Oyaji 7,437 Posted November 15 6 hours ago, LoneWolf&Subs said: I don’t blame CMLL, or New Japan on this. Several Japanese performers have had really good stints in CMLL. Everyone of them nowhere near as good as Hiromu, but most were able to carve a niche in the company. If Kawato can’t do it, then he has no hope to succeed. I disagree. There is room in wrestling for guys who can't do all things. He's a tiny lightweight dude who emotes so well as a babyface. To write him off because he struggles working both the lucha style and playing a stereotype seems wrong to me. Reading Kikuchi's name above brings up a perfect example. One of the best sellers and emotional wrestlers Japan has ever produced but I would contend pretty limited beyond that. He made a pretty fucking great career out of selling for guys like Kobashi. Kawato was already technically above where Kikuchi was in the '90s even as a young lion. If he continues to waste away in CMLL, I hope he can just go elsewhere and prove NJPW were wrong to fit a square peg in a round hole. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
worldcupfever 175 Posted November 15 3 hours ago, Oyaji said: I disagree. There is room in wrestling for guys who can't do all things. He's a tiny lightweight dude who emotes so well as a babyface. To write him off because he struggles working both the lucha style and playing a stereotype seems wrong to me. Reading Kikuchi's name above brings up a perfect example. One of the best sellers and emotional wrestlers Japan has ever produced but I would contend pretty limited beyond that. He made a pretty fucking great career out of selling for guys like Kobashi. Kawato was already technically above where Kikuchi was in the '90s even as a young lion. If he continues to waste away in CMLL, I hope he can just go elsewhere and prove NJPW were wrong to fit a square peg in a round hole. Agreed, I don't know why you would give up now, in 2019 of all times. There's more reason to suggest he can become what they want than ever before. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Archibald 491 Posted November 15 I don't think that anyone is giving up, it just looks like it'll take some extra time and early 2020 return is unlikely. I also don't like that people try to write it down to it being lucha thing or CMLL. Dives happen probably in every second match these days, if he can't catch them reliably (thou he is getting better at it, or at least was getting better at it before his injury) then I'm not sure where he'd work, especially considering that he is a junior. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ryan 4,979 Posted November 15 I HAVE GIVEN UP! Anyway, behold the future of Zero1. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Oyaji 7,437 Posted November 15 (edited) Man, the Crush Gals haven't aged well. Edited November 15 by Oyaji autocorrect 1 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Belgian_Waffle 101 Posted November 19 (edited) Who are those lumpy Z1 dudes anyway, Miyamoto and Takeda? Also RWTL prediction: Nomura pins Miyamoto in the finals, takes the TC in his third attempt. Edited November 19 by Belgian_Waffle Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ryan 4,979 Posted November 19 (edited) The Kubota twins, Hide and Yasu, perennial indy scum that for some reason now have jobs in Z1 at 45. Before you ask, yes, I believe they did face the Brahmin twins once. The horror. Edited November 19 by Ryan 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Belgian_Waffle 101 Posted November 20 According to Wikipedia, Mitsuya Nagai is 51 years old. If that's accurate he's aged remarkably well and has been a solid hand for over two decades now. Just a random post of appreciation. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D.Z 5,822 Posted November 21 Seems sweeper disbanded. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thomas Bugg 232 Posted November 21 I'm watching this match from the 2006 World Tag League. I'm always down to check out anything from one of the Three Musketeers, but can anyone give me a bit of background on RISE, and what matches from this faction I should check out? Also, is it just me or does Nakamura look like Goto here? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Control 761 Posted November 23 Am hoping to someday soon once again have free time and watch the AJ tag league. Haven’t even finished the Oudou tournament or seen the Jake defence. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BrianS81177 2,897 Posted November 23 Did Dylan James get injured? I see Akiyama has replaced him in the RWTL Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Control 761 Posted November 23 5 hours ago, BrianS81177 said: Did Dylan James get injured? I see Akiyama has replaced him in the RWTL Yep Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Control 761 Posted November 23 who has All Japan’s best smile? I’d say Zeus is facing a tough challenge from grinning Jake Lee and starry-eyed Nomura, who just stepped out of some romantic anime. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Archibald 491 Posted November 23 My money is on Nomura. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Oyaji 7,437 Posted November 23 Jake Lee followed by Nomura. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Control 761 Posted November 23 Nomura def looks like he just fell instantly in love with you and is maybe crossing the line for a wrestling poster, IMO. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D.Z 5,822 Posted November 25 Hopefully they bring in the rabbit girl. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Belgian_Waffle 101 Posted November 26 I like it AJPW needs to shake up their roster for 2020 now that Jake and Nomura are moving up and will need more peers/fresh rivals. Maybe they can steal some W1 dudes or something. Does Kyosuke Sasaki ever still wrestle? I wouldn't mind seeing him show up in AJPW and occupy Hijikata's old grumpy shooty junior guy role (not that Hikaru Sato doesn't already fill out that role nicely...). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ryan 4,979 Posted November 26 SUWAMA looks like he's plotting something. Who are the two in the far back not even attempting to smile? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Control 761 Posted November 26 3 hours ago, Ryan said: SUWAMA looks like he's plotting something. Who are the two in the far back not even attempting to smile? I’m assuming you’re referring to Hokuto Omori and Dan Tamura, whom you won’t have seen if you’ve never watched an AJ opening match from the past year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites