The Navigation Log 10.12.08: Muto vs. Nakamura II, TenKoji vs. GURENTAI Get a Big Draw, and Makoto Hashi

This week I have braved the strange and foreign shores of a foreign country. That’s right, I went to Canada. Not much is known about this faraway land, but the natives for some reason are remarkably similar to those in the United States and they use bright, multi-colored pieces of paper for currency. All in all it was easily a culture shock. Their city of To-Ronto is much more foreign than Tokyo ever was. I keeeeed, Canada was a nice trip and Toronto and Niagra were fun times. I just can’t get over the bagged milk though. Someone explain that.

Onto the Navigation Log!

New Japan: Muto vs. Nakamura II
Monday’s IWGP showdown between Keiji Muto and the man he dethroned for the title, Shinsuke Nakamura might be the most important title match of Nakamura’s career after the unification match with Kurt Angle. Nakamura is out for two things in this match: he wants to bring the IWGP Heavyweight Title back to New Japan and he wants to prove that he can beat the legend Keiji Muto. He’s on record at saying that the Muto of the now who also holds the All Japan Triple Crown (as The Great Muta) is a much more formidable opponent now than he was when he lost the IWGP. Muto on the other hand has called Nakamura a very dangerous opponent for him to face right now. All in all it seems like Nakamura is getting into Muto’s head a bit. Where the rest of New Japan’s young main eventers have fallen, Nakamura is geared up for success. He’s hungry, he’s been there before, and that is what makes him such a threat.

Muto on the other hand still has many more years of experience on his side. And he’s also using some psychology, not on his opponent but on the New Japan management that I found interesting. All Japan is preparing for a show in Taiwan that Muto wants to defend the IWGP Title on. Not only that but essentially take the belt on a tour of Asia and defending all over the Pacific. While it would indeed raise the value of the IWGP Heavyweight Title on a global scale, it would also be galling for New Japan in a way. Who is promoting the belt? All Japan. Another company is bringing their title around the world, main eventing their shows, while New Japan is left sitting on their asses with no title. The pressure is heavy on Nakamura to reclaim the belt and once again be the savior of New Japan. I think that Nakamura is almost sure to win here based mostly on there not being anyone else for Muto to face where he can drop the belt and still give a decent rub to. He’s gone through most of New Japan’s young heavyweights and the timing and atmosphere seem perfect. They’re hyping this as Nakamura’s last chance in 2008 to pull off the win and I believe it will happen.

Also on this same show Hiroyoshi Tenzan is looking for even more revenge against the man who betrayed him, Takashi Iizuka. Iizuka was a friend of Tenzan’s and they joined forces earlier in the year to challenge Togi Makabe & Toru Yano for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Titles. Iizuka turned on Tenzan though and he along with Makabe & Yano gave him a memorable beating. Since then the feud has raged despite Tenzan pummeling Iizuka in a Lumberjack Death Match. To settle the score again they shall meet in a Chain Death Match. In a twist at the match contract signing earlier, Iizuka had Makabe & Yano go in his place which naturally pissed off Tenzan. It was all a set up though as Iizuka attack when Tenzan tried to leave. Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Great Bash Heel has been an intense story all year long, and now that All Japan’s Satoshi Kojima has been added to the mix on the side of Tenzan it seems like this will reach a head when TenKoji face GBH for the tag team titles. Prediction for the match: PAIN.

Lastly, the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship will emerge from inactivity for the young team of Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito, collectively known as NO LIMIT, to challenge for them. They are currently held by Prince Devitt & Minoru, who won them earlier in the year from Jushin Liger & AKIRA. Truthfully, the belts don’t mean a whole lot, but NO LIMIT is determined to capture gold. They already gave a valiant attempt at NOAH’s GHC Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Titles, but fell due to lack of experience. Here they feel ready though. The champs seem to be looking past their younger challengers, despite claims to the contrary. While Devitt & Minoru have acknowledged that NO LIMIT has improved tremendously and have enough experience to be considered a threat, they are looking past their opponents to future defenses. One can only question how many of those there will be, since they haven’t exactly been defending the belts too often. I do think the titles will change here as well, since if Devitt & Minoru as champions was going to mean something they’re well past it and New Japan seems quite anxious to get behind Yujiro & Naito.

