Guest RickyChosyu Report post Posted October 14, 2003 Crowd was way down (early estimate 35,000), and even though this sounds like an excuse, the weather had a great deal to do with it as it was so bad the trains were shut down. Probably 95% of the crowd comes through public transpiration, and New Japan Dome shows are known for huge walk-ups. Hogan and Sapp's appearances (first Hogan appearance in Japan in almost ten years) saved the show, which was considered bad up to that point. -Meltzer This might be a legitimate excuse, but the reports show that New Japan was having trouble before the storm factor came into play. It's possible that a walk up could have saved them, and I suppose we'll never really know about that. We do know, however, that the pre-purchased ticket sales were down from previous years, which doesn't play well in Hogan's favor as "draw" in Japan, since this was his first appearance there in a while. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Downhome 0 Report post Posted October 15, 2003 Well, I just finished watching the Hulk Hogan Vs. Masahiro Chono, and I loved it. Then again, as you all know, I'm the worlds biggest Hulk Hogan mark. It was great seeing Hogan in there with Massa "My Hero" Chono, and if you followed the nWo/NJPW angle you remember that one. I dunno, it just felt really good, the match and all. Of course it was a Hulk Hogan match, so it wasn't no Flair/Steamboat or anything, but still, it was classic Hogan, and he DID have his working boots on. If any of you care enough to watch it also, I can send it to you over AIM if you want. Did I mention how I love Hulk Hogan? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KTID 0 Report post Posted October 15, 2003 I can't believe people are actually discussing "Hulk Hogan's Retirement". For gods sake he's been talking about retirement longer than Terry Funk. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Downhome 0 Report post Posted October 15, 2003 For gods sake he's been talking about retirement longer than Terry Funk. Let's not go mad crazy now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Ghost of bps21 0 Report post Posted October 15, 2003 Crowd was way down (early estimate 35,000), and even though this sounds like an excuse, the weather had a great deal to do with it as it was so bad the trains were shut down. Probably 95% of the crowd comes through public transpiration, and New Japan Dome shows are known for huge walk-ups. Hogan and Sapp's appearances (first Hogan appearance in Japan in almost ten years) saved the show, which was considered bad up to that point. -Meltzer This might be a legitimate excuse, but the reports show that New Japan was having trouble before the storm factor came into play. It's possible that a walk up could have saved them, and I suppose we'll never really know about that. We do know, however, that the pre-purchased ticket sales were down from previous years, which doesn't play well in Hogan's favor as "draw" in Japan, since this was his first appearance there in a while. Well...I am given to understand that even though he hadn't been to Japan for nearly a decade... Wouldn't Bob Sapp STILL have been the main draw on the card over there? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Use Your Illusion 0 Report post Posted October 15, 2003 Despite what fans or viewers thought of the show, specifically Chono/Hogan, Mr.Inoki hated it. Inoki said New Japan had been relying too much on old men (Sakaguchi and Hogan) or affiliated wrestlers (I don't know if he means New Japan wrestlers or outsiders here). Inoki said that instead of using old wrestlers past their prime, New Japan should focus more on creating new stars like Nakamura, Tanahashi, and Shibata. Inoki's threat to overhaul the system includes replacing President Fujinami with someone else, possibly even himself. He believes New Japan should take some risks, and used his fight with Muhammed Ali as an example of one that paid off, saying the company grew from there (and nearly went bankrupt). Inoki said that New Japan must be born again, and if it was in the same state as three years ago, could enter America and crush the struggling WWE. He said, "The name of Antonio Inoki won't be used, and won't be sold at a reduced price. Supposing I did fight again, the Tokyo Dome would be filled." UYI Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest TheGame2705 Report post Posted October 15, 2003 Despite what fans or viewers thought of the show, specifically Chono/Hogan, Mr.Inoki hated it. Inoki said New Japan had been relying too much on old men (Sakaguchi and Hogan) or affiliated wrestlers (I don't know if he means New Japan wrestlers or outsiders here). Inoki said that instead of using old wrestlers past their prime, New Japan should focus more on creating new stars like Nakamura, Tanahashi, and Shibata. Inoki's threat to overhaul the system includes replacing President Fujinami with someone else, possibly even himself. He believes New Japan should take some risks, and used his fight with Muhammed Ali as an example of one that paid off, saying the company grew from there (and nearly went bankrupt). Inoki said that New Japan must be born again, and if it was in the same state as three years ago, could enter America and crush the struggling WWE. He said, "The name of Antonio Inoki won't be used, and won't be sold at a reduced price. Supposing I did fight again, the Tokyo Dome would be filled." UYI Inoki has no ego AT ALL Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLAGIARISM! 0 Report post Posted October 15, 2003 Sorry if it's the wrong folder, but I would rather see Hogan/Dusty than Hogan/Jarrett. Argh. Still, good setup. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest RickyChosyu Report post Posted October 15, 2003 Well...I am given to understand that even though he hadn't been to Japan for nearly a decade... Wouldn't Bob Sapp STILL have been the main draw on the card over there? Well, I'm not sure about Sapp's drawing power. I haven't been presented with evidence of him selling out any shows, and Bob Sapp the shoot fighter might be a bigger draw than Bob Sapp the professional wrestler. All the same, I think Hogan/Chono was possitioned as the big draw on that card, despite not not being the main event. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Black Tiger Report post Posted October 15, 2003 Ricky, do you remember the last Wrestle-1 with Sapp vs Hoost? 6,000 in the Tokyo Dome. Hogan is also confirmed for 1/4/04 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Rob Edwards Report post Posted October 16, 2003 Bob Sapp's is a much bigger draw as a shootfighter than a pro wrestler, W-1 proved that, if he was a draw he'd most certainly have pulled numbers with Mutoh Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest RickyChosyu Report post Posted October 17, 2003 I knew about the Wrestle-1 show; it's what started my doubts about Sapp. What I didn't know about were the numbers for other pro-wrestling cards he was featured on. How were his numbers with Mutoh? Did he affect numbers for New Japan? The problem is that PRIDE and K1 are already stronger than any pro-wrestling promotion out there (not using Meltzer-speak in regards to PRIDE being pro-wrestling). Thus, they don't need Sapp to out-draw AJ and NJ. To really understand this, you'd have to take NJ and AJ's numbers *without* Sapp and then gauge the difference between the shows featuring Sapp. Then, do the same for K1 and PRIDE after Sapp's popularity caught on. Has Zach Arnold done any analysis like this? I'd be curious to see what the real story behind Sapp is. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Rob Edwards Report post Posted October 17, 2003 Not that I know of, as far as W-1's concerned it's difficult to guage anyway seeing as it's more or less a different concept to normal AJPW. I suppose you could argue that the cross wrestling/shoot stuff isn't a draw (Don't tell Antonio!) rather than Sapp flopping Although I'd rather he did flop because unless he improves an insane amount I don't want to see him anywhere near long main event worked matches Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
