The Times I've Seen Briscoe Brothers Live

I've been listening to another awesome episode of the 10 Bell Pod and this one is on life of Jay Briscoe.  Listening to the Manscout Jake Manning talk about Jay really got me thinking about his career and legacy and of course got me thinking about the times I've seen him, and Mark, wrestle live.

I actually own all of these Jay Briscoe matches on home video, so I rewatched all of them for this post.

June 1, 2012

Pro Wrestling Syndicate (PWS) The Rahway Rec Center, Rahway, New Jersey

Pre-Show Dark Match

The Briscoe’s: Mark & Jay defeated Davey Richards & Adam Cole when Mark pinned Adam Cole with a small package.

This was at the PWS 5th Anniversary weekend.  The reason we went to the show was to see The Great Muta.  He's one of my all time favorites and he was doing a rare indie appearance that weekend and we just had to go see him wrestle and do his meet and greet.

 

This show was ridiculously stacked but the Briscoe's wrestled on the pre-show because they were signed to Ring of Honor and this show was airing on Internet PPV.  I believe this was originally advertised as the Briscoe's vs. American Wolves, but Adam Cole replaced Eddie Edwards.

This was an intense fast paced match that showed how good the Briscoes have always been. Action was in and outside the ring, Mark reversed a vertical suplex into the small package.  Jay was limping after the match.

September 30, 2016

Ring of Honor (ROH), Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, Massachusetts 

All Star Extravaganza VIII 

Opening Round Match: Six-Man Tag Team Championship Tournament: Kushida, ACH, & Jay White defeated IWGP World Tag Team Champions: The Briscoe Brothers: Mark & Jay and NOAH GHC Tag Team Champion: Toru Yano when ACH pinned Yano with a 450 Splash

I recall going into the match I thought for sure the Briscoe's and Yano would advance and was shocked when the ACH got the pin.  Great match, again fast paced lots of action and everyone going all out.  I know they have teamed together frequently but Yano just doesn't fit with them in my eyes.

This was my first ROH show, happened to be a PPV, and we had front row right on the aisle.  There was 6 of us and we all wore Limitless Wrestling shirts. You can read my original report about it here: All Star Extravaganza VIII

June 23, 2017

Ring of Honor (ROH), Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, Massachusetts

Best in the World 2017

Dalton Castle & The Boys defeated World Six-Man Tag Team Champions: Bully Ray & The Briscoe Brothers: Mark & Jay to win the tag team titles when Castle pinned Mark 

Back in Lowell for another PPV, and we had the same exact front row seats as last time.

The real feud of this match was Dalton Castle vs. Jay Briscoe the pre-match promos was just Dalton and Jay talking.  Castle was MEGA over at this time and the crowd just loved he and the boys.  Bully Ray was a good fit with The Briscoe's for their shared intensity, but he busted out some comedy with Dalton.

Jay was plain angry the entire match in fact he was distracted going after the boys outside the ring when Dalton pinned Mark to a huge pop!

You can read my original report about it here: Best in the World 2017

May 9, 2018

New Japan Pro Wrestling / ROH, Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, Massachusetts

War of the Worlds

ROH Tag Team Champions: The Briscoes: Mark & Jay defeated Jushin Thunder Liger & Flip Gordon when Mark pinned Flip after an avalanche splash mountain neckbreaker combo

This was my third time seeing ROH at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium, this was also my first time seeing Liger live!  This was a house show, we had front row once again, but not in the same seats.  Every match with the Briscoe's is the same, high intensity and fast paced action.  Flip took most of the beating for his team, as it should be.  Crowd didn't care Liger lost, they just wanted to see him.

You can read my original report about it here: War of the Worlds Lowell

November 7, 2018

New Japan Pro Wrestling / ROH, The Colisee, Lewiston, Maine

Global Wars

The Briscoe Brothers: Mark & Jay defeated “American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes with Brandi & Hangman Page when Mark pinned Page with a froggybow after Jay hit him with a Jay Driller.

