Nevermortal 0 Report post Posted May 20, 2004 The two great super-powers of professional wrestling, New Japan and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), could be at last set to tie up! Director Uei held confidential talks with former All Japan star, Johnny Ace (now WWE Vice President), while in America, and they went very well. The two discussed a possible relationship between the sides, despite their long-time rivalry over the world's #1 pro wrestling organization spot. Uei said he hoped to dispatch some New Japan wrestlers to WWE soon, and get at least some in return to start the agreement (technically, Ultimo Dragon is a WWE wrestler, but is representing Toryumon Japan in New Japan). Weekly Fight recently reported that Tanahashi has been invited to work one of WWE's Tokyo Nippon Budokan shows in July, which could be related, if true. More details should be revealed soon of this possibly huge story. Wait, there's more! A little more on the New Japan/WWE situation from Nikkan. Uei said there is a good chance that two WWE wrestlers will enter this year's G1 Climax. The two names mentioned as possibilities were the WWE's current world champions, Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero, who were full-timers in New Japan's junior division in the past, and Benoit is actually considered a semi-trueborn New Japan wrestler, as he graduated from the dojo and worked his way up through the ranks, before holding the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title. Benoit's last appearance in New Japan was on 1/4/00 at the Tokyo Dome, when he lost to Tenzan. Guerrero's was on 3/24/02, during his brief stint before returning to the WWE, where he was involved in a New Japan vs. Team 2000 Jr. Singles Elimination Match, pinning Kakihara and Samurai, before falling to Minoru Tanaka (Heat). The key to these talks is not Vince McMahon, but Johnny Ace, who has extensive Japanese experience, having wrestled for all of the 1990s in All Japan. As second-in-command of the WWE now, he was the one who spoke with Uei, and further talks will be held when the WWE hits Japan in July for it's Tokyo Nippon Budokan double header. Uei said this would be different to the New Japan/K-1 relationship, which is all-out war, saying he hoped for a long-term plan where the company's could help each other fight the current pro wrestling slump in both the U.S. and Japan. Credit: Strong Style Spirit If Eddie & Benoit do go into the Climax, which runs from 8-7 to 8-15, do you guys think they'd still be the champs then? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest TigerDriver91 Report post Posted May 20, 2004 I don't think Eddie or Benoit will be involved in the G1 Climax since it runs so close to SummerSlam, which is a major event for WWE, and both could very well still be heavyweight champions. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dynamite Kido Report post Posted May 20, 2004 Take everything above with a grain of salt. It's highly unlikely anyone from the WWE(at least that is given a considerable amount of WWE TV time) would wrestle in the G1. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Salacious Crumb Report post Posted May 20, 2004 If this is true, I give it a month before WWF sours the relationship. And there's no way Eddie or Benoit enter the G-1. If the WWF did decide to send someone it'd be some slug like Matt Morgan or A-Train. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mecha Mummy 0 Report post Posted May 20, 2004 I could buy a couple WWE guys being in the G-1, but nobody as big as Eddy or Benoit. I could buy a solid midcarder/upper midcarder like Shelton participating, though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
razazteca 0 Report post Posted May 20, 2004 If New Japan sends anybody to WWE will it be main eventers or jobbers for the weekend shows? Hurricane vs Heat? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nevermortal 0 Report post Posted May 20, 2004 One match, people.... Jushin Liger v. Chavo Classic. MAKE IT HAPPEN! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest TigerDriver91 Report post Posted May 20, 2004 Or another match Chris Benoit vs. Yuji Nagata Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
razazteca 0 Report post Posted May 20, 2004 Be careful what you ask for....remember Juvi vs Lyger? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dynamite Kido Report post Posted May 20, 2004 Be careful what you ask for....remember Juvi vs Lyger? No. No one remembers that.....now don't ever bring it up again................................................................EVER. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nevermortal 0 Report post Posted May 20, 2004 Knowing Vince, he'd probably work with Bob Sapp the most. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Salacious Crumb Report post Posted May 20, 2004 Vince would have to negotiate with K-1 to use Bob Sapp. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dynamite Kido Report post Posted May 20, 2004 Vince would have to negotiate with K-1 to use Bob Sapp. And of course....he ain't jobbing to anyone in WWE land. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Salacious Crumb Report post Posted May 20, 2004 Well that too...... Knowing our luck Vince wants Yoshie, Yasuda, Gedo and Jado the most out of talent exchanges. