The OAO Ask Puro Questions Thread

[Guest Dave O'Neill, Journalist]

It has come to my attention......that certain people don't like me, or me opinions and thoughts on the wrestling business. Tough. Lemme say this. In the case of the shit I pulled in the TNA Folder - I realised that I was being idiotic and apologised, and never post there now. Here, my posts have been used to mount a personal attack on me, and I'm not apologising until I get one.

 

Anyway, while the "Looking to get into the Puro scene" is a decent kickoff...it doesn't help people who, you know...are into the Puro scene, but need more direct answers. And since most websites are in Japanese, you can either have Stuart's "God I really love New Japan" site, or Zack "God, I really hate New Japan" Arnold's site. And they really aren't helpful sometimes.

 

 

So anyway, here's the dealie, Ask a Puro question, and hope to God someone knows an answer. Pretty much like the same threads we got in WWE and Gen. Wrestling. To that end, this might be really kewl if it was pinned. So anyway, since this is my thread, I'll kick off

 

1. Why doesn't Zero - One have a World Title (apart from the obvious logic that if they stick it on Ogawa or Hasimoto, they'll never get it off them)

 

2. What was New Japan before it was New Japan ?

 

3. What's the incentive for two promotions to enter into a series, such as New Japan - Noah, when one of them has to lose a deciding match, or are they always booked straight down the middle (Akiyama entering the G1, and getting to the final, only to put over Tenzan, for instance) ?

 

4. Would a G1/Champion's Carnival work in the States ?

 

5. Is Scott Norton seriously the most successful Gaijin ever over there?

Edited February 19, 2004 by Black Tiger

[Sass]

You are not IP banned at Chris Coey's board.

 

Stop saying you are. You aren't.

[Guest Black Tiger]

1. Why doesn't Zero - One have a World Title (apart from the obvious logic that if they stick it on Ogawa or Hasimoto, they'll never get it off them)

 

No real reason to establish one, Z1 is more of any indy anyways.

 

2. What was New Japan before it was New Japan ?

 

Nothing, NJPW was formed in 1972 by Antonio Inoki when Inoki was expelled from the JWA, Inoki was planning a takeover of the JWA and got ratted out

 

3. What's the incentive for two promotions to enter into a series, such as New Japan - Noah, when one of them has to lose a deciding match, or are they always booked straight down the middle (Akiyama entering the G1, and getting to the final, only to put over Tenzan, for instance) ?

 

Fresh matches to make your wrestlers look better, you can only wrestle the same guys for so long before the fans get bored. When NJ and NOAH works together its a fresh match

 

4. Would a G1/Champion's Carnival work in the States ?

 

Probably not, North American fans don't have the patience for a long tournament, although RoH did a round robin concept back in the fall.

 

5. Is Scott Norton seriously the most successful Gaijin ever over there?

 

Not by a long shot. Off the top of my head I can think of Stan Hansen, The Destroyer, Lou Thesz, and Bruiser Brody who had much more success and better matches than Norton.

[Guest Dynamite Kido]

5. Is Scott Norton seriously the most successful Gaijin ever over there?

 

Not by a long shot. Off the top of my head I can think of Stan Hansen, The Destroyer, Lou Thesz, and Bruiser Brody who had much more success and better matches than Norton.

This actually brought up a good thought(at least I think) in my head about Gaijins or more specifically. Who would you consider to be a better Gaijin, Hogan or Norton??? I mean in a Kayfabe kinda way.

[Guest Black Tiger]

Well Norton has two reigns as IWGP Champion, the first one was out of neccessity when Chono re hurt his neck, the second was to transition to Fujita in 2001. Hogan was the first ever IWGP Champion.

[Guest Dynamite Kido]

Well Norton has two reigns as IWGP Champion, the first one was out of neccessity when Chono re hurt his neck, the second was to transition to Fujita in 2001. Hogan was the first ever IWGP Champion.

But correct me if I'm wrong, but Hogan has defeated Inoki too correct??? I beleve that is who he beat to win the first IWGP title. Do you think this would qualify him to be considered a better Gaijin than Norton? It is a hard call to make though.

