Antonio Inoki sells New Japan

[Black_Flag_Of_Ulster]

I'm kinda speechless. First the Eddie thing, and now the King of Sports.
Source

[Hisaharu Tanabe]

That's Yuke's, not Yukus.

I wasn't surprised that much, though. Antonio Inoki has been recently saying that he wouldn't mind closing or shrinking the company.

[Luds]

Time to start fresh and remove all MMA / USA guys who won't job from the company.

[The Great Gouki]

Well, on a good note...didn't Yuke's put out the Smackdown games? Maybe we can get some killer NJPW games!!

By the way, what does all this mean for New Japan? After Vince bought WCW that pretty much was the end. I'd like to think that New Japan will continue on....but who knows?

[Hisaharu Tanabe]

President of Yuke's said that he'd continue to let NJ handle their business.

This means that NJ's financial record will be clearer, which I think is very good for the company.

[Tradewynd]

A few interesting notes about the sale:

-Inoki claimed he was being forced out of the company, and sold it to prevent a hostile takeover. Since he owned more than 50% of the stock, I don't see how anyone could take control of the company from him without his consent. This is very different from what Livedoor tried to do to Fuji TV. The hostle takeover attempt has been rumored to have been done by DSE, WWE or FEG. What does not make sense is the Japanese press is claiming that the "hostile" party would have bought New Japan only to destroy it. Considering Inoki's price tag, that would be a rather expensive indulgence.

-Fujita and Lesnar (and a couple other people) are on Inoki's payroll, not New Japan's. This could become important later for New Japan. Fujita's participation on NJ's last Dome Show is now in doubt, although Lesnar will likely be there since he has the belt.

-After the 10/8 Dome Show, Inoki's debt was up to 500 million yen, and has been rumored to be growing. He was asking twice that for his shares of New Japan. He also has heat with K-1 and PRIDE, so he's running out of copromotion options to make money.

-Yukes is not going to be changing the management during the transition period. Anyone who doesn't like the new ownership can leave with no severance pay and give up any and all retirement benefits.

-Chosyu isn't getting fired, for now.

-All of NJ's current TV deals are safe, for now.

-This is getting more mainstream media coverage in Japan than Eddie's death got here.

-Yukes' stock has taken a 13% jump.

[DANGEROUS DAN]

THen it appears to be a sweet deal. Inoki keeps his face, and remains to have pull within. Yet, his horrific vision and handling of NJ affairs will no longer be the spiralling demise for the company.