All Japan: TenKoji vs. Tokyo GURENTAI Rocks the House
Saturday Hiroyoshi Tenzan travelled from New Japan to team with Satoshi Kojima to challenge Minoru Suzuki & Taiyo Kea for the All Japan World Tag Team Championship. This bout apparently was a huge draw as All Japan was reporting a sellout crowd for the show that day. Of course any attendance claims are to be judged skeptically in Japan as all the companies are known to embellish their attendance records. The first NOAH show I went to was supposed to be sold out but from where I was sitting it wasn’t even close. Either way, Suzuki & Kea managed to survive Tenzan & Kojima when Kea dropped Kojima with his TKO34th. The match seems to have gotten a good deal of time and I’m interested in seeing it when the video is released somewhere.

Other news from All Japan is also interesting. Shuji Kondo, former Toryumon student has quit VoodooMurders and joined the All Japan Sekigun. His main reason for this is a desire to recapture the All Japan Jr. Heavyweight Title from NOAH’s Naomichi Marufuji. That is a match I’d love to see go down. On Saturday he had his first match against his old VM members, gaining the victory in a quick fashion. After the match though a new member was revealed as Nobukazu Hirai joined the ranks of VM.

Last, but not least, some of you may or may not remember the reports of All Japan signing a former sumo wrestler named Ryota Hama. Their plan was to rush him through training in hopes that they’d be able to have him in ring-shape soon enough that they could debut him and capitalize on the press they were getting. I remain skeptical of this scheme and I don’t care how many times they trot out Akebono as proof of this strategy working. Just because it works for one guy doesn’t mean it can work for everyone. Regardless, head trainer Kaz Hayashi has said that Hama is picking things up well and as such the time has been decided to debut Hama. His first match shall be on November 3rd against none other than Akebono himself. This will either be a train wreck or the greatest thing Muto has ever thought to do. Stay tuned.

Pro Wrestling NOAH: Autumn Navigation Underway
The Autumn Navigation has started up, with nothing major taking place outside of one minor title change. Earlier in the week Makoto Hashi defeated Kishin Kawabata for the GHC Hardcord Openweight Title. Hashi has been a guy plagued by injuries and though he is a former GHC Jr. Heavyweight Champion he mostly flies under the radar. Hopefully he can turn things around with this win, but it’s highly unlikely. If NOAH decides to showcase him more now he could be built up stronger, but who knows. I’m mostly sad about Kawabata losing, because I love him. Maybe he can go back to teaming with Kentaro Shiga, but I don’t see them ever being title contenders in the near future.

Dragon Gate: Takagi vs. Yokosuka
While this was news to me, apparently Shingo Takagi officially joined Typhoon not too long ago. Good for him for finally having a stable. Kinda sucks the belt is back in that stable again, but whatever. His next challenger is slated to be Susumu Yokosuka on 11/16. Yokosuka won this after coming out on top in a 4-way elimination match against Gamma, Naruki Doi, and Masaaki Mochizuki. Yokosuka hasn’t been too pleased with Takagi in Typhoon so expect this issue to come to a head here. Either he’ll leave Typhoon or develop new respect for the Open the Dream Gate champion. I am looking forward to this match though, Susumu Yokosuka is one of my favorites in Dragon Gate.

Akira Tozawa’s 7 Match Diet Series is finally over and he’s definitely gotten into better shape. He’s managed to win some battle royale matches in the past few weeks against some stiff competition and now is confident enough to ask for a challenge for the Open the Triangle Gate belts. It should prove interesting and as long as there isn’t some kind of swerve, I’m liking the new life that’s been breathed into Tozawa-juku this year. I don’t know how long it will last, but the stable seems poised to take on the top.

