General Puro Discussion Thread

[Roadster]

On off topic note about AJPW.

Why exactly is it so fun for people screw them over, take 1/3 of their roster and make them start all over. Every 10 years.

 

[Stopspot]

On off topic note about AJPW.

Why exactly is it so fun for people screw them over, take 1/3 of their roster and make them start all over. Every 10 years.

I don't think it has been fun either time it has happened. First time it happened it was because Misawa, who was handed the reigns of the company by it's late founder, Giant Baba did not get along with Baba's widow and they clashed over a lot of things. So Misawa left, and the roster left with him out of loyalty (which is a big thing in Japanese wrestling). Second time it was the same thing kinda, Mutoh - who took over running the company in 2002 - sold his shares to go back to wrestling and I guess retire from office duties, but the guy who bought the shares turned out to be a complete moron. So Mutoh left and half the roster went with him. Then based Akiyama came back to the company where he started, took over and bought out the new owner. And AJPW is where they are now, slowly regaining trust with the fans. The crowds have stabilized so now they just need to keep putting in work and they can start rebuilding in honest.

 

[Testify]

Basically, Misawa left because Motoko refused to chip in for retirement benefits, and Muto left because Nobuo was insanely rejected by the fans and the press, the crowds rapidly declined due to all the negative energy surrounding him and his media statements. One thing, tho, he clearead all the debts, and I'm pretty sure All Japan would go out of business without him. So, thank you, Nobuo!

 

[Stopspot]

Basically, Misawa left because Motoko refused to chip in for retirement benefits, and Muto left because Nobuo was insanely rejected by the fans and the press, the crowds rapidly declined due to all the negative energy surrounding him and his media statements. One thing, tho, he clearead all the debts, and I'm pretty sure All Japan would go out of business without him. So, thank you, Nobuo!

So he's the Japanese Cornette in a sense? Hated by the fans but saved the company's business (Nobuo by clearing the debts, Cornette by setting up the sale to Sinclair).

 

[Prince Bálor]

Just watched two matches (Tanaka vs Yoshioka and Suzuki vs KAI) from Wrestle-1's 7/12/15 show. Both were very good and enjoyable.

Diggin' what I've seen from W-1 thus far.

Going to watch some AJPW stuff from last month now.

 

[Stopspot]

Just watched two matches (Tanaka vs Yoshioka and Suzuki vs KAI) from Wrestle-1's 7/12/15 show. Both were very good and enjoyable.

Diggin' what I've seen from W-1 thus far.

Going to watch some AJPW stuff from last month now.

You are legit the only person I know who liked Suzuki vs KAI. Absolute garbage match that only served to hurt KAI. Notice how the fans booed him out of the building once he won? He's not suppsoed to be heel, he's supposed to be their Tanahashi.

 

[Prince Bálor]

You are legit the only person I know who liked Suzuki vs KAI. Absolute garbage match that only served to hurt KAI. Notice how the fans booed him out of the building once he won? He's not suppsoed to be heel, he's supposed to be their Tanahashi.

I'm fairly new to W-1, so that must be the reason why I liked it.

Yes, I did notice him getting booed. But, what went wrong there?

 

[Stopspot]

I'm fairly new to W-1, so that must be the reason why I liked it.

Yes, I did notice him getting booed. But, what went wrong there?

KAI has been booked awfully since Wrestle-1 was formed (Wrestle-1's booking in itself is fairly questionable). Since the first show he has been clear that his goal is to be the ace (the role Tanahashi has in new japan) of W1. But they have cut him by the ankles at every opportunity. He wins the Wrestle-1 title off of founder Keji Mutoh, becoming the third man to hold the belt. Only for Hideki Suzuki, who has been invading W1 since he is a freelancer, to swipe in, bury the guy in under ten minutes and take the belt on the first defense.

Suzuki then goes on to hold the belt for a couple of months, throwing it around, spitting on it, sitting on it, stepping on it, the works. He runs the gamut of disrespecting a belt. And the fans still wanted to cheer him over the guy who is presenting himself as Mr. W1. That's how bad KAI's booking hsa been. And KAI isn't a bad wrestler, he could be an ace for a company of this size. But they've booked him like a geek since the company was founded.

