Kenta Kobashi fired - Pro Wrestling NOAH in deep, deep trouble

[Warner2BruceTD]

There is a major shakeup in Pro Wrestling NOAH. We don't have a lot in the way of details right now but should have more as the night goes on.

The gist is that Kenta Kobashi was fired, apparently because his salary was so high and the company is in such financial distress. Right now the rumor is Jun Akiyama, Go Shiozaki, Kotaro Suzuki and Yoshinobu Kanemaru and others may not sign their contracts for 2013 out of loyalty to Kobashi, who along with Mitsuharu Misawa, were the two people who really built the company.

The Japanese article:

http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20121204-00000307-tospoweb-fight

Kobashi, to dismissal -. 3 days notice that outside forces had been issued (45) Kenta Kobashi & Ironman Pro Wrestling Noah revealed in an interview with this newspaper. 　From the fact that you would like to continue active, long-term miss Kobashi in the next year, we aim to return from injury as free. Kidney cancer, further is repeatedly sidelined by injury, such as a knee or elbow, Kobashi past few years has participated in a series of impossible situation had continued throughout the year. On this day, I made ​​a comment Kobashi told the newspaper "Now do not speak anything ..." and just. 　(43), by November 30, revealed that the organization had told, the intention is not affiliated contract from five key players from January next year (30) Australian Shiozaki Akiyama further level. That a total of six top players left the organization with the end of the year will be decisive, Noah greet the next 14 years raising an army, you will face the greatest challenge.

 

[Bigpapa42]

That fucking sucks, but they've been a mess since Misawa died. The quality just hasn't been there in the same way.

 

[FedEx227]

The sooner I get KENTA in Dragon Gate or New Japan the better.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

The sooner I get KENTA in Dragon Gate or New Japan the better.

KENTA won't be going anywhere.

Kobashi will be released, and Jun Akiyama, Go Shiozaki, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Atsushi Aoki, and Kotaro Suzuki will likely refuse to sign new deals in support of Kobashi & Akiyama.

KENTA, Morishima, Takeshi Sugiura, Marufuji, and everybody else would stay behind. I'm not surprised about the other three, especially Marufuji who is the current VP, who wields a ton of power, and has been trying to cut the fat for year now (he was behind the move to cut a bunch of older wrestlers last year, which pissed Kobashi & Akiyama off), but I figured KENTA would be loyal to Kobashi, who is his mentor.

 

[FedEx227]

Does a blood letting like this hurt long term business though? Not saying KENTA will jump now but how long can they viably stay open?

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Does a blood letting like this hurt long term business though? Not saying KENTA will jump now but how long can they viably stay open?

Business is already shit which is why they don't want to pay Kobashi anymore.

People blame the Misawa death, and that didn't help, but it was shit long before that, which is why they always went back to Misawa & Kobashi because they were the only two who could draw.

NOAH is basically a large indy at this point. Bad TV deal, low attendance, run small buildings, etc. They get "major league" respect because they have top level caliber talent, but they hardly do major league business.

I can't see him jumping, that's just not the culture, if he was going to leave he would leave right now, since the battle lines are drawn and people are picking sides.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Good link here

http://keepingthespiritalive.tumblr.com/post/37159739213/major-rumor-concerning-the-future-of-noah

 

[BigBiss]

AJPW should be jumping all over this, it would generate short term interest and give them Go who should be a huge star.

 

[BigBiss]

Honestly Noah has kinda run it course its really time to fold into NJPW

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

AJPW should be jumping all over this, it would generate short term interest and give them Go who should be a huge star.

Here's the problem with that. All Japan isnt exactly tearing it up these days either. They keep a very tidy roster and rumor has it Muto has been trying to find a buyer.

The other thing, is they just did an "outsider" angle this year with Akiyama winning the Triple Crown and outsiders holding all the titles at once. So they can't really go right back to a similar angle this soon. You are right, Go Shiozaki would be something fresh though.

 

[Bigpapa42]

Best explanation I've read of the problems in Noah stem from the first five years. They relied heavily on Misawa and Kobashi (especially Kobashi during his long title reign) and didn't really build any new stars. In the last half of the decade, they had both guys fall apart physically - no surprise after 15 years of physical beatings. Not that they had fantastic options - KENTA, Sugiura, Marufuji, Morishima... KENTA is really the only younger guy they've had with the combo blow-away skills in the ring and legit charisma to be a star, but he's so far removed from being a heavyweight and that still matters in Japan... After Kobashi fell apart and Misawa slowed down, they didn't have anyone else they could rely on as a draw. The industry tanked and they slid with it.

 

[BigBiss]

Here's the problem with that. All Japan isnt exactly tearing it up these days either. They keep a very tidy roster and rumor has it Muto has been trying to find a buyer.

