Eastern Lariat

On this episode D&A talk about the show and the match that got everyone talking. DRAGONGATE's Tokyo Infinity Hectopascal, and of course the big news. Ryoya Tanaka's historic Open the Brave Gate title run has come to an end at the hands of the 50 year old DG legend Dragon Kid in a move that provoked both outrage and love, with it being the first time DG made the cover of Weekly Pro in years. We have our own thoughts on it with Amy dropping a 1000IQ idea that Dylan hadn't even thought of and makes the blow of Tanaka losing his belt sting a lot worse. We again take our mantle as a part of the Jiro Shinbashi defense squad and have a lot of fun, hijinks, and metaphorical balls in the process. Dylan & Amy, talking DG and even throw out some NOAH and AJPW recs at the end, as fun is had once again as always when Amy is on.   Watch the match for free!: https://youtu.be/RzPg5ygk1V0?si=eILrZUvIOw8utmEo   Please follow Amy on both her accounts and keep your eyes out for Gear of the Year, not just her writing but to offer your own picks and suggestions if you want to be a fashionista (but said fancy) like her!   www.x.com/amyhay___ www.x.com/altamy___ amyhayx.bluesky.social   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, including the brand new EL Weekly Newsletter: https://www.patreon.com/easternlariat    Follow us on Twitter/X:     https://www.twitter.com/easternlariat    https://www.twitter.com/viva_zero   https://www.twitter.com/strigga   Follow us on BlueSky: @easternlariat.bsky.social @vivazero.bsky.social @strigga.bksy.social   Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/easternlariat

An epic battle is unfolding. A new challenger comes for Dylan's tournament predictor crown. In years past there have been a variety of genius level opponents who have gone toe to toe with the Fox, and all have fallen. And now. He takes on a new challenger. The Eevee Coin. That's right. The coin that comes in Pokémon TCG deck sets steps up. In a system that will lead the picks to fate against Dylan's scientific approach. Who will come out on top? Why is the coin based on Eevee? What is your favorite Eeveelution? Why is this the preview? All questions that don't get answered. But. Shockingly we come to the exact same winner!? That's right. Let's dive in and focus on the wrestlers of Pro Wrestling NOAH and go up and down their N1 Victory, for 2026!   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, including the brand new EL Weekly Newsletter: https://www.patreon.com/easternlariat    Follow us on Twitter/X:     https://www.twitter.com/easternlariat    https://www.twitter.com/viva_zero   https://www.twitter.com/strigga   Follow us on BlueSky: @easternlariat.bsky.social @vivazero.bsky.social @strigga.bksy.social   Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/easternlariat

The yearly tradition continues as Sondre Bjørn joins me from his home in Norway after a thrilling ride not just in the World Cup, but a passion in wrestling reignited through both the G1 that D&A covered last week, but the 5STAR Grand Prix from STARDOM. And once again we are going through the entire tournament, breaking down every single wrestler's tournament, and of course the emotionally charged tournament story for Rina as she sealed the deal and became the winner of the 5SGP at just 19 years old! After talking about the tournament we also get into Natsupoi's match with Anou, where Natsupoi fit in, and where everyone in the company is going, along with certain booking gripes throughout that have manifested. After that we give a look at Marigold just for fun as we hope for good but have come away disappointed not just in the lineup but also the lack of promotion and buzz for their tournament.   It's almost 3 hours! So look out! And follow Sondre!   www.x.com/sondrebjorn   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, including the brand new EL Weekly Newsletter: https://www.patreon.com/easternlariat    Follow us on Twitter/X:     https://www.twitter.com/easternlariat    https://www.twitter.com/viva_zero   https://www.twitter.com/strigga   Follow us on BlueSky: @easternlariat.bsky.social @vivazero.bsky.social @strigga.bksy.social   Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/easternlariat

In a move neither of us expected when she agreed to do these Rey de Parejas shows, "The Fashionista" Amy Hay has been inexplicably promoted to Dylan's temporary co-host position, and she wasted no time diving into one of the busiest stretches on the puroresu calendar for the first Eastern Lariat after STRIGGA announced he was taking a step back. (And we still miss you!) But we move! And for now D&A take the helm!   Our first order of business is the G1 Climax 36 Final from Ryōgoku, where Ryohei Oiwa cinched in the Big Lock to submit Yuya Uemura in a battle of first-time finalists and captured the biggest prize of his career. We break down a main event loaded with callbacks and an old school feel landing the night after Hiroyoshi Tenzan's retirement, and what it means that New Japan has handed its signature win and the boldness of the match Oiwa and Uemura worked. Then we go long. All 19 competitors, one by one, with our honest verdict on each man's tournament. Who used these three weeks to change how the audience sees them, who coasted on reputation, who got buried in a block that never gave them a real chance to shine, and whether the youth movement that produced a final four of Oiwa, Uemura, Yota Tsuji and Callum Newman is the clearest sign yet of how New Japan intends to move forward. We close the segment as a transition to DG as we talk about Shun Skywalker's debut and how his future looks as the newest member of the House of Torture!   From there we head to Kobe for DRAGONGATE's Rey de Parejas, which is still very much in motion. 12 teams across two blocks, Dylan & Amy run through the block picture as it stands, go over how each team has looked so far and discuss our favorite match so far which just so happens to be the biggest win of one of DG's many great young talent's careers.   Thanks again to Amy for taking on the G1 with me and she'll be back to keep going through the Rey de Parejas with me!   Please follow Amy on both her accounts and keep your eyes out for Gear of the Year, not just her writing but to offer your own picks and suggestions if you want to be a fashionista (but said fancy) like her!   www.x.com/amyhay___ www.x.com/altamy___ amyhayx.bluesky.social   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, including the brand new EL Weekly Newsletter: https://www.patreon.com/easternlariat    Follow us on Twitter/X:     https://www.twitter.com/easternlariat    https://www.twitter.com/viva_zero   https://www.twitter.com/strigga   Follow us on BlueSky: @easternlariat.bsky.social @vivazero.bsky.social @strigga.bksy.social   Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/easternlariat

The Eastern Lariat returns with the big annual Half Year Awards show! For the 8th time now, we discuss YOUR and OUR choices in 12 different categories to track down the very best in japanese pro-wrestling in the fist half of 2026! Across all categories, STRIGGA and Dylan make arguments for and against wrestlers, create cases and while doing so also look at the grand scheme of the japanese pro-wrestling scene right now. With your ballots as guidelines, this show once again offers a comprehensive look at the state of puroresu.