Japan drought coming to an end? G1 Final, 7/22 NOAH links in this thread, AWARD TALK!

[Warner2BruceTD]

Aries won't win or threaten. TNA does not do enough business. I suspect he will place, but I doubt he cracks the top three.

But then there is this...

TNA DESTINATION X PPV POLL RESULTS (july 2012)
Thumbs up 111 (100.0%)
Thumbs down 0 (00.0%)
In the middle 0 (00.0%)

TNA SLAMMIVERSARY PPV POLL RESULTS (june 2012)
Thumbs up 123 (99.2%)
Thumbs down 0 (00.0%)
In the middle 1 (00.8%)

TNA SACRIFICE PPV POLL RESULTS (may 2012)
Thumbs up 41 (100.0%)
Thumbs down 0 (00.0%)
In the middle 0 (00.0%)

I don't think i've seen a multi month run of PPV's in my life where not a single show got a single "thumbs down" from the cynical fucks who read the Observer. Granted, the vote totals aren't very high for TNA, but still. This is especially amazing considering that pre Aries push during the Russo era they could barey muster a single thumbs up. The turn around has been drastic and incredible, but business has yet to show any signs of turning. That does take time, though. If TNA starts to tick up by November and Aries is still on top, you have to consider him.

Cena has had a very good year. The guy has more good matches than he ever gets credit for. But this year more than ever has been a "community" effort in the WWE, with nobody standing out. I don't see the winner coming from the WWE.

All Japan, NOAH, AAA, CMLL, ROH have nobody that can win. Dragon Gate has CIMA, who is on top in Japan and in DGUSA, and is having a fine year, but he can't and shouldn't win. Top indie guys like Gargano, Kingston, Generico etc have no chance but will get token votes.

People who can realistically win in my opinion, in no particular order:
Okada
Tanahashi
Punk
Cena
Bryan (longshot, but consider the voting pool, and fuck, he has been great ffs)
Rock (longshot, but there are old school voters who only care about business and business only for this award, but thats what "Best Box Office Draw" is for)

In the mix to place, need to do a lot more to win:
CIMA
Aries
Jun Akiyama (sneaky good year on top in All Japan & NOAH)
Naito (fading, as the focus shifts to Okada/Tanahashi)
Steen (was Rhode Island a fluke? wont matter anyway)
Robert Roode (if Aries cant win though, neither can he)
Lesnar (see Rock)

No chance, will get vanity votes:
Gargano
Akira Tozawa (neither DG branch pulled the trigger!)
El Generico
Eddie Kingston
Marufuji
Taguchi (better suited for Most Outstanding)
Sheamus
Jericho

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

The damage TNA did to its product in the Russo years will take years of good faith to not only rebuild whatever they've lost, but to add on top of that will take exponentially more time.

Word of mouth will travel fast to those that have turned TNA off. Getting to new eyes and ears is going to be tougher. I'm of the belief that there simply isn't much of a market share for TNA to eat up, unfortunately, to get numbers that will give them that big big boost. However, I do think with lots of time and good faith, TNA can develop on their TV ratings. They were always shockingly consistent in regards to viewers during their worst years. Some good faith, good product, and word of mouth I think can help ratings. Buyrates? IMO, they should start at a lower price point. What are they at these days...$35? I'd try and use this good product to coincide with a reduced PPV price...they've been hitting PPVs out of the park recently and I'd want to see if they can get more eyes on those.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Took this from another site, in case anybody is interested.

NJPW WPW TV 8/12/12 w/ G-1 Climax 2012 HIGHLIGHTS

Thanks to OLDPOEM

Clips from these G1 Climax 2012 matches

Nakamura v Okada
Anderson v Benjamin
Tanahasi v Marufuji
Yano v Suzuki

http://adf.ly/C0RsJ

Clips, I know, but probably the only way to see a lot of this. Tanahashi/Marufuji. Nakamura/Okada.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Watched half of the NOAH show, gonna catch the rest tmw.

