Power Rankings - 2019 So Far...

Power Rankings

2019 So Far...

   This is my Power Rankings for the year in wrestling so far. I will be ranking wrestlers in terms of their achievement within the world of wrestling inside and outside of the ring.

1. Kazuchika Okada

   Another year of excellence from the ace of New Japan. 2019 saw Okada win the New Japan Cup, win back the IWGP Heavyweight Title and put together a string of masterful performances in the G1 29.

   Okada is currently the most valuable commodity in professional wrestling. A dynastorial champion who elevates whoever gets in the ring with him. Okada is already the greatest IWGP Champion of all time and he is only 31. He is definitely one of the top three wrestlers in the world and he will get better. Another ten years of brilliance is probable.

   His matches with Ospreay, Suzuki and SANADA have been highlights of the year as he rebuilt his Rainmaker character, short trunks and all.

2. Becky Lynch

   She has, inarguably, cooled off in recent months but on the strength of her Royal Rumble win and the defeat of Ronda Rousey at Wrestlemania as well as the evolution of her 'The Man' persona she is undeniable one of the very hottest commodities in the business.

   Her promos are polished and yet organic. She connects with the fans yet is face of the biggest company in the wrestling world. Becky Lynch has used 2019 to become one of the most recognisable names in wrestling.

   When handles correctly she is part of scorching hot feuds and creates a big match feel. Her feud with Rousey was the perfect example of this and her upcoming feud with Sasha Banks is in the same vein.

3. Chris Jericho

   Chris Jericho is 48 years old yet has possible had the biggest year in his wrestling career. He has been the IWGP Intercontinental Champion, challenged for the IWGP Heavyweight Title and has become the first ever AEW World Champion.

   He is a promo machine and has been 'don't take your eyes off him' good in feuds. His work with Adam Page, Tetsuya Naito and Kenny Omega has been compelling.

   He is now going to be the centre piece for the television debut of AEW on TNT. He will get significant mic-time and will be feuding with the biggest and most skilled performers in AEW. He has proven that he can draw interest and create brilliance with relative ease.

4. Tessa Blanchard

   An Impact Wrestling star yet on the most compelling and now influential performers in the world. Callis and D'Amore deserve a huge amount of credit for how they have booked her however her talent is shining through in a big way!

   Her intergender matches are pulling up trees in the wrestling world. She has an incredible look, a believable style and a compelling ability to sell. It's inconceivable that Impact can hold onto her for much longer despite the incredible job they have done to elevate her.

   It could be argued that she is the next stage of the woman's evolution within wrestling, that it is in fact her that is the heir to the four horsewomen. If AEW can get hold of her it could be next level for all parties. She is poised to take the work of Becky Lynch to the next level.

5. Kota Ibushi

   An incredibly gifted performer and perennially cited to be a breakout star. However Kota Ibushi is 37 years old. That's six years older than Okada.

   2019 has been different though. Ibushi has signed a lifetime contract with New Japan after years of flitting from company to company. This has seen New Japan become comfortable with investing in Ibushi. 20189 say Ibushi win the G1 29 and he is scheduled to face Okada at Wrestle Kingdom.

   Incredible in the ring, uber popular with Japanese and Western fans and star-like looks Kota Ibushi is about to fulfill his monstrous potential.

6. Jon Moxley

   What a year it has been for Jon Moxley. From leaving WWE to cryptic messages to resurfacing as Jon Moxley to AEW to NJPW to the G1 and the incredible podcast tell alls. Jon Moxley has gone from struggling as Dean Ambrose to storming AEW and NJPW as Jon Moxley.

   His self promotion, the way he has conducted himself and his sheer talent in the ring has enabled him to power back to prominence in the wrestling world. He is now a star in Japan and is poised to be a major player in AEW.

   His promo work in AEW has proven him an intelligent man who understands the business and what fans want but iti has been his work in Japan that has really stood out. His G1 run was incredible. He mixed it up with a variety of styles and worked the incredibly difficult New Japan with aplomb.

