Marufuji as Heavyweight Champion was almost as ridiculous Ogawa as Heavyweight Champion. NOAH bookers have always been crazy though, which explains Rikio.
I like KENTA as the tough underdog who can take on the Heavies, sometimes even beat them, but he should never ever win the Heavyweight Title, you are correct, sir.
You know what else feels right on the (W)hole....? I know, I'm a perverted motherfucker.
Fuck size. People want the little guys to get over. It's why David & Goliath is one of the all-time great stories. Especially when the smaller guy is a complete badass like KENTA. Taz got over with the hardcore wrestling fans in ECW because he was a badass who was better & badder than the heavyweights in the company just as with KENTA & NOAH. KENTA hits as hard as any heavyweight & is faster & more intense with charisma & technical talent. People want KENTA as champ & that's what it's about.
@dbdh8 "KENTA hits as hard as any heavyweight" No he doesn't.
"Taz got over with the hardcore wrestling fans in ECW" What's that got to do with KENTA?
"People want KENTA as champ" Which people? Most of the paying fans want Sugiura back as champ (for whatever strange reason).
Since this video was made, a lot of things have changed and KENTA being GHC Heavy champ wouldn't be such a travesty. But that tells you more about the shit puroresu is in than it does about KENTA being good champ material.
@DanielTalksPuroresu take a breath & relax baby. 1 - Yeah, you're right KENTA doesn't hit as hard as any HW, but lots. 2 - Taz got over because he was a tough, physical little guy (so is KENTA) & people like rooting for tough little guys (like David & Golitah story). That is what it has to do with it. I thought I made that clear. My bad. 3 - KENTA & his No Mercy shirts are selling more merch than anyone in NOAH (fact). The fans want him as champ, can't you hear them chant his name?
@dbdh8 Taz worked America right? Puroresu is a different beast. KENTA has many, many fans in the building - at this point as much as any other guys on their permanent employ - but they don't really care if he's champ or not. Sugiura wins magazine polls all the time which more accurately reflect the opinion of the fans than tshirt sales. Where do you get those shirt sales from anyway? Right now I can order a no mercy shirt, but not any of Sugiura's which are out of stock.
@DanielTalksPuroresu Puroresu may not be as strong as it once was, but the product is still better than WWE & TNA (I'm staying positive). I just think NOAH has done a good job with KENTA. They should do same with a heavyweight. The fact is the fans in NOAH love KENTA. Just watch the match with Sugiura when he won the title shot. Crowd loves him. In the ring & on the mic, he's hot right now. I just hate the Vince McMahon 'fuck smaller guys' attitudes. The business is changing.
@dbdh8 Vince doesn't run NOAH. Tradition does. Tradition and precedent (as I explained in the video) does not encourage a small junior being a heavyweight champ. The business has changed? Yeh, it has declined so much that it no longer matters, but that's not a positive sign. KENTA is a draw, but he's not heavyweight champ material. Kanemoto has tonnes of hardcore fans, he's nowhere near the IWGP Heavy belt. And for good reason.
@DanielTalksPuroresu That's cool. I respect your opinion and any puro fan. Japan & puroresu are becoming more Americanized though and tradition and precedent are slowing decreasing. And NJPW is different from NOAH. NJPW is the top of the puro food chain. NOAH isn't and could benefit from doing something different and out of the box. Do you have a link to some of those polls? That stuff interests me. I'm always looking for more sites.
@dbdh8 The polls are magazines and imageboards. If you follow Hisa's website or hang around forums at the right time of year (normally Dec-March) you get plenty of info on the fan awards and so on. The TSGP MVP award is a pretty good indicator as well. 2010 was Sugiura, miles ahead of Kojima, Makabe, Devitt and Nakamura. 2011 is a totally open question. Akiyama might sneak it.
@DanielTalksPuroresu Hisa, thanks. I was aware of the 2010 with Sugiura. I have no beef with him. He's great no doubt, but with NOAH's issues they have an opportunity to do something different. And they've done good with KENTA, but with their booking having KENTA as HW champ is a pipe dream I'm sure. Akiyama is doing great right now & with the triple crown now you are probably right
@dbdh8 I don't even think Sugiura is that good of a champion. He's a notch up from Rikio and Shiozaki, but he's no Kobashi/Misawa/Akiyama ;) I like KENTA quite a bit, but his best work is him getting punished by Takayama and co. The plucky junior who is almost inevitably going to lose but will fight hard suits him IMHO a lot better than being a champ.
@DanielTalksPuroresu I would put Shiozaki & Sugiura on about the same level. I agree that they aren't on Kobashi, Akiyama, and Misawa level but those guys are the best of the best
But because made some huge changes about his moveset to "match" with NOAH's style of wrestling. And I know that it's harder for a foreigner to have a title in Japan, but man it would be great!
