Guest Brian Report post Posted April 22, 2002 For the first K-DOJO show at Differ Ariake, TAKA showed up and said that he refused to re-sign with the WWF. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bcu1979 Report post Posted April 22, 2002 Meltzer just mentioned on his radio show that Taka was no longer with the WWF. He said that the comments he made in Japan were just part of some angle he was doing for a Japanese promotion. Does this mean Funaki will be released next? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted April 22, 2002 He was released? or did he leave? Brian is that picture from the show? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Brian Report post Posted April 22, 2002 I never expected TAKA to leave. He loves it in America. And the cruiserweight division is starting to take off. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smeghead Report post Posted April 22, 2002 He wasn't released. His contract expired. They sent him a new one, but I guess he chose not to sign it. I can't say I blame him. As much as I'd like him to stay in the WWF, he's probably better off in Japan. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Man in Blak Report post Posted April 22, 2002 Honestly, the WWF smeared his career. Other than his series with Sasuke and the match with Triple H, they haven't done anything other than make him look stupid. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Brian Report post Posted April 22, 2002 If he can get back to where he once was, and get into NJPW with momentum, he'll make just as much as in the WWF. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted April 22, 2002 If he can get back to where he once was, and get into NJPW with momentum, he'll make just as much as in the WWF. While doing about four times as much work. Yep, that TAKA sure has it all figured out... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Brian Report post Posted April 22, 2002 Yeah, the whole point of being a wrestler is not wrestling. That's what Kevin Nash says waking up everyday. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest evenflowDDT Report post Posted April 22, 2002 Honestly, the WWF smeared his career. Other than his series with Sasuke and the match with Triple H, they haven't done anything other than make him look stupid. You mean Japanese people don't REALLY speak with bad overdubbing? Unreal! Hey, does this mean I'll finally be able to afford a Kaientai shirt? I'm glad Taka is back working where people can appreciate and use him now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest goodhelmet Report post Posted April 22, 2002 Hey, if taka goes back to japan and works 15-20 minute matches with guys like munoru tanaka or whoever then I'm all for it. Besides Canadian Stampede, has there been any great TAKA matches in the WWF? In MPro, there were dozens. Good luck to TAKA!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted April 22, 2002 I agree totally, Keeping in mind that in the WWF Japanese wrestlers for some reason are cut off at the knees all the time. Funaki and Taka both been known to Kick ass everywhere else but WWF, where they are just a Comical Small Japanese tag team. Both Taka and Funaki are former J Cup contestants something Mr Austin can't lay claim to. If Funaki just snapped one night on Jakked he could beat the crap out of Crash with his Full Move list. but... Since its the WWF that just aint allowed. Taka was planning on starting his own fed anyway, filling it with his students. It makes perfect sense for him to move on. WWF wasn't gonna push him seriously, and since he is a honest to god good wrestler no point staying in Jobber land, when you are a big name back home. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Some Guy Report post Posted April 22, 2002 GH his match on Raw against HHH in early 2000 was very good, the crowd was rabid for TAKA to beat him. I can't say I blame TAKA for leaving, he was lied to when he signed (they claimed they were going to push the Light-Heavy weights) and then treated like shit for the most part. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest goodhelmet Report post Posted April 22, 2002 I'll agree the match with Trips was entertaining but I don't think it comes close to his match with Sasuke. I think it was closer to his Wrestlemania match against Papi Aguila. But in Japan, as part of KDX, TAKA was on! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest saturnmark4life Report post Posted April 22, 2002 Aguila was greener than shrek in that match! But then Essa is my ol' smackdown 2 nemesis so i'm biased. The HHH match ruled, even if it didn't beat the sasuke one. I think they should keep funaki for the cruiser division, can't hurt no one. Backlash showed they were serious about it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Mystery Eskimo Report post Posted April 22, 2002 I don't think they can use Funaki for the CW division as he's been made such a joke...then again Crash has been CW champ, so who knows. A TAKA federation would be interesting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest oldschoolwrestling Report post Posted April 22, 2002 I don't think they can use Funaki for the CW division as he's been made such a joke...then again Crash has been CW champ, so who knows. A TAKA federation would be interesting. He's not a joke. He pinned Lance Storm just last week. And Lance Storm is way over. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted April 22, 2002 If he can get back to where he once was, and get into NJPW with momentum, he'll make just as much as in the WWF. While doing about four times as much work. Yep, that TAKA sure has it all figured out... True, but maybe it's worth it to him. I'd rather work four times as hard and be respected, than take the easy route and be treated like shit. TAKA will flourish back home, and as long as I can still get tapes imported - I'll be a happy viewer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dace59 Report post Posted April 22, 2002 He's not a joke. He pinned Lance Storm just last week. And Lance Storm is way over LOL.. we all know the real happenings of course. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted April 29, 2002 So did the WWF not resign him or did he not want to sign? Ive heard conflicting stories. Is Funaki on his way out too? And I read this on the Observer newsletter preview We've got an update on Kodo Fuyuki and the new main event of his big show as well as the Taka Michinoku debut and tragedy at his first event. What was the tragedy? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest TheMikeSC Report post Posted April 29, 2002 <,,And I read this on the Observer newsletter preview Quote We've got an update on Kodo Fuyuki and the new main event of his big show as well as the Taka Michinoku debut and tragedy at his first event. What was the tragedy? >>> Maybe TAKA's promo sucked. -=Mike ...Either that or they announced that they signed Giant Silva to a 10-year deal. One of the two. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest HBK16 Report post Posted April 29, 2002 I may be one of the few that are happy. I just think think that the WWF ruined his career. He is much better off in Japan. He can once again work awesome 20 minute match and do his best unlike working 2-5 minute matches on Jakked. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Goodear Report post Posted April 29, 2002 Both Taka and Funaki are former J Cup contestants something Mr. Austin can't lay claim to. And I am sure thats keeping Austin awake nights while he sleeps on piles and piles of money. Andre the Giant was never in a J Cup either, does that mean TAKA and Funaki had better careers? If Funaki just snapped one night on Jakked he could beat the crap out of Crash with his Full Move list. but... Since its the WWF that just aint allowed. Yeah, because Crash is the reason Funaki doesn't get a push.... DAMN YOU CRASH! By the way, what professional wrestling federation do you know of that allows its workers to shoot on each other? I want to make note of which federations I should never, ever watch. Taka was planning on starting his own fed anyway, filling it with his students. It makes perfect sense for him to move on. WWF wasn't gonna push him seriously, and since he is a honest to god good wrestler no point staying in Jobber land, when you are a big name back home. Hey, good for TAKA. May he have many profitable years training and working with the youngsters in Japan. Granted he should have realized he was never going to get pushed years ago, but as long as the checks keep clearing... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted April 29, 2002 Why would the WWF push Taka when they can push Mark Henry? Can Taka bend a frying pan!? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Austin3164life Report post Posted April 29, 2002 Well the Cruiserweight division is starting to gain some momentum. It's a shame Taka isn't capitalizing on it..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Special K Report post Posted April 29, 2002 I'm generally not to bummed. TAKA obviously felt he'd be better used in Japan, and he will shine there like always. Also, I'm pleased that the Cruiser division's pickking up. It'll keep the workrate lovers like myself pleased, and it really doesn't take away from the heavies. plus, judging from crowd responses, they are definitely warming to the smaller guys. See wrestling CAN get people over! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vyce Report post Posted April 29, 2002 Good for TAKA, but this is all like, 3 years too late. Hopefully he'll wind up like Kaz Hayashi - as soon as he leaves the stagnation that is the WWF, he gets immediately placed into a prominent position with one of the big japanese feds (in Kaz's place, AJ). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FakeRazor Report post Posted April 29, 2002 I hope he returns to Japan and is used correctly. Good for him, I'm sad to see him go, but I'm happy that he'll finally be used correctly. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly Report post Posted April 30, 2002 In the defense of the WWF, they tried getting TAKA over when he first came to the WWF. They made him seem like a big deal because of his signing, and he had pretty decent matches when he started appearing on television. I don't know why they think wrestling fans don't appreciate actual wrestling, but it seemed like it when they decided that TAKA had to be westernized by making him pull a shocking heel turn and join Kamikaze(?) and take part in ridiculous angles. The Hardy Boyz managed to get over without being good on the mic or being in any riveting dramas. They got over with Jeff's bumps and their tandem offense. There's no reason why they couldn't let TAKA and Funaki get over with their ringwork. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest the 1inch punch Report post Posted April 30, 2002 Didnt TAKA have an awesome match with Malenko a while back on Raw Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