7. Cody Rhodes

   Cody is an interesting wrestler. Often maligned as not up to the standard of the other wrestlers that are pushing the business into the future yet he is a compelling worker and a magnetic personality.

   He has had incredible matches against Shawn Spears and Dustin Rhodes so far this year. He is a masterful promo and a genius businessman. He is the face of AEW and possible the most over babyface in the fledgling company.

   His ability to build up a match giving each a big match feel is invaluable. He is not in the top bracket in terms of wrestling technical ability but his charisma and creative skills are very special.

8. Seth Rollins

   It has been an interesting year for Seth Rollins. Elevated in difficult circumstances, Rollins has been the mainstay of the main event scene on Raw for a year now. He is the number one babyface but is a somewhat controversial character.

   Incredibly skilled in the ring yet he struggles to remain over with the fans. A questionable Twitter game and some poor character work has made life difficult for him however he has had some superb moments this year.

   His victory against Lesnar at Summerslam was an incredible performance and has rehabilitated his character. He is now one of the most valuable commodities in the business.

9. Will Ospreay

   Considered one of the best, of not the best wrestler in the world. This year Will Ospreay won the BOSJ, the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title and competed in the G1 as a junior heavyweight.

   Ospreay has moved to Japan and is becoming a major player in New Japan. Apparently he is considered the heir to Kenny Omega. He has put on a succession of terrific matches this year against Eagles, Takagi, Ibushi and Okada.

   With an ever evolving moveset and a unique charisma at 26 years old, the world is in Will Ospreay's hands.

10. Johnny Gargano

   The injury to Tommaso Ciampa was gutting for NXT fans who had watched their epic feud. However the somewhat impromptu match with Adam Cole was an incredible spectacle.

   Four five star matches as a WWE wrestler is something to take notice of. Gargano is an incredible worker and is almost guaranteed to have the best match on the card.

   He is in an interesting position. He is almost the next Brian Danielson yet he is already signed by WWE. Yet if he did decide to go elsewhere he would hit the top of the card instantly.

Honourable Mentions

• Kenny Omega - The best wrestler in the world and AEW EVP is building a compelling story in the fledgling promotion.
• The Young Bucks - The Jackson brothers are at the forefront of a tag team dynasty.
• The Undisputed Era - This quartet will be at the front of NXT as it takes on AEW in the 'Wednesday Night War'.
• MJF - A truly special promo. He has so very much potential as a heel in AEW.
• Sasha Banks - The possible resurgence of Sasha Banks coupled with her wrestling ability is potentially very special.
• Io Shirai - Wrestling ability as it has always been, top tier, however her character work has taken the wrestling world by storm.

AEW Musings - #3 The First 10 AEW World Champions

AEW Musings

The First 10 AEW World Champions

#1 - Chris Jericho

   AEW have a limited window with Chris Jericho if they want to have him as their world champion. He has been a phenomenon over the last few years in relation to the way he has done some the best work of his career at his relatively advanced age. It seems a bit of a publicity grab to have Jericho as champion however he is an incredible talent and the character he has sculpted over the last two years is fascinating.

#2 Adam Page

   It has obviously already been decided that Adam Page is going to be a huge part of the main event of AEW. Have him lose to Chris Jericho in the first title match and have him chase. Make his coronation as a main event player mean something. Let Jericho run with the spotlight for the first three or so months and have Page come in at the turn of the year.

#3 PAC

   Arguably PAC should have been AEW's first champion. He has taken the wrestling world by storm since leaving WWE and quite rightly so. An incredibly talented man who fits the AEW wrestling mold to a tee who has sculpted an engaging heel act. Have him take the title off Page in dastardly fashion and establish him as one of AEWs premier heels for years to come.

#4 Kenny Omega

   Kenny Omega loses his match to PAC at All In and then loses to a returning Moxley. He then going on a redemption 'tour' putting on a string of great matches with AEW's intriguing mid-card; MJF, Gueverra, Havoc and Allen. 

   Eventually, Omega rises back to prominence and returns to his best bout machine best with dominion 2018-golden hair and defeats the now seemingly imperious PAC in a marathon match.

