The Great Voyage Continues - Pro Wrestling NOAH Thread

bomaye
Opener

Posts: 203

The Great Voyage Continues - Pro Wrestling NOAH Thread Dec 31, 2014 15:32:49 GMT -5 Emperor Ihsahn likes this

Quote

Post by bomaye on Dec 31, 2014 15:32:49 GMT -5

The last big show was the Year End in Korakuen Show headlined by Marufuji/Nakajima/Yone vs Tencozy and Nagata from New Japan. Also had the TLC Match Emperor of Tohoku has mentioned a few other places.

I only ended up watching TMDK vs Sugiura/Saito (solid match) and the main event. Nagata gave Nakajima the business and now I want to see that match (actually it may already have happened, I came in late into Nagata's GHC Title reign). I skimmed the TLC Match, but as much as I like Kenou I just don't really go to Japan for garbage wrestling. I will admit Pesadilla having his mask removed during the brawl was a pretty cool touch.

I might go back and watch Sekimoto vs Kitamiya too, I hadn't realized that A) this was a 5-match "beat-up the young boy" series and B) Kitamiya is a Masa Saito/Kensuke Sasaki trainee.

The next major show is New Year Navigation on January 10th from Korakuen Hall. Card taken from Puroresu Spirit:

(1) Yoshinari Ogawa vs. Hitoshi Kumano
(2) Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Jonah Rock
(3) Muhammed Yone & Taiji Ishimori vs. Daisuke Sekimoto & Yuji Okabayashi [both BJW]
(4) Maybach Taniguchi, Kenou [MichiPro] & Hajime Ohara [FREE] vs. Yoshihiro Takayama [FREE], Akitoshi Saito & Genba Hirayanagi
(5) GHC Junior Prelude Match: Atsushi Kotoge & Katsuhiko Nakajima [DIAMOND RING] vs. Daisuke Harada & Quiet Storm [FREE]
(6) Mitsuhiro Kitamiya Rugged Fortitude Single 5 Match Series: Mitsuhiro Kitamiya vs. Takeshi Morishima

(7) GHC Tag Championship Match: [31st Champions] “Dangan Yankees” Takashi Sugiura & Masato Tanaka vs. [Challengers] “TMDK” Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste
~ 5th title defense.

(8) GHC Heavyweight Championship Match: [22nd Champion] Naomichi Marufuji vs. [Challenger] Satoshi Kojima
~ 6th title defense.

Looking forward to both title matches. I'm predicting the Dangan Yankees retain because I think there'll be some negotiations to try and get the NWA Tag Titles and maybe the IWGP Tag Titles (this one is a stretch) on them at the same time. I think Kojima takes the Heavyweight crown from Marufuji.

I don't see a lot of matches I'm gonna end up skipping either (probably the first match and maybe the GHC Junior Prelude match).

Butch
Midcarder

TAKIN' A MULLIGAN

Posts: 657

The Great Voyage Continues - Pro Wrestling NOAH Thread Dec 31, 2014 16:17:28 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Butch on Dec 31, 2014 16:17:28 GMT -5

Their Junior Division aside, I can't stand NOWA. I honestly think Marufuji is one of the worst "mainstream" wrestlers on the planet in the last 5-6 years. He's totally unwatchable. That jerkoff face and Nakamura wannabe hairdo certainly doesn't help. Morishima is a parody of his former self. Nakajima has regressed. Sugiura has regressed. Yone is awful. Maybach, lol Maybach. They should just say fuck it and unify the singles belt into openweight class and drop the whole faux traditionalism.

Also, the green ring has become a huge issue with me watching NOAH too, it's so ugly.

Emperor Ihsahn
Administrator

I am big in Japan!

