No American Dragon in TNA

[Guest MaskedDanger]

NWA has made extensive use of four of the five biggest indy talents around (Jerry Lynn, Christopher Daniels, Low-Ki, and A.J. Styles). They've even brought in slightly lesser known guys like Jason Cross, AMW, Shark Boy, Slim J, etc. But one guy that seems like a lock has never been mentioned: American Dragon. As far as I know, he's never been associated with TNA in any way (someone please correct me if I'm wrong on this), which seems kind of unusual given his popularity (well...for an indy worker) and his association with some of the other workers in the X-Division.

 

Anybody know anything about (or have any theories as to) why this is? Is there a definite story regarding his notable absence from the promotion (heat on either side? scheduling conflicts? mutual disinterest?), or is it just a case of bad luck / bad timing? I know there was talk of AD touring Japan, but I don't know when that was or how long that would have kept him out of commission. Also, I know he works most of the ROH shows, but neither TNA nor ROH have seemed to have a problem sharing talent in the past (Low-Ki, Chris Daniels, SATs...). Not to sound like a Dragon mark, but I think AD’s style—the emphasis on stiff strikes and sick looking submissions, spiced up with a few bigger spots—would be a nice compliment to the afternoon gymnastics class that is a majority of X-Division matches. He’d really stand out (to say the least), and, if pushed right, could be made to look like a real killer.

 

Anyway, any info or thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Guest ShooterJay]

The main reason:

His matches generally take at least 15 minutes to kick into gear, and his heavy mat/submission work is not the "X Division style" TNA fans are used to.

 

Other reason:

Works for New Japan and Z-1 (I think) so there might be scheduling conflicts.

 

RoH is pretty much the best environment for him stateside, I don't think he could thrive in any other.

[Guest MaskedDanger]

Yeah, I can completely see the "fifteen minute mark" thing you mentioned. Someone like Kid Kash (who's fun to watch, but his matches can be timed on a stopwatch) would get so antsy waiting for AmDrag to whip out a tope or something that he'd leave to go get a bag of popcorn halfway through an armbar.

 

Like I said, I still think Dragon could be successfully billed as the "anti X-Division" X-Division star (in wrestling style, not necessarily personality-wise, although that might work too), but it would take a lot of matches to build to it, something TNA, with its PPV format, most likely can't spare. And if they brought him in with no build up and no discernable gimmick, it would be a mess, so given all that, I guess ROH is the best stateside place for him.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

They wouldn't be good for each other.

 

Dragon would have to cut out all the things that make him great and do spot matches...

 

or he'd continue to have great matches but it would kill the X division crowd for not being spotty enough.

[syxx2001 0]

The 6 man tag on the last show wasn't a spot match and the fans were in it the whole time. and the 4 way from show 2 wasn't a spot match and the fans were in it. what are you talking about?

[Guest CoreyLazarus416]

The 4-way from Week 2 is a huge spotfest. Where have you been? That's why it gets a lot of criticism from TNA detractors when somebody recommends the match to somebody else.

[syxx2001 0]

well it was still a good match no matter how many spots it had. art is art. you rate it on greatness, not on how long they moved around on the mat reversing armbar takedowns.

[Guest ChaosTheory]

"Works for New Japan and Z-1 (I think) so there might be scheduling conflicts."

 

American Dragon does not work for Z-1 and has only been on a couple tours of NJPW-and is not booked as of current time for their next tour (although Christopher Daniels/Curry Man is). So I don't think that is a factor on why he is not in TNA.

 

As stated previously in this post-I don't think he really fits in with the current style of TNA. I am a huge Dragon mark-but he comes off as bland/boring until you really see a chance to see him kick into the next gear (Ki vs. Dragon "Round Robin Challenge" ; Ki vs. Daniels vs. Dragon "Era of Honor Begins" ) Dragon relies alot on submission wrestling and on psychology in the ring which is what makes him a great wrestler but it does not translate into something that he can bring to TNA in a 10 minute match format.

[Chunk 0]

Im a big AmDrag fan aswell, and I agree that he wouldnt fit into the X division style that well.

