Zack Sabre Jr's 1st IWGP Championship Reign

Zack Sabre Jr. is one of my favorite active wrestlers to watch today.  I have been a fan of his for many years and have written about him more than a few times in the past on this blog.  I've had the pleasure of seeing him wrestling live on a few occasions from the American Legion post in Orono, Maine to the world famous Madison Square Garden.  Every interaction I have had with him has been a genuine pleasure.

ZSJ started his 2024 losing the NJPW World Television Championship to Hiroshi Tanahashi at WrestleKingdom 18 at the Tokyo Dome.  At New Beginning in Osaka 2024 on February 11, 2024 he avenged his loss the Bryan Danielson pinning him in 33 minutes.  He regained the NJPW World Television Championship defeating champion Matt Riddle on April 12th in Chicago at Windy City Riot, then lost it to Jeff Cobb on May 3rd in Fukuoka, Japan.  One June 30th he defeated Orange Cassidy at Forbidden Door on Long Island, New York.

In the 2024 G1 Climax he finished the A block with 14 points, the most points achieved by any competitor in the tournament, going on the win the tournament submitting Yota Tsuji in the finals.  He is the first gaijin to win the tournament since Kenny Omega in 2016.  

Typically the winner of the tournament earns the right to face the IWGP World Champion at the Tokyo Dome, however Zack cashed in his opportunity on October 14 at King of Pro Wrestling 2024 at Ryogoku in Tokyo to win the championship.

Sadly, on February 11, 2025 at New Beginning in Osaka 2025 he lost the title to Hirooki Goto ending his run at just 120 day. 

During his all too short 120 days as Champion he successfully defended it four times including retaining it in two back to back Main Event matches at the Tokyo Dome.  

October 20, 2024 

NJPW Royal Quest IV London, England

IWGP World Heavyweight Champion: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated SANADA

November 4, 2024

NJPW Power Struggle Osaka, Japan

IWGP World Heavyweight Champion: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Shingo Takagi

January 4, 2025

NJPW WrestleKingdom 19 Tokyo Dome, Japan

IWGP World Heavyweight Champion: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Shota Umino

January 5, 2025

Wrestle Dynasty, Tokyo Dome, Japan

IWGP World Heavyweight Champion: Zack Sabre Jr. submitted Ricochet

After winning the title I don't feel NJPW promoted Zack as champion very well.  He was placed in the World Tag League with partner Ryohei Oiwa finishing in a five way tie for 4th place with only 6 points.  After the World Tag League he competed in multi-man matches with his TMDK stable mates with the only other singles match, besides those listed above, was a non-title victory over Hechicero at Battle in the Valley 2025 in San Jose, California.

I'm very thankful that I got to see him wrestle live as the title holder, granted it was in a tag team match and his team lost.  I was really hoping for a singles match that night in Lowell.

I don't think this is the only World Title reign for ZSJ, I am confident that he will be a World Champion again in the future and the greatest technical wrestler in the world will get the title reign that he deserves.  

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 Grail Card - The Final Update, for real this time.

Welp, I thought the last update was going to be the final update and then I went ahead and sent my card off to PSA to get it graded.  I can now say definitively I have finally completed my grail card from the 1988 NWA Wonderama set, card #339 Four Horsemen.

Please read the past blogs to get the full story on this card, especially Update Part 2.

May 17, 2022: New Grail Card

February 11, 2023: New Grail Card Update

June 7, 2023: New Grail Card Update 2!

December 21, 2024: New Grail Card Update 3! IT'S COMPLETE!

This was my first time submitting to PSA.  It was simple enough to do, but they do have strict instructions to follow.  I paid for the 20 day turnaround and I got my card a week early!  I was happy with my grade as well, 8 on the card and 9 on the auto.  The only other card that I'm aware of that is signed by everyone as mine is that is graded by PSA got an 8 on the card and 8 on the auto.

