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2000 All Japan Pro Wrestling mass exodus

The 2000 All Japan Pro Wrestling mass exoduswas an incident in the JapaneseAll Japan Pro Wrestling(AJPW)professional wrestlingpromotion that took place throughout May and June 2000, and culminated in 24 of the 26 contracted native wrestlers leaving the promotion (Masanobu FuchiandToshiaki Kawadaremained). Led byMitsuharu Misawa,they later formed their own promotion,Pro Wrestling Noah.

Mitsuharu Misawa,leader of the exodus

Background

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History

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All Japan Pro Wrestling(AJPW) was founded in 1972 byShohei "Giant" Baba,Mitsuo Momota,andYoshihiro Momota;the three were a student and the two sons ofRikidōzan,the godfather of Japanese professional wrestling a.k.a.Puroresu.Baba served as the promotion's president, head booker, talent scout, and head trainer for much of his lifetime. Under Baba, the promotion enjoyed much success and reached new heights in the 1990s thanks mostly to the performances ofMitsuharu Misawa,Toshiaki Kawada,Kenta Kobashi,andAkira Taue--dubbed "The Four Pillars Of Heaven" by magazines and reporters. Baba continued to run the promotion until late 1998 when his health deteriorated and he was hospitalized in January 1999.

Build-up

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Baba died fromliver failure(a complication ofcolon cancer) on January 31, 1999, at the age of 61.[1]In the wake of his death, widow and majority shareholder[2]Motoko Baba intended for Mitsuo Momota to inherit the presidential position,[3]but board memberJumbo Tsurutaused his influence to help Misawa inherit the position, before Tsuruta himself was forced out of the company (with no severance package).[3][4]Misawa was trained for the position during the following months,[5]and was officially announced as AJPW president during a press conference on May 7.[6]

Disagreements with Motoko Baba arose even before the transition was made public, as reports of a "quiet" power struggle saw print in March 1999,[5]and Tsuruta confirmed these when he left Japan forPortland, Oregon.[7]In fact, the two had had professional tensions long beforehand. Motoko had opposed the decision to push Misawa in the wake of Genichiro Tenryu's departure in 1990,[8]and the two began conflicting as early as 1996; in the year before Shohei Baba's death, Misawa even asked him on behalf of the locker room to have his wife leave the company, and was somewhat successful in that she ceased to have any creative influence when Misawa began booking.[9][10][11]Misawa attempted to keep Baba content by maintaining the same salary that she had been paid when her husband was alive (approximately $500,000), but this did not change the power dynamic.[4]Misawa's wish to change the AJPW product, and to modernize its presentation, to address their box office troubles ran in direct opposition to Baba's intent to maintain her late husband's booking philosophy.[4]Misawa was particularly intent on pushing the company's younger talent, and in September 1999 he and Baba had a major fight over a match between Jun Akiyama andTakao Omoribeing the main event of a Budokan show (which sold out), although this match's placement had been decided by a fan ballot.[4][12]Motoko's conservatism was partially due to her belief that the company, and Japanese wrestling as a whole, had fallen from its peak.[3]Misawa was also angry with Motoko over fiscal matters, as he had discovered that much of the company's merchandise sales did not produce funds for AJPW, but for a subsidiary that she had set up.[13][14]At some point, Misawa approached Nippon TV with his plans to leave AJPW to start a new promotion, and told them that nearly everyone in the locker room would follow him. NTV officials told Misawa that they supported him, but that they needed to keep their agreement quiet for the time being as, due to the proximity of Baba's death, the station wanted to wait until enough time had passed to drop All Japan's television program, which had been associated closely with NTV since its formation.[15][3][16]Nevertheless, rumors that NTV had taken Misawa's side in his dispute against Baba saw print in February 2000, andWeekly Fight Magazinereported that AJPW would split into two groups in May, though Misawa declined to comment on this.[17][18]