#5 Cody

   The Elite can't stay together forever in AEW. There are too many potential stories and feuds to be told between the individuals. Cody will eventually return to ROH-style uber-heel Cody. Thus becoming one of the top heels in AEW. Cody will end a prestigious longest yet Kenny Omega title reign after becoming progressively more deranged. Notably this feud will not draw on their executive positions in the company. These won't be mentioned.

#6 Adam Page

   AEW's belief in Page is exemplified by him becoming their first two-time champ. Cody's old training partner will be the one to serve him his comeuppance after a somewhat lengthy and dastardly title reign. By this stage it will be apparent whether Page is main man quality and presumably with the level of investment in him he will be by this stage.

#7 Kazuchika Okada

   AEW and NJPW must strike up some sort of deal. Without it, NJPW could see their US expansion recede and AEW would really benefit from the temporary presence of Japanese superstars. 

   It is to capatalise on both of these that Okada would have a short title reign where he puts on a string on incredible matches and looks undefeatable to create a new AEW top star and bring eyes to NJPW.

#8 Jon Moxley

   Moxley's evolution comes to a head with a victory over Okada. His unpredictable but unnervingly intelligent shtick that he was building in the G1 29 will come into full affect with Moxley defeating Okada with a mix of wrestling ability and ruthless aggression. Moxley as top champion in AEW is too good not to do. His creativity and promo skills are now evident. He has limitless potential. 

#9 MJF

   Rejoice, it will happen eventually. Maxwell Jacob Freedman has too much potential, too much ability, way too much charisma and will get way too much of a reaction from the crowd to not eventually have a run in the main event with the top belt. He will take it by the skin of his teeth as a result of a cheap trick or some other complication before becoming a dastardly heel, ducking and cheating to hold onto the belt.

#10 Will Ospreay

   If AEW want to be home to the best wrestling as the years role on they need to get hold of Will Ospreay as soon as he has completed his odyssey of becoming IWGP heavyweight champion. He is the successor to Omega. Yes, he has arguably surpassed him but Omega will be back. However Omega is older than Ospreay and as Omega moves into and through his 40s, Ospreay is the man to get to replace him at the top of the card.

Other Intriguing Prospects

• Marty Scuryll
• Heel Kenny Omega
• Shota Umino
• Darby Allen
• Someone from WWE
• Johnny Gargano

Booking NJPW - #1 Royal Quest

Booking NJPW

Royal Quest

Ryusuke Taguchi, Shota Umino and Ren Narita vs. Roppongi 3K (Rocky Romero, Sho and Yoh)

   A high quality opening match. Roppongi 3K should win with strong performances from their opposition's Young Lions. Rocky Romero should get the pin over Taguchi.

Kota Ibushi and Juice Robinson vs. Bullet Club (Yujiro Takahashi and Hikuleo)

   This should be a Kota Ibushi showcase. All the athleticism. All the big moves. And all the love from the crowd. His first challenger for the brief case should also become apparent after the match. A confrontation with EVIL would be fitting.

Chaos (Will Ospreay and Robbie Eagles) vs. Bullet Club (Taiji Ishimori and El Phantasmo)

   This will be a fast paced showcase match. El Phantasmo should pin Eagles to set up a match with Ospreay for the title. Expect to see Ospreay pull out all the stops for his return to the UK.

Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito and SANADA) vs. Bullet Club (Jay White and Chase Owens)

   The absence of EVIL in this match could suggest he will be confronting Ibushi to challenge for the Wrestle Kingdom contract. Jay White will likely score a pin fall over SANADA or even Naito to set up a future match for the IWGP Intercontinental Title. Expect intriguing interactions between White and Naito.

Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa) vs. TBD (RPW's Road to Royal Quest tournament winners)

   Hopefully, this will be an opportunity for NJPW to add new blood to their tag division. Aussie Open have a great reputation and would be an intriguing pair. The Guerrillas' title reign is very stale. They are an entertaining act who are charismatic and Tama really gets Twitter. However New Japan do not capitalise on this.

