alphadraighon Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 What are people's thoughts on the announcement that AJPW has returned the NWA International, NWA United National, and PWF Heavyweight belts to Motoko Baba, and will debut a new single belt to represent the Triple Crown championship in the near future? Personally I think it's an interesting change. A huge part of the history of the company and the uniqueness of that championship will be lost for me, but at the same time it does show that they are trying to move forward and make a positive change after the harsh times they've been having. Rumor has it that the new belt will be seen for the first time at the end of October, though stuff like that usually gets leaked long before. Obviously without seeing it I can't say how I think it LOOKS. But to me, the sight of the three straps of the Triple Crown is almost sacred, and I was momentarily speechless when I read that they were changing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timber Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 After watching NJPW's G1 and loving it. Is there some good stuff for AJPW that i should be looking for on YouTube or other sites? I know next to nothing about Japanese wrestling scene but i'm looking to correct that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Final Countdown Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Timber" data-cite="Timber" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="36630" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>After watching NJPW's G1 and loving it. Is there some good stuff for AJPW that i should be looking for on YouTube or other sites? I know next to nothing about Japanese wrestling scene but i'm looking to correct that.</div></blockquote><p> Are you talking strictly present day, or any era? I'm not very up-to-date on modern Japanese wrestling, but there was some great stuff in All Japan in the 90's from the likes of Misawa, Kobashi, Kawada and Taue.</p><p> </p><p> On the original topic: I get wanting to start anew and all that, but losing the history and the prestige of the Triple Crown is a bummer.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fleisch Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 <p>It's a shame but this is probably another reason for the exodus in July. The company that took over seems intent on wiping AJP (as they are now called) history and starting anew.</p><p> </p><p> I've not seen an AJPW match since last August when I watched Jun Akiyama vs Masakatsu Funaki for the Triple Crown. Like The Final Countdown says, there's some pretty good stuff from the 90's, Hulk Hogan v Stan Hansen from April 1990 was pretty good.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigerkinney Posted August 30, 2013 Share Posted August 30, 2013 <p>This Knobuo Shiraishi that has become the owner of AJPW, seems to be a bit of lunatic that seems to have done more harm than good since taking over the reigns of the promotion. Under Keiji Mutoh's guidance, they weren't anywhere near back to being what they were at the height of their powers in the 90's prior to the NOAH split but they did at least seem to be a bit more steady. </p><p> </p><p> Recent attendance for their shows has not looked good (see pic below- the venue holds around 4000 and apparently was taken just before the show started) and this must be down to the negative publicity Shiraishi has been cultivating due to his actions, and the Wrestle-1 walkout that has lead to them going around with a barely there roster.</p><p> </p><p> <img alt="BSfti4pCcAA4YHf.jpg" data-src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BSfti4pCcAA4YHf.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> To be honest both AJPW and the company that split from them at the beginning of the new millennium Pro Wrestling NOAH are both walking corpses right now. They should both swallow their pride and merge back together again, before one- if not possibly both end up going out of business, the way things are heading. </p><p> </p><p> Then again you never know both could find someway to turn it around. A decade ago NOAH was the promotion in vogue when it came to Puroresu and NJPW looked to be imploding due to creator breakdown (INOKISM!) but NJPW got taken over/saved and managed to not just regain respectability but reclaim their spot as the undisputed King of Puroresu.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alphadraighon Posted August 30, 2013 Author Share Posted August 30, 2013 <p>I've followed AJPW my whole life, which is not easy for an American. I was tape trading as a kid in the 90s, which was tricky since most of my friends only knew about WWF. To say that they've had a bad decade is an understatement, and I've found myself having a harder time seeing them the way I did when I was a kid.</p><p> </p><p> For me one of the things that hurt the most to see was AJPW wrestlers appearing at Big Japan Wrestling events. I remember seeing the AJPW All-Asian tag titles defended at a BJW show (I think it was even a hardcore match) and Daisuke Sekimoto defended the BJW Strongest Heavyweight title at AJPW shows. Don't get me wrong...I like Big Japan. I have always loved the way that Japanese promotions are willing to work together. I just don't like the idea of those two companies crossing each other's borders.