Allie Kitsune
Crow T. Robot
Always Feelin' Foxy.
HaHa U FaLL 4 LaVa TriK
Posts: 46,978 
|
Post by Allie Kitsune on Feb 11, 2024 19:46:41 GMT -5
I still find it weird when you see the people wringing their hands about Tony Khan poaching Will Ospreay when NJPW actually gave their blessing for him to negotiate with AEW as they're a friendly company.
And Okada is a free agent and was clearly going to either WWE or AEW, with friends and professional relationships in both companies.
If I'm NJPW and I know with complete certainty that a wrestler is going when their contract is up, then I'm absolutely giving them my blessing to talk to AEW. If they sign for AEW, there's a very good chance they'll come back and wrestle for NJPW at some point in their contract. If they sign for WWE, it's very likely they won't. Honestly, I'm kind of surprised that they haven't done a deal to fold what's left of the guys who regularly work the Strong Live shows into ROH. |
|
HIM
Dennis Stamp
Posts: 3,558
|
Post by HIM on Feb 11, 2024 19:48:43 GMT -5
So Okada, what title scene do you think he'll be playing around in during his first year? Think they'll hotshot him to the world title? Think he'll beat OC for his belt? What yall think?
|
|
|
|
Post by Sir Woodrow on Feb 11, 2024 20:04:04 GMT -5
So Okada, what title scene do you think he'll be playing around in during his first year? Think they'll hotshot him to the world title? Think he'll beat OC for his belt? What yall think? Double Or Nothing: Okada vs Eddie Kingston/Bryan Danielson for the Continental Triple Crown |
|
HIM
Dennis Stamp
Posts: 3,558
|
Post by HIM on Feb 11, 2024 20:05:43 GMT -5
So Okada, what title scene do you think he'll be playing around in during his first year? Think they'll hotshot him to the world title? Think he'll beat OC for his belt? What yall think? Double Or Nothing: Okada vs Eddie Kingston/Bryan Danielson for the Continental Triple Crown That's genius yeah let's go this route. Okada walking around with those belts, that money entrance, the fanfare. That just makes sense. |
|
|
|
Post by One of the Cooler, Candid TOKs on Feb 11, 2024 20:14:15 GMT -5
Double Or Nothing: Okada vs Eddie Kingston/Bryan Danielson for the Continental Triple Crown That's genius yeah let's go this route. Okada walking around with those belts, that money entrance, the fanfare. That just makes sense. And it lets him have Okada matches and be a main eventer without disrupting the world title and MJF/Cole stories, which are both main event-level |
|
HIM
Dennis Stamp
Posts: 3,558
|
Post by HIM on Feb 11, 2024 20:26:41 GMT -5
That's genius yeah let's go this route. Okada walking around with those belts, that money entrance, the fanfare. That just makes sense. And it lets him have Okada matches and be a main eventer without disrupting the world title and MJF/Cole stories, which are both main event-level Yeah that's pretty great, I like that. It works out well. |
|
Allie Kitsune
Crow T. Robot
Always Feelin' Foxy.
HaHa U FaLL 4 LaVa TriK
Posts: 46,978
|
Post by Allie Kitsune on Feb 11, 2024 20:37:28 GMT -5
Kind of think that for the first few weeks or so, they'll probably have him with the Best Friends a lot, since they're the AEW branch of CHAOS.
|
|
Dub H
Crow T. Robot
Captain Pixel: the Game Master
I ❤ Aniki
Posts: 48,586
|
Post by Dub H on Feb 11, 2024 20:49:57 GMT -5
Kind of think that for the first few weeks or so, they'll probably have him with the Best Friends a lot, since they're the AEW branch of CHAOS. Oh god, Okada will debut by feuding with The Kingdom? |
|
|
|
Post by polarbearpete on Feb 11, 2024 20:54:54 GMT -5
Kind of think that for the first few weeks or so, they'll probably have him with the Best Friends a lot, since they're the AEW branch of CHAOS. Oh god, Okada will debut by feuding with The Kingdom? Yeah he should not be starting in something like that. Start him straight away with main event programs |
|
mrbananagrabber
King Koopa
Paul Heyman's unofficial joke writer
Posts: 11,905
|
Post by mrbananagrabber on Feb 11, 2024 20:57:25 GMT -5
Kind of think that for the first few weeks or so, they'll probably have him with the Best Friends a lot, since they're the AEW branch of CHAOS. Okada shouldn’t even be mentioned in the same sentence as those goofballs. Come on, now. |
|
HIM
Dennis Stamp
Posts: 3,558
|
Post by HIM on Feb 11, 2024 21:02:43 GMT -5
I mean let's be honest; yeah the Undisputed Kingdom are adjacent to the main event, from a booking standpoint Okada should be dominating over all of those dudes. With 2 of em injured (one being the leader and the other being their enforcer) all you got are the others who Okada is going to embarrass.