Other News
-DDT is getting a bit nostalgic these days. Recently in an Extreme Cage Match DDT President Sanshiro Takagi managed to defeat Dick Togo and win the KO-D Openweight Title while retaining his KO-D Extreme Title. Togo then announced he would be leaving DDT so a farewell match was set up for him. Afterwards Antonio Honda, Togo’s former friend before the heel group Metal Vampire was formed came out to say good bye only to introduce Francesco Togo. Honda and Togo then reformed the defunct group known only as The Italian Four Horsemen. It is possibly the most epic stable in the history of DDT. This video can act as an introduction for those who haven’t heard of the group:

We at the Navigation Log do not condone drug use of any kind.

Current Champions
This is a new section, which will hopefully help keep things in order as to who holds what titles over in Japan in the four companies that are most often reported on. This week I’ve got the Big Three set, but due to weird problems with html Dragon Gate keeps getting cut out. They’ll be up next week. Hopefully. Yes, this is done in other columns, but should prove helpful as even I lose track of who has what sometimes.

All Japan Pro Wrestling

Triple Crown Champion: The Great Muta
-Defeated Suwama on 9/28/2008 to become the 38th champion

Next defense: 11/3/08 vs. Minoru Suzuki

All Japan Pro Wrestling Jr. Heavyweight Champion: Naomichi Marufuji (NOAH)
-Defeated Ryuji Hijikata on 9/28/2008 to become the 27th champion

Next defense: 10/25/08 vs. KENTA (NOAH)

All Japan Pro Wrestling World Tag Team Champions: Taiyo Kea & Minoru Suzuki
-Defeated Keiji Muto & Joe Doering on 6/28/2008 to become the 55th champions

-1st defense: defeated Suwama & Osamu Nishimura on 8/3/08
-2nd defense: defeated Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan on 10/11/08

Next defense: 10/11/08 vs. Satoshi Kojima & Hiroshi Tenzan (New Japan)

New Japan Pro Wrestling</b></font><br /> <br /> <b>IWGP Heavyweight Champion:</b> Keiji Muto<br /> -Defeated Shinsuke Nakamura on 4/26/2008 to become the 48th champion<br /> <br /> -1st Defense: defeated Manabu Nakanishi on 7/21/08<br /> -2nd Defense: defeated Hirooki Goto on 8/31/08<br /> -3rd Defense: defeated Togi Makabe on 9/21/08<br /> <br /> Next defense: 10/13/08 vs Shinsuke Nakamura<br /> <br /> <br /> <b>IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions:</b> Togi Makabe & Toru Yano<br /> -Defeated Giant Bernard & Travis Tomko on 2/17/2008 to become the 51st champions<br /> <br /> -No contest finish against Giant Bernard & Shinsuke Nakamura on 3/9/08<br /> -1st Defense: defeated Takashi Iizuka & Hiroyoshi Tenzan on 4/27/08<br /> -2nd defense: defeated Giant Bernard & Rick Fuller on 7/21/08<br /> -3rd defense: defeated Shinsuke Nakamura & Hirooki Goto on 9/5/08<br /> <br /> Next defense: TBA<br /> <br /> <b>IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion:</b> Low Ki<br /> -Defeated Tiger Mask on 9/21/2008 to become the 55th champion<br /> <br /> Next defense: TBA<br /> <br /> <b>IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champions:</b> Minoru & Prince Devitt<br /> -Defeated Jushin Thunder Liger & AKIRA on 7/21/2008 to become the 21st champions<br /> <br /> -1st defense: defeated Jushin Thunder Liger & AKIRA on 8/16/08<br /> <br /> Next defense: 10/13/08 vs. Yujiro & Tetsuyo Naito<br /> <br /> <b><font color =”>Pro Wrestling NOAH

