Ghc champion

[Guest Black Tiger]

Misawa is obviously off his rocker, giving Yoshinari Ogawa the GHC title.

 

If NOAH and New Japan are working together, odds are that Jun Akiyama will probably fight Nagata for the IWGP title.

 

Who should restore the credibility to the GHC title? Kobashi's hurt, Misawa keeps trying to fade himself out, who's left? The only person I can think of is Takao Omori, now that No Fear is history, he has some free time on his hands.

[Guest wolverine]

Kobashi's coming back full time in July, so don't worry about that one.

 

As far as who to put the belt on, I'd say Chris Jericho, if he hasn't re-signed with WWE, and he was interested in going back to Japan full-time.  His contract expires in July, and I haven't heard if he's re-signed.

 

[Guest MRFTW]

Uhh, are you serious Wolverine?

 

There probably isn't a chance in hell of Jericho not re-signing and anyways, a week or so ago in the "Mutoh & the rock?" thread you said about Kawada vs Benoit

 

"Let see.  A junior heavyweight that fans in Japan wouldn't take seriously against a heavyweight like Kawada, which would result in little heat."

 

Now if you don't think Benoit, who hasn't competed as a jr. in a good 5+ years or so would be taken seriously in Japan then what makes you think Jericho would?

[Guest RickyChosyu]

Uhh, are you serious Wolverine?

 

Now if you don't think Benoit, who hasn't competed as a jr. in a good 5+ years or so would be taken seriously in Japan then what makes you think Jericho would?

Well, that didn't stop them from booking him in the main event against Rock, did it?

[Guest MRFTW]

Well it shouldn't have, being as he isn't actually a jr. anymore and all.

[Guest wolverine]

"Uhh, are you serious Wolverine?"

 

Yes I am.  You have to understand Misawa's booking to know that it doesn't matter what you look like, it's your work that matters.  Why else would Donovan Morgan and Michael Modest be working over there?  I figure if they'd put the strap on Ogawa, a 200 lb. guy, why not bring in a more charismatic star, who's a far better worker?

 

As far as Benoit, let me put it this way.  He's not getting the Triple Crown and he's not working for All Japan.  End of story.

[Guest Black Tiger]

Who does Misawa's booking style put in line for the GHC title? I think he ought to have never put it on Ogawa in the first place, unless he wants to do a Jeff Hardy type reign.

 

I figure he puts it on either

 

Takao Omori, to build the No Fear feud, and Omori has a history with Akiyama

Jun Akiyama, who should still have it.

Vader, for one last good run.

 

anyother ideas?

[Guest wolverine]

The only reason I mention Chris Jericho is because I think his Stale Company needs something fresh.  It's unlikely, I know, but a thought.

 

When I think of NOAH, the last thing that comes to mind is traditional booking.  So you can throw all of the size issues and traditional Japanese booking customs out the door.

 

All Japan and New Japan on the other hand have that "glass ceiling" so to speak, so a jr. heavyweight isn't going to be pushed as a top star over there.

[Guest MRFTW]

"As far as Benoit, let me put it this way.  He's not getting the Triple Crown and he's not working for All Japan.  End of story."

 

If he did work for All Japan though I don't doubt that he could get the Triple Crown though. I don't get whear you've gotten the idea that just because he was a jr. in Japan years ago then that's all he'll ever be taken as no matter what.

 

Hell, Ohtani isn't a jr. anymore either and he doesn't seem to have a problem being taken seriously these days even though he was a jr. for most of his carrear.

[Guest wolverine]

"If he did work for All Japan though I don't doubt that he could get the Triple Crown though. I don't get whear you've gotten the idea that just because he was a jr. in Japan years ago then that's all he'll ever be taken as no matter what."

 

My paradigm doesn't allow me to think that way.  Just like it doesn't allow me to think of Liger wearing the IWGP Heavyweight title.

 

It's like flashing a deck of cards by really fast, and in there, there's a red spade.  Your brain doesn't see red though, because your paradigm is that it's black.  Same deal here.

[Guest MRFTW]

Liger's never worked full time as anything other then a jr. though. Both Jericho and Benoit have for years now and the fact that both are former world champs should by itself be enough to ensure neither of them would be treated as jrs by any federation in Japan.

[Guest wolverine]

"Liger's never worked full time as anything other then a jr. though. Both Jericho and Benoit have for years now and the fact that both are former world champs should by itself be enough to ensure neither of them would be treated as jrs by any federation in Japan."

 

Benoit was given the WCW title because Kevin Sullivan wanted to extend the "olive branch" to him so that he maybe wouldn't ask for his release.

 

Jericho was given the title in the screwiest of all ways, always looked weak and never looked like a threat to any of the top guys.  But he would always win via screwjobs.  That shit doesn't work in Japan, all it does is make people leave in droves and ask for their money back.

 

If those guys weren't in WWE, I'd love to see them in NOAH, because at least Misawa has gotten away from the traditional Japanese booking concept, not that the concept is good or bad, but you've got to change your philosophy every now and then.

