Regressive Booking
Five days ago, New Japan and Kenny Omega collaborated on an adventurous, cutting edge project. It was a twenty minute, sit down interview in which Omega used a mind-bending mix of shoot and work to respond to questions about his then-forthcoming match with New Japan’s world champion, Kazuchika Okada.
Dave Meltzer called it, “[a promo that] looks at wrestling in multiple dimensions, with a Jake Roberts delivery.” It was certainly that. Omega would tout his seven new kilos of muscled physique, then mention his six ‘Match of the Year contenders’, all in the same soliloquy. It was a work/shoot medley, almost as if Omega watched the movie ‘Split’ and decided “Yes, I can do what James McAvoy did. I can change personalities on the fly, leaving a puzzle for the audience to re-watch and solve.”
Two days later, a very different New Japan personality emerged. For, as risky as Omega’s promo was, the promotion's next big move was decidedly staid. The day after Omega went to a time limit draw in his title match at Dominion, New Japan announced a lineup for its next big event — ‘G-1 Special in the USA’ — that was as cutting edge as a ten minute headlock.
‘G-1 Special in the USA’ runs over two nights, July 1 & 2, 2017. The first night will be shown live in the US on AXS TV and the second night will air five days after it takes place.
It has been an open secret that the G-1 Special would have two major attractions: the world championship would be defended and a tournament would be held to create a US championship. New Japan chose Okada vs. Cody (Rhodes) for the former and included Kenny Omega in the latter.
Those who follow New Japan know what will happen. In fact, those who don’t follow New Japan but read the Wrestling Observer know what will happen. Even those who don’t follow New Japan, don’t read the Observer but have read the last few paragraphs of this column know what will happen. Okada will leave Long Beach with the world championship and Omega will leave Long Beach with the US championship. I’d bet my writing career on it.
Over two consecutive nights, every lockup, highspot and nearfall will carry zero intrigue. Cody cannot have a dramatic two-count. Omega will have no thrilling kickouts. Every soul in the building knows the ending. It’s like spoilers on steroids.
“So what?” you say. “People love Bruno Mars concerts, and everyone knows what will happen on those shows, too.”
And they do. Bruno’s tour will see nearly one million people populate five dozen arenas around North America, all to see the exact same, predictable show. What’s more, most of Bruno’s fans will have paid many multiples the price of a ticket to the G-1 Special.
But Bruno Mars not pro wrestling. He doesn’t need fans to watch every week. He’s a one-off. He’s late Andre the Giant, lumbering into the ring for a battle royale for which the whole crowd knows the result. Bruno’s fans pay to see a celebrity perform his craft. Pro wrestling fans pay to see a story.
Creating a pro wrestling story is hard. That most fans are wise to the business — as American fans are, in New Japan’s case — makes it doubly tough. But that’s life. The most rewarding things are often the most difficult to achieve.
For New Japan to give themselves a chance in the US, they must do better. The G-1 Special is booked, so it is gone. Run the show, parade the celebrities and their craft, then start fresh.
Whenever New Japan resumes its colonial quest, it would do well to learn from WWE booking. Not the WWE booking of the current decline period, of course, but the WWE booking of the CM Punk era. Suspense must be built. Two (or more) plausible results must in every fan’s mind.
Two examples stand out from early-2010’s WWE: Punk vs. John Cena at Money in the Bank 2011 and Punk vs. Ryback at Hell in a Cell 2012. Those two pay-per-views popped buyrates, and they did so for good reason. They built suspense, yes. More importantly, they built suspense in ways that played upon fans’ knowledge of pro wrestling booking.
Fans knew that Punk should beat Cena in Chicago, but they also knew that guys on expiring contracts don’t get the title. Fans knew that it was too early for Ryback to lose, but they also knew that Punk’s gimmick required that he keep the belt for at least one calendar year. Two plausible outcomes for each match. That’s irreconcilable conflict.
New Japan’s G-1 Specials are not the company’s biggest shows of the year. It is no sin to save their truly irreconcilable conflict — Omega’s third try at Okada’s title — for the Tokyo Dome.
New Japan’s booking sin is to give America’s hardcore fans a weekend that is so very obvious. Kayfabe may play up Cody’s winning streak or Okada’s fatigue. The storyline will wonder whether Omega’s added muscle will keep him from lasting through three grueling matches over two days. But we know. Cody won’t and Kenny will. There are no other plausible outcomes.
