The Americanization of Puro.....

[Guest The Mighty Damaramu]

You know I was perusing The Great Hisa's website and on the intro I noticed that he mentioned that New Japan is becoming more americanized. And by my own observation it seems that All Japan is now with Mutoh running the show.

I mean what's the deal with this? Puro seems to be moving farther away from the greatness from the mid-90's everyone fell in love with? In 10 years will we be left with nothing more than a Japanese WWF? Or will it return to it's greatness one day?

[EL DANDY~!]

It's all Mutoh's fault. He thinks that the Japanese people want to see more entertainment and less wrestling. That's stupid. The Japanese fans for the last thirty years are happy with WORKRATE, not some stupid show. Mutoh will find out soon that people won't care about that, and by that time, it'll be too late.

[Guest DragonflyKid]

It's not just Mutoh's fault, bad business has led to desperation moves in the past to increase interest. There is a fanbase who want sports entertainment especially the younger viewers while others will look down on it.

 

The WWE has had success in Japan recently and younger pro wrestling fans are going to have different opinions on what entertains them than what earlier generations prefered. Puroresu is going to have to evolve to give the next generation of fans what they want to see. The WWE influence will be there in some cases, while certain promotions such as AJ and Zero-1 will cater to the fanbase that want more SE I don't think puroresu as a whole will sacrifice tradiional pro wrestling and workrate. If they start treating the business with little respect like the WWE has done then they will lose credibility with the mainstream media. A focus on outrageous storylines and gimmicks will appeal to some but traditionalists will look down on it so I don't see NOAH or NJ choosing that route.

 

Some promotions will go after traditional fighting/pro wrestling fans while others will go after those seeking an alternative. As long as there is a balance and options I don't see a problem.

[Guest Black Tiger]

I think some blame has to go to how FMW was ran after Onita retired for the first time. I don't know who was in control around that time, but after Fuyuyki got control and turned it into WEW, it was more or less WWE Japan.

[Guest TheGame2705]

I think AJ and Z1 are the ones really doing the SE thing. I mean WRESTLE-1 and Z1 U$A looked like crap with all the gimmicks. I like Osaka Pro which is just as gimmicky but it's more comedy and it has some good ring action too.

[Guest XdojimeX]

"You know I was perusing The Great Hisa's website and on the intro I noticed that he mentioned that New Japan is becoming more americanized."

 

Hisa wrote that intro way back, '97-'98 or some such. Still it sounds a lot truer now than it did at the time. Anyhow his site is an awesome resource no matter how shitty the business is these days.

 

As for big-time wrestling in Japan turning into the WWE, I think its pretty clear the big hurdle for Puroresu is how it's going to survive the rise of MMA. Because it's identity is on the verge of becoming obsolete. Concept shows like Wrestle-1 are just fads (that dont draw dick). Inoki and Pride on the other hand have turned the business completely on it's head. Power struggles, a lack of promotional direction and droughts in new star power haven't helped things either. For fuck sake, Takayama is the hottest native in the country right now (if you told me that back in '98 I would have fainted on site) and he had to become a human punching bag to strike that iron. Dark times indeed for the sport of kings.

 

Still, just when I think I can take my name off Lynch's mailing list for awhile I see some hot shit like Liger and crew vs. the NOAH punks to remind me why I dig the graps so.