spman 0 Report post Posted August 5, 2004 From 1Wrestling: 1Wrestling.com has learned that the WWE released Ryan Sakoda earlier this week. Sakoda had used primarily in tag team matches teaming with Akio (Jimmy Yang). It's expected that, as with other recent releases, Sakoda will have a 90 day no-compete period before he can work with other promotions. Meh. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Downhome 0 Report post Posted August 5, 2004 Thank God they didn't cut Yang as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Staravenger Report post Posted August 5, 2004 No big loss. I'm sure most people forgot he was even ON the roster until 2 or 3 weeks ago. As long as the keep Yang, I don't care, but I won't be surprised to see him go either, since their only purpose was to be Tajiri's sidekicks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Enigma 0 Report post Posted August 5, 2004 Based on the info in last week's Observer, I'm sure Sakoda was fired due to his chronic back problems and WWE felt he was too injury-prone. Now, for everyone's enjoyment, allow me to bring to you Sakoda's bio from Smackdown's website: The tag team of Akio & Sakoda could be one of the most dangerous duos ever seen on SmackDown! The team gained notoriety because of its alliance with Tajiri, but now that Tajiri is a member of the RAW roster, this team could be headed for new heights. While little is known about this mysterious man, it is clear that Sakoda has been well versed and trained in the great Japanese wrestling tradition, and he has both the power and in-ring ability to be the next great product out of Japan. When he has to mix it up in the ring, Sakoda clearly can hold his own. With such skill, strength, and the Japanese wrestling tradition behind them, Akio & Sakoda could be a household name in the wrestling world in a very short time! Indeed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mecha Mummy 0 Report post Posted August 5, 2004 I haven't seen much of Sakoda's work, but I generally enjoyed it outside of his match on a UPW DVD where everyone, even Spanky, Kazarian, and B-Boy, were putting on subpar matches. So meh. Yang still hasn't been released so hey, maybe he'll get another shot. ... *Collapses laughing.* Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
King Cucaracha 0 Report post Posted August 5, 2004 Thank God they didn't cut Yang as well. I'm sure he's not far off. After all, wasn't their official reason for demoting him that he has a 'lack of fire in the ring'. That's almost as bad as 'we have nothing for you to do at the moment' in terms of bad excuses. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Staravenger Report post Posted August 5, 2004 Thank God they didn't cut Yang as well. I'm sure he's not far off. After all, wasn't their official reason for demoting him that he has a 'lack of fire in the ring'. That's almost as bad as 'we have nothing for you to do at the moment' in terms of bad excuses. I find it ironic that Yang and Ultimo Dragon were both not-pushed for the same reason...and both happen to be Japanese, while slugs like Heidenreich who couldn't drag a decent match out of their asses "have fire" and get pushed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Golgo 13 0 Report post Posted August 5, 2004 I'm not too broken up, but I didn't mind him so much when he made his earlier appearances on Velocity as Keiji/Ryan Sakoda. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Trivia247 Report post Posted August 5, 2004 There was just to many Japanese wrestlers inthe WWE...with Asai coming back Vince didn't want them taking over and pearl harboring him. Good by Sakoda you Mini Masato Tanaka you, You will still be made in my SD5 CAW list for the current WWE wrestlers along with Chavo Classic.. Genuflect on your favorite Sakoda moment...if you got one Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest TigerDriver91 Report post Posted August 5, 2004 I read recently that Sakoda has a bad back problem right now, but I don't know if that's true or not. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest M. Harry Smilac Report post Posted August 5, 2004 Genuflect on your favorite Sakoda moment...if you got one I can remember it like yesterday on Smackdown when he would accompany Tajiri to the ring and I would just think WOW. Ah,Those were the days. Time to make some room as we have a real up and coming talented superstar about to re-debut,John Heidenreich. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SinToxic 0 Report post Posted August 5, 2004 They need to sign James Choi or Vansack Acid (shaolin punk) who are 12 times better than Sakoda. I saw his true colors when he went over to Zero-1 for a tour, his skills are barely average outside of that somewhat promising asian look. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisMWaters 0 Report post Posted August 5, 2004 So...what, if anything, are they going to do with Jimmy Yang/Akio? New tag team with Funaki, or new addition to the Cruiserweight division? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Golgo 13 0 Report post Posted August 5, 2004 Genuflect on your favorite Sakoda moment...if you got one I believe on the night Akio and Sakoda debuted on regular TV, they gave Zach Gowen that wicked Double STO, after which Gowen was never seen again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EdwardKnoxII 0 Report post Posted August 5, 2004 WWE News: Hurricane, Rico, RAW, Jericho, More Lots of WWE news items.... - The Hurricane has announced that he broke his nose in a match against Chuck Palumbo on Monday. He will be having an MRI done this week on it. - Rico is set to return from his hamstring injury at the 8/13 OVW show in a match against Nova. - The highest rated segments on RAW this week were the overrun, and the 10:00PM ET - 10:15PM ET slot that features Diva Search stuff and the Triple H/William Regal angle. Both did a 4.2. - Blabbermouth.net reports that Chris Jericho's band, Fozzy, has finished recording tracks for their third album. The album is due out this fall. Credit: PWInsider.com WWE News: Guerrero Down, Trish's Status, More Malenko keeping an eye on Guerrero.... - Dean Malenko has been put in charge of keeping Eddie Guerrero in good spirits. Guerrero has been down since dropping the WWE Title to John Bradshaw Layfield. Guerrero was very upset that business dropped during his title run, even though management has told him that they do not blame him. Guerrero is also dealing with a variety of injuries after working through so many of them. [PWTorch.com] - Trish Stratus is expected to return to the ring in a few weeks. She is booked against Victoria on house shows following Summerslam. [WrestlingObserver.com] - WWE ran a big ad for their 24/7 service in Multichannel News today, trying to sell it to cable providers. [WrestlingObserver.com] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest netslob Report post Posted August 5, 2004 i hate these no-compete clauses. "OK, we're gonna dump your ass with no severence, and you can't work ANYWHERE else for 90 days...oh, and your welcome." pricks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MillenniumMan831 0 Report post Posted August 5, 2004 I thought they get paid for those 90 days. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lil' Bitch 0 Report post Posted August 5, 2004 Granted, he wasn't great in the ring, but I met him and Yang last year in El Paso after the SD show. They were very nice guys. Take care, Sakoda. Thanks for taking the time to chat with me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Salacious Crumb Report post Posted August 5, 2004 Hopefully Jimmy Yang gets cut as well so he can actually get used in TNA. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Staravenger Report post Posted August 5, 2004 Hopefully Jimmy Yang gets cut as well so he can actually get used in TNA. Nah, he'll be a TNA Reject turned WWE Reject. Just let him go back to Japan where wrestling isn't a joke. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Salacious Crumb Report post Posted August 6, 2004 Oh yes I forgot. TNA can't hire anyone that ever worked for the WWF because their a reject. Thanks for reminding me. Serious question though, where was the scouting staff when they hired Sakoda to bring up his chronic back problems? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fökai 0 Report post Posted August 6, 2004 i hate these no-compete clauses. "OK, we're gonna dump your ass with no severence, and you can't work ANYWHERE else for 90 days...oh, and your welcome." pricks. There is severance - they're paying the next 90 days of his contract, so that Sakoda honors the clause of the contract. With the difference between "WWE jobber" money and "TNA jobber" money, I think I'd be happy sitting on my ass at home picking up checks for three months. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vyce 0 Report post Posted August 6, 2004 Yang is better off in Japan anyway. If he gets canned, he should just head back to All Japan. I'm sure he can convince Kaz to give him a job. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Czech Republic 0 Report post Posted August 6, 2004 i hate these no-compete clauses. "OK, we're gonna dump your ass with no severence, and you can't work ANYWHERE else for 90 days...oh, and your welcome." pricks. They've gotta give severance for 90 days, or the duration of the contract, or whatever. I don't think it's legal to contractually forbid somebody from earning income. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest netslob Report post Posted August 6, 2004 oh, well then, never mind. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BrokenTiger 0 Report post Posted August 6, 2004 For Sakoda's fav moments: How could any of you guys forgot the EVIL LAUGHTER~! of his when Shelton Benjamin(IIRC) got drafted to Raw during the Lottery? Err, best of luck to Sakoda. Or something. I hardly knew you... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndrewTS 0 Report post Posted August 6, 2004 Hopefully Jimmy Yang gets cut as well so he can actually get used in TNA. Nah, he'll be a TNA Reject turned WWE Reject. Just let him go back to Japan where wrestling isn't a joke. Uh--Yang's a native Atlantan, I believe. Although I would suggest he not do any big spending right now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Placebo Effect 0 Report post Posted August 6, 2004 Hopefully they'll stick Yang in a jobber tag team with Fuanki so the kid keeps, you know, making a living. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ultra Violence 0 Report post Posted August 6, 2004 Yang / Funaki vs London / Kidman~~~~~~~~~~~! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dubq 0 Report post Posted August 6, 2004 Hopefully Jimmy Yang gets cut as well so he can actually get used in TNA. Nah, he'll be a TNA Reject turned WWE Reject. Just let him go back to Japan where wrestling isn't a joke. Uh--Yang's a native Atlantan, I believe. ..and? He's wrestled quite a bit in Japan. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
