chrom
Backup Wench
Master of the rare undecuple post
Posts: 85,432
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Post by chrom on Jun 4, 2024 8:57:00 GMT -5
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Convoy
El Dandy
Rusev admits to being a sex addict to large applause.
Posts: 7,561
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Post by Convoy on Jun 4, 2024 10:52:43 GMT -5
Big news day with the above Dominion card, two title matches for the first day of the SOUL tour on June 16th (Finlay/SANADA for the Global Championship and War Dogs/TMDK for the Jr. Tag Team Championships), plus Tanahashi's 10-Step Program for New Japan. The details of that were previously spoiled on the internet, and I think some of it is fluff under further notice, but as a brief rundown:
1. Talent discovery and development - Mostly about shifting the focus to wrestlers in their 20s. Good news for guys like Callum and Drilla, alongside the obvious names like Umino, Narita, Kidd, Wato, Akira and Fujita. Plus all of the lions on excursion are in their mid-20s. Tsuji is 30, so he better be part of this initiative regardless.
2. Elevating the value of title belts - Admitting there are too many belts, and they are marooning the STRONG titles in American post-Dominion to help this. Also spoke about making the non-STRONG belts clearer in concept and execution. I'll expand on this more below.
3. Reducing/eliminating outside interference - Really just calling out House of Torture here. Blurs the lines of kayfabe, but they equate it to people's overall happiness regarding the world today, and if HoT's antics depress you that much maybe pro wrestling is too much for you.
4. Increasing the prominence and status of NJPW Hontai - Maybe the oddest item Tana is clearly angling for. I'll expand on this below.
5. Strengthening ties with STARDOM - Under the NJPW banner: improved scheduling (needed), occasional match on New Japan shows and another crossover coming.
6. Strengthening ties with AEW - Blah blah blah Kidani talking about car bumpers and basically no change here.
7. Improving the live fan experience - Adjusting pricing, number of ticket tiers available, adding tiers with special bonuses, etc.
8. Improving NJPW World - Self-explanatory, though I have no issues with it via FireStick nor phone, so no complaints from me.
9. Improved treatment of personal information - This was an apology tour for the loss fan club USB and confirmation only names/birthdates were on it.
10. NJPW sponsorships - This was more a calming item regarding the loss of LEC as a long-time sponsor with their new company lead not being a wrestling fan.
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Regarding the title belt concepts, NEVER is back to being the hard-hitting title under Shingo and would continue if HENARE takes it later this week. KOPW becoming the catch-wrestling title with Uemura is a nice switch compared to what the initial version of the TV title was under ZSJ. Not exactly sure what the TV belt will be under Cobb just yet. Global started off feeling like a new US title with foreigner appeal, but we'll see if it morphs into an Intercontinental concept if carried by native talents. I think at a time where this Mox stuff is happening and ticket sales are hurting, it would help having the main secondary on someone more present and notable to fans. Overall, combined with STRONG being non-canon trophies for US shows, there are on a good track.
The Hontai item is... interesting? Tana's quote was basically "A lot of wrestlers wrestle as a Young Lion, go away on excursion, come back in a certain character and choose not to be in Hontai. I want Hontai to be seen as an attractive option." Now historically (let's say mid-90s to now), that has not been a strong facet of wrestling companies in Japan. Native wrestlers forming "invader" groups were typically more popular by default than "home army" guys. Hontai has always been about inclusion for generations of talents, plus a respectfulness that mirrors Japan's laws regarding how younger groups should treat older ones. Rebellious groups grew out of the dynamics at play with what the younger (better paying) demographics truly felt regarding these policies, hence why rudos and tweeners surged in merchandise sales over the years (CHAOS 2.0/LIJ/etc.).
There has been fatigue with the old adage "deru kugi wa utareru" which translates to "a nail that sticks out gets hammered down." Being different culturally is being met by resistance, but on a wider scope, it means to fall in line and not question tradition. That might be fine for someone like Umino, but Tsuji is doing just fine being the current version of himself. Wrestlers need to stand out and carry an edge to better position themselves in the eyes of the company and fans. If Tana wants Hontai to be an attractive option, he needs to let Oiwa and YoungBlood return to a different home army that enables them to be their best versions and not just play nice with the dads. Also, and some might disagree here, but if Umino is really your future ACE then Oiwa can't be standing alongside him constantly. I know people feel a certain way about House of Torture, but Narita needed a change to distance himself from both Umino and Shibata, and putting him in that group granted him a character that he works well at while also giving a wider berth to future returns.
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