Toshiaki Kawada officially announced today that he was going freelance but would continue working All-Japan when he felt like it. Kawada said that he would work the Champion Carnival and mentioned New Japan and yes NOAH as possible other companies he would work for.
I can't believe what I just read. But I figured it would happen sooner or later.
Last edited by Pheonix_Chi25; 2005-03-08 at 09:30 AM.
"I'm not going to call an ambulance, because if I do you will have learned nothing"-Family Guy
Well IMO i think its for the best that he leaves even though hes one of my all time favorites. Its kinda weird because he didnt really match in the "new AJ" meaning mutoh's version of AJ. Kawada was the last of Baba's AJ but i guess all there is to say now is where is he going?
Alot of people say hes going to NOAH which would be well theres no word to describe how awesome that would be. New Japan...well i dont know it could work but i doubt it. What about BIG MOUTH!?
I think it's great news. Kawada can now work in other promotions like NOAH and HUSTLE more and bring even more to his fans. I'm not worried about him leaving All Japan for good because I don't see him becoming disloyal now, even though he must be aware of the hard times AJ has been in and is still recovering from. Personally, I'm glad he's doing other stuff, and he's been really entertaining in HUSTLE... even if he gets put in crazy matches like taking on Mick Foley... I'm excited about his upcoming match with Ogawa and hopes he continues to do HUSTLE for a long, long while.
And Luds... I don't think Kawada leaving wouldn't be that terrible, considering they still have Mutoh and Kojima evolving into the star he has the potential to be. And they still have talent with Tenryu, Sasaki, TARU, Kea...
I just read Kawada will be taking part in the Champion Carnival, anyway, so him leaving AJ for good is pretty much a groundless fear.
Last edited by OrangeCrush51; 2005-03-09 at 06:47 PM.
"I think the basic thing nobody asks is why do people takes drugs of any sort?... Why do we have to have these accessories to normal living to live? I mean, is there something wrong with society that's making us so pressurized, that we cannot live without guarding ourselves against it?" - John Lennon
If AJPW could survive having 20+ stars jump ship to NOAH, they could survive this. Hopefully Kobashi will go for the TC and Tenryu will come back. If you ask me, an AJPW merger of some sorts (like an AJPW vs. NOAH fued, maybe) might help. Just throwing around ideas. Plus, it's not like Kawda's gone forever.
Well I hate to break it to everyone but Kawada wants to goto PRIDE and MMA
I hate to say it but i dont think he should because it will ruin his legendary Status and make him look stupid. Then again I bet he would give alot of people a run for their money. Kawada goto BIG MOUTH if you wanna become a MMA fighter. You vs Shibata = Drooling at the mouth for me.
Well I hate to break it to everyone but Kawada wants to goto PRIDE and MMA
I hate to say it but i dont think he should because it will ruin his legendary Status and make him look stupid. Then again I bet he would give alot of people a run for their money. Kawada goto BIG MOUTH if you wanna become a MMA fighter. You vs Shibata = Drooling at the mouth for me.
No, no A THOUSAND TIMES NOOOOOO!!!!!
Kawada should stick to what he does and what he knows, Royal Road wrestling. I"d actually like to see him work some New Japan, NOAH and Z-1 MAX shows. I'd really like to see him challenge Rikioh for the GHC Title.
"I'm not going to call an ambulance, because if I do you will have learned nothing"-Family Guy
If mixed martial arts is really what he wants to experiment with, I'm all for it. With his stiff kicking style, he could actually be respectable if he really adapts to the style. I just hope he's in touch with reality to stick with pro wrestling if he sucks at shoot fighting.
"I think the basic thing nobody asks is why do people takes drugs of any sort?... Why do we have to have these accessories to normal living to live? I mean, is there something wrong with society that's making us so pressurized, that we cannot live without guarding ourselves against it?" - John Lennon
As someone who has done pro wrestling and MMA, I can safely say that wrestling is very little preparation for MMA. 5 years ago, pro wrestling was fine training for MMA. But now, MMA has evolved from the early UFC shows, where it really was a competition of mixed martial arts styles, and is now the ultimate martial art for 1-on-1 combat.
At his age, experimenting in MMA is not a good idea. He is not trained to get in there with the today's top fighters, and has very little to gain even if he did. He's one of the top stars in puro now. Let's say he gets lucky and wins a few MMA fights. He's still one of the top puro stars. Realistically, he's going to lose and those losses will hurt his status in wrestling just like they have for Nagata and Bob Sapp.
I really don't see how him "leaving" All Japan is going to change anything. He's still working all of the tours and taking whatever outside bookings he wanted, just like before. The only difference is now he's officially a freelancer, although he won't call himself a freelancer, because that's apparently a dirty word. He was merely trying to get some free press and it worked.
As someone who has done pro wrestling and MMA, I can safely say that wrestling is very little preparation for MMA. 5 years ago, pro wrestling was fine training for MMA. But now, MMA has evolved from the early UFC shows, where it really was a competition of mixed martial arts styles, and is now the ultimate martial art for 1-on-1 combat.
At his age, experimenting in MMA is not a good idea. He is not trained to get in there with the today's top fighters, and has very little to gain even if he did. He's one of the top stars in puro now. Let's say he gets lucky and wins a few MMA fights. He's still one of the top puro stars. Realistically, he's going to lose and those losses will hurt his status in wrestling just like they have for Nagata and Bob Sapp.
I really don't see how him "leaving" All Japan is going to change anything. He's still working all of the tours and taking whatever outside bookings he wanted, just like before. The only difference is now he's officially a freelancer, although he won't call himself a freelancer, because that's apparently a dirty word. He was merely trying to get some free press and it worked.
Great post Trade, but if you were Kawada, and I ask this of all of you, what would you do? Would you return to All Japan or start over in NOAH, Zero One Max (who needs a headliner since Hashimoto left) or go to New Japan (since Mutoh, KaShin and Kojima jumped to all Japan) and make NJ your homebase?
I'd take some time off, not too much, and then just see which direction I'd go. I'd go to NOAH, Rikioh needs challenges, someone to push him. And Kawada could do that.
"I'm not going to call an ambulance, because if I do you will have learned nothing"-Family Guy
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