AJPW folding?

[Guest Black Tiger]

According to Stuart at Strong Style Spirit, due to lack of funds, national TV, drawing fans to shows, and WRESTLE-1 pissing off fans and AJPW workers alike, All Japan may be forced to fold.

 

Aside from Kojima and Kawada if he returns, I don't care about AJPW anyways, but most of them will wind up going to Chosyu. I do hope that Kojima and Kawada decide to go to NJPW, both would be decent draws for the federation.

 

Does this news really suprise anyone? We all were saying back in the summer that Mutoh in charge would be the end of AJPW. When AJPW got passed up for a TV deal in favor of WWE then its obvious they're in trouble.

[Guest cynicalprofit]

Damn you Mutoh, even if your pants are great. This truly sucks.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

WWE gets TV time in Japan?

[Guest Downhome]

So what hurt AJPW the most? The NOAH incident, or the current booking?

[Guest Jubuki]

...and the people around the land heard of Mutoh's Folly, and there was much rejoicing. *yay*

[Guest Dangerous A]

Here is an interesting bit from Zach Arnold at puroresupower.com

 

 

The big news of the day is coming out from the weekly wrestling magazines (Weekly Pro, Weekly Gong) and from Weekly Fight newspaper in Japan. In an very unusual and gossip-like tone (versus the tight, traditionally reserved manner), these media sources have indicated that an emergency meeting will take place soon between Keiji Mutoh (All Japan President) and Motoko Baba (All Japan owner). Weekly Fight has indicated that the meeting will have one of two results - a) cancellation of All Japan for good or b) Motoko forcing out Mutoh and taking over the reigns of power in the company again. Mutoh as President did not have full control of the company and was encouraged by Hiroshi Hase in late November to take out a low-interest bank loan to buy out All Japan's school in Yokohama. The magazines claim that the emergency meeting between Mutoh & Motoko was something that was going to happen due to infighting amongst the various big-city promoters in All Japan. The original All Japan promoters (that either stayed on when Misawa formed NOAH or came on after the split) have been fighting with the promoters and office management that Keiji Mutoh took with him from New Japan in January. The original promoters are furious with the ex-NJ promoters over the WRESTLE-1 show and with the low attendance figures for tour shows.

 

According to Weekly Fight, there is enormous pressure on Hiroshi Hase. Hase is the one who brokered the deal for Mutoh to leave New Japan and to join All Japan. Hase was also instrumental in acquiring the Presidency of All Japan for Mutoh. Hase is in an unfavorable position.

 

Insiders near the All Japan company have told Weekly Fight/Pro that Motoko is considering a purging of her company and establishing Kawada and Fuchi as the two main bosses. The breaking point, according to the sources, was the 12/6 Nippon Budokan show which did 9,800 paid and looked like a miniature Tokyo Dome show. Motoko feels that under Mutoh's reign of the power, the company no longer represents the vision of the late Giant Baba and she wants to re-establish the company's purpose. As the story has broke out in Japan, Motoko has quickly become a big-time babyface, a complete 180 from what happened when the "split" happened in 2000 with Mitsuharu Misawa. Meanwhile, Mutoh's image has taken a beating both inside and outside the wrestling industry in Japan. Those inside the industry have given Mutoh the nickname of "Poker Face," because most believe that he is a hired assassin by New Japan to permanently take advantage of an old woman and destroy the legacy of the Baba family.

 

Fuji TV has recently chimed in with their concerns regarding All Japan as well. The deal between All Japan and Fuji TV was brokered by Kazuyoshi Ishii, who now (along with two others) has been formally indicted with corporate tax evasion. The concern amongst Fuji TV management is that Mutoh and others in the Japanese wrestling business knew months ahead of time that Ishii was going to get convicted of tax evasion and STILL did business with him. A source in Fuji TV told Weekly Fight that Fuji TV is concerned about the status of All Japan due to a recent business deal falling apart. The source claims that All Japan has been attempting to align big-time corporate sponsors to help pay for TV time on Fuji TV, but that each time the sponsors asked Keiji Mutoh and All Japan (under the new administration) to reveal and open up their accounting books, they won't open them up.

 

The fear in the wrestling industry (along with Fuji TV) is that Keiji Mutoh has accumulated a substantial amount of long-term debt (including $850,000 in production equipment) in a short amount of time and knew that Motoko Baba would not be able to recover her money spent on the various items. The WRESTLE-1 show (which is where the $850k of equipment was purchased) is being pointed out as a big moment in the Mutoh administration.

 

The magazines in Japan right now (for various reasons, some good-intentioned and other wrestlers/writers just trying to gain political power for themselves) are painting Mutoh in a bad light as a man who intentionally took over All Japan and has destroyed the company.

