Eastern Lariat

It's this time of the year again! This episode is all about celebrating the very best of the year 2025 in japanese Pro-Wrestling as STRIGGA & Dylan unveil the Eastern Lariat Year End Awards that you, the listeners, voted for! Across 12 categories, both hosts break down the winners, debate cases and tight races, spotlight moments, matches, and performers that defined the year. From MVP, Best Wrestler, Best Jr. Heavyweight over Best Bout, Most Improved and Best Foreigner, this show offers a synoptic look at a crucial year for puroresu!   Intro song: 「ANTI-FORMALISM」 by OBSESS HEDERA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIC0uRHmms0

The beginning of the new year is the endpoint of a career at the same time. It's not the endpoint of a regular career, but the endpoint of Hiroshi Tanahashi's career that shaped japanese pro wrestling over the past 26 years and helped change the balance of power in the business. So it's no exaggeration to say that fans witnessed the closing of the book of one of the most important careers not just in New Japan Pro Wrestling, but in modern professional wrestling as a whole. Besides the Tanahashi festivities and his tremendous final match against longtime rival Kazuchika Okada, STRIGGA & Dylan review the full card, talk about what worked, what didn't, and how New Japan presented its biggest show of the year. Above all though, the Eastern Lariat reflects on Tanahashi's legacy as the Ace, what his farewell meant in the context of the event, and where NJPW goes from here without the man who carried the company on his back and broke his own body doing so.

It's the yearly tradition back again. 2025 is in the books and now we go over the predictions from the fans. We got a ton and Dylan goes through every single one, determining if things are more likely or unlikely to happen and my thoughts on the possibility of them happening. Finally he throws out a few predictions of his own that he foresees for 2026. It's a new year! What will the future hold for us? The Eastern Lariat Family comes together to try to determine one aspect!   For more coverage of Japanese wrestling, and wrestling past and present please check out our Patreon for literally 1000s of hours of audio and written content as well: https://www.patreon.com/easternlariat    Follow us on Twitter/X:     https://www.twitter.com/easternlariat    https://www.twitter.com/strigga       https://www.twitter.com/viva_zero   Follow us on BlueSky: @easternlariat.bsky.social @vivazero.bsky.social @strigga.bksy.social   Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/easternlariat

For the final show of the year 2025, STRIGGA & Dylan Fox dive into their 25 under 25 list of the very best Japanese pro wrestling talent under the age of 25. From already main eventing standouts to promising prospects with seemingly limitless ceilings, they talk strengths, trajectories, and who's in line to define the next coming years of their respective promotion or maybe the entire scene. Join in, come up with your own list or learn about new talent that's about to put their stamp on the next decade.

Merry Christmas from the Eastern Lariat!   As a special gift to you, STRIGGA & Dylan go 25 years back in time and present their review of the Super J-Cup 3rd Stage hosted by Michinoku Pro Wrestling on the 1st & 9th of April 2000! This tournament featured a colorful cast of characters from New Japan's Jushin Thunder Liger over Michinoki Pro's Great Sasuke and WCW's Kaz Hayashi to Big Japan's MEN's Teioh and BattlArts representative Katsumi Usuda.   Join in as the Eastern Lariat travel back to a different world of professional wrestling!

This week on the Eastern Lariat, STRIGGA & Dylan kick things off by talking about one of their japanese pro-wrestling soft spots in ZERO1. As the company is "reborn", they took it to Korakuen Hall where the "reborn" Hayabusa faced Kaito Kiyomiya. Kiyomiya also recently faced "Mr. Smack Daddy" Yoshiki Inamura in the main event, so Pro Wrestling NOAH and their upcoming Budokan card is the next topic. From there, STRIGGA & Dylan take it to New Japan's Wrestle Kingdom 20 card that is shaping up nicely. While ZERO1 always seems to be on its last legs, All Japan continues to have boom and bust cycles as currently, they're struggle both in-ring and behind the scenes, while over in DRAGONGATE, the King of Gate Final delivered huge with the most unlikely final. And finally, STRIGGA runs down Michinoku Pro's Great Space War Match and the lore behind this year's iteration.  

