Ditch

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/allentown/...0,3913636.story

The consistency of tags in Japan is *much* higher than in the US, along with the number of tag MOTYCs. Heck, I even think most of the touted US tags of the last 25 years are overrated, so I can't blame anyone for focusing on singles.

Choshu vs Tenryu:-2/21/85, "Japan Pro" -9/3/86, AJ -1/4/93, NJ -4/6/93, NJ -A bunch of times in 2003 World Japan that don't count because Choshu was sooooo over the hill Choshu vs Jumbo only happened once, in 1985, and it's really disappointing because of the length. Choshu going over 30 minutes was not a good idea. I cover a lot of that in my articles.

That is a key point: he can make a living with spot bookings but maybe not enough to be worth the punishment.

I'd be stunned if Ki can't get bookings. Even with "works too stiff" and "is somewhat of a diva", he's one of the top few early 2000s indy stars that's available. Guys like Cabana criss-cross the country and earn a living based on way less name recognition.

AJ and NOAH have TV, just not on broadcast stations. NOAH has taken a nosedive of epic proportions in recent years but AJ is decent now, though it just went through a split with Mutoh taking a good chunk of the roster. As for what to watch, I'd say take a gander at my match sites (theditch.biz, .com and .us) and see what looks interesting. More specific recommendations can come based on what you know and/or like.

"Go root for Buffalo" Now that's just mean. And I say that as a Bills fan.

Ah. Yes.

...why is that?

And my first thought is "he was still alive?!", because in my mind he was 60 or so when I was born (in 1981), which would have made him in his 90s. Still for a pro wrestler he lived to around 173.

Modest had a long run in NOAH during its prime, that's not "nowhere". Hmpf.

NWA ran a similar angle with the Horsemen and Luger to turn Luger face (only Luger actually won). Definitely not a Russo angle, though it sounds like it was executed badly.

You're a sick man...

I vividly recall the announcers putting over that the Dragons were facing tough competition, and then out walk two of WCW's jobbingest jobbers and a guy who wasn't even established as a WCW jobber. I mean yes, Villanos are talented, but in kayfabe terms it was hilarious.

The nWo also had an initial theme: WWF guys. Hogan was never REALLY accepted by the WCW crowd, and now you have two more WWF headliners talking about starting a war. They were a rival promotion within a promotion with WWF talent as the core. TNA stables, as DFA says, are just thrown-together excuses for turns.

The storylines are more organic and "pure sports build"; rivalries, new stars slowly moving up the ranks until they break out, round-robin tournaments, that sort of thing. The main hate-feuds are when guys from different promotions lock up, which is what inspired Bischoff to bring in Hall and Nash as WWF guys for the nWo rather than just the usual big name free agents. I used to write a weekly column on puroresu, and if you scroll back (especially at the very start) every so often I focus on specific topics and concepts: http://wrestling.insidepulse.com/insider/davidditch/

You're nuts. Those are just forehead wrinkles and his hairline.

The other New Japan guy is (currently) a forgettable young lion, but he should have the basics down since he's an NJ trainee.

There aren't many recent Liger highlights. He's slowed down and doesn't book himself in the wars he used to. I'd expect a decent but not overwhelming 10-15 minute match with a few of both guys' trademarks thrown in.

Plus nobody in WWE does concrete dropkicks. Alternate universe Joe wouldn't be broken down from that bump. (he'd be broken down from years of non-stop tours)

New wrestling on TV has an inherent appeal to the vast majority of fans over 'better' old wrestling or wrestling on youtube.

Huh. I saw somewhere that the match aired in January but was taped in December; guess that was wrong. But their December match later aired on NJ Classics.

All Japan's 4/15 semi-main 6-man is fun and establishes the "Kobashi has a bad leg" point for the next tour, which was in turn vital to the June 9th masterpiece.

The thought is that TNA's talent would be better used elsewhere.

The Funaki match aired in '88 but happened at the infamous "riot" Sumo Hall show a couple weeks earlier. That was indeed the debut, unless he tried it out at a house show beforehand.