All Japan Split #2 (5/20/03) Kojima gone? Mutoh next?

[GlobalHonored]

This is being reported on several sites:
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Tuesday's edition of Tokyo Sports is reporting that Satoshi Kojima has left All Japan. The bloodletting of the Mutoh era in All Japan is beginning, and the beginning of the second split of All Japan is underway. The paper claims that Masa Fuchi won the internal office battle of politics with Motoko Baba. What complicates all of this is that Kojima was scheduled to headline AJ's 6/13 Nagoya Aiichi Prefectural Gym show against Shin'ya Hashimoto for the Triple Crown.
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Is this legit? Work?

If this is true, then AJ has just lost its future ace. Considering the political struggle was between Kawada/Fuchi's side and the ideas of Mutoh & Kojima, then AJ pres. Keiji Mutoh would be next on chopping block with his buddies Kaz and Yang likely to follow. If all this is indeed true then AJ is in a major bad way. I don't necassarily like Mutoh's direction for the company but must admit losing two of the top three stars seems like promotional suicide to me, especially after the exodus from two years back that put the company in such dire straits to begin with. Will Mutoh or Kojima join WJ? Return to their NJPW roots? Or is this the opportunity for WRESTLE-1 to start up full time? MAybe this is just another work, as logically losing the top young star doesn't make any sense for AJ no matter what the politics, but from watching this company for the past two years, would anything stupid they do really surprise you?

[Jason]

Good-bye All Japan. You will be missed!

[Luds]

If Mutoh & Kojima come back home to NJ, it'll suck for guys like Nakanishi & Nishimura who'll have to accept a smaller role...

[DANGEROUS DAN]

If this is indeed legit, all I have to say is LONG LIVE THE SPIRIT OF BABA!

Like you GLobal Honored I have not found Mutoh's direction worthy of being under the AJPW banner, and like you Jason I find it the beginning of a swan song for the promotion. The NJPW old guard influence appears to have been broken. But the only future ace is on the shelf in Taiyo Kea.
If the split is indeed on I feel that Mutoh's clique will join with Zero -1 or indeed form W-1 and fued with Shinya's group.
What this unfortuately means however is will we never see Kawada get his just due over the old NJ guard.

[edgehead1984]

Oh, No AJPW is dead.

[El Pollo Guerrera]

Every site I saw this posted at says that the story is nothing but rumour and speculation. Masanobu Fuchi came out and said that Kojima talked with him and is still with All Japan (and still scheduled to fight Hashimoto).

Could this be the foreshadowing of an internal war storyline in All Japan, like the WCW/NWO battles (but better)? Mutoh's "new wave" versus Kawada's defenders of All Japan?

[DANGEROUS DAN]

As much to the dismay of all real fans of King's Road, All Japan is now in the majority ownership of one MR. Mutoh. The Baba family has sold their entire ownership rights to him earlier today, or late last night. THe power play by Fuchi/Kawada was all in vain and nowit is they who appear to have their heads on the chopping block.
Indeed the Road will be closed for good, and all we we have is the magic of videotape. This leaves Zero-1, with the distinct possibility to gain full access to the coveted Triple Crown and it's lineage.
Shoei Baba has begun to revolve in his resting place.

[Jason]

I sure am looking forward to Bob Sapp vs. The Apeman for the Triple Crown.

I figure this has to be the end of Kawada and Fuchi in All Japan. With Mrs. Baba out of the picture, there is no reason for their loyalty to remain.

I'm a bit confused about this Zero-One business. If they were to merge, would they go under the Zero-One name or the All Japan name?

[DANGEROUS DAN]

Jason, with alll due respect do you think RAVING egotists like Mutoh, and Hashimoto (when was the last time he put someine over clean?) that the legacy and name sake of their career long adversary is going to be made to survive? Hardly.
You said it true in your second paragraph.

[edgehead1984]

Shohei Baba must be turning inside out in his grave at this act.

Kawada and Fuchi are one, and so is Stan Hansen as PWF president.

[El Pollo Guerrera]

Originally posted by DANGEROUS DAN
The Baba family has sold their entire ownership rights to him earlier today, or late last night.

Whoa...

This news certainly is a kick to the jimmy. I didn't want to see Kojima leave, but I wanted to see him compete in Baba's All Japan, not in Mutoh's "WWE"-esque version...

Does anyone know why Motoko sold? Has there been a statement from the family as to why?

[Luds]

Well... it's Mutoh's chance for redemption... I hope

Come on Keiji, please don't let us down!

[Hisaharu Tanabe]

Originally posted by DANGEROUS DAN
The Baba family has sold their entire ownership rights to him earlier today, or late last night.

I heard that Motoko sold the stocks to not only Mutoh but other executives as well. Kawada and Fuchi are execs, but I don't know whether they got stocks or not.

[DANGEROUS DAN]

Hisa thanks for the 411. Maybe hope is not ALL lost yet.

[bort]

mutoh is gonna so ruin all japan even more now, i wonder if Kawada will ever get the triple crown agian