World Japan is done.

[Sofa Kingdom]

The following was taken from SSS.

World Japan closes it's doors by Stuart - 11/21/03
World Japan will not reach it's first year anniversary intact. The company announced the discontinuation of activity after 1/5/04, when it will host it's final show at Tokyo Korakuen Hall. Despite promise early on, after recruiting some big names, the New Japan breakaway company never clicked and struggled from day one. According to persons concerned, the remaining eleven full-time employees will be let go, and the two tour buses are being sold off. Company ace and WMG Heavyweight Champion, Kensuke Sasaki, has cancelled his contract after not being paid, and should land in another big company soon. Director Nagashima and Choshu want to bring WJ Pro back at some point, but as a part-time and less frequent promotion. Before it closes, one of the few successes of the company's life will be revealed, as Choshu's 15-year-old prodigy, Katsuhiko Nakajima, will make his pro wrestling debut on the 1/5 show.

With this happening what do you think would happen to various guys on the roster? What would become of WMG titles? Will Kensuke Sasaki go back to New Japan, pop up in All Japan, or just freelance?

discuss.

[edgehead1984]

it's about time. Sasaki is said to be returning to New Japan, they should just get rid of the WMG or have Sasaki unify the title was someother title.

[Luds]

Why not have him beat Takayama and unify it with the NWF? That would shut him up for a while, Mr. I don't ever want to let Nagata pin me again

[Pheonix_Chi25]

The following was taken from SSS.


With this happening what do you think would happen to various guys on the roster? What would become of WMG titles? Will Kensuke Sasaki go back to New Japan, pop up in All Japan, or just freelance?

discuss.

Look at it this way Sofa, it was bound to happen sooner or later.

WJ was on it's last legs when Takao Omori jumped ship to Zero-One, Kenzuo Suzuki joined the WWE (good grief another Japanese wrestler Vince can job) Tenryu left, Shiro Koshinaka all but joining NOAH and Yoji Anjo possibly to Z-1 as well

I for one would love to see Sasaki in either NOAH or All Japan, help Kawada revive the Royal Road there.

Or...return home to New Japan and beat Yoshihiro "I-Don't-want-Nagata-to-pin-me-EVER!" Takayama like a time clock like Luds said

[niniendo warrior]

If I'm not mistaken, the head honcho at WJ insists that it isn't over yet as they will be sort of 'reborn' next year. I wonder what that meant.

I'd love to see Sasaki come back to NJ and kick Takayama out of the promotion by capturing the NWF belt. He can perhaps, unify it with the WMG title (assuming WJ is indeed gone) and perhaps go for a triple crown unification match against the new big NJ potato, Tenzan. Should be cool and is likely to remain a dream forever.

[Pheonix_Chi25]

I read at Puroresufan.com that Yuji Nagata was asked about Sasaki returning to NJ, and Nagata played stupid as if he didn't know about it. LOL, what a guy Nagata is.

I'd also love to see Sasaki destroy Takayama. I think Takayama is going to rejoin NOAH.

[Luds]

Nagata's reaction is fine. After all, it was Sasaki that left the company last year because he didn't want to job to Nagata ever again...

NJ's better off without him.

[niniendo warrior]

Someone get my facts straight here. Did Sasaki resign from NJ or NJ ditch Sasaki?

Still, I think Kensuke is a vital component for the NJ puroresu revolution as he is the wrestler that ushered in the year 2000. I think Nagata is just letting his personal thoughts get in the way of long term progress for the company. Also, Mutoh seems interested in joining the 1/04 show. That would be great. Hmm... Sasaki, Chono, Mutoh, Tenzan, Nagata v Inoki Army... that would be neat!

I think World Japan needs to get a grip on what's going on because if they don't they're going to go into the abyss.

[Luds]

That Sasaki left or that he was technically "fired" is the same thing, his power struggle along Choshu died and he had no power left. He was also angry with Nagata and accused him of stealing his top spot (a year earlier, Nagata was leader of G-EGGS and Sasaki was champ) as he didn't really enjoy leading the young lions while Nagata had his big push. Finally, having to job to Nagata in a title match made him explode. New Japan doesn't need someone like him.

[edgehead1984]

New Japan doesn't need someone like him.

Nobody needs him, Hey, let Vince sign him.

[phil]

I read that WJ let all contracted talent out of their deals and that they were selloing off assets.

[Pheonix_Chi25]

That Sasaki left or that he was technically "fired" is the same thing, his power struggle along Choshu died and he had no power left. He was also angry with Nagata and accused him of stealing his top spot (a year earlier, Nagata was leader of G-EGGS and Sasaki was champ) as he didn't really enjoy leading the young lions while Nagata had his big push. Finally, having to job to Nagata in a title match made him explode. New Japan doesn't need someone like him.

Nope Luds, Sasaki, and Suzuki, went to the bosses of New Japan and all openly said they quit. But if I am wrong I do apologize.

I think World Japan needs to get a grip on what's going on because if they don't they're going to go into the abyss.>>

They already did that Nintendo Warrior. Most, if not all, of their top stars have left and joined other promotions (Omori in Zero-One, Koshinaka in NOAH, et al) Rumor has it Mutoh wants Yoji Anjo to come back to All Japan. You can just write the eulogy N.W., World Japan has died a very despicable death.

[niniendo warrior]

Hmm... I still don't know if Sasaki just really quit or he got fired. But from what I heard, Sasaki openly said he quit.

WJ is over? Well, atleast they tried. Effort points there. It seems to me that WJ was just a NJPW jr thing. Kinda like a spin-off.

Fujinami had closed-doors meeting with Kensuke Sasaki... Fujinami also said that Kensuke has desire to go back to true pro-wrestling... we'll see if he comes back. Inoki also says he has no complaints on having Mutoh on the show.

Well, R.I.P. World Japan.

[Sofa Kingdom]

World Japan never had any "Wow I gotta see that!" type of booking it was just another card after another. They could of benefited from some DDT style characteristics...

[Pheonix_Chi25]

You really want to know what drove the nail in to WJ's coffin...The day Kenzuo Suzuki signed with the WWE.