Mafia and Wrestling?

[SOR]

This seems more common in Japan and not anywhere else so I'll stick to Japanese stuff for this topic.

What's the Mafia's role in pro wrestling over in Japan? Around this time last year it was discovered that NOAH had involvement with the Yakuza and they lost an incredible amount of steam almost immediately, mix the Yakuza in with the fact they lost like 6 of their guys and NOAH has dropped significantly and is pretty close to dead.

I've heard stories that multiple companies are involved with the Yakuza and even have heard rumors that the Yakuza loves Masahiro Chono but what do they actually do? Do they provide funding for these companies and that's it or is there more to it?

[Larryhausen]

IIRC, almost every entertainment company in Japan is rumored to have Yakuza connections, but it's something no one ever talks about. Not sure exactly what it entails, but nobody talks about it until its out in the open.

[Deleted]

We'd tell you, but we'd have to kill you.

[Deleted]

This is the best way I've heard it described: Being in the entertainment businees in Japan, and having Yakuza ties, is like being a major league baseball player in the US, and using performance enhancing drugs. Everybody is aware that it's a common practice, but if you actually get caught doing so, it's considered very disgraceful.

[celticjobber]

I remember a story in Mick Foley's first book about the time he had dinner with Yakuza during a tour in Japan with Tiger Jeet Singh. He realized what was going on when he noticed the guys were missing the tips of their pinkie fingers.

[Jedi-El of Tomorrow]

In Jericho's 1st book he talked about the Yakuza. He mentions that if the Yakuza like a wrestler, that wrestler can be stiff as hell and their opponent won't be stiff back. He also mentions breaking a flower pot, and the Yakuza telling him to clean up the mess and pay for it.

And was it Sabu that landed on some Yakuza during a show, and had to barricade himself in the locker room because they were coming after him?

[Ultimo Gallos]

Heard a story about Vader pissing off the Yakuza while in Japan. And they tied Vader up and cut him a bunch of times with a straight razor.

[Wolf Hawkfield no1 NZ poster]

Not pro wrestling but when it became public knowledge that Yakuza was involved with MMA in Japan, it set the wheels in motion for the downfall of Pride FC.

Also going back to the 60s Rikidōzan was murderd by some guy in the Yakuza after being stabbed with a urine-soaked blade in a nightclub.

[TGM]

I think Lance Storm said he once wrestled an opening match in Japan and was informed that there were Yakuza members in the audience, but he never met or interacted with them, so could neither confirm nor deny the stories.

[Honeybear Lyder]

I heard the Yakuza would buy tonns of tickets and then make people buy the tickets from them for a double price.

[Baldobomb-22-OH-MAN!!!]

Apr 30, 2013 9:24:34 GMT -5 TGM said:

I think Lance Storm said he once wrestled an opening match in Japan and was informed that there were Yakuza members in the audience, but he never met or interacted with them, so could neither confirm nor deny the stories.

well that just stands to reason. it's not like they wear big shiny hats with blinking lights that say "we are the Yakuza".

[tigermaskxxxvii]

Yakuza? Come on! We all know there's no such thing as The Yakuza!..... *slowly shifts eyes from side to side to make sure no one is listening in*

I think the next Japanese wrestler that signs with a major American promotion should be given a Yakuza/Johnny Dangerously gimmick.

[SOR]

Apr 30, 2013 16:08:06 GMT -5 tigermaskxxxvii said:

I think the next Japanese wrestler that signs with a major American promotion should be given a Yakuza/Johnny Dangerously gimmick.

Apparently this was the plan for Tajiri, Jimmy Yang and Ryan Sakoda. Allegedly Sakoda and Yang were okay with it but Tajiri feared that if the Yakuza was made to look bad they would cause harm to him so the idea was nixed.

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

Apr 30, 2013 16:06:48 GMT -5 Baldobomb-22-OH-MAN!!! said:

Apr 30, 2013 9:24:34 GMT -5 TGM said:

I think Lance Storm said he once wrestled an opening match in Japan and was informed that there were Yakuza members in the audience, but he never met or interacted with them, so could neither confirm nor deny the stories.

well that just stands to reason. it's not like they wear big shiny hats with blinking lights that say "we are the Yakuza".

Chris Jericho: Lance, maybe we should go inside.
Lance Storm: But, Chris, that little guy hasn't done anything yet. Look at him. He's going to do something and you know it's going to be good.



[Jericho pulls Lance into the locker room and shuts the door]

[inside, a loud ninja yell can be heard, followed by a thump then...]

[BigBadZ]

Apr 30, 2013 15:10:47 GMT -5 Honeybear Lyder said:

I heard the Yakuza would buy tonns of tickets and then make people buy the tickets from them for a double price.

You misspelled Ticketmaster

[TGM]

Apr 30, 2013 16:06:48 GMT -5 Baldobomb-22-OH-MAN!!! said:

Apr 30, 2013 9:24:34 GMT -5 TGM said:

I think Lance Storm said he once wrestled an opening match in Japan and was informed that there were Yakuza members in the audience, but he never met or interacted with them, so could neither confirm nor deny the stories.

well that just stands to reason. it's not like they wear big shiny hats with blinking lights that say "we are the Yakuza".

Wouldn't that be something? Give Akio and Sakoda some personality at least.

[Sir Woodrow]

Apr 30, 2013 16:06:48 GMT -5 Baldobomb-22-OH-MAN!!! said:

Apr 30, 2013 9:24:34 GMT -5 TGM said:

I think Lance Storm said he once wrestled an opening match in Japan and was informed that there were Yakuza members in the audience, but he never met or interacted with them, so could neither confirm nor deny the stories.

well that just stands to reason. it's not like they wear big shiny hats with blinking lights that say "we are the Yakuza".

Well there goes my idea