Adding to the situation was that, as of the end of the fiscal year on March 31, 2000, all the promotion's talent were working as free agents, since Misawa was not authorized to give the raises he intended to award all native workers; Misawa had also wanted to modernize their contracts, providing wrestlers with full medical coverage, full injury pay, and possibly stock options (which NJPW's contracts offered).[4]As the result of these disagreements,[19]the AJPW executive board voted to remove Misawa from the presidential position on May 28.[20]All parties agreed to keep this news private until the end of the current tour, and Misawa attempted to persuade Baba to give him her public blessings to start a new company, so as to smooth the public transition and preserve the legacies of Giant Baba and the recently deceased Tsuruta.[4]Baba refused this proposal or relinquishment of any of her majority share, andTokyo Sportsbroke the news on June 12.[4]At an emergency board meeting held in response on June 13, co-vice president Mitsuo Momota and fellow boardsmen Kobashi, Taue, Kenichi Oyagi, andYoshihiro Momotacollectively resigned from their positions.[4]

Incident

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Genichiro Tenryumade his return to AJPW in 2000 after leaving the promotion in 1990

On June 16, 2000, a press conference was led byMitsuharu Misawa,where 24 of the 26 native wrestlers contracted toAll Japan Pro Wrestlingjoined him. With over 100 reporters and news outlets in attendance, Misawa announced that everyone surrounding him would be leaving All Japan Pro Wrestling after finishing their last committed appearances in July, and that they would be forming a new promotion together.[15]A day later, Misawa announced the promotion's name:Pro Wrestling Noah.[21]On June 19, 2000, it was confirmed at a press conference in the All Japan dojo held byToshiaki KawadaandMasanobu Fuchithat NTV had agreed to discontinue broadcasting All Japan Pro Wrestling after 27 years with the network.[15]NTV also announced that they would carry weekly tapings of Misawa's new Noah promotion, with the title of the program being called "Colosseo", in the place of All Japan's former 30-minute timeslot on Sundays at midnight. On June 20, Misawa met withNippon TVofficials, who had cancelled All Japan's television program, and secured a time slot for NOAH programming.[22]

On July 2 atKorakuen Hall,Motoko Baba came out to the ring and announced the unfathomable return ofGenichiro Tenryuto All Japan. This was previously unfathomable as Giant Baba had sworn to banish him from ever competing in the promotion again after Tenryu led his own exodus from AJPW in 1990 to form theSuper World of Sports(SWS) promotion. Baba announced he would team with Toshiaki Kawada to face Maunakea Mossman andStan Hansenon July 23 on the final show of the Super Action Series Tour inNippon Budokan.[23]On July 20, 2000,Yoshinobu Kanemaru,Takeshi Morishima,Naomichi Marufuji,Kentaro Shiga,Takeshi Rikio,Mitsuo Momota,Rusher Kimura,Haruka Eigen,Tsuyoshi Kikuchi,Kenta Kobayashi,Takao Omori,Yoshihiro Takayama,Jun Izumida,Masao Inoue,Yoshinari Ogawa,Akira Taue,Jun AkiyamaandMitsuharu Misawacompeted in their last matches for All Japan Pro Wrestling at the sold-out Hakata Star Lane in Fukuoka. During the show, "Dr. Death"Steve Williamscame out and shook Misawa's hand, and requested one last singles match between the two. However, Misawa returned to the bus immediately after his match, not staying for the last two matches of the show and the match never happened. Every single one of All Japan's titles were vacated due to the departure of the aforementioned wrestlers and title holders. Mrs. Baba later appointed Stan Hansen as the new Chairman of All Japan's Pacific Wrestling Federation title governing body, replacing Lord James Blears.

Aftermath

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Although a mass exodus in Japanese pro wrestling was not unheard of, an exodus of this size was unprecedented at the time, rivalled only by Tenryu's exodus to form SWS in 1990. The event caused a shockwave throughout Japanese sports tabloids, and newfound attention was bought to Misawa and his new promotion. The two promotions would eventually begin working together in 2004, withKeiji Mutohand Taiyo Kea facing Misawa andYoshinari OgawaatDeparture 2004in the Tokyo Dome, and Misawa returning to All Japan twice in 2004.

