Essential Japanese Wrestling Discussion/News

[SirReginald]

Yeah true but idk if they can keep that interest. Even before Arai offed himself the sole reason that promotion stood is because Hayabusa hadnt left. Then they stuck him with the H gimmick turned him back and then he was going to leave to All Japan to bolster the Jr Division. FMW was doomed either way. Onita can only take them so far

I think someone else owns it. However, I hope they focus on building new stars. They could be a good indy.

 

[JohnB]

They both need each other financially speaking. Should be interesting.

 

[SirReginald]

They both need each other financially speaking. Should be interesting.

What does this mean

 

[The Rainmaker]

Tonight is Dragon Gate Dead or Alive, with the multi-man, fukkery-filled capture the flag cage match

I'll try to make an effort to stay awake and see it, because recent DG shows availability has been minimal

 

[3Rivers]

They both need each other financially speaking. Should be interesting.

Reading around the net does this mean AJPW, W-1 and BJW are doing business together?

 

[Jmare007]

Reading around the net does this mean AJPW, W-1 and BJW are doing business together?

They kinda have been doing business for a while now tbh.

That handshake was more of a way to build the "big" Yokohama show W-1 is running in August.

 

[Jmare007]

Forgot to post this....the final results for the "Greatest Wrestler Ever" project were revealed in Saturday, this were the top 100:

@Honga Ciganesta @Hoss @Don Rhymus @Beautiful Bobby Eatin @TrueEpic08 @The Rainmaker

100) Daisuke Ikeda (2251 points, 45 ballots, 50.98 avg, high: 11 - Microstatistics, 2006: 245)

99) Virus (2255 points, 44 ballots, 49.75 avg, high: 10 - Matt D, 2006: 364)

98) Kerry Von Erich (2274 points, 69 ballots, 68.04 avg, high: 21 - Chris Powell, 2006: 233)

97) The Destroyer (2276 points, 45 ballots, 50.42 avg, high: 20 - Yo-Yo's Roomie & Tim Cooke, 2006: 25)

96) L.A. Park (2358 points, 72 ballots, 68.36 avg, high: 4 - Dean Rasmussen, 2006: 125)

95) Sangre Chicana (2400 points, 46 ballots, 48.84 avg, high: 9 - stunning_grover, 2006: 194)

94) Shinsuke Nakamura (2424 points, 64 ballots, 63.13 avg, high: 14 - BackToBionic, 2006: unranked)

93) Bob Backlund (2495 points, 57 ballots, 57.40 avg, high: 5 - Scott Bernard, 2006: 76)

92) Dusty Rhodes (2503 points, 62 ballots, 60.66 avg, high: 7 - Kelly Nelson, 2006: 110)

91) Too Cold Scorpio (2521 points, 74 ballots, 67.27 avg, high: 1 - Mando>Eddie, 2006: 145)

90) Ron Garvin (2541 points, 73 ballots, 66.19 avg, high: 28: El Boricua, 2006: 237)

89) Atsushi Onita (2551 points, 65 ballots, 61.78 avg, high: 7 - anonymous, 2006: 129)

88) Sami Zayn (2600 points, 66 ballots, 61.62 avg, high: 8 - Mrzfn, 2006: unranked)

87) Cesaro (2603 points, 69 ballots, 63.28 avg, high: 14 - Mrzfn, 2006: unranked)

86) Hiroshi Tanahashi (2637 points, 51 ballots, 49.53 avg, high: 5 - shyttyLittleBoots & Lauren McKell, 2006: 370)

85) Manami Toyota (2684 points, 52 ballots, 50.10 avg, high: 1 - The Great Puma, 2006: 29)

84) The Undertaker (2776 points, 59 ballots, 53.95 avg, high: 14 - Trent Williams, 2006: 132)

83) Roddy Piper (2786 points, 67 ballots, 59.84 avg, high: 3 - John Steffy, 2006: 153)

82) Steve Williams (2807 points, 79 ballots, 65.47 avg, high: 17 - The Great Puma, 2006: 52)

81) Yoshihiro Tajiri (2813 points, 80 ballots, 65.84 avg, high: 15 - El Dragon, 2006: 294)

80) Tito Santana (2945 points, 74 ballots, 61.20 avg, high: 14 - Coffey, 2006: 208)

79) Terry Gordy (2945 points, 66 ballots, 56.14 avg, high: 8 - Lisa Lewis, 2006: 47)

78) Dynamite Kid (3037 points, 64 ballots, 54.19 avg, high: 2 - ChuckScumm, 2006: 14)

77) Rick Rude (3072 points, 83 ballots, 64.00 avg, high: 8 - Andrew Lacelle, 2006: 85)

