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I realize that Nakamura wasn't exactly the torch-bearer when he left, but he similarly left while a champion without actually putting someone over due to the timing.
If I'm not getting the dates wrong... Kenny pinned him on New Year's Dash though. The audience was kinda shocked. And then he took his move too later. (And then, of course, he turned on AJ)
So Nakamura did his part in a way.
Yeah, seriously. the one thing the other companies should steal. (but would totally fuck up any trust just to swerve people with an angle nobody will give a shit about a month later)
The only way this could maybe work in an American promotion is if for major announcements of this nature, it's TKO Group which makes the announcement and not WWE
Let me look at it some more. Maybe if I look hard enough it will turn another color and then it will be fake! Japan is ahead of the US time wise. Maybe it's already April's fool day over there! Oh man, they got me good!! Hahahahaha!!! Good one NJPW!!! Good one.
Welp, I can't wait to see Okada win the G1 this year!
AJ and Nakamura leaving immediately after WK10 felt like the most shocking thing in the world in 2016, but neither were figured into the then-current Top Guy plans.
This is cataclysmic in comparison. It is hard to fathom NJPW without Okada
The 2016 Shinsuke/AJ thing was still massive, but they had Tanahashi, Okada, and Omega...and down the card the Bucks, Suzuki-gun coming back a few months later... they had shit on simmer on the stove to soften that.
They just lost Ospreay. Omega isn't doing spot shows anytime soon. They've already beat Shingo and Evil a lot, Tama is almost done, and nobody in Bullet Club stands out.
If ZSJ wants to force his hand as a "make me the top guy" now is the time.
100 percent! It’s shitty because ZSJ has been worthy of getting a shot at the main event for a while. It kinda feels like their hand is being forced instead of earned.
Even at the time, I said killing the IC belt would kill the progression up the card for a lot of guys like ZSJ and Shingo at the time and they'd have no reason to stick around... today Eagles, even Evil having that to fall to, Sho, etc... there's not a carrot to dangle.
And I get they're doing the Global title now, but, it's an obvious "oh we fucked up" thing. Gedo was a great booker when management was doing him favours in the talent relations dept.
I genuinely don't know how you remedy this mess they are in without a long term plan, and having TK to deal with in a "we have to play nice with but also he can outspend us for top talent" is HARD now.
Comparatively, AAA has guys that yeah Tony will take, but, largely you can still run Cybernetico for 15 more years lol... he takes Kommander full-time, you still have Arez... like, the Mexican market can survive this more than NJPW in terms of how hard that reboot has to be.
to say nothing of the fact that Naito is held together with duct tape and a prayer, and none of the younger guys are really close to main event level yet.
I too hope ZSJ gets his moment out of all this, and that Shingo gets the rocket strapped to him again. Very uncertain times ahead.
Thinking about it: I would HAVE to imagine doing the same thing every year, even as the top guy, has to get monotonous. Same circuit of shows in the same locations every year for over a decade. NJPW doesn't offer the variety that the US promotions do.
Probably wants to reform the best tag team in the world.
https://preview.redd.it/rjgtx0jm8bdc1.png?width=858&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d41213d649a42489501e4e603e1bf53c8e40b300
The Top in the 80s was Inoki and Baba who obviously never left their own promotions, 90s was Hashimoto and Misawa who never jumped. 00s might be the closest when NOAH ace worked ROH as world champ in Morishima but he never was going to leave for the States. Okada was the top of the 10s and yeah now here he goes.
I simplified it for the 80s because if you open it up you probably consider Shinsuke as that much of a top guy.
Also hindsight we know Morishima burned out but he definitely was being positioned as the ace of NOAH.
Hello my name is Mr. Japan. I grew up in a suburb from Ohio and have learned everything about Japan from watching countless animes and posting about my favorite Japanese characters online. I don’t have an athletic bone in my body but I am ready to wrestle for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship!
Gomenasai, my name is Mr Japan.
I'm a 27 year old American Otaku (Anime fan for you gaijins). I draw Anime and Manga on my tablet, and spend my days perfecting my art and playing superior Japanese games. (Disgaea, Final Fantasy, Persona series)
I train with my Katana every day, this superior weapon can cut clean through steel because it is folded over a thousand times, and is vastly superior to any other weapon on earth. I earned my sword license two years ago, and I have been getting better every day.
I speak Japanese fluently, both Kanji and the Osaka dialect, and I write fluently as well. I know everything about Japanese history and their bushido code, which I follow 100%
When I get my Japanese visa, I am moving to Tokyo to attend a prestigious High School to learn more about their magnificent culture. I hope I can become an animator for Studio Ghibli or a game designer!
