Section 1- Results
All Japan: Sasaki retained against Kawada. Nakajima broke his right hand early in the tour but gutted it out in a title match against Silver King that resulted in a no contest and the title being held up.
Dragon Gate: Doi & Yoshino became the first official tag champs on the 12th. Also on that show, Shingo Takagi got a win over Mochizuki to move into title contention. Saito & Yokosuka won the right to the first tag title shot on the 21st. Also on that show, Gamma returned after seemingly quitting the company, and Kanda turned to join MO’z.
New Japan: Tanahashi pulled off what has to be considered a big upset, defeating Nagata to regain the IWGP title on the 8th. Also on that show Kanemoto won a junior title shot, Taguchi retained against Minoru, and Hirooki Goto sent Tenzan packing.
NOAH: The tag title tournament somewhat fell apart due to an injury to Bison Smith, so the tag titles will likely be decided at the Budokan show as D-Lo & Buchanan face new entrants Marufuji & Sugiura. Takayama replaced Smith in the Joe vs Misawa tag, which ended with Joe using the Island Driver (Emerald Frosion) to pin Misawa.
Section 2- News
All Japan: Nishimura very suddenly jumped ship from Muga to All Japan.
Dragon Gate: Shingo vs Gamma will take place on 11/7, with the winner getting a title shot on 11/25. The tag title match will also take place there. Yoshino vs Kness will happen on 11/18. Sasaki makes his return to the company on Friday when he faces Cyber Kong. King of Gate will take place in early December this year.
New Japan: Taguchi vs Kanemoto takes place on Sunday, and the company somewhat ambitiously booked Kobe World Hall for said show despite that being the biggest match. The 11/11 Sumo Hall card is headlined by Tanahashi vs Goto as expected, but will also feature Rhino, Low Ki, Christopher Daniels and Ron Killings. ‘Also also’ on 11/11 is Togo & Michinoku finally returning to defend the junior tag belts against Jado & Gedo. Last, but certainly not least, New Japan announced that the 1/4/08 Tokyo Dome show will have an NJ vs TNA theme and Kurt Angle should be defending his IWGP title in the main event. Much of the same talent, including Angle, will be at the 12/20 Inoki Genome show. The politics of this just staggers me. I’ll get into that another time, since we have several weeks before it all goes down.
NOAH: Kobashi’s return match seems likely to be him and Takayama against another superteam. There’s also some hints of a Misawa vs Akiyama feud.
Section 3- Quackenshills
This is certainly timely: a write-up on the 2007 TPI tournament.
Phil talked about the debut 2 hour Impact a few weeks ago.
Section 4- Questioning the Quack
Hard to believe it’s been 17 months since my first interview with Mike Quackenbush. Here’s part 1 and here’s part 2 for reference.
Since we left Mike Quackenbush, a lot happened. He won the NWA junior title from Tiger Mask 4, and still holds it. He debuted in ROH and has been treated reasonably well there. He beat Chris Hero in Chikara, a match years in the making, and debuted the CHIKARA Special submission in the process. He won the Ted Petty Invitational Tournament in IWA Mid-South and in the process unseated long-reigning champ Chuck Taylor. During said tournament he landed wrong on a dive, and as such a scheduled trip to Michinoku Pro was in doubt. Said trip was going to be his first to Japan after over a decade of waiting. Mike completed the trip and answered some questions of mine afterwards. As usual, my comments in parentheses.
—————————–
Q: You’ve just completed your first visit to Japan, wrestling a pair of dates at Michinoku Pro. What was it like visiting a promotion that so influenced Chikara?
A: In a lot of ways, it was like a homecoming, even though I’d never been there before. A lot of the friends I’ve made in my travels over the years wrestle there now, so it was a lot of familiar faces, and a style that is very familiar to me. The fact that they asked me to do some training there, and teach them a few things was tremendously flattering, and they treated me with great kindness and respect my entire time there.
Q: What was it like wrestling in front of a Japanese crowd? Was it about what you expected?
A: Very much so.
Q: Were you okay physically after suffering your injury in IWA?
A: Not really. Going to Japan was probably the not the best move in terms of my long-term health and such, but there was no force on Earth that was going to keep me from making that trip. I had waited too long, worked too hard to pass it up.
(If it was just another indy show one could complain about recklessness, but he got to fulfill a dream and it’s not like he was wrestling excessively dangerous matches.)
Q: How did you happen to get the bookings?
A: The work of a few good friends of mine helped get it all together.
Q: When and where do you expect to return to Japan?