I really think that KENTA had some shots at the Heavyweight Title because NOAH lacks of Heavyweights. Which actually leads to the following question:
Who, in your opinion, could be a GHC Heavyweight Champion in the future? Personnally, I really think that Chris Hero could be an awesome champ, not just cause he is one of the top gaijins.
@Electronic91Videos I haven't really like Chris Hero's work in Japan. He tries hard to fit into the Japanese style but that's hard to do as a gaijin. It's much better to wrestle a physically intimidating style a la Hansen, Gordy, Williams, Vader etc. In terms of future champs, Shiozaki is obviously going to be the main man sooner or later, but there some other candidates depending on what happens with Kensuke's boys. Miyahara is a real prospect. Tall, athletic, young!
I forgot to talk about Taniguchi that could be a decent champion in my opinion, he doesn't have the charisma of Shiozaki or the aggressiveness of Sugiura. But he could do some pretty good things if he works on new moves.
I think KENTA is too small to have a run as a heavyweight champion, he just doesn't have the frame, he does however look like a well built 15 year old.
Nakajima on the other hand could one day fill out and become a dominant Heavy ala Sasaki Kensuke.
Shiozaki is still top 5 in Japan, behind Masao Inoue of course ;).
@seancarletonzero Shiozaki is an interesting case because already being a one-time champion, he cant quite convincingly carry the 'prodigy on the rise' gimmick that suits him so well. He is still kinda doing that, but it would work better if he wasn't already a former champ.
Nakajima will be a heavyweight some day. Even at 15 yrs old he was well put together, and he has the natural frame to be Kensuke-esque. He'll have to grow a lot more in charisma though to make up for lack of height.
@MrMarkman1981 It is a little strange, but the Japanese in general tend to love getting being guys struggling from underneath. THat's why it is often 5-10 years before they are even given a look-in to the main event. They need to use a really slow build to keep the fans invested.
This video is still very relevant.
Marufuji as Heavyweight Champion was almost as ridiculous Ogawa as Heavyweight Champion. NOAH bookers have always been crazy though, which explains Rikio.
I like KENTA as the tough underdog who can take on the Heavies, sometimes even beat them, but he should never ever win the Heavyweight Title, you are correct, sir.
You know what else feels right on the (W)hole....? I know, I'm a perverted motherfucker.
seancarletonzero 2 months ago
Fuck size. People want the little guys to get over. It's why David & Goliath is one of the all-time great stories. Especially when the smaller guy is a complete badass like KENTA. Taz got over with the hardcore wrestling fans in ECW because he was a badass who was better & badder than the heavyweights in the company just as with KENTA & NOAH. KENTA hits as hard as any heavyweight & is faster & more intense with charisma & technical talent. People want KENTA as champ & that's what it's about.
dbdh8 3 months ago
@dbdh8 "KENTA hits as hard as any heavyweight" No he doesn't.
"Taz got over with the hardcore wrestling fans in ECW" What's that got to do with KENTA?
"People want KENTA as champ" Which people? Most of the paying fans want Sugiura back as champ (for whatever strange reason).
Since this video was made, a lot of things have changed and KENTA being GHC Heavy champ wouldn't be such a travesty. But that tells you more about the shit puroresu is in than it does about KENTA being good champ material.
DanielTalksPuroresu 3 months ago
@DanielTalksPuroresu take a breath & relax baby. 1 - Yeah, you're right KENTA doesn't hit as hard as any HW, but lots. 2 - Taz got over because he was a tough, physical little guy (so is KENTA) & people like rooting for tough little guys (like David & Golitah story). That is what it has to do with it. I thought I made that clear. My bad. 3 - KENTA & his No Mercy shirts are selling more merch than anyone in NOAH (fact). The fans want him as champ, can't you hear them chant his name?
dbdh8 3 months ago
@dbdh8 Taz worked America right? Puroresu is a different beast. KENTA has many, many fans in the building - at this point as much as any other guys on their permanent employ - but they don't really care if he's champ or not. Sugiura wins magazine polls all the time which more accurately reflect the opinion of the fans than tshirt sales. Where do you get those shirt sales from anyway? Right now I can order a no mercy shirt, but not any of Sugiura's which are out of stock.
DanielTalksPuroresu 3 months ago
@DanielTalksPuroresu Puroresu may not be as strong as it once was, but the product is still better than WWE & TNA (I'm staying positive). I just think NOAH has done a good job with KENTA. They should do same with a heavyweight. The fact is the fans in NOAH love KENTA. Just watch the match with Sugiura when he won the title shot. Crowd loves him. In the ring & on the mic, he's hot right now. I just hate the Vince McMahon 'fuck smaller guys' attitudes. The business is changing.
dbdh8 3 months ago
@dbdh8 Vince doesn't run NOAH. Tradition does. Tradition and precedent (as I explained in the video) does not encourage a small junior being a heavyweight champ. The business has changed? Yeh, it has declined so much that it no longer matters, but that's not a positive sign. KENTA is a draw, but he's not heavyweight champ material. Kanemoto has tonnes of hardcore fans, he's nowhere near the IWGP Heavy belt. And for good reason.
