>>12812867Nakajima said it
Simon Inoki said it
Hisashi Shinma said it
Anons right here on this board said it
The first match for the title where he won the title was the price they paid to get Nakajima to jump ship. The Tag League matches with Hokuto Omori were to measure fan reaction to Nakajima. On Christmas day they made the decision to go all in on Nakajima and that was well all the talk started about how they were going to basically rebuild the promotion around Nakajima.
AJPW has been floundering for years. Nothing was going to change if they kept walking the same road they had been on, so they are going all in on the Toukan Style. AJPW is going to start aiming for a stiffer, faster, younger, and more aggressive style of promotion. It may work out or it may fail, but at least it will be something new that will change the dead end of aging grandpas from 30 years ago.
Someone was posting last night asking what the story was in the match between the two Saito brothers and there really wasn't one. They aren't that good for age and despite their size. It was a match to test them and see how aggressive and hard hitting they were willing to be.
Guys like Yuma Anzai don't have to worry despite how green he is because he works hard, he works smoothly, and he is young. Hayato doesn't have to worry because he is so fast, so skilled, and so young. Hell Fuchi will probably remain despite his age because he actually brings something to the table with his knowledge and ability to train young talent in the technical aspect of things.
This is about cutting the dead weight, streamlining the promotion, and AJPW work with freelancers to fill out the ranks as long as they are good enough. It is a complete overhaul and revival of AJPW. Guys that have been cruising for decades just because they were around when Baba was, but don't really do anything to draw a crowd need to either try harder or hit bricks.
