Retirements, Miu vs Suzume, Don Fry, and Ciampa

Big catchup on a mix of stuff, including the retirements of Tanahashi and AJ Styles

Tanahashi vs Okada

Wrestle Kingdom, Tanahashi's Retirement

Iiiiiiiis it five stars?? I mean idk maybe probably I guess aaaaaah who gives a damn I wanted to cry and points and thats what matters. Nothing worth arguing half a star over. Especially if you ALSO include all the ceremony after the match itself.

They do the move throw back thing in a way that is a good version of the AJ/Cena match. These people genuinely mattered, and climbing down their history gave both strength. Only by returning to his roots, could Okada win. Like with Soup vs Tsuji, the finisher is a reminder (whether or not this fact is true or not) that New Japan is the best.

And then Tanahashi air guitared and I got weepy like w/e this ruled

Miu Watanabe vs Suzume

TJPW Tokyo Joshi Pro '26

Damn. Maybe 5 if I was more deep in the TJPW mines, but as a 'watch a match or two every 6 months' person, this fucking banged. A true fighting game matchup between a pixie and a grappler. Every time I see Miu I'm shocked not by her raw strength, but her explosiveness. Hurking girls around is one thing, but the way she runs Suzume into a turnbuckle gave me whiplash, and the tilt-a-whirl backbreaker she did made it look like she was splitting a log in half with her knee.

I'm less familiar with Suzume, but she zoomed, and sold her ass off. Played the perfect underdog.

AJ Styles vs Gunther

WWE Royal Rumble 2026, AJ's Career on the Line

Delivered. Gunther still my favorite thing whenever I watch WWE. AJ, for his part, has maybe lost a step, but a step is all he lost. He's 80-90% what he was almost a decade ago and it's crazy to hold on like that. Said goodbye, still showing he could perform at a high level while still having a deep gas tank. Peace out to my favorite flat earther, you had a great career.

Toshiaki Kawada vs Don Frye

AJPW Road To Re-BirthxRe-Verse 2003

Another AJPW "Match during Dinner" review.

I love a little bit of shooto mixed in to stuff. Not necessary super exciting for all audiences, but watching Kawada and Frye just roll around in a grapple for 10 minutes is the type of shit I really love to see once and awhile.

Finish was appropriate, given the match and Frye's involvement but it didn't hit.

April really enjoyed this one, for very obvious reasons.

Tommaso Ciampa vs Mark Briscoe

AEW Collision

I wasn't sure what to expect from Ciampa at this point, but he clearly still has juice. Sometimes ex-WWE guys -- even former indie ones -- come out of WWE and say they have a fire, but the fire is muted by the style they've been wrestling for years. Ciampa was still ready to go. Him and Mark seemed to just have a fun time beating the shit out of each other, which is what I'd imagine you'd wanna do when leaving WWE.

I don't know about throwing the title on him so fast. He has juice, but who knows if he'll have long term legs. Still I love when someone leaves someplace with a chip on their shoulder and something to prove.