DGinnetty

This lines up nicely with some research I have been doing regarding NJ and AJ ratings during the 80s. Whether it be from Nielsen or Video Research Limited, New Japan regularly trounced AJ, but they only mention the share %, not the actual rating. If these shows aired at the same time on the same night (like RAW and Nitro used to), the ratings share would provide a valid comparison. But New Japan aired during Golden time on Friday Nights. Golden time was the peak viewing time in the Prime time slot. All Japan aired from 5:30 to 6:30 pm on Saturdays, when the total number of households watching TV would certainly be lower than Friday night at 9pm. Over the last week, I have been trying to determine the total available viewing audience for those 2 time slots, so I could interpret their ratings share accurately. Haven't found the data I need yet. The 12% might be a big deal for a Sunday show, but 12% of the available audience on a Sunday might not even be half of the available audience on a Friday night, so a 12% on Friday would mean MANY more viewers than a 12% on Sunday afternoon. I think the times AJs ratings topped NJ (During Choshu's Army), the total number of viewers was STILL lower than New Japans. Hopefully I can confirm of refute that statement with real data soon. Dan Ginnetty

I agree. Might make it easier to just release an "errata set" covering all the crap I missed over the years! Dan Ginnetty

OK. Looks like I simply screwed up when I did the 97 shill. My dvd list shows: 8279. AJ AJ Samurai TV 1/23/98 (t. 11/23) Unless I lost the master, I have it. I guess I can always throw it into the first 98 shill.... Dan Ginnetty

BTW, the 1998 reg NTV set is already done. I am organizing the Sam TV and NTV satellite shows now to finish the upcoming MONSTER set 75 discs long! Not even counting comm videos! Dan Ginnetty

Here is the short form answer: In December 96, NTV's satellite channel started airing a 60 min AJ show. This show would run, AFAIK, til 6/25/00, when everyone jumped. Anything you see on Lynch's list described as AJ on Samuari TV from 1996 or 1997 is really NTV satellite stuff. On 1/10/98, Samurai TV started their own AJ show. The intro is different, and the show is 1:25 in length, not 1 hour. the 1/10/98 show aired footage from late 97, so there was some crossover there. I am working right now, but when I get on break, I can throw a document at you folks that has all the NT and AJ Sam shows, with their taping dates. New Japans Direct TV coverage started in mid 98, with a number of PPVs. Samurai TV started airing NJ footage in November of 98 (the 8/31/98 taping) The NJCs did a fantastic job covering footage from 95 and 96, with 80 1 hour episodes for each year! NJCs only covered up to the 1/29/97 show before the run ended. That is the "gap" you will encounter for NJ in 97. from 1/29/97 to 8/31, when Samurai picked them up. There are a number of comm videos released for that timeframe in 97, so it won't be a TOTAL blackout. Dan Ginnetty

Ditch: what's the logo on it? Sammy? The one used on NTV Select? Funny coincidence, I was just watching this last night I don't recognize the logo myself but here you go That logo is from NTV's satellite channel. Hmm. Looks like I may have missed an NTV show somewhere along the way if Loss got it before I released the AJ 97 set. What did I label the disc as Loss? It might help me find it. Dan Ginnetty

Projects and lists, if you don't mind Dan Ginnetty

I kinda gave up on the Luger-Steamboat Philly match, and substituted with GAB match in it's place. I located a different source in Japan for old AJW TV, and am waiting to get a DVD that will have (hopefully) a quality upgrade on the 12/6/87 12-woman match. Checking my spreadsheet, I have masters or 1st gens of all but 6 of the top 100 matches: 12/6/87 12-woman match VG+ 7/4/83 Freebirds vs. VonErichs EX-/VG+ 10/27/85 Flair vs Reed VG+ This is raw footage, but was never released on the Watts' site. Same applies to: 3/22/85 Duggan vs. Dibiase EX- stips match 5/14/84 Gilbert/Rich vs. Austin/Ware. Had this match in VG quality, but may have lost/misplaced the tape :-( Still searching for it. 4/81 Ferris/Sullivan vs. Dundee/Dream Machine 2nd gen in VG/VG+ 9/81 Morton/Gilbert vs. Onita/Fuchi I have it in maybe VG/VG+ from a 1st gen. Thanks to Bix, we all have access to a great quality version of the 6/16/84 Boot Camp match, but I would love to get a"perfect" version before putting the set out. I originally got this set from Friedlander, and the quality was atrocious. Unwatchable for the most part. I want to re-release the set in the best quality possible, although I disagree with some of the selections. Dan Ginnetty

Would have like to have seen the 7/4/83 6 man match, but I still like the listings overall. Dan Ginnetty

