NOAH to host own Heavyweight League?

[GlobalHonored]

Kenta Kobashi recently told reporters that he was interested in NOAH holding a Heavyweight League each year much like AJ's Champion Carnival, Z-1's Fire Festival, and especially like NJ's G1 Climax, which he praised and hinted that he would observe closely, buying a ticket to the final.

If Misawa and NOAH do indeed institute a heavyweight round robin tournament that would mean that Misawa's big singles match ups that he spreads throughout the year would greatly be used up over the length of the tournament as NOAH's roster is not as deep as NJ's. Also, Misawa's predictable bookings would be jeopardized when the Juniors or weaker tag partners couldn't take the falls for everyone. Still, it could be a tour that does a lot of business, not that NOAH's struggling right now, and it could lead into title shots and new rivalries like Champion Carnival did during the All Japan glory days.

[GlobalHonored]

How do you guys feel about a NOAH League?

As booker how would you set it up?


Here's how I'd do it:

Much like G1 and best Carnivals, I'd split a group of 10 or 12 into 2 divisions where points are awarded based on results; 2/5 for win, 1/2 for draw. Division A winner would face Division B Runner Up and Vice Versa to meet in a winner take all final.

Division A: --- Division B:
Kenta Kobashi --- Jun Akiyama
Akira Taue --- Mitsuharu Misawa
Yoshinari Ogawa --- Takuma Sano
Tamon Honda --- Takeshi Morishima
Takeshi Rikio --- Yoshihiro Takayama
Akitoshi Saito --- Daisuke Ikeda


Division A #1)Kobashi #2)Honda
Division B #1)Takayama #2)Akiyama

Tag Match before on show before final: Kobashi & Honda defeat Takayama & Akiyama

Semis: Akiyama defeats Kobashi, Takayama defeats Honda

Final: Akiyama defeats Takayama

[Peru-Yakuza]

I think a singles tourney is long overdue. Give it to Kobashi, Misawa's already won the CC twice. Akiyama would be a good deal, but I would give it to him the second year. I wouldn't include Ogawa on any of the tourney bookings as well.

[Luds]

Originally posted by Peru-Yakuza
I think a singles tourney is long overdue. Give it to Kobashi, Misawa's already won the CC twice. Akiyama would be a good deal, but I would give it to him the second year. I wouldn't include Ogawa on any of the tourney bookings as well.

I agree with Peru on this:

No Ogawa, and Misawa doesn't need to win, although I would like someone to beat him in the semis. Honda shouldn't pass either...

I'd go with Takayama, Misawa, Akiyama & Kobashi.

[edgehead1984]

WHERE'S RUSHER KIMURA?????????????????????????

[tigerdriver92]

I think a singles tourney is long overdue. Give it to Kobashi, Misawa's already won the CC twice. Akiyama would be a good deal, but I would give it to him the second year. I wouldn't include Ogawa on any of the tourney bookings as well.

Agreed. I dont think Misawa would book himself to win anyway, but Kobashi is the ideal man to win the first tourny. I wouldn't include Ogawa either, but you'd be mad to think that Misawa wouldn't include him.

I'd go with Takayama, Misawa, Akiyama & Kobashi.

Putting Misawa in the Semi's would do nothing for anyone, unless Aki beat him. If Kobashi beat him it'd mean nothing, as he has done it before. Navigate For Evolution was the passing of the torch IMO, from Misawa to Kobashi, and unless Aki was booked with him in the Semi's, I'd go with Honda instead of Misawa.

[Peru-Yakuza]

Originally posted by tigerdriver92
[B]I wouldn't include Ogawa either, but you'd be mad to think that Misawa wouldn't include him.

I'll book him to be the one who gets the goose egg. ZERO!

[Tradition Rules]

Originally posted by Peru-Yakuza
I'll book him(Ogawa) to be the one who gets the goose egg. ZERO!

I agree,as even though I'm among the faithfull(?) who despise the push Yoshinari Ogawa has received,it would,unfortunatly,make little sense to NOT book a former GHC Heavyweight Tag Team & Singles champion in the tournament.


Let him be there to put over more deserving talent during this tournament once a year.

I look forward to NOAH also promoting a heavyweight tag team tournament as well as Jr hvywt versions.

I would like to see NOAH's main tournaments be a single block league. I think a singles A & B two block tournament would be great with both Hvys and Jrs participating,as this could be one of the VERY few times a Jr could defeat and/or advance over a heavyweight.


Either way,I'm looking forward to see how it is booked and any reviews and possible adding it to my tape collection. The innitial tournamnet would be a special event.


T.R!

[Jason]

I like the idea of Akiyama vs. Takayama.

A) It's a fresh match-up.

B) If Akiyama makes a strong showing in the G-1 (which I presume he will, or why bother participating?), he could be on a major roll if he were to win the NOAH tournament to set up a GHC showdown with Kobashi or maybe a rematch with Nagata or whichever NJ guy ends up eliminating him in the G-1.

C) There's simply no other heavyweight on the NOAH roster who's ready to be a fixture in the main events. If NOAH is ever going to turn Akiyama into a true draw, it has to be soon since he's had that "next big thing" label attached to him for far too long.

[Pheonix_Chi25]

Kenta Kobashi recently told reporters that he was interested in NOAH holding a Heavyweight League each year much like AJ's Champion Carnival, Z-1's Fire Festival, and especially like NJ's G1 Climax, which he praised and hinted that he would observe closely, buying a ticket to the final.

If Misawa and NOAH do indeed institute a heavyweight round robin tournament that would mean that Misawa's big singles match ups that he spreads throughout the year would greatly be used up over the length of the tournament as NOAH's roster is not as deep as NJ's. Also, Misawa's predictable bookings would be jeopardized when the Juniors or weaker tag partners couldn't take the falls for everyone. Still, it could be a tour that does a lot of business, not that NOAH's struggling right now, and it could lead into title shots and new rivalries like Champion Carnival did during the All Japan glory days.

I say go for it. An alternative to the G-1 and the AJPW Champions Carnival (good grief Muto) is a good thing. And with Akinyama in the G-1, this would be a good bet.

I disagree to agree with Jason, if pushed right, Saito, Ikeda, Morishima and Rikio can be draws. Takuma Sano, if you really look at it, has experienced a rebirth in NOAH. Rikio (or is it Morishima) said he was going to drop weight and learn some Vale Tudo skills to up his game and become a main eventer.

I will say that NOAH doesn't have the heavyweight star power of New Japan or Zero One, although I could be wrong, it also wouldn't hurt to add some trainees because Taue and Misawa are going to eventually retire one day. And the reigns, so to speak, will be handed over to the Rikios, Morishimas, Akinyamas and Kobashis of the future.

And if this made any sense please let me know.

[edgehead1984]

I agree with you Pheonix, NOAH has become a bit monotonous with their shows who have become repetitive, a tournament could spice up things a bit, look at the Jr. Heavyweight Title Tournament.