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Post by Some Baritone guy IS REDEEMED! on Jan 19, 2024 21:06:52 GMT -5
In fairness most reports say Okada was getting unhappy with the company's management and was looking to leave anyway. Ibushi was a similar set of circumstances to Okada. NJPW's not really the hot property it was 5-6 years ago to be honest. There was a time when it was THE alternative. Nowadays it's still firmly the #3 company in the world but not a lot of people have a lot of interest in going there anymore.
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Mozenrath
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Post by Mozenrath on Jan 19, 2024 21:11:51 GMT -5
I think as much an issue as anything else is that Okada's done most everything he could do in the company. If he goes to the US and it doesn't work out for any reason, he could come back in 3 or so years and probably feel pretty fresh again, but he's got limited options within NJPW and all the other Japanese companies would be a drop in money and audience and only partially address the issue.
It's kind of like how Hulk Hogan left the WWF. If issues had not come up between him and Vince, I feel like issues would have manifested all the same when you have a company that has the same guy on top for long enough to where he largely exhausts anything to do, and moving him down the card to try to freshen him is asking them to have a lot of faith that you'll bring them back up again.
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chrom
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Post by chrom on Jan 20, 2024 5:50:46 GMT -5
O-Khan won the KOPW
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Post by chrom on Jan 20, 2024 5:56:28 GMT -5
Guerillas of Destiny retained the Strong Tag
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Post by chrom on Jan 20, 2024 6:09:33 GMT -5
Okada waved goodbye to the fans after his match
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Post by chrom on Jan 20, 2024 6:32:11 GMT -5
We went from Shingo to this?
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Post by chrom on Jan 20, 2024 7:52:27 GMT -5
O-Khan vowed he would make The KOPW a honorable prize to be held
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Post by ace on Jan 20, 2024 11:45:41 GMT -5
O-Khan vowed he would make The KOPW a honorable prize to be held Fans remember to vote on whether you want it to be an honorable prize or hung from a pole while the two combatants wrestle in a mud pen.
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Post by chrom on Jan 20, 2024 11:48:24 GMT -5
Tama Tonga did his farewell promo after the match
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Post by chrom on Jan 20, 2024 14:37:45 GMT -5
With their victory, Hikuleo and ELP hold the record for most Strong Tag defenses
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Post by Convoy on Jan 20, 2024 15:32:13 GMT -5
I’ve defended a lot of things in New Japan over the years, but I can’t say anything positive about that tag title match. All four guys were terrible, to the point that KENTA in 2024 had the best overall showing among them. Once it was over, the realization set in that they are going to run it back and I shuddered.
The KOPW ending was silly, but the crowd were at least really into the match, so I’ll cut it some slack.
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chrom
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Post by chrom on Jan 20, 2024 18:48:00 GMT -5
The KOPW was quite a mess, apparently because O-Khan fell on the belt as the timer ended, that meant he was the champion because he had possession of it. The commentators were confused as to what was going on
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Post by chrom on Jan 20, 2024 22:01:46 GMT -5
Minoru Suzuki will face Adam Copeland in a first ever match on Dynamite
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Post by chrom on Jan 21, 2024 17:04:37 GMT -5
I guess with the departures of Ospreay and Okada, the current Ace right now is Sabre
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Post by chrom on Jan 21, 2024 23:01:52 GMT -5
Suzuki will be competing at MLW's show on the 29th next month
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Post by chrom on Jan 22, 2024 12:12:01 GMT -5
Tomorrow's show is free to watch
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Post by chrom on Jan 22, 2024 14:02:45 GMT -5
Naito announced he had to get six stitches on his eye after WK18
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Post by Convoy on Jan 22, 2024 23:45:48 GMT -5
Shoutout to Umino. I’ve been critical of him since he returned to New Japan, but he made some great points in response to Naito’s interview from yesterday. Namely that, while Naito says Umino is just imitating rather than making his own way, Umino brought up that Naito’s whole schtick is taken from the original Los Ingobernables. He also says Destino is just a stolen Ultimo Dragon move, which I don’t think is correct, but maybe I just haven’t see every form of the Asai DDT.
That being said, Naito’s character evolved past just the poses and general “Tranquilo” attitude to be something special. A guy rejected in his original Stardust Genius form after being positioned and genuinely loved. A guy who had to obtain a belt he hated more than anything in the world as a path way to becoming world champion again. A guy who went on a decade-long odyssey to find himself and complete a goal. Umino shouldn’t need to take that long to become his best self, but he does need to be his own man if he truly wants to be the top guy he imagines himself to be. The company needs him to be that guy sooner rather than later.
…or just let Tsuji be that guy. Yeah nevermind it should be Tsuji.
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Post by ANuclearError on Jan 23, 2024 2:56:12 GMT -5
I do think that they need to run Moxley Vs Shota at some point this year, I think it's the best way to have him evolve, even if he doesn't actually win the match.
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Post by chrom on Jan 23, 2024 4:59:46 GMT -5
Master Wato is needing surgery as he had injured his knee
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