Essential Japanese Wrestling Discussion/News

[Mooreish]

Kinda gay

Ooohhh you done fukked up now man.

 

[Scottie Drippin]

Kinda gay

Don't tell that to me tell that to MiSu

 

[PlayerNinety_Nine]

Kinda gay

That's the funniest thing about it though.

The fact that dude is arguably the meanest character in Pro Wrestling today and constantly but he comes out to a sweeping power ballad is hilarious to me.

I can always picture him singing a karaoke version on some

and crying a single tear at the end of his performance.

 

[Mooreish]

Don't tell that to me tell that to MiSu

Boy probably thinks it all just a gimmick to ol man Suzuki. He probably don’t even know about Pancrase.

 

[Jmare007]

 

[The Rainmaker]

Kinda gay

What? :suzuki:

 

[Jmare007]

Interview with the new president for NJPW

 

[Scottie Drippin]

This is a problematic mindset and example number one that they're not going to make the progress into international markets that they want to.

Yes you can understand matches beyond a language barrier, but that has never and will never be enough in combat sports, especially worked ones.

Pride did an EXCELLENT job in making sure their English content was top tier and really communicated the stories of their tournaments and feuds incredible well. Chute Box v Brazilian Top Team, Gomi v Chute Box, the old 90's Japanese rivalries, Mirko/Fedor, The Gracie Killer, Barnett/Mirko, Wandy/Rampage etc all these things were communicated beautifully to an English speaking audience via video and commentary team and made getting emotionally tied to the product not just possible, but impossible not to be.

NJPW needs needs needs top tier English translated content IN their live shows. And they need freeview 10-20min videos explaining the evolution of their stables and rivalries on youtube.

They have already hit their ceiling with their international expansion if they don't.

 

[Jmare007]

This is a problematic mindset and example number one that they're not going to make the progress into international markets that they want to.

Yes you can understand matches beyond a language barrier, but that has never and will never be enough in combat sports, especially worked ones.

Pride did an EXCELLENT job in making sure their English content was top tier and really communicated the stories of their tournaments and feuds incredible well. Chute Box v Brazilian Top Team, Gomi v Chute Box, the old 90's Japanese rivalries, Mirko/Fedor, The Gracie Killer, Barnett/Mirko, Wandy/Rampage etc all these things were communicated beautifully to an English speaking audience via video and commentary team and made getting emotionally tied to the product not just possible, but impossible not to be.

NJPW needs needs needs top tier English translated content IN their live shows. And they need freeview 10-20min videos explaining the evolution of their stables and rivalries on youtube.

They have already hit their ceiling with their international expansion if they don't.

Agreed. Though I took it as Meij talking about not changing the New Japan - well, puro for the most part - traditional style of storytelling. Like, not going the "sports entertainment" way to attract international viewers.

They do need to make a better effort at translating and presenting their shyt to overseas fans if they really are that hellbent on getting bigger with them, you are 100% right on that.

I'm still convinced their priority should be a better TV deal and time slot to continue to (re) grow in Japan though. They need to give this hot run a more solid base than what they have right now.

 

[stro]

The way I've understood is is that after the 50/60s that wrestling on TV in Japan hasn't really been a big deal even in boom periods. Certainly nothing like DA RATINGS importance in America has been for the past 25 years.

 

[Jmare007]

The way I've understood is is that after the 50/60s that wrestling on TV in Japan hasn't really been a big deal even in boom periods. Certainly nothing like DA RATINGS importance in America has been for the past 25 years.

The first part is relative, puro in the early 80's was doing good numbers for Japanese TV and Joshi did it's best ever with the Crush Gals. Nothing ever came close to Destroyer matches in the 60's but a weekly show doing 20% rating was damn good.

Not sure what you mean with your second point though. Ratings have always been very important in Japan, a big reason why puro went to the shytter was because everyone lost their national TV deals or went sent to TV-time hell due to the fact that wrestling stopped doing good ratings by the late 80's.

Even during the 90's era of big shows and sellouts, puro didn't have the same "mainstream" appeal as in the 80's and before, and it's steady decline was impossible to solve with no TV help.

 

[stro]

My point was I was under the understanding that TV wasn't nearly as important or as much of a gauge on popularity of companies in Japan as it is in the US because the TV situation in general is much different. I guess that isn't the case then?

 

[PlayerNinety_Nine]

You're a psychotic man, Minoru Brown

 

[Jmare007]

My point was I was under the understanding that TV wasn't nearly as important or as much of a gauge on popularity of companies in Japan as it is in the US because the TV situation in general is much different. I guess that isn't the case then?

I mean, at this point that's kinda true because there's no company that has any resemblance of a presentable TV deal or time slot. But popularity is pretty low and any gauge on it is based on like 90% hardcore puro fans from Japan.

But when talking about overall business and popularity outside of the wresting bubble, TV has always been key.

 

[Jmare007]

Train fukkery