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Post by 1 Free Moon-Down with Burger on Jan 6, 2019 17:27:00 GMT -5
Right, if Switchblade is their group ace, they still need someone in the role Sabre, EVIL, and Goto/Ishii do for their respective factions. Fale is good, but he's more of a gimmick guy given his size so BC could use one more legitimate title threat to act as gatekeeper. Though, to be fair, that was an issue for BC even going back a couple of years, so it's consistent, at least. Kind of a shame that Tama just was never able to take that next step (and probably won't ever). It's not for lack of trying. They've been attempting to give him singles pushes for 2 and a half years now and the dude just kinda sucks! It's almost impressive how disappointing he is.
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Post by Allie Kitsune on Jan 6, 2019 17:31:19 GMT -5
Kind of a shame that Tama just was never able to take that next step (and probably won't ever). It's not for lack of trying. They've been attempting to give him singles pushes for 2 and a half years now and the dude just kinda sucks! It's almost impressive how disappointing he is. He's got the sleazebag heel act down pat, he just, I don't know... I'm more forgiving than a lot on in-ring stuff, he's just 'off' somehow.
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Post by Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) on Jan 6, 2019 17:32:56 GMT -5
There's definitely a gap to fill in the IC/US title spot. Fale, Yujiro and Chase definitely aren't good gatekeepers for Jay, so there definitely needs to be a higher heavyweight threat.
Right, if Switchblade is their group ace, they still need someone in the role Sabre, EVIL, and Goto/Ishii do for their respective factions. Fale is good, but he's more of a gimmick guy given his size so BC could use one more legitimate title threat to act as gatekeeper. Though, to be fair, that was an issue for BC even going back a couple of years, so it's consistent, at least. I assume at some point they will bring in a decent name or have someone jump over to BC
Tama/Fale are good for the chemistry but they are tag guys. They are at best at the U.S. level fighting with Juice and being able to cheat to hold the title
I think this could be good someone looking for a chance. I think someone like Beretta could fill in nicely if they let him grow. As far as more established names go like Goto and Ishii I can't see them making that jump and besides that I think if either guy were to go heel they could be more interesting on their own especially Goto as we discussed before
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Post by Allie Kitsune on Jan 6, 2019 17:34:31 GMT -5
Right, if Switchblade is their group ace, they still need someone in the role Sabre, EVIL, and Goto/Ishii do for their respective factions. Fale is good, but he's more of a gimmick guy given his size so BC could use one more legitimate title threat to act as gatekeeper. Though, to be fair, that was an issue for BC even going back a couple of years, so it's consistent, at least. I assume at some point they will bring in a decent name or have someone jump over to BC Tama/Fale are good for the chemistry but they are tag guys. They are at best at the U.S. level fighting with Juice and being able to cheat to hold the title
I think this could be good someone looking for a chance. I think someone like Beretta could fill in nicely if they let him grow. As far as more established names go like Goto and Ishii I can't see them making that jump and besides that I think if either guy were to go heel they could be more interesting on their own especially Goto as we discussed before
I could see Goto with the IC if they went in hard enough on him. I mean, just last year, he believably beat Minoru, and people buy him (Suzuki) at IC level.
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Post by Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) on Jan 6, 2019 17:36:19 GMT -5
I assume at some point they will bring in a decent name or have someone jump over to BC Tama/Fale are good for the chemistry but they are tag guys. They are at best at the U.S. level fighting with Juice and being able to cheat to hold the title
I think this could be good someone looking for a chance. I think someone like Beretta could fill in nicely if they let him grow. As far as more established names go like Goto and Ishii I can't see them making that jump and besides that I think if either guy were to go heel they could be more interesting on their own especially Goto as we discussed before
I could see Goto with the IC if they went in hard enough on him. I mean, just last year, he believably beat Minoru, and people buy him (Suzuki) at IC level. Oh yeah Goto is no doubt an IC contender
I was talking Goto/Ishii being the 2nd to Jay White in the Bullet Club because they are missing that guy who's right below Jay White to make the group credible
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Post by Allie Kitsune on Jan 6, 2019 17:38:54 GMT -5
I could see Goto with the IC if they went in hard enough on him. I mean, just last year, he believably beat Minoru, and people buy him (Suzuki) at IC level. Oh yeah Goto is no doubt an IC contender I was talking Goto/Ishii being the 2nd to Jay White in the Bullet Club because they are missing that guy who's right below Jay White to make the group credible I think short term, you could pull it off by positioning Goto not as Jay's mole, but as someone sick of his lack of advancement and as a "Ronin for Hire" that is acting as Jay's "lieutenant" so to speak under promises from Gedo for more money and more title shots.