76) Hiroshi Hase (3109 points, 73 ballots, 58.41 avg, high: 10 - anarchistxx, 2006: 33)

75) Hulk Hogan (3155 points, 78 ballots, 60.65 avg, high: 6 - Chris Powell, 2006: 86)

74) Atlantis (3197 points, 68 ballots, 54.04 avg, high: 6 - Frankensteiner, 2006: 94)

73) Chris Jericho (3220 points, 71 ballots, 55.65 avg, high: 16 - BlackToBionic, 2006: 84)

72) Brian Pillman (3275 points, 86 ballots, 63.06 avg, high: 3 - Mando>Eddie, 2006: 88)

71) dikk Togo (3280 points, 66 ballots, 51.30 avg, high: 12 - stunning_grover, 2006: 98)

70) Yuki Ishikawa (3287 points, 54 ballots, 40.22 avg, high: 6 - A Stock, 2006: 174)

69) Blue Panther (3397 points, 65 ballots, 48.77 avg, high: 7 - anonymous, 2006: 32)

68) Kurt Angle (3398 points, 64 ballots, 48.36 avg, high: 3 - Derek C & BackToBionic, 2006: 80)

67) Jack Brisco (3431 points, 65 ballots, 48.28 avg, high: 6 - John Steffy, 2006: 48)

66) Keiji Mutoh (3535 points, 74 ballots, 53.31 avg, high: 5 - Chris Powell, 2006: 53)

65) Shinjiro Ohtani (3616 points, 80 ballots, 55.80 avg, high: 21 - GOTNW & anonymous, 2006: 27)

64) Sgt. Slaughter (3768 points, 87 ballots, 57.69 avg, high: 14 - Kelly Nelson, 2006: 99)

63) Giant Baba (3768 points, 80 ballots, 54.10 avg, high: 2 - jackwebb, 2006: 30)

62) Kiyoshi Tamura (3880 points, 55 ballots, 31.11 avg, high: 2 - anonymous, 2006: 63)

61) Bull Nakano (3902 points, 72 ballots, 46.81 avg, high: 9 - Bill Thompson, 2006: 43)

60) Volk Han (3913 points, 68 ballots, 44.60 avg, high: 1 - Frankensteiner & anonymous, 2006: 42)

59) Samoa Joe (4098 points, 103 ballots, 61.21 avg, high: 18 - Woof & mprice, 2006: 116)

58) Owen Hart (4103 points, 94 ballots, 57.35 avg, high: 10 - Mando>Eddie & Scarlet-Left, 2006: 37)

57) Bill Dundee (4215 points, 87 ballots, 52.55 avg, high: 11 - Parties, 2006: 136)

56) Jim Breaks (4338 points, 67 ballots, 36.28 avg, high: 7 - Matt D, 2006: 115)

55) Curt Hennig (4624 points, 100 ballots, 55.05 avg, high: 1 - Lisa Lewis, 2006: 45)

54) Greg Valentine (4691 points, 99 ballots, 53.62 avg, high: 13 - Dean Rasmussen, 2006: 170)

53) dikk Murdoch (4799 points, 92 ballots, 49.03 avg, high: 3 - Dean Rasmussen, 2006: 51)

52) Akira Hokuto (4850 points, 76 ballots, 37.45 avg, high: 3 - Badlittlekitten, 2006: 15)

51) Andre The Giant (4971 points, 105 ballots, 53.81 avg, high: 5 - Mando>Eddie, 2006: 164)

50) Billy Robinson (5066 points, 91 ballots, 45.37 avg, high: 6 - Rob AnimalGlue, 2006: 36)

49) Aja Kong (4085 points, 83 ballots, 39.89 avg, high: 3 - anarchistxx, 2006: 18)

48) Fit Finlay (5216 points, 101 ballots, 49.30 avg, high: 6 - El Dragon, 2006: 55)

47) Brock Lesnar (5265 points, 110 ballots, 53.32 avg, high: 2 - Scott Bernard, 2006: 143)

46) CM Punk (5334 points, 105 ballots, 50.22 avg, high: 7 - jpchicago23, 2006: 425)

45) Harley Race (5374 points, 93 ballots, 43.78 avg, high: 1 - Manatee, 2006: 12)

44) Tully Blanchard (5610 points, 109 ballots, 49.64 avg, high: 3 - Scarlet-Left, 2006: 57)

43) Rick Martel (5636 points, 104 ballots, 46.82 avg, high: 8 - anonymous, 2006: 96)

42) Ted DiBiase (5637 points, 110 ballots, 49.77 avg, high: 7 - anonymous, 2006: 40)