[Guest Black Tiger]

NJPW has tried to erase Hogan winning the title in 1983 by saying that the IWGP wasn't official until 1987, but in 1983 Hogan defeated Inoki by count out to win the title.

 

It depends on you "standards" of what makes one gaijin good. Hogan didn't work as many NJPW tours as Norton, but Hogan has main evented several Dome shows as well as having wins over Inoki. I'd say Hogan was more successful.

[SinToxic]

Now the future. I saw this guy The Shadow (Apocalypse in Stampede) in few matches, one exceptional match was against Tenzan and I really liked him. He has the look and he flies pretty high for a guy of his size. Any one you guys think might be the good future gaijin in NJ or elsewhere?

[Guest Dynamite Kido]

NJPW has tried to erase Hogan winning the title in 1983 by saying that the IWGP wasn't official until 1987, but in 1983 Hogan defeated Inoki by count out to win the title.

 

It depends on you "standards" of what makes one gaijin good. Hogan didn't work as many NJPW tours as Norton, but Hogan has main evented several Dome shows as well as having wins over Inoki. I'd say Hogan was more successful.

Thanks, that's exactly what I meant. It's a safe bet to say that Hogan is a better draw than Norton, and with his win over Inoki I would agree that Hogan was more successful. What's the deal with NJPW not recognizing the title before 87 though?

[Vyce]

Anybody know what promotion Michiko Oumaki is working for?

[Guest JebusNassedar]

To earlier question: Actually, the most successful Gaijin ever is Vader. IWGP heavy and tag belts, AJPW heavy and tag belts, GHC tag, UWF-i title, and wins in New Japan, All Japan, NOAH, and UWF-i tournaments. therefore, I argue that Vader was a bigger star in Japan.

 

Current question: Omukai is currently freelance, in a group called M's Style, with AKINO, Momoe Nakanishi, and Mariko Yoshida. Proof:

(nabbed from puroresufan.com)

 

 

Hope I'm some sort of assisting person type dude.

[Guest Black Tiger]

To earlier question: Actually, the most successful Gaijin ever is Vader. IWGP heavy and tag belts, AJPW heavy and tag belts, GHC tag, UWF-i title, and wins in New Japan, All Japan, NOAH, and UWF-i tournaments. therefore, I argue that Vader was a bigger star in Japan.

 

Current question: Omukai is currently freelance, in a group called M's Style, with AKINO, Momoe Nakanishi, and Mariko Yoshida. Proof:

(nabbed from puroresufan.com)

 

 

Hope I'm some sort of assisting person type dude.

To earlier question: Actually, the most successful Gaijin ever is Vader. IWGP heavy and tag belts, AJPW heavy and tag belts, GHC tag, UWF-i title, and wins in New Japan, All Japan, NOAH, and UWF-i tournaments. therefore, I argue that Vader was a bigger star in Japan.

 

Vader also has a win over Inoki, Vader demolished Inoki in his NJPW debut in 1988 or 1989.

[Guest Loss]

Based on the fact that he had his own TV show and was an incredible draw for a long period of time, wouldn't Destroyer eclipse Vader?

 

Also, I'm wondering if Stan Hansen would be above Vader. I probably would have said Terry Funk at one point, but all the retirements hurt that.

[Sass]

Destroyer was more popular than Vader was when he toured Japan. He had his own TV variety show, tons of merchandise to sell at shows (masks), and he also could speak fluent Japanese which helped him communicate better with the people he worked with.

 

It goes like this:

 

Destroyer/Hansen > Vader.

 

Both the Destroyer and Hansen are bigger gaijin icons in Japan than Vader. Hansen was the top gaijin in All Japan for over 20 years and during that time he was veiwed as a demi-God by the fans.

 

The fans there were so into the Destroyer that when he went to go unmask at his retirement ceremony in 1993, none of the Japanese press took a picture of him without his mask on. They wanted to remember him as the masked man, not the man behind the mask.

