ROH vs. NJPW Discussion

[Dirk]

I don't think New Japan needs this as much as they need an english commentary team.

I tried watching Japanese wrestling once, but the kanji put me off.

 

[Hard Hit Prince]

I tried watching Japanese wrestling once, but the kanji put me off.

The thing is that it's not only the Kanji, you also have other two alphabets, like Katakana that is used to translate internation names as in Daniel would be Danieresu spelled in Japanese. But I think wrestling is an universal language and you understand what's going on in that ring and how the crowd reactions work.

As for the discussion between Saga and KB, it's a proven point that both will have some benefits coming out of this. I've been keeping up with Ring of Honor in the past week (as far as television goes) and they've been doing fine. I've also read the interview with Silkin about the iPPV's and it's a good thing they want to do it with guarantee instead of just trying. New Japan has zero problems in their broadcasts and this could be an increase of image to ROH. Regardless of that, and it's obviously good business, the shows will be just fine and as a big New Japan fan, I'm going to watch them get dirty with the boys from ROH.

 

[Uncle Sam]

Wrestle Kingdom was in-front of 35,000. ROH may do their shows from the Hammerstein but when they pack it like they will here you won't find many arenas in the world that has that atmosphere. What this is, is a big statement from ROH; whether people like it or not they will recognize it for what it is. 2011 and 2012 weren't great years, 2013 was a year where they needed to bring everything back to normality, and 2014 has been the year so far where their striking and instead of doing it while the iron is hot, their keeping the iron hot. From Chris Hero's return to AJ Styles' return to this; it may have taken awhile but ROH is now sending its message. It might not have the best production values and you may not be able to watch every show live, but what it does have is the best wrestling and the best young wrestlers going.

They're. God damn it, Dragon Saga. They're - a contraction of they are.

 

[Gibby]

I'm not entirely sure what NJPW will get out of this in the long term that they couldn't achieve by introducing an English-speaking commentary team (they have an English-speaking ring announcer, for chrissakes) but as a spectacle I will definitely drop some money to watch it, even if neither company advances then it will still be worth a watch. It might build an audience for their iPPVs down the line.

People are a little too fast to talk about the business it will make or the draw: these will be good matches that people should end up rating and talking about, that kind of spectacle and word-of-mouth is invaluable even as a net loss. Clearly there is some utility in it, given how quickly Wrestle-1 and TNA have joined forces. I don't really follow ROH to be honest (I've got time to follow two feds closely and have backed NJPW and WWE for the time being) so this event should work for me, an English-speaker, as it would for a Japanese fan - it will introduce me to a bunch of mostly-American guys I am not too familiar with.

 

[The Dragon Saga]

Passes out.

 

[The Dragon Saga]

Balancing my books, and I might be able to make the New York show.

From Dublin to New York, costing approx. €800, and I know people in New York I could go with and all. This might be done, might.

 

[jmt225]

To expose ROH & indie wrestling fans who may not have ever seen New Japan to New Japan.

Plus, most American NJPW fans HATE ROH, so this gives ROH an opportunity to win over another niche group of pro wrestling fans. Not to mention NJPW is by far the highest drawing Japanese pro wrestling company right now as well and will give ROH some more exposure in Japan.

It's a great move by ROH and I'm very much looking forward to it (and I haven't looked forward to anything ROH related in a very long time).

 

[The Dragon Saga]

The one obvious exemption from the schedules names might be coming yet.

Via F4WOnline.

Karl Anderson and The Young Bucks will be at ROH and NJPW's May shows and will be representing top Japanese stable Bullet Club. Many are asking what the status of Prince Devitt is and as of this writing he still isn't announced and hasn't made a comment on the event, but this could be because he's Irish so New Japan would have to work out his work VISA through the Irish embassy which they'd want confirmed before they announce him for the event.

 

[Alex]

I love me some Devitt. Want to see Alex Shelley and Kushida do something

 

[The Dragon Saga]

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This is like Lesnar's return all over again! I NEED TISSUES, MULTIPLE TISSUES!

 

[The Dragon Saga]

Justin, looks like you'll be getting your wish.

For the first time since NJPW's U.S. tour in 2012, Alex Shelley will be returning. Shelley noted on his Twitter @fakekinkade he will be returning to the American wrestling scene in-between tours of NJPW. Shelley has came on a lot as a performer since he was seen last on TNA. He fits into NJPW like a glove and promoters are already contacting him for bookings. One show that is confirmed is for Anarchy Wrestling on May 2. With Shelley in the States for the month of May don't be surprised to see him pop up in his old stomping ground ROH.