.\u00a0 Shibata gets a rear naked choke as bangs and clangs permeate from somewhere off camera.\u00a0 Ishii just manages to get to the ropes.\u00a0 Shibata boots Ishii in the chest in disgust and hits the ropes for the PK, which is narrowly broken up by an Okada dropkick.\u00a0 Nakamura gets back in and blasts Shibata with the Bomaye.\u00a0 Ishii scoops up what remains of Shibata and finishes him off with a brainbuster.<\/p>\n<p>Winner: Nakamura, Okada &amp; Ishii in 21:48<\/p>\n<p>After the match, Omega comes out and congratulates Nakamura on his last match.\u00a0 He says that it\u2019s not goodbye, but it\u2019s Nakamura\u2019s graduation.\u00a0 He says that he wants nothing more than for Nakamura to tell the people that he\u2019s scared of him.\u00a0 That does it.\u00a0 Tanahashi steps in front of the man he was just beating the hell out of for 20+ minutes and grabs a mic.\u00a0 He screams for Omega to shut up, which is a lovely oxymoron.\u00a0 He says that it\u2019s sad that Nakamura has had his last match, telling Omega that it\u2019s only him that he has to beat for the Intercontinental championship.\u00a0 He\u2018s the ace.\u00a0 Nakamura touches Tanahashi and women squeal.\u00a0 Omega drops his mic and leaves, pointing at Tanahashi on the backpedal.\u00a0 Okada comes in and shakes hands with Nakamura.\u00a0 As does Ishii.\u00a0 Gedo hops on the apron for a hug.<\/p>\n<p>Nakamura has the mic, taking a bow to all four sides of the ring before speaking.\u00a0 He asks the crowd if he should say something.\u00a0 He tells NJPW and the wrestlers that he\u2019s fought that he\u2019s grateful.\u00a0 Really grateful.\u00a0 He tells the fans that he was born there, grew up there, and is going to show the world what Shinsuke Nakamura is all about.\u00a0 He assures the crowd that his story will continue.\u00a0 He\u2019s not going to say goodbye.\u00a0 He just wants to say thank you.\u00a0 The crowd gets hyped up as Nakamura works them into a frenzy.\u00a0 Yeaaoh!!!!\u00a0 Nakamura takes another bow as JR thinks that Nakamura is going to be the next big thing in WWE.\u00a0 Nakamura takes a victory lap as CHAOS members flood the ring for hugs, every one of them wearing Nakamura shirts.\u00a0 Okada is crying as the men pose and take a picture together.\u00a0 Nakamura starts crying, grabbing the mic once more to scream \u201cpro wrestling is the greatest\u201d!\u00a0 Okada carries Nakamura on his shoulders for a victory lap while Nakamura shakes hands with the crowd, soaking in the adulation with tears in his eyes.<\/p>\n<p>In a backstage interview, a misty-eyed Nakamura asks how long it\u2019s been since CHAOS was formed.\u00a0 He considers them his family.\u00a0 He says that he\u2019s experiencing nothing but joy, vowing that Okada will protect the place in his absence.\u00a0 He says that it might be irresponsible, but he\u2019s leaving the place to Okada.\u00a0 When asked if he will ever wrestle in NJPW again, Nakamura says that life is a journey and it wouldn\u2019t be fun to comment on it.\u00a0 He thanks everyone for everything and takes a bow.<\/p>\n<p><i>(Andrews\u2019 Analysis: So the match was complete chaos, but somehow the legal men were accounted for.\u00a0 It was a nice touch.\u00a0 The individual matchups were spectacular to see, making me want to watch each and every one in a longer form.\u00a0 Much like the Styles match, this match left me wondering \u201cwhat have I missed\u201d?\u00a0 It\u2019s one of those cool feelings where you know that there is this whole back catalog of feuds and matches that have preceded all this amazing stuff I get to watch on AXS TV.\u00a0 I honestly don\u2019t know which one I would want to watch more.\u00a0 If I had to make a rush judgement, I think I\u2019d like to see Nakamura vs. Shibata followed by Nakamura vs. Ishii.\u00a0 I\u2019ve seen Nakamura vs. Tanahashi once, which was a spectacular match.\u00a0 Although I\u2019m new to NJPW, it was an all-star match in my mind and Nakamura was front row and center for most of it.