</p><p> </p><p> For me, that just seemed wrong. Now, dropping the traditional image of the Triple Crown is like a final nail in the coffin. My fear is that they'll come out with something that looks like the IWGP Heavyweight belt (which I like, but don't want to see an AJPW version of.) Or worse...like something you'd see in WWE or TNA. Guess we'll find out in a few weeks when they debut the new strap, but I'm not holding out any hope that it'll impress. For me, the three belts will always be the Triple Crown.</p><p> </p><p> (On a side note, I'm looking forward to seeing what Mutoh's Wrestle-1 can do, but that's really off topic.)</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fleisch Posted August 30, 2013 Share Posted August 30, 2013 <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="alphadraighon" data-cite="alphadraighon" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="36630" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I've followed AJPW my whole life, which is not easy for an American. I was tape trading as a kid in the 90s, which was tricky since most of my friends only knew about WWF. To say that they've had a bad decade is an understatement, and I've found myself having a harder time seeing them the way I did when I was a kid.<p> </p><p> For me one of the things that hurt the most to see was AJPW wrestlers appearing at Big Japan Wrestling events. I remember seeing the AJPW All-Asian tag titles defended at a BJW show (I think it was even a hardcore match) and Daisuke Sekimoto defended the BJW Strongest Heavyweight title at AJPW shows. Don't get me wrong...I like Big Japan. I have always loved the way that Japanese promotions are willing to work together. I just don't like the idea of those two companies crossing each other's borders.</p><p> </p><p> For me, that just seemed wrong. Now, dropping the traditional image of the Triple Crown is like a final nail in the coffin. My fear is that they'll come out with something that looks like the IWGP Heavyweight belt (which I like, but don't want to see an AJPW version of.) Or worse...like something you'd see in WWE or TNA. Guess we'll find out in a few weeks when they debut the new strap, but I'm not holding out any hope that it'll impress. For me, the three belts will always be the Triple Crown.</p><p> </p><p> (On a side note, I'm looking forward to seeing what Mutoh's Wrestle-1 can do, but that's really off topic.)</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> So long as it doesn't look like the IGF Title! That to me is one of the most horrible looking belts in pro wrestling.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alphadraighon Posted August 30, 2013 Author Share Posted August 30, 2013 <p>Yeah, the IGF title looks like a bad acid trip in gold and gemstones. Can't believe it is supposedly cost something like two million yen.</p><p> </p><p> I'm hoping (not that there's much hope left for AJPW) that their new title incorporates elements from the original three, to at least show SOME sense of tradition remains.</p><p> </p><p> Also...I haven't heard anything official, but I wonder if they'll even still call it the Triple Crown.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigerkinney Posted August 30, 2013 Share Posted August 30, 2013 <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="alphadraighon" data-cite="alphadraighon" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="36630" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Yeah, the IGF title looks like a bad acid trip in gold and gemstones. Can't believe it is supposedly cost something like two million yen. </div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Are you referring to this monstrosity....</p><p> </p><p> <span>http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lq50rbxrgx1qa7qnao1_500.jpg</span></p><p> </p><p> Certainly up there with the WWE Diva's Championship, and the TNA 'Jeff Hardy/Immortal' version of the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, as a horribly ostentatious belt. </p><p> </p><p> Whose going to take them seriously when their champion goes around wearing that. Then again on second faults- no one takes them seriously anyway! <img alt=":p" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CZCW Champ Posted August 30, 2013 Share Posted August 30, 2013 They shouldn't even call it the triple crown championship, they should just call it the AJPW World Heavyweight Championship. The three belts were and will forever be the triple crown. Everything has changed in All Japan and honestly for the worse. When Mutoh ran it, maybe they didn't get numbers Giant Baba got but at least it still but bucks in buckets and butts into seats. Now it is going into obsurity that this time I don't think they are gonna come back from. As for NOAH, they have been dying since 2009 or 2010 after Misawa died. I've seen indy shows in Japan pull more people than they did recently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fullMETAL Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 The belting community is practically up in arms about this, heralding it as the end of AJPW FOREVERRRRR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CZCW Champ Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="fullMETAL" data-cite="fullMETAL" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="36630" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>The belting community is practically up in arms about this, heralding it as the end of AJPW FOREVERRRRR</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> LOL yeah pretty much, they really took one on the chin with Wrestle-1 and Makoto Baba got the three belts back they still got good talent but I just don't think they fully recover from a second exodus, but only time will tell.