(NOAH) A major split in All Japan and a fight between the parties should be avoided, and when we look at the future of both factions, we cannot help but look forward to new developments. (Kämpfer Column, Weekly Pro, 4th July 2000)

4th July 2000

Weekly Pro 

All Japan Pro Wrestling splits into two! The launch of Misawa's new group has been officially announced, while it has also been revealed that only two wrestlers, Kawada and Fuchi, will remain with All Japan. The first thing I would like to point out, is that at all costs we should avoid the mudslinging that often arises when promotions break up. Mrs Motoko Baba has already sent a statement to the media about the Misawa faction, denouncing the withdrawal, but but if the Misawa faction refutes this, it will get out of control with each side repeating each other's arguments*, and as a result it may give a negative impression to fans. All Japan has always been a promotion that has always had the trust of its fans*. All Japan's pro wrestling has always taken place in the ring, but if it turns into a legal battle, how will the All Japan fans who have supported it feel? On the other hand, it is also undeniable that it is easier to write articles if both sides present with a confrontational tone. In a sense, political conflicts outside of the ring are New Japan's specialty, and they have the guts to turn that into material for pro wrestling*, and in addition, fans have watched fights in the ring with political aspects in mind.

However, All Japan Pro Wrestling is different. It is a world where all values are concentrated in the ring, completely unrelated to political struggles outside of it. I don't think the image of the main players should be tarnished by this split drama, and on top of that, I want Misawa, who is starting a new promotion, to stick to his beliefs in the fullest. I hope that Kawada, who remains in All Japan, will not succumb to the headwinds. I believe that continuing to watch them in the future with this in mind is my reward as a reporter for All Japan Pro Wrestling, which has given me so much excitement beyond my work through so many great matches.

Now, if we look at the future of both factions specifically, they are both very interesting.

First of all, if you look at the members of the Misawa faction, apart from the signboard "All Japan", the name "Triple Crown Heavy & World Tag Team", and the absence of the names of the regular foreign wrestlers, the actual software is "All Japan Pro Wrestling". Nothing has changed and so whether you like it or not, the objective view is, "Misawa, All Japan is you". This may have been the situation, and as if to prove this, all twenty-four wrestlers, including Misawa, were in attendance at the walk out press conference held on the 16th. It would have been natural for the wrestlers on the outgoing side to be out of step like this, but it didn't happen. There was a sense of unity, like the Forty-Seven Ronin*, proving ultimately that Misawa's decision was by no means an act of rebellion. Of course, the members belong to All Japan, but as long as it's labeled as a new promotion, the fans expect something new and it becomes necessary to add something extra to the traditional fighting style. In fact, Akiyama is willing to change his fighting style for the sake of the new promotion. I can't wait to see how the traditional All Japan layout will be set up and presented to the fans in the ring of the new promotion. 

On the other hand, the main household* is All Japan. From the point of view of fighting power, it is inevitable that it will be an inevitable hardship, if this applied to the wrestlers, then things will turn out surprisingly interesting. The continuity with the foreign wrestlers participating as usual, and Kawada being the only mainstay in All Japan, I can't help but be reminded of the RINGS inaugural show. At that time, Maeda was the only Japanese, and a large group of Dutch, led by Chris Coleman, came to Japan in droves. Traditionally, Japanese people have a strong tendency to support people who are fighting alone, and so in that sense, for Kawada right now, is the biggest opportunity. He has also said, "I want to fight New Japan". In any case, the wrestlers now have wings, and I hope they can fly in the ring with those wings to their hearts content. 

It has been a tumultuous week following the All Japan split. In the background, their senior, Genichiro Tenryu wears a Hayabusa mask and goes wild in FMW. I can't help but feel like that symbolizes something...   

Notes

Each others arguments/Motoko's statements: Mitsuharu Misawa wisely chose to ignore her statement and practically airbrushed her from his memory, so fortunately it never reached this stage. 

Trust of the fans: Baba had an ability for observation, he hired referee Kyohei Wada as he noticed he had good rhythm when humming along to a disco song being played in the dojo, but the most touching was when he noticed a little girl at merchandise with a 1,000 yen bill, who no one else had.

New Japan's political conflicts: Overseas fans should see "Lion's Pride: The Turbulent History of New Japan Pro Wrestling" for more (available on Amazon)

Forty-Seven Ronin: See Wikipedia article

Main household: The article used the word "Honke", which means that this is the household of a Japanese family in which the head and his heir reside. 

Picture credit: Weekly Pro