All Japan Pro Wrestling

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After the new Noah roster wrestled their last matches for the promotion, All Japan began the process of rebuilding itself, relying on freelance talent and cross promotional matches to fill its cards. On August 11, 2000,Masanobu Fuchiappeared at theNew Japan Pro-Wrestling(NJPW) show inRyogoku Kokugikan.Standing in a New Japan ring for the first time in his career, Fuchi announced his intention to "break down the walls" between All Japan and New Japan, and he was soon joined in the ring by NJPW foremanRiki Choshu.The two exchanged a handshake in the ring, and thus a cross promotional relationship began between All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling.[24]The first major cross promotional matches between NJPW and AJPW took place on October 9, 2000 atNJPW Do Judge!!in the Tokyo Dome. Fuchi,Dr. Death Steve WilliamsandToshiaki Kawadaall represented AJPW on the card, with Kawada shockingly defeatingIWGP Heavyweight ChampionKensuke Sasakiin a non-title match in the main event.[25]This led to Sasaki, in kayfabe, becoming so disgusted with himself for losing to an outsider that he vacated the championship. The two promotions continued to work together, with Fuchi and Kawada regularly appearing in NJPW throughout late 2000. All Japan returned to the Tokyo Dome for the first time since the exodus on January 28, 2001, with appearances fromKeiji MutohandJushin Thunder Liger,as well as a main event featuring Kensuke Sasaki teaming up with Toshiaki Kawada to defeat Genichiro Tenryu andHiroshi Hase.[26]

Pro Wrestling Noah

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Pro Wrestling Noah debuted on August 5, 2000 in Differ Ariake, main evented by a 2 out of 3 falls match puttingKenta KobashiandJun AkiyamaagainstMitsuharu MisawaandAkira Taue,won by Akiyama and Kobashi.[27]Misawa later established the promotion's championships as the Global Honored Crown, and a tournament was held for theGHC Heavyweight Championshipin 2001, where Misawa defeatedYoshihiro Takayamain the final to become the inaugural champion.[28]Interest in the fledgling promotion was high, and Misawa used this to push younger talent over himself, withJun Akiyamawinning the title in July 2001. Despite the positive reception to Akiyama's reign, head booker Misawa grew anxious that a lack of legitimate title contenders would damage both the title and Akiyama's reputation early in the promotion's life, and in April 2002 Akiyama dropped the championship toYoshinari Ogawaas a stepping stone to get the championship back to Misawa.[29]