41) Riki Choshu (5647 points, 97 ballots, 42.79 avg, high: 8 - GOTNW, 2006: 100)

40) Yoshiaki Fujiawara (5647 points, 81 ballots, 32.64 avg, high: 1 - A Stock, 2006: 119)

39) AJ Styles (5759 points, 109 ballots, 48.20 avg, high: 6 - Hasan Mulla, 2006: 301)

38) Mick Foley (6003 points, 121 ballots, 51.44 avg, high: 5 - Beast, 2006: 70)

37) El Satanico (6041 points, 83 ballots, 29.73 avg, high: 2 - Elliot, A Stock & Micostatistics, 2006: 89)

36) Buddy Rose (6142 points, 92 ballots, 34.66 avg, high: 2 - Devon Hales, 2006: 239)

35) El Dandy (6368 points, 96 ballots, 34.70 avg, high: 7 - Tim Evans, 2006: 67)

34) Chris Benoit (6396 points, 93 ballots, 32.88 avg, high: 2 - anarchistxx & Mrzfn, 2006: 3)

33) Ricky Morton (6613 points, 116 ballots, 43.99 avg, high: 13 - anonymous, 2006: 75)

32) Dustin Rhodes (6861 points, 124 ballots, 45.69 avg, high: 7 - jackwebb, 2006: 137)

31) Shawn Michaels (7187 points, 111 ballots, 38.11 avg, high: 1 - Jimmy Redman & ElHijodeGorgeousGeorge)

30) John Cena (7502 points, 126 ballots, 41.70 avg, high: 3 – James Derbyshire, 2006: unranked)

29) El Hijo del Santo (7579 points, 95 ballots, 22.52 avg, high: 1 – Jetlag, 2006: 20)

28) Bobby Eaton (7630 points, 128 ballots, 41.39 avg, high: 13 – Matt D & anonymous, 2006: 49)

27) Jun Akiyama (7686 points, 114 ballots, 33.97 avg, high: 3 – Tanner Teat & Alan Counihan, 2006: 50)

26) Akira Taue (7850 points, 121 ballots, 36.16 avg, high: 6 – Ismael Retena, 2006: 26)

25) Barry Windham (7987 points, 130 ballots, 39.56 avg, high: 10 – John Steffy, 2006: 28)

24) Steve Austin (9001 points, 139 ballots, 37.02 avg, high: 1 – DMJ, 2006: 16)

23) Shinya Hashimoto (9107 points, 119 ballots, 25.45 avg, high: 1 – GOTNW, 2006: 24)

22) Negro Casas (9251 points, 108 ballots, 19.03 avg, high: 1 – JR Goldman, tim, cubbtmark & Sam DiMascio, 2006: 38)

21) William Regal (9422 points, 138 ballots, 33.01 avg, high: 2 – Phil Rippa, 2006: 54)

20) Tatsumi Fujinami (9429 points, 124 ballots, 25.94 avg, high: 2 – Kris Zellner, 2006: 58)

19) Arn Anderson (9443 points, 144 ballots, 35.49 avg, high: 5 – Lisa Lewis, 2006: 34)

18) Randy Savage (10548 points, 138 ballots, 26.46 avg, high: 1 – Goodear, Chris Powell, Scott Bernard & Kelly Nelson)

17) Bret Hart (10757 points, 138 ballots, 26.14 avg, high: 1 – Andrew Lacelle, NoyJayTabb, Scalret-Left, Beast, BAMbtb, Hasan Mulla, jpchicago23, The Chief & anonymous; 2006: 9)

16) Nick Bockwinkel (10799 points, 132 ballots, 21.41 avg, high: 1 – Matt D & Lee Casebolt)

15) Ricky Steamboat (11050 points, 144 ballots, 24.64 avg, high: 2 – Derel C, 2006: 13)

14) Vader (11140 points, 148 ballots, 26.24 avg, high: 2 – anonymous, 2006: 17)

13) Genichiro Tenryu (11318 points, 131 ballots, 17.51 avg, high: 1 – Tanner Teat, Dean Rasmussen, djhaigh, Microstatistics & anonymous)

12) Eddie Guerrero (11369 points, 146 ballots, 24.16 avg, high: 1 – Gus_Mcrae, 2006: 6)

11) Jumbo Tsuruta (11538 points, 135 ballots, 19.29 avg, high: 1 – El-P, Brass Ring Club, Yo-Yo's Roomie, Dave Musgrave, Dylan Harris, 2006: 1)

10) Jerry Lawler (11603 points, 136 ballots, 18.76 avg, high: 1 – goc, Tim Livingston, Phil Schneider, benj, Polish_Hammer, goodhelmet, 2006: 41)