The other thing, is they just did an "outsider" angle this year with Akiyama winning the Triple Crown and outsiders holding all the titles at once. So they can't really go right back to a similar angle this soon. You are right, Go Shiozaki would be something fresh though.

It cant be an Outsider angle, you make it a "Hero comes Home" deal, buys them around 6 months to maybe pop the gates

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Nikkon Sports reporting that the five guys leaving may end up with All Japan. Kobashi is up in the air, but in his current state may be better off freelancing anyway.

Japan hasn't seen a massive jump of talent like this since, well, everybody left All Japan to form NOAH. We've come full circle.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

KENTA has confirmed that he will be staying with the promotion.

Another major problem with NOAH, is that while the other promotions constantly churn out new young lions from the dojos (of recent vintage we have) Dragon Gate - Eita, Kotoka, etc, All Japan - Soya, Zero-1 - D. Hachimoto, New Japan - Hiromu Takahashi, etc), NOAH has not introduced new talent since Atsushi Aoki & Ippei Ota debuted around 2005 or so. Ota is retired, and Aoki is pretty much considered a veteran at this point.

Consider this. Aoki broke in around the same time that Dragon Gate broke in Shingo, New Japan broke in Hirooki Goto, and All Japan broke in SUWAMA. Aoki broke in about a year after Go Shiozaki. These guys feel like they've been around for years.

Imagine if WWE hadn't called up anybody from developmental since Randy Orton.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Holy shit, I just saw an astounding stat.

NOAH does not have a single native member of the roster under the age of 30. Think about that for a second.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Reports out of Japan that Kobashi is going to announce his retirement. NOAH will then have a retirement show (which will also be his 25th anniversary show) in February at the home base of Budokan Hall.

Hopefully this is how it plays out. No hurt feelings, no defections, and a huge show in February where somebody takes a Burning Hammer in the middle. Too bad Misawa can't be there.

LOL @ the announcer going totally apeshit after he hits Akira Taue wrist clutch BH. Awesome.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Pro Wrestling NOAH President Akira Taue announced on 12/19 what had been expected and reported two weeks ago.

Taue announced that Jun Akiyama, Go Shiozaki, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Kotaro Suzuki and Atsushi Aoki would be leaving the promotion when their contracts expire at the end of the year. He said they would all appear on the 12/23 and 12/24 shows at Differ Ariake in Tokyo as their final events.

The five wrestlers were quitting the financially struggling promotion as a protest due to the decision to fire Kenta Kobashi when his contract expired at the end of the year as a cost-cutting measure. There had been a power struggle and the five wrestlers were on the losing side.

Akiyama, 43, was the company’s biggest star, the last headliner who dated back to the glory days of All Japan Pro Wrestling. Akiyama had a big year, holding the Triple Crown with All Japan Pro Wrestling as an outsider for most of the year. Aoki, 35, is his leading protege. Shiozaki, 30, was considered the best young heavyweight in the company, had been GHC champion and was expected to eventually be the company’s biggest star. Kanemaru, 36, is a longtime junior heavyweight star. Suzuki, 34, was a protege of the late Mitsuharu Misawa.

It is unknown at press time where the wrestlers will resurface, and whether they can come into one of the other promotions together doing an outsider group angle, or will have to individually get new jobs.

The 12/23 show will consist of all singles matches, with Kanemaru facing Atsushi Kotoge, Aoki facing Yoshinari Ogawa, Suzuki facing Taiji Ishimori, Shiozaki facing Takashi Sugiura and Akiyama in the main event against Naomichi Marufuji. The card the next day, the final for the group, will consist of matches drawn by lottery.

Because of Akiyama holding the Triple Crown most of this past year, before losing to Masakatsu Funaki, it is at least speculated he would wind up back with All Japan, the company he started with in 1992 and rise to stardom with over the rest of the 90s.

Welp.

Let the speculation begin as far as where these guys land.

This is a gigantic blow to NOAH, but may be a blessing in disguise in terms of budget due to five contracts coming off the board, plus the big salary of Kobashi.

New Japan certainly doesn't need the roster boost, but adding Akiyama & Shiozaki to the top mix of Tanahashi, Okada, Naito, Anderson, Goto, & Nakamura will add a bunch of fresh matchups and not draw a complaint from me.

Dragon Gate is a tight knit group of guys and none of these five seem like a good fit. Dragon Gate already has a large roster and is possibly the most aggressive company in terms of promoting young boys from within their own system.

All Japan is the natural landing spot. Akiyama was just there. It's a relatively thin roster. The juniors would be a welcome addition. The issue, is like NOAH, All Japan isn't in the best financial shape. Can they afford five new contracts?

My gut says they freelance, and they may even end up working NOAH shows as freelancers.