411’s Buy or Sell 10.31.09: Delirious' Stock Rises, Doi With Another Title Defense, New Japan Brings Back The Pegaus Kid, and More!!
Posted by Michael Bauer on 10.31.2009
This week, the 411 Wrestling Staff loks back at a busy weekend of Japanese Wrestling as Jasper Gerretsen battles Bayani Domingo in Buy or Sell!
Welcome everyone to Week 131 of BUY or SELL. For those of you who haven't been with us since the beginning, here's the Reader's Digest version of what this column is all about. BUY or SELL is very much like 411's long-running Fact or Fiction column. The main difference is that BUY or SELL focuses on topics like the U.S. Independent scene, Lucha Libre, Japanese Wrestling and pretty much anything else that isn't mainstream wrestling, WWE and or TNA. This allows for these areas to get a bit more press and for you, our loyal readers, to learn even more about the sport of professional wrestling.
Questions are sent out on Monday Night.
BANNER!
(Special thanks to Jasper Gerretsen)
New Japan reviving Chris Benoit's old Pegasus Kid gimmick and putting it on a new wrestler is in poor taste.
Jasper Gerretsen : SELL. While I understand why people might have a problem with this, I think it's safe to say that the Pegasus Kid isn't exactly a major part of Benoit's legacy. We've seen the Crippler Crossface used on WWE TV, and that move is far more closely to Benoit than the Pegasus Kid mask ever was. Furthermore, Japan has a habit of passing on masks, most famously the Tiger Mask and Black Tiger masks. As long as they don't start to openly refer to the Benoit story (and I have no reason to believe that they will), I have no problem with this.
Bayani Domingo : BUY. It seems like it's in very poor taste, it's not as if they can't just create a new character instead and it's very well known Benoit played the character and is long since dead. I can't imagine that NJW thinks they are going to draw tremendously from this. What's next? Misawa's long lost bastard son? Let sleeping dogs lie and create and innovate, don't needlessly recycle.
0 for 1.
Kota Ibushi wrestling a blow up doll for 40 minutes is the most insane thing you have ever heard of.
Jasper Gerretsen : SELL. Considering that the title he lost to the doll has previously been held by referees, schoolchildren, animals and inanimate objects, this really isn't such a stretch, considering the nature of Dramatic Dream Team in general and the Heavymetalweight Ironman Championship in particular. I could probably name a dozen different things I've witnessed in wrestling that were more insane. It's crazy on its own, but not in the context of the promotion it took place in.
Bayani Domingo : SELL. Keep in mind I've seen Top Gun Talwar bring Tits McGee to the ring as his valet back in PWG only to see her brutally murdered in the ring. Puro has brought us invisible wrestlers, 6 year old wrestlers, and Razor Ramon Hard Gay. It's bizarre but not the most insane thing I've heard of. Remember that I've been watching wrestling since Russo began booking.
1 for 2.
Naruki Doi will still be Open the Dream Gate Champion when 2009 ends.
Jasper Gerretsen : BUY. With Doi being the face of the company in both Dragon Gate and its American sister promotion, and considering that he never lost the Open the Brave Gate championship, I think it's safe to say that Doi will be holding on to the strap for a while. I expect Dragon Gate to end Doi's reign by putting the belt on a new star, and if that's the case they would do well to build that star as highly as possible.
Bayani Domingo : SELL. Although I don't have a front runner in mind it feels like Doi has had a good run, established himself as an "Ace" in waiting when CIMA finally does retire for good, but it's time to give him another chase. To he fair though DG has typically been a revolving door with that title and his longevity thus far is a true testiment to their confidence in him.
PWG and FIP booking tournaments on the same weekend will lead to both events being less than spectacular.
Bayani Domingo : BUY. LTP? Brandon Gatson? Lemme guess, Candice LaRae is announced next? I'm just not that impressed yet with the line up of BoLA, although I guess I've been spoiled. If I'm going to finally make it out to my first PWG show in months I expect greatness in return. I can't imagine what would posess these companies to run against each other, especially with the current recession of top named and unsigned talent. Is it a time for "star making" or a lull until we see another round of cuts? While I can't speak to the quality of the matches since I'm sure everyone will bring their "A" game I am not blown away yet by the rosters.