This was the first and only time ROH had ever been in Maine, and our second NJPW/ROH show of the year.  This venue had previously hosted two WWE events, and has since then hosted 3 Limitless Wrestling shows.  Oh yeah, Muhammad Ali defeated Sonny Liston for the boxing World Heavyweight Championship in 1965.

 

I did the meet and greet with the Briscoe's at this show got my photo with them and for my All In trading card signed by both of them.  I don't have that card anymore, after Jay died someone reached out to me about trading.  They were trying to get a complete signed All In set, so I now have their dual signed Missouri Wrestling Revival Card. 

What we didn't know was two months after this show Cody, Page, and The Young Bucks would announced AEW and would be leaving ROH.  The Briscoe's were leaning towards heel in this match, but still had the fans behind them.  Another great match you can read my original report about it here: ROH Lewiston, Maine Live Report

April 6, 2019

New Japan Pro Wrestling / ROH, Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York

G1 Supercard

IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions: Guerrillas of Destiny: Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa with Jado defeated ROH World Tag Team Champions: Villain Enterprises: PCO & Brody King and Los Ingobernables de Japon: Evil & Sanada and The Briscoe Brothers: Mark & Jay to win both championships when Tanga Loa pinned Brody King after a Superbomb

This was historic as no other wrestling promotion in 60 years had ever held a show at MSG other than WWE until this event.  We had front row in the balcony and it was amazing.

This match was a giant cluster and to be honest, not very good.  Briscoe's had a couple moments in it but they are probably best remember from the match with brawling with Big Caz and Enzo who jumped the rail after the match.  I don't know if ROH was trying to run an angle but it was never acknowledge on the broadcast and they kept the camera's off it.

You can read about it this show here: IndieMania 2019 Part 3

July 23, 2022

ROH: Ring of Honor, Tsongas Center, Lowell, Massachusetts    

Death Before Dishonor 2022

2 out of 3 Falls Match: ROH, IWGP, & AAA World Tag Team Champions: FTR: Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler defeated The Briscoe Brothers: Mark & Jay two falls to one

Fall 1: Mark pinned Dax with the Doomsday Device at 16:33

Fall 2: Dax pinned Jay with the shatter machine at 29:33

Fall 3: Dax pinned Jay with middle rope pile driver at 43:26

THIS IS THE GREATEST TAG TEAM MATCH I HAVE EVER SEEN LIVE!

Hands down, no doubt about it, and I can't imagine it will ever be topped on the list.  It had been over 3 years since the last time I saw the Briscoes and the been to Ring of Honor.  Since that time Tony Khan bought the promotion and Death Before Dishonor was the first ROH PPV under Khan after the sale finalized in May 2022.  I was on the fence about buying tickets, until the morning they went on sale and the two out of 3 falls match was announced.  I got VERY lucky and scored a front row ticket that ended up being right next to the commentators.

My seat was AMAZING.  It was a tremendous show from beginning to end, and FTR and The Briscoe's tore it up for almost 45 minutes! I wore my FTR shirt, Dax came around the front row and hugged everyone wearing an FTR shirt. I don't have the words to express just how good this match is.

Bonus:

These are the two times I've seen Mark Briscoe wrestle at AEW since he joined the promotion after Jay's passing. 

November 6, 2024

AEW Dynamite, SNHU Arena, Manchester, NH

Fight Without Honor: The Conglomerations: Tomohiro Ishii, Mark Briscoe, & Kyle O’Reilly defeated  Ring of Honor World Champion: Chris Jericho, Big Bill & Bryan Keith when Ishii pinned Jericho

April 17, 2025

AEW Collision, MGM Music Hall at Fenway, Boston, MA

Ring of Honor Tapings Episode 113 Aired April 24, 2025

8 Man Tag: AR Fox, Mark Briscoe, and Top Flight; Dante & Darius Martin with Leila Grey defeated Shane Taylor Promotions: Charlie Bravo, ROH Pure Champion: Lee Moriarty, Shane Taylor & Shawn Dean

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my book the 2024 Limitless Wrestling Almanac, or any of my other books. 

