IWGP Provisional champ tournament

[edgehead1984]

This thread is about the upcoming tournament to crown a provisional champion due to the absence of current champ Shinsuke Nakamura due to injuries suffered in his 12/31 fight against Alexey Ignashov and his 01/04 match against Yoshihiro Takayama.

Who do you think will be will win said tournament????

Please use this thread for all related info about this tournament.

[SpinalParalysis]

Chono has to be the most sensible and realistic choice to win this tournament. The other fighters have too much to risk, be it losing heat with a job to Nakamura (i.e. Tenzan, Nagata and even Takayama, to be losing another high profile match to Nakamura), too old to give the title enough credibility to the title (I love Tenryu, but the man is the wrong side of 5-0) or just cant cut the mustard (Yasuda).

Chono is the only remaining viable choice as having a run with the title, even if it is only provisional will restore some of his old credibility, and a match against the supernova Nakamura will both help fans get back into NJ, and also may serve as a great catalyst for the generation fued NJ are looking to start off. Also, a job to nakamura will help boost Makamura with a victory against another big name and Chono wont be too effected by the loss

However, i am just assuming that Nakamura will instantly win the belt back, but NJ have been surprising everyone lately so i guess anything could happen, (well except Yasuda winning, now that would be a tragedy!)

[niniendo warrior]

I think it's about time Chono gets a little respect from New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Look, he's only held the title once. That's ridiculous for a legend like him. Besides, he won't really hurt anyone's image here...

here's an excerpt from SSS regarding the tournament.

"Chono today announced the two seeds for the IWGP Heavyweight Title Provisional Champion Tournament. Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Yoshihiro Takayama will both go automatically into the second round. Chono explained that they are the two most recent IWGP Heavyweight champions, besides Nakamura of course, so to be fair would get byes. This leaves Chono, Nagata, Tenryu, and Yasuda to fight it out in round one. The possibility of Nagata vs. Tenryu just became stronger, and if that is realized, Chono vs. Yasuda will be the other first round match. Meanwhile, Chono again dismissed the possibility of Kensuke appearing as "X" on 2/2. Chono said that if Tenryu announces him as "X", it would be completely rejected..."

[Luds]

I would say that a win for Chono would be the smartest choice for many reasons: He's a legend and has only won the title once. A loss to Nakamura won't kill his popularity at all. I still say that he should have won that cage match against Takayama last year, and he could have lost the title to Tenzan himself which would have been a huge match! But hey... I guess that NJ thought it was smarter to have Tenzan vs. Takayama for the 3rd time in a year...

Second choice on my list is... Yasuda. WHAT? Yep. Yasuda getting the title would be a huge upset. It would bring back some heat and everyone in New Japan would just hate him as champ! Good move here for New Japan as him losing the title later would still have him quite high as a heel.

Third choice: Tenryu (only if he signs full time with NJ) If not then forget it, having a Nagata or Tenzan or Takayama isn't a good idea.

[niniendo warrior]

I agree. But I don't think Yasuda is a good choice.

[Pheonix_Chi25]

As mucha s I love Chono, and he deserves it, Nagata is gonna have one more run.

[Luds]

Yes, Nagata will have one more run, but the key word here is run. Nagata won't just win the title in the tourney, and drop it to Nakamura. (Of course, we're all assuming that the champ will lose to Nakamura as soon as he comes back)

[Pheonix_Chi25]

Let's hope not. Let's sincerelly hope not.

[niniendo warrior]

How about Chono winning the tournament and beating Nakamura... and then, jobbing to Tenzan?

[edgehead1984]

That would be good, except Chono should have done that last year with Takayama...

Seeding for the tourney from SSS:

1. IWGP Heavyweight Title Provisional Champion Tournament - Round 1: Yuji Nagata vs. Tadao Yasuda
2. IWGP Heavyweight Title Provisional Champion Tournament - Round 1: Masahiro Chono vs. Genichiro Tenryu
3. IWGP Heavyweight Title Provisional Champion Tournament - Semi Final: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Winner of Nagata/Yasuda
4. IWGP Heavyweight Title Provisional Champion Tournament - Semi Final: Yoshihiro Takayama vs. Winner of Chono/Tenryu

[Luds]

Niniendo, sounds like a great plan!

[niniendo warrior]

I knew this would appease a lot of angry people at what NJ and Nak did... especially this prov champ thing...

Having Chono wear the belt after Nakamura won't hurt anyone... it will only show that the super nova has room to grow... and he may get a comeback soon... also, having Chono lose to Tenzan would be fantastic as it really should have been Tenzan entering 2004 as the IWGP champion...

[Black_Flag_Of_Ulster]

I have to say I can't see Nakamura doing the J-O-B to Chono after beating Takayama and Tenzan.

[Spunkwhy]

Sasaki will probably have a run in at some point, and take out Nagata, putting Yasuda into the next round. Which simply means, Chono is the only likely candidate out of all the names.

Its about time Chono gets a run. Chono *IS* the name in New Japan, might as well stop avoiding it, and take a title run while he is in decent condition.

[niniendo warrior]

Black Flag, why?