Eastern Lariat

After two nights full of highlights, great matches, questionable decisions and also some underwhelming performances The Eastern Lariat presents Wrestle Kingdom 15 In Review! STRIGGA & Dylan tackle all the important matches, stories and developments surrounding New Japan Pro Wrestling's biggest and most important show of the year in a 2 hour show that praises where praise is due and that doesn't hold back when criticism is appropriate.

For the final show of the year The Eastern Lariat first offers you a wide range of news from all over Japan: rookies in AJPW, Iwasaki & SUGI leaving ZERO1, Murakami in NOAH, Dragon Gate & Ryukyu Dragon Pro and of course Yoshiko & Nanae Takahashi returning to Stardom. Then STRIGGA & Dylan focus on Dragon Gate's Final Gate and DDT's D-King Grand Prix Final and finally there's still plenty of room left for the 2021 PREDICTIONS~~! Another jam-packed show to end a crazy year – maybe with some crazy predictions?

The Eastern Lariat proudly presents the Year End Awards 2020! In this episode STRIGGA, Dylan and their guest WH Park present their picks for a long list of categories that produce a wide rage of winners from all kinds of promotions throughout the japanese pro-wrestling scene which include MVP, best promotion, best show, most underrated, best moment and more! Join us in diving into the unprecedented and challenging year 2020 in japanese pro-wrestling!

The Eastern Lariat returns with a close look at All Japan, DDT and Pro Wrestling NOAH. The focal point of AJPW right now is the change of the book and the departure of promising talent Yusuke Okada. Besides that STRIGGA & Dylan discuss the Real World Tag League, Yuma Aoyagi's upcoming challenge for the Triple Crown and the highlights of the D-King Grand Prix. NOAH once again is the main topic of the show with their return to Budokan in February, Shiozaki vs. Sugiura, the junior division and much more!

This time the Eastern Lariat focuses on two promotions: Big Japan Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling NOAH. BJW recently ran EDION Arena Osaka with a loaded show coming off a 14 show tour in November so there's a lot to unpack. NOAH also had a big show to offer that was headlined by Shiozaki vs. Nakajima that got rave reviews. Was it THAT good? When looking towards the future for NOAH STRIGGA & Dylan also drop the name Yuji Hino who announced his departure from ZERO1.

In a new Eastern Lariat episode STRIGGA & Dylan first tackle the absolutely disappointing Power Struggle show an the baffling booking behind New Japan Pro Wrestling in recent months where multiple panic buttons seem to be pushed since the peak of popularity has not only been reached for the company as a whole, but also for their top stars. In brighter news Tokyo Joshi Pro had a very good show on the same day as Power Struggle so STRIGGA & Dylan also talk about that and discuss some of the leading as well as up and coming characters before turning their attention to Pro Wrestling NOAH and their upcoming big event in Yokohama Budokan headlined by Shiozaki vs. Nakajima.

Among the dozens of shows that were promoted all over the country on Bunka no Hi (Culture Day) on November 3rd, two clearly stuck out: Dramatic Dream Team's Ultimate Party in Ota Ward Gymnasium and The Gate of Destiny 2020 by Dragon Gate. So STRIGGA & Dylan got together to take a deep dive into DDT & DG to discuss all the matches, storylines, developments, characters and what's on the horizon for both companies. But behold! The show begins with STRIGGA's review of VKF Halloween Havoc 2020!

This week the Eastern Lariat has a potpourri of different topics to offer as STRIGGA & Dylan discuss a wide range of promotions from VKF over VAMOSTAR to ZERO1, Tenryu Project and the debut of GLEAT. Of course the fantastic NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Title match is a topic of interest just like BJW with their Saikyou Tag Tournament, title changes and upcoming cards as well as All Japan's events in Osaka & Tokyo as part of their anniversary tour. One main talking point for AJPW is the discussion about possible scenarios of Suwama losing the Triple Crown that don't involve Kento Miyahara.

It's all said, it's all done, Ibushi is on top again! The 30th G1 Climax is in the books and just like every year the Eastern Lariat looks back at the grand scheme of things on the Monday after the tournament ended. Joined by Rob, who did the Patreon reviews with Dylan, the trio rates each performer's tournament, mentions some of the best matches and goes in depth on the key storylines throughout the tournament and those that were set up for the upcoming months. Just a comprehensive look at the entire G1 Climax 30!

The Eastern Lariat once again revolves around all the tournaments in Japan and two of those have already come to a close which allows both a look back at the finals and a look forward to the immediate future of All Japan and Pro Wrestling NOAH. Still ongoing is the ZERO1 Fire Festival, but since none of it has made air yet STRIGGA & Dylan make quick work of that and focus on the main topic of the show: The G1 Climax and its final scenarios. With 4 days of block action left there are some possible finals left that would then create different roads to Wrestle Kingdom. Are they going with SANADA? Is it Okada's year? What about Jay White, EVIL and the BULLET CLUB? That and much more on a new Eastern Lariat episode!