01-05-2018, 10:43 AM | #41 |
Hey Mister!
Posts: 54,947
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Agree on Osprey, but I feel KUSHIDA, Hiromu, and Marty all have fairly distinct styles.
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01-05-2018, 04:31 PM | #42 |
boop/bop/beep
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Gotta cheque that cruiser match styll.
Team Toxic 4 lyfe |
01-05-2018, 04:36 PM | #43 |
I am the cheese
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Fuck you dale
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01-05-2018, 04:41 PM | #44 |
boop/bop/beep
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What by chance are you referring to?
Team Toxic 4 lyfe |
01-05-2018, 05:07 PM | #45 |
BAY BAY
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Oh, so people need a reason to day "fuck you Dale" now?
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01-05-2018, 07:02 PM | #46 | |
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Quote:
I always thought it was likely Okada would be retaining, but everyone was saying "Naito, Naito, Naito." But I'm telling you -- it makes perfect sense. |
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01-05-2018, 07:04 PM | #47 | |
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Quote:
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01-05-2018, 07:18 PM | #48 |
boop/bop/beep
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I mean they don't.... BUT I'm sure the added incentive helps.
Team Toxic 4 lyfe |
01-05-2018, 07:52 PM | #49 |
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You also have to remember that they're paying Okada like $2.2 million a year and have him signed for five years, don't they? You treat that guy like he's worth it. If you take the belt off Okada and put it onto Naito now, then you're essentially promoting Naito to the Okada role, which means he should expect Okada money, whereas you're still paying Okada Okada money, but he's now not in the Okada role.
Obviously I'm not saying that Okada will never drop the belt or give anyone else a chance to run on top, but it's likely going to find its way back onto him before too long, and it'll be largely to freshen him up. Having him lose in the main event of the biggest show of the year isn't really an option, guys. |
01-05-2018, 08:20 PM | #50 |
I am the cheese
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I agree with everything but the timing. He should only lose it on the biggest show of the year.
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01-05-2018, 08:24 PM | #51 |
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Interesting. Maybe they will have him hold it for the whole year again? There hasn't been a run like that in some time.
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01-05-2018, 08:26 PM | #52 |
I am the cheese
Posts: 51,161
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I think it takes a year to build up another credible challenger unless youre going with omega
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01-05-2018, 08:29 PM | #53 |
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Omega seems locked into this US Title thing anyway. I'm not particularly keen on seeing him jump out of that division right now.
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01-05-2018, 08:30 PM | #54 |
I am the cheese
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Would be a fine way to make that us belt feel like more than a token title
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01-05-2018, 08:32 PM | #55 |
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Yeah, Omega having a nice meaty run with it would be good, and kind of gives it a purpose. It's the Omega match belt. I hear rumblings about him versus Kota Ibushi being something people are looking forward to.
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01-05-2018, 08:33 PM | #56 |
I am the cheese
Posts: 51,161
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Yeah thats a hot ticket right there
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01-05-2018, 08:42 PM | #57 |
Hey Mister!
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You know in the 90's, at the very peak of NJPW's success, they didn't have "THE GUY". They had three guys. Chono, Mutoh, and Hashimoto. And they would all have multiple reigns, with the odd Fujinami or Choshu title win thrown in to mix it up a bit.
I fully believe they have the potential to be in that spot again. Where instead of just one guy to rely on, with a few people to hold on to the belt for him when he needs a break, you have multiple mega stars. Wrestling is all about timing, and I think this moment could of cemented Naito as more than just a main eventer who can occasionally challenge THE GUY, but instead an equal to Okada. He already outclasses Okada in the charisma department, and while I feel Okada is slightly better in ring overall, in large part to his amazing story telling, there are some things Naito still does better than Okada. Omega is talented enough, more than over enough to be your third, giving you your modern day "three musketeers", as it were. |
01-05-2018, 09:01 PM | #58 |
I am the cheese
Posts: 51,161
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Okada is very pretty. Never ignore the blow job factor.