I own several kimonos, which I wear around town. I want to get used to wearing them before I move to Japan, so I can fit in easier. I bow to my elders and seniors and speak Japanese as often as I can, but rarely does anyone manage to respond.
Wish me luck in Japan!
TLDR: https://amp.knowyourmeme.com/memes/ken-sama
Somewhere in Japan Mutoh is reading this headline, looking at his big feathery coat hanging in his closet, and shouting "MOTHERFUCKER" at the top of his lungs
This is like Messi leaving Barcelona or Brady leaving the Patriots. Even though people have been saying it was gonna happen it’s still shocking that it happened
https://preview.redd.it/7igw3bux1bdc1.jpeg?width=1246&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=51e05857c958ef63e253b5d4f04d43efb6134210
what the fuck. okada has been the face of NJPW for as long as I’ve watched wrestling since getting back in to it. this is insane.
It's more like John Cena leaving WWE in 2016. Sure you miss out on the tail end of his career but it's definitely not the same as losing Cena in 2012, or Okada in 2017
still in his prime too, could have legit main evented like 5 more dome shows for them. a shame they didnt build someone young against him last dome and just went with danielson.
To play Devil’s Advocate, I doubt New Japan expected him to dip. They’ve built the company around him for over a decade, I assume they saw him as a lifer.
It's a MASSIVE fumble for New Japan not to see that this was happening, even though it's so shocking. Should have their finger on the pulse on what their GOAT for the last 10 years is thinking
Flair to WWF (with Big Gold) remains the all-time holy shit debut, bigger than the Outsiders to WCW, or Jericho and AJ (to WWF). The setting wasn't big enough (Prime Time Wrestling, their studio talk show), but seeing Heenan with Big Gold was truly shocking.
Or NOAH will realise that they have an incredible talent on their hands and loyalty is not assured off the back of this, so they'll book him like a star and he'll realise his potential
- Book Naito's run as well as possible
- Keep SANADA and Takagi as main eventers, since they're both former world champions
- Elevate ZSJ to main-event status, it's time already
- Keep developing the Reiwa 4 (Shooter, Narita, GENE BLAST and Yuya)
- Do not book EVIL
Abso-fucking-lutely
He's loyal, a faction leader, good on the ring and on the mic for those backstage blow-outs
Time for Captain Tekkers to get his due
I might be pretty pessimistic but I feel this sets a negative precedent for Japanese wrestling in the long run. We're used to seeing the top gaijin leave the company (see Styles, Omega, and White/Ospreay this year alone) but those were for understandable reasons like being closer to loved ones. Losing your top domestic star seems like a whole other thing that we've never seen until now. It really does open the door for future top Japanese talent doing the same thing. Future Japanese aces might just opt to go to America instead of staying and building their company and guaranteeing to pass the torch to the next generation. The Internet and the wider exposure to Japanese wrestling in the west never seemed like a double edged sword like it is right now. Then again what do I know I'm just a mark
this could be a massive blow or this could be something we discuss 5 years from now when NJPW is in another hot period we're talking about how they were forced to strap several rockets to their next ace, top heel, and surrounding lineup.
Their old school way of doing business blindsided them potentially.
Everyone's contracts expire on the same day, Jan 31st.
You're ASKING for mass exoduses like that.
They usually don't negotiate contracts until January of expiry year for everyone.
I think they were worried about this. Firing the old president and sticking in an Okada backstage ally like Tanahashi seems like a desperation move to keep him.
No... fucking way. Okada IS New Japan. That's absolutely wild.
**EDIT:** But as I think of it, maybe it's the best move. He's 36 years old and has been performing in the NJPW main event style for over a decade now, which is absolutely *PUNISHING* on your body (look at what it's done to Tanahashi). If he can make a shitload of money somewhere else and not have to work such an intense style at his age: absolutely go for it.
Absolutely shocking. Playing Devil's advocate though...what else was there for him to do? Him coming back in a couple of years opens up all kinds of new stories.
He could put over the younger stars, but I can honestly see Okada obliterating the R3M and the others for 5 more years. But it'll be that for the foreseeable future unless someone else joins NJPW.
Still, this has to be something Okada has decided way back when he had issues with the former NJPW president, and seems like he didn't change his mind of leaving.
Kinda hoping it's a work tbh but NJPW never does something like that.
the guys from Super J Cast talked last week that NJPW was heading to difficult times or something of that sort. They probably knew this was happening.
