Best wrestler in Japan..

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Seeing as how I haven't bothered with much recent AJ or NJ, I was curious as to people's opinions on the current workers over there. Who would you consider "the man"? Is there one?

 

I quite honestly haven't heard anything unanimously pimped from that side of the Pacific in quite some time. Is there anyone who really stands out from the rest of the pack?

[Guest wolverine]

Probably Ran YuYu of GAEA, though I still need to check out more of her JWP work. But I really wish Mariko Yoshida would bolt from that piece of shit Arsion promotion, and work with some better opponents, since she's still pound-for-pound the best as far as I'm concerned.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Any standouts from the men?

[Guest PlatypusFool]

Yoshihiro Takayama.

 

His matches with the NJPW top heavyweights (especially Nagata and Nishimura, but also Sasaki and Tenzan) from last year were excellent, and the best stuff I've seen from 2002. Although I'm yet to see the Lyger & co. vs. Kikuchi & co. tag matches or the Ito vs. Nakanishi match.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

I've been hearing nothing but praise for Koji Kanemoto who seems to be doing exceptional this year.

 

Yuji Nagata is always fun to watch, although I wouldn't call him the best man in Japan.

[Guest Jubuki]

I'll take a gimpy Kawada hopping round the ring on one leg before I take Kanemoto. Hell, I'll take Tenryu, potentially on one leg given the right opponent.

 

Jushin Liger is still probably the most intelligent worker active right now, even if he hasn't had a mind-blowing match in a long time. He rarely amazes these days, but he never disappoints. Strange to see how Liger is still as good as he is after 14 years of that style under the mask, while a guy like Samurai, who hasn't been working nearly as long, burned brighter very briefly but is a shell of a worker now. For the women, Ran YuYu is the best I've seen in the last year or so, with Misae Genki, Yoshida, and AKINO right behind her and Fabi Apache not far off from the main pack.

[Guest PlatypusFool]

Fair point, I tend to forget about Lyger, but he's always so good, even in the most meaningless of matches.

 

I saw Chyna, McCully & Shane vs. Nagata, Kakihara & Lyger (horrible match BTW, with the whole thing focussed on Chyna) the other day, and the best thing about it was Lyger working comedy USA spots with Shane that worked really well. The guy is so versatile and clever with everything, so awesome.

[EL DANDY~! 0]

Right now...Kanemoto isn't exactly setting the world on fire, Nagata is still doing good, Takayama is improving my leaps and bounds...but my vote also goes to Lyger.

[Guest The_Radical]

Right now Lyger is still awesome, just not mind-numbing absolutely unbelievably awesome like he was before.

 

The Radical has spoken.

[Guest The Last Free Voice]

does Lyger still wear his mask/ body suit?

[EL DANDY~! 0]

Yes, but Lyger is now COLOR COORDINATED~! He can wear all black or all red, depending on his mood. But that would be a silly question to ask, anyway...

[Guest Black Tiger]

Lyger dropped his Black suit for a crimson suit.

 

Most of us Kanemoto fans like him for his attitude, rather than substance. He's still a damn fine worker who's been part of some awesome matches, but he's probably the #2 junior worker out of NJPW (behind Lyger)