\u00a0 Seeing Okada cry after the match definitely carried the air to it that those two are legit friends and Nakamura taking off was a blow to him.\u00a0 This is my selfish side talking, but I\u2019m really hoping that Okada is either signed to an uber long-term deal or his memories of TNA will keep him from joining his friend after seeing the absolute success that Nakamura is in NXT\/WWE.\u00a0 Of course, my unselfish side says \u201cget paid, Man\u201d.\u00a0 Okada is a star and if he can get a much larger paycheck in WWE and will get treated with the respect that he deserves then I wouldn\u2019t blame him.\u00a0 Or any of the guys I get to watch.\u00a0 There\u2019s a reason Nakamura and Styles jumped, and I\u2019m sure the financial security was a big help in making their decisions.\u00a0 Nakamura was a class act after the match and his words to the fans meant something to them.\u00a0 That should tell you how much he means to his fans, there and here.\u00a0 He\u2019s one of a kind and I\u2019m so happy to have come across this man and watch him wrestle.\u00a0 He\u2019s a treasure that we all get to bask in the spoils with.\u00a0 That\u2019s a good thing for wrestling.) \u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n<p>We get a backstage interview with Kenny Omega.\u00a0 He proudly reflects on overthrowing AJ Styles as leader of the Bullet Club.\u00a0 He says that there needed to be a shift.\u00a0 He calls AJ a heel leader trying to be a good guy \u201clike a bitch\u201d.\u00a0 The Bullet Club needs to be treated like the number one heel unit in pro wrestling and he was the only one who can do it.\u00a0 He talks about his match with Tanahashi.\u00a0 He says that he should have been facing Nakamura, but Nakamura bailed out to leave as a champion.\u00a0 He says that Tanahashi thinks that he\u2019s the ace, that he\u2019s number one.\u00a0 \u201cSince f***ing when!?\u201d Omega asks.\u00a0 He says that when it was announced that the match was sold out he saw Tanahashi crying in the back.\u00a0 Omega says that he didn\u2019t care about all that.\u00a0 He just wanted the belt.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m trying to make this s- worldwide.\u00a0 Tanahashi isn\u2019t going to do it being a little company bitch.\u201d\u00a0 This guy.\u00a0 How great is this guy?<\/p>\n<h3><b>(3)\u00a0Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kenny Omega<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><b>IWGP Intercontinental Championship Match<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Whelp, no need to set this one up.\u00a0 Omega said everything that needed to be said in his interview.\u00a0 Omega is out first, sans props.\u00a0 JR tells us that Omega swears that the Bullet Club will not interfere, though Omega is being flanked by Yujiro Takahashi and Cody Hall on his way to the ring.\u00a0 Hey, Barnett mentions Captain New Japan!\u00a0 I honestly didn\u2019t think I\u2019d here that name again.\u00a0 Here comes Tanahashi to a great reaction.\u00a0 I really need to listen to his theme song when I go for my run.\u00a0 Red Shoes is reffing this one, leaving Marty and the Morita doppelganger out in the cold for this big event.\u00a0 Omega points the finger-gun at Tanahashi and we\u2019re off.<\/p>\n<p>Tanahashi chants break out straight away, which I\u2019ve come to love.\u00a0 A tie-up leads to reversals on waistlocks at the ropes to a clean break as the crowd applauds.\u00a0 A headlock by Tanahashi takes Omega to a knee.\u00a0 Tanahashi gets shoved into the ropes but races back and shoulder-blocks Omega to the mat.\u00a0 Takashi and Hall grab Tanahashi and hold him for Omega.\u00a0 Omega tells them to back off.\u00a0 \u201cThis is some of the worst acting I\u2019ve ever seen,\u201d sighs Barnett.\u00a0 Omega tells them that the \u201csmart marks\u201d are going to hate him if he cheats during the match and sends the guys to the back.\u00a0 Omega claps to garner some fan support, and to my complete surprise, they actually clap.