1. Good action in the opener. I love Ishimori. Wasn't familiar with the DDT wrestler, Takanashi, but he impressed me. Some fun spots here. It's short, watch it.

2. This was the match I posted a few days ago. Haste & Nicholls lookes really, really good. Much improved from previous tours. Von Erichs are green but weren't offensive.

3. I'm not going to rip Taue. Legend, Hall of Famer, all of that. He wrestles a few times per year, this is one of those times. Not nearly as ugly as I thought it would be. Kinda fun, actually. Skippable unless you love Kensuke & Nakajima.

4. Meh. Fujiwara, same boat as Taue. Old as fuck. Went for the FUJIWARA ARM BAR at the opening bell, fans bought it as the finish, so that was interesting. Skippable.

5. Kotoge is on loan from All Japan, so this was actually All Japan vs DDT in a NOAH ring. I loved this match. Kotoge is loaded with potential. Ibushi looked great, first time ive seen him since the injury lay off. They worked well together. This is a must watch. Good stuff.

I will say, there is a definite vibe in the arena during this show. This just feels like a big show. Maybe people were amped for KENTA's return. idk. But this is an atmosphere that NOAH has lacked for a long time. Can't wait to watch the rest.

Just watched KENTA/Marufuji.

Awesome. Not sure why this hasn't gotten more buzz. MOTY contender for sure. Faster pace then i've seen them work against each other, and told a good story with Maru working the knee of the returning KENTA.

<iframe frameborder="0" width="480" height="270" src="http://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/xsto4y"></iframe><br /><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xsto4y_07-kenta-vs-naomichi-marufuji-noah-07-22-12_sport" target="_blank">07. KENTA vs Naomichi Marufuji - (NOAH 07/22/12)</a> <i>by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/SenorLARIATO" target="_blank">SenorLARIATO</a></i>

[Warner2BruceTD]

NOAH "GREAT VOYAGE 2012 IN RYOGOKU", 22.07.2012 (G+)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. Starting Point Revolution ~ Classmates Confrontation: Taiji Ishimori v. Masa Takanashi
2. von Erich Brothers Japanese Debut Match: Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste v. Ross von Erich & Marshall von Erich
3. NOAH vs. Diamond Ring - Master & Student Tag Confrontation: Kensuke Sasaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima v. Akira Taue & Genba Hirayanagi
4. Special Singles Match - Yoshiaki Fujiwara-ism Legend: Mohammed Yone v. Yoshiaki Fujiwara
5. Special Singles Match - NOAH vs. DDT: Kota Ibushi v. Atsushi Kotoge
6. Special Singles Match - NO MERCY vs. WNC: TAJIRI v. Maybach Tanaguchi
7. KENTA Return Match: Naomichi Marufuji v. KENTA
8. GHC Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: Super Crazy & Ricky Marvin v. Kotaro Suzuki & Atsushi Aoki (c)
9. GHC Jr. Heavyweight Title: Yoshinobu Kanemaru (c) v. Christopher Daniels
10. GHC Tag Team Title: Samoa Joe & Magnus v. Jun Akiyama & Akitoshi Saito (c)
11. GHC Heavyweight Title: Takeshi Morishima (c) v. Go Shiozaki

Still working my way through this.

Crazy/Marvin vs Aoki/Suzuki is off the charts fantastic. Between that & the KENTA/Maru match, this show has been awesome. If not for some of the bad undercard filler, this is a show of the year contender if the last three deliver, but I heard Daniels/Kanemaru sucked.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Daniels/Kanemaru was ok, but no way was it following the previous two matches. Not as bad as I was told, though.

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

Lost in Awards discussion when talking the best...is the worst.

Some nominees for worst of the year...

Worst Wrestler...Kane.
Worst Matches...John Cena v. Kane...John Cena v. Johnny Ace.

Any others?

[Warner2BruceTD]

The worst match of the year, and maybe ever, was Mercedes vs Bacardi @ EVOLVE 15.

Has to be seen to be believed.

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

I have yet to see Evolve 15...but, I would probably take your word for it.