Choshu to start a new promotion? (2002/08/16)

[Hisaharu Tanabe]

During a live talk show with Shinjiro Ohtani (ZERO-ONE) at a Shinjuku club, Katsuji Nagashima, former manager of advertisement & planning for New Japan, announced on the 16th that he would start a new company with Riki Choshu, who also left New Japan this year. The company will be called "Riki Nagashima Planning," and according to Nagashima, their new dojo will be ready in a month. They also have six candidates for new trainees.

A New Japan executive Fumihiko Uwai commented that New Japan would welcome them for fairly starting a new competition. However, there is a possiblity that the Choshu followers in New Japan may jump the ship once the new promotion kicks off.

Nagashima also stated that he didn't even know whether the new company would promote pro-wrestling cards, couldn't give a detail yet, and might get help from other companies. He already contacted Atsushi Ohnita as well.

Official announcement will be made in October.

[Ganso]

Not for nothing but...I believe Riki Chosyu expressed publicy that he may start a new promotion right after he left New Japan.

[The Franceman]

Again?! Why all the japanese wrestlers starts a new promotion?

[Lariat]

No offense but I personally hope Choshu's new promotion fails. Its pretty much a 50/50 chance that Kensuke Sasaki might jump to this promotion since he was a protege of him. I just hope he comes to his senses and realize that this will do much more harm than good.

[OldSchoolFan]

My question is, Where is he going to get talent? I mean seriously. Even if Sasaki jumps then what? That's one guy. I don't think there's really that many guys available that arn't already snatched up by one of the other companies. Unless he comes up with some type of deal to do talent exchanges.

[ElGringo]

Actually, I think if Chono does this right, it could end up being good for New Japan. Over the past year, Sasaki and Nakanishi have jobbed far too much (to Takayama and Rutten in Nakanishi's case and to Rick Steiner in Sasaki's case); both of these guys are Choshu favourites, and so he'll want to push them.

If Chono lets Choshu use these guys on a part time basis (I'm guessing that this will be a part-time pomotion like Muga), they'll sureley only be pushed by Choshu and regain lost ground, helping New Japan with drawinng.

AS far as talent, there are many freelancers around (like Ikuto Hidaka and Asian Cougar, and even the NattlARTS guys) wo I'm sure would work for Choshu in order to gain some exposure.

[SpirituXBomba]

It sounds like a great, if it where in the US. I mean i think that right now, even though my post is late on the situation. But i think that there are way too many promotions in Japan. you have your top 3, All Japan, New Japan & Noah . along with Michinoku pro, Zero one & Toryumon & Osaka & the the MWF. & among others. do you think that there might be room for one more. But i wish chosho & Nagashima much luck on there venture.

[ElGringo]

Latest word from Choshu/Nagashima camp is that the prmotion will start running shows in late October. Choshu wants Hiroyoshi Tenzan to come and train at DOJO RIKI, the new school Choshu is starting up ( perhpas with the help of his old JPro friend Animal Hamaguchi?) to perfect the moonsault, which Tenzan recently messed up leading to a concussion. Choshu also asked Shinya Makabe to come and train with him, citing his role in re-training guy like Masakazu Fukuda as a reaso why Makabe should learn from him.

He threw around names like Genichiro Tenryu and Nobuhiko Takada as possible partners for him in this promotion; looks like an legend/veteran themed promotion to me.

[ElGringo]

Atsushi Onita had invited Choshu and Nagashima to his upcoming Differ Ariake show, and plans tot alk to them about setting up a relationship; Onita vs. Choshu rematch? Who knows.

[Hisaharu Tanabe]

Originally posted by ElGringo
come and train at DOJO RIKI, the new school Choshu is starting up

Choshu opening a dojo....wow. He was a former amateur champ in Japan and actually a good wrestler, but as far as his pro-wrestling style goes, I can only think of bodyslam, lariats, scorpion, powerbomb, back suplex, plus bodyslam, lariats, scorpion, powerbomb, back suplex, and also bodyslam, lariat, scorpion, etc......

[ElGringo]

Yeah, I know, it seems odd, doesn't it? That's why I thought a Choshu contact (Hamaguchi) might be the actual driving force behind it, with Choshu just there to draw in names.

He seems to be assembling a cast of veterans (Takada, Tenryu, Onita), so he may well be aiming at nostalgic fans.