Booking a Japanese Wrestler

Hi Guys, this article (which has been a long time coming) was inspired by an article written on the old 606 asking if it would be possible to book a Japanese wrestler to a top level so this is my attempt at booking a Japanese wrestler (in this case Hirsoshi Tanahashi) to world title level.

Just a few points before I get started

1) In case anyone isn't firmiliar with the two Japanese wrestlers I am featuring I have left there Wikipedia pages here, Hiroshi Tanahashi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiroshi_Tanahashi) and Shinsuke Nakamura (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinsuke_Nakamura)

2) A main part of this story revolves around the Abraham Washington character, it should be obvious when reading this I have given him a complete gimmick revamp, this character who I imagine as an almost Don King like promoter/manager could be played by anyone but I belive Washington is a comfertable fit for the character

3) If anyone looks at the wikipedia dimensions of Nakamura and doubts his ability to play a convincing monster heel I assure you, he is qualified

4) I am not renown for my quality control and I wrote this article over a couple of months so I hope any gramatical errors in there will kindly be overlooked in favour of the the telling of the story

As always any thoughts, criticisms and comments welcomed


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Smackdown 8/4/11
On the Smackdown immediately following WM27 videos begin hyping the debut of Japanese Legend and 5 time champion Hiroshi Tanahashi

Smackdown 22/4/11
Hiroshi Tanahashi is shown backstage for the first time, in basic English he states he was persuaded to come to WWE from Japan by ‘his agent’, he tells everyone he reached the pinnicle of Japanese wrestling and is now going to do the same in the west facing and defating the best the WWE has to offer. Teddy Long announces that Tanahashi will be making his debut match that night against Edge.
Later on in the night Tanahashi and Edge are in the ring together before someones music hits, Abraham Washington is striding to the ring holding a mic
‘Hold it, hold it, this match will NOT be happening tonight!’, Washington reveals that he was responsible for bringing Tanahashi to WWE and as Tanahashi’s agent holds exclusive rights to who Tanahashi faces ‘including when he will make his debut’, he says that there is no money to be made in Tanahasi making his debut on free TV against ‘a Z-List opponent’ and he will make his debut at Extreme Rules against an opponent handpicked by Washington, Washington tells Tanahashi to get out of the ring as if he wants to face the best he will have to follow Washington, Tanahashi leaves the arena with Washington

Smackdown 29/4/11

On this weeks Smackdown Tanahashi and Washington are backstage, Washington reveals they have an opponent lined up for Tanahashi’s debut match, Washington refuses to divulge the name of this opponent but drops hints that he is a multiple time champion, is responsible for one of the most memorable in Royal Rumble history, has been in the ring with stars such as Stone Cold and Roddy Piper and is undefeated at Wrestlemania, Tanahashi reveals he doesn’t know who this wrestlers is but has ‘been told you are one of the best and I look forward to your challenge’

Extreme Rules

At Extreme Rules, Tanahashi is waiting for his opponent to come down, Washington comes into the ring a re-iterates his hints from Smackdown, ‘Please welcome all the way from Monday Night Raw….SANTINO MARELLA!!!’ Everyone is stunned as the 2 time IC, one time Tag, shortest ever Royal Rumble contestant makes his way down to the ring

The match is a massacre, Tanahashi nails Marella with 3 rolling German Suplexes straight from the bell before locking in the Cloverleaf for a quick tap out by Marella

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Over the next few months Washington plays politics preserving Tanahashi’s (who is naively unaware of Washington’s exploitation and does prove himself to be a genuinely talented competitor) ever more dubious undefeated record
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Summerslam 2011

During the intercontinental championship match at Summerslam, IC Champion Christian suffers an injury against Cody Rhodes, he is able to catch Cody with the the killswitch and get the pin but leaves the arena on a stretcher