DanielTalksPuroresu 3 months ago
@DanielTalksPuroresu That's cool. I respect your opinion and any puro fan. Japan & puroresu are becoming more Americanized though and tradition and precedent are slowing decreasing. And NJPW is different from NOAH. NJPW is the top of the puro food chain. NOAH isn't and could benefit from doing something different and out of the box. Do you have a link to some of those polls? That stuff interests me. I'm always looking for more sites.
dbdh8 3 months ago
@dbdh8 The polls are magazines and imageboards. If you follow Hisa's website or hang around forums at the right time of year (normally Dec-March) you get plenty of info on the fan awards and so on. The TSGP MVP award is a pretty good indicator as well. 2010 was Sugiura, miles ahead of Kojima, Makabe, Devitt and Nakamura. 2011 is a totally open question. Akiyama might sneak it.
DanielTalksPuroresu 3 months ago
@DanielTalksPuroresu Hisa, thanks. I was aware of the 2010 with Sugiura. I have no beef with him. He's great no doubt, but with NOAH's issues they have an opportunity to do something different. And they've done good with KENTA, but with their booking having KENTA as HW champ is a pipe dream I'm sure. Akiyama is doing great right now & with the triple crown now you are probably right
dbdh8 3 months ago
@dbdh8 I don't even think Sugiura is that good of a champion. He's a notch up from Rikio and Shiozaki, but he's no Kobashi/Misawa/Akiyama ;) I like KENTA quite a bit, but his best work is him getting punished by Takayama and co. The plucky junior who is almost inevitably going to lose but will fight hard suits him IMHO a lot better than being a champ.
DanielTalksPuroresu 2 months ago
@DanielTalksPuroresu I would put Shiozaki & Sugiura on about the same level. I agree that they aren't on Kobashi, Akiyama, and Misawa level but those guys are the best of the best
dbdh8 2 months ago
Thanks alot for responding to my question man. Great video.
Sachez112687 1 year ago
Comment removed
xBryceHarrisonx 1 year ago
But because made some huge changes about his moveset to "match" with NOAH's style of wrestling. And I know that it's harder for a foreigner to have a title in Japan, but man it would be great!
Electronic91Videos 1 year ago
I really think that KENTA had some shots at the Heavyweight Title because NOAH lacks of Heavyweights. Which actually leads to the following question:
Who, in your opinion, could be a GHC Heavyweight Champion in the future? Personnally, I really think that Chris Hero could be an awesome champ, not just cause he is one of the top gaijins.
Electronic91Videos 1 year ago
@Electronic91Videos I haven't really like Chris Hero's work in Japan. He tries hard to fit into the Japanese style but that's hard to do as a gaijin. It's much better to wrestle a physically intimidating style a la Hansen, Gordy, Williams, Vader etc. In terms of future champs, Shiozaki is obviously going to be the main man sooner or later, but there some other candidates depending on what happens with Kensuke's boys. Miyahara is a real prospect. Tall, athletic, young!
DanielTalksPuroresu 1 year ago
@DanielTalksPuroresu
I forgot to talk about Taniguchi that could be a decent champion in my opinion, he doesn't have the charisma of Shiozaki or the aggressiveness of Sugiura. But he could do some pretty good things if he works on new moves.
Electronic91Videos 1 year ago
Good video.
I think KENTA is too small to have a run as a heavyweight champion, he just doesn't have the frame, he does however look like a well built 15 year old.
Nakajima on the other hand could one day fill out and become a dominant Heavy ala Sasaki Kensuke.
Shiozaki is still top 5 in Japan, behind Masao Inoue of course ;).
Subbed to the new channel.
seancarletonzero 1 year ago
@seancarletonzero Shiozaki is an interesting case because already being a one-time champion, he cant quite convincingly carry the 'prodigy on the rise' gimmick that suits him so well. He is still kinda doing that, but it would work better if he wasn't already a former champ.
Nakajima will be a heavyweight some day. Even at 15 yrs old he was well put together, and he has the natural frame to be Kensuke-esque. He'll have to grow a lot more in charisma though to make up for lack of height.
IchibanPuroresu 1 year ago
YES! someone who also think KENTA should not be near the Heavyweight Title
kyotanahashi 1 year ago
Didnt realize having a belt in good ol nippon may actually hurt you as a wrestler. Thats strange man
MrMarkman1981 1 year ago
@MrMarkman1981 It is a little strange, but the Japanese in general tend to love getting being guys struggling from underneath. THat's why it is often 5-10 years before they are even given a look-in to the main event. They need to use a really slow build to keep the fans invested.
IchibanPuroresu 1 year ago