 

There is some doubt from a few wrestlers (who remained anonymous) in the magazines, claiming that the Mutoh/Motoko situation is just a story being leaked to try to garner some sympathy heat from fans to come to All Japan shows. However, recent threats and business proposals made to American businessmen from a few Japanese business players have raised many eyebrows. The story of the Mutoh administration falling apart now brings new light as to why the Japanese were angry with several players in the American wrestling business and have been trying to make quick side-deals to obtain cash (without bringing any money to the table).

 

Credit: puroresupower.com

 

 

So do you think Mutoh purposely tried to take All Japan down or is this just another wannabe conspiracy story to sell more newspapers in Japan?

[Guest Downhome]

Here is an interesting bit from Zach Arnold at puroresupower.com

 

 

The big news of the day is coming out from the weekly wrestling magazines (Weekly Pro, Weekly Gong) and from Weekly Fight newspaper in Japan. In an very unusual and gossip-like tone (versus the tight, traditionally reserved manner), these media sources have indicated that an emergency meeting will take place soon between Keiji Mutoh (All Japan President) and Motoko Baba (All Japan owner). Weekly Fight has indicated that the meeting will have one of two results - a) cancellation of All Japan for good or b) Motoko forcing out Mutoh and taking over the reigns of power in the company again. Mutoh as President did not have full control of the company and was encouraged by Hiroshi Hase in late November to take out a low-interest bank loan to buy out All Japan's school in Yokohama. The magazines claim that the emergency meeting between Mutoh & Motoko was something that was going to happen due to infighting amongst the various big-city promoters in All Japan. The original All Japan promoters (that either stayed on when Misawa formed NOAH or came on after the split) have been fighting with the promoters and office management that Keiji Mutoh took with him from New Japan in January. The original promoters are furious with the ex-NJ promoters over the WRESTLE-1 show and with the low attendance figures for tour shows.

 

According to Weekly Fight, there is enormous pressure on Hiroshi Hase. Hase is the one who brokered the deal for Mutoh to leave New Japan and to join All Japan. Hase was also instrumental in acquiring the Presidency of All Japan for Mutoh. Hase is in an unfavorable position.

 

Insiders near the All Japan company have told Weekly Fight/Pro that Motoko is considering a purging of her company and establishing Kawada and Fuchi as the two main bosses. The breaking point, according to the sources, was the 12/6 Nippon Budokan show which did 9,800 paid and looked like a miniature Tokyo Dome show. Motoko feels that under Mutoh's reign of the power, the company no longer represents the vision of the late Giant Baba and she wants to re-establish the company's purpose. As the story has broke out in Japan, Motoko has quickly become a big-time babyface, a complete 180 from what happened when the "split" happened in 2000 with Mitsuharu Misawa. Meanwhile, Mutoh's image has taken a beating both inside and outside the wrestling industry in Japan. Those inside the industry have given Mutoh the nickname of "Poker Face," because most believe that he is a hired assassin by New Japan to permanently take advantage of an old woman and destroy the legacy of the Baba family.

 

Fuji TV has recently chimed in with their concerns regarding All Japan as well. The deal between All Japan and Fuji TV was brokered by Kazuyoshi Ishii, who now (along with two others) has been formally indicted with corporate tax evasion. The concern amongst Fuji TV management is that Mutoh and others in the Japanese wrestling business knew months ahead of time that Ishii was going to get convicted of tax evasion and STILL did business with him. A source in Fuji TV told Weekly Fight that Fuji TV is concerned about the status of All Japan due to a recent business deal falling apart. The source claims that All Japan has been attempting to align big-time corporate sponsors to help pay for TV time on Fuji TV, but that each time the sponsors asked Keiji Mutoh and All Japan (under the new administration) to reveal and open up their accounting books, they won't open them up.

 

The fear in the wrestling industry (along with Fuji TV) is that Keiji Mutoh has accumulated a substantial amount of long-term debt (including $850,000 in production equipment) in a short amount of time and knew that Motoko Baba would not be able to recover her money spent on the various items. The WRESTLE-1 show (which is where the $850k of equipment was purchased) is being pointed out as a big moment in the Mutoh administration.

 

The magazines in Japan right now (for various reasons, some good-intentioned and other wrestlers/writers just trying to gain political power for themselves) are painting Mutoh in a bad light as a man who intentionally took over All Japan and has destroyed the company.

 

There is some doubt from a few wrestlers (who remained anonymous) in the magazines, claiming that the Mutoh/Motoko situation is just a story being leaked to try to garner some sympathy heat from fans to come to All Japan shows. However, recent threats and business proposals made to American businessmen from a few Japanese business players have raised many eyebrows. The story of the Mutoh administration falling apart now brings new light as to why the Japanese were angry with several players in the American wrestling business and have been trying to make quick side-deals to obtain cash (without bringing any money to the table).

