Guest Black Tiger Report post Posted July 15, 2003 According to SSS, Takayama wants to defend the IWGP strap vs Hogan if/when he gets by 50% healthy Masahiro Chono later this month. I'm mixed on this match, I don't want it to happen because it's going to suck, but beating Hogan (and Takayama would beat Hogan) would really propel Takayama into a big money superstar in Japan. thoughts? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dangerous A Report post Posted July 15, 2003 It MIGHT propel Takayama. Depends on how the Japanese still view Hogan. If the match is really shitty, they may not see a star born so much as an old man getting beat up by Takayama. From a money making point of view, if I were New Japan, I'd do it. You'd be able to pay Hogan's ridiculous 1 shot deal and probrably sell the Dome out for this particular dream match. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bps "The Truth" 21 Report post Posted July 15, 2003 I have a question that is kind of off topic...but since Jubuki's gone I'm not really worried about someone crawling up my ass, and It's not a good enough question to warrant it's own thread... I know that Japan takes MMA very seriously and was wondering if Takayama's losses in Pride have hurt his box office draw...or if they respect him despite the losses because he stands up to some vicious beatings? On the side of that...how did people react to Liger's being dominated in his NHB fight... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dangerous A Report post Posted July 16, 2003 Takayama's Pride fights have helped him trememdously in Japan despite the fact he hasn't won a Pride fight yet. It's the reason they put the IWGP and NWF titles on him. If it wasn't for his great showings in the Pride fights, he wouldn't be where he is today. In Japan, it is seen as a good thing if you lose as long as you gave it your all and went down with a fight. Takayama's fights have been fairly spectacular. When he goes down, he goes down in flames. The Japanese respect that. He puts up fights and doesn't back down. Because Takayama took beatings in those fights, he was respected by the Japanese fans and seen as a tough guy despite the losses. Michiyoshi Ohara of New Japan is an example of the opposite of this spectrum. He fought a terrible fight with Renzo Gracie at a Pride event. He basically just avoided contact at all costs and the fight went to a draw I believe. The fans shit all over Ohara and he was, and still is, seen as a disgrace. He was released from New Japan a few months later. Liger wasn't hurt by his loss to Suzuki in Pancrase because A) Suzuki is old an no one cares about him anymore and B) Liger is a junior heavy and while juniors are great wrestlers, they are pushed about the same level as here in North America. Juniors aren't draws in Japan either. Since Liger isn't a significant draw, it didn't really hurt him to lose. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bps "The Truth" 21 Report post Posted July 16, 2003 Thanks, I've always been curious about that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ravenlo 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2003 By the way Dangerous A, where'd you find that pic of Misawa and Kawada? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dangerous A Report post Posted July 17, 2003 By the way Dangerous A, where'd you find that pic of Misawa and Kawada? www.ichibanpuroresu.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest mach7 Report post Posted July 24, 2003 More specifically: http://www.ichibanpuroresu.com/kawadamisawa.html Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
