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Old 06-16-2018, 08:24 PM   #261
Mr. Nerfect
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ultra Mantis View Post
Matt Bloom worked as Giant Bernard because he was playing the Gaijin powerboy hoss, currently the spot belonging to Michael Elgin. Scott Norton had the same spot and was IWGP Champion but nobody really gave a fuck about him in WCW the same way nobody gave a fuck about Lord Tensai. Not to say any of those three are bad workers, but it's a spot that only really applies in Japan and doesn't translate well once theyre back in the US. They even tried to subvert it with Albert and have him pretend to be the Japanese powerboy hoss. We all know how that turned out. You could put Cesaro in this spot and crush it but as soon as he returns to Smackdown he's immediately back where he was spinning wheels.

Gallows on the other hand was never a good worker or regarded as one, he was popular because he was in Bullet Club and people liked his promos but he was consistently the worst guy on the show in ring. He was basically doing what Camacho / Tanga Loa is now, but a better talker.

Liger in NXT was not done through New Japan, it was Regal asking Liger directly if he wanted to do it. Liger's contract allows him to work wherever he wants, Ibushi and SANADA were (or maybe still are in Ibushi's case) on similar contracts which has been cited as one of the reasons neither guy was getting pushed hard.

Jim Ross does not work for New Japan, he works for AXS, and again he does not give a fuck about the product and is only there because Mark Cuban liked him in the WWF and wants to give him money.

The way they've handled their partner companies in the UK has been basically poaching their top guys (British Strong Style mainly), sometimes forcing them to cancel appearances last minute and sending them Kassius Ohno, Jack Gallagher or Noam Dar for a one off appearance here or there to make up for it. I get the feeling that is what they would be "open" to doing with NJPW too, "Hey we need Okada, Naito and Omega for Summerslam so don't put them in the G1, thanks, we'll send you our next top stars: Baron Corbin, Jinder Mahal and Big Cass as replacements". And that's just worst case, even if they sent Cesaro, Bryan, Rollins etc it wouldn't cover the difference.
Oh no, people definitely think that Gallows is good. Your assessment of him is correct, but the perception definitely seems to be that Japan makes people better workers, regardless of whether or not it is true. Just listen to the crowds that got to NXT Takeover shows. Do you really think they are that hard to work?

On the Liger point: Do you really think New Japan would have blocked him from doing it? Contract allowing him to or no, I doubt he called up Tiger Hattori and said "Fuck you, I'm doing NXT Takeover. Wooo!" It was still a guy with a profile in New Japan working with WWE, which is more to the point than the actual contract structure. Jim Ross working for AXS is a similar thing. It's still a WWE guy not being locked down doing all WWE things all the time. Mauro still does his boxing. It's not like Vince is 100% "No, you must only work for me" 100% of the time, because there are these examples of talent -- granted, ones with a lot of tenure and/or with PR issues surrounding them (Mauro) that have their fingers in multiple pies.

What you mention at the end is a concern, but that is why you wouldn't structure it like that. New Japan talent would still work for New Japan. WWE can pluck those talents from UK shows because they are under WWE contract and value that more than those indy obligations. With actual go-between between the New Japan and WWE offices, they would be able to exchange talent in a way that doesn't step on anyone's toes. And it wouldn't be like 6 guys at a time. Well, they could work it -- I'm not sure that they would.
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