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How will they book Wrestle-1's invasion of TNA?

By

> Scott,
>
> Since you know you love to take questions regarding a certain invasion...I figured I'd throw this question to you. Wrestling news sites are reporting that The Great Muta's new Wrestle-1 promotion is in talks to have a talent exchange with TNA. How would you book this? Would you have them invade TNA? Or do you just see them simply sending talent back and forth like New Japan did with Okada, Tanahashi, Naito, Yujiro a few years back and having that talent wrestle meaningless matches? 
>
> Here is Wrestle-1's roster so far for when they have their debut show 9/8. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrestle-1#Wrestlers
>
> I know Mutoh showed up at a TNA PPV in the locker room to confront then World Champion Christian, but hopefully this time he'll get in the ring. Imagine Sting vs. Muta in 2013! But seriously, Muta throwing on the old facepaint and challenging Kurt Angle or Samoa Joe has awesome written all over it. Kai would make a great X-Division competitor. The rest of Wrestle-1's roster would be great to see in the ring with TNA wrestlers as well. I enjoy when stuff like this happens because it would NEVER happen in WWE, so seeing other promotions working with each other can't be bad for the business and it's fans.
>
> Do you think the Wrestle-1 guys have a chance in hell of getting over in the United States? I can't think of one successful Japanese talent that has come overseas and really drew money. 
>
> Anywho, have a good one!

Somehow I don't see this changing the landscape of TNA.  This is the same company that couldn't figure out how to use Okada, after all.

Comments

  1. Paul MeekinJuly 29, 2013 at 1:31 PM

    Let me watch it on Hulu, Netflix, or my phone, and I will.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dougie2876July 29, 2013 at 1:42 PM

    Isn't this exactly what happened with AJPW when misawa left? Does zero-one even exist anymore?

    These shakeups are definitely more interesting then the status quo of American wrestling in the last decade.

    ReplyDelete
  3. WeyerJuly 29, 2013 at 1:47 PM

    If I were Muta, I would work out a deal with his promotion and the WWE. I am surprised he wouldn't look for a deal with them and get himself a WWE Legends deal, Hof induction, plus getting some WWE talent over for his shows.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dougie2876July 29, 2013 at 1:49 PM

    Maybe they weren't interested.

    ReplyDelete
  5. rxchrisgJuly 29, 2013 at 1:51 PM

    Masato Tanaka got over in USA.

    ReplyDelete
  6. WeyerJuly 29, 2013 at 1:55 PM

    Not interested in working with Muta in some capacity? Plus, WWE gets to market their company even more in Japan. There were positives for both sides.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Dougie2876July 29, 2013 at 1:57 PM

    I don't think wwe thinks they need to work with anybody. They tour Japan whenever they want.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Clark O'BrienJuly 29, 2013 at 2:07 PM

    Without irony of any sort, in the last 10-20 years is Tajiri the most successful wrestler to come over to the U.S from Japan?

    ReplyDelete
  9. johntcoleJuly 29, 2013 at 2:10 PM

    I'm almost positive the "famous American promotion" Mutoh mentioned is ROH, not Impact.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Paul MeekinJuly 29, 2013 at 2:31 PM

    I know three things about Tanaka. Elbow, Stunner, and Mike Awesome.

    I know three things about Tajiri: Green Mist, Kick to the Head, Tarantula dealy.

    I'd say they're about even in different ways.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Greg PhillipsJuly 29, 2013 at 2:36 PM

    Tajiri was a phenomenal wrestler. Watch his stuff more closely.


    Tanaka vs. Awesome was my all-time favorite ECW rivalry.

    Both guys ruled.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Greg PhillipsJuly 29, 2013 at 2:36 PM

    You are correct, sir.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Greg PhillipsJuly 29, 2013 at 2:37 PM

    In fairness, Okada was pretty bad in his limited TNA action. He's become awesome, of course.

    ReplyDelete
  14. ScottyflamingoJuly 29, 2013 at 2:38 PM

    Now who is Okada?

    ReplyDelete
  15. Biff SlamkovichJuly 29, 2013 at 2:42 PM

    Won't be ROH. ROH has a contract with NJPW.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Jeff VJuly 29, 2013 at 2:43 PM

    WWE already have bigger attendance than any company not named NJPW when they visit Japan. They don't need a beaten down 55 year old.


    Muta actually had a meeting with the WWE (namely John Laurinaitis) the last time they went to Japan when they were looking for investors for All Japan.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Jeff VJuly 29, 2013 at 2:49 PM

    This guy seems to think that we are still in 1989.