A: I met with company president Jinsei Shinzaki after my last match there, and he was very complimentary and told me I’d be welcome back any time I was available, so the ball is in my court, and I will speak to some of the company higher-ups at the start of 2008.
Q: I’ve seen references to you having had bad luck in the past regarding wrestling in Japan. What happened to put the kibosh on past trips?
A: All manner of ridiculous circumstances have kept me from Japan in the past. As an example, about 4 or 5 years ago, I was asked to tour with Big Japan for 3 weeks. They were going to set everything up for me, when I discovered my passport had expired. I looked into it, and it was going to take at least a week to get it renewed. In that time, they decided to go with someone else, and it slipped right through my fingers.
(You might be confused about Big Japan using him, but the company has always had a lot of diversity of styles on its shows.)
Q: Over the last year we’ve seen the likes of Danshoku Dino and Mecha Mummy in CHIKARA. Can you tip your hat a bit as far as who we can look forward to in the future?
A: That’s probably better aimed at Leonard Chikarason, but I can tell you that I’ve seen a laundry list of CHIKARAmigos are on their way back to see us for our 3 November events in Reading, Hellertown and Philadelphia. In addition to which, Japanese rookie and Toryumon grad Passion Hasegawa will make his CHIKARA debut next month.
(To add to this, Yago and Miyawaki, the duo who seem to only get respect in Pennsylvania, will be returning to Chikara in November).
Q: Earlier this year you won the NWA junior heavyweight title from Tiger Mask IV. How did that come about, what was the match like, and what do you see in the title’s future?
A: I’ve been very lucky, to say the least. Tiger Mask was a joy, and just being caught in the middle of some trademark Tiger Mask type spots was a lot of fun. I’m a big fan of Tiger Mask (the original as well as the current), so I couldn’t have been happier. Ultimately though, in that match and ever since, I feel like I’ve been put in a spot that was destined for someone else. In short, I’m amazed the belt has stayed around my waist as long as it has.
(Mike’s career has been one of hard work and humble roots, and to be given a big opportunity somewhat out of the blue had to be a shock. I have a feeling he’ll do more for the title than its previous holder.)
Q: In addition to global success, you’ve also had arguably your best year ever in the States. The big win over Hero in CHIKARA, debuting in ROH, winning the Ted Petty Invitational tournament and IWA Mid-South title in the process… what do you think caused so much to happen so close together?
A: I have been eating especially large bowls of Lucky Charms this year.
Q: Any plans to defend the IWA title if the promotion closes?
A: If IWA closes, that would come as a complete surprise to me.
(Over the last week IWA Mid-South has gone from “about to close†to “not closing†to “buying a new ring and belts†in one of the more blatantly carny displays I’ve ever seen, none of which Mike has any connection to. Anyway, it would appear that he’ll get his reign.)
Q: How do you see yourself weighing the possibility of further stardom in ROH with your responsibilities in CHIKARA?
A: I don’t see any conflicts in that regard on the 2008 horizon.
Q: There’s been a lot of talk in recent months regarding wrestlers putting themselves in too much danger for the sport. Having suffered several injuries in the past, where/how do you draw the line?
A: You just have to use your best judgment at all times. In the first 5 – 7 years of your career, the cumulative effect of the injuries are so far from becoming evident, it’s easy to push on at times that it might be better to sit out. But I’ve been involved in wrestling in one way or another since 1991. A lot of the lumps and bumps from the course of my career have started to catch up with me, and that’s why it’s important for me to be as educated on these topics as possible, so that I’m always able to make the best decision. Only the wrestlers themselves can determine where to draw the line.
Q: Having accomplished so much now, what’s left for Mike Quackenbush?
A: Well, I’m a little behind on Season 3 of “Lost,” so I guess that’s next. I’m just kidding. I’ve already seen all of Season 3.
Q: So far the CHIKARA Special has defeated everyone in its path. Could this wind up being the shock finish to World War Hulk?
A: If it is, Marvel owes us some serious loot. C’mon Sentry! CHIKARA Special already!
Q: Anything else to add to the readers?
A: Please check out our free, weekly podcast by visiting this link . If you like what you see, a compilation of CHIKARA’s best bouts from 2005 and 2006 is coming to a retail outlet near you starting November 6th (or earlier in places that don’t care about official street dates!) and is reasonably priced for the discerning consumer!
(Another very professional Q & A. Mike’s the best. Hopefully in another year there will be even more to ask about!)
———————————–
Next week: the result of Misawa vs Joe! Okay we already know that. Um Kobashi’s return match! Plus an interview with Zero-One pillar Steve Corino!