 

Saying that though, it does supprise me that he hasnt at least had a trial or dark match for TNA. Perhaps there is more to him not working for TNA than we know about.

 

ChUnK!

[Guest ChaosTheory]

To be honest of all the Shawn Michaels/Rudy Boy trainees the one that would fit in perfectly in TNA would be Paul "Please Don't Die" London. Why has this guy not been in a TNA dark match/tryout yet-he would be perfect for TNA!

[Chunk 0]

To be honest of all the Shawn Michaels/Rudy Boy trainees the one that would fit in perfectly in TNA would be Paul "Please Don't Die" London. Why has this guy not been in a TNA dark match/tryout yet-he would be perfect for TNA!

Chaos: Out of interest, are yuo a Doug Williams fan.

 

Ive only ever seen Paul London in ROH 2, where he broke Chris Marvels leg. Was that a legit injury, or was it a work.

 

ChUnK!

[Guest ChaosTheory]

"Chaos: Out of interest, are yuo a Doug Williams fan.

 

Ive only ever seen Paul London in ROH 2, where he broke Chris Marvels leg. Was that a legit injury, or was it a work.

 

ChUnK!"

 

 

I am a huge ROH fan and enjoy the work of Doug Williams. Plus I mark out for his finisher and love the name of it:)

 

Chris Marvel's injury was legit.

 

Paul London has really broken out since ROH 2. He is one of the most "over" talents right now in ROH as the fans totally mark out for him.

Here are some matches you might want to check out:

 

Paul London vs. Michael Shane- Street Fight from 9/21/02 "Unscripted"

This was definitely the spotfest of the year as London hit some wild spots including a shooting star press off a ladder onto Shane and also ran up a ladder that was placed on the turnbuckle and dove off onto Shane. And this doesn't even include what happened at the beginning of the show (before the match) where London hit Shane with a SSP off the ropes to the outside while Shane was standing.

 

Paul London vs. Michael Shane- 8/24/02 "Honor Invades Boston"

This match helped to put both of these guys on the map in ROH. It is not spectacular like the ladder match but it is a solid match.

 

He has also had some great matches recently (at least I have heard they are great) in ROH versus the likes of American Dragon, and Xavier.

[Chunk 0]

I thought you might be a Doug fan lol

 

Thanks for the tips. Im pretty sure I have both those show, but I don't have ROH 3 and 4. I have 1,2,5,6,7. I know it sounds wierd, but I like watchin suff in order, some Im waiting to get ROH 3 and 4, before I watch 5.

 

By the way, im not sure if you know or not. But if you want to quote some one then use the quote tags. I.e.

 

[ QUOTE ]Insert your quote here[ /QUOTE ]

 

(without the spaces before and after the [].) It should come out as follows:

 

Insert your quote here

 

Sorry, if you allready knew that, I just thought you might like to know.

 

ChUnK!

[Guest Hybrid420]

American dragon is performing on WWE Velocity this saturday if Im not mistaken

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

You are correct sir.

 

He's facing Jamie Noble in a match that (even if it's a two minute squash) will surely be better than anything on RAW this week.

[Chunk 0]

Really? Bloody hell, im excited about wwe tv for the first time in weeks.

 

ChUnK!

[Guest OSIcon]

Unless some other factor interferes, I don't think it will be long before Paul London gets a tryout with TNA.

 

London is a complete package and is only going to get better. He can do great high risk stuff that would get him over in places like the X-Division, but also is a very sound ground wrestler. You don't see many guys that do shooting star presses from the top rope to the floor, shooting star presses off ladders, ect. who can then go back in the ring and wrestle on the mat with the best of them or just work a normal pro-style match. He is WAY over in Ring of Honor and deservingly so.

 

His matches against EZ Money and American Dragon are both real good with the Dragon match especially standing out. He also worked a real good match with Xavier on 12/28 that was Xavier's best match in ROH (in my opinion) and had the crowd dying over the nearfalls which is very rare for ROH and Indy Promotions in general.

 

I am just surprised TNA hasn't contacted him already.