Big Problems for NOAH/Shakeup Coming

[SassovsHart]

Big shake-up forthcoming in NOAH



Pro Wrestling NOAH just announced that General Manager Ryu Nakata and Counselor Haruka Eigen had ties to the Yakuza from 2003 to 2010, working with them to sell tickets to the company's live events.

All of the major Japanese media covered the story, which will give the promotion a bad public image. Virtually every promotion in sports and entertainment in Japan has Yakuza tie-ins, but it's probably best analogized like the steroid issue in sports in the U.S. It's commonplace in every major sport, deep down everyone knows it, but if it comes out that somebody used it publicly, it's a black mark against them. Pride went down largely because of these revelations.

Exactly how this will fall out is unknown, but expect fall out very quickly.

NOAH was, at least among Japanese sports fans, the most popular promotion in the country for much of the last decade, but fell on hard times in recent years once losing its network television outlet. A financially-strapped NTV, due to the recession, canceled pro wrestling, one of the longest lasting shows in the history of television in any country, dating back more than 50 years. The death of president Mitsuharu Misawa was another gigantic blow. Without strong television, the company was unable to create new stars who could sell tickets like Misawa and the frequently injured and physically destroyed Kenta Kobashi.

Credit: F4wonline

Yikes.

[froggyfrog]

Oh my

[rapidfire187]

I wonder just how the Yakuza helps them sell tickets.

[Steveweiser]

PRIDE was about 5 times as big as NOAH are now, maybe even more, and this sort of revelation killed them. Goodness knows what will happen to NOAH... can't see them surviving this at all.

[Johnny B. Decent]

Mar 23, 2012 13:49:49 GMT -5 rapidfire187 said:

I wonder just how the Yakuza helps them sell tickets.

Well, usually they scalp them or buy a section of tickets for themselves.

Anyways, NOAH itself was in a slump anyways without this little revelation anyways, just to note.

[Deleted]

Was there an error in the article, or did NOAH announce that they had ties to the Yakuza? If so, why would they announce such a thing themselves? Makes no sense.

[Johnny B. Decent]

Mar 23, 2012 14:13:23 GMT -5 @kudohdriver said:

Was there an error in the article, or did NOAH announce that they had ties to the Yakuza? If so, why would they announce such a thing themselves? Makes no sense.

What might be is someone found concrete evidence and was going to post it to the general public and they did it to perhaps ease the blow, but I dunno.

[Djm Doesn't Find You Funny]

If NOAH really did announce this themselves, I can't help but think that this is a sign that they're looking to cash in their chips and fold.

They've already been doing not-so-well, and with this kind of news has done for promotions in the past, I kinda feel like this is the beginning of NOAH "giving up".

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

Really unfortunate news and coupled with some other problems things are looking bleak for them.

[executive vice grenadier]

Mar 23, 2012 13:58:36 GMT -5 Steveweiser said:

PRIDE was about 5 times as big as NOAH are now, maybe even more, and this sort of revelation killed them. Goodness knows what will happen to NOAH... can't see them surviving this at all.

PRIDE had a lot of other problems that also contributed to their demise (which didn't help the already downtrending JMMA scene).

Bleak news, guys like Morishima, Marufuji, KENTA and Shiozaki will easily find work, but for the younger Kensuke Office guys, it's tough.

[Crusty Ruffles]

I'm wondering if naming the two that had Yakuza ties is their way of distancing themselves from those guys and trying to move forward.

Still...not good. Not good at all.

[gonzo16]

I doubt anyone is surprised, being how Yakuza runs so much over there. I can't see NOAH lasting much longer at all.

[Mochi Lone Wolf]

Yakuza ties are the kiss of death for companies in Japan. I don't think this is going to be any different sadly.

[________ has left the building]

With All Japan still reeling from the Super Hate scandal and now NOAH public exposure to the Yakuza, the puroresu scene is taking a turn for the worst.

[rocked]

Pardon my ignorance, but if I know about the tie ins on the other side of the planet - how is this considered hidden from Japnese people? Are they thicko?

[Fundertaker]

Mar 24, 2012 12:39:33 GMT -5 rocked said:

Pardon my ignorance, but if I know about the tie ins on the other side of the planet - how is this considered hidden from Japnese people? Are they thicko?

No. It's just that most fans either don't know/care about the business practices from the companies and the fact that without proof of confirmation, it's the same thing as if they don't have yakuza ties. For example: most Japanese popular music labels also have very deep ties with the yakuza, but since nobody comes to public to talk about it, it's as if nothing happens and people are better not knowing than knowing.

Also, this situation was also spoke upon in a book. I believe NOAH's "coming out of the closet", so to speak, at this time comes from the press giving that book's revealings press time and they trying to save face.

[froggyfrog]

Maybe its better if NOAH folds. It gives the talent options to go elsewhere and prob a new promotion or two will come into existence to take its spot. I'd love for Morishima to come to the WWE for example. He'd fit right in.

[Mozenrath]

Mar 23, 2012 22:59:05 GMT -5 Crusty Ruffles said:

I'm wondering if naming the two that had Yakuza ties is their way of distancing themselves from those guys and trying to move forward.

Still...not good. Not good at all.

Yeah, it seems like a "Hail Mary" to try to do some damage control, but whether it works or not remains to be seen.

[Steveweiser]

Colt Cabana had just heard when I told him this news today. He's heading out there next month with Eddie Edwards.

[froggyfrog]

Mar 24, 2012 15:47:00 GMT -5 Steveweiser said:

Colt Cabana had just heard when I told him this news today.

cool