Smackdown 19/8/11

Smackdown opens with Teddy Long and Christian in the ring, Christian reveals that due to his leg injury he will be forced to vacate the title, Washington’s music hits and he storms down to the ring with Tanahashi in tow, Washington demands that Long present Tanahashi with the title as he is undefeated and he has been denied championship gold in the WWE too long (Washington by this point will have turned down a couple of title matches for Tanahashi as well as a chance to compete in the MITB), Long (who has grown increasingly frustrated with Washington) tells Washington that if Tanahashi wants the IC title he will have to earn it at Night of Champions against the No1 Contender Cody Rhodes, Washington is upset by this and argues that Rhodes has had his shot and threatens to walk away from the match but Tanahashi (who is growing suspicious he is being held back by Washington) grabs the mic and declares he will ‘fight for the gold and earn it with honour’, Washington is furious with this but agrees to the match before storming out of the ring

Smackdown 16/9/11

Following a few weeks of promoting the match between Tanahashi and Rhodes they were scheduled to face off in a tag team match on Smackdown but come match time Rhodes doesn’t appear, he is found layed out backstage and questions are asked if he can compete at NOC

Night of Champions 2011

When it is time for the IC title match between Tanahashi and Rhodes, Washington comes to the ring with Tanahashi, he says because of Rhodes ‘unforseen injury’ he would be unable to compete that night ‘so your winner and NEW INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION HIRO…’
Teddy Long’s music hits, he reminds Washington that he may control Tanahashi’s contract but he doesn’t control the Intercontinental Championship so he has found Tanahashi a new opponent….

A gong rings out as the arena goes to black, the lights go back on and The Undertaker stands opposite Tanahashi and Washington, Washington panics and tries to force Tanahashi out of the ring but Tanahashi is not backing down, he goes nose to nose with ‘Taker.
The match is a hard back and forth affair with Tanahashi after months of facing low rent opposition proving to be every bit The Undertaker’s equal, at the finish Tanahashi misses the frog splash but accidentally takes out the ref, Taker uses this distraction to get Tanahashi in position for the Tombstone but from behind Washington nails Taker with the IC belt that had been sitting at ring side, allowing Tanahashi to roll out of the tombstone unaware of what his agent had done, he nails a groggy ‘Taker with an enzuigiri and German Suplex before hitting the Frog Splash again for the 1-2-3, Hiroshi Tanahashi wins the Intercontinental Championship by defeating The Undertaker

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Over the next few weeks on Smackdown, Washington declares there will be no rematch for the Undertaker and Tanahashi defends the IC title against jobbers, Cody Rhodes eventually returns from injury and due to his No1 Contender status forces Washington’s hand into giving him a title match
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Hell in a Cell 2011

Tanahashi defeats Rhodes cleanly in a singles match. Following the match Christian comes out and tells Tanahashi that Washington is holding him back, Christian says he has a lot of time for Tanahashi and that he is great competitor but he will never reach the top as Washington is holding him back from facing the best and disgracing him in the process, Washington argues this point with Christian but as he does so a tape begins to play of Night of Champions, it shows Undertaker lifting up Tanahashi for the tombstone and Washington hitting him with IC belt, Tanahashi is livid, he grabs the mic from Washington and says ‘you dishonour me, you are fired!’

Smackdown 7/10/11

On his first Smackdown appearance without Washington, Tanahashi apologises for letting Washington disgrace him a vows from now on that he will face all comers and will reach the top of WWE with dignity, he starts by agreeing to represent Smackdown vs The US Champion Daniel Byran at Bragging Rights and granting Christian a title shot that night
Tanahashi defeats Christian in a hard fought match to retain the IC title

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Over the next fortnight Tanahashi defends his IC title against Kofi Kingston and Tyler Reks in close fought match ups
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Bragging Rights 2011

Upon defeating Daniel Bryan in a Smackdown vs Raw match Tanahashi is milling around backstage high fiving and enjoying the congratulations of his Smackdown collegues, Teddy Long approaches him ‘Hiroshi it’s the Undertaker…he wants his rematch’

