Fignuts
09-28-2006, 12:05 AM
I'm talking Kenta Kobashi long. Two years at least.
It can't be done in WWE. At least not right now. The problem there is that
the belts are defended almost every week. And add the fact that clean finishes are few and far between, and its no wonder fans don't have the patience for a long title reign.
Fans the world over loved every minute of Kobashi's reign, and would probably have followed it even longer had it not ended when it did. Part of it may have to do with the differences in the fanbase, but I think that there were three major factors.
1. The title was defended far less frquently- All belts in Japan are defended on a less frequent basis than wwe. This makes each title defense feel so much bigger. And it allows a much longer time to properly build to a match.
2. Clean Finishes- Most, if not all of Kobashi's matches were clean finishes. Since there are less storylines in Japan, I think you would have to throw a few controversial endings in there in Angle's run, but if done properly, and sparingly, it would not hurt the credibility of the champion, or championship.
3. In-ring Talent- This is the reason why I think Angle is the only one who can pull this off. Fans loved Kobashi's run because his matches were consistently awesome. Even if he had to carry a lesser talent. But in america, were great wrestling takes a backseat to charisma, you need someone akin to a god to fill this role. Enter Kurt Angle. He's so damn good even the marks can see it. And since he also, has that charisma which is so important in an american ring, he would have all the bases covered.
I think being in TNA, he could definitly pull this off. The title is defended on a similar basis in TNA as it is in Japan. So a two year reign at least, without any fan backlash is possible IMO.
Also, yes I know, another Angle thread. But at least this is a decent question rather than another deathwatch thread.
Thoughts?
It can't be done in WWE. At least not right now. The problem there is that
the belts are defended almost every week. And add the fact that clean finishes are few and far between, and its no wonder fans don't have the patience for a long title reign.
Fans the world over loved every minute of Kobashi's reign, and would probably have followed it even longer had it not ended when it did. Part of it may have to do with the differences in the fanbase, but I think that there were three major factors.
1. The title was defended far less frquently- All belts in Japan are defended on a less frequent basis than wwe. This makes each title defense feel so much bigger. And it allows a much longer time to properly build to a match.
2. Clean Finishes- Most, if not all of Kobashi's matches were clean finishes. Since there are less storylines in Japan, I think you would have to throw a few controversial endings in there in Angle's run, but if done properly, and sparingly, it would not hurt the credibility of the champion, or championship.
3. In-ring Talent- This is the reason why I think Angle is the only one who can pull this off. Fans loved Kobashi's run because his matches were consistently awesome. Even if he had to carry a lesser talent. But in america, were great wrestling takes a backseat to charisma, you need someone akin to a god to fill this role. Enter Kurt Angle. He's so damn good even the marks can see it. And since he also, has that charisma which is so important in an american ring, he would have all the bases covered.
I think being in TNA, he could definitly pull this off. The title is defended on a similar basis in TNA as it is in Japan. So a two year reign at least, without any fan backlash is possible IMO.
Also, yes I know, another Angle thread. But at least this is a decent question rather than another deathwatch thread.
Thoughts?