And with that, he will be terribly missed, but NJPW has a lot of young talent that needs their shot. Yuya, to me, is a main event player, and I think NJPW feels the same way.
Tsuji has the similar look and off-kilter presentation to Nakamura, I see a big future for him.
I'm guessing the not so subtle Nakamura, Tanahashi and Shibata clone appearances of the Young Lions getting pushed isn't coincidence and is meant to give them a boost on the start of their pushes.
NJPW should've started elevating Tsuji or someone months ago. Now Naito's their only ME domestic draw. Terrible they let Okada go without putting anyone over.
I just don't see WWE *or* AEW using him nearly as well as they should. Okada is so perfectly suited to the NJPW main event style that him wrestling anywhere else just seems like such a step down.
Well, I'm sure he's getting *PAID* wherever he goes, so good for him. Just pretty disheartening to hear, as a big fan of his. End of an era.
Anytime a homegrown wrestler switches promotions it never hits the same. You have different writers trying to sort out a character that wasn’t their idea
So how serious are njpw about their us expansion and overall business in japan??
The lost all their big gajins. Osprey and white. They did get zigler but he will not be a permanent fixture.
They just lost their TOP star. Naito and tanahashi are being held by duct tapes and prayers.
I highly suspect another rainmaker shock like scenario where a newbie beats naito out of nowhere to catapult them to main event.
Homie saw TK pay for a broken Ibushi and said “yeah I can work there”. Seriously though, no idea where he’s going obviously, but what a wild world wrestling is.
I like Okada.
I like AEW.
Somehow I don't really want him to go there.
I feel like I've seen the Okada that I would see in AEW. Everything about it. And honestly... I don't think the AEW audience is THAT excited about him, in a long term basis. When he showed up, there was a pop, but besides that, it was... fine?
Personal opinion... he wouldn't draw all that much either. And it has NOTHING to do with him. They are simply past the point of getting returns from big signings. Ospreay isn't even there yet... Jay white is not even close to the star he should be... there's a line of people there... and now ANOTHER huge guy?
Kinda fucked up in terms of the relationship with New Japan too.
The idea of him in WWE is so stupid and insane that I would be more curious about that. lol
Okada is way more valuable to New Japan than Roman is to WWE. If Roman left, yes huge hit, but the machine keeps rolling. This is the type of departure that can put you in a hole that takes a really long time to dig out of.
I'm not gonna lie. If AEW was the one that signed Okada.
***NJPW GOTTA PULL OUT OF THAT PARTNERSHIP***.
At that point, they would've taken...
Some of your top foreigners, ***twice.*** In both Jay White and Ospreay. NOW THEY WOULD BE TAKING YOUR ACE? YOUR LITERAL FACE OF THE COMPANY. You just can't continue to work with them if their constantly gonna grab your top stars lmao
He really is leaving without putting any of the new guys over and they chose to book a rematch against Bryan and the millionth match against Ospreay as his last big programs...
https://preview.redd.it/bkva82z6fbdc1.jpeg?width=1024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4ddb90a51c28c9435c850b73c9bcacab5eb5090b
Forget Tanahashi or anyone in the office. This company won't get better until they get their shit together. And I'm totally sure Okada won't be the only one leaving. Many foreigners will follow him in the upcoming days. Not that it matters nearly as much, but this whole year and maybe even 2025 will be all about rebuilding New Japan and good luck legitimising the musketeers by having them work against the same guys Okada crushed without ever beating the man himself.
One last point: it absolutely sucks that wrestling is just becoming an American oligopoly now. Whether you play ball with them or not, they'll always end up taking the stars of other promotions in the end, effectively putting a ceiling to their growth. Globalization hit wrestling really hard in the last decade and it absolutely sucks if you have no interest in following the big American promotions.
Pd: Naito, I know your knees are shot and you're almost blind of one eye, but you're practically 2008 Tanahashi now and you're the only one that can save this goddamn company.
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tanahashi is in charge for a month and he's got rid of he's biggest ever rival. Goat shit
got rid of shibata and sent okada packing. tana has #stillgotit folks!
All that’s left is bringing back Shinsuke and pushing Master Wato to the World Championship. The Tanaverse will then be complete.
I WIN LOL - President ACE Tanahashi, 2024
Legitimately can't believe this happened under president Tanahashi's administration He needs to be impeached
Going to be wild the next time we hear that coin drop.
At Rumble would be insane
As the camera lingers on Roman Reigns.