That group's already struggling as it is. They can't be facing Okada lol.
|
|
Venti
Unicron
Posts: 3,002
|
Post by Venti on Feb 11, 2024 21:03:10 GMT -5
Damn I was hoping he'd go to WWE. I like Okada but I don't watch AEW
|
|
Dub H
Crow T. Robot
Captain Pixel: the Game Master
I ❤ Aniki
Posts: 48,586
|
Post by Dub H on Feb 11, 2024 21:07:09 GMT -5
I mean let's be honest; yeah the Undisputed Kingdom are adjacent to the main event, from a booking standpoint Okada should be dominating over all of those dudes. With 2 of em injured (one being the leader and the other being their enforcer) all you got are the others who Okada is going to embarrass. That group's already struggling as it is. They can't be facing Okada lol. Wardlow injury likely recovers soon.Thay match would be really cool but not enough to justify it. |
|
|
|
Post by Hypnosis on Feb 11, 2024 21:07:12 GMT -5
Pour one out for all of AEW's shareholders. I tried to pour a White Claw out but Tony popped up out of nowhere and drank it It wasn't Joey Janela? |
|
HIM
Dennis Stamp
Posts: 3,558
|
Post by HIM on Feb 11, 2024 21:23:07 GMT -5
I mean let's be honest; yeah the Undisputed Kingdom are adjacent to the main event, from a booking standpoint Okada should be dominating over all of those dudes. With 2 of em injured (one being the leader and the other being their enforcer) all you got are the others who Okada is going to embarrass. That group's already struggling as it is. They can't be facing Okada lol. Wardlow injury likely recovers soon.Thay match would be really cool but not enough to justify it. I really hope he recovers soon because they need it. I think it would be cool to have Wardlow basically destroying Okada and Okada etching out a victory, I can see that working. I'm just not sure what would happen because you've got 3 other dudes there to help even the odds. That seems like something best saved for when Okada or Cole are world champion and they run into each other. Okada beating Eddie though would be dope. Besides Eddie there's a lot of guys around that level who we'd be having some amazing matches with Okada.
To me that's the most fascinating thing about Okada in AEW. I don't care about company politics and his deal and what it means for what company he's in, I'm here for the matches and how he meshes with the company similarly to how I was when Cody rejoined WWE.
I wanna see all these matches and I also wanna see if he can live up to if not surpass what he was in NJPW. I know it'll be hard but due to how American wrestling is compared to Japanese wrestling, maybe a slightly older Okada can make up the difference with theatrics, grit and storylines.
|
|
|
|
Post by "Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik on Feb 11, 2024 21:28:44 GMT -5
I imagine he'll come in as The Rainmaker and be a big babyface to start but I really hope he takes some creative risks here. He doesn't have to reinvent himself but even the best of the best can become stale and it would be interesting to see him take on a different take of his character stateside.
|
|
|
|
Post by polarbearpete on Feb 11, 2024 21:31:52 GMT -5
I imagine he'll come in as The Rainmaker and be a big babyface to start but I really hope he takes some creative risks here. He doesn't have to reinvent himself but even the best of the best can become stale and it would be interesting to see him take on a different take of his character stateside. Needs to involve balloons. |
|
Allie Kitsune
Crow T. Robot
Always Feelin' Foxy.
HaHa U FaLL 4 LaVa TriK
Posts: 46,978
|
Post by Allie Kitsune on Feb 11, 2024 21:54:30 GMT -5
Wardlow injury likely recovers soon.Thay match would be really cool but not enough to justify it. I really hope he recovers soon because they need it. I think it would be cool to have Wardlow basically destroying Okada and Okada etching out a victory, I can see that working. I'm just not sure what would happen because you've got 3 other dudes there to help even the odds. That seems like something best saved for when Okada or Cole are world champion and they run into each other. Okada beating Eddie though would be dope. Besides Eddie there's a lot of guys around that level who we'd be having some amazing matches with Okada.
To me that's the most fascinating thing about Okada in AEW. I don't care about company politics and his deal and what it means for what company he's in, I'm here for the matches and how he meshes with the company similarly to how I was when Cody rejoined WWE.
I wanna see all these matches and I also wanna see if he can live up to if not surpass what he was in NJPW. I know it'll be hard but due to how American wrestling is compared to Japanese wrestling, maybe a slightly older Okada can make up the difference with theatrics, grit and storylines.
Minoru Suzuki makes it work in his 50s with 90% of his offense being slaps to the face. Okada in his late 30s will find a way to make things work. |
|
HIM
Dennis Stamp
Posts: 3,558
|
Post by HIM on Feb 11, 2024 22:01:06 GMT -5
I really hope he recovers soon because they need it. I think it would be cool to have Wardlow basically destroying Okada and Okada etching out a victory, I can see that working. I'm just not sure what would happen because you've got 3 other dudes there to help even the odds. That seems like something best saved for when Okada or Cole are world champion and they run into each other. Okada beating Eddie though would be dope. Besides Eddie there's a lot of guys around that level who we'd be having some amazing matches with Okada.
To me that's the most fascinating thing about Okada in AEW. I don't care about company politics and his deal and what it means for what company he's in, I'm here for the matches and how he meshes with the company similarly to how I was when Cody rejoined WWE.
I wanna see all these matches and I also wanna see if he can live up to if not surpass what he was in NJPW. I know it'll be hard but due to how American wrestling is compared to Japanese wrestling, maybe a slightly older Okada can make up the difference with theatrics, grit and storylines.
Minoru Suzuki makes it work in his 50s with 90% of his offense being slaps to the face. Okada in his late 30s will find a way to make things work. Amazing example. Tons of people didn't know who he was until he showed up and it only took one match for new fans to love him. |
|
|
|
Post by Hypnosis on Feb 11, 2024 22:14:11 GMT -5
AEW is probably the right move, but I almost did want Okada to go fishing with Bron Breakker:  |
|