Jasper Gerretsen : SELL. There simply isn't enough overlap in both companies' lineup of generals. Furthermore, the amount of talent announced for FIP's tournament is very limited. The only name that's currently in one company that I would have expected to be in the other is Davey Richards, and PWG has a very solid lineup without him. This would have been more of a problem if ROH was still associated with FIP, but they aren't, so it isn't.
1 for 4.
ROH needs to capitalize on Delirious' unexpected success in Pro Wrestling NOAH's junior heavyweight league.
Bayani Domingo : SELL. By "capitalize" are we saying an RoH title run? If so it's doubtful. Besides I think we know what Delirious already has to offer and I've never heard rumblings about him being Main Event Material before. Look, I like the guy and enjoy his work, but beyond a mini push and a stay at the top of the mid card I'm not sure RoH would do much more than that unless we are talking an FIP title run. Let's not always jump on the "we gotta follow up all Japanese booking" band wagon.
Jasper Gerretsen : BUY. Most ROH fans I know are at least aware of what's going on in NOAH, and I think it's safe to say that it's a surprise to everyone that he came as far as he did, considering that pretty much everyone expected him to just be a comedy wrestler that would walk away from the tournament with 0 points. He managed to beat KENTA, which is huge, considering that the man can easily be considered the top junior heavyweight in Japan right now, even if he isn't holding the GHC Jr. Heavyweight championship.
1 for 5.
Despite a location being announced, Ring of Honor will get locked out of Pheonix for WrestleMania Weekend.
Bayani Domingo : SELL. Although it would be an amazing conspiracy theory if that were true. I'm sure they'll find a venue, even if it only seats 200, mark my words "RoH will run in Pheonix". Not that they HAVE to, bit just to prove a point. Besides, won't they wanna be there to scout their future mid carders in person during the dark matches?
Jasper Gerretsen : SELL. While I understand WWE's plans to lock out any publicly owned venues from a business standpoint, I doubt they're willing to make the investment to buy out all the privately owned venues too. While it'll definitely be hard for ROH to find an appropriate event for what will be one of their biggest cards of the year, I'm sure there will be plenty of viable options left, especially since ROH seems to be planning months in advance.
2 for 6!!
The 131st edition of BUY or SELL finishes at 2 for 6 as these two can't agree on too much! Stay tuned for next week as two new people step up to the plate on Buy or Sell!
Re: the last item, ROH has already locked in a venue at the University of Phoenix for two shows that weekend.
Posted By: Berenstein Von Raschke (Guest) on October 30, 2009 at 10:56 PM
"While I understand WWE's plans to lock out any publicly owned venues from a business standpoint, "
Please explain then. What is underfuckingstandable about WWE spending who knows how much money to prevent a few small companies from making a few grand at the expense of that same few grand "potentially" coming out of their millions for that weekend. Makes about as much business sense as a local bar owner making a stink about a little kids' lemonade stand not having a license at 10 am.
And this from Vince "I thrive on competition" McMahon... douchebaggery at it's greatest plain and simple.
Posted By: Guest#2318 (Guest) on October 31, 2009 at 02:50 AM
Actually, if McMahon were to try and lock up locations to keep ROH & other indy feds out of Phoenix during WM weekend, there could be a potential lawsuit, perhaps on monopoly grounds or interference.
Posted By: Michael L (Guest) on October 31, 2009 at 08:54 AM
And this from Vince "I thrive on competition" McMahon... douchebaggery at it's greatest plain and simple.
Posted By: Guest#2318 (Guest) on October 31, 2009 at 02:50 AM
Part of competition is crushing your opposition. Yes, it's like the kid with a lemonade stand -- but from Vince's viewpoint that kid is going to grow up and be a threat. I'm sure he's not itching to relive the Monday Night Wars any time soon.
