Post by xxxtreme on Jan 21, 2007 15:11:50 GMT -5
'The "Golden Team" of last year's G1 Tag League will collide in the main event of New Japan's 2/18 super-show at Sumo Hall, and challenger Koji Kanemoto spoke his mind while at a Toukon SHOP event today in Suidobashi, for which around 200 fans showed up. Kanemoto said he regards Tanahashi as the best pro wrestler in New Japan now, so therefore he wants to defeat that man. Kanemoto said if he had been offered this match, which goes against his main pledge to concentrate on being a junior for his entire career, against any other opponent, he may have refused. When asked about Tanahashi's comment on gaining weight to show Kanemoto the "dreadfulness of heavyweight wrestling", Kanemoto laughed it off, saying Tanahashi isn't stupid and won't add weight. He's sure Tanahashi will wrestle at the same weight he is now. Aniki said that he has been wrestling for 17-18 years now and knows how to defend himself perfectly in the ring, and that is one thing he will use against Tanahashi - that ability, and his superior experience in general. Kanemoto continued to praise his opponent and friend, saying he is a perfect wrestler with no weak points. Kanemoto said he could attack a body part, but to beat Tanahashi he thinks he will have to take him apart - face, neck, arms, legs. Kanemoto said he would win the match with the "power of juniors" and brought up last year's G1, when he dropped Makabe with a Falcon Arrow and pinned him 1-2-3, no cradles or flash submissions needed. He warned Tanahashi, "Don't make the same errors as Makabe".
The juniors may be planning an all-out assault on the heavyweight division this year. The symbol of all junior heavyweights, Jushin Thunder Liger, told Tokyo Sports about a New Year oath that will see him go after both the IWGP Heavyweight Title and IWGP Tag Team Title. Of course, he is also looking to return to the top of the junior division and believes 2007 could be his comeback year after some quiet years except for 2004, when he held the GHC Jr. Heavyweight Title (his only singles reign since his last IWGP Jr. stint ended in July '00). Regarding a possible advance on the tag belts, Liger has a team with his friend Chono in mind, the two New Japan legends likely to present a difficult challenge to anyone. And then there is Gedo, who is looking to add the IWGP Tag Team Title to the IWGP Jr. Tag and IJ Tag titles currently held by he and Jado. Since Gedo is a self-professed "super tag wrestler", he believes he could aim for the heavyweight belts with or without Jado.
Nagata's target in contract talks has become clear - to pressure the company into booking Kurt Angle's New Japan debut match his way. Nagata is targeting a tag match with Angle not as his opponent, but as his partner. Nagata, who sees Nakamura & Bernard as perfect opponents for them, envisions he and Angle using an ankle lock/Nagata Lock II combination on an opponent, a union technique that would torture the top and bottom of the victim's body.
18th generation IWGP Tag Team Champion, "Crusher" Bam Bam Bigelow, passed away recently at the age of 45. Bam Bam was a top foreign figure in New Japan and was in fact the first man to ever challenge for the (recorded) IWGP Heavyweight Title, Inoki's first opponent in August '87. Bigelow is famous among New Japan fans for his monster team with Big Van Vader, which wreaked havoc on the New Japan mat in 1992, leading them to tag gold. Bigelow almost returned to New Japan for the G1 World tournament in 2001, but because his contract with WCW hadn't expired, he declined to enter it in the end and was replaced by Giant Silva. Bigelow was surely one of the most agile and talented super-heavyweights in pro wrestling history, and despite his inactivity in recent years, will be missed by many fans both of New Japan and of pro wrestling in general."
The juniors may be planning an all-out assault on the heavyweight division this year. The symbol of all junior heavyweights, Jushin Thunder Liger, told Tokyo Sports about a New Year oath that will see him go after both the IWGP Heavyweight Title and IWGP Tag Team Title. Of course, he is also looking to return to the top of the junior division and believes 2007 could be his comeback year after some quiet years except for 2004, when he held the GHC Jr. Heavyweight Title (his only singles reign since his last IWGP Jr. stint ended in July '00). Regarding a possible advance on the tag belts, Liger has a team with his friend Chono in mind, the two New Japan legends likely to present a difficult challenge to anyone. And then there is Gedo, who is looking to add the IWGP Tag Team Title to the IWGP Jr. Tag and IJ Tag titles currently held by he and Jado. Since Gedo is a self-professed "super tag wrestler", he believes he could aim for the heavyweight belts with or without Jado.
Nagata's target in contract talks has become clear - to pressure the company into booking Kurt Angle's New Japan debut match his way. Nagata is targeting a tag match with Angle not as his opponent, but as his partner. Nagata, who sees Nakamura & Bernard as perfect opponents for them, envisions he and Angle using an ankle lock/Nagata Lock II combination on an opponent, a union technique that would torture the top and bottom of the victim's body.
18th generation IWGP Tag Team Champion, "Crusher" Bam Bam Bigelow, passed away recently at the age of 45. Bam Bam was a top foreign figure in New Japan and was in fact the first man to ever challenge for the (recorded) IWGP Heavyweight Title, Inoki's first opponent in August '87. Bigelow is famous among New Japan fans for his monster team with Big Van Vader, which wreaked havoc on the New Japan mat in 1992, leading them to tag gold. Bigelow almost returned to New Japan for the G1 World tournament in 2001, but because his contract with WCW hadn't expired, he declined to enter it in the end and was replaced by Giant Silva. Bigelow was surely one of the most agile and talented super-heavyweights in pro wrestling history, and despite his inactivity in recent years, will be missed by many fans both of New Japan and of pro wrestling in general."