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01-05-2018, 09:30 PM | #59 | |
Posts: 61,095
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Quote:
I think you're right about timing, but I think you just have the wrong time. How many Japanese fans would have tuned in to Wrestle Kingdom 12 and saw that Okada was the champ and gone "Oh shit, he's still the guy?" and discovered that he had the longest IWGP Title reign in history? I mean, if you gave WK11 a shot and then order WK12, that's the big story, surely? That and Jericho being in. So why smack that investment away? Everyone just gets this itchy trigger fingers with these things. Okada would have been introduced to many lapsed fans of New Japan, or puroresu in general, as the greatest IWGP Champion of all-time. You don't have him dethroned the same night just to go "Oh look, we also have Naito, isn't Naito cool too? Buy his t-shirt." New Japan's business has grown quite well under Okada. And it's grown with Naito as an A2 guy. Sometimes you need to know when to pull a switch (Bockwinkel/Hogan in the AWA), but sometimes it's a lot smarter to just not fuck with what's working. Naito will not go away or disappear. He will still be popular. He will still sell t-shirts. You just don't need to pay him $2.2 million and devalue your top player, which given the sports atmosphere of NJPW, losing to an "almost guy" might do. Totally sane booking, in my opinion. I think you're coming at it from a western perspective, where nothing works, so if something gets hot you should run with it, haha. Okada is doing great as champion. Naito is great in his role. There was no reason to switch them. And the story of Naito is that he not only lost last time to Okada, but the fans voted the IC Title match above his. His story has been one of being this underappreciated near-miss guy, that is slowly winning over support and proving that he can do it. You don't need to tell it all at once. Like A) Naito loses to Okada in semi-main; B) Naito beats Okada in main. If they wrestle at Wrestle Kingdom again, and I suspect it won't be for at least two years, then I'd completely agree with the timing of Naito beating Okada. But it's just rushed right now. Prior to the G1, I didn't even hear anyone talking about the match. It was all Okada/Omega and whether or not they'd run that again. |
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01-07-2018, 08:22 AM | #60 |
It's a blood match!
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Talking about Omega jumping to the top spot and taking from Okada... I'm not for it. You should have either a serial killer gaijin or Japanese heel holding the belt, or someone who is the pride of Japan. Those are the best options for IWGP I think.
Okada is pride of Japan. He's becoming a legend. If like Noid said, he has a 5 year contract that means, what? Four more years? Three? He could hold the belt until WK 14 for all I care, he's the Bruno of this generation, make it happen. Naito is great, but he's not Okada. Okada is legend right now. Absolutely no foreigner should beat him. And to those who keep talking about Brock, that won't ever happen. Brock doesn't want to go to Japan to wrestle, plus he didn't mean much there the last time. And there was a lawsuit involving his stealing the IWGP heavyweight title. So no, it's just wasted space to pontificate on that notion. |
01-07-2018, 03:10 PM | #61 |
Let me talk to ya
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01-07-2018, 04:05 PM | #62 |
2015 TPWW FANTASY CHAMP
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Stayed up to watch it live with friends. Seen a few other events before. NJPW has some of best bell to bell action, though this didn't seem as good as normal. Maybe a B+ or A- overall.
-Fatal 4 Way was amazing -Jericho/Omega I got super into. Haven't loved Jericho more in past decade -Main event ended strong with last 5 minutes or so, but rest was just ok imo. -Any match with 5 or more people was meh. -Cameraman could use some work, missed some spots/moments. Enough I took notice. -Like someone said before, was nice that it went match to match pretty quick, but could have used a quick promo package between some to give a breather. -Pretty weak ass commentating -Replays need better transition. |
01-07-2018, 06:05 PM | #63 | |
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I find it hard to guess what is going to happen with Danielson. I really do. On one hand, I'm completely under the impression he will sign for $1 million a year to remain with the WWE and collect paychecks so his wife's career can also sky-rocket. But then I am also definitely sure they aren't going to clear him, but that he does have legitimate tests saying he is cleared, and that he is definitey going to go. Like, both universes seem so likely right now, and it's surreal to think about a free and clear Bryan Danielson. I can see him working CMLL, like he said, because I think he wants to help wrestling. Maybe he works a special attraction at Final Battle, to make a difference to their PPV (or see if he does). But I could see Okada winning the G1 and challenging him. He's not only the best IWGP Champion, but the best wrestler. Okada vs. Danielson at the Tokyo Dome. Okada with 29 successful IWGP Title defenses behind him. Danielson makes 30 and Okada is officially the national hero of Japan. |
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01-07-2018, 06:54 PM | #64 | |
It's a blood match!
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What evidence do you have that Lesnar is not resigning with WWE or UFC and going to Japan? I agree that the potential for Danielson to leave WWE is there but still at this point it's over nine months away. I don't see NJPW not already having the main event of WK 13 in place by September. I also don't see them going with an outsider for the main event when they have plenty of options beneath Okada on the roster. |
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01-07-2018, 06:56 PM | #65 |
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You'll see.
Danielson will know what he's doing by September. |
01-07-2018, 06:56 PM | #66 |
LUV CABBAGE/H8 JEWS
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Was Lesnar big in Japan?
He's the kinda guy I imagine being huge there. |
01-07-2018, 06:59 PM | #67 |
Posts: 61,095
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He wasn't really there for that long. There was a muck-up with visas and shit, and Inoki left and started his own thing, and he took Brock and Angle with him. So New Japan was probably pretty mad at him. But he never really got much of a chance to get started over there. And business was down at the time. I imagine he would be huge today.
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01-07-2018, 07:01 PM | #68 | |
It's a blood match!