Hiroshi Tanahashi Live!

January 4, 2026 marked the end to the career of one of the greatest Japanese professional wrestlers, Hiroshi Tanahashi.  He debuted in October 1999 along with fellow young boys Katsuyori Shibata and Shinsuke Nakamura, dubbed the "New Three Musketeers" by the Japanese wrestling media.  Named after the original Three Musketeers consisting of Keiji Muto, Masahiro Chono, and Shinya Hashimoto.

It's hard to believe Tanahashi was the first of the 3 the retire, Nakamura is in the WWE and Shibata, after a 4 year hiatus to recover from injury, is active in AEW.  He has a fantastic career capturing numerous championships including becoming an 8 time IWGP Heavyweight Champion.

I was lucky enough to see Tanahashi wrestle live 3 time, ironically all in 2019.  The first two times were during WrestleMania weekend in New York City.  The first at the RevPro show pro held at the WrestleCon convention, before the show they did a meet and greet with several New Japan Pro Wrestlers, I met Tanahashi, Shibata, and Ishii.  It was only $30 for a Combo and I got my card signed.

April 5, 2019

Revolution Pro Wrestling Hilton Grand Ballroom Manhattan, NY

British Tag Team Champions: Suzuki-Gun: Minoru Suzuki & British Heavyweight Champion:

Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi & Will Ospreay when Sabre pinned Ospreay

Jay, Mikey, and I had front row for the show, and during Tanahashi's entrance he stopped right in front of us and we all played air guitar together, it was a bad ass moment. I have the video clip somewhere and when I find it I will upload it here.

Talk about and all star tag team match!

April 6, 2019

New Japan Pro Wrestling / ROH Madison Square Garden Manhattan, NY

G1 Supercard

British Heavyweight Champion: Zack Sabre Jr with Taka Michinoku defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi by submission

The three of us attended the first non WWF/WWE promoted wrestling event at Madison Square Garden in 60 years.  We had front row balcony and pictures did come out great.  This is one of the most historic wrestling events I have ever been to.

September 27, 2019

NJPW: New Japan Pro Wrestling Memorial Auditorium Lowell, MA

Fighting Spirit Unleashed

IWGP Heavyweight Champion: Kazuchiki Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi, & Kota Ibushi defeated Los Ingobernables de Japon: Tetsuya Naito, Evil & Sanada when Tanahashi pinned Naito with cobra twist

Mikey, Jay, and I also attended this event together. This tour of shows was the first time that New Japan ran shows in the US that were not co-promoted with Ring of Honor.  Okada was the IWGP Heavyweight champion, but it was Tanahashi who stayed in the ring after the main event to thank the audience and play his air guitar for us. 

I feel very fortunate to have seen Tanahashi wrestle live these three times and to have had the opportunity to meet him in person.  It's important to take advantage of the opportunities when you can. 

Incidentally, his last match was on January 4th against Okada, checking cagematch they have faced each other 249 times in singles and tag team matches. 

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my book the 2024 Limitless Wrestling Almanac, or any of my other books.

Until next time!

My Rasslin Results: November 6 - December 17, 2024

Here are the results to my last shows of the year:

November 6, 2024

AEW: All Elite Wrestling                        SNHU Arena Manchester, NH

Dark Match: Satnam Singh with Jay Lethal pinned Colt Cabana

Dark Match: Nyla Rose pinned Liviyah

Ring of Honor - aired November 7, 2024

Katsuyori Shibata pinned The Butcher

Dynamite - Live on TBS

Darby Allin & Orange Cassidy fought Death Riders: Claudio Castagnoli & PAC with Wheeler Yutah to a no contest