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Post by Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) on Jan 6, 2019 17:41:08 GMT -5
Kind of a shame that Tama just was never able to take that next step (and probably won't ever). It's not for lack of trying. They've been attempting to give him singles pushes for 2 and a half years now and the dude just kinda sucks! It's almost impressive how disappointing he is. He has the look, has the charisma, the cool factor, and the in ring is just okay it's just it don't all come together for him when the time comes for him to shine
Just seemed like for almost 2 damn years they were teasing something big with him and 1st year people bought into it but you had the excuse it was too soon. The next year it's like okay he's ok but I can't see him taking that big step up and being a threat but we shall see
They pulled the trigger, gave him the push and he's clearly not that guy. He's a great supporting guy in a group and fills a good role but i'm sure NJPW is very disappointed with how over 2 years of keeping him above level ended up turning out
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Post by Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) on Jan 6, 2019 17:43:09 GMT -5
Oh yeah Goto is no doubt an IC contender I was talking Goto/Ishii being the 2nd to Jay White in the Bullet Club because they are missing that guy who's right below Jay White to make the group credible I think short term, you could pull it off by positioning Goto not as Jay's mole, but as someone sick of his lack of advancement and as a "Ronin for Hire" that is acting as Jay's "lieutenant" so to speak under promises from Gedo for more money and more title shots. I like the Ronin for Hire idea and Gedo making big promises to him
If anything make him like how Jay White was in Chaos, a very tentative member
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Post by Allie Kitsune on Jan 6, 2019 17:45:47 GMT -5
I think short term, you could pull it off by positioning Goto not as Jay's mole, but as someone sick of his lack of advancement and as a "Ronin for Hire" that is acting as Jay's "lieutenant" so to speak under promises from Gedo for more money and more title shots. I like the Ronin for Hire idea and Gedo making big promises to him
If anything make him like how Jay White was in Chaos, a very tentative member
Just seeing the way Goto came out for the 6 Man Gauntlet in a damn hoodie, he looked so much like a guy who is Sick Of This Shit (TM) and would jump at the promise of getting back in the spotlight.
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Post by Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) on Jan 6, 2019 17:52:01 GMT -5
I like the Ronin for Hire idea and Gedo making big promises to him
If anything make him like how Jay White was in Chaos, a very tentative member
Just seeing the way Goto came out for the 6 Man Gauntlet in a damn hoodie, he looked so much like a guy who is Sick Of This Shit (TM) and would jump at the promise of getting back in the spotlight. The Ibushi match showed he can play the pissed off heel well
He has enough motivation as a character to make the change and with his offense he would be such a force in the sense that you knew when you fight people like Shibata and Minoru you may defeat them but you are going to take your lumps and it will be an earned victory
I think with enough motivation and the tweak in his character he can ascend and fit into that place it seemed Shibata was about to be at except while I gave Shibata a slight chance at winning the title at some point, I can't see the same with Goto but IC level is right for him as he no doubt elevated the NEVER title
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Post by Allie Kitsune on Jan 6, 2019 17:56:27 GMT -5
Just seeing the way Goto came out for the 6 Man Gauntlet in a damn hoodie, he looked so much like a guy who is Sick Of This Shit (TM) and would jump at the promise of getting back in the spotlight. The Ibushi match showed he can play the pissed off heel well He has enough motivation as a character to make the change and with his offense he would be such a force in the sense that you knew when you fight people like Shibata and Minoru you may defeat them but you are going to take your lumps and it will be an earned victory
I think with enough motivation and the tweak in his character he can ascend and fit into that place it seemed Shibata was about to be at except while I gave Shibata a slight chance at winning the title at some point, I can't see the same with Goto but IC level is right for him as he no doubt elevated the NEVER title
Switching gears a little bit, Ibushi can be that vicious, sadistic sort of bastard too. I first noticed it in the G1 Final with Tana (especially with Tana selling like death for him), but also in this WK match against Ospreay. There are times when Ibushi flips the switch and is less "Awkward, kinda weird dude who seems a bit shy" and just goes full sadist. You can see him start to get that maniacal grin when he's really laying it in to somebody.
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Post by Some Baritone guy IS REDEEMED! on Jan 6, 2019 20:20:13 GMT -5
Having just watched the New Year's Dash main event, I have to say this was the best straight face heel dynamic I've ever seen in NJPW.
Seriously, the crowd was eating up everything that Yoshi Hashi (of all people) did and especially when he did it to Jay White. It also amazes me how over people's movesets are here. The pops for the Dragon Screws and the reactions for Jay's suplexes were great. The return of Okada's Kip Up DDT was a nice moment that got a great pop. The pop when Tanahashi came out was one of the biggest I've heard in New Japan.
Also the Blade Runner is slowly but surely getting to be one of the most over moves in the company, with the collective gasps of everyone in the crowd whenever it's set up.
I'm still getting used to the generally more subdued crowd reactions in Japanese Pro Wrestling, but I will say that they help put things over as important. I can't wait to see their response when this incarnation of Bullet Club is finally beaten.