   If New Japan were to believe strongly in Aussie Open a title win here could be very worthwhile.

Tomohiro Ishii vs. KENTA

   This could be a banger. The hard hitting clash seems destined to be spoken about in platitudes on Twitter. The crowd will be firmly behind Ishii and KENTA will play up to this.

   The booking of this is diificult. Ishii has been NEVER Openweight champion without doing much with it before. A KENTA win perhaps with nefarious means could be fitting. This would fit in with the Western expansion.

Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

   Their previous matches have been critically acclaimed and ZSJ will want to put on a terrific match for his home crowd. Tanahashi's G1 showed that despite early slips he is still a expert act and can still put on an absolute clinic.

   Zack should win here, keeping the title in the UK and to elevate him after a difficult G1 returning to the heights of 2018.

Kazuchika Okada vs. Minoru Suzuki

   Kazuchika Okada will win here, there's no question of that. Minoru Suzuki is familiar to Rev Pro audiences and has held their top belt so it is fitting he is headlining this event.

   This match should be used to build up Suzuki again as a vindictive heel monster. Even at his age he is still compelling and believable in the ring. Okada and Suzuki will put on a masterclass for the British crowd.

   Potential challengers for Okada between now and Wrestle Kingdom are not particularly obvious. With losses to Ibushi who he will be facing at Wrestle Kingdom and SANADA who he has already beaten twice this year leave things a bit murky. It would be plausible for SANADA to get another shot as he won the last match between them. It would probably work for him to confront Okada after the match.

   SANADA and EVIL both challenging Okada and Ibushi for their respective places at Wrestle Kingdom would be an intriguing scenario.

Booking NXT - #1 TakeOver: Cardiff

Booking NXT

TakeOver: Cardiff

Travis Banks vs Noam Dar

   Travis Banks must win here. He has not hit the heights in NXT UK like many would have thought. Noam Dar is a class heel act but he doesn't need the win here. NXT UK could do with a secondary title for guys like Banks and Dar. WALTER will have the NXT UK title for quite some time and I would venture that Ilja Dragunov will be the man to take it from him. Neither Dar nor Banks are ready to move up yet. They need something else to do!

Dave Mastiff vs Joe Coffey

   NXT UK positioned Joe Coffey as a big deal early on but there is not much to be gained here if he goes over Mastiff. Mastiff should win here and go on to battle WALTER in the future. Coffey's path is unclear. A feud with Banks could be next. 

   Expect this to be an entertaining thrill-ride. A barn-burning bruising pallet cleanser that will be a little different from the rest of the card.

Zack Gibson and James Drake vs. Mark Andrews and Flash Morgan Webster vs. Gallus (Mark Coffey and Wolfgang)

   Gibson and Drake have been champions for quite some time now and it must be time for a change soon. However such a long title run should come to an end in a one on one confrontation within a hot feud. This match just isn't the right way to go for such a title change.

   Neither team feel particularly fitting to take the titles from the Grizzled Young Veterans however I can't really see who will.

WALTER vs Tyler Bate

   Tyler Bate should be the man to take the title from WALTER. However now is not the time for it to happen. WALTER's title reign has not taken off yet. He needs to be a dominating champion with a long reign. Bate would be perfect to take him down as we have seen from their interactions over the last few weeks, the dynamic is terrific.

   The time isn't now and that means it probably won't come for Bate. However a Gargano-esque run on NXT would work wonderfully for him. WALTER should have a dominant run then move to the main roster. He would benefit from winner here, without the help of Imperium.

Toni Storm vs Kay Lee Ray

   Toni Storm wins. It's not time to move on yet and Kay Lee Ray doesn't seem to be the person to take the title from her. Toni Storm needs to keep the title until she comes up against Piper Niven. It makes no sense not to explore that potential feud. Jazzy Gabbert is another exciting potential feud.

   Kay Lee Ray's future is less certain. She doesn't have an obvious route forward after Storm if she doesn't win here. Moving on to NXT proper may be the only smart choice. Toni Storm on the other hand has a limitless ceiling.

