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Post by OfLegend on Oct 10, 2006 15:36:49 GMT
According to the Tokyo Sports newspaper, Mitsuharu Misawa is currently negotiating with Shinjiro Ohtani about consolidating their hold on the Japanese pro wrestling market, in what would essentially be an alliance between Pro Wrestling NOAH and Zero One MAX, with both promotions existing as seperate entities but being governed by the same board.
However, the really interesting news is that this alliance, which would be called the Global Pro Wrestling Alliance, would not be limited to Japan. The governing body would include Ohtani, TAKA Michinoku, Kensuke Sasaki, Steve Corino and Harley Race, with Misawa acting as chairman, and the promotions interlinked under this banner would include IWA-Japan, El Dorado, Big Mouth Loud, EWA and Ring of Honor.
A similar announcement inclues a proposed alliance between RXLL, IWA Puerto Rico, Nu-Wrestling Evolution and All Japan Pro Wrestling. If the two stories are related... well, we could have some very interesting ROH vs AJ vs NOAH matches on our hands, not to mention an elevation of ROH into a national federation and possibly greater competition for the likes of Antonio Inoki and Vince. Spekaing of competition, isn't MTV's Wrestling Society X on the horizon?
If this is indeed true, it could be the biggest news since WWE bought WCW.
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Post by nextlevel on Oct 10, 2006 15:45:58 GMT
My, my.
Certainly seems like their taking on a lot in trying this, if it is indeed true.
However I cant see the two stories being related.
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Post by OfLegend on Oct 12, 2006 21:31:48 GMT
If this is indeed true, it could be the biggest news since WWE bought WCW. And yet, people on this board would rather talk about strip poker. I've not said this in a while, but you all really fucking suck. |
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Post by nextlevel on Oct 12, 2006 21:44:08 GMT
Well, it is kinda hidden away.
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Post by FrighTy on Oct 12, 2006 21:44:38 GMT
[glow=red,2,300]I know it's doubtful, but if all of this actually goes down, I hope that the US market would see this as I do and we can actually get some of this televised.
Surely they wouldn't put something like lumberjack contests, or eating competitions, or a spelling bee on one of the many sporting channels instead of this, right? [/glow]
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Post by Carl on Oct 12, 2006 22:29:47 GMT
I don't think MTV's show is going to be too popular when you look at their roster. However the proposed mergers would definately change the landscape of wrestling if they happen. I would love to see ROH get a boost like that.
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Post by Adzer on Oct 12, 2006 23:03:38 GMT
This would be awesome, to actually get a genuine contender to WWE, maybe WWE might kick it up a gear and start actually putting major effort into shows again
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Post by Wassuppmann786 on Oct 12, 2006 23:22:38 GMT
This seems so freacken awesome.
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Post by Boricua on Oct 13, 2006 1:46:24 GMT
Looks like the next decade will be quite an interesting one in th e wrestling world.
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Post by tequillin on Oct 13, 2006 16:40:44 GMT
This is a great time to break into the business.
The wrestling world needs that alliance.
Wrestling Society X will appeal to the MTV viewers, I'm pretty certain.
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Post by †SamuraiFoochs† on Oct 13, 2006 19:19:50 GMT
This could be fucking great. Especially if ROH became a bigger promotion and maybe even got a TV deal.
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Post by DantheArtist on Oct 14, 2006 2:49:43 GMT
This could be fucking great. Especially if ROH became a bigger promotion and maybe even got a TV deal. Shows like ROH needs to get a TV deal. How come other wrestling promotions, aren't on TV? I want to see something new, that doesn't show on the internet or on PPV, but a regular shows like WWE Raw, WWE Smackdown!, or what's that show that sucks and shouldn't be seen with human eyes, oh, TNA Wrestling. |
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Post by mrkennedy on Oct 14, 2006 3:18:01 GMT
Finally, the prospect of getting a major wrestling promotion that gives shit about delivering good wrestling.
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Post by Nathan Versus on Oct 29, 2006 12:45:31 GMT
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Post by tequillin on Oct 29, 2006 13:01:39 GMT
Amazing! Possibly a union aswell.
I've said it before but I'll say it again. I have a gut feeling that the next few years is going to be a great time to get into the business. I can just see a tonne of potential things happening worldwide.
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Post by Nathan Versus on Oct 29, 2006 14:17:31 GMT
It should be very interesting.
I am also interested to see how New Japan Pro-Wrestling and All Japan Pro-Wrestling respond over the coming months.
NJPW are now owned by Yuke’s, the Japanese media corporation, which has cleared all of their financial debt and injected a vast sum of money into the promotion, but trying to take on several promotions, each under one governing body, is going to be a challenge.
Relations between the two promotions are vastly different to what they once were. AJPW is now owned by Keiji Muto, a man who still competes for NJPW. I remember reading, at the time of Muto’s appointment, that there was something dodgy going on. Apparently Antonio Inoki, then owner of NJPW, did not want to publicly take over AJPW, the old enemy, on the grounds that it would be viewed negatively for him to pursue a promotion that he had been feuding with for two decades, but was interested, at least in having a friendly face at the helm of AJPW.
