In my last article I looked at the problems facing the companies over in Japan about their top line talent and the non-establishment of new talent to replace them….
Now NJPW has the youthful talent to readdress this balance in the promotion and hopefully the booking provides them with a springboard up the card and into a position as draws.
But what of All Japan and NOAH? My answer and its a radical one is that the two should merge back together! Why? Let me put is this way, the two champions Kawada and Kobashi have no one left to fight…
When Kobashi successfully defended the GHC title for the ninth time against Akiyama it left him void of challengers. When Kawada defeated Omori in the sixth defence of his Triple Crown it left him with no one to fight, and its not as if his reign has been full of worthy challengers either, I mean Jamal? Foley? Don Fyre?
So how about the two merge and the established main eventers in the promotions (Muto, Misawa, Kobashi, Kawada) have to defend themselves against the people they have held down (Akiyama, Kojima, Kea) and the trend must also follow in the cruiser division with KaShin and Ogawa having to deal with Hayashi and Marufuji etc
Then you add in the freelancers like Omori, Takayama, Ohanti, Tanaka and gajians like Scorpio, Morgan, Williams, Modest, Slinger, D’Lo Brown etc and try and tie them to set contracts then you have a diverse and rounded talent pool that can match New Japan in many areas.
After a few rounds of Kawada v Akiyama, Kea v Misawa and Kojima v Kobashi etc and the golden oldies are pushed aside into managerial roles then you have a well rounded native and gajian heavyweight scene and a colourful Junior scene as well.
And to make matters even better both AJPW and NOAH already have a healthy working relationship with Zero One and NJPW… so an inter-promotional after the merger would not be a far off possibility and would give us some great heated match ups to enjoy.
It might be a pipe dream but unless AJPW and NOAH dig up a diamond from somewhere quick that can brighten up the top line scene then I see this as the only way out for both companies in a few years time.
And the silver lining? Mrs Baba is no longer running AJPW, so at least Misawa and his boys won’t throw another temper tantrum….
Robert Heard