Kawada FINALLY breaks the curse!

[Guest Black Tiger]

Kawada finally made a sucessful V1 defense of the Triple Crown defeating Don Frye in Nippon Budokan.

 

After nine years he's finally managed to break the curse, one of the few times Mutoh's AJPW is doing something right.

 

The Kawada Triple Crown Curse

10/21/94-10/26/03

[Guest RickyChosyu]

Somehow I don't see things in the same possitive light as you.

 

Kawada wore MMA gloves durring the match, which means that Mutoh is incorperating the same ridiculous worked shoot nonsense that Inoki still clings to.

[Guest Black Tiger]

Kawada wore MMA gloves durring the match, which means that Mutoh is incorperating the same ridiculous worked shoot nonsense that Inoki still clings to.

 

A little too soon to jump that that particular conclusion Ricky. Frye was brought in, more than likely just to help fill the Budokan. Since he's a pretty big name in Japan from his NJPW matches and was Inoki's final opponent (I think, I haven't taken a lot of time to dwell into the career of Don Frye).

 

If the next Triple Crown Challenger is Ken Shamrock or Gary Goodridge, then you might be on to something.

[Guest The Last Free Voice]

So, this is his first title win? Or is it his first defense? New to Puro, but this is a big deal? He's the guy who makes Low-Ki look loose with his kicks right? I'm so lost. To many names and dates.

[Slayer 0]

I'm moderatly knowledgable on Puro, and it's a big deal because while he has won the title a couple times before, he's either lost them on the first defense or had to forfeit the belt after winning it due to injury

 

But why is it a curse? Even though Japan is stiffer and more shoot oriented-style, aren't the champions predetermined just like over here? So he was essentially booked to win or lose?

 

Or am I totally wrong on how puro is planned out

[godthedog 0]

you are totally wrong. puro is like thunderdome. no predetermined outcomes: two men enter, one man leaves.

[Jingus 0]

But why is it a curse? Even though Japan is stiffer and more shoot oriented-style, aren't the champions predetermined just like over here? So he was essentially booked to win or lose?

It's both. Kawada first won the Triple Crown title from Dr. Death on 10-22-94, and only defended it twice; he went to an hour draw with Kobashi, and then lost the title to Stan Hansen. He won it again from Misawa on 5-1-98, but then lost it almost immedietly to Kobashi in his first defense, if I remember correctly. Now, those were completely worked and predetermined championship reigns, just like everywhere else in pro wrestling. Many people have wondered throughout the years why AJPW owner Giant Baba never seemed to have any faith as Kawada as a champion; he'd keep the belt on Misawa most of the time, and stuck it on everyone from an aging Stan Hansen to a "WHO won the title?!" Akira Taue, while never letting Kawada run with the ball.

 

The real "curse" started after Dangerous K beat Misawa for his third TC reign on 1-22-99, the infamous Ganso Bomb match; but he broke his arm in that match, and had to vacate the title. Then, on 2-2-24 Kawada beat Mutoh (in a match that serious puro devotees love to hate) for the title, but had to give it up just a month later due to knee injuries. Finally, Kawada beat Shinjiro Ohtani in a tournament final for the vacant Triple Crown belts on 9-6-03, and with his first successful title defense win over Don Frye out of the way, has finally seemed to break the "curse".

[Guest RickyChosyu]

Kawada wore MMA gloves durring the match, which means that Mutoh is incorperating the same ridiculous worked shoot nonsense that Inoki still clings to.

 

A little too soon to jump that that particular conclusion Ricky. Frye was brought in, more than likely just to help fill the Budokan. Since he's a pretty big name in Japan from his NJPW matches and was Inoki's final opponent (I think, I haven't taken a lot of time to dwell into the career of Don Frye).

 

If the next Triple Crown Challenger is Ken Shamrock or Gary Goodridge, then you might be on to something.

Actually, it's not. He wore the MMA gloves, and that's as clear a sign as you're going to get. What that means is "Everything else on this card is a work, but this, *this* is a shoot!"

 

It's morronic and dumb, which is why it makes perfect sense that Mutoh booked it.

 

And I don't think anyone would try to sell Frye as a "big name" in professional wrestling. MMA, sure, but not pro-wrestling. New Japan shot their load with him on 4/99 when he main evented against Mutoh for the IWGP title, drawing 63,000. After that he was basically kept in midcard matches, barring his challenging Fujita in 2001. That was basically his last important profesional wrestling match, so it's hard for me to believe that he's still considered a big name, or worthy of a Triple Crown shot.

 

But then again, with Mutoh defending the Triple Crown against Scott Hall in 2001, it's been a pretty low bar lately.

[Guest RickyChosyu]

Well, I just found out that I was wrong. Kawada wore the gloves down to the ring but tore them off.

 

Ata boy, Tosh.

[Guest Black Tiger]

You only missed one point Jingus, in July of 2002, when Kawada was orginally supposed to beat Hashimoto for the Triple Crown but due to Hashimoto's injuries he was forced to vacate the belts and keep Kawada's Triple Crown victory prolonged until September

[Guest Doyo]

you are totally wrong. puro is like thunderdome. no predetermined outcomes: two men enter, one man leaves.

ha

[Guest Black Tiger]

you are totally wrong. puro is like thunderdome. no predetermined outcomes: two men enter, one man leaves.

Your are about as wrong as those people who still believe that 2-Pac is still alive. Puroresu is just as worked as the WWE.

[Guest Doyo]

you really think he was serious?

[Guest RickyChosyu]

you really think he was serious?

With this lot, you can never tell.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Kumite...Kumite...Kumite

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

Toshiaki Kawada rule Bartertown.

[Guest Dynamic A]

Then, on 2-2-24 Kawada beat Mutoh (in a match that serious puro devotees love to hate) for the title, but had to give it up just a month later due to knee injuries.

I think most intelligent wrestling fans in general would hate that offense of a match...

 

Actually, it's not. He wore the MMA gloves, and that's as clear a sign as you're going to get. What that means is "Everything else on this card is a work, but this, *this* is a shoot!"

I always thougth that wearing the gloves just served the purpose of making punching legal, whereas in normal pro wrestling rules it is not.

 

-DA

[Guest RickyChosyu]

Actually, it's not. He wore the MMA gloves, and that's as clear a sign as you're going to get. What that means is "Everything else on this card is a work, but this, *this* is a shoot!"

I always thougth that wearing the gloves just served the purpose of making punching legal, whereas in normal pro wrestling rules it is not.

 

-DA

I doubt that's enforced these days. Wasn't the "punch" a major part of Tenryu's offense?

[Guest Dynamic A]

Meh, occasionally you will see the referee warn a wrestler against punching, but ti is not to the point where a guy will be DQed for punching. I was basically giving the "kayfabed" reason for the gloves.

 

-DA, who remembers how much heat Condrey and Eaton used to get for accusing the Fans of "illegal punches" only to punch them when the referee wasn't looking