On a brand new, special episode of the Eastern Lariat, Dylan and @EmeraldFlowShow's host @GerardDiTrolio sit down and talk about the upcoming Hall of Fame. This time with a twist from prior years. We go through the famed "Gordy List", putting every one of the Japan Region's candidates to the test. Who comes out on top? Who comes out worst? What do we take from this? Find out on the new Hall of Fame special! cagematch.net/r/?id=128&nr=1… And remember the candidates: Antonio Inoki & Seiji Sakaguchi The Great Sasuke (New) Hayabusa Io Shirai/Iyo Sky KENTA (New) Kyoko Inoue (Returning) Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada Masaaki Mochizuki Meiko Satomura Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan Tam Nakano (New) Tiger Jeet Singh Yoshiaki Fujiwara Yoshihiro Takayama Zack Sabre Jr.

The two sisters sold the building out and had a strong match where they brought a ton of intensity, and really bringing the match home after a somewhat flat start. I've long believed Hina is the best of the Judo Sisters so I of course wanted her to win, but I've accepted that Hanan is who the company wants to make at all costs. So I was just happy to see the match turn out as well as it did. I hope now that she's got this challenge Hina doesn't get forgotten about by Okada and Stardom's booking team.

The Ayako Hamada vs. VENY match from VENY's produce show was not just a great match but one with a ton of heart. Thank you VENY for having the guts to make this match happen. After 8 years away from Japan, I've seen Hamada in the independents in her native country of México a few times over the past few years but to see her against one of the top women's talents in VENY who clearly loves and respects Hamada so much was beautiful. Beautiful in the way hitting each other hard and doing Moonsaults can bring us! It was a really great match without any of the real life backstory, but just as a match it was really great work. And anyone can see that Hamada has plenty left in the tank, and most already know how good VENY is. This match only emphasized it more. Hopefully more opportunities can arise in the future, particularly bigger stages for future Hamada matches, including her idea for a Gran Hamada tribute show in Japan, another well deserving legend is her father as well. I'm glad this match got to happen in 2026.

AEW has a strong negative reputation among the Japanese fanbase and has for some time now. I think it's a smart decision not to run from it but reach out, run a show or two in Japan as true AEW shows and possibly integrate some freelance legends on terms beyond the NJPW relationship, we know there are a ton of people in AEW with great respect for Japanese wrestling history. Ariake wouldn't be my choice as a venue but if they have hopes in the country running a true AEW show there is a great choice.