Japanese wrestling or American wrestling

[Soul Reaper]

Which do you prefer?

 

[Hyorinmaru]

Japanese
[youtube]Lw6lxyIo2kU[/youtube]
Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Keiji Mutoh [IWGP/4-27/2]

American
[youtube]eIgLmYPAsQ[/youtube]
EDGE N FOLEY IN THE LAST WWE HARDCORE MATCH

I like Japanese better. I hate all WWE and TNA announcers they ruin the match with there crappy commentating.

 

[Uncle Sam]

I partially agree with people like Sly when they say you have to be emotionally invested in a match to enjoy it. I watch bits of Japanese wrestling but, aside from a few wrestlers, am pretty much completely unfamiliar with it. I don't care about who wins out of two Japanese guys or girls I barely know. I suppose it's also slightly racist in that I find people who speak my language and live in a culture more similar to my own easier to relate to. An easy, easy win for American wrestling - it has its shit, but there are gems in there.

 

[Kfabe]

Lets break this down:

For actual "wrestling" I'd have to go with Japanese.
They are more serious in the ring, they take harder shots, they sell moves better, they don't spend 60% of a match throwing punches (remember it's supposed to be wrestling, not boxing). How many times have we seen American wrestlers throw a punch which absolutely (clearly) misses the guy, yet he still falls to the ground? How many times do we see American wrestlers do (eg) a leg drop on somebodys chest, then the guy jumps up holding his head?
You just don't get that crap in Jap fed's.

HOWEVER:
For Wrestling "shows," the American ones have to be respected as the best.

 

[Uncle Sam]

I respectfully disagree. Psychology means nothing to me, but I do want to be invested in a match. That being said, I am a fan of the Japanese style of wrestling.

 

[Bernkastel]

for men's wrestling - American

for women's - Japanese

 

[Gelgarin]

If I had the ability to understand Japanese and had regular access to Dragon's Gate or similar, then I can say with some certainty that I'd be watching that instead.

As it is however, the closest I can some to speaking any language beyond my native tongue is speaking English very loudly and slowly to people (whilst making crude attempts at sign language); and therefore I struggle to get any prolonged interest out of Japanese wrestling. I can watch the occasional match and get plenty of enjoyment out of it (Especially if it's got a name I know in it), but I couldn't watch a show on a regular basis.

 

[Shadowmancer]

where is the option for Both and Mexican Wrestling. I find the Japanese match style and Main Events in places, especially NOAH, to be of a Higher quality than the American counterpart. Kings High Road style booking is better for main Events and it is easy to see the story being built in it and the false Finishes lead to an exciting end. It is just a style that seems anethma to the Sports Entertainment style that Vince has propogated in the US since the mid-1980's.

 

[Luther_Hull]

I prefer American, I couldn't give a shit about submission holds and suplexes, I prefer the stories. I watch wrestling to be entertained, Japanese wrestling bores the hell out of me.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

Japanese. Hard lariats > Clotheslines From Hell.