Nakamura IWGP Heavyweight Champion

[Luds]

Well friends, New Japan did it. This sounds like an Inoki move to me, having his 23 years old MMA fighter defeat hard working and deserving champion Tenzan... This is a very stupid move in my opinion.

1- Ryusuke Taguchi > Hirooki Goto in 6:43 (dropkick)
2- Shadow & American Dragon > Tatsutoshi Goto & Wataru Inoue in 12:33 (Diving Body Press)
3- Tiger Mask & Heat > Gedo & Katsushi Takemura in 9:34 (Tiger Suplex Hold)
4- Yutaka Yoshie & Blue Wolf & Toru Yano > Makai #1 & Mitsuya Nagai & Ryushi Yanagisawa in 13:59 (Canadian backbreaker)
5- Minoru Suzuki > Takashi Iizuka in 8:38 (Sleeper)
6- Yoshihiro Takayama & Shinya Makabe > Osamu Nishimura & Jushin Thunder Liger in 12:08 (German Suplex Hold)
7- Yuji Nagata & [b]Manabu Nakanishi[b] > Scott Norton & Josh Barnett in 17:13 (German Suplex Hold)
8- U30 Openweight Title: (C) Hiroshi Tanahashi > Naomichi Marufuji in 19:52 (Dragon Suplex Hold)
9- IWGP Heavyweight Title: Shinsuke Nakamura > (C) Hiroyoshi Tenzan in 12:03 (Cross armbreaker)

Seriously, something must be wrong with New Japan. They think that fans want some kind of youngster revolution or what? First, Tiger Mask IV wins the IWGP junior H title over Kanemoto. Tiger Mask was an undeserving champion, great talent, but way too young to be holding top prize in the division. Then, Tanahashi & Yoshie get the IWGP Tag titles. I like Tanahashi and I think that this is a good move as he's ready for tyhe next step. Tanahashi is the future of New Japan, he will be known as a legend one day, and this was time for him to get some gold. I also agree with the U30 title.

I don't agree with Nakamura defeating anyone for the IWGP H title. Don't get me wrong, I love Nakamura, he is a great athlete, and a great talent. He will some day, be a great wrestler in New Japan, but is Way too young and way too green to be holding this spot at thei time of his career! This makes everything that Tenzan accomplished in the last year seem meaningless (unless he recaptures the gold in a month, but we all know it won't happen). Inoki wanted his little star as champ to face Fedor at Bom Ba Ye

[Russ L]

Bizarre, quite frankly. Nakemura is great, but...why now?

Poor Tenzan. Push killed stone dead.

[edgehead1984]

What in the blue **** is Inoki thinking??? Nakamura great, but if a young lion was to capture the IWGP title right now it would have to be Tanahishi, not Nakamura, Inoki, methinks will regret this.

[Haiku Warrior]

Much respect to Shinsuke Nakamura, way to go!

I don't understand why everyone feels like they know what is best for New Japan. Nakamura has been a very good talent from his debut and (next to Tenzen or Tanahashi) was the one who had really had a good past 6 months. I know everyone likes Tenzen but just because a wrestler is popular and a great worker that doesn't mean you'll have the top spot. (If that is the case then Tommy Dreamer should have been ECW Champion as long as Shane Douglas. And not for a couple seconds if some of you don't remember.)

What is going on right now in NJ is great and I love it because I am a fan a puroresu. I hate when people spend time worrying about who's political power backstage is doing what... that is what KILLS fans love of a sport. Who cares?

Why don't some of you just respect Inoki/Fujinami/Sakuguchi or whoever's decision at the time is in question. Shinsuke Nakamura has been doing great and give him a chance to prove he's a champion worthy of holding that belt. Will he be a "Tadao Yasuda" champion or a "Hashimoto/Muta" champion? Only time will tell and it will be a great ride to watch. Strong Style Spirit forever!

[Jason]

First of all I really like Nakamura too. That being said, this is a really strange move. I can at least understand the argument that they believe really strongly in him and are willing to take a chance on him. But I have a hunch that the IWGP belt isn't going to be on him for very long. Most likely he'll lose it to Takayama at the 1/4/04 show. Others have speculated that the purpose of this is to set up a new Triple Crown match of Takayama (IWGP & NWF) vs. Kobashi (GHC).

I don't know whether or not that is true, but if it is then this was the wrong way to do it. I think all can agree that Tenzan is pretty much finished as a top draw since this totally cuts his legs out from under him and makes him look like a transititonal champion and one of the worst IWGP champs ever. But what does this do to Nakamura if he loses the belt in his first defense, as well?

