Question about Hustle

[ECWfan]

In the UK we will be getting Zero-One and Zero-One Max in a few weeks on The Wrestling Channel. But I have some questions about Hustle.

1.) Is 'Hustle' directly connected to Zero-One?

2.) What is with all the gimmicks etc. and that guy who looks like M Bison from Streetfighter 2?

3.) What is 'Hustle House' is this the same thing?

4.) Who is the main booker etc. for 'Hustle' and isn't it owned by Dreamstage Entertainment who are also involded with MMA.

5.) Who are some of the big names to compete in 'Hustle'?

6.) Is this a shoot, worked shoot or just a normal wrestling promotion?

Apologies if these questions have been asked before, but I'd like to know abit more about it.

[mrpayperview]

Tradewynd is the authority on Hustle, but I'll do my best:

1.) I don't think HUSTLE is directly connected with Zero-One, but the two are very close together

2.) The gimmicks are a take off of Sports Entertainment, and the guy who looks like M. Bison is Generalissimo Takada (Nobuhiko Takada)

3.) HUSTLE HOUSE is basically the HUSTLE House shows, like the smaller shown on a New Japan or All Japan show

4.) Hustle is owned by DSE, and is booked by Nobuhiko Takada and Yuji Shimoda, with help from Steve Corino, Naoya Ogawa and Riki Choshu

5.) Naoya Ogawa, Riki Choshu, Toshiaki Kawada, Shinya Hashimoto, Shinjiro Ohtani, The Great Sasuke and Kaz Hayahi have all competed in HUSTLE

6.) HUSTLE is the Japanese take on Sports Entertainment (WWE Style wrestling)

[Tradewynd]

The expert is here. Nobody is Monster like I am Monster.

1. HUSTLE and Zero-One MAX are both owned by Dream Stage Entertainment, who also owns PRIDE. A lot of Zero-One MAX workers appear in HUSTLE since DSE already has them under contract, and all of the money comes from the same place, although there is no "official" relationship between the two pomotions. Zero-One workers have appeared in HUSTLE, and some HUSTLE workers, like Monster C, have appeared in Zero-One.

2. The gimmicks come from a variety of places. Because it's different from "normal" puroresu gimmicks, a lot of people think it's a sports entertainment type of thing, although many times it really isn't. The HUSTLE Kamens, for example, parody sentai, which has nothing to do with sports entertainment. To further the sentai parody, they recently added a fat guy and a chick, both of which are necessary in the classic sentai formula. HUSTLE K's Bruce Lee gimmick isn't exactly sports entertainment based either. There is no one in HUSTLE who looks like M. Bison either. Takada-soto, aka Generalissimo, leader of Team Takada Monster, future ruler of the world and destroyer of puroresu looks like Vega. See my avatar, it looks nothing like M. Bison. Just because the real names are too hardcore for Capcom of America is not a valid excuse to use the fake American names.

3. HUSTLE HOUSE is Takada-soto's attempt to disrespect puroresu traditions of running no production value shows in small buildings. He brings the lights, gimmicks, special effects, backstage vignettes and more to all of puro's sacred venues. On a business level some argue that they are more effective than the large HUSTLE shows, since every HUSTLE HOUSE show thus far has sold out. They have also tended to have better wrestling matches for some reason. As far as storylines are concerned, there is just as much storyline development on a HUSTLE HOUSE show as there is on a major HUSTLE show, and all HUSTLE HOUSE shows are broadcasted on SkyPerfect.

4. In the begining it was booked by everyone in DSE who knew nothing about wrestling, but now Takada does most of the booking, and Ogawa always gets his way, because if he doesn't his yakuza homeboys will come to kill you. Other people have input, but the buck stops with the Generalissimo. Corino books most of the gaijins, and has a minimal amount of creative input, because HUSTLE is considered to be primarily a Japanese concept by management. He has about as much pull as he has in Zero-One MAX. The HHH Bat is rumored to have been his idea.

5. In addition to people previously mentioned: Vader, Kojima, Dan Bobish, Ayako Hamada, Hikaru, Yingling, An Joe, Mick Foley, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, Sonjay Dutt, Flying Vampire 23, Steve Corino, Aja Kong...tons of people have worked HUSTLE. Somewhere on HUSTLEHUSTLE.com they actually have photos of everyone who has worked HUSTLE.

6. HUSTLE is the biggest shoot in the history of shoots. Takada is really trying to take over the world, Yingling is really a terrorist, An Joe really speaks with his wannabe gaijin accent and uses English all of the time, Kawada is really Bruce Lee II, Kantaku is really a pervert and Spanky really has a girlfriend.

I will field any other questions or DVD orders you may have. I ship worldwide and have very low prices.

We are Monster! We are Monster! We are Monster! Dooooooooooo za HUSTLE!!!!!!

[ECWfan]

Thanks for answering the questions.

[Tradewynd]

Always glad to help. If you have more questions about HUSTLE, I put up a general "What is HUSTLE?" article on my blog. If you have any questions that aren't answered there, or if it sparks new questions, feel free to ask.