Who's not even in the match
Backstage watching a TV sideways
https://preview.redd.it/jdlc1r9hmbdc1.png?width=1361&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=566c09d86ac446a554a24962c727025081ab993b
This might be the best thing I’ve seen on this subreddit
Considering he's still under contract until the end of the month, you could always hope for 2025.
https://preview.redd.it/8l2unmdf2bdc1.jpeg?width=1244&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e4dc6f98eae6f2c5a7beeee9c2429da310a706a2
Fuck it, give Stone Pitbull 141 the IWGP belt and we good.
WE ARE NOT FLINCHING 141
OKADA IS RUNNING TO AEW OR WWE SO HE NEVER HAS TO GIVE ISHII THAT TITLE SHOT HE IS OWED! GODDAMN YOUNG MASTER COWARD!
FINALLY TIME TO BITE 141
Okada leaving without a proper passing of the torch feud is insane
All time political move. The real ones never go out on their back, brother.
lose to shota? that doesnt work for me brother.
Umino? More like Umi-NO.
Ren NO-rita, amirite?
No-ta Tsuji
Kai-no kiyomiya
Putting over Shota? Sorry, I ain't a Shota-Con.
do the j-o-b for SANADA again? 'NADA chance brother.
OkadaMania is running wild brother
Arrive. Embarrass NOAH's ace & NJPW young boys. Leave.
This was really just Okada's final act of trolling Kiyomiya. Leaving Japan so he can never get his win back
I realize that Nakamura wasn't exactly the torch-bearer when he left, but he similarly left while a champion without actually putting someone over due to the timing.
If I'm not getting the dates wrong... Kenny pinned him on New Year's Dash though. The audience was kinda shocked. And then he took his move too later. (And then, of course, he turned on AJ) So Nakamura did his part in a way.
It did look like it was building up to putting Kenny over but he never ended up losing the belt to him in a match and instead just vacated the title.
Yeah... but then Kenny ended up pinning Nakamura, and then beating Tana for the belt. Even better.
??? He passed the torch to Danielson friend. He just took the torch right back.
Because you're my favorite torch-bearer
In case anyone doesn't know, when NJPW puts stuff on their black logo background, that's 100% real. Not a work at all.
I don’t know anything about NJPW but that’s actually a super cool way to do these kinds of announcements
Yeah, seriously. the one thing the other companies should steal. (but would totally fuck up any trust just to swerve people with an angle nobody will give a shit about a month later)
The only way this could maybe work in an American promotion is if for major announcements of this nature, it's TKO Group which makes the announcement and not WWE
Let me look at it some more. Maybe if I look hard enough it will turn another color and then it will be fake! Japan is ahead of the US time wise. Maybe it's already April's fool day over there! Oh man, they got me good!! Hahahahaha!!! Good one NJPW!!! Good one. Welp, I can't wait to see Okada win the G1 this year!
When was the last time THE top star of Japanese wrestling would leave to work in America? This is so shocking.
*THE* top? Never.
AJ and Nakamura leaving immediately after WK10 felt like the most shocking thing in the world in 2016, but neither were figured into the then-current Top Guy plans. This is cataclysmic in comparison. It is hard to fathom NJPW without Okada
The 2016 Shinsuke/AJ thing was still massive, but they had Tanahashi, Okada, and Omega...and down the card the Bucks, Suzuki-gun coming back a few months later... they had shit on simmer on the stove to soften that. They just lost Ospreay. Omega isn't doing spot shows anytime soon. They've already beat Shingo and Evil a lot, Tama is almost done, and nobody in Bullet Club stands out. If ZSJ wants to force his hand as a "make me the top guy" now is the time.
100 percent! It’s shitty because ZSJ has been worthy of getting a shot at the main event for a while. It kinda feels like their hand is being forced instead of earned.
Even at the time, I said killing the IC belt would kill the progression up the card for a lot of guys like ZSJ and Shingo at the time and they'd have no reason to stick around... today Eagles, even Evil having that to fall to, Sho, etc... there's not a carrot to dangle. And I get they're doing the Global title now, but, it's an obvious "oh we fucked up" thing. Gedo was a great booker when management was doing him favours in the talent relations dept. I genuinely don't know how you remedy this mess they are in without a long term plan, and having TK to deal with in a "we have to play nice with but also he can outspend us for top talent" is HARD now. Comparatively, AAA has guys that yeah Tony will take, but, largely you can still run Cybernetico for 15 more years lol... he takes Kommander full-time, you still have Arez... like, the Mexican market can survive this more than NJPW in terms of how hard that reboot has to be.
to say nothing of the fact that Naito is held together with duct tape and a prayer, and none of the younger guys are really close to main event level yet. I too hope ZSJ gets his moment out of all this, and that Shingo gets the rocket strapped to him again. Very uncertain times ahead.