Fight Without Honor: The Conglomerations: Tomohiro Ishii, Mark Briscoe, & Kyle O’Reilly defeated  Ring of Honor World Champion: Chris Jericho, Big Bill & Bryan Keith when Ishii pinned Jericho

Adam Cole pinned Malakai Black

Jamie Hayter pinned Penelope Ford

Ricochet & Powerhouse Hobbs defeated The Don Callis Family: AEW International Champion: Konosuke Takeshita & Kyle Fletcher when Ricochet pinned Takeshita

Rampage - aired November 8, 2024

Hikaru Shida pinned Vivian Van

The Undisputed Era: Matt Taven & Mike Bennett defeated The Dark Order: Alex Reynolds & John Silver and The Infantry: Charlie Bravo & Shawn Dean with Trish Adora, Lee Moriarty, & Shane Taylor

Top Flight: Dante & Darius Martin with Action Andretti & Leila Gray defeated JD Drake & BEEF

Lio Rush pinned Komander with Alex Abrahantes

November 8, 2024

NJPW: New Japan Pro Wrestling     Memorial Auditorium Lowell, MA

Fighting Spirit Unleashed

IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion: David Finlay pinned Kevin Knight

Grizzled Young Vets: James Drake & Zack Gibson defeated New Japan Strong Tag Team Champions: TMDK: Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste to win the championships

Lio Rush pinned Mustafa Ali

Best 2 out of 3 Falls: The West Coast Wrecking Crew: Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs defeated Dirty Work: Fred Rosser & Tom Lawlor 2 falls to 1

1st Fall: Tables Match: Lawlor put Nelson through a table

2nd Fall: Submission Match: Isaacs submitted Rosser

3rd Fall: Last Man Standing Strap Match: Lawlor was eliminated then Rosser

New Japan Strong Women’s #1 Contender Match: Hazuki defeated Anna Jay, Koguma, and Trish Adora pinning Adora

Los Ingobernables de Japon: Openweight Champion: Shingo Tagaki & Yota Tsuji defeated The Undisputed Kingdom: Matt Taven & Mike Bennett

Ryohei Oiwa pinned KENTA

Shota Umino & Tomohiro Ishii defeated TMDK: Bad Dude Tito & IWGP World Heavyweight Champion: Zack Sabre Jr when Unimo pinned Tito

AEW International Champion: Konosuke Takeshita pinned TJP

NJPW Strong Champion: Gabe Kidd pinned Kosei Fujita

November 29, 2024

North Atlantic Wrestling Assoc. (NAWA) The Community Center     Fairfield, ME

10 Bell Salute to Tommy Savoldi

Dunky Boy Bandit pinned Dave Dyer

Alex English with Coach pinned Teddy Jaxx

Tony Atlas & Cousin Larry defeated The Holy Roller & NBK with Robert Benson the 3rd when Larry pinned NBK

JP O’Reilly pinned Samiel Matthews with Coach

Malos with Mr. Nobody pinned Stormy Savage

NAWA Champion: Hazard pinned Mark Moment with Santone

December 7, 2024

Lutte NSPW: North Shore Pro Wrestling Centre Horizon     Quebec City, QC

Red Kingdom: Azaelle & Damian Wild defeated La Sainte Trinite: Leo Harvey & PL

Triple Threat: Shawn Martel defeated Hayden Bright & Golden Greg

Dylan Donovan pinned Pee Wee with Golden Greg

Interviewer Audrey Moreau forced to the ring by Matt Falco & Claude Maloon, and attacked by Falco 

Fatal 4 Way: Matt Falco with Claude Maloon defeated Mitch Thompson, Yann Pike & Leon Saver pinning Pike 

Marko Estrada & Mike Marston defeated Diamond Dynasty: Zak Patterson & Michael Styles when Marko pinned Style

