Bob Sapp vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi???

[Luds]

Stu announced on his site that there is a good chance that Bob Sapp makes his 2nd IWGP Heavyweight title defense (well, 3rd if the K1 match against Fujita is an official defense) against Hiroshi Tanahashi!!!!!

Tanahashi said that he would also want this match against Sapp to be his 9th defense (given that he defeats Taguchi as his 8th) of the U-30 title as Sapp is under 30.

I'm totally dreaming now, but if Taguchi defeats Tanahashi for the U-30 title, there is a chance that Tanahashi will be pushed as main heavyweight right away! Having him defeat Sapp would be awesome! Although I don't think that he will just yet!

[edgehead1984]

That would be awesome, especially if Tanahishi wins.

[Luds]

Yeah, the more I think of it, the more I think Tanahashi has a chance. NJ already showed us that they were ready to push younger guys like Makamura to the top. Well they've been pushing Tanahashi for a full year now, and I really think that he has a shot.

[edgehead1984]

Well Tanahishi in a sick and perverted way can thank the girl who stabbed him, because he's been on a roll since he came back from that incident.

[Luds]

True, and the more he becomes popular the more girls are going to be after him. Watch out Tanahashi!

[edgehead1984]

I don't think there are any other stalkers out there, he probably is on his guard after that incident.

The match is set for 06/05 at Osaka, where the Nakamura upset took place.

[Luds]

Well I'm not sure if they'll wait to see the outcome of the Nakamura K1 fight before deciding who the next champ will be... I guess that if he wins, they'll retire him from MMA and give him the IWGP title

[masterblaster-rob]

One way or the other its gonna be an intersting match

[Pheonix_Chi25]

Well folks Taguchi lost to Tanahashi and Sapp Vs. Tanahashi is on.
I hope Tanahashi does win and goes on a long run with the belt, but what will Tanahashi do with the U-30 if he wins?

[Luds]

Good question phoenix, that's one of the reasons why I think that Sapp will win.

But if Tanahashi won, I assume that he'd vacate the title instead of defending both.

[edgehead1984]

I think he would vacate it, because the title would be useless since he would be holding the big one.

[Luds]

Well that would be one way to really keep him on top, have him vacate the U30 instead of losing it and then going for the IWGP.

It brings a lot of possibilities to the young lions! Probably a tournament, or maybe another G2 Climax!

[edgehead1984]

They have been performing so well, another tourney, could be a good thing for them.

[Pheonix_Chi25]

Well the jabroni's of K-1 are still pushing to have the IWGP Title when Sapp faces Fujita. Uei says that if Fujita won the belt (Fujita is a New Japan trueborn but not under contract) it would still mean nothing.

[Luds]

They don't want to risk Sapp losing it