|
Post by Baldobomb-22-OH-MAN!!! on Dec 5, 2023 7:31:47 GMT -5
to be fair to TNA this was well before he was the Rainmaker, and hadn't quite figured out the character work aspect. That said there is no way in hell the best thing they could come up with is a Green Hornet gimmick... There were rumours that NJPW knew that Okada would be booked like that by TNA, and they sent him to teach him humility before his push to the top. Another rumour is that Okada was another dude that played Suicide. They DID send him there expecting him to be a lower carder/jobber. It was meant to be a learning experience. What they DIDN'T expect was Vince Russo giving him an incredibly racist gimmick. It actually ruined their working relationship for years.
|
|
|
Post by Final Countdown Jones on Dec 5, 2023 7:41:12 GMT -5
The one thing I'll give TNA's horrific misuse of Okada and them going above and beyond anything imaginable to shit the bed with him, is that by doing it and making New Japan rush to bring him back early, they were able to pull off the single greatest plot twist in wrestling history with his early return looking like an unconfident schlub whose shorts didn't even fit properly right up until he killed Hiroshi Tanahashi. That was easily Gedo's greatest idea
|
|
|
Post by ANuclearError on Dec 5, 2023 8:51:56 GMT -5
The one thing I'll give TNA's horrific misuse of Okada and them going above and beyond anything imaginable to shit the bed with him, is that by doing it and making New Japan rush to bring him back early, they were able to pull off the single greatest plot twist in wrestling history with his early return looking like an unconfident schlub whose shorts didn't even fit properly right up until he killed Hiroshi Tanahashi. That was easily Gedo's greatest idea Not to mention it allowed Okada to strike up a friendship with a certain tag team called Generation Me.
|
|
|
Post by Alice Syndrome on Dec 5, 2023 9:04:05 GMT -5
The one thing I'll give TNA's horrific misuse of Okada and them going above and beyond anything imaginable to shit the bed with him, is that by doing it and making New Japan rush to bring him back early, they were able to pull off the single greatest plot twist in wrestling history with his early return looking like an unconfident schlub whose shorts didn't even fit properly right up until he killed Hiroshi Tanahashi. That was easily Gedo's greatest idea Yeah, once he god shot of the stupid Okato gimmick he was just in some baggy Muta looking pants being absolutely mediocre for the rest of his run. I think the only difference between that version of him and the buttcheeks version of him from his first match back with Yoshi-Hashi was his hair colour
|
|
|
Post by Final Countdown Jones on Dec 5, 2023 12:39:27 GMT -5
The one thing I'll give TNA's horrific misuse of Okada and them going above and beyond anything imaginable to shit the bed with him, is that by doing it and making New Japan rush to bring him back early, they were able to pull off the single greatest plot twist in wrestling history with his early return looking like an unconfident schlub whose shorts didn't even fit properly right up until he killed Hiroshi Tanahashi. That was easily Gedo's greatest idea Not to mention it allowed Okada to strike up a friendship with a certain tag team called Generation Me. The impact that a mundane excursion of a New Japan guy into 2010 TNA where Russo gave him a Kato gimmick had on the course of the wrestling industry as a whole is unreal. It wasn't even a high profile bad storyline it was just shit everyone wrote off as dumb and move on from, and yet it brought with it far-reaching consequences far beyond some of the most famous bad wrestling storylines of all time.
|
|
Mecca
Wade Wilson
Posts: 25,185
|
Post by Mecca on Dec 5, 2023 12:44:29 GMT -5
If Okada really jumps I would assume AEW has the advantage for a couple of reasons, Tony Kahn is going to pony up whatever he wants just like with Ospreay and he would still be able to work NJPW and it would be a lot easier for his family to live in Japan.
|
|
The Kevstaaa
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Sigs/Avatars cannot exceed 1MB
Posts: 18,492
|
Post by The Kevstaaa on Dec 5, 2023 16:10:08 GMT -5
I can see this just being him using it for leverage. I can't imagine he leaves New Japan (the entire company has been booked around him for the past decade at the expense of many others) unless he's really looking to slow down/take it easy.
|
|
Legion
Fry's dog Seymour
Amy Pond's #1 fan
Hail Hydra!