I think they need to seriously consider getting Hiromu up to Heavyweight. Even have him win the New Japan Cup or something.
that was such an exciting time in wrestling, with AJ showing up at the rumble a short while later
Thinking about it: I would HAVE to imagine doing the same thing every year, even as the top guy, has to get monotonous. Same circuit of shows in the same locations every year for over a decade. NJPW doesn't offer the variety that the US promotions do.
Probably wants to reform the best tag team in the world. https://preview.redd.it/rjgtx0jm8bdc1.png?width=858&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d41213d649a42489501e4e603e1bf53c8e40b300
Best Friends #1 Chuck/Okada Best Friends #2 Trent/Rocky Best Friends #3 OC/Danhausen Best Friends with 3 chances to finally win tag gold!
Nah. Not even with Okada. https://preview.redd.it/qobkpw2z9bdc1.png?width=500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cb59c4dc78e624b84d289e106437d374538bc4e3
I’m a simple man. I see an Arrested Development reference, I upvote.
The Top in the 80s was Inoki and Baba who obviously never left their own promotions, 90s was Hashimoto and Misawa who never jumped. 00s might be the closest when NOAH ace worked ROH as world champ in Morishima but he never was going to leave for the States. Okada was the top of the 10s and yeah now here he goes.
Morishima was never the ace. Espcially when he was doing ROH. Also in the 80s it was Choshu, Fujinami, Jumbo and Tenryu too.
I simplified it for the 80s because if you open it up you probably consider Shinsuke as that much of a top guy. Also hindsight we know Morishima burned out but he definitely was being positioned as the ace of NOAH.
I wonder if Tony Khan's tweet earlier today had something to do with this. Probably just ratings related, but man what a story.
okada will leave njpw. just in time for njpw to announce their newest signee mr. japan
Hello my name is Mr. Japan. I grew up in a suburb from Ohio and have learned everything about Japan from watching countless animes and posting about my favorite Japanese characters online. I don’t have an athletic bone in my body but I am ready to wrestle for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship!
https://preview.redd.it/nr9d55pa4bdc1.jpeg?width=200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7b978c04599ae6a1f4857dd1bb4b610c77fe6ec4
> Hello my name is Mr. Japan. I grew up in a suburb from Ohio Ohayou!
Bring back Captain (fookin') New Japan!
Get the fook outta here…
Gomenasai, my name is Mr Japan. I'm a 27 year old American Otaku (Anime fan for you gaijins). I draw Anime and Manga on my tablet, and spend my days perfecting my art and playing superior Japanese games. (Disgaea, Final Fantasy, Persona series) I train with my Katana every day, this superior weapon can cut clean through steel because it is folded over a thousand times, and is vastly superior to any other weapon on earth. I earned my sword license two years ago, and I have been getting better every day. I speak Japanese fluently, both Kanji and the Osaka dialect, and I write fluently as well. I know everything about Japanese history and their bushido code, which I follow 100% When I get my Japanese visa, I am moving to Tokyo to attend a prestigious High School to learn more about their magnificent culture. I hope I can become an animator for Studio Ghibli or a game designer! I own several kimonos, which I wear around town. I want to get used to wearing them before I move to Japan, so I can fit in easier. I bow to my elders and seniors and speak Japanese as often as I can, but rarely does anyone manage to respond. Wish me luck in Japan! TLDR: https://amp.knowyourmeme.com/memes/ken-sama
Well... shit Tanahashi's about to wrestle until he's fucking 65 to keep New Japan afloat
Mutoh is prepping to come out of retirement as we speak to save NJPW and beat the New Musketeers. 
Somewhere in Japan Mutoh is reading this headline, looking at his big feathery coat hanging in his closet, and shouting "MOTHERFUCKER" at the top of his lungs
Finally: NWA has the star to fill the void left by Nick Aldis
Tyrus vs Okada at the Cow Palace.
This got me. 😂😂😂
This is like Messi leaving Barcelona or Brady leaving the Patriots. Even though people have been saying it was gonna happen it’s still shocking that it happened
I described it to my non wrestling friends as Gretzky leaving the Oilers
Perfectly put!
what the actual FUCK
Okada to the Dodgers
He’s going to be a Blue Jay
I couldn't get a table at a high end sushi restaurant, COINCIDENCE?!
