***Official Indy/Puro Thread***
08-14-2017
, 08:52 PM
Naito's press conference:
Pretty interesting stuff, especially the first quote. He also pretty much announces that he's facing Ishii in September or October for the Dome main event.
Imagine the reaction of someone if the press asked Reigns what he thinks about his merchandise selling so well in a kayfabe interview.
edit just because:
Make it back, Shibata
Quote:
Naito: “Well, I said it in the ring, yesterday, I want to say thank you to the fans who made the moment great for me. I believe this year was the best G1 ever. I have one suggestion for you guys (the company), or, the argument I want to make, is about the selection process. I believe the first eight matches of the entire block were just regular matches, because we only needed the last two days to decide the ones who get to the final. Did we really need 20 wrestlers in the G1? I feel like, recently, G1’s trademark has become the number of matches (19 days and 9 matches). Then you select enough wrestlers to fill in the schedule. But it shouldn’t be that way. It should be the wrestlers first, not the matches. First, decide the ones who really deserve to be in the G1 and then pick the days for it. To provide a higher level G1 next year, you need to consider my suggestion. But I know whatever I say will never make it. Another thing is the contract for the IWGP title in Tokyo Dome; I wasn’t really sure if I was going to get this. I thought that someone would say, ’Ok, since Naito won the G1, let’s change the rules.’ So, I’m a little surprised I got this without any trouble. But how I will use the contract, is what you already know… the answer is, Tranquilo.”
Press: “You’ve won the G1 twice in 4 years. I’m sure you were very confident. What feels most different now from 4 years ago?”
Naito: “It’s only been a day, so it hasn’t really hit me, yet.”
Press: “Which is the most challenging about facing Okada; being in the main event in the Tokyo Dome, or winning the IWGP title?”
Naito: “To main event in Tokyo Dome. I have never main evented Tokyo Dome. Well, no, I have. But it was the first of a double main event. So, actually, it was a semi-main event. And I’ve had the IWGP belt before. I find nothing really interesting about Okada. Tokyo dome is much more attractive to me than other points.”
Press: “You were defeated by Fate and Ishii. What do you think the reasons were?”
Naito: “Well, they were just another match. But I lost to Ishii recently, in L.A., too. If I have to fight to protect my contract, then I would choose Ishii. If anybody wants to challenge me, then he has to say it out loud. So far it has been only ishii that said he would challenge me. I will be expecting there will be more who will bravely say that they want to challenge me.” (Again, he’s talking about the importance of saying things aloud, what he credits Los Ingobrenables in Mexico for teaching him)
Press: “You always show your gratitude to the fans, first. Is that something you also learned from Mexico, or is that how you are as a wrestler?”
Naito: “This is how I have always been. I was a huge fan of New Japan before I became a wrestler. So, I don’t want to forget how I used to feel. I believe that I’m the one who is closest to the minds of the fans. We can’t have the great matches and stages without the fans. That’s what I think.”
Press: “What’s your reaction to LIJ’s success in selling merchandise? Everyone’s wearing LIJ. It’s becoming a new trend, just like NWO in the 90’s.”
Naito: “I’m so glad, honestly. I never want to forget how I started. I also feel a bit that they flip-flopped. But more than that, gracias. Also, I don’t want people to think that we are just the same as NWO.”
Press: “It looks like EVIL is trying to reach for IWGP title. Will that affect you?”
Naito: “Not at all. The impact of EVIL defeating Okada was so huge. It motivated me. We, LIJ. are always competing against each other. So everyone is trying to be the best. It’s synergy. The most important thing is that Naito is in the main event in Tokyo Dome.”
[Someone’s phone starts ringing]
Naito: “You did it again (to a staff member). Are you doing it on purpose? You have become popular. Fans talk to you in the hall. Getting carried away, aren’t you? You’re trying so hard to stand out from everyone else. But this is my conference, today. If you want to stand out, why don’t you do Twitter live or something?”
(Someone of authority, possibly): “Naito, please stop. Don’t start a pointless argument. It’s not nice to the fans. This is broadcasting live.”
Nato: “Ah, okay.”
(Interview is over. Next is a photo shoot.)
Naito: “Adios.”
Press: “You’ve won the G1 twice in 4 years. I’m sure you were very confident. What feels most different now from 4 years ago?”
Naito: “It’s only been a day, so it hasn’t really hit me, yet.”
Press: “Which is the most challenging about facing Okada; being in the main event in the Tokyo Dome, or winning the IWGP title?”
Naito: “To main event in Tokyo Dome. I have never main evented Tokyo Dome. Well, no, I have. But it was the first of a double main event. So, actually, it was a semi-main event. And I’ve had the IWGP belt before. I find nothing really interesting about Okada. Tokyo dome is much more attractive to me than other points.”
Press: “You were defeated by Fate and Ishii. What do you think the reasons were?”
Naito: “Well, they were just another match. But I lost to Ishii recently, in L.A., too. If I have to fight to protect my contract, then I would choose Ishii. If anybody wants to challenge me, then he has to say it out loud. So far it has been only ishii that said he would challenge me. I will be expecting there will be more who will bravely say that they want to challenge me.” (Again, he’s talking about the importance of saying things aloud, what he credits Los Ingobrenables in Mexico for teaching him)
Press: “You always show your gratitude to the fans, first. Is that something you also learned from Mexico, or is that how you are as a wrestler?”
