Various News and notes

[Mecca 0]

Kurt Angle vs. Yuji Nagata for the IWGP V-2 Title has been added to the Tokyo Dome show on January 4th, above Tomko & A-Train vs. the Steiners, and Abyss vs. Manabu Nakanishi. So after all this time, it finally comes out that New Japan and Antonio Inoki were working together all along as it regards the Inoki Genome Federation. Inoki started the group in June of this year, having supposedly severed all ties with New Japan, and promoted Brock Lesnar as his champion.

 

Lesnar had won the New Japan version of the IWGP Title, but due to issues with the company he walked out. He took the belt with him and ended up working for Inoki as IWGP Champion, which of course New Japan did not recognize (Hiroshi Tanahashi won the belt from Giant Bernard in the tournament, and the current champion is Hiroshi Tanahashi, who beat, coincidentally, Nagata in October). Brock defended the belt against Kurt Angle on the debut show and lost, so Angle took the belt with him to TNA. Strangely, there were never any lawsuits threatened by New Japan. So now that Kurt is defending the belt on a New Japan show and the Inoki side isn't threatening a lawsuit, well, that answers that question. If Nagata wins, New Japan can do a Tanahashi vs. Nagata rematch with both titles on the line to unify the belts again and I guess, if you care about that sort of thing, restore the damaged lineage. Very weird situation.

 

The Wrestling Society X DVD is out, covering season 1, which happened to be the first and last season. It's a four-disc set and includes the never-before-seen season finale, tons of extras, explosions, etc.

 

Read the funniest thing ever, the proposed wrestling rules from the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission. It was the weirdest thing you ever saw, this strange mix of work and shoot, and it made for fabulous reading. The money issues are going to really hurt the indies in the area. Promoters must get licensed; provide a $10,000 security bond; notify the commission of the time, date and location of an event at least ten days in advance; pay the 5% of gross revenue within ten days of the conclusion of the event; and have a physician at ringside, an ambulance and 2 EMTs on hand.

 

As far as rules, "Wrestlers MAY NOT deliberately cut themselves and all wrestlers must be over (18) years of age"; "No one under the age of 18 is allowed in any area of the venue other than their seat except when accompanied by a guardian"; they must pay $100 for a commission representative to be present (!!!); they have to announce changes to the advertised card before the show starts and offer refunds; wrestlers can not physically or verbally threaten any member of the audience. There were all sorts of rules about what guys can and cannot wear. Your gear must be clean. I'd have been kicked out Chikara Sunday. You may wear 2 pairs of trunks one over the other.

 

No grease, lotion or foreign substances on the body. Female wrestlers must wear trunks and a top. "The inspector present at the event may disallow the use of inappropriate attire or disqualify a wrestling participant for the lack of appropriate attire." YOU MUST HAVE REAL GEAR. You also must have your fingernails trimmed close. There are lots of instructions about the barriers required. It's like God giving Noah the blueprints for the ark. And then we get to the fun stuff, a legitimate RULEBOOK OF WRESTLING. Matches have a maximum 60 minute time limit. A wrestling contest shall be determined by one fall or best of three falls. "A fall is scored by a wrestler when the wrestler’s opponent has both shoulders touching the mat for a count of three (3) seconds. The referee shall signal the wrestler scoring a fall by immediately slapping the mat." Someone clearly got confused when writing these rules. A two minute rest period is allowed between falls.

 

Also, it's now a TEN COUNT in Georgia for breaking a hold, not five. That's extreme. You can't inhibit breathing by covering the nose and mouth at the same time. "Unsportsmanlike or physically dangerous conduct" -- not allowed. If you keep it up, you must be disqualified. No blading, but you may use blood capsules. Seriously. "If a wrestler refuses or is physically unable to continue a match, the match shall be ended and the decision awarded to the wrestler’s opponent." Ever wondered what a tag match is? Well, it's "a contest between two (2) teams each composed of two (2) or more wrestlers." Let's get more specific: "A tag team contest shall be conducted as follows: The contest shall begin with one (1) wrestler from each team inside the ring while the respective partners remain outside the ring on the apron; The wrestler(s) outside the ring may not enter the ring unless a fall is scored or his/her partner has tagged his/her hand; In order to be eligible to receive a tag, the wrestler’s partner shall be outside the ring on the apron in the proper corner with both feet on the ring apron and only receive the tag over the top ring rope;

 

When the tag is made, the wrestler making the tag shall leave the ring as the partner enters the ring; Only two (2) wrestlers from opposing teams shall be permitted to be in the ring at any one (1) time; After the scoring of a fall a wrestler may relieve the partner; If a wrestler is unable to continue; the wrestler’s partner shall continue the contest alone; The referee may call time after an injury to permit the injured wrestler to be removed from the ring; and Release the rope provided in the team corner until officially tagged by the partner."

 

I am not making any of this up. A wrestler may have a second accompany him to the ring, but if the second interferes he can be ejected. Refs must be properly attired within 30 minutes of bell time and must "enforce the regulations of the commission".

 

Matt Cross is off the ROH tour officially with his torn groin. Boy that sucks, because he was really looking forward to it.

 

The final big CMLL match of the year, Sin Piedad (No Mercy), takes place December 7th with possibly Shocker vs. Hijo Del Perro Aguayo in a hair vs. mask match on top.

 

The World Boxing Council promoted a match between Hijo del Santo and Kawashima this week to determine the group's Honorary Wrestling Champion. It took place at the Mall of Asia for the WBC's 45th annual convention. Three guesses who won. Santo gave his bloody match to WBC President Jose Sulaiman and his son Mauricio afterwards

 

ROH MAN UP~! debuts on In Demand, Dish Network and TVN on November 30th

 

credit:F4W Newsletter

 

[Scroby 0]

Lesnar had won the New Japan version of the IWGP Title, but due to issues with the company he walked out. He took the belt with him and ended up working for Inoki as IWGP Champion, which of course New Japan did not recognize (Hiroshi Tanahashi won the belt from Giant Bernard in the tournament, and the current champion is Hiroshi Tanahashi, who beat, coincidentally, Nagata in October). Brock defended the belt against Kurt Angle on the debut show and lost, so Angle took the belt with him to TNA. Strangely, there were never any lawsuits threatened by New Japan. So now that Kurt is defending the belt on a New Japan show and the Inoki side isn't threatening a lawsuit, well, that answers that question. If Nagata wins, New Japan can do a Tanahashi vs. Nagata rematch with both titles on the line to unify the belts again and I guess, if you care about that sort of thing, restore the damaged lineage. Very weird situation.

 

Or a very great storyline.

[tekcop 0]

I don't know about great, but I like it.

 

Shocker vs. Hijo Del Perro Aguayo in a hair vs. mask match on top.

So, I don't watch Mexico much anymore, but since when did either man wear a mask anymore?