Junior Heavyweight Champion: Kristara pinned Loue O’Farrell with Vlada

South Shore Wrecking Crew: Tag Team Champions: Jack Saunders & Tom LeBlond and Giovanni defeated Michel Plante, Dani Leo & Alex Silva when Saunders pinned Plante

Matt Angel pinned Trevor Lee

NSPW Champion: Travis Toxic pinned Stu Grayson

December 14, 2024

Limitless Wrestling             AmVets Hall     Yarmouth, ME

Limitless Rumble

Four Way Scramble: Conan Lycan defeats Aiden Aggro with J-Heru and Anthony Greene and Zak Patterson when Lycan pinned Patterson

Ashley Vox & Gabby Forza defeated Delmi Exo & Paris Van Dale when Gabby pinned Van Dale

B3CCA pinned Kylie Rae

Limitless World Champion: Dezmond Cole pinned Calvin Tankman 

Limitless Rumble: Channing Thomas defeated Ace Romero, Aiden Aggro, Alexander Lee, Armani Kayos, Ashley Vox, B3CCA, Brett Ryan Gosselin, Brian Black, Bulk Bronson, Conan Lycan, Covey Christ, Dean Furnacola, Delmi Exo, Diego Alvarez, Gabby Forza, J-Heru, Jada Stone, Jariel Rivera, Love Doug, Milo Mirra, Rip Byson, Rudy Lockheart, Santa Claus, Seabass Finn, Sidney Bakabella, Tony Atlas, Troy Nelson, Tyree Taylor, Zak Patterson last eliminating Rip Byson

December 17, 2024

NXT                                                             Memorial Auditorium     Lowell, MA

Live Show

Oba Femi pinned NXT Tag Team Champion: Axiom with Nathan Frazer

Meta-Four: Jakara Jackson & Lash Legend defeated Sol Ruca & Zaria when Legend pinned Ruca

Jaida Parker with Bronco Nima & Lucien Price pinned Wren Sinclair with Myles Borne & Tavion Heights

NXT Tag Team Champions: Axiom & Nathan Frazer defeated Gallus: Mark Coffey & Wolfgang with Joe Coffey when Frazier pinned Wolfgang

Promo Segment with Ethan Page who attacked Je’Von Evans with a chair

NXT Champion: Trick Williams wrestled Eddy Thorpe to draw after a  Double Pin 

Aired December 24, 2024

Stephanie Vaquer pinned Cora Jade

Lexis King with William Regal defeated NXT Heritage Cup Champion: Charlie Dempsey with Wren Sinclair by disqualification to win the championship

The Unholy Union: Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn defeated Fatal Influence: Jacy Jayne & Jazmyn Nyx

Ashante Adonis with Nikita Lyons pinned Dion Lennox

Promo Segment with NXT Champion: Trick Williams,  Eddy Thorpe, & Oba Femi setting up a triple threat match for the title at New Years Evil 

NXT Tag Team Championship #1 Contendership Christmas Chaos Fatal Four Way: Out The Mud: Bronco Nima & Lucien Price defeated Hank And Tank: Hank Walker & Tank Ledger and No Quarter Catch Crew: Myles Borne & Tavion Heights and The D'Angelo Family: Channing Lorenzo & Luca Crusifino with NXT North American Champion: Tony D’Angelo and Andrianna Rizzo

Going to my first every NXT event and having it be a double episode taping was even better!

I have two shows lined up in January 2025 both Limitless Wrestling

12th in Herman

18th in Yarmouth

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my book the 2024 Limitless Wrestling Almanac, or any of my other books.

Until next time! 

The Times I've Seen Zack Sabre Jr. Wrestle Live!

Zack Sabre Jr has been one of my favorite wrestler for over a decade, when I first saw him in Progress and PWG.  As I do when I find a wrestler that I like I look for more matches watching him hone his craft in NOAH, WXW, and indies.  You can even read my blog post from December 2015 about some of his matches: Random Wrestling: Zack Sabre Jr.