\u00a0 Again, this freaking guy.<\/p>\n<p>The two trade wristlocks before Omega eye-rakes Tanahashi and spoon-feeds him a big boot.\u00a0 Tanahashi goes up top early, getting snatched up by Omega for a one-winged angel.\u00a0 Tanahashi scoots out, but is whipped into the ropes.\u00a0 Omega drops low for a back drop, but is punted in the chest by Tanahashi who gives him the Nakamura \u201cCome on!\u201d pose.\u00a0 Omega is sent to the turnbuckle, bouncing off and into a big back body drop.\u00a0 What a maneuver.\u00a0 Tanahashi does good vibrations in the corner, which is enough Nakamura mimicry for me please.\u00a0 Just be yourself Tanahashi.\u00a0 You\u2019re awesome!\u00a0 Nope.\u00a0 He posts Omega across the top turnbuckle and rolls back to charge for the knee.\u00a0 Omega moves out of the way and drops Tanahashi\u2019s right arm across the top rope to work on his shoulder.\u00a0 Omega punches and drops elbows on Tanahashi\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 Tanahashi is whipped into the ropes and skins the cat into Omega\u2019s awaiting arms for a shoulder breaker.\u00a0 Tanahashi immediately rolls outside to regroup.<\/p>\n<p>Omega stays on the offensive, rolling outside to drape Tanahashi\u2019s arm around the guardrail and pulls on it before chopping Tanahashi\u2019s chest.\u00a0 An Irish whip sends Tanahashi into the guardrail and he begins choking him with a camera cord.\u00a0 There\u2019s no 20 count from Red Shoes as Omega eats a boot.\u00a0 Now we get the count as Omega hops over the guardrail to suplex Tanahashi onto a row of empty chairs vacated by fleeing fans.\u00a0 The twenty count has stopped, Red Shoes completely distracted from his task as he goes outside to try to corral the guys back in the ring.\u00a0 Omega finds a Naito mask from somewhere in the rubble, puts it on, and begins spoofing Tanahashi.\u00a0 JR: \u201cI think he\u2019s just trying to be a wise ass, imitating the air guitar of Tanahashi.\u201d \u00a0 Omega, still masked, leaps onto the guardrail to hit a beautiful moonsault that puts Tanahashi down.\u00a0 He flings the mask aside and rolls back in the ring, leaving Tanahashi writhing on the floor.\u00a0 Red Shoes is back on the twenty count, naturally.\u00a0 Tanahashi crawls into the ring as Omega sips on a drink of water, pinky out.<\/p>\n<p>Omega is on Tanahashi immediately, ripping away at the bandage around his shoulder.\u00a0 Omega is after the other arm, locking in a modified armbar, pretzeling up Tanahashi\u2019s limb.\u00a0 Barnett likens it to the Rings of Saturn as far as execution goes.\u00a0 Omega drops more elbows to Tanahashi\u2019s shoulder before strapping in a variant of a short-arm scissors.\u00a0 You know who said that one.\u00a0 Tanahashi finally gets to his feet, fights out for about two seconds before getting his head shrink-wrapped in a sleeper hold that is transitioned into a chicken wing.\u00a0 Tanahashi\u2019s only way out is to fall backwards, slamming Omega onto the mat to free himself.\u00a0 Omega rushes back to his feet and charges Tanahashi, but is chopped down and gets belted by a flying forearm.\u00a0 A snapmare by Tanahashi before heading up top.\u00a0 Omega grabs Tanahashi off the ropes, but the veteran slips away and hits a dragon screw leg whip.<\/p>\n<p>Tanahashi is in control, going for a cloverleaf that Omega breaks up at the ropes before he can ever lock it on.\u00a0 Omega with a big chop to Tanahashi\u2019s chest, followed by that beautiful leapfrog bulldog beamed down from outer space.\u00a0 Omega gets Tanahashi in a fireman\u2019s carry pickup, dumps him on the mat, but can\u2019t bounce to his feet for the moonsault as his leg buckles.\u00a0 He has to gingerly step onto the second rope to hit a one-legged moonsault.\u00a0 Gut wrench pickup by Omega, but his leg buckles again and they\u2019re both down.\u00a0 Omega struggles to his feet first, lunging after Tanahashi but is dumped outside.