Post by HMARK Center on Jan 12, 2016 10:30:40 GMT -5
Ok, this is not a thread saying there's anything particularly wrong with the titles in NJPW; if there were, shows like WK 10 wouldn't have been so well received.
However, I do think it's fair to say that the main purposes for some of the belts have changed and shifted around quite a bit over time, and some might think they need to be refocused.
For example, the NEVER Openweight title was designed largely to put over young wrestlers and guys who had not been signed full time to NJPW. While turning it into the "Ishii kills both himself and fools dead" belt has given the title some prestige and big card matches, it does mean that it's lost its original purpose. To some, it feels like all three main singles belts (IWGP, IC, NEVER) are held by upper midcarders/main eventers, so it's tough to distinguish between them at times...some argue this isn't a bad thing, since we're guaranteed really high quality matches involving each one. And I haven't even touched on the Jr. division belts, as that division definitely seems to be going through a transition period.
Plus, some people argue that there are too many belts in the promotion now; would you want to eliminate some? Repurpose them? Are things just fine now and you're perfectly happy the way they are?
By and large I don't mind the title situation, but I have to admit I'd kind of like to see the NEVER belts refocused on unsigned and young talent, or given some other type of unique designation (e.g. maybe given that Tanaka, Ishii, Makabe, and Shibata have held it, it should just be the "enormous ass kicker" division title), while the IC belt slides a bit more firmly into a mid/upper midcard role. Nakamura did a lot to elevate that title, and I loved when it'd lead to him facing and putting on great matches with young guys like Ibushi or older guys like Nagata, but it also shouldn't just serve as the "we need to give our other main eventers something to fight over besides the main belt" strap, either.
What do y'all think?
However, I do think it's fair to say that the main purposes for some of the belts have changed and shifted around quite a bit over time, and some might think they need to be refocused.
For example, the NEVER Openweight title was designed largely to put over young wrestlers and guys who had not been signed full time to NJPW. While turning it into the "Ishii kills both himself and fools dead" belt has given the title some prestige and big card matches, it does mean that it's lost its original purpose. To some, it feels like all three main singles belts (IWGP, IC, NEVER) are held by upper midcarders/main eventers, so it's tough to distinguish between them at times...some argue this isn't a bad thing, since we're guaranteed really high quality matches involving each one. And I haven't even touched on the Jr. division belts, as that division definitely seems to be going through a transition period.
Plus, some people argue that there are too many belts in the promotion now; would you want to eliminate some? Repurpose them? Are things just fine now and you're perfectly happy the way they are?
By and large I don't mind the title situation, but I have to admit I'd kind of like to see the NEVER belts refocused on unsigned and young talent, or given some other type of unique designation (e.g. maybe given that Tanaka, Ishii, Makabe, and Shibata have held it, it should just be the "enormous ass kicker" division title), while the IC belt slides a bit more firmly into a mid/upper midcard role. Nakamura did a lot to elevate that title, and I loved when it'd lead to him facing and putting on great matches with young guys like Ibushi or older guys like Nagata, but it also shouldn't just serve as the "we need to give our other main eventers something to fight over besides the main belt" strap, either.
What do y'all think?
