Politics behind Muto winning Triple Crown?

[Jason]

I don't know much about how politics work in Japan, but I've been wondering how in the hell a New Japan wrestler was allowed to win an All Japan title? I know talent trades are pretty frequent in Japan, but what was the incentive for All Japan in making this decision? Was it to try and lure Muto to All Japan?

[emlyn]

Not sure, but the reason AJ signed Muto was probably because of the Triple Crown they wanted back, and not because of him. It saves a bit of their credibility if the champ joins and they have control of the big belts again

[OldSchoolFan]

I think it was just to try and create some type of a story or make some media noise. It obviously worked if you asked me. Being as how NJ is on a downslide IMO and AJ is finally taking some steps in the right direction.

[Tradewynd]

I had heard awhile ago that there were actually plans for AJ to become a part of NJ with Kawada beating Mutoh to create a new unified title(maybe the Quadruple Crown?) I don't how far along those plans came, or if Mrs. Baba was ever serious about letting it happen. I for one think it's a good thing that it didn't. I don't even want to think about what Inoki could do to Taiyo Kei's future.

[LizardKing]

As far as I understand it, it was a culmination of different political aspects. Firstly, it gave life to a dying Zen-Shin Nihon feud. Secondly and more importantly, Mutoh was originally supposed to be a transitional champion basically because Mrs Baba didn't want Tenryu dropping the title to Kawada. I heard it was to keep both Tenryu and Kawada relatively strong because at that time they were the two only "big" stars in the promotion. Mutoh was supposed to beat Tenryu for the title and then drop it to Kawada, but Mutoh was crazy over as TC Champion, but for New Japan and All Japan (although his TC defenses were so/so - some good, some terrible). He kept the TC because he was far more popular than anyone could have imagined. Im sure there are other poltiical aspects too, but this is the common one I've heard.

[Jason]

Couldn't Muto have just taken the TC back to New Japan and dropped it to someone else though? Or does All Japan have all the authority to decide when and against whom the title is defended?

[OldSchoolFan]

Yes he coudl have, however unlike here in the states, there is still some honor and "morals" in the wrestling community over in Japan. They wouldn't want to burn their bridge with AJ and never be able to do the feud again.