AEW Musings - #2 Booking All Out

All Elite Musings

#2 - Booking All Out

Private Party vs Jack Evans and Angelico

   Private Party are a class act, they will go far in AEW. They are a young exciting tag team with a unique look. I fully expect to see them win the tag titles after a long and arduous journey as a babyface act. Evans and Angelico are a much less certainty in AEW. They certainty look talented and are exciting athletes. However I just can't see them gathering much steam at the moment.

   I'm finding this match hard to call. My first instinct was that Evans and Angelico would win as they need it more than Private Party. However I'm now expecting Private Party to win as they are a potentially huge commodity in AEW.

   I would book Private Party to win in a fairly even contest showing off the athleticism of both teams. They should go far in the tag tournament on TNT.

Casino Battle Royale

   Straight to it. I would book Kylie Rae to win this. However it doesnt seem like she will be at All Out. Dave Meltzer has reported she is out with an unknown medical issue and she has removed her Twitter account. I hope she's doing okay and reappears soon.

   I'm hoping for a star making performance here from Sadie Gibbs who looks like a tremendous prospect. Allie is another interesting candidate for this match, however she would benefit from a longer road to the main event. I really hope Brandi Rhodes isn't pushed in a corrupt authority figure role. I would have her pull away from Kong and run as a babyface. I'm unsure about the Japanese talent in this match hopefully it will help the audience get to know them better.

   That leaves Nyla Rose and Britt Baker. Expect them to be the last two women standing. I'm not sure Rose is ready to be pushed that high that fast. Expect Baker to win and I whole-heartedly agree with that. I believe only she, Allie and Rae are ready for the role with Baker being the most equipped at this moment.

SCU vs. Luchasaurus, Jungle Boy, and Mark Stunt

   This will open the show and will be an absolute fire-cracker of a match! SCU have been part of some amazing tag matches in AEW thus far. 

   A Boy and his Dinosaur have captured the hearts of fans in AEW very quickly. The addition of Stunt is an interesting one. He will add another dimension. Expect innovative three man offense and memorable spots.

   SCU should be pushed in the early days of AEW. I would have them beat their opponents here and get to the final of the tag tournament on TNT.

Riho vs. Hikaru Shida

   I'm struggling to get to grips with the Japanese talent thus far in AEW.

   Riho has featured regularly so far and Kenny Omega presumably rates here very highly. Shida is not someone that I or most Western viewers will be familiar with. Some quick research reveals she is talented in the ring and is charasmatic in a manner that will connect with Western audiences.

   Riho should go over here as she has been present in AEW for longer and would be heavily damaged by a loss here. However you should expect big things from Shida in the future she looks an intriguing prospect.

Joey Janela vs Jimmy Havoc vs Darby Allen

   This will be excellent. I really enjoyed the 6-man from Fight for the Fallen and saw it as a collection of wrestlers any of who could break into the main event with the correct booking. This will be a more competitive version of that.

   Allen has caught the attention of fans. The is a compelling performer with an excellent character and phenomenal talent in the ring. Janela is a creative force and a surprisingly talented performer.

   Havoc should win this. Allen doesn't need it as the fans are behind him and his character would not be affected by a loss. Janela's character can absorb a loss as well. Havoc is lesser known but is enormously talented in the ring. Seek out his two out of three falls match against Will Ospreay in Progress.

Best Friends vs The Dark Order

   It has seemed for quite some time that The Dark Order is going to get the bye in the tournament. However they have not been successful in their presentation thus far. The Best Friends on the other hand are very over and are great talkers.

   AEW should change tactic and give the win to The Best Friends. The can be charismatic, capable representatives of the prized AEW tag division. The Dark Order seem outdated despite their obvious in-ring talents. Time to cut the losses.

Cody vs Shawn Spears

   This will be a theatrical masterpiece, Cody's matches have been so far. The addition of Blanchard is fascinating. The link to Cody's family is typical of his booking so far. There will be shenanigans here and Cody will put on an emotional masterpiece. 

