Wrestling Omakase #287: STARDOM Cinderella 3/11 & 3/15 Finals, New Japan Cup Nights 4-8, Marigold 3/14 & AJPW 3/15 Korakuens, GLEAT 3/12 Shinjuku FACE w/ Velkej
🎧 Listen to the full episode on Voices of Wrestling
Shinjuku FACE closure
They announced that they're closing Shinjuku FACE at the end of September. It seems very likely they're just going to tear this whole building down.
The reason why the closure is happening is because it's in such a central district... Shinjuku is the most traveled train station in the entire world. It's a very central, easy-to-reach place from almost anywhere in the greater Tokyo area.
For the wrestling companies, this is actually the only building that offers this specific setup in Tokyo because there is no other building centrally located with cheap rent and 500 seats.
Maki Itoh / Rossy Ogawa
Do you remember when Rossy Ogawa was giving a press conference leading up to their show in October and out of nowhere he just dropped, 'By the way, we're not signing Maki Itoh'? It makes me wonder if they also made her a pitch and she's just like, 'No, I'm going to Stardom, thank you.'
Japanese wrestling venues
I don't think people actually know how big a blow this is. It's not as crippling as losing Korakuen would have been, but losing Korakuen is a crippling blow to the wrestling industry and that one's probably coming in our lifetime.
Maki Itoh in Stardom
I think we need to have a chat about the people who thought Maki Itoh wouldn't work in Stardom. I was one of those people, but I was wrong. The Cinderella tournament brought the in-ring work for Maki Itoh.
Rina's career trajectory
I saw a bunch of tweets after the final where everybody was like, 'Why can't Rina ever win anything?' She's 19 years old. Let the first win be sweet. Let it wait for it. Don't give her this crown of the champion who has to draw on top of the biggest women's wrestling company in the world.
Tokyo Dome future
The Yomiuri Giants don't want to actually move to the new stadium because obviously they need to be able to get people to these games all the time. The thinking is that the building might open and then the Giants might stay in the Tokyo Dome for at least 10 years after that.
Hanako's development
Hanako has for the last three years been portrayed as this weak giant who cannot actually be a giant or a monster. I would love for her to go away for at least half a year before 5STAR to come back. Don't be on my screen and figure out what you are going to be the rest of your career.
Hanan's wrestling style
Hanan should retire the roll-up. Because she's no longer 17. She's too big now for flash roll-ups. I don't think giants should do flash roll-ups. I think giants should just chokeslam people.