Smackdown 28/10/11

In the main event Hiroshi Tanahashi faces The Undertaker in a non-title match, the match is similarly close fought like there NOC’s clash, Undertaker pins Tanahashi with the last ride but both men shake hands afterwards

Smackdown 4/11/11

Tanahashi defeats the Big Show in an IC title defence, following the match he challenges the Undertaker to a rematch as he knows he can beat him

Smackdown 11/11/11

Following another successful IC title defence by Tanahashi, the gong hits, the lights go out and a voice rings out ‘Hiroshi Tanahashi, I accept your challenge, each time we met you have fought bravely but at Survivor Series you will REST…IN…PEACE!’

Smackdown 18/11/11

Another successful IC title defence for Tanahashi, at the end of the match that Undertaker appears and the two men go nose to nose

Survivor Series 2011

The 3rd match between Tanahashi and ‘Taker proves to be just as close fought as the 1st 2 but the time Tanahashi wins, escaping the Last Ride he hits Undertaker with a Superkick and a Frog Splash for the win, as Tanahashi celebrates Undertaker leaves the ring but raises his arm in respect to Tanahashi, Tanahashi stands facing the ramp and does the same.

Just as ‘Taker heads through the curtain, Tanahashi is attacked from behind by another Japanese Wrestler, he floors Tanahasi with a series of kicks before picking him up and delivering a Samoan Driver, while Tanahashi writhes on the mat, Abraham Washington’s music hits and he walks to the ring, he stands over Tanahashi holding a mic ‘Long time no see Hiroshi, you probably think I did this because I’m upset that you got rid of me as your agent, well I’m not to tell you the truth it was just business, but you need to remember the first rule of business kid, always have a backup plan, this is my back up plan I belive you all ready know him, Mr Shinsuke Nakamura, now say good night’
Nakamura grabs Tanahashi who was struggling to his feet and smashes him with his Bomb Ya (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lUAc1KVAQc) causing Tanahashi to crumple unconscious on the mat

Smackdown 25/11/11

The Friday after Survivor Series Washington and Nakamura re in the ring, Washington revealed that a lot of the wrestlers in Japan are angry with Tanahashi for jumping ship to the WWE, none more so that his former tag team partner Nakamura, so Washington negotiated a deal to bring Nakamura to WWE so he could get revenge and Washington to get a replacement for his ‘turncoat protégé’. Washington declares that Nakamura is going to make Tanahashi’s life a living hell

Later in the night Tanahashi is defending his IC title against Drew McIntyre, towards the end just as Tanahashi looks to have the match sown up, Washington who had been hiding under the ring jumps out and distracts the referee, Nakamura jumps out from the other side and nails Tanahashi with a Boma Ye, McIntyre hits Futureshock and beomes the new IC champion

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Over the coming weeks Nakamura and Washington go out of their way to make Tanahashi’s life living hell, interfering in his matches and beating him down backstage, meanwhile in his own matches Nakamura is displayed as an unstoppable monster heel, finally a match is announced between the two at TLC
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TLC 2011

At TLC Tanahashi and Nakamura face off for the first time in a match, Nakamura is most dominant in the match but it seems towards the end Tanahashi may pull in out the bag, but as he tries to hit his German suplex Nakamura blocks it and hits him with a Samoan Driver, for the 1-2-3

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Following TLC preparations begin in earnest for the Royal Rumble, feeling that he has sufficiently humbled is former client Washington calls off Nakamura and focuses on his qualification for the Rumble, he does so in impressive fashion, Tanahashi also qualifies but is taunted every week about the beating he took from Nakamura and the threats that if he runs into Nakamura in the rumble he will get another.
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Royal Rumble 2012

In the World Title match that night Dolph Ziggler captures the WHC from Rey Mysterio