I love Zack's style of wrestling and the most unique submission moves I've ever seen.  It's been a pleasure to watch his career grow over the years and although he has captured numerous championships, and I have to admit I did get emotional watching him win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.

In this blog we will look at the matches I have seen him compete in live and in living color!!  

January 30, 2016

Limitless Wrestling American Legion Hall         Orono, ME

Zack Sabre Jr. pinned Chris Hero in 24 minutes 10 seconds

I still can't believe this one happened! In the weeks leading to the show Zack Sabre Jr. was announced first. I couldn't believe it, quite frankly that he was coming to an indie show Maine. We've had names in Maine on indies in the past, but before Limitless it wasn't a regular thing. If having Sabre on the show wasn't exciting enough, a couple weeks prior Chris Hero was announced. Randy stated it really was last minute how it all came together.

Then we got the graphic that they were facing off against each other and I just couldn't believe it! We are getting on of the hottest matches in the world, in the middle of small town Maine at an American Legion hall on, what turned out to be, a stormy January night.

At that time they were in the middle of what would turn into an tremendous run of matches in an 18 month period. From June 2015 to January 2017 they faced off in 9 matches singles matches (okay 1 was an elimination triple threat) in Evolve, PWG, WXW, & AAW and every single time they tore it up going hard for 20 plus minutes every time.

At that time I was used to "headliners" coming into Maine and just "getting their shit in" and I had accepted that because that was independent wrestling in Maine. On this night ZSJ & Chris Hero set a standard in Limitless Wrestling that has kept going to today. They gave it their all and put on a caliber of a match that was equal to or even greater than they had done or would do anywhere in the world. After the show I got a photo with both of them, it still ranks as one of the greatest matches that I have ever seen live! You can read my post about this show here: Limitless Wrestling: Under Fire

He signed this card for me at the show, I ordered this card from the UK at the beginning of the month after I learned that he was booked to appear. Released in 2014 by Resurrection Magazine, I feel positive that this is Sabre's rookie card.  Sabre was impressed that I had the card and I told him I ordered it from the UK when he asked where I got it.  He signed it for free because he said I already paid for the card.

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April 4, 2019

WrestleCon Supershow Hilton Grand Ballroom Manhattan, NY

Zack Sabre Jr. submitted Shane Strickland

In 2019 my buddies Jay, Mikey, & I traveled to New York City for WrestleMania weekend. We didn't attend any of the WWE events instead hit all of the independent wrestling that we could. This show was match 1 of 3 that I saw Zack compete this weekend. If you would have told me that April evening that we were seeing two future World Champions squaring off I would not have believed you.

To me the match was just okay, I felt their styles just didn't mesh well. To be frank I thought Zack outclassed Swerve that night. You can read about this show here: Indie Mania 2019 Part 1

I got these cards signed on Thursday April 4th before the Wrestlecon Supershow.  The first card is from the 2016 PWG Battle of Los Angeles set and the second from the 2017 PWG Battle of Los Angeles set.  I have a rule about not getting the backs of the cards signed but we were talking about his trip to Limitless Wrestling and he signed them quickly.  I wasn't going to ask him to sign them again, although I just might if I meet him again. 

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April 5, 2019

Revolution Pro Wrestling Hilton Grand Ballroom Manhattan, NY

British Tag Team Champions: Suzuki-Gun: Minoru Suzuki & British Heavyweight

Champion: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi & Will Ospreay when Sabre pinned Ospreay

What a match!! We had front row for this amazing UK based REVPro show. Look at the 4 competitors in this match! ZSJ, Suzuki, Ospreay, & Tanahashi!! WILD! This match went almost 22 minutes and they laid everything in, stiff strikes, great submission wrestling, practically flawless story telling. Truly amazing match worth the price of the ticket for this match alone on the show. It was the best match of the weekend for me, and considering the number of high quality matches that we took in, that is saying something!