I was just about to mention that interview myself. I thought Sayama and Mascaras came off well, with Mil not trying to take credit for moves he used, instead mentioning who he borrowed them from. Dan Ginnetty

Just my theory, but I suspect that they don't drop like flies in Japan because of the schedule. By having long breaks in between tours, and not really having a heavy schedule when they are on tour, the Japanese wrestlers don't face the prospect of trying to stay drugged up for weeks on end. That is most likely how the US guys develop their high tolerance for painkillers, leading to the crazy amounts of drugs they take just to make it day to day. Here is a comparison of the tour schedules: WWE-355 NJ- 114 NOAH- 105 AJ- 94 I didn't take the brand split into account, but it still appears to be a much heavier schedule for the WWE. Eh, thats my opinon anyway. Dan Ginnetty

Elitist!!! ;-) Dan pot-stirrer

Didn't know Dave wrote about this subject. The "in short order" comment was my own; and that was only in comparison to the 60 min match against Inoki. I was just thinking in terms of the Baba-Inoki feud at the time. "Inoki can't beat Billy in 60 min, but Baba does it in 20" might have been the public perception at the time. I watched the Billy-Inoki match 2 days ago, notebook in hand. I did see 3 or so obvious instances of Inoki going for a nifty reverse that Billy refuses to go along with. I will say that Billy allows himself to get reversed another gazillion times during the match, so I don't know how rebellious Billy was feeling that night. The bigger offense (to Inoki at least) might have been Billy's speed and quickness. Since Billy was obviously bigger and stronger, Inoki may have thought Billy would have played more of the strong gaijin monster role. Instead, he is just and slippery, just as quick and perhaps more skilled on the mat. Billy does stooge quite a bit for Inoki, inlcuding a 5-6 min headscissors spot. Billy tries every escape in the book, failing every time. Billy also takes a huge bump over the top rope for a back elbow from Inoki. That might be the only sport that looked missed or oversold to me in the whole hour. When I get a chance, I can write up something a bit more elaborate, but I want to rewatch the Baba-Billy match before that, so I can compare and contrast. Dan Ginnetty

I can't confirm this because I wasn't there; but I have had several Japanese friends tell the same story about Baba in the 1971. This goes towards him being a man of his word. Inoki, Baba, and Ueda all plan on leaving JWA to start their own fed. I believe one of the networks was willing to air their matches too. Ueda spills the beans, and Baba says he didn't know anything about the jump, leaving Inoki out in the cold....again.... That is the only quasi-nasty thing I ever heard about Baba, and I can't even confirm it happened. From a business standpoint, there is no question who is more honorable. In fact, Inoki's idiocy led to one of the greatest matches of the 70s; Giant Baba vs. Billy Robinson. Apparently, Inoki stiffed Billy on his payoff after the 12/11/75 match. To be accurate, after the December tour. IMO, this makes Inoki suicidal, crazy, stupid, or some combination of all 3. Billy jumps to AJ, and puts Baba over clean, in short order might I add. This is a mere 6 months after the 60 min draw against Inoki where they shared 1 fall apiece. Dynamite Kid says that NJ stiffed him on at least 2 occasions. We won't even begin to cover Inoki vs. Ali or his outside business ventures that he was funneling profits from wrestling to. Just thought I would bring up my little tidbit about Baba supposedly stabbing Inoki in the back. Dan Ginnetty

I think Babas great matches from the 60s and 70s are exactly that. For a guy his size, I can't think of anyone who has a better mat game, and he wrestles smart as well. My problem with him is that some of his offense looks horribly weak. Those chops of his, for example. When he was younger, they looked decent at best, IMO. In the mid 70s, the chops slowed and looked even worse. By the 80s it was a glaring liability. They remind me of RVDs punches. How can you be THAT bad at a certain move, and still include it in your arsenal? The other shocking thing to me was how weak he was, or at least appeared in the ring. This was not as pronounced in the 60s and mid 70s, but the dropoff was significant after that. To me, I regard him as something of a sideshow freak after 1982. A drawing card for sure, but not someone you would seek out to see great work. Before 1982, I have seen a bunch of excellent to great matches from him, so I know he could go at one time. I do have some reservations to comparing his JWA work to Inoki's, even against the same opponent. Baba was the "Chosen One" by JWA as early as 65. Inoki, knowing this, bailed to start his own fed not once, but twice. After Inoki crawls back to JWA the last time in the late 60s, I can't really see any Gaijin star being told to make Inoki "look good". Not that they would be told to sandbag or bury him either. All my opinion of course. Dan Ginnetty