Posts: 27,375
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So Noid I think you are passing off your opinion/fantasy as fact, unless of course you can show of some kind of proof, that this is even being discussed by camp Lesnar and or Gedo. I can see no way that Lesnar goes to Japan beyond being humiliated and disgraced by WWE in some way. |
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01-07-2018, 08:38 PM | #69 |
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Lol, don't take it so seriously. It's one of my things to predict that Brock goes to New Japan. Relax.
It's definitely happening though, so get yourself used to the idea. |
01-07-2018, 08:39 PM | #70 |
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New Japan was in shambles by the time Brock came in. I mean, they were trying to rebuild, but let's not protect that Brock coming in now would mean the same as Brock going in then. It's a different environment and he's got more cred than ever. He's the perfect gaijin for them to use. The only reason they wouldn't is if they are still pissed off at him, like they were Shibata for ages.
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01-07-2018, 09:36 PM | #71 |
It's a blood match!
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Yes but why would Brock go to Japan? How does that make sense for him? NJPW cannot pay him the same that WWE does, why would he leave what he has for Japan?
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01-07-2018, 10:01 PM | #72 |
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They can pay him a lot. Karl Anderson was getting $750,000 a year. Karl Anderson. They'd break the bank on Brock. Guarantee he would make $2 million before even sponsorships and the like.
Why would he go to Japan? He has friends there. That is why he was on tour for what they turned Beast in the East into. He probably doesn't mind being washed away in a different culture, given his anti-social nature. He can re-up with the WWE, or he can move around, get paid what is still a lot of money (enough money, anyway) to be a fresh attraction in a new environment, and can always re-sign with Vince when he's done his shtick there. Look at how quickly New Japan has reinvigorated Chris Jericho. Wrestlers used to go other places all the time to freshen themselves up and keep themselves from getting stale in one place where they've done it all. Because if they stop drawing, they stop getting paid. Brock going to Japan immediately makes him the biggest talk in wrestling, it immediately puts asses in seats, it immediately refreshes him as a draw in professional wrestling. Then he can go back to Vince and say "Hmm, you want me at WrestleMania? You only paid me $1.5 million for that one show last time, but now I want $2 million for it." Brock also gets bored. He got bored in WWE last time. He went to Japan. He took some losses in UFC, went back to WWE. It's not because he's a quitter. He went back to UFC and cleared that up. Dude's a shark -- he needs to keep moving. He's been with WWE collecting great paychecks for almost six years now. You have people starting to whinge about him "I'm bored of Brock, all he does is this, this and this." Brock has Heyman in his ear who knows how this game works, and isn't particularly attached to the WWE himself. When Brock Lesnar's deal comes up later this year, I'd be very, very, very, VERY surprised if he didn't at least talk to people there. To be honest, and I doubt they can pay him as much, it'd surprise me if Brock doesn't talk to All Japan too. They've shrunk in size compared to New Japan and even other promotions there, but allegedly they had one of the best growth years of any promotion in the world in 2017, and if Brock decides there is more window to "make a splash" with them, even in Japan and revive old-school competition and bidding, then he might go there too. I don't think this is as outlandish as I'm making it seem. Sometimes you take a lower deal in order to increase your overall value. There are blue-chip shares, and then there are riskier ones. Brock doesn't need money at this point in his life. Why is he even wrestling for WWE at all? He's a guy that's always kind of wanted to prove a point. And it's not like he's spending money to go and work in Japan. He'll be getting paid for a change in environment and to have more reputable matches with guys who aren't quite the same as the geeks in the cartoonish WWE. |
01-07-2018, 10:21 PM | #73 |
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To break my gimmick for a second: I do honestly believe that he will sign with Vince again and just ride that company dry while they're just happy to have a man in the house. I think he'll jump over to SmackDown after Mania and do stuff with AJ Styles and maybe even Shinsuke Nakamura, Rusev, The New Day, etc. It'll be like a fresh playground. They won't feel the need to put the belt on him again for a little while, but maybe they do, whatever. I fully expect that.
But if Paul Heyman hasn't looked at what Chris Jericho has done in New Japan and stroked his chin and said "Interesting..." I'd be absolutely shocked. If Heyman does not get on the phone to New Japan and people in Sinclair and say "Brock's fee is (x), you work out how you want to split that up between you, then Brock will get your PPV buys and subs up," I'd wonder why Brock even keeps him around. Doesn't mean he'll take it, doesn't mean they'll even make it. But Brock's contract is coming up this year. You don't go into negotiations armed with nothing but a smile and a "please." Brock would only work the big shows in New Japan. You're talking about 8-10 shows a year, should they decide to use him for the ROH crossovers. In WWE in 2017, he worked 14 times, and also had to fly into random TVs. Let's say New Japan can only offer him $2 million, and he's earning $12 million in the WWE (that's what Forbes listed for 2016, but that may not be correct). That probably averages out to $500,000 a performance, when you include television. Brock would probably get $250,000 a performance in New Japan. It's half the amount, sure, but he might like the work twice as much, too. |