Either Inoki was in luck that Keiji Muto, then one of his top stars and trusted employees, wanted to take control of AJPW or Inoki was using Muto as a front. Just speculation, of course, but if the glove fits. Imagine if Triple H took over TNA…
AJPW’s Satoshi Kojima was IWGP Champion in 2005. Considering the rivalry between the two promotions, Kojima winning the top belt in NJPW should set alarm bells ringing.
Muto, despite being the owner of AJPW, still competes for NJPW, Masahiro Chono and Hiroyoshi Tenzan, two of the top stars for NJPW, have appeared for AJPW. Whilst a lot of Japanese wrestlers are independent and can work for who they please, Chono and Tenzan are not amongst them.
When you consider that NJPW and AJPW are based in the same city, it makes little sense for one to allow the other to use their top names to promote a show? Surely that goes against all business logic to allow your arch rival to use your own staff to promote their product?
I suspect both promotions will come together in the near future. In fact, it seems the only reason why it hasn’t is Antonio Inoki. Simon Inoki, current president of NJPW, is a puppet and everybody knows his father is pulling the strings. If Inoki, Sr. was dead set against the idea of being publicly aligned with AJPW before, which it seems he was, then he probably feels the same way in 2005.
Simon Inoki is a couple more fuck-ups from being released by Yuke’s and when he is out the picture, who is next in line for NJPW presidency? Masahiro Chono, who has been groomed for the position for years, is very critical of Inoki, and just so happens to be best friends with a certain Keiji Muto.
Both NJPW and AJPW have working agreements with HUSTLE, which will need to make a business decision to either remain as an independent promotion, sandwiched between two massive alliances, or align themselves with one of the other.
TNA will also need to make a decision. They currently share a similar working agreement with NJPW and, with ROH joining the GPWA and ECW being a part of WWE, TNA are looking very insignificant on a global scale. AAA is another promotion with ties with NJPW, a recently deceased owner and an arch-rival in CMLL that has been stealing talent for years.
I can seriously see an NJPW, AJPW, AAA, TNA, HUSTLE alliance taking place at some stage in the future.
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Post by tequillin on Oct 29, 2006 15:18:43 GMT
Well if Versus say's it's possible then I'm in agreement. It will definately be interesting to see what actually does happen in the near future instead of all the speculation.
I'm not knowledgeable in the slightest on the behind the scenes aspect of Japanese promotions so it's good to soak up your knowledge tree.
Wouldn't a New-Japan and All-Japan alliance basically kill off the competition aspect of the business in Japan much like WCW/WWE over here, or am I reading into it all wrong?
I know the audience and business cycle is different over there but I'm sure there must be some negative aspect that would come of it.
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Post by Nathan Versus on Oct 29, 2006 16:29:22 GMT
Domestically, the two biggest Japanese promotions are NJPW and NOAH.
The likes of Dave Meltzer and Power Slam magazine will have you believe that NJPW is on the verge of bankruptcy. Truth is, there was once a time when NJPW could draw 60,000 fans to the Tokyo Dome on any given night. Nowadays they can’t, selling between 30,000 and 40,000 for a Tokyo Dome show. Some, like Dave Meltzer, will view NJPW’s inability to fill the Tokyo Dome as a sign that the company is in peril. I, however, view things differently. Drawing 30,000 fans, several times a year, cannot be scoffed at, especially when no other promotion in the business can compare to those kind of crowds.
NOAH is the “in” thing at the moment, and did outdraw NJPW at the Tokyo Dome in 2005. However, it’s important to point out that Destiny 2005 featured three main events; NJPW’s Hiroshi Tanahashi challenging for the GHC Championship, NJPW legend Kensuke Sasaki against Kenta Kobashi and AJPW legend Toshiaki Kawada vs. Mitsuharu Misawa (the final match of a feud that started in AJPW).
All things considered, I don’t think NJPW would be particular concerned about being outdrawn by their own talent.
Internationally, NJPW are unmatched.
Korea, China, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia and various other parts of Asia are all considered NJPW ‘territory’. NJPW is also popular in Eastern European countries like Russia, and Middle Eastern countries like Pakistan. South America is another profitable market for NJPW (Brazil has a massive Asian population, and Japanese-Brazilians are the largest Japanese population outside of Japan. Antonio Inoki is Japanese-Brazilian). Italy, for some reason, is also profitable.
AJPW is more like ROH. The late Rikidozan had a vision to create the biggest and the best promotion in the industry. After his death, his two top students; Inoki and Shohei “Giant” Baba, went on to found NJPW and AJPW. Whilst Inoki focussed on making NJPW the biggest promotion in the world, Baba focussed on making AJPW the best promotion in the world.
In that sense, the rivalry was more between Inoki and Baba and who could accomplish more in their respective fields. AJPW could never outdraw NJPW and NJPW could never promote a stronger card than AJPW, but both seemed content, just as long as NJPW was the biggest promotion and AJPW was the best.
These days, NOAH rivals both. It competes with NJPW for the crowds and is now considered the best promotion in Japan over AJPW. An alliance between NJPW and AJPW would be fitting. Neither Inoki or Baba fully realised Rikidozan’s vision, but an alliance between them could accomplish just that.
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Post by OfLegend on Oct 29, 2006 22:30:29 GMT
Also, it could increase the likelyhood of Takeshi Morishima vs Samoa Joe in the Tokyo Dome a few yeas down the line, which could cause me to die of excessive orgasming.
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