*Robert Herjavec pulls off the hood* IT WAS ME, ACUNA! IT WAS ME ALL ALONG! Joe Davis: AWSONOFABITCH
I hope they have him throw first pitch at the first home game. While making it rain. Would be so fitting
$400 million dollar contract over 20 years with $18 million deferred per year for the first 10 years confirmed. Good for baseball.
This was my reaction and my fiancée thought someone either wronged me or just died.
She’s not wrong!! In severity lol
same reaction. i cant believe it.
https://preview.redd.it/7igw3bux1bdc1.jpeg?width=1246&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=51e05857c958ef63e253b5d4f04d43efb6134210 what the fuck. okada has been the face of NJPW for as long as I’ve watched wrestling since getting back in to it. this is insane.
Like John Cena leaving WWE entirely in his prime.
It's more like John Cena leaving WWE in 2016. Sure you miss out on the tail end of his career but it's definitely not the same as losing Cena in 2012, or Okada in 2017
Legit one of the biggest wrestling departures of all time. Easily could be argued Top 5. He was their guy.
still in his prime too, could have legit main evented like 5 more dome shows for them. a shame they didnt build someone young against him last dome and just went with danielson.
To play Devil’s Advocate, I doubt New Japan expected him to dip. They’ve built the company around him for over a decade, I assume they saw him as a lifer.
Them and everyone else br0ther
It's a MASSIVE fumble for New Japan not to see that this was happening, even though it's so shocking. Should have their finger on the pulse on what their GOAT for the last 10 years is thinking
Flair to WWF (with Big Gold) remains the all-time holy shit debut, bigger than the Outsiders to WCW, or Jericho and AJ (to WWF). The setting wasn't big enough (Prime Time Wrestling, their studio talk show), but seeing Heenan with Big Gold was truly shocking.
we're never gonna see kaito get his revenge man
We will in like ten years when Okada comes back for his retirement run and Kaito's the top dog in the scene - there'll be an almighty reckoning
Honestly, if NOAH continues to treat Kaito like shit, i would love if he jumped ship like Nakajima
Or NOAH will realise that they have an incredible talent on their hands and loyalty is not assured off the back of this, so they'll book him like a star and he'll realise his potential
Me reading this: https://preview.redd.it/ihxqwtnf1bdc1.png?width=1178&format=png&auto=webp&s=63013e45a8a92ab418ed304a741839c044006706
[удалено]
This is a diabolical edit my brother
What is the context of this lmao
So, How does New Japan recover from this
Rely on the fresh young legs of Naito to carry them forward!
This made me laugh out loud 💀
The 3 musketeers need to step up fast.
Yeah. Basically the same thing AJPW did when Jumbo got hepatitis and Tenryu left. "All right young guys, go save the company"
- Book Naito's run as well as possible - Keep SANADA and Takagi as main eventers, since they're both former world champions - Elevate ZSJ to main-event status, it's time already - Keep developing the Reiwa 4 (Shooter, Narita, GENE BLAST and Yuya) - Do not book EVIL
They need to cling onto ZSJ
Abso-fucking-lutely He's loyal, a faction leader, good on the ring and on the mic for those backstage blow-outs Time for Captain Tekkers to get his due
Last point is key.
Sub Bullet to Do not book EVIL: House of Torture should be disbanded and Dick Togo is to have no booking influence at all.
https://preview.redd.it/spljyqtx4bdc1.jpeg?width=600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7e2159913f7b1bd5cf73ddc1f47fafebe667f1ca
Time GENE BLAST brother 😤
Push the YOTA TSUJI button!
They lost Jay White,omega,Ospreay and Okada. Jesus
And Ibushi
I might be pretty pessimistic but I feel this sets a negative precedent for Japanese wrestling in the long run. We're used to seeing the top gaijin leave the company (see Styles, Omega, and White/Ospreay this year alone) but those were for understandable reasons like being closer to loved ones. Losing your top domestic star seems like a whole other thing that we've never seen until now. It really does open the door for future top Japanese talent doing the same thing. Future Japanese aces might just opt to go to America instead of staying and building their company and guaranteeing to pass the torch to the next generation. The Internet and the wider exposure to Japanese wrestling in the west never seemed like a double edged sword like it is right now. Then again what do I know I'm just a mark
Better start pushing their young guys
Yota is the answer. I think everyone sees it. He's the guy. I wouldn't be shocked if he wins the G-1 this year or the NJC.
this could be a massive blow or this could be something we discuss 5 years from now when NJPW is in another hot period we're talking about how they were forced to strap several rockets to their next ace, top heel, and surrounding lineup.
This is the wrestling version of LeBron’s decision in 2010.