With the smoke clearing on the 2025 WON Hall of Fame ballots, we have a whopping 8 new inductees to discuss. With all 7 voted in being candidates voted on by returning guest from the Emerald Flowshow, Gerard di Trolio. We go over the inductees, near misses, surprising totals and the future of the ballots with new and returning candidates being announced, finally with picks suggested by us to big Dave himself that we feel should be on the ballot, belong and deserve a look in the future. It was a fun ride covering it once again in 2025 and for the first time we wrap it up with the results!   If you wanna hear more of Gerard and talking about modern NOAH, AJPW, occasionally GLEAT & BJW, check out the Emerald Flowshow!   twitter.com/emeraldflowshow   https://open.spotify.com/show/1sjbd84fZN0VC46hCnyc3V   For more coverage of Japanese wrestling, and wrestling past and present please check out our Patreon for literally 1000s of hours of audio and written content as well: https://www.patreon.com/easternlariat    Follow us on Twitter/X:     https://www.twitter.com/easternlariat    https://www.twitter.com/strigga       https://www.twitter.com/viva_zero   Follow us on BlueSky: @easternlariat.bsky.social @vivazero.bsky.social @strigga.bksy.social   Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/easternlariat

For the firs time in a long time STRIGGA & Dylan invest a lot of time into DRAGONGATE and analyze the current stable landscape of the promotion guiding you through the different camps and what their aspirations and goals are. In doing so, they also discuss the most recent Gate of Destiny and King of Gate events. From there, they take it to New Japan Pro Wrestling in November and on their road to the Tokyo Dome. This episode was taped before Tanahashi's opponent was announces, so part of this speculation is redundant – it's fun nonetheless! Finally, the Eastern Lariat reviews DDT's Ultimate Party from November 3rd – a very long, yet fun show.

It's time for the Hall of Fame! Dylan is joined by the Emerald Flowshow and WON Hall of Fame voter Gerard di Trolio to discuss this year's ballot, with particular spotlight on the new candidates on this year. Every single region is covered as he reveals his ballot, with perhaps one Dylan swaying him on somewhat? Buckle up and check out our look at a wrestling history perspective for over 3 hours, with a couple of tangents on the Blue Jays, Gerard showing up to Sweet Daddy Siki's karaoke nights, and who could be next on the pipeline to be placed on the ballot in the future. It was another edition at the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame for the year 2025. Below is the full ballot and list of candidates:   I FOLLOWED THE HISTORICAL PERFORMERS ERA CANDIDATES (Six maximum)   Ole Anderson Afa & Sika Anoa'i Bob Armstrong Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson w/J.J. Dillon British Bulldogs (Dynamite Kid & Davey Boy Smith) June Byers Wild Bull Curry Junkyard Dog Cowboy Bob Ellis  Pampero Firpo  Black Gordman & Great Goliath  Archie "Mongolian Stomper" Gouldie  Hart Foundation (Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart)  Sputnik Monroe  Dusty Rhodes & Dick Murdoch  Iron Sheik Sweet Daddy Siki Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood Mad Dog & Butcher Vachon Kevin & Kerry & David Von Erich   I FOLLOWED THE MODERN PERFORMERS IN U.S/CANADA CANDIDATES (Six maximum) Mark & Jay Briscoe Edge/Adam Copeland Bill Dundee FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheleer) Bill Goldberg Samoa Joe Matt & Jeff Hardy Becky Lynch Drew McIntyre Mercedes Mone/Sasha Banks Jon Moxley Kevin Nash & Scott Hall Randy Orton C.M. Punk Cody Rhodes Seth Rollins Sabu Trish Stratus Rick & Scott Steiner    I FOLLOWED WRESTLING IN JAPAN CANDIDATES (Three maximum)   Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan Yoshiaki Fujiwara Hayabusa Masaaki Mochizuki Antonio Inoki & Seiji Sakaguchi Zack Sabre Jr. Meiko Satomura Io Shirai/Iyo Sky Tiger Jeet Singh Yoshihiro Takayama Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada   I FOLLOWED WRESTLING IN MEXICO CANDIDATES (Three maximum) Angel Blanco & Dr.Wagner Sangre Chicana El Dandy Dorrell Dixon Gran Hamada Los Infernales (El Satanico & Pirata Morgan & MS 1) El Hijo del Santo & Octagon La Parka AAA Mascarita Sagrada Volador Jr.   I FOLLOWED WRESTLING IN EUROPE/AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND/PACIFIC ISLANDS/AFRICA (four maximum)   Spyros Arion Dominic DeNucci George Gordienko Steve Grey Billy Joyce Les Kellett Killer Karl Kox Gilbert Leduc Ted Boy Marino The Royal Brothers (Bert Royal & Vic Faulkner) Adrian Street Jose Tarres Otto Wanz   NON-WRESTLERS (Seven maximum)   Dave Brown (U.S. & Canada modern) Zane Bresoff (U.S.& Canada modern) Bobby Bruns (Japan) Bob Caudle (U.S. & Canada historical) Joe Higuchi (Japan) Jim Johnston (U.S. & Canada modern) Larry Matysik (U.S.& Canada historical) James Melby (U.S. & Canada historical) Bill Mercer (U.S. & Canada historical) Gorilla Monsoon (U.S. & Canada historical) Rossy Ogawa (Japan) Reggie Parks (U.S. & Canada modern) Morris Sigel (U.S. & Canada historical) Tony Schiavone (U.S. & Canada modern) George Scott (U.S. & Canada historical) Kevin Sullivan (U.S. & Canada historical) Mike Tenay (U.S. & Canada modern) Ted Turner (U.S. & Canada modern) Jesse Ventura (U.S. & Canada historical) Roy Welch (U.S. & Canada historical) Stanley Weston (U.S. & Canada historical) Grand Wizard (U.S & Canada historical) Koichi Yoshizawa (Japan)   -   If you wanna hear more of Gerard and talking about modern NOAH, AJPW, occasionally GLEAT & BJW, check out the Emerald Flowshow!   twitter.com/emeraldflowshow   https://open.spotify.com/show/1sjbd84fZN0VC46hCnyc3V   For more coverage of Japanese wrestling, and wrestling past and present please check out our Patreon for literally 1000s of hours of audio and written content as well: https://www.patreon.com/easternlariat    Follow us on Twitter/X:     https://www.twitter.com/easternlariat    https://www.twitter.com/strigga       https://www.twitter.com/viva_zero   Follow us on BlueSky: @easternlariat.bsky.social @vivazero.bsky.social @strigga.bksy.social   Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/easternlariat

