Dangerous A

You're pretty much spot on with stuff. The goal of not being a total WWE clone is what this first episode seemed to pull off. The pacing of the show was good. A couple of things... -Raven's bit was lame. He gave weak looking trash can shots and the entire scene came off like Raven could give two shits. Then again, the guy just lost the title to Jarrett for no good reason other than Jarrett (and depending on who you believe, Spike) wanted the belt back in time for TV. Now, Raven isn't even competing at BFG and we get Nash. Speaking of Nash.. -The Nash/Jarrett/AMW/3-D bit was good. While I'm not a big fan of the former Dudleys, they came off as fresh since they haven't been on mainstream tv in close to a year. Even the Jarrett-Nash stuff wasn't awful, the problem is it was Jarrett and Nash. -Monty Brown has a future in this business and has a look that is marketable and a legit athletic background. However, it did seem he was trying a bit much with his promo. Believe it or not, I think he needs to dial it down just a half notch. -The promo packages are outstanding. They rival just about any of the WWE produced ones and in a lot of cases, are better. Now we just need to kick back and wait for the numbers.

RRR has some good points regarding the ROH fans and Loss has about as perfect a take as you'll get, but Spiff does make case about WWE Canadian fans basically doing a lot of what we are criticizing the ROH fans for (although Canadian fans aren't the complaint, it's ROH fans) Surprised TNA fans weren't mentioned because they are marks for themselves as well.

Amazing Red Masahiro Chono Aja Kong WWE Women's Division

This spot plays off of Jumbo vs Misawa from 9/1/90. This is not the match where Jumbo made Misawa with the flash pin, but the rematch where Jumbo got his win back to establish he was still a top guy. (since he jobbed the Triple Crown to Gordy 2 days before he made Misawa on 6/8/90) In the 9/1 match, Misawa is laying a whipping in the corner to Jumbo and Jumbo slowly rises out of the corner, like Misawa did with Kawada, no sells the blows, and then proceeds to lay a beating on poor Misawa and eventually defeats him to show him he's still "the man". Just like Misawa would do to Kawada 4 years later.

I just have to wonder what may come of Dragon if WWE v. TNA were to heat up sooner than later. Obviously the Jarrett debacle is a set back, but if they end up getting an unexpectedly higher number than previously thought and Vince panics (which is very likely) I could see Dragon in the middle of a bidding war between WWE and TNA. I figure Danielson is smart enough to know what is up. In WWE, he'd get the most money and with Regal as his friend, perhaps he wouldn't get fucked over so hard as a newbie. In TNA, while he wouldn't get as much money, he would get a lighter load that would permit him to still work ROH as well as a 100x's better chance at getting over since he'd be immediately be plugged in the X division where he would even have the chance to shine as bright as Joe or brighter because while he doesn't fly like a lot of the other X'ers, he smokes just about anyone on the ground in the world.

Did you start your Joshi viewing with Dream Slam II? I could see where you are coming from. Another thing about some of their shows is the pacing. On Dream Slam II, there are a ton of great matches before that main event tag match that by the time you get there, the wind is taken out of your sails. (sort of like HHH and Jericho trying to follow Hogan/Rock at WM18) I've found myself loving a lot of the matches as a stand alone versus part of a show because of this reason.

Joshi Genichiro Tenryu Harley Race

Well HTQ, you asked for it.... Mitsuharu Misawa Antonio Inoki Keiji Muto Toshiaki Kawada Akira Taue KENTA Yoshihiro Takayama OVW

Actually, I think MisawaGQ posts there. I like that guy. He's much appreciated around these parts.

How about these non TSM'ers.. Bryan Alvarez The DVDVR playas

Well, the post that got me thinking was in the Triple H HoF thread. The situation I theorized would probably never happen, as I don't think anyone would be interested in taking the subjectivity excuse that far, nor would it ever get that far before the insults started flying. It was more of an example of how ridiculous the subjectivity excuse could get, and while it technically might be true, it's not really any way to go about having an argument. I think you''ll be surprised how far certain people on here will go to try and prove their point, especially when others have brought out fact after fact to show they're wrong. Too many people think that because they have the right to have an opinion it means they have the right to insist their opinion is valid, even in the face of evidence to the contrary. *cough* MikeSC *cough*

I was thinking about buying this show this weekend just because of the buildup for the ME. If I absolutely had to pick a winner, it'd be Fedor, but not by much. Perhaps 2-1 odds at best, although I still consider it damn near dead even. In the latest Observer, Meltz said that when Cro Cop murdered his last opponent where Fedor was in the corner, Fedor afterwards gave him a smirk as if he spotted a weakness and the guy he seconded was a sacrificial lamb to help expose it. Of course, Cro Cop has a one kick-one punch knockout ability and has avoided takedowns from Fedor's bigger brother and Mark Coleman. Fedor, for the most part, is undefeated and robotlike. Cro Cop, while not undefeated, has a style that has the best chance to defeat Fedor. Yep, I think I'm getting this show. Also, I'd give Silva the best chance to win the GP, but also think the field is good enough to unseat him.