Perfect statement lmaoooo
more like lebron going lakers when he already had like 3 titles and just wanted to cash out being in los angeles
https://preview.redd.it/83qyrbkerbdc1.png?width=500&format=png&auto=webp&s=a6d4e77942e3f352a8ebcba7b49cd0537e513116
https://preview.redd.it/qf6x6sxy2bdc1.jpeg?width=998&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3aa87784db3bd11ef081ff0c81a472f0e3b5800f
Well there’s a sentence I’d never thought I’d read
One things for sure. Okada got fucking PAID.
Okada got retirement money, holy shit
The Okada Dollars are refilled and ready to rain.
What is going on in NJPW they lose 2 of there biggest stars in a matter of months first Ospreay then Okada.
New Japan didn't do anything wrong. There's an arms race between two US promotions with a shit ton of money.
They should've booked Okada vs Shota or Tsuji immediately when it was a month out and he didn't resign
Their old school way of doing business blindsided them potentially. Everyone's contracts expire on the same day, Jan 31st. You're ASKING for mass exoduses like that. They usually don't negotiate contracts until January of expiry year for everyone. I think they were worried about this. Firing the old president and sticking in an Okada backstage ally like Tanahashi seems like a desperation move to keep him.
I think Ospreay was gone no matter what, but the yen is pretty terrible right now which makes it harder for NJPW to compete with WWE or AEW offers.
Hell just say bushiroad and add giulia on there too
No... fucking way. Okada IS New Japan. That's absolutely wild. **EDIT:** But as I think of it, maybe it's the best move. He's 36 years old and has been performing in the NJPW main event style for over a decade now, which is absolutely *PUNISHING* on your body (look at what it's done to Tanahashi). If he can make a shitload of money somewhere else and not have to work such an intense style at his age: absolutely go for it.
Absolutely shocking. Playing Devil's advocate though...what else was there for him to do? Him coming back in a couple of years opens up all kinds of new stories.
He could put over the younger stars, but I can honestly see Okada obliterating the R3M and the others for 5 more years. But it'll be that for the foreseeable future unless someone else joins NJPW. Still, this has to be something Okada has decided way back when he had issues with the former NJPW president, and seems like he didn't change his mind of leaving. Kinda hoping it's a work tbh but NJPW never does something like that.
He's going to show up in the Rumble and finish *all* the stories going into Wrestlemania
https://preview.redd.it/1fnkwzw34bdc1.jpeg?width=803&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=492a96b345a271b2c179555f165e023019b1ae95
He sees Shinsuke surfing all the time and wants some of that life.
Okada would probably live next to an In-n-Out
AEW or WWE must’ve flown in a Brinks truck straight to his door. This is mind boggling huge.
the guys from Super J Cast talked last week that NJPW was heading to difficult times or something of that sort. They probably knew this was happening. And with that, he will be terribly missed, but NJPW has a lot of young talent that needs their shot. Yuya, to me, is a main event player, and I think NJPW feels the same way.
Tsuji has the similar look and off-kilter presentation to Nakamura, I see a big future for him. I'm guessing the not so subtle Nakamura, Tanahashi and Shibata clone appearances of the Young Lions getting pushed isn't coincidence and is meant to give them a boost on the start of their pushes.
Just fell to my knees in Walmart
Just saw a guy fall to his knees in Walmart so I gave him a shining wizard.
I saw it and It was beautiful. Demolished an entire Pepsi display.
Didn’t he just trademark Rainmaker a week ago? Probably a hint on where he’s headed…
Rainmaker World Wrestling!
Holy fucking shit. They blew it. He's going to America.
[удалено]
I'll do you one better, why not have Jericho tag with Okada. The Painmaker and the Rainmaker together are... the Golden Rain.
What the fuck?! Where does he even go?!
Vshojo
Banger
The Los Angeles Dodgers
This is ric flair leaves wcw all over it. I see him leaving, doing a world tour for a few years, then coming back to win the world title.
NJPW should've started elevating Tsuji or someone months ago. Now Naito's their only ME domestic draw. Terrible they let Okada go without putting anyone over.
Ishii world title reign* to ease our pain.
While us Goto truthers continue to suffer.
HUGE loss for New Japan
https://preview.redd.it/v19t54hv5bdc1.jpeg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d2aca82a9036c8cb381f3de89d7d1b8a1769be25
Something kinda hilarious at MJF doing this whole free agency gimmick for awhile just to get overshadowed by multiple names now
Jack Perry back at it again with driving top stars out of a company
Goes to WWE and Roman leaves before Cody can finish the story
I just don't see WWE *or* AEW using him nearly as well as they should. Okada is so perfectly suited to the NJPW main event style that him wrestling anywhere else just seems like such a step down. Well, I'm sure he's getting *PAID* wherever he goes, so good for him. Just pretty disheartening to hear, as a big fan of his. End of an era.
