Misawa/Jumbo feud question

[Guest Black Tiger]

During the Misawa vs. Jumbo feud, which one was the heel? From the looks of the way the feud started, I'd say it was Misawa, since he un-masked and attacked him like a maniac. But during their matches, both guys seemed to be getting the face heat.

[Guest wolverine]

Neither. There wasn't a clearly defined face/heel structure in AJ 90's like in the U.S. There were guys who had heel tendencies, such as Masa Fuchi and Dan Kroffat, but it wasn't so clear cut.

[Guest Coffin Surfer]

In the fued, Jumbo defiently showed the most heel tendencies. Especially in the six man tags, where the fans would actually "Boo" Jumbo, Taue, and Fuchi while they tortured Kobashi and busted out the cheap shots and double teams. In the 92 match I believe, Jumbo does the arm raise to stop the "boos", but they just keep coming. But than again they would cheer them if they won, and occasionally chant their names during the matches. You could also point out the 9/90 match where Jumbo starts using closed fist punches, chair shots, and tossing Misawa out of the ring. While he wasn't really a heel, he was certiantly being a dick. It was also natural for the fans to cheer on the young superstar underdog more than the grumpy old vet, but there was always the respect for Jumbo.

[Guest RickyChosyu]

From the extremely limited viewing I have, it seems to me that there are no assigned face/heel roles, and everyone is looked at on an even playing feel. That being, if the wrestlers fight valiantly and show their fighting spirit, they get cheers of admiration, but if they use cheap shots, chokes, double teams, or other unscrupulous tactics, they get booed. Yes, there were those that were more inclined to behave this way, but they weren't hated for it, the crowd just let them know when they disagreed with what they did.

[Guest Tim Cooke]

AJPW is structured in such a way that heel tendancies can be seen by the fans and will be dealt with accorindly, usually with jeers. They won't make the US mistake of cheering the heel when they do something heelish.

 

Yet, unlike the US, they will boo the face if they do something heelish such as breaking up a pin in a tag match.

 

It is an interesting structure which I feel can both add and take away from the match.

 

The really heated feds from my viewing experience are AJPW, NJPW, AJW, and MPro from late 1996.

 

Most other Indy feds get decent responses but the heat, whether a heel or face, is usually low.

 

Tim

[Guest McLeary]

For what it's worth, Akira Taue & co. circa 1993 definitely struck me as a heel faction, moreso than anyone else I had seen at the time. It seemed like Taue got booed for just about everything he did.

[Guest XdojimeX]

"It seemed like Taue got booed for just about everything he did."

 

I think Taue was getting some genuine suck heat from AJ fans at the time, as well as being a dick. Reminded me of Fuyuki getting the shit booed out of him in Footloose for even breaking a sweat. They we're just dying for Kawada to be tagged in.

[Guest wolverine]

It's better to get suck heat than to get NO HEAT, such as in this Misawa-Akiyama 9/6/97 match I just watched. This is the best match they ever had together, yet from what I saw, the fans could give a fuck. There were hardly even any "MI-SA-WA" chants after he won either - I just saw people get up out of their seats and leave. Sad.