 

Credit: puroresupower.com

 

 

So do you think Mutoh purposely tried to take All Japan down or is this just another wannabe conspiracy story to sell more newspapers in Japan?

I go with the latter, I can't see him actually doing that. It sounds like when people were saying that Vince Russo was trying to end WCW, etc...

 

You know, I never knew that Puroresu had so much in common with the US, I really didn't.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

If this goes through will Mutoh head for NOAH, the WWE, or will he just retire? I heard he had had a falling out with NJPW (Maybe someone can correct me on this.) is that true or not?

 

Needless to say, if AJPW folds a lot of wrestlers will be looking for work, with the puro market so weak right now, what can we expect to happen to them? And if an American buys AJPW, could we see US tours? Or maybe an ESPN2 deal? All-Japan could become the eqivelent of Iron Chef for the food network if they re-dub the commentary.

[Guest RickyChosyu]

Strange, last I heard their business was on the up and up. And didn't Chosyu's new project fold as well?

 

I really am out of the loop.

[Guest Black Tiger]

If Mike Awesome wins the Triple Crown next month in Nippon Budokan. Its a sure thing that Mutoh is out of power.

 

The debate of what hurt more, The split or Mutoh, if Misawa and co. hadn't hit the road, AJPW wouldn't have dealt with NJ and then Mutoh wouldn't have won the titles and got power in AJPW. I say the split hurt them more since it was split that was a big cause of Mutoh getting power.

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

WWE gets TV time in Japan?

I've found Japanese fanarts of WWE wrestlers before. O_o

 

Plus their games are released in Japan. They must have some show there. (Sure enoug, they do)

[Guest Downhome]

If Mike Awesome wins the Triple Crown next month in Nippon Budokan. Its a sure thing that Mutoh is out of power.

So Mike Awesome went from a nobody in WWE to contending for the Triple Crown in Japan!?

 

I had no idea he was even there, much less that much of a star there. Would anyone care to fill me in?

[Guest cynicalprofit]

Those inside the industry have given Mutoh the nickname of "Poker Face," because most believe that he is a hired assassin by New Japan to permanently take advantage of an old woman and destroy the legacy of the Baba family.

They the best gimmick yo have is be yourself.....hmmm.

 

Mutoh just needs to lay off the WWE crackpipe he's been smoking lately.

[Guest PlatypusFool]

Downhome, Mutoh and Japanese culture in general at the moment, are obsessed with American's, they love them. So, an American who has been a success in the WWE (or that they can pretend has been a success) instantly gets a push. For example, the only people Mutoh has lost to in the last few months have been Kronik and Bob Sapp.

[Guest Downhome]

Downhome, Mutoh and Japanese culture in general at the moment, are obsessed with American's, they love them. So, an American who has been a success in the WWE (or that they can pretend has been a success) instantly gets a push. For example, the only people Mutoh has lost to in the last few months have been Kronik and Bob Sapp.

I understand that, but I had no idea it was to this effect. I like Mike Awesome and all, I'm sure he could really show what he can do over there, but KRONIK? Mutoh lost to KRONKIK???

[Guest PlatypusFool]

AJPW, 7/17/02 (PPV/GAORA TV)

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium

5,850 Fans (Sell Out)

 

7. AJPW World Tag Team Title: Brian Adams & Bryan Clark beat Keiji Muto & Taiyo Kea © (14:59) when Clark used the Meltdown on Muto to become the 46th champions.

 

Yes. In, apparently, one of the worst full length Japanese matches for some time.

 

Credit Stuart @ Strong Style Spirit for the result info.

[Guest Downhome]

AJPW, 7/17/02 (PPV/GAORA TV)

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium

5,850 Fans (Sell Out)

 

7. AJPW World Tag Team Title: Brian Adams & Bryan Clark beat Keiji Muto & Taiyo Kea © (14:59) when Clark used the Meltdown on Muto to become the 46th champions.

 

Yes. In, apparently, one of the worst full length Japanese matches for some time.

 

Credit Stuart @ Strong Style Spirit for the result info.

Ugh, I knew they became tag champions, but had no idea they pinned Mutoh.

[Guest deadbeater]

And I thought WWE turned for the worse. Oh my.

[Guest TheGame2705]

AJPW is right now an injured pissed off Kawada, pissed off Tenryu, Masa Fuchi, ex-NJPW wrestlers, and guys who drop in every once in a while. I think it was pretty stupid for all the NJPW guys to leave a place that's prospering to go to a sinking ship. I hope World Japan and NJPW snatch up some guys from them and Muto is forced out of a job.

[Guest Vyce]

I don't think a total folding of the company will happen, so much as a purge & restructuring. Sort of like how WCW was SUPPOSED to do, before the idiots running that organization sold it to Vince for peanuts.