So, I’ve been a wrestling fan for longer than I can remember, and I’ll be 40 this year. I grew up in eastern Canada, and never even saw anything other than WWF until WCW started with Nitro. In the last few years, I’ve started a casual viewing of Japan, mostly NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom, which has been a faithful yearly watch since …whatever year Nakamura vs Ibushi was. As a guy who has always leaned towards the great wrestlers, that match was enough to make me want more.
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One of the things I’ve been doing is trying to do some research into the history of the business in Japan. I know the names of Choshu and Tsuruta, for example, and the weight that comes with them, but I don’t have the context to understand why they’re important, their resumes, if you will. So I finished watched Kim Justice’s youtube trilogy on the 3 worst japanese promotions of all time (SWS, HUSTLE, and World Japan) and I have one question.
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Why does puroresu keep F\*\*\*ing itself?
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Have I missed something? The lack of loyalty on display throughout it’s entire history on display both wrestler to promoter and vice versa is madness to me. Choshu, Hashimoto, Mutoh, Maeda, Michinoku, Asai, Misawa, and on, and on. Hell, Inoki on both sides at different points in his career.
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Someone help me make sense of why Japan should rule the “sport of pro wrestling” side of the global fan-base, un-challenged, but somehow works it’s ass off trying to make sure that it comes up short, decade after decade. Same story now, just a new main character. I’m sure someone can make sense of what is, no doubt, a complex answer.
by fisheswithherbs902