That's because your mind hasn't been poisoned by Inoki-ism!! (yeah, I know, I'll get off that now)

They can still be built into draws, but the window of oppurtunity is closing fast. Inoki was really trying with Nakamura for a bit because Inoki splooges over shooters and while Nakamura has fought mainly soup cans, he has a good shoot record. Problem there is he was pushed too hard and now there is a regurgitation effect. If Tanahashi was around in the mid-late 90's, he would probrably be at least as big as Nagata, Nakanishi, and Tenzan, maybe even bigger. However, in this day and age where the pro wrestling market in Japan has been hurt by MMA, Tanahashi is a casualty of Inoki-ism. Also, Tanahashi was banged up before his NOAH Dome show match. The match just made bad injuries worse and created some very bad new injuries (leg).

Being a huge Kawada Mark, I am pleased you went with this finish. I figured you would try to strengthen the IWGP champ (which has lost a ton of luster since Sasaki won it in such awful fashion from Fujita a year or so ago) by having Fujita win G-1. Instead, you built up a future Dome show ME by having an outsider win G-1 for the first time. HTQ, I knew you were all about booking to make the most money, as opposed to booking for the shock value, pop, and/or appeasing egos. (see: WWE Creative)

I think you are going to go with Fujita/Kawada in the finals, with Fujita winning a sick, stiff, Frye-Takayama style potato fest. Tenzan is not worth giving another G-1 to and Nakamura against Fujita in the finals is sort of anti-climactic. You've built two indestructible forces for the finals in Fujita/Kawada. Don't let me down.

You went really safe with Nakamura and Tanahashi taking it to the limit. While it's feasible, I thought you would take a chance and have a winner in that one. Perhaps they end in a tie for second (assuming you have Fujita the clear number one in the block) and they have a nuclear heated playoff match?

So far, booking has been by the numbers and filled with common sense, which is a good thing for an intricately booked tournament. I predict you'll start up with some surprises and upsets within the next 2 booking days and we'll start to see the race for the final four start to take shape.

I know he participated in all his matches. What I'm saying is will his health play a role in your booking? Guess I'll have to keep checking in to find out, eh?

Thanks for the shout out, as well as the support. BTW, which show is yours on itunes? I see there are several dealing with pro wrestling.

I know it's fantasy booking, but here's a question. Is Tanahashi healthy? Going in G-1, Tanahashi was in pretty bad shape. If he is healthy, perhaps he, and not Nakamura or whoever gets in the final four?

You know I'm going to follow up on this.

Unbelievable what NJPW pulled. I've got to believe Chono had damn near full booking power over G-1. This was a total ego stroke to me and not a memorial to Hashimoto like Chono said it was. And I'm actually a huge fan of Chono, but he shouldn't have gone over here. I'm sure it plays well on TV, but business wise I just don't get it. I guess Chono wanted to cement that no one will have as many G-1 wins than he. That is the only logical explanation besides this being an ego stroke. Nakamura or Fujita should've won, bottom line.

I think Kawada should've been booked how Akiyama was booked two years ago. I'm thinking NJPW has some WWE in them in that they still resent Kawada because he's associated as an All Japan guy (I know he's a freelancer) and so they book him weaker than Akiyama, who is a NOAH guy. I wouldn't doubt if it was Chono getting some WWE booker spirit in him to do the dumb thing and book the Kashin match the way he did as opposed to doing the right thing, which is you keep Kawada strong for the final four/finals before jobbing him out.

I'm interested in this G-1 in particular because of Kawada's involvement, since he presents fresh matchups in New Japan. If he doesn't make it to at least the final four, New Japan bookers and Inoki need to be drug tested. Interesting how they booked A block to be a tight race while B block was a 2 person washout. Not sure where they are going with any of this. Politically, there is about zero chance of Kawada winning. I don't like Fujita in pro wrestling because he represents that Inoki-ism worked shoot style that I feel has hurt New Japan the last several years, but he has an excellent chance to win it all. Nakamura would be a decent choice, but with New Japan in shambles right now, I'm not sure if his winning the tournament will even get noticed. Tenzan, assuming Chono doesn't book himself into the final 4, at least has the story of trying to win an unprecedented 3 G-1's in a row. I suspect Chono and Fujinami may go to a draw on Saturday, which will put Chono out of the finals without him jobbing. Still, while I'll always be intrigued by the intricate booking of round robin tournaments like G-1 and Champion Carnival, puroresu is suffering in Japan, NJPW in particular. If there is a big promotion that is losing steam and legs faster than WWE, it's NJPW for sure.