\u00a0 Tanahashi leaps to the top rope, scoring a high fly flow onto Omega outside.\u00a0 It was nice to see him not land mouth first, no thanks to Bad Luck Fale.\u00a0 Tanahashi clutches his arm as he rolls back in.<\/p>\n<p>Tanahashi grabs Omega\u2019s leg as he tries to get in and twirls into a vicious dragon screw leg whip.\u00a0 Omega goes for an enzuigiri, but is caught and gets another dragon screw.\u00a0 And another.\u00a0 Cloverleaf by Tanahashi right in the middle of the ring.\u00a0 Omega crawls for the ropes but is pulled right back to where they started as Tanahashi sits down to apply more pressure.\u00a0 Cody Hall is out, getting Red Shoes\u2019 attention.\u00a0 It\u2019s a trap!\u00a0 The Young Bucks sneak out from under the ring and double superkick Tanahashi.\u00a0 Nick heads up top as Matt lifts Tanahashi for a spiked tombstone.\u00a0 JR: \u201cOmega said he was going to do it all on his own.\u00a0 We should have known he was lyin\u2019 \u2018cause his lips were moving.\u201d\u00a0 Styles Clash by Omega!\u00a0 1, 2, no!\u00a0 Really close count.\u00a0 The Young Bucks apply cold spray to Omega\u2019s knee before he sprints ahead for a running knee.\u00a0 It\u2019s countered into a sick dragon suplex that sends Omega bouncing clear across the ring!\u00a0 \u201cMan, it is nut cutting time,\u201d proclaims JR.<\/p>\n<p>Omega and Tanahashi hobble to the middle of the ring.\u00a0 Punches by Omega, European Uppercut by Tanahashi, but Omega spins Tanahashi around for a backwards Frankensteiner!\u00a0 That move has yet to get old.\u00a0 It looks amazing depending on who is on the receiving end.\u00a0 Omega hoists Tanahashi up for the one-wined angel, but HE eats a backwards Frankensteiner!\u00a0 Jesus f***ing Christ!\u00a0 Straight Jacket German Suplex by Tanahashi for two!\u00a0 He hops over the top rope for the High Fly Flow but Nick Jackson breaks it up.\u00a0 Matt passes Omega the trash can and he lobs it at Tanahashi.\u00a0 But Tanahashi ducks!\u00a0 Red Shoes gets smacked in the back, dropping him to the mat!\u00a0 The Jacksons are in and put the trashcan over Tanahashi\u2019s arm.\u00a0 Here comes Elgin!\u00a0 He picks up both Young Bucks and hits a double fallaway slam.\u00a0 Omega is still up top and gets slammed onto the trash can.\u00a0 As Omega chops the s- out of Tanahashi\u2019s chest, Elgin grabs both Young Bucks and carries them to the back.\u00a0 Omega tries for a brainbuster, but Tanahashi reverses and hits a twisting neckbreaker.\u00a0 Slingblade by Tanahashi, but he only gets a two by a slow-handed, cobwebbed Red Shoes.\u00a0 Tanahashi goes up top and hits the High Fly Flow on a standing Omega.\u00a0 He\u2019s up top again and leaps for a second High Fly Flow, but Omega rolls out of the way!<\/p>\n<p>Tanahashi tries to pull himself up as Omega runs at him.\u00a0 Bomaye to the back of the head!\u00a0 Loud, nasty smack!\u00a0 Everyone is stealing Nakamura\u2019s moves, picking the carcass clean!\u00a0 Tanahashi tries to get up again, but Omega mows him down with a sick sounding knee to the face.\u00a0 Omega tries to roll up Tanahashi, but rolls him too far and Tanahashi slips out before the three.\u00a0 As does Red Shoes, who ducks out of the ring to raise two fingers in the air.\u00a0 \u201cOmega screwed himself!\u201d shouts JR.\u00a0 Omega chases down Tanahashi and devours the side of his head with a running knee!\u00a0 One-winged angel for the win!<\/p>\n<p>Winner:\u00a0 Kenny Omega in 29:10 to capture the IWGP Intercontinental Champion<\/p>\n<p>After the match, ice bags are applied immediately to Tanahashi\u2019s shoulder as Omega celebrates, snatching the title out of Red Shoes\u2019 hands.\u00a0 Omega tells the camera that he\u2019s changing the universe.\u00a0 He\u2019s all smiles as Red Shoes snaps the belt around his waist.\u00a0 Omega gets the mic, which is perfect for any occasion, and tells the crowd that they wished in their dreams that Tanahashi could be their Valentine.\u00a0 Not today!\u00a0 He tells them that their new Valentine, and hero, is him.