Personally I'd like to see Yoshihiro Takyama win the belt again and actually hold it for a decent amount of time. He's got the credibility with the fans and would really do a good job as champion IMO. Having him win it from Misawa plays off the history between the two (Misawa beat Takayama for the belt before) and you can build one of the young guys up to where he can challenge Takayama for it and if he wins you get a credible new main eventer.

 

Of course I don't see him winning the belt and certainly he wouldn't hold it for very long. Taking into account his freelance status and he obviously loves working in as many different promotions that can afford him and if there is one thing NOAH is very good at it's protecting their titles.

 

So who does everyone else think would do a good job in the sense of having good matches and drawing money?

I think they're still building to a Morishima win, but they thought it was too soon/obvious to do it now. I haven't seen Takayama in a long time, so I'm not sure how I feel about that.

They need to make sure Misawa isn't going to die first. But seriously, I'd put my money on Kobashi taking the title if he's going to be returning anytime soon, and then he'll be the one to drop the title to Morishima (if he recovers from that debacle last night). If Kobashi doesn't come back soon, then who knows? Takayama would be a good pick once he whips himself into shape. Outside of that, I have no clue other than maybe someone like Kensuke, who would open up some interesting defences. At the end of the day, I think NOAH is in big trouble.

Kawada. Grab him exclusive for a run before he goes back to New Japan to job.

 

 

John

Personally I'd like to see Akiyama have another run. I still think he's top 5 in the world, from the limited stuff I've seen.

Personally I'd like to see Akiyama have another run. I still think he's top 5 in the world, from the limited stuff I've seen.

 

How many chances do you give a guy who keeps bombing as the top guy?

 

 

John

Takayama would be a good pick once he whips himself into shape. Outside of that, I have no clue other than maybe someone like Kensuke, who would open up some interesting defences. At the end of the day, I think NOAH is in big trouble.

 

Sorry when has Takayama ever been in shape? From the matches I've seen he looks as good as he was before he got injured. His ring rust is pretty much gone and he's always had that spare tire.

 

Kensuke is a great choice to be champion of any fed right now but it's more likely he's going to take the Triple Crown than the GHC title.

How many chances do you give a guy who keeps bombing as the top guy?

 

I may be being ignorant here, as I haven't seen much of it, but it looked to me that his last GHC run failed more on booking than anything else. He was wrestling average opponents who people didn't really buy beating him in most cases.

 

Yes, Kobashi carried guys like that, but I love Akiyama's stoic heel performances more than anything in wrestling, and think he deserves another shot.

Akiyama booked his last title reign himself. Most considered it a huge flop. Really, the best role for him now is being a mentor/motivator of the younger wrestlers, such as Hashi. He's terrific when he's slapping them around, trying to get them to step up.

 

I'd love to see Kawada get the GHC, but I doubt its ever going to happen. Word is he pissed off NOAH in a major way with his speech after losing to Misawa at the last Dome show.

 

The book on the Misawa-Kobashi rivalry is, or should be, closed, so I hope they don't go that route.

 

Honestly, I have no idea where they're going next.

I've always wondered, what exactly did he SAY that pissed everybody off so much? I heard it was something about Misawa being fat or something.

I think it was something along the lines of suggesting a rematch, which annoyed Misawa and company because they had no plans for a rematch.

 

Takayama would be a good pick once he whips himself into shape. Outside of that, I have no clue other than maybe someone like Kensuke, who would open up some interesting defences. At the end of the day, I think NOAH is in big trouble.

 

Sorry when has Takayama ever been in shape? From the matches I've seen he looks as good as he was before he got injured. His ring rust is pretty much gone and he's always had that spare tire.

 

Kensuke is a great choice to be champion of any fed right now but it's more likely he's going to take the Triple Crown than the GHC title.

 

I meant cardio wise. I don't expect him to drop his gut, but he doesn't seem to have the stamina necessary to work big singles matches yet.

 

 

Takayama would be a good pick once he whips himself into shape. Outside of that, I have no clue other than maybe someone like Kensuke, who would open up some interesting defences. At the end of the day, I think NOAH is in big trouble.

 

Sorry when has Takayama ever been in shape? From the matches I've seen he looks as good as he was before he got injured. His ring rust is pretty much gone and he's always had that spare tire.

 

Kensuke is a great choice to be champion of any fed right now but it's more likely he's going to take the Triple Crown than the GHC title.

 

I meant cardio wise. I don't expect him to drop his gut, but he doesn't seem to have the stamina necessary to work big singles matches yet.

 

Ah I see, point taken.