The entire world has been affected by the coronavirus. Wrestling companies all around the world had to postpone or cancel shows but our friends in Japan still found creative ways to keep the spirit of pro-wrestling alive amidst these hard times.
Today, I will be giving you a list of free wrestling videos you can watch from the comfort of your home.
No People Gate (STARDOM)
STARDOM was one of the first major wrestling companies to hold a show that was adjusted to accommodate the coronavirus situation. Bushiroad decided to hold an empty arena show in the legendary Korakuen Hall.
Many first-time viewers had the opportunity to get their first glimpses on the likes of Mayu Iwatani, Hana Kimura, Giulia, Tam Nakano, and many others. The event is a great beginner's guide to the world of joshi pro-wrestling and shows what these women can do in and out of the ring.
What made No People Gate a unique show was the fact that the wrestlers took advantage of all that empty space in the venue. You have to see it to believe it.
Tetsuya Naito vs. Hiromu Takahashi (NJPW)
NJPW was supposed to hold their 48th Anniversary show last March 3, with the long-awaited face off between stablemates Tetsuya Naito, the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Champion, and Hiromu Takahashi, the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion.
What was supposed to make the event unique was the fact that Naito and Takahashi have never faced each other in singles competition in New Japan. The two wrestlers were supposed to show the world how much the student has learned from his mentor, and vice versa. However, the match has to wait.
NJPW decided to release a 15-minute interview featuring Naito's and Takahashi's respective points of view on how their friendship developed and more. If you want to learn more about why people love the relationship between these two wrestlers, this video is a great place to start.
Empty Tokyo Dome Match: Sanshiro Takagi vs Minoru Suzuki (DDT)
The first two videos we listed lean towards the serious side of wrestling. Our third entry features the most popular comedic federation in Japan—and maybe the world. Welcome to DDT.
All I can say about DDT is that you should suspend your disbelief and embrace the insanity of pro-wrestling. In the Empty Tokyo Dome match, the baseball field acts as the wrestling ring. Each base represents a corner of the ring. The match even goes beyond the field and up to the stands which gives us maximum comedy and more.
Most wrestling fans would be familiar with Minoru Suzuki as the scary uncle in NJPW but trust us, the man can do a lot more than be scary. Watch the match and you'll realize how DDT pushes the wrestlers to their creative limits every time.
Kenny Omega & Riho vs. Masa Takanashi & Kaori Yoneyama (Gatoh Move)
If you've been to a few PWR shows, you would be familiar with the likes of Riho, Emi Sakura and Masa Takanashi, all of whom are regular talent in Gatoh Move. What you may not know is that Gatoh Move sometimes features Kenny Omega when he's not busy wrestling for NJPW.
What makes this match stand out is the fact that the ring is just mats laid out on the floor in a small space. The DDT match had a ton of space in the Tokyo Dome but, this match also challenges the wrestler's creativity because there is no ring and there is a limited space to move around. You have to be very crafty with your moves and make sure that the audience doesn't get hurt.
Before AEW, we got a glimpse into what Kenny Omega was like before he formed The Elite, and Riho before she was given a larger audience as AEW Women's Champion. There's a lot to see in this quick match from Gatoh Move.
Su Yung vs Maki Itoh (TJPW)
Maki Itoh is a unique character. For the uninitiated, Itoh used to be a Japanese idol until she got booted out for not looking "cute" enough. She decided to apply all her pent-up frustration in the wrestling ring of TJPW.
Her opponent, Su Yung, is a mystical character inspired by horror movies among other things. Su Yung is a former Impact Knockouts Champion and has competed around the world for numerous promotions. Many of her matches have a tendency to get bloody, so proceed with caution.
The match I featured is unique because we see Maki Itoh being challenged in the psycho wrestler department. Itoh-chan is usually the crazy wrestler that opponents can't handle, but Su Yung is on another level when it comes to being psychotic in the ring; after all, Itoh just is a disgruntled idol while Su Yung is basically an undead lady. Their match ranges from funny to athletic, and more.
That's it for now; I hope this list helps you pass the time during this pandemic. Make sure to stay indoors, practice good hygiene, and stay safe!
Steven Maxwell Tan is a writer and podcaster of all things pro wrestling and other geeky things over at The Geeky Juans. Check out their podcast on Spotify and anywhere you listen to your podcasts.
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