\u00a0 He can do it all.\u00a0 He can wrestle.\u00a0 He can talk.\u00a0 He can sing.\u00a0 He doesn\u2019t care if they like whether he is champion or if they speak English.\u00a0 Then he politely thanks them for coming to the match in Japanese which draws some laughter.\u00a0 Streamers litter the ring, which causes Omega to grab his broom and sweep the ring before playing air guitar with it.\u00a0 This\u2026freaking\u2026guy.<\/p>\n<p>Backstage, Tanahashi is still getting iced down.\u00a0 He apologizes to Nakamura.\u00a0 He\u2019s gone, Man!\u00a0 Let it go!\u00a0 Meanwhile, Omega is surrounded by The Bullet Club.\u00a0 He announces that there are no limits.\u00a0 He remarks that Tanahashi with one good shoulder kicked the s- out of him, but the bigger he gets the harder it\u2019ll be to beat him, in reference to putting on size and becoming a true heavyweight.<\/p>\n<p><em>(Andrews\u2019 Analysis: This was a lot of fun.\u00a0 From start to finish both guys put on an entertaining match that really heated up towards the end.\u00a0 But it wasn\u2019t just the fast pace of the end that was fun to watch.\u00a0 I loved, loved, LOVED that Omega continually attacked Tanahashi\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 It got only better when Tanahashi managed to injure Omega\u2019s leg on the dragon screw, sending the signal to keep working it over as Omega limped around and tried to work through the injury.\u00a0 It was all good stuff.\u00a0 What was also good stuff was the decision to put the title on Kenny Omega.\u00a0 I\u2019m not saying this because I\u2019ve become a big fan of his either.\u00a0 I\u2019m saying it because with Nakamura and Styles leaving, the company needed a fresh face at the tip-top, and who is fresher than Kenny Omega.\u00a0 He works differently than the other guys in the company, plays a great villain (sorry, I don\u2019t like saying face and heel), he can talk copious amounts of s- to his opponents and the crowd, but can still get the crowd to chuckle at his antics.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know if he\u2019ll ever fill the void of two world class athletes, which is a tall order, but his emergence in the main event picture can sure help you forget who was there as you focus on who IS there putting on fantastic matches.\u00a0 And Tanahashi was Tanahashi, which is not a knock.\u00a0 I have only seen one bad Tanahashi match and I\u2019m not pointing the finger at him for that.\u00a0 He\u2019s another back catalog guy whose matches will take months to get through, though I\u2019m willing to bet I will enjoy almost every second of them.\u00a0 This isn\u2019t a must-watch match for a veteran, but if you\u2019re playing catchup like me then it wouldn\u2019t hurt to see where The Omega Era in the main title picture began.)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Present day (sort of) interview with Omega.\u00a0 He says that with the fans cheering Tanahashi it annoyed him because he was busting his ass to make the match look good.\u00a0 He says that the Young Bucks saved the day.\u00a0 He goes on to thank Tanahashi for the match before saying that he won.\u00a0 His plan for the future is to \u201creshape this shitty company from what it currently is\u201d.\u00a0 He says that the company doesn\u2019t give a f- about him or the Bullet Club, that all they care about is Los Ingobernables.\u00a0 Well Omega thinks that no one cares about Los Ingobernables outside of Tokyo.\u00a0 He tells New Japan to push them all they want because everyone is going to see that they suck.\u00a0 He makes mention of the G1 and how the winner can challenge for whatever belt they want, which is his ticket to a Heavyweight title shot at the Tokyo Dome.\u00a0 And if you haven\u2019t seen the commercial for Wrestle Kingdom 11 yet, well, he might have made it.\u00a0 Or not!\u00a0 Watch the commercial.<\/p>\n<p><strong>FINAL THOUGHTS:<\/strong>\u00a0Styles\u2019 last match was so-so.