Brock's next match announced..

[Impact!]

..And I'm sure it'll be a Five* match :roll:


New Japan Pro-Wrestling returns to Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan on 3/19, headlined by Brock Lesnar defending the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Akebono. The full card :

1) Togi Makabe vs. Toru Yano
2) Elimination Match: Jushin Thunder Liger, Black Tiger, Jado & Gedo vs. Kintaro Kanemura, Tetsuhiro Kuroda, BADBOY Hido & GENTARO
3) IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: El Samurai & Ryusuke Taguchi © vs. Koji Kanemoto & Wataru Inoue
4) Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Katsuyori Shibata BIG MOUTH LOUD
5) IWGP Tag Team Title: Masahiro Chono & Hiroyoshi Tenzan © vs. Yuji Nagata & Naofumi Yamamoto
6) IWGP Heavyweight Title: Brock Lesnar © vs. Akebono

Source: Pwrestlingnews.com

[Cuzziebro]

LOL, be funny if Brock lost.

[Xero]

I've just found a reason to be happy about Brock not being in WWE.

Knowing WWE, this would have been a WrestleMania match.

[Cuzziebro]

LOL, The Main Event of Wrestlemania.

[Xero]

With a year-long Sabu/Taz-like build up.

Of course, they'd only do that because they know the match will bomb.

[What Would Kevin Do?]

Akebono hasn't been doing bad in Japan. He's been wrestling. This won't be a technical masterpiece by any means, but it's got hype. Personally, I'm interested to see how this turns out. I'm sure Lesnar will win, but hey. Anywho, Akebono sucked ass in MMA, but in NJPW, he's not unbearable.

Also, I'm more interested to see what goes on w/ Tenzan and Chono. I'm anticipating to see if they finally have them split... Also, it'd be awesome as hell if Tenzan went the "heel" route, and Chono went back to wearing his old butterfly tights.

[Goulet]

I wonder if he can give him the "Verdict" (F5)

[Kane Knight]

I've just found a reason to be happy about Brock not being in WWE.

Knowing WWE, this would have been a WrestleMania match For the Worrld HEavyweight Championship.

[Disturbed316]

It would be pretty awesome to see him try and hit the F5 on Akebone-on

[What Would Kevin Do?]

Basically, Akebono is huge in Japan. The fans love the guy apparently. The major story in this match is probably going to be "Can Brock hit the Verdict/F-5." And the fact that this is the first opponent Brock can't throw around/man handle. Short term wise, it pays off. As long as they don't draw it out, because if they do, the match won't provide a big enough pay off in the ring in the end. With a short term feud though, the fans don't expect a big pay off match.

[Corkscrewed]

ROFLMAO Akebono. What's he doing ruining his sumo legacy by doing pro wrestling?

This is just for Brock to hit his F-5. And basically everything WWKD just said (which I noticed after typing the F-5 part).

[What Would Kevin Do?]

LMAO!!!!!

This is taken from www.puroresufan.com (http://www.puroresufan.com) and it's from a press conference.

-----------------------------------------

Vice-President Naoki Sugehayashi showed the press a new FAX message from Brock Lesnar today. Lesnar sent a basic warning to Akebono, saying his first Verdict is always his last. Although an obstacle (Choshu) prevented him from hitting the Verdict last time, he promised to show it perfectly on 3/19. Brock said he would protect the title by any means, but warned New Japan in advance that the ring will need strengthening for the things he plans to do to Akebono. When all is said and done, he plans to reign as the "real" Yokozuna of the pro wrestling community.

Sugehayashi said that the New Japan side will be supporting Akebono, due to his enthusiasm for being in the company, and have asked him to figure out ways of avoiding the Verdict. Akebono said the other day that he would simply eat and make himself so heavy that Lesnar won't be able to lift him. New Japan is faced with a problem and that is the IWGP Heavyweight Title not being able to fit around Akebono's waist. And so they plan to measure his waist on Saturday in Nagoya so that they can extend the belt strap.

[What Would Kevin Do?]

Seriously, best strategy ever.

[Kane Knight]

ROFLMAO Akebono. What's he doing ruining his sumo legacy by doing pro wrestling?

He's not really ruining his sumo wrestling. Wrestling is respected in Japan. Hell, my Sensei respects it. For what it is, but still respects it.

[James Steele]

LOL