 

There will never be another gaijin in Japan like Beyer or Hansen. Or even Vader for that matter. The landscape is too different now for something like that to happen.

[Guest RickyChosyu]

Even at the time that Vader got his push in New Japan, the focus had begun to change from Native vs. Gaijin feuds to Native vs. Native. Vader was pushed hard by NJPW, AJPW, and UWFi, but he was not the draw that Beyer, Hansen, Hogan, or the Funks were.

[Guest Dynamite Kido]

IMO here is a list of the top 10 Gaijins of all time:

 

1. Stan Hansen

2. Bruiser Brody

3. Terry Funk

4. Destroyer

5. Vader

6. Steve Williams

7. Hulk Hogan

8. Mick Foley

9. Dory Funk Jr.

10. Scott Norton

 

Anyone else interested, post your top 10 Gaijins........

[Guest Black Tiger]

In no special order:

 

The Destroyer

Stan Hansen

Bruiser Brody

Vader

Steve Williams

Terry Gordy

Terry Funk

Dory Funk Jr.

[Masked Man of Mystery]

What ever happened to Mr. Ganosuke(or however it's spelled) nafter FMW collapsed?

[Guest Black Tiger]

Gannosuke joined up with Hayabusa's promotion WMF, but that his since ceased running shows. He also works some Zero-One shows and WEW (or whatever Fuyuki's group was called)

[Guest Ray]

8. Mick Foley

For what?

 

 

And where's junior heavyweight legend Wild Pegasus?

[Vyce]

Anyone know a good website for joshi reviews?

 

Don't send me to Air Raid Crash. That's not what I'm looking for.

[Guest Loss]

Anyone know a good website for joshi reviews?

 

Don't send me to Air Raid Crash. That's not what I'm looking for.

You said you're looking for good Joshi reviews. Sounds like Air Raid Crash to me. If that's not what you're looking for, please describe what it is you're searching for.

[Guest Dynamite Kido]

8. Mick Foley

For what?

 

 

And where's junior heavyweight legend Wild Pegasus?

Obviously for his death match stuff. Also, his deathmatch stuff used to draw huge crowds too. I fully admit that (for some reason I forgot Benoit.) it's my mistake so here:

 

 

 

1. Stan Hansen

2. Bruiser Brody

3. Terry Funk

4. Destroyer

5. Vader

6. Steve Williams

7. Hulk Hogan

8. Mick Foley

9. Chris Benoit (Wild Pegasus)

10. Scott Norton

[Guest Just Too Uber]

Nevermind.

[Guest Ray]

Obviously for his death match stuff. Also, his deathmatch stuff used to draw huge crowds too.

Those matches kinda sucked though...

 

I fully admit that (for some reason I forgot Benoit.) it's my mistake so here:

*nod*

[Guest Black Tiger]

what exactly are you basing how "good" they were on?

 

At first I thought it was about drawing power, with the Hogan/Norton contrasts, but now throwing in names like Cactus Jack and Benoit. I love the both of them, but I don't think either of them drew in huge gates in Japan.

[Guest Dynamite Kido]

Obviously for his death match stuff. Also, his deathmatch stuff used to draw huge crowds too.

Those matches kinda sucked though...

 

I didn't say that the matches were good. Hogan's matches sucked in the 80's for the most part, but he still is one of the biggest wrestlers of all time. Keep in mind what point I am making here........

[Guest Loss]

I didn't say that the matches were good.  Hogan's matches sucked in the 80's for the most part, but he still is one of the biggest wrestlers of all time.  Keep in mind what point I am making here........

What is the point you're making? If this is based on work, no way Hogan belongs. If this is based on drawing power, no way Benoit belongs. Either way, Terry Gordy belongs. Either way, Foley doesn't. What *is* the point?

[Guest Rob Edwards]

Anyone know a good website for joshi reviews?

 

Don't send me to Air Raid Crash. That's not what I'm looking for.

These aren't reviews as such but you can usually find opinion on any match here . Slightly biased but true!

[Guest Rob Edwards]

Oh and Lorefice has plenty over at Quebrada opinions differ on how good they are though