An AJPW show I actually want to see

[Guest Black Tiger]

From Stuart over at SSS

 

All Japan revealed the outline for it's next Tokyo Nippon Budokan super-show on 9/6 (which will be a live PPV). Shinya Hashimoto has officially vacated the Triple Crown, and a one night tournament for the historic title will take place. The participants will be Kawada, Kojima, Gladiator, and four unnamed ZERO-ONE wrestlers (to be named tomorrow). Three other titles will also be defended on the day. Muto & Arashi will defend the AJPW World Tag Team Title, against a currently unnamed duo. Kendo Kashin also has a TBA opponent, as he will defend his AJPW World Jr. Heavyweight Title once more. Shigeo Okumura & Nobukazu Hirai will challenge for the All Asia Tag Team Title. Although their most likely opponents are Kohei Sato & Hirotaka Yokoi, the current champions, a defense is scheduled on the ZERO-ONE tour before All Japan's Budokan show, so the belts could change hands.

 

Most of us cynical fans were convinced that with Hashimoto's vacting the belts, Mutoh would go ahead and put them on himself again, but he's not in the tournament. The belts look to be Kawada's for the taking, although don't totally rule out Kojima either. The Z1 guys won't have much of a chance except for maybe Ogawa (a Kawada vs Ogawa final would be a big money match)

 

I can safely say that for the first time in well over a year this is an AJPW show that I am looking forward to and that I want to see.

[EL DANDY~! 0]

What would really be funny is if Kawada gets screwed again, like he did in the last TC tourney in 2000, when Tenryu beat him for the belts. He NEEDS to win here, so he can draw some people in. Also, at this point, I think the TC MUST be defended elsewhere to gain it's credibility back, because at this point, not too many people care anymore.

[Internet Warfare 0]

Is there a chance of Masato Tanaka in the turnie? I think Tanaka/Kawada would be grand.

[Guest RickyChosyu]

The Z1 guys won't have much of a chance except for maybe Ogawa (a Kawada vs Ogawa final would be a big money match)

 

Maybe I'm one of the especially cynical of those cynical fans, but what evidense is there to show that the mere chance of a Kawada/Ogowa meeting would be a big money match? As far as I know, Ogowa hasn't been a ratings or attendence draw at all in Zero-One, even teaming with former rival Hashimoto, and Kawada's return hasn't done anything to help salvage AJPW.

 

It's a "New Match," yes, but so was Kawada/Hashimoto. Are new matches necesarily money matches?

[Guest Black Tiger]

you can pretty much scrap that money match comment now Ricky. AJPW announced that there will only be a four man tournament. The three AJPW guys in the first post and the fourth will be Shinjiro Ohtani.

[Guest Your Olympic Hero]

Is there a chance of Masato Tanaka in the turnie? I think Tanaka/Kawada would be grand.

Have Tanaka go over Mike Awesome in the first round, then lose to Kawada.... thats two easy **** matches IMO.

[Guest RickyChosyu]

Have Tanaka go over Mike Awesome in the first round, then lose to Kawada.... thats two easy **** matches IMO.

It depends what you're basing that on. I found the Awesome/Tanaka matches to be over-long garbagy spot fests with poor selling and transitions that made the tables, chairs, and what-not mean nada. As for Kawada, I haven't really enjoyed a match with him in it since 6/01 vs. Kojima in New Japan, and I think they were both better back then, as I didn't like their pimped matches in 2002.

 

you can pretty much scrap that money match comment now Ricky. AJPW announced that there will only be a four man tournament. The three AJPW guys in the first post and the fourth will be Shinjiro Ohtani.

 

I guess that means Ohtani jobs in the finals to Kawada or Kojima, then. Huzzah.

[Guest Black Tiger]

Look at the four guys who are in it.

 

Mike Awesome: No chance in hell, may as well give Kawada a bye, unless Mutoh decides to have Awesome work really stiff and sloppy so he'll hurt Kawada and force him out, but I don't want to give him any ideas.

 

Ohtani: Ohtani just jobbed to Kojima in the finals of the Z1 Fire Festival, so I think he's going over here. If nothing else it adds that little bit of suspense to the whole AJPW vs Outsider story for the finals. Z1 has been kicking AJPW's ass in this feud. They've won the three big tag matches, Hashimoto took the Triple Crown, and a Z1 team took the All Asia Tag Titles. It's time for AJPW to start kicking ass

 

Kojima: He's got a somewhat decent shot if he gets to the finals, only because Mutoh is his buddy and he's one of the very few guys who are looked at as main event players.

 

Kawada: The winner, absolutely zero doubt in just about anyone's mind here. I just hope that Kawada will finally get a decent reign or at the very least a V1 Defense where he actually wins the damn match.

 

I'm still looking forward to the show and when the tape becomes available I'll surely pick it up.

 

I would like to know who Mutoh/Arashi are fighting. I'd guess Ogawa and whoever his new partner is