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fleisch Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 From what I've heard recently it will still have the Triple Crown name and lineage, it's just the three actual belts being returned to Motoko Baba will be replaced by 1 unified belt. Obviously the way AJP is going it could change. I don't think they've got enough workers to have another exodus! I have heard rumours that Rene Dupree has left despite being their TV Champion (but that's only a rumour because of his appearance at the W-1 event). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CZCW Champ Posted September 14, 2013 Share Posted September 14, 2013 <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Fleisch" data-cite="Fleisch" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="36630" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>From what I've heard recently it will still have the Triple Crown name and lineage, it's just the three actual belts being returned to Motoko Baba will be replaced by 1 unified belt. Obviously the way AJP is going it could change. I don't think they've got enough workers to have another exodus! I have heard rumours that Rene Dupree has left despite being their TV Champion (but that's only a rumour because of his appearance at the W-1 event).</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Rene leaving is fact, he vacated the belt 3 days after the event and another that was kinda crazy was Kenta Kobashi at that event as a commentator doubt it's permanent but like I said things aren't looking good for them.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fleisch Posted September 14, 2013 Share Posted September 14, 2013 <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="CZCW Champ" data-cite="CZCW Champ" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="36630" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Rene leaving is fact, he vacated the belt 3 days after the event and another that was kinda crazy was Kenta Kobashi at that event as a commentator doubt it's permanent but like I said things aren't looking good for them.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Thanks for that bit of info... I'll have to release Rene from them in my mod.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fullMETAL Posted September 14, 2013 Share Posted September 14, 2013 <p>On a bit of belt-community insider news:</p><p> I have discovered that the designer of the new AJPW single Triple Crown championship belt was popular European title belt designer Billy Loomis, PENDING CONFIRMATION by seeing the actual belt after its debut.</p><p> </p><p> If you're a fan of his belts (like I am), I can assure you that AJPW's belt was in good hands.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alphadraighon Posted September 17, 2013 Author Share Posted September 17, 2013 <p>My brother and I were discussing the topic of championships in general and this recent development with the Triple Crown in particular, and he posed an interesting theory I thought I'd share.</p><p> </p><p> We were talking about how some championships outlast the company they were created for, and you end up with situations where other promotions use the titles for years afterward. (Much the way the FMW World Championship became the WEW Heavyweight Championship after the fall of FMW, and is still active today despite the fact that WEW technically doesn't exist anymore either.)</p><p> </p><p> The theory he put forth was that AJPW's new owners are scared due to the recent exodus of workers, the second such exodus in fifteen years. He believes that they are afraid that it may happen again, and that if it does the reigning AJPW champion may leave the company with the championship, and begin defending it somewhere else. He thinks that by replacing the physical belts, if such a thing were to happen they could then bring back the originals and claim that they still have the "true" Triple Crown, and that the new belt represents a false legacy.</p><p> </p><p> He went on to suggest that we may see them also replace the World Tag Team/Double Cup with a new single belt as well.</p><p> </p><p> An interesting idea. Would be interested to see what other people think about his theory.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fullMETAL Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 That actually sounds like a REALLY plausible theory, and I wouldn't doubt it for a hot second if THAT was the actual reasoning behind the creation of the single-belt Triple/Double Crowns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fullMETAL Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 FOLKS, the new Triple Crown Championship has been revealed, just hours before its debut, courtesy of its designer! https://www.facebook.com/BeltPerformance/media_set?set=a.651542154867852.1073741837.100000362202859&type=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaysin Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 I actually like it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alphadraighon Posted October 27, 2013 Author Share Posted October 27, 2013 <p>The initial pictures I had seen of it weren't all that great, but the close ups and detail shown in the link provided by fullmetal definitely changed that.</p><p> </p><p> The new belt incorporates elements of the original titles while at the same time giving it a modern feel and update.</p><p> </p><p> I can't say that I love it...but I do like it, and I feel that it will grow on me with time.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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