Puroresu on American TV?

[El Pollo Guerrera]

Why hasn't someone gone to New Japan (or All Japan or NOAH or anyone) and tried to get them to produce an english-language show for broadcast in North America? I know a few people who are tired of the WWE's format, which appears to be "15 minute speech followed by 5 minute back-stage footage followed by 10 minute match, repeat", but they have nowhere else to go. The hard-hitting realistic style would be a great counter-point to the soap-operatic approach of the WWE. This would provide real competition for McMahon, forcing him to improve his own business. And think of the money they'd make! Just for the investment of a couple of english-speaking commentators and somebody to put subtitles on the screen.

Why hasn't someone done this? If we can have a TV channel for home and garden improvement, a TV channel for foreign movies, and a TV channel for game show re-runs, why can't we have a 2-hour weekly show of the best pro wrestling the world has to offer?

[Muiyan]

I agree. Why don't they show it here?

Because pro-wrestling had already been instilled into people's minds that it's but a circus side-show geared towards 12 year olds. Home & Garden shows have the old retired crowd, WWE has it's Sports Entertainment fans, re-run gameshows has it's TV-freaks crowd, and all the rest have shunned pro-wrestling in favour of national sports.

If they showed it, who else would be watching other than the few fans like us?

[Sofa Kingdom]

I know that ESPN 2 showed K-1.

[kkeller]

ESPN2 also has an excellent hour long Sumo show twice a month though it's not the same now that Akebono has retired. I wonder about the Fox sport channels. They carry every sporting event known to man except for wrestling. I'm hoping that the UFC show they are running on August 4th draws some big numbers the matches they aired on T.B.D.S.S.P. did well in the ratings. If the baseball players strike this year they might just take a long look at wrestling.

[ElGringo]

I'm sure there are enough Puroresu fans worldwide (outside Japan) to justify putting on a show, but the US on its own does'nt have enough potential market, and anyhow, if a TV company got hold of the rights to show a Japanese federation, they'd probaably stop tape dealers dealing, a la TokyoPop with FMW and WK Media with Big Japan.

Also, when most US fans think of Japanese wrestling, they think of Chyna dissing joshi puroresu, TAKA Michinoku being squashed, or deathmatches (thanks, Cactus). They won't except that Japanese wrestling does offer a sporting product as well.

[The Great Gouki]

THAT'S IT!!! I FOUND MY CALLING!!! I will become the next Ted Turner and open a TV station dedicated solely to Japanese Sports!!! Actually it would be awesome to get a Japanese sports channel in english...

[Mutoh-Mania]

Cable companies that carry what he sees as a true threat that he will not let them carry WWExlax PPVs if they carry the competition. PLus he has so brainwashed the new breed of wrestling fans into actually believing what he is giving them is what wrestling is all about, I don't see a large enough market to make it profitible for the cable companies, and sadly that is what they are going to look at...the bottom line. Now, areas with a large Japanese population will likely pick it up...but as for poor Joe Puroresufan in Podunk, Whereever he will have to suffer.

[kkeller]

Vince only has pull with UPN and TNN. Remember last year when Directtv pulled his ppvs over a few hundred thousand dollars. Vince needs them more than they need him. The problem is free tv and the cable industry. A network like ESPN2 or Foxsports could run a Japanese wrestling show for next to nothing and I think they would draw at least ECW-like ratings but they couldn't sell enough commercial spots to make it profitable. Nobody wants to advertise on a wrestling program right now but perhaps if UFC catches on that may change. Think of the chances of seeing Celebrity Boxing a few years ago. A greater help would be a baseball strike then Foxsports would have to fill several hours of programming but then they would probably just add another half dozen NASCAR shows advertisers beg for those spots.

[Mutoh-Mania]

your post kkeller. You made good, valid points. Now, I propose we open new puroresu and NASCAR shows...that way I win both ways...

[ElGringo]

Hmm, not so sureabout a Japanese sports channell catching on, but a Japanese culture channeel (with Japanese soap operas, anime and so on, as well as sports like sumo, shooto, shootboxing and puroresu) could work out.

[Colin Douglas]

I always wished I had money. Reason being is I would make a 24 hour combative sports channel where I could show wrestling (both pro and amatuer) from around the world. Boxing (pro/amatuer) from around the world. And all the MMA events like KOTC, Pride, UFC, Hook-n-Shoot etc....

[Mutoh-Mania]

Originally posted by ElGringo
Hmm, not so sureabout a Japanese sports channell catching on, but a Japanese culture channeel (with Japanese soap operas, anime and so on, as well as sports like sumo, shooto, shootboxing and puroresu) could work out.

BBC America has quite a vast array of Brit entertainment...why not a Japanese version for American TV. Great approach ElGringo.

[ElGringo]

I'm sure the anime alone would pull in enough audience to merit keeping the channel on air, as its become very mainstream now with Pokemon, Sailor Moon and whatever else the marketing machine has Americanised and produced toys of.

I think events like shooto and shootboxing would become popular because they have the appeal of traditional combat sports (like boxing) but are also much more modernised and less violent, more skillfull (no disrespect to boxers).
A lot of people who'd like to won't watch boxing because of the sport's reputation; a lot of these people would watch something like shooto or shootboxing because it's sleek and well-produced, with charismatic fighters; it's also got no history of mob involvement or bloody KOs.

Sumo has an audience (allbeit one that often finds it funny), where as judo is already proven to be popular (a lot people watch it than you'd think when the Olympics come round) and people like the satisfaction of watching the 'real thing' (i.e. authentic, Japanese judo)

[Rattler151]

that would so ROCK!!!!!!!!!

especially NJPW and AJPW

[clarkone68]

And it be translated.