Okada didn’t have to defend the title. Omega didn’t have to be part of the tournament. They could have shown up, let fans satisfy their celebrity crush and wrestled non-title, non-tournament matches. Instead, it’s Bruno Mars. Fans will have their fun, but the ending is obvious.
Dave Meltzer called it, “[a promo that] looks at wrestling in multiple dimensions, with a Jake Roberts delivery.” It was certainly that. Omega would tout his seven new kilos of muscled physique, then mention his six ‘Match of the Year contenders’, all in the same soliloquy. It was a work/shoot medley, almost as if Omega watched the movie ‘Split’ and decided “Yes, I can do what James McAvoy did. I can change personalities on the fly, leaving a puzzle for the audience to re-watch and solve.”
Two days later, a very different New Japan personality emerged. For, as risky as Omega’s promo was, the promotion's next big move was decidedly staid. The day after Omega went to a time limit draw in his title match at Dominion, New Japan announced a lineup for its next big event — ‘G-1 Special in the USA’ — that was as cutting edge as a ten minute headlock.
‘G-1 Special in the USA’ runs over two nights, July 1 & 2, 2017. The first night will be shown live in the US on AXS TV and the second night will air five days after it takes place.
It has been an open secret that the G-1 Special would have two major attractions: the world championship would be defended and a tournament would be held to create a US championship. New Japan chose Okada vs. Cody (Rhodes) for the former and included Kenny Omega in the latter.
Those who follow New Japan know what will happen. In fact, those who don’t follow New Japan but read the Wrestling Observer know what will happen. Even those who don’t follow New Japan, don’t read the Observer but have read the last few paragraphs of this column know what will happen. Okada will leave Long Beach with the world championship and Omega will leave Long Beach with the US championship. I’d bet my writing career on it.
Over two consecutive nights, every lockup, highspot and nearfall will carry zero intrigue. Cody cannot have a dramatic two-count. Omega will have no thrilling kickouts. Every soul in the building knows the ending. It’s like spoilers on steroids.
“So what?” you say. “People love Bruno Mars concerts, and everyone knows what will happen on those shows, too.”
And they do. Bruno’s tour will see nearly one million people populate five dozen arenas around North America, all to see the exact same, predictable show. What’s more, most of Bruno’s fans will have paid many multiples the price of a ticket to the G-1 Special.
But Bruno Mars not pro wrestling. He doesn’t need fans to watch every week. He’s a one-off. He’s late Andre the Giant, lumbering into the ring for a battle royale for which the whole crowd knows the result. Bruno’s fans pay to see a celebrity perform his craft. Pro wrestling fans pay to see a story.
Creating a pro wrestling story is hard. That most fans are wise to the business — as American fans are, in New Japan’s case — makes it doubly tough. But that’s life. The most rewarding things are often the most difficult to achieve.
For New Japan to give themselves a chance in the US, they must do better. The G-1 Special is booked, so it is gone. Run the show, parade the celebrities and their craft, then start fresh.
Whenever New Japan resumes its colonial quest, it would do well to learn from WWE booking. Not the WWE booking of the current decline period, of course, but the WWE booking of the CM Punk era. Suspense must be built. Two (or more) plausible results must in every fan’s mind.
Two examples stand out from early-2010’s WWE: Punk vs. John Cena at Money in the Bank 2011 and Punk vs. Ryback at Hell in a Cell 2012. Those two pay-per-views popped buyrates, and they did so for good reason. They built suspense, yes. More importantly, they built suspense in ways that played upon fans’ knowledge of pro wrestling booking.
Fans knew that Punk should beat Cena in Chicago, but they also knew that guys on expiring contracts don’t get the title. Fans knew that it was too early for Ryback to lose, but they also knew that Punk’s gimmick required that he keep the belt for at least one calendar year. Two plausible outcomes for each match. That’s irreconcilable conflict.
New Japan’s G-1 Specials are not the company’s biggest shows of the year. It is no sin to save their truly irreconcilable conflict — Omega’s third try at Okada’s title — for the Tokyo Dome.
New Japan’s booking sin is to give America’s hardcore fans a weekend that is so very obvious. Kayfabe may play up Cody’s winning streak or Okada’s fatigue. The storyline will wonder whether Omega’s added muscle will keep him from lasting through three grueling matches over two days. But we know. Cody won’t and Kenny will. There are no other plausible outcomes.
Okada didn’t have to defend the title. Omega didn’t have to be part of the tournament. They could have shown up, let fans satisfy their celebrity crush and wrestled non-title, non-tournament matches. Instead, it’s Bruno Mars. Fans will have their fun, but the ending is obvious.
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