Shimoda everywhere

[davin]

I notice that Mima Shimoda wrestles all over the place. Why does she get to move around at will, when the other wrestlers seem to stay in one promotion.





davin

[Dr Feelgood]

What? EVERYWhere? How come I didn't get any Shimoda then?

Seriously, from what I know, she and co-LCO disciple Etsuko Mita split from AJW in 98, following many others. Rather than founding their own fed or joining GAEA they turned free-agents, working mainly out of Kyoko Inoue's NEO at first. As things went on they started cropping up more or less everywhere, in ARSION and back in AJW in 99, also in JWP, Jd'... (not sure when).

Some of the reasons why they chose then (and still choose now) to remain free-agents today rather than settling anywhere (when both of them would be ensured big singles as well as tag honours in any fed), could have something to do with the following facts, maybe:
-They were huge in AJW in 97 as monster-heels (a "market" no-one has cornered so well since Jungle Jack imo), but not big enough to even try to make it on their name alone (unlike Kyoko Inoue with NEO).
-Their distinctive style, quality and experience as a team means that they are in high demand in a field (Joshi tag) that probably isn't as deep as it used to be. So despite the fact they are "mercenaries" they are seen as a reference everywhere and end up winning belts in different feds (unlike other talented free-agent teams like Jinsei and Hayabusa, who ended up jobbing most of the time ).
-As highly qualified specialists in a market where demand is quite high, they've fared well as free-agents in terms of notoriety (and financially too I suppose) and that's probably why they continue this way. They're one of the only examples of joshi wrestlers actually elevating themselves as free-agents since the great AJW exodus. I don't think Ayako Hamada would have that kind of success as a free-agent, despite her talent.

[Tradewynd]

I thought they did it for the same reason Mutoh did - to jack every promoter for as much money as humanly possible

[Peru-Yakuza]

Originally posted by Tradewynd
I thought they did it for the same reason Mutoh did - to jack every promoter for as much money as humanly possible

Muta wouldn't have jumped if he were not tired of Inoki's nonsense.

As far as LCO go, they have name value and a willing to work on any terms, so why not give them a chance anywhere? And when it comes time to put over your own talent after a good run, what better team to do it?

[Tradewynd]

I went why Mutoh went freelance instead of outright signing with All Japan. I'm actually surprised more people didn't leave with him.

Can't argue with your logic on LCO, although if I were promoting I'd much rather have them under contract then freelancing. I know I'd put the belts on them sooner or later, and I wouldn't want my tag team champions jobbing on somebody else's show. I wish they'd come here and have a shoot with Vince's chick(save Molly, she can work). That would be fun to watch.