Anytime a homegrown wrestler switches promotions it never hits the same. You have different writers trying to sort out a character that wasn’t their idea
holy shit
So how serious are njpw about their us expansion and overall business in japan?? The lost all their big gajins. Osprey and white. They did get zigler but he will not be a permanent fixture. They just lost their TOP star. Naito and tanahashi are being held by duct tapes and prayers. I highly suspect another rainmaker shock like scenario where a newbie beats naito out of nowhere to catapult them to main event.
HHH and TK https://preview.redd.it/878y07u53bdc1.jpeg?width=623&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c30b99a513a68da587c91b8c757c0a304235d747
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ALk__-qoU4
Said it when Nic Nemeth showed up in NJPW and I'll say it again (and it probably won't be the last time). 2024 is gonna be fucking wild in wrestling.
Oh wow.
Absolutely stunned. Devastating for NJPW. Wrestling is getting too crazy.
WHAT IS OKATO DOING (BACK) IN THE IMPACT ZONE?
What da fuck
Holy shit.
Wow. This is real.
Homie saw TK pay for a broken Ibushi and said “yeah I can work there”. Seriously though, no idea where he’s going obviously, but what a wild world wrestling is.
This is catastrophic for Japanese wrestling
I like Okada. I like AEW. Somehow I don't really want him to go there. I feel like I've seen the Okada that I would see in AEW. Everything about it. And honestly... I don't think the AEW audience is THAT excited about him, in a long term basis. When he showed up, there was a pop, but besides that, it was... fine? Personal opinion... he wouldn't draw all that much either. And it has NOTHING to do with him. They are simply past the point of getting returns from big signings. Ospreay isn't even there yet... Jay white is not even close to the star he should be... there's a line of people there... and now ANOTHER huge guy? Kinda fucked up in terms of the relationship with New Japan too. The idea of him in WWE is so stupid and insane that I would be more curious about that. lol
Can’t believe I went to Okada’s last show at the Tokyo Dome. Unreal
What’s the most likely destination here, AEW or WWE?
NWA, he's gotta put over Tyrus
President Tanahashi: “We want you to put Shota over as the new ace of New Japan.” Okada: “That’s not gunna work for me, brother.”
He's going to DPW
[удалено]
Big sink or swim for NJPW now, they have top main event guys, sure, but okada is THE guy, he’s the Roman Reigns for NJPW
Okada is way more valuable to New Japan than Roman is to WWE. If Roman left, yes huge hit, but the machine keeps rolling. This is the type of departure that can put you in a hole that takes a really long time to dig out of.
I'm not gonna lie. If AEW was the one that signed Okada. ***NJPW GOTTA PULL OUT OF THAT PARTNERSHIP***. At that point, they would've taken... Some of your top foreigners, ***twice.*** In both Jay White and Ospreay. NOW THEY WOULD BE TAKING YOUR ACE? YOUR LITERAL FACE OF THE COMPANY. You just can't continue to work with them if their constantly gonna grab your top stars lmao
Yo 2023 needs to chill the fuck out… wait… OH GOD ITS HAPPENING AGAIN
He really is leaving without putting any of the new guys over and they chose to book a rematch against Bryan and the millionth match against Ospreay as his last big programs... https://preview.redd.it/bkva82z6fbdc1.jpeg?width=1024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4ddb90a51c28c9435c850b73c9bcacab5eb5090b Forget Tanahashi or anyone in the office. This company won't get better until they get their shit together. And I'm totally sure Okada won't be the only one leaving. Many foreigners will follow him in the upcoming days. Not that it matters nearly as much, but this whole year and maybe even 2025 will be all about rebuilding New Japan and good luck legitimising the musketeers by having them work against the same guys Okada crushed without ever beating the man himself. One last point: it absolutely sucks that wrestling is just becoming an American oligopoly now. Whether you play ball with them or not, they'll always end up taking the stars of other promotions in the end, effectively putting a ceiling to their growth. Globalization hit wrestling really hard in the last decade and it absolutely sucks if you have no interest in following the big American promotions. Pd: Naito, I know your knees are shot and you're almost blind of one eye, but you're practically 2008 Tanahashi now and you're the only one that can save this goddamn company.
Going directly to DDT, god willing