[Guest Stuart]

Better (workers and/or imposing presence) GHC Heavyweight Champion choices than Yoshinari Ogawa:

 

1. Mitsuharu Misawa

2. Naomichi Marufuji (injured)

3. Kenta Kobashi (even in a wheelchair)

4. Jun Akiyama

5. Akitoshi Saito

6. Yoshinobu Kanemaru

7. Takao Omori

8. Yoshihiro Takayama

9. Akira Taue

10. Tamon Honda (yes, Tamon Honda)

11. Masao Inoue

12. Takeshi Morishima

13. Takeshi Rikio

14. Daisuke Ikeda (if they wanted to do the upset gimmick, here's the guy to do it with, but no, he doesn't serve Misawa's coffee)

15. Takuma Sano

16. Mohammed Yone

17. Takashi Sugiura

18. Vader

19. Michael Modest

20. Bull Schmidt

 

MAYBE:

 

1. Tsuyoshi Kikuchi

2. Kentaro Shiga

3. Rusher Kimura :-)

 

Ogawa is one of the most heatless, mediocre wrestlers on their roster. He cannot for the life of him, mega-push and all, sustain heat in matches. A guy as terrible as Tamon Honda, just because of his size, moves and amateur background, would be a better champion. Ogawa is the 101 of "playing favourites", as he has nothing that makes him better than almost everyone on the roster, and everyone else has more heat or is a better worker than him. His title reign has disgraced the belt before it even really got off the ground. Akiyama wasn't exactly Misawa-with-3 Crown-esque in his reign, but drew steady numbers, could still work an excellent match, and was seen as legit. If Misawa wanted to push one of his favourites, he should have just put the belt on a Takeshi or better yet, Takayama.

[Guest MrDanger]

The only plus point I see in this mess is that they could feasibly develop a Bob Backlund situation with Ogawa where he's seen as such a vunerable champion that every title defense could be his last in the fans eyes.

[Guest Black Tiger]

Stuart, your point about Ogawa not being a good champion is obvious. Out of all those wrestlers you just listed, what about them would make them a believable GHC Champion?

 

I said Omori, because he has a long history with Jun Akiyama, and since Team No Fear is gone, he's not stuck in the tag team scene.

[Guest Stuart]

Stuart, your point about Ogawa not being a good champion is obvious. Out of all those wrestlers you just listed, what about them would make them a believable GHC Champion?

Well I don't want to do an individual analysis of all those guys, but I think each one has something more than Ogawa. Some have more size (Takayama, Omori, Rikio, Morishima, Inoue, etc.), some have more talent (Marufuji, Kanemaru, Ikeda, etc.) and some just have more of a credible aura (Schmidt, Sugiura, Honda, etc.).

[Guest Black Tiger]

Stuart, out of all those guys you listed, which one(s) do you see as the most likely to win the GHC and for what reason do you think they would make a good champion?

[Guest wolverine]

Okay, so Ogawa's not that great....I still say he's better than Mutoh.

[Guest Stuart]

Stuart, out of all those guys you listed, which one(s) do you see as the most likely to win the GHC and for what reason do you think they would make a good champion?

Do you mean who I think would be a good champion or who does Misawa thing would be a good champion?

 

The best champion would clearly be Kobashi, Misawa or Akiyama. Those three still have the credibility. Misawa is looking old though, so probably shouldn't take it again. Akiyama dropped the belt, so no sense in giving it back to him now. To try and undo the damage, maybe give the belt to Taue later this month when he faces Ogawa, then have him hold it until Kobashi returns, then do Kobashi vs. Taue at Budokan or Ariake Colosseum. Meltzer rated Taue vs. Omori DUD though, blaming Taue. Taue hasn't had a singles match of note for ages, but he didn't seem THAT bad. I'll have to see for myself. Vader could take Taue's place and have the same role also. The most ideal champions besides them would be Omori or Takayama. Omori needs credibility first, while Takayama isn't all that great in the ring, but is over and thanks to Inoki, has had his name published on a national level recently, such as semi finaling at the Tokyo Dome. Misawa's plans probably involved Kobashi, Takayama, Morishima and Rikio being eventual champions. The Takeshis aren't ready and one of them winning the belt would defy the old Japanese system of paying dues, but both guys would be far better champions than Ogawa, because they're such monsters. Personally, I'd like to see Ikeda get a push at least to a #2 level. He's mid-sized, bigger than Ogawa, and talented enough. NOAH could be really good if Misawa wasn't such a prejudiced guy. There are many decent to good wrestlers who could be featured as #2's underneath the big dogs.

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

Just a thought..

 

Why not give it to a gaijin?

 

Sting could do it (retirement smirement).  So is Goldberg.  Have them show up on a show unannounced, say replacing an injured wrestler and win the belt.  Both those names would transfer over well with Japanese fans.

[Guest Stuart]

They couldn't afford Goldberg and he seems New Japan-bound. Sting I don't know about, they could give the belt to Vader and it'd have more effect, since Sting wouldn't mean anything to most NOAH fans.

[Guest Joshi Guerrero]

If they are going to continue working with Zero One, I say let Hashimoto take the GHC belt, Then they can set up a "they have stolen our belt, who among you can bring it home" style chase. It could make a guy like Takayama much more credible going over Hash to bring the title home, and I'm sure Hashimoto would agree to adding "former GHC champion" to his list of accomplishments.

 

Either way, I agree with the sentiment that the belt needs off Ogawa asap.

[Guest MrDanger]

I like the sound of Vader being GHC champ, or maybe I just like the sound of Vader stiffing the hell out of Ogawa.

 

Vader is not in great shape these days but he's a hell of a lot more credible than Ogawa and he'll only have the belt for a few months before they eventually put it on Kobashi.

[Guest Joshi Guerrero]

Kobashi just sounds like such a bad plan right now, He lasted one match last time what makes anyone think that his next comeback will be much better?

[Guest MrDanger]

Kobashi just sounds like such a bad plan right now, He lasted one match last time what makes anyone think that his next comeback will be much better?

Kobashi is easily NOAH's biggest draw, if he's remotely fit then you have to put the title on him.