Posts: 10,042

The Great Voyage Continues - Pro Wrestling NOAH Thread Dec 31, 2014 17:45:21 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Emperor Ihsahn on Dec 31, 2014 17:45:21 GMT -5

I like the green ring actually, it was what sparked my interest back in 2005. Then again, I absolutely despise the WWE's ring...I hate everything about it, the ropes, the mat, the posts and I always have. So anything that is different is better imo lol. I also disagree with the Marafuji hate, he still entertains me but there is an obvious difference in him since Misawa died and since Kenta left, he seems like he is just going through the motions now hoping for New Japan to call him.

That card for Korakuen looks decent, although kinda underwhelming...Marafuji/Kojima would have excited me in 2007-2008 but now I don't really care too much.

bomaye
Opener

Posts: 203

The Great Voyage Continues - Pro Wrestling NOAH Thread Dec 31, 2014 20:05:29 GMT -5

Quote

Post by bomaye on Dec 31, 2014 20:05:29 GMT -5

I am and will forever remain a Marufuji mark.

I do wonder if Misawa's death had an impact on the stiffness and dangerous moves of the promotion, though. No one hits nearly as hard as they used to for the most part, Morishima especially, he used to swing through his lariats and decapitate his opponents, now he just lets the bump do the job for him. Not that I'd really blame them, you shouldn't be killing yourselves for smaller crowds.

I've still found things to latch onto these days thankfully. The New Japan guys are always fun and that should only get better, I think Kenou is a star, Daisuke Sekimoto has a weird body but won me over with his consistent matches, I love everything about the Maybach Taniguchi gimmick, TMDK are really talented, and the older guys are all solid even at their worst.

Emperor Ihsahn
Administrator

I am big in Japan!

Posts: 10,042

The Great Voyage Continues - Pro Wrestling NOAH Thread Dec 31, 2014 20:23:58 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Emperor Ihsahn on Dec 31, 2014 20:23:58 GMT -5

Honestly...I've noticed a huge difference in the way most Noah guys work since Misawa died. Bison Smith hasn't been the same since that day and I really feel for those guys who were in the ring with him. It's like the Mammoth Sasaki situation where he lost all confidence after the Hayabusa injury and it wasn't until Hayabusa yelled at him a few years later in private about how he needs to get back to Wrestling with confidence cause Hayabusa couldn't. Now Mammoth seems fine but for the first few years after that injury he was noticeably different.

I am going to be watching Noah in 2015 and hopefully they can start finding their own again, feels like they are searching for an identity when their identity has been there the entire time...They just forgot how to present it. Noah needs to be stiff as shit and guys like Morishima need to be busting out crazy ass moves that make the crowd say wow. Everyone says that Puro is dying or dead but its not, there has never been a better time to explode and become a big promotion then now in Japan. There is such a gap after New Japan that all its going to take is one promotion to put on a consistently great show and they will grow again.

bomaye
Opener

Posts: 203

The Great Voyage Continues - Pro Wrestling NOAH Thread Dec 31, 2014 21:19:06 GMT -5

Quote

Post by bomaye on Dec 31, 2014 21:19:06 GMT -5

I think Bison Smith passed away :/

I see two possible futures for NOAH. Either they become a New Japan feeder/minor league, or they merge with a Zero-1 or an All Japan or someone like that. Puro is far too fractured and it'd be better for business to gather as much talent in one place at one time.

Emperor Ihsahn
Administrator

I am big in Japan!

Posts: 10,042

The Great Voyage Continues - Pro Wrestling NOAH Thread Dec 31, 2014 21:29:08 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Emperor Ihsahn on Dec 31, 2014 21:29:08 GMT -5

Yah I know he did but I mean prior to his passing...It's kinda eerie that he passed away as well. Sucks too, I was a big fan of Bison Smith and could never understand why he was never signed by the WWE or TNA.

I don't think Noah will ever merge with anyone, Puro companies never like doing that and it's probably the only way to rebuild Puro into a juggernaut like it was in the 90's. Everyone wants to own a piece of the pie, that's why there is 5 different Death Match promotions all using the exact same talent for the most part.

