Choshu back in the saddle in New Japan

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The wrestlers of New Japan Pro Wrestling will be told in a few hours when they arrive at the Tokyo Dome that Riki Choshu has been hired back full-time as the new booker. Choshu was one of the most successful bookers in history in the 90s, but he also was on top as the company's downslide began. Tonight's show has the weakest advance in the history of company Dome events and this move was described as total desperation.

 

From Meltzer, with other puro places confirming.

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Choshu vs. Brock Lesnar (with Riki going over) headlines the 1/4/06 Dome Show. Count on it.

 

But seriously, if he realizes that his time is done, he'll be a good booker (as he had a good run in the 90's, before he was finished as a draw). One would think it'd be obvious to anyone that Choshu is done as a draw, but in wrestling things never seem to work out the way everyone thinks they should. Here's hoping it does.

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I think if this was done when New Japan were doing well, or even only ok, then Chosu would keep himself well away from the main event. However, with this being a panic move, then I think Choshu might push himself hard, not because he wants to, but because he thinks he has to because of how badly New Japan are doing. Whatever happens, I doubt we'll see Choshu anywhere near the IWGP title unless it is for a one-off nostalgia deal title shot.

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More...

 

Everything is shaky at the moment in New Japan. Riki Choshu was offered and accepted the job. When the word got out today, a group of wrestlers (we don't have the names at the moment) are strongly working to get the deal nixed. This is very similar to the situation when Kevin Sullivan was announced as booker of WCW, but the difference is, if New Japan goes through with it, the wrestlers if they want to leave have nowhere to go to make anywhere close to the money they're making now.

 

Nobody knows at the moment how this is going to turn out.

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What would it mean to wrestling if NJPW went under?

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In Japan, it would be monumental. NJPW, while it is struggling worse than WWE still has that mainstream name appeal since it is still associated so closely with Antonio Inoki, who is a cultural icon. It would shake the foundation of wrestling in Japan even stronger than when WCW folded and WWF/E became the only mainstream promotion.

 

While some of the wrestlers would try to pick up some of the pieces and form a new group, it probrably wouldn't take off since pro wrestling is cold in Japan sans NOAH and the economy in Japan is as bad, if not worse than the U.S.