Thread: "100,001" Replies (Wrestling Forum)
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Old 02-14-2016, 10:19 PM   #22907
Mr. Nerfect
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CSL View Post
if Nakamura is a success, what he brings to the table won't really matter, WWE aren't going to see it as a one-off thing because of Nakamura's personality, they're going to see that these guys can come in and get over. It's a becoming a vastly different company to what it was even 2 years ago, this isn't a guy they'd really have taken back then, NXT and guys like Bryan and Punk have changed the entire industry. Okada has never hit quite that Tanahashi level of popularity despite how talented he is and he's certainly not going to hit the heights/popularity that Misawa, Kobashi and co did (not to mention guys further back when everything was red hot and promotions were doing 40,000 people multiple times a year) especially with business declining.

The usual typical New Japan contracts are yearly/rolling deals, if these guys see Nakamura make an impact and more importantly making some real money and WWE come calling, that could spell trouble for New Japan. "Rumour has it" they're trying to sort a long term deal for Okada but even if it was 4-5 years he'll still be younger than Nakamura when it's up. They need to make stars because if Nakamura takes off, they'd be silly not to go back for more and they don't really have many headliners as it is, without anybody to potentially replace even just Okada & Tanahashi they'd be in trouble. It's quite similar to how WWE haven't really made many legit main event guys over the last however many years. Difference being New Japan isn't a billion dollar entertainment empire whose brand identity itself is the draw, it's still just a pro wrestling company that relies on star power to put asses in seats.
Fair points. I hope the talent will at least understand why it is that Nakamura got over and not get overly ambition, especially if it puts a stain on their potential to draw in Japan once they are fucked up in the WWE. For every Shinsuke Nakamura (getting ahead of myself a bit, but I'm confident he'll do at least fine) there is a Yoshi Tatsu or a Hideo Itami (again getting ahead of myself, but there isn't much buzz for him at the moment).

Much like the lucha guys, I can't see them having too many "Japanese guys," and sadly I think the WWE sees being Japanese as part of their gimmick. It's something that they might suspect works with one or two guys, but after that you're "saturating" things.

I agree with you on New Japan needing to build talent though. If Okada got hurt and Tanahashi had to call it a day, I don't know what they'd do. Feel good Honma IWGP Heavyweight Title reign?
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