Since ROH has already locked in a venue at the University of Phoenix there's really not much he can do. :P
Posted By: luna (Guest) on October 31, 2009 at 10:26 AM
Bayani Domingo : BUY. It seems like it's in very poor taste, it's not as if they can't just create a new character instead and it's very well known Benoit played the character and is long since dead. I can't imagine that NJW thinks they are going to draw tremendously from this. What's next? Misawa's long lost bastard son? Let sleeping dogs lie and create and innovate, don't needlessly recycle.
~~~
When you have no idea what you're talking about, just do yourself and everyone a favor and shut the fuck up.
Posted By: Guest#9337 (Guest) on October 31, 2009 at 10:35 AM
WWE's attempt to prevent other shows from running on Wrestlemania weekend is more petty than the guy that sings "Running Down a Dream" screwing the chick that stars in the Tank Girl movie. Vince McMahon and the WWE seriously need to go fuck themselves.
Posted By: Cyborg Brian Dennehy (Guest) on October 31, 2009 at 12:01 PM
How the hell could you even consider PWG and FIP are running against each other? They're on opposite sides of the country so I don't see much overlap in customers for the live event. Unless there's some as yet recently unheard of jetset population in the fanbase that flies to every show and has to decide which of the two events to see.
Posted By: Guest#3736 (Guest) on October 31, 2009 at 12:19 PM
University of Phoenix doesn't have a gym or any sports teams. ROH is running Phoenix College, a community college whose gym seats over 1000 in the bleachers alone.
Posted By: ROHfan (Guest) on October 31, 2009 at 01:03 PM
It's so super cool when people don't offer a legit viewpoint and just say "shut the fuck up". I wish your father had peed instead of cumming.
"We've seen the Crippler Crossface used on WWE TV, and that move is far more closely to Benoit than the Pegasus Kid mask ever was."
And your point is? It's not like that's not in bad taste too.
Posted By: Guest#1070 (Guest) on October 31, 2009 at 05:24 PM
This Delirious question is a great reason why ROH needs a TV/Pure title.
Posted By: Guest#2981 (Guest) on November 01, 2009 at 01:01 AM
Pegasus Kid mask was used for Wrestleland yet.
Not special to mention.
Posted By: myspace.com/ichifuji (Guest) on November 01, 2009 at 08:00 AM
1. "Mr. Wrestling" Kevin Steen - 4th BOLA, former PWG World Champ/2-time World Tag Team Champ
2. Brandon Gatson - 1st BOLA, won Against The Grain qualifier
3. Jerome "LTP" Robinson - 1st BOLA, won Against The Grain qualifier
4. "The Professional" Scott Lost - 4th BOLA, 5 Time PWG World Tag Team Champ
5. Brian Kendrick - 1st BOLA
6. Chris Sabin - 2nd BOLA
7. Matt Jackson - 1st BOLA, Current PWG World Tag Team Champ
8. Nick Jackson - 2nd BOLA, Current PWG World Tag Team Champ
9. Roderick Strong - 4th BOLA, 2-time DDT4 Tournament Winner & PWG World Tag Team Champ, BOLA 2007 Finalist
10. Human Tornado - 2nd BOLA, Former PWG World Champ/World Tag Team Champ
11. Joey Ryan - 4th BOLA, Former PWG World Champ/World Tag Team Champ
12. Colt "Boom Boom" Cabana - 2nd BOLA
13. Austin Aries - 4th BOLA
14. El Generico - 5th BOLA, Former 2-time PWG World Champ/2-time PWG World Tag Team Champ, BOLA 2007 Finalist
15. Kenny Omega - 2nd BOLA
16. Alex Shelley - 2nd BOLA
Dunno where the fuck Bayani gets off or if he's just retarded but that's a good line up.
Hero and Richards are they only guys missing from a PWG pov and he'd struggle to find a better line up from the N.American indies this year. FIP will hopefully have a good card for the people on that side of the coast, but the cheap knocking of the PWG card was bullshit here.
If he won't come out for that, he's living in a fantasy world where Steamboat vs Flair main events for $10 at his local park.
Posted By: Guest#4888 (Guest) on November 03, 2009 at 12:46 AM
