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Post by floydthebarber on Oct 8, 2005 15:41:03 GMT -5
For all those asking 'Well...he won the IWGP Title, but how long before Brock is back in the WWE?' It seems that 2 shows (not including the annual Jan. 4 Tokyo Dome show) are being booked for a 'larger' venue in order to possibly accomodate Brock Lesnar IWGP Title defences on Feb 19 and March 25.
Also, total speculation, but sources close to Brock and OVW (where he still has 'friends') say that Brock is making major coin in New Japan in order to give them some stability and a lengthy reign as Champion. So unless something big from the WWE comes along, we could be seeing more Brock news out of Japan for a good chunk of 2006!
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Post by swarm on Oct 8, 2005 15:46:24 GMT -5
I read naming the F-5 the "Verdict" was Brock's way of finally blowing off the WWE. As long as he fighting somewhere, I'm happy.
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Post by floydthebarber on Oct 8, 2005 16:00:45 GMT -5
If Brock really is done with the WWE then I say...awesome! I'll really believe it in 2-3 years if he still hasn't come back, but if anyone can draw interest away from WWE, he might be the guy. Like I said before though, a lot of it is in New Japan's hands now...which might be why they brought in somene like Choshu to be the booker.
The likelyhood of New Japan blowing up over here is very slim...but there will a lot more interest and coverage of Japanese wrestling with Brock (and others?) over there, and any serious alternative to WWE at this stage is a good thing...even for WWE, although I'm sure Vince would love nothing more than to crush New Japan and Brock like a bug under one of his $1000 shoes!
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Post by ringsyde on Oct 8, 2005 22:53:15 GMT -5
I have to tell you that Brock's status as IWGP champion is a great thing for everyone. He's back in the wrestling biz, he's going to make a ton of money and create American interest in Japanese wrestling, and all of this will give him greater bargaining posture for his future meetings with the WWE.
I'm making the bold prediction now; Brock will soon defend his title against Bill Goldberg in a match more worthy of their reputations than the WMXX stinker ever could hope to be.
I'm very excited about the new Brock, and I'll be following his ribirth in the East with great interest. If we're lucky, he'll make Vince and the gang really regret losing him.
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Post by pikemojo on Oct 9, 2005 2:12:33 GMT -5
Does anyone know how he wrestled? I am hoping that he is wrestling more like he did when he first entered WWE and you could really tell he was pumped to be there. Towards the end you could really tell that he was not super happy.
New Japan does have a training facility in California and holds shows there once in a while with mostly american stars that wrestle for them. It is not completely impossible for NJPW to make a splash here. Very, very unlikely though.
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Post by pikemojo on Oct 9, 2005 4:12:28 GMT -5
Brock also has a new tattoo of a sword/dagger in the middle of his chest. KInda cool lookin.
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Post by floydthebarber on Oct 9, 2005 10:25:02 GMT -5
Interesting...Lesnar v. Goldberg in Japan? That could be very big...but who would 'job'?
I know I'll be following his moves in Japan...and I'm sure more people know the results from this Dome show than any show over the past couple of years (at least). I'm sure Vince is already regetting losing him...and things could still get a lot worse.
Based on what I've read, the match was under 10 minutes, but was a flury of action and moves...with mostly one on one exchanges to keep it from getting too sloppy. Brock is said to have shown imense power, and although he was a little rusty, showed a lot of energy. I think he really impressed the fans.
I could see him really taking to the Japanese schedual, as one of his main problems with WWE was the incredible ammount of dates he had to work. In Japan, if they sign him long term, he may only have to wrestle 10-20 times a year...and only at BIG events!
The only problem is that New Japan and wrestling in general is in a funk in Japan (sound familiar?) and there was a small turnout for the show (about 20,000). However, Brock has alreday swung the momentum in NJPW favour, and hopefully they can now run with all this new interest from overseas as well as back home.
Time will tell...
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Post by Big Bri on Oct 9, 2005 13:22:12 GMT -5
What's the deal with Lesnar's no compete-clause from WWE? Does it not include Japanese feds?
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Post by floydthebarber on Oct 9, 2005 14:32:39 GMT -5
Somebody can step in here if I'm wrong, but I believe that they already went to an arbitrator/court and Brock won the case. What I've heard is that Brock had a no-compete clause that would have kept him out of action for a while, but when the WWE offered to re-hire him, at less than a pre-determined $ figure specified in his old contract, that voided the deal, and Brock was free to go where he wanted. I'm sure it's much more confusing than that, but it sounds like WWE thought they had Brock in a corner, lowballed him, and ended up screwing themselves...at least, it would be nice to think that's what happened.  |
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Post by pikemojo on Oct 10, 2005 1:29:46 GMT -5
I don't know the specifics but the no compete clause did include Japan which was part of the reason Brock was so mad about it. He said it prevented him from making a living. The clause must be done somehow though.
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Post by gamemaster on Oct 10, 2005 7:57:19 GMT -5
Goldberg because Inoki loves him some Brock! |
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Post by pikemojo on Oct 10, 2005 17:45:46 GMT -5
I highly doubt that Goldberg would agree to that. He tends to not job to anyone.