You can read about this show here: Indie Mania 2019 Part 2

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April 6, 2019

New Japan Pro Wrestling / ROH Madison Square Garden         Manhattan, NY

G1 Supercard

British Heavyweight Champion: Zack Sabre Jr with Taka Michinoku defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi by submission

The last show of the weekend for us was also our biggest event of the weekend. For the first time in nearly 60 years a wrestling show happened at Madison Square Garden that was not promoted by a McMahon / WWE saw New Japan and ROH team together for the G1 Supercard. The show was Sold Out and stacked with amazing wrestlers. The ROH portion of the show, for the most part, fell VERY flat for me. The New Japan portion was tremendous.

The 7th match of the Main card saw the RevPRO British Championship successfully defended by Sabre submitting Tanahashi. Thinking back New Japan has a working agreement with RevPRO for years and it's very cool that RevPRO was presented as this historic wrestling card at MSG.

I was in the balcony and couldn't get any great photos, but here is one of the Great Muta and Jushin Thunder Liger in the ring that I took.

You can read about this show here: Indie Mania 2019 Part 3

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April 16, 2023

NJPW: New Japan Pro Wrestling 2300 Arena                 Philadelphia, PA

Collision in Philadelphia

Team Filthy: Tom Lawlor, Royce Isaacs, & Jorel Nelson defeated TMDK: NJPW Television

Champion: Zack Sabre Jr., Shane Haste, & Bad Boy Tito

Much like MSG, the former ECW Arena, now called the 2300 Arena, is a venue that I had to see wrestling at live. I was the prime demographic for ECW and would have LOVED to go to one of their shows, but it was not to be.

I had mentioned to my buddy Mikey that when my wife and Wesley take their annual April Vacation trip to Ocean City, Maryland if there was a big show in the northeast we should go. As luck would have it, NJPW announced Collision in Philadelphia during that weekend!

We were supposed to have front row at this show, however they moved our seats back and put the announcers and commentators directly in front of us on the fan side of the guard rail. It was cool to have NJPW ring announcer Takuro Shibata right there to get this video, but we paid a lot of money for front row and traveling to the ECW Arena for the first time, it was frustrating to not have the front row seats we paid for. When we selected our seats they did not have the announcers list as being here.

Zack competed in a six man tag team match falling short to Team Filthy. It was very cool to see him at the NJPW Television Champion and of course to see him tie his opponents up with his signature style.

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November 8, 2024

NJPW: New Japan Pro Wrestling    Memorial Auditorium                            Lowell, MA

Fighting Spirit Unleashed

Shota Umino & Tomohiro Ishii defeated TMDK: IWGP World Heavyweight Champion: Zack Sabre & Boy Dude Tito when Umino pinned Tito

When this show was announced I wanted more than anything for Sabre to defeated Naito for the World Title and come to Lowell to defend the Championship. Well, most of that came true, he won the title and came to Lowell as Champion, and a few days before the show was announced to be in a tag team match. Slightly disappointing, but I got to see Sabre has champion so it's all good.

I was very excited when they announced a Meet and Greet with Sabre, I had met him before at Limitless and at WrestleCon 2019 but I had to get a photo with him as the Champion.

The meet and greet was awesome, Sabre took his time with to talk to everyone, no one was rushed it was very nice experience. We chatted about him winning the title, his time in Maine with Limitless, which perked right up for talking how much he loved the experience and he remembered very specific details. Then we chatted about the ridiculous cost of tickets.

The show was extremely good, our first time sitting in the balcony here and I would again in a heartbeat! The view was phenomenal the matches were excellent and the crowd was very vocal!

Sabre's match was excellent, it was awesome to see him walk out and be announced as champion. They furthered a lot of stories tonight including the build between Sabre & Umino for WrestleKingdom.

I can't imagine this will be the last time I see Sabre wrestle live, but I guess you never, never, know.

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my book the 2024 Limitless Wrestling Almanac, or any of my other books.

Until next time!