The New Three Musketeers

[OldSchool]

Two questions i'd like to ask in this thread, concerning the new 3 musketeers of Nakamura, Tanahashi and Shibata.

Firstly, which of the 3 do you think is going to have the most successful 2005?

I think they have put the brakes on the Nakamura push a little, hopefully the common sense said the kids goods, but not that good yet. I'm sure he will be a star if he can stay injury free, but i dont think hes ready yet. Personally i think Tanahashi will have the best 2005. I think the G1 helped him, and of the 3 i definately think he is the most ready. I fully expect him to get an IWGP Title reign in 2005, and hopefully not just a short token reign.

My second question, is which of the three do you think will have had the most successful career when all is said and done in 15 years time or so?

For this one i have to say Nakamura, as i think he has clearly been selected as the 'Golden Child' and i also beleives hes a few years younger than Tanahashi. I quite like Shibata, i think he has a cool kind of charisma, but i think he seems destined to always be in the shadow of the other two.

Thoughts?

[Coventry]

Tanahashi has really improved if you even watch his matches from early 2004 compared to now. I think that Tanahashi will have a great year in 2005. According to NJPW, Tanahashi is the new Muto and we all know how far Muto went , Shibata is the new Chono, and Nakamura is the new Hashimoto. I think as of right now, Tanahashi is the best wreslter out of the group.

BTW, Where does everyone get the term "3 Musketeers"? NJPW announcers have always called them the 3 Toukon Warriors. Then again, I don't know where you guys get the term "Yakuza Kick" either because clearly the announcers say "Kenka Kick" and "Shining Kenka Kick."

[Ken Ishii]

It's "Yakuza" kick but using that in Japan is asking for trouble, watch Chono vs. Takayama 7/21/03 (double KO finish), the announcer says "Shining YAKUZA kick" in a WTF moment and quickly corrects himself.

[Coventry]

Alright, thanks. Yeah it would be asking for trouble, I wouldn't think the Yakuza would like them using it.

[Steviec2k4]

Firstly, which of the 3 do you think is going to have the most successful 2005?

I agree that Tanahashi got a BIG push from the G1, although I think Tenzan winning was a step back. Even in defeat however, Tanahashi came out looking strong. I think Shibata benefitted as well. They set up a future rivalry between Shibata and Nakamura, which I liked. I would have liked to seen something teased between Tanahashi and the other two. Nakamura seemed to have gained the least; maybe even lost a little after two screw job endings with Chono.

2005 is going to be hard to predict, with New Japan's wishy-washy booking. They put this youth movement on the back burner for now, as they have the current crop of stars, including Nagata, Nakanishi (Let's see who else we can job him to!), Tenzan, Nishimura, Sasaki, Takayama, Suzuki, Chono, etc.

However, one wrestler that is constantly getting the rub from Tatsumi Fujinami and even Keiji Muto is Hiroshi Tanahashi. He's a good worker (Possibly even GREAT, given his experience.) with a solid connection to the fans. Shibata may also have a prosperous 2005, depending on how they book him as a heel. Nakamura though... It's really hard to say, due to the fact that his push will most likely be dictated by how much press he gets, and how well he does in future shoot fights. (That is to say if New Japan doesn't smarten up about throwing their guys into shoots.)

My second question, is which of the three do you think will have had the most successful career when all is said and done in 15 years time or so?

Well, like I said earlier, Nakamura's career will probably be dictated on how well he does in shoots. They're building him as the next Inoki, only instead of setting up worked shoots, they're throwing Nakamura to 6'4" Belarus kickboxers. If he continues to do these shoots, injuries will play a HUGE roll in the length of his career. He's never really left a shoot without suffering some sort of injury.

Tanahashi, however seems to have the safest route, as he is already solidified as the Tatsumi Fujinami of his generation. He still has yet to get that main event reaction (Although that's debatable against Fujita.), but within time, he will. He will eventually crush the walls of New Japan (Nagata, Chono, Tenzan, Nakanishi) and be accepted as a top star. I think that when all three are finally down, history will look upon Tanahashi rather favorably over Nakamura and Shibata,

Speaking of Shibata, I REALLY have a hard time thinking he's going to be the new Black Charisma of New Japan. He beat Chono, sure. But You also have to think about how Chono was built up as a heel. For the first part of his career, Chono was a beloved babyface, who was incredibly spunky. Chono got over big time as a heel because he became something completely different. This is why Nakanishi's heel turn wasn't credible; because Nakanishi's character didn't really change. He was always that giant bully who chopped and speared guys, only now... he wears leather pants and a mouth guard.

[Ken Ishii]

Shibata's seen as a new Maeda not Chono.

[Steviec2k4]

Shibata's seen as a new Maeda not Chono.

Only in the way of recently using stiff kicks to finish opponents. In the Japanese press, and most people over here, because the three are called the "New Three Musketeers", he is automatically designated as the Chono of the group. Hence the comparison.

[Ken Ishii]

The comparison was always there considering the way he reappeared back on the scene without the mask. It all goes down to the character that he portays. He might be one of the new "Three Muskateers", but does anyone think Nakamura is anything like Hashimoto? No.

[Steviec2k4]

I'm not saying you're wrong, because he has been compared to Maeda, as well as Chono. So neither of us are really wrong.

[Coventry]

They put up a screen and they showed the original three and then the showed the new three. I can see how Shibata could be compared to Maeda, but not really because I don't see him beating up people backstage and so on...