NOTE: After this they run the first ever Wrestle-1 grand prix tournament. KAI, the defending champion is eliminated in the first round by a dude doing an effeminate pretty boy comedy gimmick.

Such an ace. Had KAI never left AJPW he would be at least a solid upper midcarder.

 

[Prince Bálor]

KAI has been booked awfully since Wrestle-1 was formed (Wrestle-1's booking in itself is fairly questionable). Since the first show he has been clear that his goal is to be the ace (the role Tanahashi has in new japan) of W1. But they have cut him by the ankles at every opportunity. He wins the Wrestle-1 title off of founder Keji Mutoh, becoming the third man to hold the belt. Only for Hideki Suzuki, who has been invading W1 since he is a freelancer, to swipe in, bury the guy in under ten minutes and take the belt on the first defense.

Suzuki then goes on to hold the belt for a couple of months, throwing it around, spitting on it, sitting on it, stepping on it, the works. He runs the gamut of disrespecting a belt. And the fans still wanted to cheer him over the guy who is presenting himself as Mr. W1. That's how bad KAI's booking hsa been. And KAI isn't a bad wrestler, he could be an ace for a company of this size. But they've booked him like a geek since the company was founded.

NOTE: After this they run the first ever Wrestle-1 grand prix tournament. KAI, the defending champion is eliminated in the first round by a dude doing an effeminate pretty boy comedy gimmick.

Such an ace. Had KAI never left AJPW he would be at least a solid upper midcarder.

Wow. That explains a lot.

And as far as him being eliminated from the tourney by a comedy dude goes... LOL. Way to crap on your champ, W-1.

It's still weird to me that Suzuki, the 'outsider', so to speak, despite having done so many things to disrespect the title, gets cheered and the guy presenting himself as the ace of the company gets booed out of the building... I guess it just solidifies your point of how badly KAI's been booked.

So, the whole gist of KAI's W-1 run so far is that he should've never left AJPW, eh? Damn, tough business.

 

[Stopspot]

Same can be said for a fair deal of the W-1 roster. Soya, Sanada (now gone from W-1), Funaki (now gone from W-1), Tanaka and some of the rookies would at worst be where they are now if they had stayed. Whilst AJPW has stabilized post exodus and found their groove where they draw 900-1,3K in Korakuen or other venues of that size and sell out smaller venues whilst becoming a sleeper for best promotion in ring this year, W-1 has been a roller coaster rides of highs and lows.

 

[Prince Bálor]

Oh, I see... So, I take it if you wanna save your career, run away as fast as you can from Wrestle-1.

Also, you've been praising AJPW a lot. I'll have to become a regular viewer of theirs.

Actually, I've been wanting to get into more Japanese promotions, but never really found the time to be a regular viewer of any other promotion outside of NJPW.
Now, I think I'm ready to begin my journey. Dragon Gate, NOAH, AJPW, BJW, DDT... Here I come.

 

[Stopspot]

Oh, I see... So, I take it if you wanna save your career, run away as fast as you can from Wrestle-1.

Also, you've been praising AJPW a lot. I'll have to become a regular viewer of theirs.

Actually, I've been wanting to get into more Japanese promotions, but never really found the time to be a regular viewer of any other promotion outside of NJPW.
Now, I think I'm ready to begin my journey. Dragon Gate, NOAH, AJPW, BJW, DDT... Here I come.

Dragon Gate gets my vote for best promotion in the business. Point blank. Lucha Underground can jump off a cliff when compared to DG. It's fast, lucha inspired wrestling, colorful characters, comic book style booking that requires you to do your research, Genki (the booker) has no problem referencing something that happened ten years ago to make something work.

NOAH is in the W1 boat, awful right now. Talk about a fall from grace. BJW is fun, I'm not deathmatch fan but their strong division is good. Bort can sing the praises of DDT but I'm not that in the know on them other than being the place that has produced Ibushi and a bunch of AJPW undercard guys.

 

[Prince Bálor]

Thanks for all the info, man.

 

[Stopspot]

Union Pro (a former farming league for DDT) is closing after about 10 years in the business.

Pour one out for Union. Here's to the talent finding new places to work (Ishikawa for more regular work in all japan plz)

 

[Bort]

I liked Union. Whoever booked them, knew their shit when it comes to match-pacing and stuff like that.

Oh, and DDT is easily the best. @Prince Bálor