Who should defeat Kobashi?

[edgehead1984]

In your opinion who should defeat Kobashi for the title?

[GlobalHonored]

no one for a very, very long time. After that, Akiyama would be logical choice.

[El Fiasco]

I agree, Kobashi should hold it very a looooong time.

I know he's not in very good shape anymore, but I'd love to see Akira Taue have a short reign as GHC champ, before dropping it to either Jun Akiyama, Scorpio, or Kobashi again.

I would love to see Takao Omori get the belt, but I don't think he's gonna be back in NOAH any time soon.

[pete]

Kobashi is a worthy champ indeed, and a great guy. He should hold the belt, as previous posters have said, a long time. He can really enhance the status of the GHC with some high profile defences, both within NOAH and outside (I'd love to see Kobashi - Nagata or Kobashi - Hashimoto). In the end, the strap should go to Akiyama, if NOAH haven't brought on some young talent by then.

[Hisaharu Tanabe]

I corrected Misawa's first name.

[Jason]

I think Rusher Kimura is due for a shot.

[edgehead1984]

Thanks, Hisa.

[GlobalHonored]

That's a 5 star match in the making: Rusher vs. Kobashi.
& on the undercard in a #1 contenders match-up:Eigan vs. Mimota for shot at whoever comes out of that epic battle.

[Luds]

No One!

[The Great Maijin]

at first i was going to go with Chono but Akiyama would be the better choice

[Jason]

I'm tempted to say that Chono should win and then Kobashi win it back in a return match. An overused and predictable formula, but the GHC Title could use a bit more prestige that Chono would offer than anyone else. Maybe even allow Chono to defend it a few times in a New Japan ring first. Naaahhh!! I must be high.

[Luds]

Originally posted by Jason
I'm tempted to say that Chono should win and then Kobashi win it back in a return match. An overused and predictable formula, but the GHC Title could use a bit more prestige that Chono would offer than anyone else. Maybe even allow Chono to defend it a few times in a New Japan ring first. Naaahhh!! I must be high.

Maybe not... That's exactly what happened with the IWGP JR Heavyweight Tag titles... Kanemaru & Kikichi won them from Lyger & Tanaka... Lyger got pinned. Then the NOAH team defended them against Samurai & Naruse, KENTA & Sugiura, Modest & Morgan, Jado & Gedo, then lost to Lyger & Kanemoto...

So NJ allowed 2 of their teams to lose before the dream team won the titles back...

I could see Chono win the belt, defend it against someone like Saito or Honda... then lose it back to Kobashi...

[Jason]

I could see Chono win the belt, defend it against someone like Saito or Honda... then lose it back to Kobashi...

I would draw a distinction though between the IWGP Jr. Tag Titles and NOAH's top title. I don't think it looks good for NOAH not to have a heavyweight singles title on anyone in their promotion. Also, even though it's unlikely to happen, you run the risk of Chono and NJ doing whatever they want with the title once they have it and not returning it to Kobashi.

[Luds]

Well I'd assume that IF the GHC title is to come to NJ, all title defences would be discussed and a return date and/or opponant would be set up...

It's not like Misawa would allow Chono to win his promotion's top belt and return it on blind faith... I'm sure a signed agreement would have to be made...

[El Fiasco]

What about...

...if the same night Chono brings the GHC title to New Japan, Takayama wins the IWGP strap off Nagata but brings it to NOAH??? After all, in a recent interview, Takayama said he would make NOAH his permanent home after the 5/2 match, because he wants to win back the GHC title...



Hey, Inoki loves Takayama enough that it JUST MIGHT happen!