GHC Heavyweight Champion: Kensuke Sasaki
-Defeated Takeshi Morishima on 9/18/2009 to become the 13th champion

1st defense: defeated Mohammad Yone on 9/27/08

Next defense: TBA

GHC Heavyweight Tag Team Champions: Akitoshi Saito & Bison Smith
-Defeated Naomichi Marufuji & Takashi Sugiura on 5/23/2008 to become the 17th champions

Next defense: 10/25/08 against Jun Akiyama & Takeshi Rikio

GHC Jr. Heavyweight Champion: Bryan Danielson (ROH)
-Defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru on 9/14/2008 to become the 15th champion

-1st defense: against Katsuhiko Nakajima on 9/20/08

Next defense: 10/13/08 against KENTA

GHC Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champions: Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Kotaro Suzuki
-Defeated KENTA & Taiji Ishimori on 7/13/2008 to become the 10th champions

-1st defense: defeated Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito (New Japan) on 9/27/08

Next defense: TBA

GHC Openweight Hardcore Champion: Makoto Hashi NEW CHAMPION
-Defeated Kishin Kawabata on 10/6/08 to become the 8th champion

-Next defense: TBA

Weekly Puro
I’m in a fun kind of mood, so this match will hopefully satisfy that. This comes from the Dragon Gate/DDT joint show called Dramatic Dream Gate Returns. It’s a three-way tag match pitting combinations of DDT and Dragon Gate stars joining up and mixing gimmicks. Specifically watch for Don Fuji and Ryo Saito getting seriously into character. There’s some good action, but heavy on the comedy. But who doesn’t like to laugh?

DDG Returns: Ryo Saito & Poison Sawada JULIE vs. Kenichiro Arai & Tanomusaku Toba vs. Don Fuji & MIKAMI

At Home
Maybe I’m just naïve, but how can a youth hostel in Toronto not carry either WWE or TNA. I’m quite sad to say that I have once again missed Impact and Smackdown. Even worse was the failure of their internet to provide with any chance to join the 411 Roundtable to defend my title at the top of the staff standings. No, I don’t know how I got so good at it and I wish it carried over to the WWE predictions. Either way, I love the look of the Bound for Glory card. Really good stuff that should come off strong in the end. I’m really looking forward to seeing how it all comes together tonight. I sometimes have a hard time watching Impact as the commentary and some of the stupid backstage things grate my nerves, but there is no denying that when they have a major PPV, TNA sells the shit out of it. This is one of those PPVs and there’s a strong case to be made for paying for it. If nothing else if you hate the show it’ll give people something new to complain about for a week.

WWE from what I saw this week was rather dull for the most part. The highlight on Raw was the war of words between Cryme Tyme and Miz & Morrison during Kelly Kelly vs. Jillian Hall. It was more interesting than the match would have ever been, though it’s easy to see how it could annoy some people. Khali’s Kiss Cam is my new segment of the year too. And I really loved the ECW main event, it was great that the WWE sent out eight young guys that they’re expecting to be the future of the company and gave them quality time to work a televised match. Damn good stuff and once again Ricky Ortiz managed to get by without screwing up. There’s hope for him yet.

Short Takes
-LOL Dolph Ziggler got owned by Wellness. That’s what you get for stealing Worker Ant’s gimmick.

-I’ll say again, I seriously love William Regal vs. Jamie Noble. A few years ago and this feud would have made PPV.

-LAX in ROH should prove to be interesting. It’s not often you get guys as big as Hernandez in ROH so it’ll be interesting to see how they adapt. The pop for Homicide will be amazing.

-The Osirian Portal shouldn’t be getting an ROH tryout. They flat out don’t need one, just let them in and make them champs. In seriousness though, putting them up against Steenerico is a great show of confidence. Easily the rookies of the year.

That’s all for this week. I gotta get some more rest to fully recuperate from the trip. Check back next week for New Japan results, and all the rest. Peace!