Naito: “This is how I have always been. I was a huge fan of New Japan before I became a wrestler. So, I don’t want to forget how I used to feel. I believe that I’m the one who is closest to the minds of the fans. We can’t have the great matches and stages without the fans. That’s what I think.”
Press: “What’s your reaction to LIJ’s success in selling merchandise? Everyone’s wearing LIJ. It’s becoming a new trend, just like NWO in the 90’s.”
Naito: “I’m so glad, honestly. I never want to forget how I started. I also feel a bit that they flip-flopped. But more than that, gracias. Also, I don’t want people to think that we are just the same as NWO.”
Press: “It looks like EVIL is trying to reach for IWGP title. Will that affect you?”
Naito: “Not at all. The impact of EVIL defeating Okada was so huge. It motivated me. We, LIJ. are always competing against each other. So everyone is trying to be the best. It’s synergy. The most important thing is that Naito is in the main event in Tokyo Dome.”
[Someone’s phone starts ringing]
Naito: “You did it again (to a staff member). Are you doing it on purpose? You have become popular. Fans talk to you in the hall. Getting carried away, aren’t you? You’re trying so hard to stand out from everyone else. But this is my conference, today. If you want to stand out, why don’t you do Twitter live or something?”
(Someone of authority, possibly): “Naito, please stop. Don’t start a pointless argument. It’s not nice to the fans. This is broadcasting live.”
Nato: “Ah, okay.”
(Interview is over. Next is a photo shoot.)
Naito: “Adios.”
Imagine the reaction of someone if the press asked Reigns what he thinks about his merchandise selling so well in a kayfabe interview.
edit just because:
Make it back, Shibata
Last edited by .isolated; 08-14-2017 at 08:57 PM.
08-29-2017
, 11:38 PM
Quote:
BREAKING NEWS - For the first time in the history of the publication, a Japanese wrestler will be #1 for the Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 wrestlers.
And that wrestler is none other than current IWGP Champion Kazuchika Okada
And that wrestler is none other than current IWGP Champion Kazuchika Okada
Spoiler:
Last edited by .isolated; 08-29-2017 at 11:43 PM.
08-30-2017
, 11:31 AM
08-31-2017
, 09:58 PM
09-05-2017
, 05:17 PM
I hadn't known that Yoshihiro Takayama had gotten paralyzed from the neck down until Jack mentioned this on I believe the KotR 1997 edition of TLF. So ****ing sad.
I got to see the tail end of Takayama's career when I got into puro in 2011. He was in NOAH and had one of my favorite matches ever vs. Go Shiozaki in September that year. I wouldn't expect many here to know who this guy is but he's one of the toughest guys in puro, ever. I had him kneeing a very young Shinsuke Nakamura as my avatar for around a year or so. I highly recommend going out of your way to watch his match with Kobashi from 2004 as it is just a big hoss fight. Big Dave rated it as ****1/2 I believe and it's an extremely fun match to watch.
The DDT promotion (and other promotions) have been doing benefits for Takayama. Here's Minoru Suzuki talking about it. It is in Japanese but he sheds some tears after he's done talking. It is extremely sad to watch. MiSu is a ****ing killer in the ring and never shows anything but psychotic emotions. As I mentioned already, Takayama is a tough bastard. Add to this Shibata getting ****ed up and emotional as well. these three guys are like three of my adulthood heroes.
Takayama, Shibata, and KENTA in 2013:
I got to see the tail end of Takayama's career when I got into puro in 2011. He was in NOAH and had one of my favorite matches ever vs. Go Shiozaki in September that year. I wouldn't expect many here to know who this guy is but he's one of the toughest guys in puro, ever. I had him kneeing a very young Shinsuke Nakamura as my avatar for around a year or so. I highly recommend going out of your way to watch his match with Kobashi from 2004 as it is just a big hoss fight. Big Dave rated it as ****1/2 I believe and it's an extremely fun match to watch.
The DDT promotion (and other promotions) have been doing benefits for Takayama. Here's Minoru Suzuki talking about it. It is in Japanese but he sheds some tears after he's done talking. It is extremely sad to watch. MiSu is a ****ing killer in the ring and never shows anything but psychotic emotions. As I mentioned already, Takayama is a tough bastard. Add to this Shibata getting ****ed up and emotional as well.
these three guys are like three of my adulthood heroes.Takayama, Shibata, and KENTA in 2013:
09-05-2017
, 09:08 PM
09-06-2017
, 02:37 PM
09-07-2017
, 05:50 PM
Matt Riddle and Jeff Cobb have been announced to be teaming in the World Tag Team League in November/December.
plz to be putting Cobb into the NEVER and IC scenes. Cobb vs. Ishii
He could probably have a beast of a match with Okada and Naito as well. Put him in there as a singles competitor!
plz to be putting Cobb into the NEVER and IC scenes. Cobb vs. Ishii
He could probably have a beast of a match with Okada and Naito as well. Put him in there as a singles competitor!