[Seabs]

Okada's had the best 2012 of anyone on the roster. The argument that he's faced all the top guys isn't really valid either. He's only main evented a PPV with Tanahashi and Goto. Anderson too if you count the G1 Final. Plus he was the star of his 2nd match with Tanahashi and his matches with Naito. This isn't a guy who's benefited from working with some of the best workers going. He IS one of the best workers going.

Tanahashi retaining isn't an option. It just isn't. He's faced everyone for the belt in the last 2 years and Okada has all the momentum. The great thing about New Japan is that they're logical so I'm confident the right finish will happen. I've said this a few times now but the possibilities for an Okada title run throughout 2013 are so exciting. Rubber match with Naito when he comes back. Title match with Nakamura and Anderson to develop their great little matches they had this year. Okada/Makabe in Ryoguku could be great if Makabe brings it. Okada/Suzuki and Okada/Nagata are less likely but would rule if they did happen.

CHAOS don't need to split. I like the stability that the New Japan roster has, even with their stables. Great thing about New Japan (another great thing) is they can do heel vs heel and it'll get over with their crowds because of how great the roster is. Okada/Nakamura from G1 for example. Both worked as heels the crowd was great for it. Japanese crowds that react are great because they'll just pick a side and go with it. Nakamura and Okada are heels if you like but they'll still get massive pops in the right environment. I'd love more Nakamura/MiSu matches. Singles or tags. I can only imagine how fun a CHAOS/Suzuki-Gun tour would be. Especially the multi man tags with Suzuki/Yano, Suzuki/Nakamura, Suzuki/Ishii, TAKA/Yano, etc. MiSU needs to move away from Makabe/Nagata/Kojima now and that'd be perfect to fill the gap.

If they do well enough then they'll definitely get a title shot sooner rather than later. Depends how well their singles matches go first though. I'd rather keep them as a team though and challenge Goto/Anderson after WK.

[EmbassyForever]

MiSu vs Okada... needs to happen asap

[MTheBehemoth]

Originally Posted by Lord Santa Claus IV.

how amazing does that match look from the middle set of pics.

Amazing.

[Ham and Egger]

I'd mark for an Okada/Nakamura title bout!

[Bubz]

Originally Posted by Lord Santa Claus IV.

Okada's had the best 2012 of anyone on the roster. The argument that he's faced all the top guys isn't really valid either. He's only main evented a PPV with Tanahashi and Goto. Anderson too if you count the G1 Final. Plus he was the star of his 2nd match with Tanahashi and his matches with Naito. This isn't a guy who's benefited from working with some of the best workers going. He IS one of the best workers going.

Tanahashi retaining isn't an option. It just isn't. He's faced everyone for the belt in the last 2 years and Okada has all the momentum. The great thing about New Japan is that they're logical so I'm confident the right finish will happen. I've said this a few times now but the possibilities for an Okada title run throughout 2013 are so exciting. Rubber match with Naito when he comes back. Title match with Nakamura and Anderson to develop their great little matches they had this year. Okada/Makabe in Ryoguku could be great if Makabe brings it. Okada/Suzuki and Okada/Nagata are less likely but would rule if they did happen.

Agree with all of this. Okada has been THE man in pretty much every match I've seen him in. Even in the multi man tags I've seen he's been the one to stand out from the rest. Okada vs MiSu/Nakamura/Nagata/Makabe would all be awesome. NJPW have done such an amazing job building him up too with all the right booking decisions imo. I remember hating the fact he won the belt .

[JoeRulz]

Not sure how to react:

There may be another shooters angle coming up in 2013. Playboy magazine in Japan had a story saying the New Japan wrestlers are against bringing in MMA fighters but that president Takaaki Kidani is considering it. The story had Tanahashi saying that the wrestlers want the promotion to stay doing pro wrestling style, that Antonio Inoki has contacted the company about appearing at the Tokyo Dome which would be his first appearance at a show for the promotion he founded and was the face of for decades. Owner Kidani did an interview critical of New Japan President Naoki Sugabayashi who said they need to keep MMA out of pro wrestling and slammed using Kazushi Sakuraba and Katsuyori Shibata. However, the story said Kidani would be appearing with Sakuraba. We’ll have to see how this plays out and this sounds like Kidani is going to do the heel owner gimmick trying to create an NWO-like group of MMA fighters with Inoki as the retired version of Hogan.

[Obfuscation]

Originally Posted by Heavenly Invader

I'd mark for an Okada/Nakamura title bout!

Proof I should be booking over there. It has to happen.

As for the MMA stable vs NJPW wrestlers...

I'll say it has my interest. When I first read it mentioned Playboy I thought it was gonna mean Tanahashi was going to do more...photoshoots. Luckily, that wasn't on topic.

[Seabs]

So the quality level is going back to where it was mid 2000's if that was true and that'll be yet another promotion I stop caring about. They've clearly centred towards a more US pro wrestling style of booking since the new owners came in but in a good way.

sounds like Kidani is going to do the heel owner gimmick trying to create an NWO-like group of MMA fighters with Inoki as the retired version of Hogan.

sounds horrendous though.

[JoeRulz]

And things just got worse - fucking BOB SAPP () and Toru Yano vs. Nakanishi and probably Akebono.

[enlightenedone9]

Don't tease me with Bob Sapp. Everytime he steps in the ring for MMA or pro wrestling it is almost guaranteed to be a horrible train wreck. He doesn't belong in NJPW but Bob Sapp can go literally ANYWHERE else in Japan and I'd check his match out. But Sapp, Benjamin, and MVP as a NOD in Japan rather than a NWO like entity is okay for my campy love of Sapp. #SappNATION