We have a new GHC Heavyweight Champion.

[Mochi Lone Wolf]

Kazuyuki Fujita defeated Katsuhiko Nakajima at NOAH Gain Control to win the title.

[Starshine]

Yep, total NOAH move right there.

Hey, remember when they were all behind this kid Kaito Kiyomiya, and even though they probably put too much weight on his shoulders too soon, it at least looked like they were building someone to carry the company going forward? Then Mutoh arrived and everything was f***ed.

[Lizuka #BLM]

Two champions in their 50s in the span of a year, what is this, WWE?

[Mochi Lone Wolf]

Feb 23, 2022 23:11:22 GMT -5 Starshine said:

Yep, total NOAH move right there.

Hey, remember when they were all behind this kid Kaito Kiyomiya, and even though they probably put too much weight on his shoulders too soon, it at least looked like they were building someone to carry the company going forward? Then Mutoh arrived and everything was f***ed.

I don't even have an issue with Fujita winning the title at some point. That said, can we please finish the never-ending Kenoh-Nakajima-Kiyomiya-Shiozaki drama first before then? That always seems to heat up before it's derailed and put on hold.

[Georgina's Fancy Water]

The fact that Fujita is still alive and still has brain function after all he's been thru is worthy of a title.

[AwamoriRock]

Pressers have been worth it imo.

[King Devitt]

Feb 23, 2022 23:13:44 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

Two champions in their 50s in the span of a year, what is this, WWE?

Okay, but can we now give Suzuki a freaking IWGP title run please?!

[HMARK Center]

Feb 24, 2022 8:52:01 GMT -5 King Devitt said:

Feb 23, 2022 23:13:44 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

Two champions in their 50s in the span of a year, what is this, WWE?

Okay, but can we now give Suzuki a freaking IWGP title run please?!

As long as Suzuki is technically a freelancer, that'll probably never happen.

[Mozenrath]

Feb 23, 2022 23:11:22 GMT -5 Starshine said:

Yep, total NOAH move right there.

Hey, remember when they were all behind this kid Kaito Kiyomiya, and even though they probably put too much weight on his shoulders too soon, it at least looked like they were building someone to carry the company going forward? Then Mutoh arrived and everything was f***ed.

Mutoh honestly wasn't a bad move. Didn't business go up for them? I know it definitely got NOAH the most press I'd seen for them in, well, a long-ass time.

That being said, I do think doing it again so soon is puzzling.

Meanwhile, AJPW had the title on Suwama for what seemed like 60 years, so even with NJPW and NOAH getting experimental during the pandemic, at least one of the major companies is committed to taking virtually no risks, for better or worse. (Yes, I know he finally lost it a bit back, but god, I do not get what they were thinking.)

[mo]

Feb 23, 2022 23:31:30 GMT -5 Georgina's Fancy Water said:

The fact that Fujita is still alive and still has brain function after all he's been thru is worthy of a title.

I’ve been watching a lot of current and past Japanese wrestling for the first time recently and seeing all these PRIDE tomato cans popping up as big deals in these promotions is blowing my mind lol. Like damn those dudes that used to get thrashed around by Fedor, Nogueira, and Cro Cop in their primes are multiple time IWGP/Triple Crown/GHC champions.

[Fundertaker]

Feb 24, 2022 10:26:31 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

Feb 23, 2022 23:11:22 GMT -5 Starshine said:

Yep, total NOAH move right there.

Hey, remember when they were all behind this kid Kaito Kiyomiya, and even though they probably put too much weight on his shoulders too soon, it at least looked like they were building someone to carry the company going forward? Then Mutoh arrived and everything was f***ed.

Mutoh honestly wasn't a bad move. Didn't business go up for them? I know it definitely got NOAH the most press I'd seen for them in, well, a long-ass time.

That being said, I do think doing it again so soon is puzzling.

Meanwhile, AJPW had the title on Suwama for what seemed like 60 years, so even with NJPW and NOAH getting experimental during the pandemic, at least one of the major companies is committed to taking virtually no risks, for better or worse. (Yes, I know he finally lost it a bit back, but god, I do not get what they were thinking.)

Here's the thing though... Suwama didn't lose it! He got COVID, vacated the title, Jake Lee won the title... and then got injured in the last match of the year, leading to another champion having to be put over via non-regular title matches (and thus they reverted to Kento Miyahara, who has done litereally everything in that promotion already).

[Mozenrath]

Feb 24, 2022 11:11:48 GMT -5 Fundertaker said:

Feb 24, 2022 10:26:31 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

Mutoh honestly wasn't a bad move. Didn't business go up for them? I know it definitely got NOAH the most press I'd seen for them in, well, a long-ass time.

