A Japanese World league in 2004??

[edgehead1984]

SSS reports:

The legendary "3 Musketeers" - Keiji Muto, Masahiro Chono, and Shinya Hashimoto - held a special talk show/dinner last night before about 350 fans at the Shin-Kobe Oriental Hotel in Hyogo. The three spoke warmly to each other, and discussed the future of professional wrestling in Japan. With each Musketeer commanding an organization now, all three are in positions of power and hold great influence over the wrestling scene. They agreed on an idea to establish a "commissioner" system for Japanese wrestling, and Chono made the mind-blowing proposal of an "Open Japan" wrestling tournament in 2004 where wrestlers from every top promotion would enter a tournament to prove who Japan's strongest is. Chono wants to do this event to boost pro wrestling and also so that the sport doesn't get overshadowed too much by the Olympic Games in 2004. Chono revealed that they want to add a fourth man to their panel, NOAH's Mitsuharu Misawa, to continue rehabilitating the struggling pro wrestling community and try to regain it's spot as strongest and most popular fighting code in Japan from mixed martial arts and kickboxing.

[Puroresu_Freak85]

Yup! Looks like it! Hope it turns out well so I can call up my cable operator and hope that they can get this one-of-a-kind event.

Here's a pic of the Three Musketeers. Got this from Strong Style Puroresu.

[ChrisAwesome]

I think that this Open Japan tournament can do nothing but good for the industry. Of course, that is only if nobody's ego gets in the way.

[Sofa Kingdom]

Wow... check out Hash's suit... its nice!

I like this idea and I hope that they pull it off... I think getting Misawa to take part is key... maybe we'll get treated with a Misawa vs Kawada match.

[OldSchoolFan]

Never happen. Too many polotics to get in the way.

[EvilMidnightBomber]

I agree w/ OldSchoolFan, I can't see them pulling it off (especially if NOAH gets involved) without one fed or another coming out of it feeling like they got shafted. There's no way they could satisfy everyone's egos. I sure wouldn't want to book it.

wearing sunglasses indoors = coolness

[Puroresu_Freak85]

I think what they can do is make this event feature only the big names and stars that are really touted as the future of the sport. Also, they should make it at least six hours long.

OldSchoolFan could be right in some ways, but in my opinion, I think Misawa should get this thing with AJPW over with, if not just for that time. I mean, let's face it. If this plan is for the good of the industry, why not? I mean, If they're trying to promote puroresu all around the world, methinks that this tournament is the best way to do it.

What do you guys think?

[Bozo Yoroshiku]

I agree w/ OldSchoolFan, I can't see them pulling it off (especially if NOAH gets involved) without one fed or another coming out of it feeling like they got shafted. There's no way they could satisfy everyone's egos. I sure wouldn't want to book it.

While I agree that I wouldn't want to book it, I don't see why it couldn't be done. The ladies were able to do it. Sometimes the egos did the job, and sometimes they didn't. The guys should be able to put something together.

[Pheonix_Chi25]

I think it can happen. If the wrong people (Ie: Inoki Onita) are left out, then go for it.