Purchased card on eBay May 9, 2022 cost $42.20

Arn Anderson signed June 10, 2022 cost $25

David Crockett signed November 26, 2022 cost $40

Lex Luger signed November 26, 2022 cost $40

Ric Flair signed January 15, 2023 cost $87.89

Tully Blanchard signed May 4, 2024 cost $40

JJ Dillon signed November 30, 2024 cost $25

Various Shipping Charges for mailing card: $23.40

Shipping to PSA: $14.35

PSA Fee and return shipping: $74.98

Total cost: $412.82

I don't know know if I'll ever submit a card to PSA again, I know many that do it because they treat their cards like investments.  Perhaps I should has well, but the cost of submitting can get expensive.  For me it would have to be a special card like this one.  I am tempted to find another once of these cards and get it signed again and possibly get a higher grade.  That is VERY tempting! 

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!

Marty Jannetty's Intercontinental Championship Reign

Marty Jannetty was an excellent wrestler and many say he was a victim of his own demons and it prevented him from climbing hire in the ranks of professional wrestling.  I'm not here to speculate about any of that, I'm here to write about his only singles title reign in a major promotion, the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

Along side Shawn Michael's as The Rockers they had a successful tag team run in Central States Wrestling and the AWA where they captured the Tag Team Championships in both promotions.  In the WWE from 1988 until January 1992 when the team broke up after the infamous Barber Shop segment that saw Shawn throw Marty through the window.  This was supposed to lead to a match between the two at WrestleMania, however and arrest in January 1992 lead to Marty being released from the company.

He was brought back in October 1992 after his house arrest ended picking up wins over enhancement talent at TV taping.  Although primarily known as a tag ream wrestler Jannetty was a former two time Central States Wrestling Heavyweight Champion and even challenging Ric Flair for the NWA Worlds Championship on four occasions.

Beginning November 27, 1992 through January 23, 1993 Jannetty toured the house show circuit challenging Shawn Michaels for the Intercontinental championship coming up short at each encounter.

On January 24, 1993 Marty once again challenged for the Intercontinental Championship this time at Royal Rumble in Sacramento, California.  Once again Shawn Michaels retained his title.

In a backstage interview segment Jannetty attacked Michaels leading many to believe the feud would continue leading to a match at WrestleMania that year. However, Jannetty was accused of being intoxicated during the match at the Royal Rumble and was released shortly after.

On May 17, 1993 at the Manhattan Center in New York City on Monday Night Raw Shawn Michaels was in the ring being interviewed by Vince McMahon, Michaels said he would defend the title against anyone, anywhere.  Marty Jannetty then emerged from the crowd challenging Michaels who was forced into accepting the match.  He had returned to the WWE at house shows the days before losing matches to Michaels.

  Later in the night in just under 11 minutes Jannetty would pin Michaels with a small package to capture the championship much to the delight of the the crowd.

Jannetty's title reign would only last 19 days until June 6, 1993 when he lost the title to Michaels at a house show in Albany, New York.  In total he defended the title 7 times with 6 successful defenses, with only 1 televised defense. 

May 21, 1993 Hershey, Pennsylvania, House Show

Intercontinental Champion: Marty Jannetty pinned Papa Shango with a roll up

May 31, 1993 Manhattan Center, New York, Monday Night Raw

Intercontinental Champion: Marty Jannetty with Sensational Sherri defeated Bam Bam Bigelow with Luna Vachon by count - out

June 1, 1993 Sioux Falls, South Dakota, House Show

Intercontinental Champion: Marty Jannetty pinned Shawn Michaels

June 2, 1993 Sioux City, Iowa, House Show

Intercontinental Champion: Marty Jannetty pinned Shawn Michaels

June 3, 1993 Des Moines, Iowa, House Show

Intercontinental Champion: Marty Jannetty pinned Shawn Michaels

June 5, 1993 Minneapolis, Minnesota, House Show

Intercontinental Champion: Marty Jannetty pinned Shawn Michaels

June 6, 1993 Knickerbocker Arena, Albany, New York, House Show

Shawn Michaels with Diesel pinned Intercontinental Champion: Marty Jannetty to win the championship

The June 6th house show was Kevin Nash's debut in the WWE as Diesel, and he aided Michaels in defeating Jannetty to regain the title.  I don't understand why he lost the title at a house show instead of on Monday Night Raw the next night.

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!