The guys kick things off with a look at the bad blood between Go Shiozaki and Pro Wrestling NOAH over the ZERO1 Title – a messy situation that All Japan Pro Wrestling could benefit from a lot. From there, it's over to All Japan, where STRIGGA brings up the point of production values in contrast to NOAH or NJPW. They'll also talk about HAVOC being over with the crowd and how Shiozaki fits into the group and the promotion. From there, they take it to NOAH's Wrestle Odyssey from Sumo Hall that featured some strong junior matches but plenty of disjointed storytelling. Another question raised and tackled is where New Japan goes next with Konosuke Takeshita as new IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. Is Okada going to be his Wrestle Kingdom opponent? Is It Tsuji? This could also interfere with possible Tanahashi retirement opponents. Other topics on NJPW include the hit Tag Team Title match, thoughts on the IWGP Women's Championship, a ridiculous Super Jr. Tag League lineup. The final topic includes early speculations about DRAGONGATE's King of Gate winner. Ten years in, the Eastern Lariat remains your go-to source for all things puroresu – insightful, opinionated, and always unscripted!  

Eastern Lariat Special: GAEA Girls   25 years after it's release, Dylan is joined by his Wrestle Update co-host and film major, game designer, director Nello de Angelis to give his insights from a directorial standpoint. Hear the two break down the film as well as the content of it as well which focuses on the GAEA Dojo led by legendary Joshi wrestler Chigusa Nagayo which at times devolves into psychological analysis as well as a look at possibly separating the kayfabe from the real   The Kim Longinotto & Jana Williams film documents the life of multiple trainees of GAEA over the course of the summer of 1999 eventually centering around rookie wrestler Saika Takeuchi and her October debut and her quest to "become someone" and her intense training with (a 19 year old) Meiko Satomura as well as Chigusa Nagayo and others including cameo appearances from Sakura Hirota, Toshie Uematsu, Sonoko Kato and even a young Thanomsak Toba!? Among others. It is a journey that sees many fall off and quit, but we discuss the capabilities of the bread truck and if Satomura could have become a J-Pop star so...it's not all bad I guess. Except for Wakabayashi. It was pretty much all bad. But we respect her and her University of Marquette shirt.   Hopefully you enjoy this unique edition of the Eastern Lariat going beyond the dropkick everyone knows and examining the contents of this very well done documentary about a legendary Joshi promotion and the undercurrent at the turn of the century.   In addition if you would like to watch Saika Takeuchi's debut match from the movie against Satomura in full check that out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qjEKUa5Zx4   If you would like to watch Saika's last match available on YT, check out her match tagging with Uematsu vs. POLICE & Sakura Hirota on Dylan's birthday! In 2001, her retirement year (and also with way better gear than that atupid singlet): https://youtu.be/OymmbVMzohQ?si=R-SZnYXLRmX0LjBb   If you would like to check out Nello and his work with me talking US based wrestling, listen to Wrestle Update, available weekly on cagematch.net and Spotify and our YT page!   https://www.cagematch.net/?id=128&series=Wrestle+Update   https://open.spotify.com/show/1rM5efgHIaHnNbv1AjO1zA?si=9gBQCkJyQtShJNhaX-7XLQ   https://youtube.com/@wrestleupdatepod?si=_zer8HZ9yhwRdpjh     If you would like to reach Nello specifically send him a message on BlueSky: @aniellooo.bsky.social   And check out his VR horror based video game Deep Cuts: https://www.meta.com/en-gb/experiences/deep-cuts/6888594277865616/   For more coverage of Japanese wrestling, and wrestling past and present please check out our Patreon for literally 1000s of hours of audio and written content as well: https://www.patreon.com/easternlariat    Follow us on Twitter/X:     https://www.twitter.com/easternlariat    https://www.twitter.com/strigga       https://www.twitter.com/viva_zero   Follow us on BlueSky: @easternlariat.bsky.social @vivazero.bsky.social @strigga.bksy.social   Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/easternlariat

STRIGGA & Dyaln are back and cover a lot of ground from late August to mid September! First off, they dive deep into All Japan's Oudou Tournament and Pro Wrestling NOAH's N-1 Victory, both of which are shaping the fall landscape in a big way. Over in Marigold, the Dream Star GP ended with two wrestlers gaining a lot from it alongside the surprising news of MIRAI's departure. Might she go back to Stardom? The duo also checks in on Tokyo Joshi Pro's Wrestle Princess VI, Ganbare Pro, Dragon Gate, and DDT to round out another tour across the Japanese scene.

On today's Eastern Lariat, it's an extremely special episode as Dylan is joined by the esteemed Pro Wrestling Author Dr. Jonathan Foye. The Ganbaru Author and regular Japanese wrestling live show attendee joins Fox in giving looks at all the competitors in the tournament, their histories, who they are as wrestlers and also we come through at the end with predictions for the finals of the tournament as well as the winner. It was great to have the good doctor on once again and to talk about the company he loves, with insight and info abound!   For more coverage of Japanese wrestling, and wrestling past and present please check out our Patreon for literally 1000s of hours of audio and written content as well: https://www.patreon.com/easternlariat    Follow us on Twitter/X:     https://www.twitter.com/easternlariat    https://www.twitter.com/strigga       https://www.twitter.com/viva_zero   www.twitter.com/JonathanFoye   Follow us on BlueSky: @easternlariat.bsky.social @vivazero.bsky.social @strigga.bksy.social   Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/easternlariat   Check out Jonathan's books on AJPW/NOAH at the turn of the century!   https://www.amazon.com/Ganbaru-Japan-Wrestling-Survived-Roster/dp/B09RWJ56KR   https://www.amazon.com/Muto-Years-Jonathan-Foye/dp/B0BHKGL3Y3/

