Rikio and the future of NOAH

[edgehead1984]

What do you Rikio's reign will mean for the future of NOAH. Will his reign propel NOAH into the future, or will he be fed to somebody soon...

[Luds]

He won't do much. No charisma.

He'll keep the title for a few months, and then they'll hand it to someone with charisma (Morishima) or back to daddy Misawa

[Haiku Warrior]

NOAH better find a solution (charisma if that is what they need/want). Since the early 90s its been Misawa/Kobashi/Kawada. Now they have just traded Kawada with Akiyama in the title scene. They NEED fresh blood now! They can use Misawa & Akiyama for the title picture but that is the obvious choice and only a short term solution. Rikio better have something up his sleeve because NOAH needs a dominant champion whose name isn't Mitsuharu, Kenta, or Jun.

[Pheonix_Chi25]

This is all the more reason NOAH needs to CREATE stars. I respect Rikioh as champion, but he is a 6'-3", 295 lbs. Dean Malenko (can wrestle, but had no charisma when he was in WCW anyway).

Maybe this might not be so bad, there have been smart alecks who said Benoit had no Charisma and what not, but he won the WWE Heavyweight Title. There may be something special Rikioh has, we just have to wait and see.

[Haiku Warrior]

I also add Yoshinari to my list.

[mteeters]

What's the deal with him being booed in his first defense? Are the fans down on him already?

[Black_Flag_Of_Ulster]

Sure thing. They wanna see it on Ratboy.

[Haiku Warrior]

:Haiku ducks as Luds throws a copy of 'Ratboy Unlimited' DVD at Black Flag:

[Luds]

Rat Boy is about the only wrestler in NOAH I woulsn't want to see ever. Not live, not on TV, not as Heavyweight champ...

I'd be up for Rat Boy to return a job to Rikio in a title match.

[Black_Flag_Of_Ulster]

How can you hate a man with such funky pants?

[Luds]

Coz pants aren't enough to make a wrestler

[Pheonix_Chi25]

Maybe it's time Morishima won it or Kobashi took it back no?

[Black_Flag_Of_Ulster]

Coz pants aren't enough to make a wrestler

Shawn Michaels begs to differ.

[Sofa Kingdom]

Maybe they can push Rikio into a heel, like the success of beating Kobashi goes to his head and starts doing anything to keep the title using all sorts of dirty tactics... you know.. like your run-of-the-mill American wrestling heel. It will test his character.

[Haiku Warrior]

Shawn Michaels begs to differ.

You floor me sometimes! I was wondering about those myself.

As far as Rikio... the guy needs a little time to build up any momentum he could have after beating Kobashi. I didn't read any reports on his match with Saito. Does anyone know how it went over with the fans?