The Royal Rumble match kicks off that night with Hiroshi Tanahashi drawn at No1 and Daniel Bryan at No2, the early exchanges between Tanahashi and Bryan light up the early part of the Rumble but at around No 8 onwards the ring begins to fill up, at No14 Nakamura enters, he eliminates a lot of the jobbers in the match very quickly and after disposing of Bryan it leaves only him and Tanahashi in the ring

As the fresher man Nakamura dominates Tanahashi , ignoring a couple of opportunities to eliminate Tanahashi, Nakamura continues to paste him in the corner, the ring fills up with another couple of wrestlers, just as Nakamura picks up Tanahashi to throw him over the rope one of them pushes both men over the rope, Nakamura falls onto the floor but Tanahashi is able to cling onto the bottom rope, Nakamura is furious and returns to the ring to hit a groggy Tanahashi with a Boma Ye before being removed by security

The match continues but Tanahashi is severly weakend and playing survival tactics, he manages to last though and the final four comes down to Hiroshi Tanahashi, CM Punk, HHH and Sheamus

Both heels (Punk and Sheamus) team up against the faces, Tanahashi is grounded by a brogue kick from Sheamus as they focus there attentions on the fresher more threatning man HHH, HHH puts up a brave fight but finds himself over matched and beaten down, eventually both heels get HHH onto the ropes and start to lift him off his feet, Tanahashi creeps up behind them and tips Punk over the rope, this distraction allows HHH to eliminate Sheamus, so only HHH and Tanahashi are left

Some exchanges follow but both men are tired and injured, eventually Tanahashi is able to duck a clothesline from HHH and Suplex him over the rope, the winner of the 2012 Royal Rumble, Hiroshi Tanahashi

Smackdown 3/2/12

The Smackdown following the Rumble, Tanahashi opens the show, he comes down to the ring with his girlfriend (real or kayfabe) and announces he will fight for the World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestlemania, he begins to tell fans how much he appreciates the chance to compete at Wrestlemania etc etc, he is interrupted mid promo by Washington, he goads Tanahashi saying that he was lucky not to have been eliminated by Nakamura at the Rumble and that he should give him a match at Elimination Chamber with his Title shot at Mania on the line, Tanahashi refuses stating that Washington ‘does not make the rules anymore’. Washington leaves looking sullen.
That night in the main event Tanahashi faces off against Rey Mysterio, Tanahashi’s girlfriend is sat at ringside, Tanahashi wins the match, following the match Nakamura comes out and destroys Tanahashi, having seen enough Tanahashi’s girlfriend runs into the ring and tries to call off Nakamura, Ignoring her pleas Nakamura knocks her out with a kick to the head before hitting a Samoan Driver on Tanahashi, Smackdown goes off the air with Nakamura
leaving the two unconscious in the ring.

Smackdown 10/2/12

The next week on Smackdown Tanahashi comes down, he tells Nakamura that he accepts his challenge, but he is setting a stipulation, winner goes on to face the World Heavyweight Champion at Wrestlemania and the loser will leave WWE. Washington comes out and says that Nakamura accepts his challenge.

Smackdown 17/2/12

The final Smackdown before Wrestlemania, Tanahashi and Nakamura both have matches, Nakamura wins a squash match and Tanahashi defeats a top star in a hard fought match, at the end of Tanahashi’s match he calls out Nakamura and the two stare down

Elimination Chamber 2012

It’s Tanahashi vs Nakamura at Elimination Chamber, the match starts off fairly even but as the match wears on Nakamura begins to assert control, at the end of the match he counters a superkick from Tanahashi with a Samoan Driver, Nakamura goes for the pin, 1-2-…, Tanahashi kicks out at 2, frustrated Nakamura nails Tanahashi with a Boma Ye, beliving victory to be his Nakamura poses over his prone opponent but to his disbelief Tanahashi stirs and slowly pushes himself off the mat, Once again Nakamura hits Tanahashi with the Boma Ye and once again Tanahashi pulls himself up, this sequence continues for 1 Boma Ye, 2, 3, 4, out of sheer frustration Nakamura pulls back into the corner looking to deliver a running knee to put Tanahashi away, as he charges at him Tanahashi flips over him and locks in his Cloverleaf submission, working on instinct and holding on for dear life Tanahashi locks in the submission deeper and deeper for what seems like an age until, finally, Nakamura taps out, Hiroshi Tanahashi will face the World Heavyweight Champion at Wrestlemania.