Special Edition: 5 Star Grand Prix Full Review and Recap   We talked about it on the EL but it just wasn't enough for Dylan as he brings in the Dramatic Dream Dragons' Sondre Bjørn into the fold and we go over the entire tournament, with talk about not just the final, but EVERY SINGLE WRESTLER and rank them on a 1/10 scale. We talk about the future and where things could go with Momo as the winner as well as an overall view of the whole tournament. It's A LOT and we get through it together and hope you enjoy!   For more coverage of Japanese wrestling, and wrestling past and present please check out our Patreon for literally 1000s of hours of audio and written content as well: https://www.patreon.com/easternlariat    Follow us on Twitter/X:     https://www.twitter.com/easternlariat    https://www.twitter.com/strigga       https://www.twitter.com/viva_zero   www.twitter.com/sondrebjorn   Follow us on BlueSky: @easternlariat.bsky.social @vivazero.bsky.social @strigga.bksy.social   Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/easternlariat   Check out the Dramatic Dream Dragons and enjoy Dylan in a more silly setting, focused on Dragon Gate and DDT!: https://open.spotify.com/show/0lmhqND9EcIB8jFIGvScoT?si=SEVXXpcpSZK8Vqtfpw_Wvg

Welcome to episode 308 of the Eastern Lariat! STRIGGA & Dylan are back to dish out another potpourri of the Japanese wrestling landscape. This week they dive into New Japan's freshly updated cards for the Destruction tour before they look back at Stardom's highly successful 5★Star Grand Prix that elevated numerous wrestlers to greater heights. Another joshi tournament is in the focus following that as Tokyo Joshi Pro's Princess Cup also finished up with talent elevated as well. The Eastern Lariat also covers the latest in All Japan with the Oudou Tournament, quickly break down Pro Wrestling NOAH's N-1 Victory lineup, and round it all out with a stop in DRAGONGATE discussing the upcoming Korakuen Hall card and the upcoming Z-Brats rebranding.

STRIGGA & Dylan return with their coverage the final days of NJPW's G1 Climax 35 – the biggest tournament of the Summer. With the final and the road leading to it being pretty controversial, did the tournament hold up the high G1 standards? What does the crowd reactions during Konosuke Takeshita vs. EVIL tell us about the individual performers and the state of the company? From booking choices and patterns to match quality and overall presentation, The Eastern Lariat breaks down what worked, what didn't, and where New Japan Pro Wrestling stands after the conclusion of the tournament.

In the spirit of the season, The Eastern Lariat returns with deep dive into the big summer gatherings of pro wrestling in japan – the major tournaments. The show starts out with Dylan's rundown of Stardom's 5Star Grand Prix up until Day 4 and then turns to New Japan Pro Wrestling's G1 Climax 35 that crossed the half way point this past weekend. The big question here is: What's in the cards for which performer? The show of course also offers a series of recommended matches, highlights performers and performances and also questions unwritten rules of pro wrestling in Japan. Deservedly so so, All Japan Pro Wrestling is in the main event spot of this show for their excellent, dramatic and energizing Summer Action Wars from Ota Ward that saw two high-class matches in the World Tag Team Title Match and the Final of the Zennichi Junior Festival and that could steer AJPW in the right direction.

On this episode of the Eastern Lariat podcast, STRIGGA & Dylan dive into a packed puroresu lineup. They kick things off with Pro Wrestling NOAH, where KENTA has taken center stage in a major way for the first time since 2014. Then it's over to All Japan Pro Wrestling for a deep look at the Zennichi Junior Tournament and what it means for the promotion's junior division – is this the best its ever been? From there, STRIGGA & Dylan turn their attention to NJPW's G1 Climax 35. They give a synopsis of the first 7 days of the tournament analyzing each competitor's performance so far, comment on booking decisions, and who might make it to the playoffs with Block B being in complete disarray after Gabe Kidd's injury. Finally, things are wrapped up with high speed review of Stardom's 5STAR Grand Prix opening night. Join in for a full tour of the Japanese wrestling landscape!  

The Eastern Lariat is back with the much-anticipated Half Year Awards show for 2025! Join in as STRIGGA & Dylan break down YOUR votes and THEIR picks across 12 categories, celebrating the very best of Japanese pro-wrestling in the first six months. From clear-cut winners in some categories, the discussions intensifies on who truly deserves other trophies such like wrestler of the half year, best foreigner, most improved or tag team. STRIGGA & Dylan comment on the obvious choices and also name hidden gems from NJPW to ChocoPro while always keeping business impact in mind. This episode is packed with insight, passion, and plenty of spirited debate. Guided by the listener ballots, the show once again paints a rich picture of an ever-evolving pro wrestling scene in Japan.