Whether or not one likes to think about political decisions behind the scenes, this reeks of a political mess to me. I guess this gets Nakamura out of getting killed by Fedor on 12/31, but it doesn't save him from getting that "transitional champ" tag. Essentially, it seems that this move is going to undercut both Tenzan and Nakamura and in the end only serve to set up 1 big match in which Kobashi will probably take over NJ's titles.

[Pheonix_Chi25]

What in the blue **** is Inoki thinking??? Nakamura great, but if a young lion was to capture the IWGP title right now it would have to be Tanahishi, not Nakamura, Inoki, methinks will regret this.

Only one thing I can say right now, and that's "WOW"

I'm still trying to let it sink in that Shinsuke Nakamura is now "The Man" in New Japan. Don't get me wrong, I love Nakamura as well and he is a true talent in NJPW, and if you really think about it, this could be the thing that kicks off the New Generation push. Tanahashi has carried the U-30 Belt for what almost a year? He should be ready to step it up, right?

Everyone has their own judgements about why Nakamura shouldn't have the belt, and why he should. The only thing I can say my Puro Amigos....is wait and see.

[niniendo warrior]

Huh? Nakamura? Uh.. oh... kay...

Think of it this way. Now that Nakamura is the champ, Tenzan can capture the Tag titles and then later recapture the Heavyweight title.

Great job by Nakamura. Wouldn't have expected it. He is NOW, correct me if I'm wrong, the YOUNGEST IWGP Champion in history!

Takayama must lose to Nakamura! Then Tenzan will fight Nakamura AGAIN!

[Tradition Rules]

[QUOTE=Haiku Warrior]Much respect to Shinsuke Nakamura, way to go!

"I don't understand why everyone feels like they know what is best for New Japan. Nakamura has been a very good talent from his debut and (next to Tenzen or Tanahashi) was the one who had really had a good past 6 months."


To be honest, from all the posts I've read, anyone that objects is NOT objecting because Nakamura won, its because Tenzan lost. And not just because he lost,but he lost in his first title defense,...and he deserved the chance to have a decent run and a chance to prove himself. Its nothing against Nakamura.

"I know everyone likes Tenzen but just because a wrestler is popular and a great worker that doesn't mean you'll have the top spot."


This is deffinatly true,...the problem with this statement is the same is deffinatly be true about Nakamura. I think someday he will deffinatly be the man,...he just isn't right now. I just would have liked to see New Japan build him up, say maybe wiin the U-30 Openweight Title AND even the NWF Title first. It would have been more dramatic and really would have made Nakamura look really strong by winning the other titles first and it wouldn't have been at the expense of Tenzan. THAT is the problem that so many have with this match,that it could damage Tenzan's ability to draw and that is not good for New Japan either.


"What is going on right now in NJ is great and I love it because I am a fan a puroresu. I hate when people spend time worrying about who's political power backstage is doing what... that is what KILLS fans love of a sport. Who cares?"



Well truth be known when people backstage start weilding their power or pull for just what they want and not the overall good of the company,everyone should care. Its no different in others sports. This doesn't just kill a fans love of sports, it kills what you love about the sport.


"Why don't some of you just respect Inoki/Fujinami/Sakuguchi or whoever's decision at the time is in question."


First of all,the chance of Fujinami or Sakaguchi being behind this move is almost nill. Second, Inoki has made plenty of decisions that were not only questionable but counter-productive for New Japan and some of their big names and their drawing power (see Nagata vs Filopovic,Nakanishi vs TOA under K-1 rules, and destroying Hashimoto's drawing power by having him job to Ogawa on an almost monthly basis).



"Shinsuke Nakamura has been doing great and give him a chance to prove he's a champion worthy of holding that belt. Will he be a "Tadao Yasuda" champion or a "Hashimoto/Muta" champion? Only time will tell and it will be a great ride to watch."


I honestly hope that you're right, because we ALL want whats best for New Japan and puroresu.

T.R!

[Luds]

Well I have to say that yes, I'm against that move for many reasons.

Because it kills Tenzan's push, and because NJ owed him a long reign, and this makes a farce out of him.

But my main beef with this is that Nakamura isn't ready to be champ. I like the guy, but Tanahashi would have made much more sense here! Nakamura wasn't really on a strong push! He lost to Yoshie, Takayama & Nagata in the G1, lost his NWF title match to Takayama also a couple months back... He wasn't on a push! Tanahashi obviously was, with the U30 title, the Tag titles and the recent NOAH tag titles!

And the 3rd reason why I'm against it is because I also expect Takayama to defeat him on 1/4. I hope I'm wrong here, cause the move won't be as bad if Nakamure wins the unification match. He'll look much better after a solid win. But he would need a long reigh to be seen as a good champion, and many wrestlers wood look weak by loosing to him. He should defeat Takayama, then maybe Blue Wolf, Yoshie and Tanahashi before losing the title, maybe to Tenzan or Nagata...

[edgehead1984]

If they want to push the young lions have Nakamura defeat Takayama, then start to set up a program between Nakamura & Tanahishi, setting up a Tanahishi title win. Tanahishi should go over Fujinami at the Tokyo Dome, but he'll probably drop the IWGP tag titles to Nishizan at Nagoya.

Also the Nakamura-Takayama match is official for the Tokyo Dome plus Nagata-Sasaki.

[GlobalHonored]

Just to throw in my opinion:

I think it's GREAT! In a time when Puro overall is down and stagnate, NJ in particular has been less than impressive and their current stars like Nagata, Tenzan, Nakanishi, Nishimura & co. have done less than stellar business and have left nothing for the fans to really get excited about. Takayama, the outsider, has been the most consistent player for NJ in '03. What has been the most exciting thing in NJ this year? Well, it's been the rise of the young lions, Tanahashi, Yoshie, Shibata, Wolf & Nakamura.

This was a bold move, but now was as good a time as any, with a new year "beginning" on the horizon. This has gotten the Fight community in an uproar and has brought on more interest overnight than everything since 3/1 combined. Tenzan has been dominant this year, especially since his return, and shouldn't be looked upon as a failure. He won the IWGP, G1, G1 Tag, was a tag champ and likely to be again soon all in 2003. He has not been mistreated, in fact, he's been pushed as heavy as any NJ star in recent memory. This was just one loss, a surprising one to a surprising move. Now he has to get back on track and go for the belt again. But no one, not the fans, historians, wrestlers, or even bookers can take away the fact that Tenzan will always, along with the likes of Chono, Mutoh, Inoki, Choshu, Tenryu, Vader, Fujinami and other legends be an IWGP Champ.

This is a fresh booking move and may in fact wake the sleeping giant that is NJPW. A gen war looms and could raise fan interest much like the Misawa - Tsuruta gen wars more than a decade ago did for AJPW. Now we should hope that NJ follows through and allows Nakamura to carry the ball into the future, protecting him from any mma embarassment, and establish him with a title combining win over the monster Takayama on 1/4. Nagata & co. had their chance, now let the phenoms Naka & Tana have their opportunity.

[Pheonix_Chi25]

why don't we all just wait and see what happens?

[niniendo warrior]

Yes. Let's wait and see what NJ pulls next.

Good point. This match ALONE has awoken the pro-wrestling community in Japan and it gets many people to wonder what happens next.

I think in order to justify this win over Tenzan, Nakamura has to beat Takayama (to avenge his defeat as well as not make Tenzan and him look weak). Tenzan might take the IWGP tag titles, which isn't as special as the heavyweight strap for him since he won it 3 times, I think... but this move will give Tenzan another push and prevent him from taking a downward spiral.

I personally prefer Tanahashi to win the heavyweight title because of his brilliant performance. He could probably break all the record books in 2-3 months time! Because of his performance, I have a deep respect for him.

Nakamura has yet to prove his worth, but winning the IWGP is really a surprising feat and this is a big step for him to proving that he IS the man of New Japan.

So 2004 will tell the tale of whether this move by NJ is really smart or just plain hypocrisy.

[kkeller]

why don't we all just wait and see what happens?

Exactly a lot of things have to come together to make a successful reign some of them a champion can control some he can't.

[BadNews]

seriously Haiku we can say we dont like Inoki's move and you can say you dont like us not liking it. bottom line is: we got every right to be critical. its Nakamura's job to proove us wrong and I'm not saying I don't wish him luck with that. I'd rather see him do a great job and be a good champ cause im tired of what the IWGP title, which used to be the biggest thing in wrestling when i started to look beyond the former 'Big Two', has become nowadays. What im saying is, i dont see him pulling it off. they didnt even build him up properly.
Nakamura has transitional written all over him, mark my words. Inoki wants the title back with Takayama, but not on the expense of Tenzan. So Nakamura beats him (dumbest move ever), they wanna label that as a fluke later maybe when Tenzan gets revenge on Nakamura in a non-title match. That's my take, the other alternative is going all the way with Nakamura.

Anyway when did Takayama last defend that NWF title?