A question...

[Jabroniville]

I'm just wondering, what's the general perception among wrestling fans (primarily those in Japan) towards each organisation in the country? For example, WWF is the most popular here, but not given credit for the workrates of the wrestlers, while WCW (before it was bought out) had several great young potential stars, but past-their-prime old timers and poor angles, and ECW (again, pre-folding) had the smaller, but more devoted, fan-base.

I kind of want to know how each federation is percieved in the general fan's eye, like New Japan being better than All Japan, for example. And how do the Japanese fans typically regard the American federations? (WWF, WCW, ECW..)?

Thanks.

[Hisaharu Tanabe]

I can say that New Japan is the most popular, with NOAH being probably the second. I'm not sure how All Japan is doing in terms of ticket sales, but as far as I know, New Japan and NOAH are the only two doing well for sales.

For the "quiality" of the matches, it all depends on whom you ask. It just depends on which style the fans like. New Japan has a bad reputation among some fans for being lazy in smaller towns.

[The Crowbar King]

Since there has not been a post in this thread in over 2 years, I am wondering how Japanese wrestling fans perceive professional wrestling in the United States, especially WWE. While watching a segment on WWE in Japan promoting shows on Confidential last year, they made it seem as if the Japanese wrestling fans were nuts over WWE? Is this true?

[Luds]

From what I've read, when WWE goes to Japan, they sell out. Fans are most interested by their superstar's size and by the "Entertainment" aspect like the interviews, the props, the pyros and so on. That's probably why Mutoh is trying to make All Japan the WWE of Japan.

[Pheonix_Chi25]

I agree Luds, and if you noticed Muto brought in former WCW/WWE wrestlers to work shows.

As of now, I'd also say NJPW is tops with NOAH second