Has All Japan improved at all?

[naturalbornmaster]

I have been following All Japan a lot the last few months and judging from their bigger shows they have improved a lot from last year.I think they could do more tough. They still have a pretty limited roster. I would like to see guys like Omori,Sasaki,Akira,and maybe even Steve Williams become full timers. While it is extremely unlikely, I would like to see a few guys from NJ who are tired of Inoki coffee boy Kusama's rediculous ideas jumping ship. Tanahashi, Nagata,Tenzan, and Chono in AJ? Well I can dream. I think at least Mitsuya Nagai should return. Kawada wouldn't let Muto bury him again and I don't think Muto would make that mistake twice.It's not like he is a superstar in NJ. If they don't make any roster additions, they should at least work on the NOAH feud. So much good could come from that for both companies. On a final note, keep Kawada as champ. I still don't believe Kea or Kojima are ready. They haven't evolved into the company aces like I thought they would.All Japan has a lot of opportunities to do better. they're still my favorite and I hope they can make a big comeback. What do you think?

[naterob2003]

i don't see anyone leaving new japan just yet but i would think that it certainly is a possibility in the near future. Kawada should stay champ and should really hold that title for quite a while. He should put on a huge record of defenses with the title and face aces from noah and new japan and make the title worth something again. Kojima and Kea aren't ready because they are still very limited in their skills.

[naturalbornmaster]

Very good points. I read on puroresupower.com that the NJ wrestlers were complaining publicly about Kusama and Inoki. Zach Arnold said that NJ would possibly exchange their wrestlers for money shares from AJ. Who knows what will happen?

[naterob2003]

if this whole exchange of money for talent comes down...i would love to see noah try and get tenzan or nagata... that would solidify their talent for QUITE some time. Or for the good of all japan... nagata would be great for them.

[Haiku Warrior]

Nagata is a good possibility. The guy should be IWGP champion. He is forced to job to people like Takayama, Shibata, Nakamura... He shouldn't lose to any of them. He might get frustrated enough come contract time.

[naterob2003]

Lets hope... Nagata could hold the triple crown and keep the prestige that the title has and the integrity that the holder needs to have. Nagata would make a great champion anywhere.

[rzombie1988]

Nagata is in the same boat as akiyama. Both great wrestlers they just can't become big time draws.

[naterob2003]

See i just dont believe that... i think that both guys have a HUGE fanbase but the problem is that they are always misused. It has an uncanny resemblance to the use of benoit in the states. I really think that overall that people have to do things that keep them fresh and new, akiyama needs to make sterness the biggest baddest group on the planet... that means no chumps like there are now. Nagata has just been pushed too low.. a few good wins or a nice title reign would do him wonders. I think that people's prestige so to speak is built around GREAT matches and with that said... these guys just need to be booked in great matches.

[Haiku Warrior]

For once naterob and I agree...

Nagata does have the problem that Benoit has... they are both so sound as wrestlers that they couldn't be champions all the time because no one could realistically beat them. So they have to take the title off of them. When in reality no one is better than them on the mat. It's a shame too...

[naterob2003]

I am not saying that they shouldnt lose. I am saying that they should be used properly. Kobashi almost ALWAYS goes over akiyama. Thats why akiyama looks weaker. WWE put benoit in a fued with hhh and eddie in a fued with bradshaw... the better wrestling would have come out of benoit vs. eddie. People just don't use their heads. Quit putting nagata in tag matches... he isnt a tag wrestler. I think for the betterment of both guys careers.. akiyama and nagata should start a huge fued. If they put on 5 star matches back and forth like a series thing... these guys careers would skyrocket.

[Haiku Warrior]

They already have had a series of good matches. Akiyama is up 2-1 on Nagata. They'll wrestle each other again in the future.

[naterob2003]

No i mean an Americanized style fued. Not we wrestled each other 5 times out of our career... like a bloody fued. Have one top the other and then back and forth and back and forth and then in the end... team up together to fight NOAH. That is what should happen. These groups like burning and sterness... its ok, but they need some group that is just dominating and is seen as a threat to the organization. Not like the nwo but look at that system. People want competition. NOAH doesnt have that right now. Thats why akiyama isnt a big name. in all japan, you had baba, misawa, tsruta, hansen, kawada, vader, akiyama, kobashi, and dr. death... NOAH has less than 5 of those people. Competition has been cut down because all japan and noah can't coexist. Can you imagine kojima, hase, mutoh, kawada, tenryu, and kea with kobashi, misawa, taue, and akiyama??? We wouldnt even be having this conversation. There would be unlimited combinations of fueds and matches to help build the next generation.

[Hisaharu Tanabe]

Zach Arnold said that NJ would possibly exchange their wrestlers for money shares from AJ. Who knows what will happen?

I always thought New Japan was running All Japan since Mutoh & co. jumped...

[naterob2003]

i could see that but... i just dont understand the whole thing. If all japan and noah had never seperated all japan would have closed... now that they did leave.. all japan may still close so...

[Pheonix_Chi25]

Nothing has improved since Mutoh has taken the reins. And IMHO, All Japan needs to wise up fast and think of something before Kawada jumps ship with the Triple Crown.