    I loved the Sting vs Muta program 25 years ago. Then again, I also loved Mili Vanilli.

    ReplyDelete
  18. steveweiserJuly 29, 2013 at 3:26 PM

    In case it doesn't work out, you can always blame it on the rain.

    ReplyDelete
  19. ATL2013July 29, 2013 at 3:54 PM

    Tanaka vs. Awesome was good stuff, but I never really saw them have good matches outside of with each other.

    ReplyDelete
  20. johntcoleJuly 29, 2013 at 4:02 PM

    The problem was they set the bar so high against each other it was impossible for both of them to live up to anything outside that feud.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Dougie2876July 29, 2013 at 4:06 PM

    The rain won't mind.

    ReplyDelete
  22. PhredericJuly 29, 2013 at 5:26 PM

    The Rainmaker.

    ReplyDelete
  23. ScottyflamingoJuly 29, 2013 at 5:46 PM

    Ok, I wasn't trolling. My Puro knowledge doesn't go much past Muta.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Kyle WarneJuly 29, 2013 at 6:56 PM

    Then in short--he's a massive fucking deal--second only to Tanahashi in NJPW

    ReplyDelete
  25. Kyle WarneJuly 29, 2013 at 6:58 PM

    NOAH workers are poping up in ROH too, am I missing something where NOAH and NJPW could co-exist but NJPW and Zero-1 is impossible

    ReplyDelete
  26. ScottyflamingoJuly 29, 2013 at 7:01 PM

    Then TNA should take a page from ROH and do like they did with Joe Vs Kobiashi. Just make a special attraction match like Okada Vs Angle and let them go to town.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Biff SlamkovichJuly 29, 2013 at 7:03 PM

    I don't think Mutoh is very fond of NJPW anymore.

    ReplyDelete
  28. PhredericJuly 29, 2013 at 7:50 PM

    To expand off of Kyle's post.


    He's their current heavyweight champ and is doing quite well with a badass rich party dude gimmick.


    He makes it rain for his entrance so he's the Rainmaker (which is also his finisher).

    ReplyDelete
  29. RyTheMurphJuly 29, 2013 at 8:33 PM

    This one time I got a (ver enthusiastic) blowjob from this girl who pulled a mix CD out of her purse with both "Blame It On The Rain" and "Girl You Know Its True" on it. The best part was I just picked her up at the bar, so she was just walking around with this thing on the ready.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Biscuit!July 29, 2013 at 8:37 PM

    Japanese stars never really were huge here. Muta and Chono did respectably, but the language and style barriers are huge.

    ReplyDelete
  31. johntcoleJuly 29, 2013 at 8:37 PM

    I still think his Rainmaker finish looks really weak. It's a friggin short-arm clothline, a Jake Roberts mid match move.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Biscuit!July 29, 2013 at 8:38 PM

    That said, Ultimo Dragon did okay.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Dougie2876July 29, 2013 at 9:00 PM

    Argh.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Amsterdam_Adam_CurryJuly 29, 2013 at 10:59 PM

    As far as drawing money goes and such, yeah, probably. Either him or Muta, and Masato Tanaka (sp?) would probably be in this conversation had he decided to work for WWE (or maybe he tried to get a job and they turned him down, for all I know). Taiji Ishimori is the guy I hope to see more of though, his ROH matches were great.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Amsterdam_Adam_CurryJuly 29, 2013 at 11:01 PM

    I was thinking the same thing.

    ReplyDelete
  36. PhredericJuly 29, 2013 at 11:13 PM

    I think short-arm moves are cool and could work as a transition into the finish (like a submission or cutter or something) but yeah, I don't get Japan's obsession with clotheslines.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Charismatic e-Negro Jef VinsonJuly 30, 2013 at 6:30 AM

    He should team with MVP.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Charismatic e-Negro Jef VinsonJuly 30, 2013 at 6:31 AM

    Always simple to start: Outside wrestler wins one of the TNA belts, TNA sends people after them to go get it.
    And I am all for a Muta/Joe match.

    ReplyDelete
  39. C FraracciJuly 30, 2013 at 11:13 AM

    Well he did have a memorable Wrestlemania moment. Tripping on his way to the ring. Never gonna forget that.

    ReplyDelete
  40. ScottyflamingoJuly 30, 2013 at 5:45 PM

    Hell TNA could even play up their financial troubles with a Japanese promotion attempting to take them over.

    ReplyDelete

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