Guest HBK16 Report post Posted June 21, 2002 Puroresupower.com "Antonio Inoki wants to create a new promotion in America. The group would have Mark Coleman, Don Frye, Wallid Ismail, & Joanie Laurer involved. Inoki's office is looking for options of buying TV space for shows (his real goal is to create a "sports/combat" channel i.e. like Samurai TV with an MMA-feel to it but with other wrestling programming as well). Inoki claims that he wants or will talk to Vince McMahon/WWF about a possible tie-up in America (this is more about obtaining footage for such a Samurai-style channel). Inoki claimed that he couldn't use the name of New Japan in America ("not accepted", which probably means that it's a trademark in America already that belongs to someone else). Inoki's new group would be a "combat-based" league. " You know how cool that would be. I don't think Mcmahon wou dbe interested though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest PlatypusFool Report post Posted June 21, 2002 Typical case of puroresu star wanting to take his product to America. The Japanese have a currect fascination for America and American culture, so lots of the legends of puroresu (Inoki, Mutoh etc.) seem to want to take their particular brand of wrestling to America in order to gain points with the Japs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest razazteca Report post Posted June 21, 2002 I though Antonio already had a fed like that called UFO whatever happened to that company? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest HBK16 Report post Posted June 21, 2002 I don't really think that Japanese wrestling will go over in the States. Wrestling fans here are more used to sports entertainment and that's something that Puro doesn't have (thank God). Personally, I would love if this happened. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Superstar Report post Posted June 21, 2002 I think it would be great, considering the only Japanese tape I have is JCup 1994...I could see a lot more puro and get a feel for it. But alas, American marks are in love with fast-paced, crash tv. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vyce Report post Posted June 21, 2002 Why wouldn't Inoki want to start a promotion / specialty channel in the States? Above all else, he IS a businessman. This is the proverbial land of milk and honey. If this was successful, it'd net Inoki millions. But realistically, I very much doubt that a puro / MMA channel or promotion would ever gain widespread acceptance or popularity in the States. American & Japanese culture, while sharing similarities, are just too different to make it work. The styles of Japan are too different from those here. And honestly, the average American isn't going to pay to see some foreigner wrestle or fight, no matter how talented the workers are. I'd love to see this happen, though. I'd be up for it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest dreamer420 Report post Posted June 21, 2002 I would like to see Inoki get another promotion going in North America but preferably just a wrestling company. I know the idea could work because the fans are wanting to see new things. Whenever I'm watching a tape with matche from Japan on it my marks friends are amazed by the shit taking place. It's a different idea but they should try and build a viewing audience based solely on workrate. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest PlatypusFool Report post Posted June 21, 2002 "It's a different idea but they should try and build a viewing audience based solely on workrate." I don't know about solely on workrate, but a promotion with the emphasis placed on workrate would be a very interesting experiment and could be really succesful. Benoit got over on pure workrate, almost, in the WWF, so why couldn't it work for a whole promotion? I think that with storylines based in the real world (like NJPW is doing now), a load of great wrestlers could really get over well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest J*ingus Report post Posted June 21, 2002 It wouldn't work in my opinion, for one simple difference, and that is Americans aren't big fans of mixing worked & shoot elements. I've got a friend who is continually shocked about how Pride openly admits to having worked matches at times; he thinks it absolutely kills the credibility of the promotion. In America, I think they either want it to be a straight-up UFC shoot or an obvious WW(F)E work. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest the 1inch punch Report post Posted June 21, 2002 Mark Coleman, Don Frye, Wallid Ismail, & Joanie Laurer Chyna!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????????????? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest PlatypusFool Report post Posted June 21, 2002 Yup... she's been working for NJPW a little over the last few months. Inoki seems to like her and sees her as marketable I guess. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest the 1inch punch Report post Posted June 22, 2002 Mimes Puking Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