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Post by Mozenrath on Jan 6, 2019 20:27:13 GMT -5
Bandido and Jeff Cobb for starters Jeff Cobb? The lower mid carder guy thats done nothing in NJPW. Japanese audiences don’t care about ROH in the slightest. Putting the name on the banner would not be a draw in that market I think NJPW fans probably like Cobb fine, but they'd like him for stuff he's done FOR NJPW. I don't think they'd especially care about his ROH stuff very much. As for the topic of people who could join the Bullet Club and make the group more believable, since honestly right now, they feel like an inferior Suzuki-Gun, Goto would be a fine choice. He's got plenty of reasons to turn on Okada, and few reasons why he'd be terribly loyal.
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Post by Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) on Jan 6, 2019 20:30:42 GMT -5
The Ibushi match showed he can play the pissed off heel well He has enough motivation as a character to make the change and with his offense he would be such a force in the sense that you knew when you fight people like Shibata and Minoru you may defeat them but you are going to take your lumps and it will be an earned victory
I think with enough motivation and the tweak in his character he can ascend and fit into that place it seemed Shibata was about to be at except while I gave Shibata a slight chance at winning the title at some point, I can't see the same with Goto but IC level is right for him as he no doubt elevated the NEVER title
Switching gears a little bit, Ibushi can be that vicious, sadistic sort of bastard too. I first noticed it in the G1 Final with Tana (especially with Tana selling like death for him), but also in this WK match against Ospreay. There are times when Ibushi flips the switch and is less "Awkward, kinda weird dude who seems a bit shy" and just goes full sadist. You can see him start to get that maniacal grin when he's really laying it in to somebody. Ibushi works too well as the fiery babyface tho. His athleticism and obviously looks in general just plays too well with the crowd and when he gets that killer look in the eyes the crowd goes wild
The only way i'd see them doing something more with Ibushi as far as character wise is if he signed a contract because him and Omega are tied at the hip so I feel in that instance they would either have a Sting/Luger situation going if anything.
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Post by chrom on Jan 6, 2019 20:37:46 GMT -5
Cody has said in an interview after WK that his knee is shot
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Post by Mozenrath on Jan 6, 2019 20:41:18 GMT -5
Cody has said in an interview after WK that his knee is shot More or less what I expected, that he was toughing it out to put Juice over and finish up. Juice is fine and all, but he's not the kind of guy who is ever going to elevate a match like that, so that the match wasn't worse is kind of impressive in and of itself.
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Post by Allie Kitsune on Jan 6, 2019 20:41:57 GMT -5
Switching gears a little bit, Ibushi can be that vicious, sadistic sort of bastard too. I first noticed it in the G1 Final with Tana (especially with Tana selling like death for him), but also in this WK match against Ospreay. There are times when Ibushi flips the switch and is less "Awkward, kinda weird dude who seems a bit shy" and just goes full sadist. You can see him start to get that maniacal grin when he's really laying it in to somebody. Ibushi works too well as the fiery babyface tho. His athleticism and obviously looks in general just plays too well with the crowd and when he gets that killer look in the eyes the crowd goes wild The only way i'd see them doing something more with Ibushi as far as character wise is if he signed a contract because him and Omega are tied at the hip so I feel in that instance they would either have a Sting/Luger situation going if anything.
If Ibushi wanted to sign a full-time deal, you hand him the keys to the (Wrestle) Kingdom. He can be the aloof weirdo, he can be the underdog, he can shift gears and be the guy who strikes people into oblivion. I've had some issues in the past with his quiet awkwardness, but he's shown that it masks the vicious killer that he can be. I've only been watching NJPW since last WK, but I think I'm finally starting to understand it, and Ibushi is wide open when it comes to story arcs.
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Post by AwamoriRock on Jan 6, 2019 22:25:26 GMT -5
Well Kushida is leaving at the end of the month.
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Post by EoE: Well There's Your Problem on Jan 6, 2019 22:25:51 GMT -5
Chris Charlton is reporting the following stories...
*Kota Ibushi is off the next tour as he recovers from his concussion *KUSHIDA will be leaving New Japan when his contract finishes on January 31 *Takashi Iizuka of Suzuki-Gun has announced his retirement, with a ceremony scheduled for February 21
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Post by Some Baritone guy IS REDEEMED! on Jan 6, 2019 23:57:18 GMT -5
Chris Charlton is reporting the following stories... *Kota Ibushi is off the next tour as he recovers from his concussion *KUSHIDA will be leaving New Japan when his contract finishes on January 31 *Takashi Iizuka of Suzuki-Gun has announced his retirement, with a ceremony scheduled for February 21 So Kushida probably has his last match on Road to New Beginning, or at New Beginning in the US. They need to do something big for his send off, which kind of leaves a huge hole in the Junior Division, especially with Takahashi hurt. Ospreay seems to still be considered a Junior Heavyweight at least.
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