New japan, still sucks

[Guest Black Tiger]

I feel stupid when I thought New Japan might be on the verge on some sort of comeback last week. They completely fucked it up.

 

Yugi Nagata is the #1 Contender to Yasuda, Friday night Yasuda beat him by submission so much for his credibility as a contender.

 

last night. Sasaki got a pin over Yasuda in a tag match, I wonder who #1 contender will be after Yasuda VS Nagata.

 

Team 2000, is still killing all the Jr's in 10 man tag matches, The only bright spot is now there are IWGP Tag Team Champions Chono and Tenzan.

[Guest The Son of Sting]

Chono should just put the belt on himsef.

[Guest Stuart]

>> Yugi Nagata is the #1 Contender to Yasuda, Friday night Yasuda beat him by submission so much for his credibility as a contender. <<

 

Do you understand traditional Japanese booking? They may sway from this occasionally, but 95% of the time they go through it. Here's three examples from the recent tour ALONE.

 

3/10/02: Masahiro Chono & Hiroyoshi Tenzan beat Tadao Yasuda & Yuji Nagata (13:53) when Tenzan used the Tenzan Tombstone Driver on Yasuda.

3/21/02: Tadao Yasuda © beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan (13:25) with a front sleeper (1st defense).

 

3/9/02: Scott Norton & Super J beat Tadao Yasuda & Yuji Nagata (13:13) when Norton used a powerbomb on Nagata.

3/21/02: Yuji Nagata beat Scott Norton (14:51) with a left middle kick.

 

3/16/02: Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Giant Silva & Giant Singh beat Tadao Yasuda, Manabu Nakanishi & Yutaka Yoshie (9:22) when Singh used a Giant bomb on Nakanishi.

3/17/02: Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi beat Giant Silva & Giant Singh (9:23) when Nakanishi used a German suplex hold on Singh.

 

3/22/02: Tadao Yasuda & Yutaka Yoshie beat Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi (14:48) when Yasuda used a shoulder hold on Nagata.

4/5/02: Tadao Yasuda VS. Yuji Nagata... take your guess.

 

Like I said, they may stray for it, but traditional booking has the *loser* going in and *winning*, as the above examples show. I personally don't think Nagata is ready for the title after 12/31, but ANYONE is a better champion than Yasuda, who is bombing in a major way. I think the best booking would be to have Nagata win the title, then successfully defend against Jun Akiyama on the 5/2 Dome show, giving Nagata a payback win over him with the other belt on the line. If Nagata bombs, then there are a couple of guys to fall back on.

 

>> last night. Sasaki got a pin over Yasuda in a tag match, I wonder who #1 contender will be after Yasuda VS Nagata. <<

 

Sasaki pinned Yoshie with a Northern Lights Bomb in the tag. Zach got it wrong, New Japan listed it at Yoshie.

 

>> Team 2000, is still killing all the Jr's in 10 man tag matches, The only bright spot is now there are IWGP Tag Team Champions Chono and Tenzan. <<

 

Natural process. The heels are going over strong to start, things will change down the road. Tanaka has already won the first important singles match, against Gedo. If Eddy stays around long enough, which I doubt, but we'll see, I think Tanaka will beat him in a title match.

 

Have some faith. Chono is completely running the company now. He booked the last G1 Climax, which IMO, may have been the best all-around G1 ever. When Inoki butts in again, then that will be the real time to start having doubts. The tour was booked pretty well, assuming Nagata wins the title, which the lead-in suggests.

[Guest Black Tiger]

Stuart, what is the status of the New Japan/All Japan relationship? If Kawada unified the IWGP and Triple Crown titles, that would really make some money. I've been into Puro for about a year now so I'm not up to speed on some of the current booking styles.

 

What is Inoki's role in New Japan? I know Chono is the booker and Fujinami is the president. Inoki seems to have a preferance for shooters which explains Yasuda's push.

[Guest HopeSpot]

I lost all faith in New Japan when I found out that Chyna will be coming to work for them on the LAW. I'm not sure but that may be one of the signs of the acopaclypse. L

 

Let's just pray to the wrestling gods that this is all a rumour (like that Tyson thing).

[Guest Stuart]

I lost all faith in New Japan when I found out that Chyna will be coming to work for them on the LAW. I'm not sure but that may be one of the signs of the acopaclypse. L

 

Let's just pray to the wrestling gods that this is all a rumour (like that Tyson thing).

>> I lost all faith in New Japan when I found out that Chyna will be coming to work for them on the LAW. I'm not sure but that may be one of the signs of the acopaclypse. <<

 

Well, yes this is awful, but looking at both sides, the following are all rumoured to be on the show: Mitsuharu Misawa, Jun Akiyama, Akira Taue, Naomichi Marufuji, Manami Toyota, Momoe Nakanishi, Kaoru Ito, MIKAMI (who wrestles like, but is better than Jeff Hardy), Takashi Sasaki, The Great Sasuke, Tiger Mask 4, Gran Hamada, Shinya Hashimoto, Shinjiro Otani and any other number of indy wrestlers, as all have been invited. It may turn out like the Weekly Pro show with tons of promotions having matches. I think there's going to be a press conference later, so we'll find out then.

[Guest Stuart]

>> Stuart, what is the status of the New Japan/All Japan relationship? If Kawada unified the IWGP and Triple Crown titles, that would really make some money. I've been into Puro for about a year now so I'm not up to speed on some of the current booking styles. <<

 

It's dead. Muto and co. leaving New Japan was the breach of a very old Japanese loyalty system, so there is a lot of bitterness between the companies now. Chono offered All Japan the chance to compete on the all-star Dome show and Muto said he'd send two rookies, which is very disrespectful and deliberately so. I wouldn't expect the companies to work together again for five years MINIMUM.

 

>> What is Inoki's role in New Japan? I know Chono is the booker and Fujinami is the president. Inoki seems to have a preferance for shooters which explains Yasuda's push. <<

 

Inoki has more power than anyone just about, unless someone else gets Sagawa's stock. However, he has to be careful how he uses it. He must keep the wrestlers happy, which is why he appointed Chono as his direct successor. He has his input, but he has to be more cautious of how he uses it, because another walkout could cripple the company permanently. There's rumours that Choshu will walk and his "boys" include Sasaki, Nagata, Nakanishi, Koshinaka, Iizuka, Yoshie and Suzuki, so that'd just about kill the company unless they could get Hashimoto back, as only Chono and Tenzan would be left for drawing.

[Guest wolverine]

I've been into Puro for about a year now so I'm not up to speed on some of the current booking styles.

Only problem is it's not current.  Almost all traditional promotions have done that forever...Including WWF.  Last December on the Monday before Vengeance, Jericho jobbed for Austin.  Then on the Thursday show, he jobbed for Rock in a tag match.  Then on Sunday, he beat both and won the Undisputed title.