IWGP Title vacant

[Guest Black Tiger]

Nakamura officially vacated the IWGP Title so the "provisional tournament" is out the window and now its a normal tournament.

 

Two years ago (almost to the day) NJPW held a tournament to fill the vacancy when Kazuyuki Fujita had to vacate due to injuries (anyone know if his were MMA related too? RickyChosyu looking in your direction here).

 

Hopefull this tournament goes out better than the 2002 Tournament (which was won by Tadao Yasuda). I'm banking on either Tenzan or Chono to take it, My original pick when the the tournament was for a "provisional champion" was Sasaki, so Nakamura could go over him too, but no way on outsider wins the gold, and Tenzan and Chono seem like the only logical choices to me.

[Slayer 0]

Was there a reason given for the vacating?

 

And what does this say about IWGP? They had a stable line of champions going for a bit, then they build up and give the belt to Tenzan only to have him drop it in Kawada-rivaling speed, and now the belt is vacant again?

 

Damn

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

Was there a reason given for the vacating?

 

And what does this say about IWGP? They had a stable line of champions going for a bit, then they build up and give the belt to Tenzan only to have him drop it in Kawada-rivaling speed, and now the belt is vacant again?

 

Damn

Takayama basically destroyed his face at the Dome Show.

[Vyce 0]

99.99% sure it'll be Chono.

 

Management seems really down on Tenzan. Can't see him getting the belt back anytime soon.

[Guest The Son of Sting]

Two years ago (almost to the day) NJPW held a tournament to fill the vacancy when Kazuyuki Fujita had to vacate due to injuries(anyone know if his were MMA related too?)

Fujita's injury was a damaged achilles tendon,i cant remember if it was MMA related.

 

Was there a reason given for the vacating?

 

 

The injury came about from his fight on new years eve with Ignashov and was made worse by his match with Takayama.

 

I would put the belt on Sasaki (make the best use of him while he is hot) and have

Nakamura beat him on his return.Simple storyline, hated outsider being defeated by the young hero.I dont see the logic in Chono getting the belt unless he puts Nakamura over big.

[Guest Black Tiger]

Nakamura should have never gotten the belt in the first place, I'm sure his upcoming fight 12/31 was a big reason that he won it, because for the IWGP Champion to defeat a K1 fighter in a K1 fight, it would have been a big shot in the arm for NJPW.

 

I also think that Nakamura's injuries and vacating are proof that risking your champion in shoots isn't a wise move and it hopefully won't be repeated. I'm pulling for Tenzan, but I think its Chono.

[Vyce 0]

I would put the belt on Sasaki (make the best use of him while he is hot) and have Nakamura beat him on his return.Simple storyline, hated outsider being defeated by the young hero.

I can't really argue with this booking. It would give instant heat to a Sasaki / Nakamura match, and give the kid a bit of a rub when he wins back the title.

 

I dont see the logic in Chono getting the belt unless he puts Nakamura over big.

 

He'd have to, wouldn't he?

 

Unless Chono's sort of like the HHH of New Japan.

 

I also think that Nakamura's injuries and vacating are proof that risking your champion in shoots isn't a wise move and it hopefully won't be repeated.

 

I think most RATIONAL people would agree, but Inoki's shoot obsession is going to continue no matter what.

[Guest Black Tiger]

Well Tenzan pulled it out after all, Chono seems to be trying to make a turn around and booking NJPW based on what the fans want. As we got Tanahashi upsetting Takayama to continue to try to prove his worth, the singles match people have been clammoring about since 2002 in a Nagata vs Tenzan, and Tenzan overcoming the outsider in Tenryu to win the title he shouldn't have lost.

 

Hopefully this reign lasts a bit longer with a few defenses in there.