That being said, I do think doing it again so soon is puzzling.

Meanwhile, AJPW had the title on Suwama for what seemed like 60 years, so even with NJPW and NOAH getting experimental during the pandemic, at least one of the major companies is committed to taking virtually no risks, for better or worse. (Yes, I know he finally lost it a bit back, but god, I do not get what they were thinking.)

Here's the thing though... Suwama didn't lose it! He got COVID, vacated the title, Jake Lee won the title... and then got injured in the last match of the year, leading to another champion having to be put over via non-regular title matches (and thus they reverted to Kento Miyahara, who has done litereally everything in that promotion already).

Yeeeah, sorry, I am tired and glossed over details, so yeah, the situation's all the more frustrating.

[asuka007]

NOAH loves it’s grandpa champions. At least Fujita can do more than say, Mutoh, these days.

[Starshine]

Feb 24, 2022 10:26:31 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

Feb 23, 2022 23:11:22 GMT -5 Starshine said:

Yep, total NOAH move right there.

Hey, remember when they were all behind this kid Kaito Kiyomiya, and even though they probably put too much weight on his shoulders too soon, it at least looked like they were building someone to carry the company going forward? Then Mutoh arrived and everything was f***ed.

Mutoh honestly wasn't a bad move. Didn't business go up for them? I know it definitely got NOAH the most press I'd seen for them in, well, a long-ass time.

That being said, I do think doing it again so soon is puzzling.

Meanwhile, AJPW had the title on Suwama for what seemed like 60 years, so even with NJPW and NOAH getting experimental during the pandemic, at least one of the major companies is committed to taking virtually no risks, for better or worse. (Yes, I know he finally lost it a bit back, but god, I do not get what they were thinking.)

It's kind of hard to take attendence numbers in Covid times and attribute them to any one thing. But it also doesn't seem like they've made any serious dent into the market considering they got out sold by All Japan this week, which was built on the Abdullah Kobayashi Triple Crown title match, which isn't exactly heavy hitting competition.

All Japan's also not exactly a barometer of success to compare anyting to right now. They did take a risk eventually putting the belt on Jake Lee, which I don't think was really working out anyway, even excluding the injury which derailed it. But outside of Kento Miyahara, they're roster is lacking in actual star power.

[chrom]

Feb 24, 2022 15:42:15 GMT -5 Starshine said:

Feb 24, 2022 10:26:31 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

Mutoh honestly wasn't a bad move. Didn't business go up for them? I know it definitely got NOAH the most press I'd seen for them in, well, a long-ass time.

That being said, I do think doing it again so soon is puzzling.

Meanwhile, AJPW had the title on Suwama for what seemed like 60 years, so even with NJPW and NOAH getting experimental during the pandemic, at least one of the major companies is committed to taking virtually no risks, for better or worse. (Yes, I know he finally lost it a bit back, but god, I do not get what they were thinking.)

It's kind of hard to take attendence numbers in Covid times and attribute them to any one thing. But it also doesn't seem like they've made any serious dent into the market considering they got out sold by All Japan this week, which was built on the Abdullah Kobayashi Triple Crown title match, which isn't exactly heavy hitting competition.

All Japan's also not exactly a barometer of success to compare anyting to right now. They did take a risk eventually putting the belt on Jake Lee, which I don't think was really working out anyway, even excluding the injury which derailed it. But outside of Kento Miyahara, they're roster is lacking in actual star power.

Wasn't there talk of another walkout happening in All Japan?

[Allie Kitsune]

Remember : An 18-14 MMA record is 18 more wins than most people have.

[Mochi Lone Wolf]

Feb 24, 2022 16:13:01 GMT -5 chrom said:

Feb 24, 2022 15:42:15 GMT -5 Starshine said:

It's kind of hard to take attendence numbers in Covid times and attribute them to any one thing. But it also doesn't seem like they've made any serious dent into the market considering they got out sold by All Japan this week, which was built on the Abdullah Kobayashi Triple Crown title match, which isn't exactly heavy hitting competition.

All Japan's also not exactly a barometer of success to compare anyting to right now. They did take a risk eventually putting the belt on Jake Lee, which I don't think was really working out anyway, even excluding the injury which derailed it. But outside of Kento Miyahara, they're roster is lacking in actual star power.

Wasn't there talk of another walkout happening in All Japan?

Voices of Wrestling had a big report on that. Lots of people are unhappy with Tajiri’s booking. It’s been made worse with Naoya Nomura and Koji Iwamoto leaving.

[Mochi Lone Wolf]

For Fujita, it looks like this was the condition that made him sign a full-time deal for NOAH.