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Post by floydthebarber on Oct 16, 2005 21:35:03 GMT -5
It looks as if Brock Lesnar's first defence of his IWGP Heavyweight Title will be at the annual January 4 Tokyo Dome show against the man he beat (but did not pin) for the title...former champ Kazuyuki Fujita.
There is also talk that Brock will be making some appearances on the December Tour leading up to this event...but nothing set in stone. He would only be booked in tag matches...or at best, a non-title singles match.
Should be interesting to see how New Japan builds this match and the rest of the card. They are trying to go with a 'hometown' type feel by bringing back all of their former stars (sort of what WWE did with RAW now that I think of it...) in a wrestling capacity. Former NJPW wrestlers who are with other organizations would be able to wrestle at the show, but only if they wanted to and if their current empoyer could work something out.
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Post by floydthebarber on Nov 16, 2005 1:38:46 GMT -5
It seems the 1/4 Tokyo Dome show won't be the next time Brock Lesnar enters a NJPW ring. It has been confirmed that Brock will wrestle Manabu Nakanishi and Yuji Nagata on back to back nights December 10 and 11 during the upcoming NJPW Tour "BATTLE FINAL 2005". However, his IWGP Heavyweight Title is not on the line. Also of note for North American wrestling fans, Matt Morgan and Mark Jindrak are both touring with NJPW again, which is a good sign for both of them. Scott Norton, probably still recovering from illness and injury is not on the tour. The New Japan Junior Division (not to be confused with the Smackdown one of the same name!) looks like it could really be headed for a renessance with Tiger Mask, Black Tiger and Jushin Thunder Liger all at peak form along with Koji Kanemoto and Minorua and even a couple of CMLL standouts. NJPW, 12/10/05 (WPW/NJ+IWTV Internet) Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium 1. Takashi Iizuka vs. Ryushi Yanagisawa 2. Osamu Nishimura & Toru Yano vs. Matt Morgan & Mark Jindrak3. Tatsumi Fujinami & Yutaka Yoshie vs. Hiro Saito & Tatsutoshi Goto 4. Koji Kanemoto vs. Minoru 5. Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Tiger Mask 6. Yuji Nagata, Shinsuke Nakamura & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Masahiro Chono, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Black Strong Machine 7. Brock Lesnar vs. Manabu Nakanishi NJPW, 12/11/05 (WPW/NJ+IWTV Internet) Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium 1. Koji Kanemoto vs. Tiger Mask 2. Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Minoru 3. Manabu Nakanishi & Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Matt Morgan & Mark Jindrak4. Tatsumi Fujinami, Yutaka Yoshie & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Masahiro Chono, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Black Strong Machine 5. Brock Lesnar vs. Yuji Nagata Be sure to check out www.puroresufan.com/ for a more detailed Tour schedual. |
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Post by STEVIE~! on Nov 27, 2005 21:49:58 GMT -5
It wasn't so much that Brock won his case, as it was WWE realized they had no shot in winning, and very quietly threw in the towel..
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Post by soug on Nov 28, 2005 4:12:43 GMT -5
brock vs goldberg?! injury city!!! brock was ok in the ring, goldberg had no idea!!
( i still think brock looks like richie cunningham on steroids!! ) ;D
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Post by GalactiKing on Nov 29, 2005 13:29:27 GMT -5
you know.....that does sound about right.
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Post by Mike M on Nov 29, 2005 16:00:52 GMT -5
brock vs goldberg?! injury city!!! brock was ok in the ring, goldberg had no idea!! ( i still think brock looks like richie cunningham on steroids!! ) ;D Now THAT is funny! |
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Post by floydthebarber on Dec 12, 2005 17:05:23 GMT -5
Brock won both his singles matches on the recent NJPW Tour, and his Main Event IWGP Title match with Kazuyuki Fujita has been changed (because Fujita was pulled from the show as he was asking for too much money) to Brock Lesnar v. Shinsuke Nakamura (which will probably be a better match anyway)
The WWE tried to put a stop to the matches citing their lawsuit, but a court did not uphold the motion, and Brock looks poised to end up free from WWE and free to sign with NJPW come the new year.
There is also talk of a Brock Lesnar v. Giant Bernard (formerly A-Train) match for the IWGP Title if Lesnar defeats Nakamura. Lesnar/Bernard would be the first all American IWGP Title match since 1990 (Vader v. Hanson)
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Post by STEVIE~! on Dec 15, 2005 14:02:35 GMT -5
Fujita pulled out because he took an offer to fight for K1 on New Years Eve.
What's sad is it was common knowledge among fans and insiders alike that Fujita would be pulled from the show if PRIDE or K1 met Inoki's asking price for him to compete on New Years Eve. It looked like neither were going to bite, but K1 finally did.
From a workrate stand-point, this was a great twist of fate... However, the sudden change only continues what has become a trend of bait-and-switch tactics New Japan has used for several years. The company has apologized several times for Fujita pulling out, which is the first time they've apologized for anything they've done in a long time.
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