Breaking News From Japan!

[Deleted]

The FMW/New Japan working relationship is NO MORE! The relationship that started back last year with Mike Awesome being allowed to work for both promotions, and included Gran Hamada winning the FMW Independent World Jr. Heavyweight Champion, has come to a very public and bitter end. It all stems from a recent Tokyo Sports Magizine interview where NJPW booker: Riki Choshu was asked if FMW could ever sell out the Tokyo Dome (something Astushi Onita has allegedly been trying to set up for next year), to which Choshu responded "No", calling FMW "garbage wrestling", "barbaric" and a "fad" that will eventually lose is luster. Onita's response was to pull Mike Awesome from New Japan JUST days before he and Kensuke Sasaki (as Power Gladiator) were scheduled to regain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, and reward Awesome for his loyalty by putting him over in an impromt title match at Korakuen Hall this past Sunday Night. Kensuke Sasaki is expected to go back to working under his real name, and it is rumored that rookie Jun Akiyama will take Awesome's at Power Struggle. No word on wether the title change will still occur, in fact I'd be very surprised if it did given Akiyama's status on the roster. Then again, the company is high on him and he's expected to be a main event player in the years to come.

BUT that's not the only breaking news out of New Japan. The rocky relationship between Hiromichi Fuyuki (assistant booker) & Riki Choshu (head booker) has completely soured. It's believed that the orginal heat was actually a work to generate interest in their program earlier this year. BUT that's all changed as now both Inoki & Choshu are tired of Fuyuki's input. Fuyuki over the last few months has pushed for an IWGP title run, first it was dismissed with Choshu & Inoki pointing out Fuyuki's constant losing on major shows as a reason, but later when brought up again it has led to his being removed from his position. The spot will most likely go back to Hiroshi Hase just as before, but as of now Keiji Muto will fill the void. Fuyuki is said not to be happy at all, and is looking for work else where but has a contract and is expected to honor it till the end of the year.

[somethingsavage]

Wow. Some major shifts & shake-ups going on under the Rising Sun. I like that you're always open to things like this. You're versatile and flexible enough to openly throw your own creative curve-balls into your plans, just for the hell of it at times. I dig that. Keeps the formula fresh and unpredictable in a way.

Looking forward to what happens next. Not sure if we'll start seeing the ripples & rumblings of everything all at once, but certainly the news of the cross-promotional stuff will be out loud & clear by Power Struggle.

Interesting stuff.

[1mississippifan]

Sensational news.

[Deleted]

Not sure I would share the "Sensational news" aspect lol, but cool that you did this. I was about to do something similar with what happened on my stuff recently, but figured I would rather leave it to the imagination over saying exactly what happened behind the scenes. Studd's departure played into that as well.

I think it works better because as we all know, Awesome was not exactly a stranger to this sort of political stuff in real life. If it means a singles run / push for Sasaki, I am all for it. Also stuff like this creates scenarios for down the road should Awesome leave FMW. Gives some added interest to Fuyuki through the rest of the year. Doubt we would see any shooting before that contract is up, but you never know I guess. Always possible!

[somethingsavage]

What's really intriguing to me is the atmosphere & dynamic of "politics" that exist strictly on-screen for purposes of angles - take the "outsider" champions holding the three major heavyweight championships at the moment, for example - versus the almost Yakuza-esque style, legitimate politics that exist & extend their tentacles of influence beyond that.

Drew finds a nice balance with it all & has often utilized things like this in his work. It's interesting really, since a lot of fantasy promoters book things in a protective bubble where they're mostly abrasive and (to a degree) sometimes unrealistic in how they handle things such as these shake-ups, untimely injuries, trouble with talent, rival territories, etc.

So yeah. Just a neat new element through & through. And, as JP noted, there's seeds being planted for possible stuff down the road with it, too.

[Grape Ape]

Very interesting development coming out of the Land of the Rising Sun and wondering where this goes from here ... stay tuned to find out!