   Shawn Spears position in AEW is interesting. Currently, they don't have a lot of heels. This could indicate big things for him. I don't really see it thus far but I hope I'm wrong. He comes across as a guy who has worked hard and has done everything right but for the machine to take the magic out of him.

   Blanchard will be a big part of this as will whoever eventually corners Cody. MJF may be involved in some capacity however I don't see the double-cross just yet. Expect Spears to win and this is the right decision. A loss would completely derail a potentially compelling character.

Lucha Bros vs The Young Bucks

   The two best tag teams in the world. Their matches so far have been incredible. It appears The Young Bucks are on a mission to catapult tag team wrestling in AEW into the Stratosphere. Therefore this will be an incredible display of tag team excellence.

   This match will be largely designed to put over tag team wrestling in AEW and particularly the Lucha Bros. Expect crazy stunts and scarily dangerous dives. Hopefully from both Nick Jackson and Rey Fenix, who will with luck healthy to compete.

   The Lucha Bros will win here and they should. The Young Bucks can lose here and still be considered favourites for the tag competition on TNT.

Kenny Omega vs PAC

   Jon Moxley's injury is a big blow. His proposed match with Kenny Omega should have been the culmination of a terrific run since leaving WWE. His time in Japan has shown him to be an outstanding wrestler and a compelling worker. Hopefully his eventual arrival, proper, in AEW will be explosive and rewarding.

   PAC is the best possible replacement. An excellent wrestler with a, coincidentally, similar path to Omega. This match would benefit from a Road to All Out appearance from PAC or a backstage interview before the fact.

   This will be a nailed on outstanding match. PAC must win. A loss on his debut wouldn't make sense. Omega will eventually be an AEW World champion and the face of the company. Perhaps he should be wrestling for that here but that's not the case. PAC can be huge in AEW he needs to win here.

Chris Jericho vs Hangman Page

   This is an interesting match to headline AEW's big event before the TNT run starts. A lot of people would have been expecting PAC or Omega to be fighting for the title in this event however that's not the case.

   I've gone back and forth on this. It's really a case of whether they want to capitalise on Jericho or not. He doesn't have ong left where he can really compete in top of the card matches. If they want to have a Jericho title run this may be the only opportunity.

   Page on the other hand is basically guaranteed to hold the belt eventually. The Elite have clearly decided he deserves to be a big star and may very well want him to be the first AEW Wold champion.

   It may seem cheap to put the belt on Jericho due to the perspective of that being an easy road to more exposure for the new brand. However Jericho is a phenomenal character. A Jericho title run could be special and boast some incredible confrontations. This is the route AEW should take on Sunday.

G1 29 - Performance Analysis - A-Block

G1 29

A-Block - Performance Analysis

G1 29 - How it unfolded.

   The 2019 G1 was an incredible tournament full of expert in ring performances. Throughout the G1 I ranked wrestler's performance each night awarding points from 10 down to 1 depending on where I ranked each wrestler. Below is the average for each wrestler as a graph displaying their overall performance throughout the G1 in comparison with their fellow wrestlers.

After each round the wrestlers were ranked from 1-10. First place getting 10 points and tenth getting 1. The table above shows the average of these allocated points over the 9 rounds.

Bad Luck Fale - 1

   Fale is out of place in these tournaments. He is not up to the standard of the other wrestlers. There were some moments within this competition where babyfaces had some good moments fighting against the bigger man and his interfering Bullet Club members.

   Fale, historically, has played the role of spoiler to enable strong candidates to lose without being too damaged due to his size. However in the G1 29 his lumbering performances were not convincing especially as he mind-bogglingly picked up four victories.

   The emergence of Archer as an imposing, popular and able big man surely renders Bad Luck Fale obsolete?

EVIL - 3.56

   EVIL put in a few great performances. His match with SANADA was tremendous.

   He is a compelling striker and has the ability to hit high impact grapples. However, EVIL lacks the intrigue of most other G1 competitors. He is a solid worker but he is somewhat uninspiring. He doesn't really excel with any aspect of his craft.