\u00a0 He was nearly given the night off to pave the way for Omega and was tossed aside for the next incarnation of the Bullet Club.\u00a0 Fair enough.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure he had to carry enough shows in his New Japan tenure.\u00a0 Nakamura\u2019s last match was far flashier with the all-star six-man making it a pretty exciting watch.\u00a0 Nakamura worked his ass off match and gave the fans in the crowd and those watching a hell of a farewell.\u00a0 I for one do not plan on just letting this man\u2019s history go to waste.\u00a0 Whether by internet of New Japan World, seeing Nakamura\u2019s time come to an end makes me want to backfill the void with countless hours of matches.<\/p>\n<p>I know it\u2019s been said here and everywhere else, but Shinsuke Nakamura is a treasure.\u00a0 His style, his charisma, and his work in the ring are unlike anything you will ever see in pro wrestling.\u00a0 Before he left, Nakamura screamed out that pro wrestling is the greatest.\u00a0 Well, Sir, you\u2019re one of the reasons it can be so great.\u00a0 The Omega\/Tanahashi match was very smart in the way that they attacked injuries while not having to stray too far from what makes their offense so great.\u00a0 Omega pulled off copious amounts of his And-1 Mixtape offense even with an injured leg while Tanahashi fought to overcome his shoulder injury and fly around like only he can.\u00a0 The entire block of matches was a lot of fun and I still think that we are all lucky to be able to watch them with the soundtrack of JR and Barnett.)<\/p>\n<p>Well you know what\u2019s coming next, but before I ask you to kick some ass, let me tell you a personal story.\u00a0 This isn\u2019t a story to just wash my own balls, it\u2019s something that I want to say in order to segue into the point.\u00a0 This past week I took a huge exam.\u00a0 I\u2019m talking career-altering exam.\u00a0 Here\u2019s the thing about how I got there.\u00a0 I did it on my own dime, spending thousands of dollars out of my own pocket and sitting in class after class for a few years just to get to that exam.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know whether I passed or failed, I\u2019ll find that out in the very near future, but in a way it doesn\u2019t matter because I\u2019ve already won.\u00a0 I won because I made the commitment to gamble on myself to take it to the house.\u00a0 And that\u2019s the point.\u00a0 Gamble on yourselves, Guys.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s been said that the older we get, the more our window of opportunity closes.\u00a0 The hell it does.\u00a0 Your window can\u2019t close if you keep busting that mother***er out.\u00a0 So please, gamble on yourselves.\u00a0 Whatever your goal, whatever your dream that seems so far from reach, gamble on yourself to take that s- to the house.\u00a0 Make that commitment to your future.\u00a0 Our time in this world may be finite, but what you can accomplish in it is infinite.\u00a0 So with that being said, kick a little ass this week and take a moment to make that commitment to bust that window right the f- out.<\/p>\n<p>Oh, and if your goal\/dream revolves around a relationship, PLEASE leave the windows alone.\u00a0 Be a f***ing gentleman for God\u2019s sake.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>NOW CHECK OUT LAST WEEK&#8217;S REVIEW:\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2016\/12\/20\/1216-njpw-axs-tv-review-okada-vs-sanada-omega-young-bucks-vs-yoshitatsu-elgin-takahashi-ishii-vs-naito\/\">12\/16 NJPW on AXS TV Review: Okada vs. Sanada, Omega &amp; Young Bucks vs. Yoshitatsu &amp; Elgin &amp; Takahashi, Ishii vs. Naito<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-3230760278\"><div id=\"pwtor-4088728904\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>NJPW on AXS TV Report December 23, 2016 Ryogoku Kokugikan Part 3 &amp; Hakata Starlanes By R.W. Andrews, PWTorch contributor A.J. 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