Posts: 23,407
|
Post by Legion on Dec 5, 2023 16:23:12 GMT -5
I dont know who this is, but I really like that belt design in the OP pic
|
|
Kalmia
King Koopa
Happy to be here
Posts: 12,525
|
Post by Kalmia on Dec 5, 2023 16:25:43 GMT -5
Wherever he goes, they need to let him still do his thing outside of the ring.
|
|
|
Post by EoE: Well There's Your Problem on Dec 5, 2023 16:43:55 GMT -5
I’d be very surprised if he’s not already just about in the bag for AEW, if he is indeed going to leave New Japan.
|
|
|
Post by xxshoyuweeniexx on Dec 5, 2023 16:50:12 GMT -5
Not to mention it allowed Okada to strike up a friendship with a certain tag team called Generation Me. The impact that a mundane excursion of a New Japan guy into 2010 TNA where Russo gave him a Kato gimmick had on the course of the wrestling industry as a whole is unreal. It wasn't even a high profile bad storyline it was just shit everyone wrote off as dumb and move on from, and yet it brought with it far-reaching consequences far beyond some of the most famous bad wrestling storylines of all time. So what you’re saying Vince Russo saved professional wrestling. Truly, we’ve been swerved.
|
|
|
Post by bearned on Dec 5, 2023 17:09:55 GMT -5
I’d be very surprised if he’s not already just about in the bag for AEW, if he is indeed going to leave New Japan. I doubt very much that the sort of deal WWE would need to come up with to get him (lots of money, stays based in Japan, probably wants to do his own thing in terms of schedule) is in any way attractive to WWE. He’s one of the best but he’s not like a Brock/Cena/Rock level player (at least in WWE terms) There is the fact they would be poaching him from AEW, which I guess could be appealing to some…
|
|
|
Post by King Devitt and the Woke Mob on Dec 5, 2023 19:41:14 GMT -5
I can see this just being him using it for leverage. I can't imagine he leaves New Japan (the entire company has been booked around him for the past decade at the expense of many others) unless he's really looking to slow down/take it easy. Yeah I'm getting big "Randy Orton pointing at an elite sign" vibes.
|
|
|
Post by polarbearpete on Dec 19, 2023 9:47:25 GMT -5
I’m probably looking too much into it (a la the Punk teases), but Gunther used the Rainmaker in the final sequence of his match last night. Cole then said who in the WWE or who on the planet can end the reign (emphasis on reign) of Gunther.
Would be a pretty great debut for Okada to beat Gunther at Mania in what would likely be an amazing match.
|
|
|
Post by ejm olmos on Dec 19, 2023 14:47:26 GMT -5
I’m probably looking too much into it (a la the Punk teases), but Gunther used the Rainmaker in the final sequence of his match last night. Cole then said who in the WWE or who on the planet can end the reign (emphasis on reign) of Gunther. Would be a pretty great debut for Okada to beat Gunther at Mania in what would likely be an amazing match. God damn now I want to see this. That would be an absolute belter of a match.
|
|
|
Post by callmekc on Dec 19, 2023 17:21:44 GMT -5
I’m probably looking too much into it (a la the Punk teases), but Gunther used the Rainmaker in the final sequence of his match last night. Cole then said who in the WWE or who on the planet can end the reign (emphasis on reign) of Gunther. Would be a pretty great debut for Okada to beat Gunther at Mania in what would likely be an amazing match. God damn now I want to see this. That would be an absolute belter of a match. From Rainmaker to Reign breaker. Take the title from Gunther and then... Vacate it. He isn't in it for the gold. He isn't in it for the glory or the money. He wants to take what you love. He is the best in the world. No need for belts, just a beaten foe. Have him beat Gunther, Reigns (assuming he's lost his belt), Punk and Orton as his only televised matches in 2024 and then give him a run in the Rumble in 2025 for a feature 'Mania programme with whoever dumped him over the top rope.
|
|
Mecca
Wade Wilson
Posts: 25,185
|
Post by Mecca on Dec 19, 2023 22:13:03 GMT -5
They can allude all they want unless they are going to pay more money and give all the schedule breaks AEW has a clear advantage in those negotiations.
|
|
|
Post by The Rick Jericho on Dec 19, 2023 22:34:39 GMT -5
I’m probably looking too much into it (a la the Punk teases), but Gunther used the Rainmaker in the final sequence of his match last night. Cole then said who in the WWE or who on the planet can end the reign (emphasis on reign) of Gunther. Would be a pretty great debut for Okada to beat Gunther at Mania in what would likely be an amazing match. OKADA vs. GUNTHER would break the internet. I'm all here for it at Wrestlemania 40.
|
|
Fade
Patti Mayonnaise
Posts: 38,494
|
Post by Fade on Dec 19, 2023 22:41:08 GMT -5
I’m all for dudes like the elite and Okada going to wwe cause it feels like a real “jump”. Like Cody. But I can’t blame guys like Ospreay and Okada going for the “safer” option. Still…
|
|
|
Post by "Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay on Dec 20, 2023 10:45:43 GMT -5
Wherever he goes, they need to let him still do his thing outside of the ring. *heavy breathing gif* I’m all for dudes like the elite and Okada going to wwe cause it feels like a real “jump”. Like Cody. But I can’t blame guys like Ospreay and Okada going for the “safer” option. Still… 'I think 25 minutes is a lot of chinlocks even for me'
|
|