Need recommendations

[Kung-Pow]

Hi, I'm new to Puroresu and i'd like to know your suggestions. Can you recommend me some shows, from any year, so I could start off with the best of NJPW. Shows or matches that any true NJPW fans should have seen at least once in a lifetime! Thanks for your time!

[Luds]

For new Japan fans I always reccomend the History of the IWGP heavyweight title. You'd see stars from the past like Inoki, to stars from the 80's like Choshu, Fujinami, Vader, all the way to the 90 and Mutoh (Muta), Chono, Hashimoto (RIP) and Sasaki.

http://www.geocities.com/Ludstapes/tapes/titles/nj.html

[edgehead1984]

Yuo, there's Luds, ready with a quick shill.....but he's always right.....

[Luds]

Well it honestly seems like the best way to learn about New Japan quickly

[Tradewynd]

In a way I agree with Luds' suggestion, and in another way I cannot help but object. History of the IWGP Heavyweight (and Junior Heavyweight) Title tapes are an awful lot like Story of the F and Occupation of the Indies. You get very short clips of long great matches that suck all of the psychology out of what you're watching. It's worse than watching CMLL. Those tapes take many great 20-40 minute matches and cut them down to 2-5 minutes. While you may not be able to find the footage anywhere else easily, what you do get is pretty much worthless. I have the first 6 volumes, and halfway through volume 3 I simply couldn't take it anymore. Being as clipped up as it is, you really don't get an impression of what Strong Style is supposed to be about. But if you're more concerned with highspots than psychology, or actually like garbage like Story of the F or Occupation of the Indies, than it's probably right up your alley.

If you're familiar with NOAH, I would recommend the New Japan vs. NOAH box set. It's probably out of print, so finding an original would be not only difficult but expensive. Jgdc74 has it, and he hooked me up with my copy. It's a great set, showcasing heavyweights, juniors and legends from both companies, and best of all every match is complete.

For an introduction to older footage, I would recommend a few episodes of New Japan Classics featuring stars you are already familiar with. That way you would still have a connection with name talent and can view the style change and evolve without heavy clipping.

For more recent NJ shows, 11/13/04 and 2/20/05 are both winners. 11/13/04 did not look good on paper, but was tremendous in execution. 2/20/05 has Tenzan vs. Kojima with the AJ Triple Crown and IWGP Title on the line. It goes 59 minutes and is a throwback to 60 minute draw style of years gone by. It's more Strong Style in the truest sense than anything else to come out of NJ in years.

Most puro DVD websites will have the shows I mentioned, except for the box set. If you're a fellow cheapass I can hook you up for less, or will gladly trade if you have something I want.

[Luds]

Well watching the History of IWGP is more of an introduction to New Japan's past and present superstars. If fans like what they saw from the tape, then I'd suggest to purchase more...