Japanese alliance speculation

[The Spelunker!]

Tokyo Sports is Talking about a possible alliance between AJPW, NOAH, and Wrestle-1. Definitely interesting, if anything comes of it.

[Deleted]

Bitching if they do, though current NOAH decision making is seemingly currently based around ‘exactly how much good will do we have left and how much can we still annihilate?’ so we’ll see.

Bitching if they do though.

[Fundertaker]

I thought part of the new management NOAH just got was going to limit their interactions with outside companies even further?

[El Pollo Guerrera]

Since the 00's they've had working relationships with each other and New Japan... is this just formalizing it and joining forces against NJPW? Is it wise to exclude NJPW when they're the biggest and therefor the biggest draw?

[OVO 40 hunched over like he 80]

Its funny, both NOAH and Wrestle 1 broke away from All Japan and now will probably merge again with them.

[HMARK Center]

Huh, I thought NJPW and AJPW had a low-key little arrangement going lately, so this would be interesting. NJPW and NOAH were working together when Bushiroad bought a stake in NOAH during its really troubled times, but that ended when the new ownership came on board with NOAH.

Hope they're careful with whatever they choose to do; AJPW's been making slow but steady progress the past few years and NOAH seems to finally be regaining some of its footing, with NJPW on the upswing its been on for awhile now there's no reason why the entire "mainstream" puro scene shouldn't be able to thrive.

[Mozenrath]

If it does happen, wonder how that'll effect Impact, since they have the relationship to NOAH despite Callis being tied to NJPW.

Is Dragon Gate still a thing? A lot of my info on the Japan scene is very dated.

[AwamoriRock]

That would be a superb collection of talent.

[BRAINFADE]

Feb 4, 2019 22:39:59 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

If it does happen, wonder how that'll effect Impact, since they have the relationship to NOAH despite Callis being tied to NJPW.

Is Dragon Gate still a thing? A lot of my info on the Japan scene is very dated.

Dragon Gate is still a thing. They're currently going through a bit of a rebuilding phase after losing guys like Shingo and CIMA, but PAC is doing some stellar work there as champion.

If this alliance were to happen, no doubt it would be a great collection of talent, but would ego inevitably get in the way?

[Mozenrath]

Feb 5, 2019 1:32:03 GMT -5 BRAINFADE said:

Feb 4, 2019 22:39:59 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

If it does happen, wonder how that'll effect Impact, since they have the relationship to NOAH despite Callis being tied to NJPW.

Is Dragon Gate still a thing? A lot of my info on the Japan scene is very dated.

Dragon Gate is still a thing. They're currently going through a bit of a rebuilding phase after losing guys like Shingo and CIMA, but PAC is doing some stellar work there as champion.

If this alliance were to happen, no doubt it would be a great collection of talent, but would ego inevitably get in the way?

Judging by when NOAH was fine getting help from NJPW but stopped when they changed owners and the new owners decided they couldn't stand it, I guess, probably.

[AwamoriRock]

Hook it to my veins.

[Mozenrath]

NJPW's still probably going to run roughshod on the rest, but if it helps them with some talent exchanges, inter-promotion feuds, or super shows, then it's a net gain for the fans, and probably going to help get some more eyes on their products.

[AwamoriRock]

It'll never match NJPW promotionally and financially, but in terms of talent they could be the best in the world. I think the issue is that it's very possible this is just a way to get heat before the Baba show and might not be as serious as rumored.

[HMARK Center]

Yeah, allowing an article to float the idea of "uniting to stop NJPW" just before the Baba show feels like a work.

But it's also entirely possible that some kind of working relationship is taking place behind the scenes, as well, so I'm definitely interested to see what happens here.

[OVO 40 hunched over like he 80]

Feb 5, 2019 2:13:36 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

NJPW's still probably going to run roughshod on the rest, but if it helps them with some talent exchanges, inter-promotion feuds, or super shows, then it's a net gain for the fans, and probably going to help get some more eyes on their products.

It’s crazy to think that ten years ago NOAH was bigger than New Japan.

[Yamashita Enforcement Division]

Feb 5, 2019 9:04:57 GMT -5 OVO 40 hunched over like he 80 said:

Feb 5, 2019 2:13:36 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

NJPW's still probably going to run roughshod on the rest, but if it helps them with some talent exchanges, inter-promotion feuds, or super shows, then it's a net gain for the fans, and probably going to help get some more eyes on their products.

It’s crazy to think that ten years ago NOAH was bigger than New Japan.

Inokism is a hell of a drug.

[OVO 40 hunched over like he 80]

Feb 5, 2019 9:04:57 GMT -5 OVO 40 hunched over like he 80 said:

Feb 5, 2019 2:13:36 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

NJPW's still probably going to run roughshod on the rest, but if it helps them with some talent exchanges, inter-promotion feuds, or super shows, then it's a net gain for the fans, and probably going to help get some more eyes on their products.

It’s crazy to think that ten years ago NOAH was bigger than New Japan.

It’s sad that All Japan and NOAH didn’t declined because of bad business, but because their owners died.

[Mozenrath]

Feb 5, 2019 9:04:57 GMT -5 OVO 40 hunched over like he 80 said:

Feb 5, 2019 2:13:36 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

NJPW's still probably going to run roughshod on the rest, but if it helps them with some talent exchanges, inter-promotion feuds, or super shows, then it's a net gain for the fans, and probably going to help get some more eyes on their products.

It’s crazy to think that ten years ago NOAH was bigger than New Japan.

They had a hot streak, but it feels like Misawa's death led to a string of failures for them. Losing their TV deal the same year Misawa died, Kenta Kobashi getting released from his contract which led 5 of the company's stars like Kanemaru to not re-sign and to leave for AJPW, and Morishima's problems like the diabetes scare and assaulting a cab driver and breaking the guy's face. New leadership really didn't seem to do more than cost them SUZUKI-Gun and bring very little in return, at least for now.

[Mozenrath]

Feb 5, 2019 9:12:29 GMT -5 Yamashita Enforcement Division said:

Feb 5, 2019 9:04:57 GMT -5 OVO 40 hunched over like he 80 said:

It’s crazy to think that ten years ago NOAH was bigger than New Japan.

Inokism is a hell of a drug.

I feel like Inoki was correct to recognize that there needed to be a shift in the company's presentation to keep up with changing times, but the way he went about it was obviously damaging to the credibility of the company. Tanahashi deserves to be champion even now for how much he pulled the company out of the trash, and Nakamura deserves credit for how he reinvented himself to step away from the MMA crud.

[OVO 40 hunched over like he 80]

Feb 5, 2019 9:20:27 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

Feb 5, 2019 9:04:57 GMT -5 OVO 40 hunched over like he 80 said:

It’s crazy to think that ten years ago NOAH was bigger than New Japan.

They had a hot streak, but it feels like Misawa's death led to a string of failures for them. Losing their TV deal the same year Misawa died, Kenta Kobashi getting released from his contract which led 5 of the company's stars like Kanemaru to not re-sign and to leave for AJPW, and Morishima's problems like the diabetes scare and assaulting a cab driver and breaking the guy's face. New leadership really didn't seem to do more than cost them SUZUKI-Gun and bring very little in return, at least for now.

It’s sorta karmic that NOAH died with Misawa when he took away everyone from All Japan after Baba died.