Who's best?

[BadNews]

I thought it would be a daunting task to find the best Japanese wrestler. To avoid the discussion getting too big, I think we should concentrate on the present. After all, we all know there was no-one as technically sound as Giant Baba...

[liquidalex]

Since my viewing of puroresu is limted and I have only seen mostly New Japan and All Japan from 1999,2000,2001 I am going to have to say that no one has entertained me more then Kawada. I could watch his matches all day, plus he is so handsome.

[Hisaharu Tanabe]

Depends on your definition of "best". Believe or not, for many fans, Giant Baba was the best, and I'm not kidding.

[liquidalex]

What do people love about Baba? I have never seen a full match with him.

[samoth]

I'd say Vader if you're referring to wrestlers IN japan. Otherwise, Shinjiro Ohtani probably gets my vote.

[BadNews]

Well, since ye asked, I merely meant in-ring abilities. Nothing such as entertaining abilities or contribution to the sport or other sentimental stuff (which I don't mean as a downer, I like being sentimental every now and then myself).

And I'm well aware that Baba is considered one of the greatest by a good load of fans. I just have a different opinion. Alas, webmaster, what is your humble opinion?

[Hisaharu Tanabe]

When I say "in-ring ability", I'm not talking about highspot non-sell fest. I look at basic pro-wrestling skill (mat wrestling plus alpha) and psychology to carry matches. I enjoy watching the Pat O'Connor-Buddy Rogers NWA title change a lot more than any of Hardy Boyz-Edge & Christian matches.

Although Keiji Mutoh is one of my least favorites, and the damages on his knees have slowed him down a bit, I gotta admit that he's still one of the best today. I think Jun Akiyama is good too...although he's not one of my favorites either. I like Minoru Tanaka and Kendo Ka Shin for their abilities although I don't think they are the best.

As for Giant Baba, he wasn't my favorite either. I grew up during the "Baba or Inoki?" days, and I'm still an Inoki mark. With that said, many of Baba's matches before early 80s were actually good. Many people still talking his matches against Gene Kiniski. I actually enjoyed his match against Stan Hansen from early 80s. I believe it was "the Match of the Year" at the Puroresu Awards.

[LK2000]

Best heavyweight currently probably is Jun Akiyama or Keiji Muto.
Most likely Akiyama because of Muto's knee problems.
Best junior is Minoru Tanaka

LK2000's Wrestling
http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling2/lkwrestling/

[BadNews]

After all, I obviously forgot my own picks. A few years back I'd have handed it to Muto and Liger in their respective divisions, but their respective knee problems have slowed them down considerably. So I'd say the best heavyweights are Jun Akiyama, Kenta Kobashi and Mitsuharu Misawa. That coming from me, a New Japan mark. However, I think New Japan made a few mistakes during the last couple of years and now they have no real No. 1 heavyweight anymore (I risk upsetting a few people by saying that I think Kensuke Sasaki is an overachiever and that Yuji Nagata isn't ready for a top spot yet). In the cruiserweight group, I pick Minoru Tanaka because there are only a handful of real good cruiserweights in Japan and he's at the top.
Feel free to argue anyone.

[LK2000]

Kenta Kobashi has been out the pretty much the whole year because of severe knee problems. Muto then would probably go ahead of him.

[Megatron22]

When it comes to the best it's Terry Funk hands down, if you mean a wrestler who is Japanese i would say Toru Tanaka.

[BadNews]

@ Megatron22 Well, actually I just thought let's put in people who still wrestle. I think I once read that Toru Tanaka passed away.
@ LK2000 Maybe he's out, but he's still an active wrestler, not retired. And unless he returns below par, I'll list him above Muto. Despite being one of the biggest Muto fans.

[BurningSpirit]

Its hard to define "best"...... my _favourite_ wrestler is probably Liger, because he has such great carisma and his matches always entertain me, but he isnt nessecerily the "best".... I suppose I dont really know enough about puroresu to decide who the "best" is

[GreatMuta423]

im going to say Keiji Mutoh. as a heel or a face his matches are always awsome!

[DangerousBD]

I wouldn't be surprised if Inoki or Baba really were the best Japanese wrestlers EVER. But I am just starting to look into them, so I cannot comment for sure.

But from the stuff I've seen I would throw in either Kawada or Nagata as the best heavyweights right now........
Best lightweight without a doubt is Minoru Tanaka. I also like Shinjiro Otani, but I'm not sure if he's a lightweight anymore.....