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

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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

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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:

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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:

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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

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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