   EVIL needs to be repackaged his gimmick is not good and this hampers his overall performance. Such weak presentation affects the perception of him, overall, as a performer. A potentially top level performer but is missing something significant currently.

KENTA - 4.33

   I was so intrigued to see KENTA in the G! but I was dubious as to whether he would be able to keep up with the incredible performance levels expected in the G1.

   It was a mixed bag as far as KENTA's G1 journey went. Generally, he was a good worker with a compelling story. He was booed by the crowd and took pleasure in disrespecting his opponents. He battered his opponents with kicks and palm strikes but ultimately looked a little off the pace at times.

   Ultimately, KENTA was an interesting part of the G1. His mates were generally intriguing and his journey in NJPW will continue to capture the intrigue of wrestling fans. His next steps as a Bullet Club member will be fascinating.

Archer - 5.22

   Lance Archer was included in the G1 and Minoru Suzuki was left out. Confusing. However Archer was a revelation in this tournament and by the end nobody was questioning his inclusion.

   He was an absolute monster throughout! His character work was fully committed and his in ring work was quite simply surprisingly compelling. He didn't wrestle the longest matches or the most technically proficient matches however they were always a spectacle. 

   He thrived as an overly intense, psychotic badass throughout the tournament and even managed to get the crowd chanting his name in a match in opposition to the eternally beloved Tanahashi.

SANADA - 5.44

   I would catagorise SANADA's position in NJPW at the moment as odd. Recently he has had a IWGP championship match against Okada and has even beaten the reigning IWGP champion in a G1 match. However he was distinctly middle of the pack throughout the G1 and doesn't really look as if he's about to progress much past this anytime soon!

   He is in, arguably, the coolest stable in world wrestling but he doesn't really benefit from this nearly as much as he should. He was a solid part of this G1 putting on some terrific matches but he remains thoroughly uninteresting a lot of the time.

   He continuously performed well and always sold athletically to benefit his opponents. He really did look the part in his victorious effort against Okada,

Tanahashi - 5.56

   I have always found Tanahashi confusing. However G1 29 was where he completely changed my perspective of him. He has a real turnaround about halfway through, going from looking like Goldberg in Saudi Arabia to a master craftsman.

   Tanahashi was a masterful aging veteran in this tournament. He didn't fly through his opponents as he has done in the past. He looked shaky as he approached the halfway mark struggling to physically full fill his role. However int he closing stretch he was masterful. 

   His final few matches showed Tanahashi's magic to full effect. He wrestled and dramatised his matches into masterful stories. He sold and fought back. He timed Dragon Screws to perfection. He opened a window into the future; one where Tanahashi is still a compelling performer, one where he is part of excellent matches and one where he is working with up and coming guys out with the main event scene.

Zack Sabre Junior - 6.89

   ZSJ is an intriguing performer. His style is a welcome variation within the G1. Competitors have to either do as SANADA did and beat ZSJ at his own game or do as Tanahashi did and stay as far away from ZSJ's game as possible.

   The story of early exit was managed well by ZSJ. He spoke of beating the system by just beating Okada then took pleasure out of trying to be the spoiler. His performances were solid throughout. He made each match a story be it as a coiled cobra looking for any weakness or attempting to take on strikers at their own game with a barrage of uppercuts.

   Zack's matches with Ospreay, Tanahashi and Okada were particular highlights in his tournament. He could go far in NJPW if he sticks around long enough. He should consider following Ospreay's example.

Kazuchika Okada - 7.22

   Okada is NJPW's crown jewel for a reason. With him as champion, everything seems right in the wrestling world. He was a force of nature in this G1, giving a variety of wrestlers their best match of the tournament.

   Okada's matches with Ospreay, Naito and Ibushi were highlights of the entire tournament. He was at his absolute best in this tournament in the closing stretch of his matches. A string of nail-bitig finales made Okada one of the G1's MVPs.

   The manner in which he countered Ospreay's Stormbreaker into the Rainmaker in the closing stretch of their match of the tournament contender will stick in the memory of many viewers for a long time. Okada was so compelling and so good in the ring that the champion winning seemed a feasible possibility this year.

