https://www.cagesideseats.com/2015/8/15/9133745/inoki-ism-the-fall-and-rebirth-of-new-japan-pro-wrestling
>This is the story of Inoki-ism, a philosophy that nearly killed New Japan Pro Wrestling, and how Western sensibilities saved it.
Is this fake news?????
>>3132418
>Is this fake news?????
EXTREMELY fake news.
Someone archive that shit
>wrestling """""journalism""""""
>>3132504
Sad!
>>3132509
worked
>>3132418
Um, no sweetie:
>The fall and recent small recovery of New Japan correlates exactly with the stratospheric rise of PRIDE FC (late 90s/early 2000s) and the eventual collapse of its successor company DREAM (around 2011). Tanahashi didn't 'save wrestling' or whatever you marks believe, it's just that wrestling didn't have to compete with MMA as a mainstream cultural force anymore.
>Back then New Japan and puroresu in general was having to compete with MMA, and TV execs were telling Inoki to push shooters like Ogawa or they'd take away NJPW's TV time slot. Inoki did indeed make some mistakes, but to ignore the more important external factors he had no control over is pure ignorance.
>>3132418
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUWWaLTjc4M
>Not watching the G.O.A.T short youtube video