References

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  1. ^Meltzer, Dave (February 8, 1999)."Giant Baba passes away".Wrestling Observer Newsletter.Retrieved21 December2019.(subscription required)
  2. ^Meltzer, Dave (April 23, 2018)."Former AJPW owner Motoko Baba passes away at 78".Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Online.Retrieved22 November2019.
  3. ^abcdMeltzer, Dave (June 22, 2009)."Misawa tragic death, UFC 99, Trump angle, TripleMania, Sylvia".Wrestling Observer Newsletter.ISSN1083-9593.Retrieved21 December2019.(subscription required)
  4. ^abcdefghMeltzer, Dave (June 19, 2000)."Goldberg turns heel at Great American Bash, All Japan changes, more".Wrestling Observer Newsletter.Retrieved21 December2019.(subscription required)
  5. ^abMeltzer, Dave (March 15, 1999)."WWF wins Monday night ratings war, UFC 19 results, plus tons of news".Wrestling Observer Newsletter.Retrieved14 January2020.(subscription required)
  6. ^Meltzer, Dave (May 17, 1999)."WCW Slamboree/UFC XX reviews, WWF breaks ratings records, more".Wrestling Observer Newsletter.Retrieved10 January2020.(subscription required)
  7. ^Meltzer, Dave (March 22, 1999)."WCW Uncensored review, Hogan/Flair double turn, history of Flair's title wins, tons more".Wrestling Observer Newsletter.Retrieved14 January2020.(subscription required)
  8. ^Malkavar, Gin (July 15, 2018)."Entrevista a Chris Charlton, autor de Eggshells:" El Tokyo Dome es el estándar de legitimidad del pro-wrestling japonés "".Solo Wrestling(in Spanish).Retrieved8 January2020.
  9. ^Nakata & Honda 2007,p. 51-2.
  10. ^Wada, Kyohei (December 25, 2004).Jinsei ha Mitsu Oshiete Choudo Ii(in Japanese). Media Factory.ISBN484011188X.
  11. ^Meltzer, Dave (October 5, 1998)."Lawler and Jim Carrey angle, WWF Breakdown results plus tons more".Wrestling Observer Newsletter.Retrieved9 January2020.(subscription required)
  12. ^Meltzer, Dave (September 13, 1999)."BEST WRESTLERS OF EACH DECADE, PLUS TONS OF NEWS".Wrestling Observer Newsletter.Retrieved11 March2020.(subscription required)
  13. ^Misawa 2000.
  14. ^Charlton 2018.
  15. ^abcMeltzer, Dave (June 26, 2000)."Birth of NOAH, Vince Russo quits WCW, tons of news".Wrestling Observer Newsletter.Retrieved22 January2020.(subscription required)
  16. ^Pollock, John (April 23, 2018)."Motoko Baba passes away at age 78".POSTWrestling.Retrieved7 January2020.
  17. ^Meltzer, Dave (February 21, 2000)."1999 attendance numbers, WCW turmoil, tons more".Wrestling Observer Newsletter.Retrieved14 January2020.(subscription required)
  18. ^Meltzer, Dave (May 15, 2000)."WCW Slamboree review, drug testing for wrestling in NY, more".Wrestling Observer Newsletter.Retrieved14 January2020.(subscription required)
  19. ^Hornbaker, Tim (2006).National Wrestling Alliance: The Untold Story of the Monopoly That Strangled Pro Wrestling.ECW Press. p.328.ISBN1-55022-741-6.
  20. ^Charlton, Chris (October 23, 2015).Lion's Pride: The Turbulent History of New Japan Pro Wrestling(Kindle ed.). p. 128.ISBN978-4990865818.
  21. ^Schramm, Chris (June 13, 2009)."Japanese legend Mitsuharu Misawa dies in the ring".Slam! Wrestling.Canadian Online Explorer. Archived fromthe originalon July 16, 2012.RetrievedJune 13,2009.
  22. ^Molinaro, John."Misawa knocks All Japan off TV".SLAM! Wrestling.Archived fromthe originalon July 22, 2017.
  23. ^"AJPW Super Action Series 2000 - Tag 16 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".cagematch.net.Retrieved10 January2019.
  24. ^"NJPW G1 Climax 2000 - Tag 4 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".cagematch.net.Retrieved10 January2019.
  25. ^"NJPW Do Judge!! « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".cagematch.net.Retrieved10 January2019.
  26. ^"AJPW King's Road New Century 2001 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".cagematch.net.Retrieved10 January2019.
  27. ^"NOAH Departure « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".cagematch.net.Retrieved10 January2019.
  28. ^"NOAH Navigation For The Victory - Tag 18 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".cagematch.net.Retrieved10 January2019.
  29. ^"NOAH Encountering Navigation 2002 - Tag 16: Come And Watch In Ariake « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".cagematch.net.Retrieved17 December2018.

Bibliography

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  • Charlton, Chris (July 17, 2018).EGGSHELLS: Pro Wrestling in the Tokyo Dome(Kindle ed.).ISBN9784990865856.
  • Misawa, Mitsuharu (2000).Misawa Mitsuharu Autobiography(in Japanese).Kobunsha.ISBN4334972756.
  • Nakata, Ryu; Honda, Makoto (2007).NOAHを sang った nam _ tam trạch quang tình の tham mưu(in Japanese). BASEBALL MAGAZINE SHA Co., Ltd.ISBN458310040X.
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