Kota Ibushi - 7.78

   Kota Ibushi is a fantastic talent. He was consistently excellent throughout the tournament. His early slips meant that all his matches were meaningful must-win encounters.

   His matches with Ospreay and Okada were incredible spectacles. Saying that he was possibly the most consistently excellent participant in the entire G1. 

   Ibushi finally took his rightful place as NJPW's next big star. His 'hulk ups' were a big part of his performances, the way he 'turned the switch' and battered his opponents was a big part of Ibushi's tournament. Along with his injury storyline and his incredible selling ability Ibushi's G1 was stellar.

Will Ospreay - 8.22

   Ospreay's early tournament form was incredible. His matches against Archer, Ibushi and Okada were exquisite. He waned as the tournament went on and by this I mean he was still fantastic but he didn't quite hit the excellent heights of the first half of the tournament,

   Ospreay is now considered by most as the world's best wrestler and I agree. His range of kicks, the Tiger Wall and his incredible finishing sequences throughout the G1. He managed to put over many an opponent with his selling ability back-flipping as he took lariats and even folding up like an accordion on occasion.

   Ospreay has a bright future in NJPW. His move to Japan and his elavation to the heavyweights are the beginning of big things. His float over reversal of the Rainmaker was probably my favourite moment of the whole G1.

All Elite Musings - #1 Booking Brandi

All Elite Musings

#1 Booking Brandi

   Brandi Rhodes is a divisive character within All Elite Wrestling. As Chief Brand Officer and wife of Cody Rhodes, she is also a prominent figure. She is a charismatic individual and clearly a very talented woman. However, she has often faced backlash on Twitter over her position in AEW. Be it, her appointment as CBO or her in-ring opportunities. Fans often claim she is benefiting from nepotism.

   I am not going to focus too much on this claim, I am going to look at how best to maximise her substantial potential. Is she in her positions because of her relationship with Cody? Maybe, partially. But we don’t know how involved she has been in Cody’s rise to prominence, we don’t know what goes on behind the scenes at AEW and as for in-ring, she has clearly progress significantly. What is clear is that she is an incredibly talented and driven woman.

   Brandi Rhodes is currently a heel in AEW. This is what I wish to muse over in this article. It seems the obvious route, one that is tried and tested and one that she is very good at. Her run with Cody in ROH saw the two of them as entertaining uber-heels, this being her most prominent role to date. However is this really the right route for her?

   Before Fight for the Fallen, she did an interview as part of Road to Fight for the Fallen where she spoke candidly about her past struggles with performance anxiety. This was well received and many believed it to be a face turn of sorts. This didn’t materialise with her playing the heel in her match with Allie.

   This match was criticised by some fans on Twitter. These fans believing her not to be on the level of other women in AEW. However, in the previously mentioned video she had cited this stating that she often struggled when the lights are on bright. Lots of fans will have connected with this and been able to relate to it. She put herself across as a relatable character which is a precious commodity in any form of celebrity.

   Why not run with this. Be the real Brandi Rhodes, if this is indeed the real her, the hard-working individual who has built herself from the ground up alongside her equally hard-working husband. In this way when she has weaker performances she can reference that struggle and talk about how she is training. Therefore, her stronger performances, which I believe are the norm, can become Bayley-esque moments.

   Her endless reserves of charisma can drive forward either character. The fire that was present in the recent Road to All Out video would also fit really well with a babyface character. I believe this character would be a departure from the norm for Brandi and a very interesting avenue to explore.

   In the end, her charisma and work ethic make her an incredible talent regardless of who she is married to. She has clearly earned her place and is an important figure. It seems possible that as AEW progresses Cody will become a maniacal heel again as the company doesn’t have many established heels outwith Chris Jericho. Perhaps, her current heel role is a precursor to this. Or perhaps they have just decided that the women’s division is best served with a heel Brandi Rhodes in the mix.

   After her ‘Road to…’ work I am intrigued to see how her AEW role grows over the next few months.