Taichi vs Okada

NJPW The New Beginning in Sapporo 2020: Kazuchika Okada vs. Taichi

Had a proper chance to be something unique & special, given the participants & the whole setting between 'em, but this sadly was just too much of "the same", so to say. Of course it went over 30 minutes too, definitely overstaying its welcome. A couple of awesome TAICHI-moments, but all in all, a disappointment. **1/4

RUMBLE stuff

Women's Royal Rumble Match

Fun match! Good flow throughout & didn't overstay its welcome -- the highlights include Mercedes Martinez being included in the thing, OTIS coming out of nowhere & saving Mandy, Naomi & Kairi being awesome, and then of course Shayna getting that time to shine before ultimately getting eliminated last. ***1/4

Daniel Bryan vs. The Fiend

Even better than their already-excellent SurSer meeting. A "psychological thriller" in a pro-wrestling ring of sorts, and the kind of a match that I feel like not many could make work, but you just knew the greatest of all-time had to do it again. ****

Asuka vs. Becky Lynch

Started off VERY dull, but once the knockout-tease happened, things kicked up a notch big time & the action remained fantastic till the very end. Definitely liked this more than their match from the previous year. ***1/4

Men's Royal Rumble Match

The most fun Rumble match in recent history. Brock's domination was awesome, and it built perfectly to the moment of him getting his shit kicked by McIntyre. Speaking of McIntyre, now he's an awesome winner, making the ending of the match satisfying as well. Oh & and of course -- EDGE! What a damn moment. Super fun match from start to finish. ***3/4

AEW & NXT 01/22 stuff

AEW Dynamite 01/22/20: Adam Page & Kenny Omega vs. SoCal Uncensored

I thought there was literally nothing memorable about this match except for the result. Extremely basic action all the way through from start to finish with none of it being gripping or interesting in the slightest. I don't want to call the match bad though, because there was nothing actually _bad_ about it, but it was just "a match". *3/4

AEW Dynamite 01/22/20: Jon Moxley vs. PAC

Really liked the whole dynamic revolving around Moxley's injured eye w/ PAC going after it constantly with them nasty crossface shots & all. Them Kawada Kicks looked even more vicious than usual because of that. Very good match, and and as a lil' sidenote, Jericho was also excellent on commentary. ***1/2

WWE NXT 01/22/20: Imperium vs. Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne

The whole match felt like a really hot stretch of awesome wrestling. Everybody involved killed it, and the thing got hotter & hotter as it went on, and then ultimately it ended just at the right time. Another quality tag bout for Riddle & Dunne. ***1/2

WWE NXT 01/22/20: Keith Lee vs. Roderick Strong

Really loved everything about this. Roddy as the douchebag true heel w/ his stablemates & all, going against the red-hot babyface Keith Lee was a wonderful setting already on paper, and they wrestled one helluva match, to say the least. Keith is great with all of his Keith Lee-shizzat, them power moves & that freaky athleticism, and the main-meat of the match, which was Roddy's work on the ankle, was fantastic. Roddy was his usual intense self w/ that laser focus as he went to town on that bodypart, and it was truly a joy to watch. Keith's selling was great throughout too. Just a superb match & a great title change. ****

Webster & Mandrews vs. Riddle & Dunne

WWE NXT 01/15/20: Flash Morgan Webster & Mark Andrews vs. Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne

This was just outstanding. Mandrews & Webster were terrific babyfaces with their work throughout, and then to counter that, Riddle & Dunne were amazing dishing out the punishment in that vintage Riddle & Dunne fashion. Killer double team moves, fantastic structure from start to finish, great nearfalls -- EVERYTHING about this ruled big time! ****

Dynamite with 2 very good matches!

AEW Dynamite 01/15/20: Adam Page & Kenny Omega vs. Best Friends vs. Proud-N-Powerful vs. The Young Bucks

This was exactly what it promised to be on paper, which is a pure spotfest. And a damn fun spotfest it was! One of the best of its genre in recent memory. Everybody got their shit in & looked very good. ***3/4

AEW Dynamite 01/15/20: Darby Allin vs. PAC

Darby kills it yet again. He was bumping & selling his ass off for PAC's explosive offense every step of the way, and he sure delivered on the offense himself as well. Very good stuff. ***1/2

Impact: EE/Elgin, Tessa/Callihan

Impact Hard To Kill: Eddie Edwards vs. Michael Elgin

Strikes & bombs galore with the natural dynamic of Elgin doing most of the work on top while Eddie fights from underneath. It's not terribly interesting, but what stood out was how both of the lads have grown as pro wrestlers throughout the years -- just a couple of years ago this could've & more-than-likely would've been an easy overkill puro cosplay match, but here they kept everything somewhat tight & didn't enter that overkill zone. **3/4

Impact Hard To Kill: Sami Callihan vs. Tessa Blanchard

Sami is such a great sleazy bastard throughout. A true villain with every movement he makes in this match, and Tessa was a good babyface to against that -- felt like a good ol', very genuine pro-rasslin' battle between good & evil. On par with their Slammiversary meeting from the year before. ***3/4

First Dan Makabe of the Year!

3-2-1 BATTLE! Hindsight: 2020: Daniel Makabe vs. Judas Icarus

This is a tournament finals match, and while I'm not familiar at all w/ Judas Icarus, it became clear right away that he was billed as the underdog here. They told a fun tale with that dynamic throughout w/ Makabe largely dominating with his always-terrific submission work, but Judas also got a lot of the match to his name w/ his offensive flurries. He wasn't all that interesting on the offense sadly, but I did really dig him going after Makabe's knee, and Makabe sold that fantastically -- especially loved the moment when he did it after delivering a Tombstone on the outside, basically sacrificing that knee for a big move like that. Real good match! Somewhat spotty in parts, as in, I wasn't feeling Icarus all that much when he was in the driver's seat, but Makabe sure was such a boss all the way through & Judas' work got better as the bout went on, too. ***1/2