Rumor: ROH in a New, "NWA"-Style Organization?

[HMARK Center]

Interesting news here. No link, sadly, as it seems this came from a publication in Japan:

Today's Tokyo Sports had a big story about the apparent formation of a new "association" that will unify a sector of the pro wrestling community called something like the Global Pro-Wrestling Association (GPWA). FOS president, Yoshiyuki Nakamura, seems to be the brains behind it, and has Misawa's support and that of other promotions. The association will have many aims, such as avoiding performance wars between the members, making pro wrestlers (in the association) get licenses, holding joint tryouts for newcomers then I guess sharing them out, supporting retired wrestlers, and possibly holding small scale joint shows (ala Differ Cup). Promotions/offices who look likely to accept membership are:

- NOAH (Misawa may be the first chairman)
- ZERO1-MAX
- IWA Japan
- El Dorado
- ROH
- World-1
- DDT
- EWA
- Kensuke Office
- Kaientai Dojo
- Takayama Office
- WLW
- BIG MOUTH LOUD

Promotions who have refused or weren't mentioned at all...

- New Japan (outright refusal by Chono and Sugehayashi, but Sugehayashi said NJ won't oppose it)
- All Japan
- DSE/Hustle
- Dragon Gate
- Muga World
- Big Japan
- Riki Pro
- Apache Army

There was an attempt to unify indies in the past called "FFF". Whether this succeeds or fails is anyone's guess, but right now its lacking some big support, with NOAH the only big promotion involved.

In other words, it would sort of be a National Wrestling Alliance for Japanese indies and companies like ROH, along with NOAH.

So, anyone want to speculate on this?

[Michael Coello]

It won't have Hustle? Damn, the Hard Gay/Colt Cabana dream match will never happen.

[tigermask]

That might actually be a good idea for an aspiring wrestler, or most wrestlers in general.

[Hulkshi Tanahashi]

A new NWA of sorts. Sounds interesting.

[Michael Coello]

I think that will be good. Might open up a lot more possibilities for shows. I hope they approach some more stateside companies or feds from other parts of the world.

[EvilMasterBetty, Esq.]

So, is ROH basically the only American indy in this? If so, it seems like a Japanese NWA but with ROH playing the New Japan section where the Japanese guys can get international training and american guys can make special tours of japan.

[Murf]

No Dragon Gate? Dang.

[elassowipo]

Interesting. I think it might have trouble working out if any of the organizations mentioned expand to where they create issues.

[Ass Dan]

evilmasterbetty said:

So, is ROH basically the only American indy in this? If so, it seems like a Japanese NWA but with ROH playing the New Japan section where the Japanese guys can get international training and american guys can make special tours of japan.

Well, World-1 is American. Steve Corino works there.

Also what would this mean for the AWA? ZERO1-MAX is their big outlet. Without them, we have fewer Takao Omoris and more Ric Converses.

[EvilMasterBetty, Esq.]

phenom said:

evilmasterbetty said:

So, is ROH basically the only American indy in this? If so, it seems like a Japanese NWA but with ROH playing the New Japan section where the Japanese guys can get international training and american guys can make special tours of japan.

Well, World-1 is American. Steve Corino works there.

Also what would this mean for the AWA? ZERO1-MAX is their big outlet. Without them, we have fewer Takao Omoris and more Ric Converses.

Ah ok.

This could be an interesting development though.

[samachine]

That could be real bad for ROH, Dragon Gate couldn't work matches for them anymore if it's like NWA, nor could they ever get HUSTLE guys or NJPW(the top promotion in Japan)

[jobber2thestars]

Could this be a step towards wrestlers getting some sort of a union? I mean with all these companies possibly getting together, I'm sure they would be able to work something out.

[Johnny]

If this rumor has truth, this could be very good or very bad.

[HMARK Center]

jobber2thestars said:

Could this be a step towards wrestlers getting some sort of a union? I mean with all these companies possibly getting together, I'm sure they would be able to work something out.

I highly doubt there'd be anything resembling a union, but, as it said, it could aspire to do things like help support retired wrestlers, maybe setting up something like a pension. Who knows, maybe healthcare? Doubtful, but you never know.

My only concern, as a fan, is that ROH is on board here, but Dragon Gate apparently isn't. The ROH/DG partnership has been EXTREMELY beneficial to both parties, as well as to all the wrestlers who've been a part of the "exchange program", and it'd be a pity if something like this hurt their relationship.

That said, nothing there indicated that Dragon Gate would outright reject the idea; it just said they haven't commented.

[Dr. Bolty, Disaster Enby]

El Dorado is part of the "pro" group, though - isn't there some kind of grudge between El Dorado and Dragon Gate? I never fully understood the issues there, as anyone who's tried to explain it has admitted to less than complete knowledge of what was going on there. I thought it tied into the whole Ultimo deal (that Milano is a part of), but the DGUSA site says that El Dorado is free from Ultimo influence. So I'm pretty confused about the whole thing, but have gotten the impression that the two promotions wouldn't be working together very well. Someone correct me because I feel like I'm way off base?

[samachine]

hitmanmark said:

jobber2thestars said:

Could this be a step towards wrestlers getting some sort of a union? I mean with all these companies possibly getting together, I'm sure they would be able to work something out.

I highly doubt there'd be anything resembling a union, but, as it said, it could aspire to do things like help support retired wrestlers, maybe setting up something like a pension. Who knows, maybe healthcare? Doubtful, but you never know.

My only concern, as a fan, is that ROH is on board here, but Dragon Gate apparently isn't. The ROH/DG partnership has been EXTREMELY beneficial to both parties, as well as to all the wrestlers who've been a part of the "exchange program", and it'd be a pity if something like this hurt their relationship.

That said, nothing there indicated that Dragon Gate would outright reject the idea; it just said they haven't commented.

They'll reject it, as mentioned earlier, they did a 'Group' thing before and it turned out awful for them, the promoters do not wanna take a risk like that again. I think it's better the way they are and should just stick with an 'exchange program' with ROH like they did with Takagi and Evans.

[THEBUZZKILL]

wlw is an american based company ran by harley race and had had a working deal with noah for a couple of years now

[Friday Night Kearney!]

luv Yes! This is what Pro Wrestling needs!

If it had some more big promotions it could work really well.

[jrody is a Kondo mark]

awww man. no MPro

[EvilMasterBetty, Esq.]

Couldn't ROH have a seperate agreement with DG to bring guys in on a limited basis or have matches like Do Fixer v. Blood Generation where no ROH wrestlers are involved?

Cause I gotta think that Gabe wouldn't sign onto this without considering his relationship with Dragon Gate. Maybe he thinks that they will sign or that he can work something out. Or maybe this will be even better than their DG exchange.