Nakamura to vacate IWGP Title

[Luds]

Various reports over the internet state that due to eye injuries from his K-1 12/31/03 fight and due to his 01/04/04 fight, Nakamura is vacating the IWGP Heavyweight Title!

Darn that Inoki!

[GlobalHonored]

This is bad news to say the least. It's been reported that Nakamura is "handing in" his Title due to injuries that were far worse than originally thought stemming from his 12/31 K1 fight and of course not helped much by fighting Takayama just days later. Chono is trying to put together a mini 8 man tourney to crown a "provisional" IWGP Champ in Nakamura's absence. What does this all mean, "Handing In" & "Provional"? Not sure. I hope Naka is back soon and healthy enough to whoop the some provisional ase!

[Luds]

There would be nothing wrong with him keeping the title and not defending it for 3 months! That's fine! He doesn't need to vacate it!

If not then just have the typical 8 men tournament between the top 8 heavyweights in NJ (Chono, Tenzan, Takayama, Barnett, Nakanishi, Nishimura, Tanahashi, Yoshie) come to mind, and just put the strap on Chono till Nakamura comes back. Then have Chono defend it maybe once to Yoshie or Tanahashi, and then have him lose to Nakamura!

[GlobalHonored]

Makes sense to me Luds. Or have Tenzan win again only to job back to Nakamura right away. Hahahahahahaha!

[Luds]

Well, that's why I said that Chono should get the title... I don't want any transitional champ other than himself because it would look bad for them. Tenzan, Takayama, Nishimura and the rest should not just be champs for 2 months.

[niniendo warrior]

Well, that's why I said that Chono should get the title... I don't want any transitional champ other than himself because it would look bad for them. Tenzan, Takayama, Nishimura and the rest should not just be champs for 2 months.

WAH! Another person wants Chono to job!!!!

But Luds, your suggestion is very much reasonable. Chono did mention that his suggestion for the tournament would be Fujita, Takayama, Tenryu, Himself, Tenzan, Nagata, and Tanahashi. I think either him or Tenryu would be good. IF he can get Mutoh to join this tourney... and maybe have Mutoh win... and then, Nakamura vs Mutoh!!!!! YEEEHAW!!!

[edgehead1984]

I agree with Luds here, Chono as a transitional champ would be a good thing for New Japan. He deserves a reign since he has never had a real chance with the belt, and will give that bit of prestige to allow to glide into legend status, because of his physical condition isn't getting better. Chono should defeat Yoshie, not Tanahishi, then lose to a returning Nakamura. I'm a Chono fan, but everybody must job at some point. I wish certain wrestlers could open their eyes to that fact, not naming anybody .

[Pheonix_Chi25]

Better Chono than Sasaki. If they gave the belt to Kensuke after what he did to New Japan, Oh boy NJPW would practically riot, strike...or both.

[Hisaharu Tanabe]

Nakamura's condition isn't good, but he doesn't vacate the title.
New Japan will decide a temporary champion in a tournament on Feb 15th.

[Luds]

Yeah, Hisa is right, he hasn't vacated it yet. THe situation is very vague, and babelfish isn't the best thing either... I wish I could speak Japanese!

So for now, a Temp champion will get the title. But shouldn't this go on record? And then just have Nakamura win back the title?

[niniendo warrior]

Chono did say that if Nakamura's condition doesn't improve, even though he's suspended as a champion, he may have to hand in the title. This doesn't say, though, that if he does get stripped, the winner of the tournament automatically gets promoted to Champion status.

[Pheonix_Chi25]

This makes no sense. There should be just one champion no temporary nothing. And if it means Nakamura giving up the belt, boo hoo let him get in line and try again.

It's not fair that other wrestlers should suffer because Nakamura is injured or be called a "temporary" champion. That's not fair.

[niniendo warrior]

As crazy and illogical this interim thing might sound to you, it's now there, so there's really nothing you can do about it.

Reminds me of what UFC and Pride did.

Here are my possible defense on this interim champion. A champion has earned the title because he worked for it. He has undergone all obstacles to be on top of the world, the king of the hill, so to speak. Not being able to defend the title because of the harsh schedule and his battered body doesn't disprove his worth as a champion. He remains the champion until proven to be beaten. So, Nakamura put himself in a lot of stress and a lot of pains, and NJPW sympathizes with him. Since he wasn't really beaten by anybody, he should stay as champion.

It's the only rationale I can give. And it's a flawed one. If you think this interim champ is crap, then, what do you say about Tito v Randy at the UFC, as this also is a very similar scenario.

AND, I think, Chono is giving Nakamura a rest period and if he really cannot come back, he has to go in line with the rest of them. This may also mean that if he comes back, he instantly gets a title shot, but this is mere speculation. If Nakamura can come back, the interim champ will meet him there for his V1 defense. This is all how I absorb all the information regarding this issue, so it may not completely be correct. (Or worse, TOTALLY WRONG.)

[Luds]

Well as long as the interim champ doesn't just hand back the title to Nakamura without wrestling a match...

[Pheonix_Chi25]

True that Luds