9) Toshiaki Kawada (11784 points, 129 ballots, 13.19 avg, high: 1 – ChuckScumm, anarchistxx, AstroBoy, AndyLFC & anonymous; 2006: 2)

8) Kenta Kobashi (11898 points, 135 ballots, 16.62 avg, high: 1 – Alan Counihan, Lauren McKell, Marty Sleaze, Winged Eagle, anonymous & anonymous; 2006: 5)

7) Rey Mysterio Jr. (11910 points, 146 ballots, 20.92 avg, high: 1 – El Dragon, Zero & donsem43, 2006: 22)

6) Jushin Liger (12291 points, 145 ballots, 18.03 avg, high: 1 – BuryWindham/VicVenomBytes, 2006: 4)

5) Daniel Bryan (12302 points, 142 ballots, 17.63 avg, high: 1 – Danny Kichler, @jamesie_2015, shyttyLittleBoots, James Derbyshire, Venegas, Dan Rice, Quentin Skinner, Mrzfn & anonymous, 2006: 117)

4) Mitsuharu Misawa (13216 points, 137 ballots, 10.23 avg, high: 1 – Tim Cooke, Ismael Retana, Chad Campbell, Dustin Hales, Rob AnimalGlue, The Thread Killer, stunning_grover, Andrew79 & anonymous X3, 2006: 7)

3) Stan Hansen (13813 points, 143 ballots, 11.06 avg, high: 1 – Bill Thompson, Coffey, InYourCase, Childs, Devon Hales, overbooked, Stiva, KB8, Phil Rippa, MoS & anonymous, 2006: 10)

2) Terry Funk (14452 points, 148 ballots, 11.36 avg, high: 1 - Joe G, TravJ1979, Elliott, Laney, Grimmas, The Russian Daydream, PeteF3, Josh Ritter, Trent Williams, Kris Zellner, topropepodcast, ShipCanal, Jimbo Tsuruta, simen oem, John Steffy, Dr Ackermann, Jon Burr, Parties, victory, benjaminkicks, JAEDMC, The Man in Blak, El Boricua, & Dylan Waco, anonymous; 2006: 11)

1) Ric Flair (15261 points, 148 ballots, 7.95 avg, high: 1 - TheU_2001, Loss, Derek C, Moonsault Marvin, Tim Evans, Jerryvonkramer, BackToBionic, Paul Cooke, Woof, supremebve, anchor, mprice, Justin Webb, Cross Face Chicken Wing, Timothy Buechner, Steven White, Paul Völsch, Danish Dynamite, Shoe, Conker8, Fishbaugh, Ricky Whittenburg, Brad, Floyd, JazeUSA, MikeF , Badlittlekitten, & peachchaos, and anonymous 2; 2006: 8)

Misawa got his due as the n°1 japanese guy

Funker as the n°2 was


A lot of iffy results as expected, people were having legit meltdowns, writing essays and doing podcast about this whole deal

 

[The Rainmaker]

Misawa got his due as the n°1 japanese guy

Funker as the n°2 was


A lot of iffy results as expected, people were having legit meltdowns, writing essays and doing podcast about this whole deal

The fact that Goldust is HIGHER than his own father deserves a podcast on its own

Only name I don't recognize from is Jim Breaks. Haven't watched many British matches.

There are names that definitively don't come to mind if I was to make a list of the 100 best, but that's what you get when making a list like this.

 

[Honga Ciganesta]

Hash is too low and there's nothing anyone can say to convince me otherwise

But that's the glory of these lists, a lot of people pissed off. Except the Flair camp who must be as fukk now

 

[Scottie Drippin]

Forgot to post this....the final results for the "Greatest Wrestler Ever" project were revealed in Saturday, this were the top 100:

@Honga Ciganesta @Hoss @Don Rhymus @Beautiful Bobby Eatin @TrueEpic08 @The Rainmaker



Misawa got his due as the n°1 japanese guy

Funker as the n°2 was


A lot of iffy results as expected, people were having legit meltdowns, writing essays and doing podcast about this whole deal

Shawn outside the Top 30 is physically offensive to me

Bobby Eaton ffs

 

[Jmare007]

The two big takeways of the results process to me were that I really don't want to see another Bret Hart match for at least 3 years. As good as he could be, he just can't connect with me at all, he's kinda like a (semi) perfect wrestling robot that I have no desire to watch again. Something similar happens with Kobashi, the only puro guy that had me a little fed up during the re-watch process, as the top 10 got closer I dreaded the thought of him being the n°1 japenese guy ranked, I think I need a big break from his work so I can appreciate it again.