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dynamite Kido Report post Posted May 20, 2004 Well that too...... Knowing our luck Vince wants Yoshie, Yasuda, Gedo and Jado the most out of talent exchanges. Let just hope for the sake of mankind that doesn't happen....... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest TigerDriver91 Report post Posted May 20, 2004 Jado & Gedo vs. Basham Bros. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Trivia247 Report post Posted May 20, 2004 One match, people.... Jushin Liger v. Chavo Classic. MAKE IT HAPPEN! theres one way to eliminate vince's Cruiserweight woes have a match with Lyger, and Lyger Winning the title. The title goes to japan as the Light heavyweight title did when it disappeared in the 80's Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SinToxic 0 Report post Posted May 20, 2004 Evolution working together with Chono to destroy WWE and NJ ... nightmare or reality booking? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Edgehead Report post Posted May 20, 2004 I want Hiroshi Tanahashi on WWE tv. He is my personal favorite japanese wrestler. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest TigerDriver91 Report post Posted May 20, 2004 I want Hiroshi Tanahashi on WWE tv. He is my personal favorite japanese wrestler. Tanahashi is also one of my favourite Japanese wrestlers too Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Edgehead Report post Posted May 20, 2004 Go Hiroshi Go!!! Go Hiroshi Go!!! Go Hiroshi Go!!! Him versus Eddie would be a REAL Smackdown PPV Main Event. HELL (edit) it could be a WrestleMania Main Event. He totally Rules. I will name my son Hiroshi Tanahashi Farrow Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Goodear Report post Posted May 20, 2004 What exactly is the upside for the WWE again? Getting to use these guys while it might provide good matches (or might not, beats me) is one thing, but no one in Japan right now is any kind of draw on this side of the ocean. Even the more famous faces like Kawada would get a giant shrug from 98 % of the wrestling population. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest netslob Report post Posted May 20, 2004 but...but...but Japan is sucking pond water!! JR said so!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hektik 0 Report post Posted May 20, 2004 What exactly is the upside for the WWE again? Getting to use these guys while it might provide good matches (or might not, beats me) is one thing, but no one in Japan right now is any kind of draw on this side of the ocean. Even the more famous faces like Kawada would get a giant shrug from 98 % of the wrestling population. This is true, you can not just throw Japanese wrestlers out there and expect them to draw. You can make it work if you do a promational blitz. You can get casual wrestling fans to believe anything if you say it enough. The WWE is good at doing this, just look at there track record when it comes to propaganda. In WWE land, Shawn Michaels is a legend who carried the WWE from Hulkamania to the Attitude era. Bret Hart is a greedy Canadian traitor who single handedly killed WCW. There were 93,000 fans at WM 3 and HHH is on the same level as Steve Austin. I could go on but I think I'll stop there. If the WWE were to use wrestlers from NJPW, they would need go all out. They would need to make a huge mock press conference for TV and make many desire videos. They would need to tell the fans that this is huge and New Japan is the Japanese equivilant of WWE. They would need to say that it a privilege to be seeing these highly skilled wrestlers in the United States. If you treat something like a big deal, the fans are going to treat it as a big deal. With that said I don't think the story is true. It would be to much work on the WWE's part without any clear understanding of what the WWE would gain. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Trivia247 Report post Posted May 20, 2004 its not even a true trade by the classic standards Those japan wrestlers who would wrestle on Smackdown, is when Smackdown rolls into Japan. Either a House show tour or Smackdown on Japanese tv. they aren't bringing Japanese talent over to the states for a tour in return for the possibility of Benoit or Guerrero going over for a match or two. But actually Malenko would actually be a cool idea to go. He is retired but he can do a one match only for Japan. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest NateRizzle Report post Posted May 20, 2004 American Dragon vs. Benoit? Curry Man vs. Eddie Guerrero? *Drools* Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jobber of the Week 0 Report post Posted May 20, 2004 No, no, no. Curry Man vs Chris Jericho, not only because it'd be a good match, but because it would have GOLD promos leading up to it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Salacious Crumb Report post Posted May 20, 2004 I don't think Curry Man or American Dragon would fall under this either. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest NateRizzle Report post Posted May 20, 2004 I know. Just fantasizing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lord of The Curry 0 Report post Posted May 20, 2004 Curry and Dragon wouldn't fall under the Working Relationship Deal methinks because the two aren't NJPW exclusive. That's not to say that I wouldn't want it. Benoit vs Dragon is something I've dreamed about for a long, long time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