Butch
Midcarder

TAKIN' A MULLIGAN

Posts: 657

The Great Voyage Continues - Pro Wrestling NOAH Thread Jan 1, 2015 10:27:35 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Butch on Jan 1, 2015 10:27:35 GMT -5

Ringwork quality and possible lack of stiffness have nothing to with Misawa's death, because Sugiura and Morishima were still dropping people on their heads in 2011-12, etc. They're simply not good anymore. NOAH's biggest problem from booking standpoint is that Marufuji took over, he pushes his godawful philosophy of puroresu that's just moves, moves and more moves, lame attempts at receating the famous epics, which is completely missing the point.

Emperor Ihsahn Administrator I am big in Japan! Posts: 10,042	The Great Voyage Continues - Pro Wrestling NOAH Thread Jan 4, 2015 18:18:58 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Emperor Ihsahn on Jan 4, 2015 18:18:58 GMT -5 Hopefully the Marafuji that showed up last night shows up at this event. Dude was motivated and put on a good match last night.

bomaye
Opener

Posts: 203

The Great Voyage Continues - Pro Wrestling NOAH Thread Jan 8, 2015 2:13:10 GMT -5

Quote

Post by bomaye on Jan 8, 2015 2:13:10 GMT -5

The Observer's saying that either New Japan secretly bought controlling interest in NOAH or they're heavily financing the continued existence of the promotion.

Also plans appear to be heading in the "Suzuki-gun invades NOAH" direction.

Yes please.

Butch Midcarder TAKIN' A MULLIGAN Posts: 657	The Great Voyage Continues - Pro Wrestling NOAH Thread Jan 8, 2015 4:11:44 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Butch on Jan 8, 2015 4:11:44 GMT -5 MiSu potentially decapitataing Marufuji for the Global Honor Crown has me intrigued. MiSu would be a perfect invador champion.

mikelevy3 Jobber Posts: 43	The Great Voyage Continues - Pro Wrestling NOAH Thread Jan 8, 2015 6:47:59 GMT -5 via mobile Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by mikelevy3 on Jan 8, 2015 6:47:59 GMT -5 I can't see a relationship with NJPW hurting NOAH in anyway. Id like to see the Suziki gun stable in Noah.

Emperor Ihsahn
Administrator

I am big in Japan!

Posts: 10,042

The Great Voyage Continues - Pro Wrestling NOAH Thread Jan 8, 2015 8:42:34 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Emperor Ihsahn on Jan 8, 2015 8:42:34 GMT -5

Jan 8, 2015 2:13:10 GMT -5 bomaye said:

The Observer's saying that either New Japan secretly bought controlling interest in NOAH or they're heavily financing the continued existence of the promotion.

Also plans appear to be heading in the "Suzuki-gun invades NOAH" direction.

Yes please.

That does not surprise me one bit. Noah has fallen so far the last few years that without New Japan either owning them or propping them up the company would be dead by now. As for Misu going to Noah...Fuck ya, dude is going to tear them a new asshole. It does kind of suck having what was the #2 promotion in Japan owned by NJPW but at least I still have All Japan.

Butch Midcarder TAKIN' A MULLIGAN Posts: 657	The Great Voyage Continues - Pro Wrestling NOAH Thread Jan 8, 2015 8:50:30 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Butch on Jan 8, 2015 8:50:30 GMT -5 I have a feeling we might see NOAH on the World soon.

Emperor Ihsahn
Administrator

I am big in Japan!

Posts: 10,042

The Great Voyage Continues - Pro Wrestling NOAH Thread Jan 8, 2015 9:26:41 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Emperor Ihsahn on Jan 8, 2015 9:26:41 GMT -5

Jan 8, 2015 8:50:30 GMT -5 Butch said:

I have a feeling we might see NOAH on the World soon.

This would make me very happy. I still think it would be a good business move for the other promotions to get together and do a generalized version of the world. I would be all over a Samurai TV World service or something involving All Japan. None the less, NJPW World is by far the greatest online service I've ever had.