D-Bry being top 5 shocked the hell out of me too, did not expect him to be so high - though most people in PWO predicted he would be - he's gonna get the Jumbo treatment (nit picked to death) in 10 years if this project gets done again

The fact that Goldust is HIGHER than his own father deserves a podcast on its own

Only name I don't recognize from is Jim Breaks. Haven't watched many British matches.

There are names that definitively don't come to mind if I was to make a list of the 100 best, but that's what you get when making a list like this.

Dustin Rhodes >>>>>Dusty as an in ring performer and there's no doubt about it. I actually forgot to rank him he would've been in the 60's or 50's on my list. No way Dusty was going to make my ballot as I took in ring ability over anything else.

Breaks is one of the guys I didn't make enough time to watch and rank but from what I've seen, dude is awesome.

Shawn outside the Top 30 is physically offensive to me

Bobby Eaton ffs

Eaton, Regal, AA and Austin got a big push because they were on so many ballots. To me the key on these sort of rankings is checking the average vote and then the number of ballots. That's the best way to understand how someone got the position they got.

To me, Shawn's ranking is almost perfect. I had him #52 but top 40 might be more accurate for him imo.

Hash is too low and there's nothing anyone can say to convince me otherwise

But that's the glory of these lists, a lot of people pissed off. Except the Flair camp who must be as fukk now

That smiley is accurate as fukk

Hash got jobbed but that blow got softened for me after the Misawa result

 

[Beautiful Bobby Eatin]

Forgot to post this....the final results for the "Greatest Wrestler Ever" project were revealed in Saturday, this were the top 100:

@Honga Ciganesta @Hoss @Don Rhymus @Beautiful Bobby Eatin @TrueEpic08 @The Rainmaker



Misawa got his due as the n°1 japanese guy

Funker as the n°2 was


A lot of iffy results as expected, people were having legit meltdowns, writing essays and doing podcast about this whole deal

I may drop one because of these results. Ronnie Garvin over Nakamura?! Over DUSTY?!?!

 

[Jmare007]

I may drop one because of these results. Ronnie Garvin over Nakamura?! Over DUSTY?!?!

Y'all are overrating Dusty something serious. The poll is mostly about in ring prowess, though other stuff was taken into consideration too by some voters, it's not crazy to think Dusty wasn't that great...because he wasn't really. Good brawler and incredible talker, not that much to write about as a worker. I didn't rank Garvin either but he gets a lot of love from the Savage feud, the Flair feud, his work on Memphis, tag work with Jimmy Garvin and Windham, and matches like TV title match against Tully. He has enough to make an argument over Dusty

About Nakamura...look at the average vote, Garvin ended up higher because he was on more ballots. When you consider that Nakamura was underwhelming as hell for 6 years, to this day is still very inconsistent and that people are not keen to vote high on people who aren't close to finish their careers (let alone when they are in their peaks, like Nakamura), then it isn't that surprising he's that low.

To me, two of the more picks were Taker and Brock. I do not see a case for them at all when you take into account that in ring ability was the main factor when voting.

 

[Honga Ciganesta]

If in ring was the main factor though; Hogan so high Above Ikeda and Chicana. Okay I guess he had charisma but I don't know if it was way above what Onita had. And Hogan was complete dogshyt for years and years. I guess he was serviceable at one time and he was a US guy or whatever. But if in ring was the MAIN thing, i don't buy him being in a top 100.

 

[Beautiful Bobby Eatin]

Y'all are overrating Dusty something serious. The poll is mostly about in ring prowess, though other stuff was taken into consideration too by some voters, it's not crazy to think Dusty wasn't that great...because he wasn't really. Good brawler and incredible talker, not that much to write about as a worker. I didn't rank Garvin either but he gets a lot of love from the Savage feud, the Flair feud, his work on Memphis, tag work with Jimmy Garvin and Windham, and matches like TV title match against Tully. He has enough to make an argument over Dusty

About Nakamura...look at the average vote, Garvin ended up higher because he was on more ballots. When you consider that Nakamura was underwhelming as hell for 6 years, to this day is still very inconsistent and that people are not keen to vote high on people who aren't close to finish their careers (let alone when they are in their peaks, like Nakamura), then it isn't that surprising he's that low.

To me, two of the more picks were Taker and Brock. I do not see a case for them at all when you take into account that in ring ability was the main factor when voting.

Garvin was the guy who worked with the guy. A good brawler like Dusty with half of the charisma. Id rate Jimmy Garvin higher. Other than the crowd his Flair matches havent aged well. The crowd was hot for it but the crowd was hot for every Flair feud in that time.

Garvin could work a good match if needed but top 100 of all time? Nah.