Later on in the night at the WHC Elimination Chamber the match comes down to the final 2 of Champion Dolph Ziggler and Rey Mysterio, Towards the end of the match Mysterio is in the ascendancy he hits Ziggler with the 619 and is getting ready to deliver a top rope splash, at that moment Skip Sheffield and Ezekial Jackson storm down the ramp, distracting Mysterio, using their enormous strength the two rip the door off the chamber, when they enter the chamber both me home in Mysterio, despite a valiant fight by Mysterio he is easily overpowered and layed out on the mat, once Mysterio is out cold Sheffield and Jackson turn their attention to Ziggler, dragging him over they lay him on top off Mysterio, 1-2-3, Dolph Ziggler is still the World Champion, without giving any explanation for their actions Sheffield and Jackson leave.

Smackdown 24/2/11

Tonight on Smackdown, the contract signing for the WHC match between Tanahashi and Ziggler at Wrestlemania takes place, During the night Ziggler claims ignorance about the events the night prior and it is reported that Jackson and Sheffield are not in the building.

In the ring at the end of the night the contract signing takes place, the signing itself passes without incident but after the paperwork takes place Ziggler goads Tanahashi into a stare down, with Tanahashi’s back turned Jackson and Sheffield slip out from under the ring, they overpower Tanahashi and give him a double chokeslam through the table set up in the ring, as the champion and his associates stand over the challenger Washington’s music hits, carrying a mic out to the ramp he says ‘remember what I said about the first rule of business kid, always have a back up plan’.

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Over the coming weeks Ziggler, Sheffield and Jackson reveal that they have all signed contracts with Washington, in return for making sure that Ziggler walks out of the main event of Wrestlemania champion (the biggest payoff of the year) Sheffield and Jackson will both be given title shots, and no one else will receive a shot unless they sign with Washington, growing increasingly egomaniacal he begins referring to WWE as ‘World Washington Entertainment’, commandeering Teddy Long’s office and abusing anyone in his way. In the ring Tanahashi faced off with Jackson and Sheffield in various combinations of singles, handicaps and tags (usually in tandem with Mysterio).
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Wrestlemania 27

In the main event of Wrestlemania it is Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Dolph Ziggler for the World Heavyweight Championship, Jackson, Sheffield and Washington at in Zigglers corner.

As the match approaches its climax Tanahashi lays out Ziggler with a German Suplex but the referee is also knocked out. At that moment Jackson and Sheffield enter the ring, Sheffield runs for the spear but is caught by a superkick from Tanahashi knocking him out cold, on the other side Jackson charges at Tanahashi and is grabbed in a powerslam and slammed down on top of Sheffield, seeing the failure of his two employees Washington grabs the chair he had been sitting on and runs into the ring, and while Tanahashi’s back is turned clearing Sheffield and Jackson over the ropes, to hit him with the the chair, to Washington’s amazement Tanahashi no sells the blow, turning round he grabs the chair from Washington and throws it away, laying his hands on Washington for the first time he hits him with a German Suplex, unbeknownst to Tanahashi while he was doing this Ziggler had got back to his feet and the ref was beginning to stir so while Tanahashi’s back was turned Ziggler runs up and hits the Zig-Zag, Ziggler covers Tanahashi as the groggry referee to begin the kick out 1-2-Kick Out! Ziggler gets back up and goes for another Zig-Zag but Tanahashi pushes Ziggler off and hits his own brand new move the Sling Blade (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAnVip4xkcs), he covers Ziggler and 1-2-3, Hiroshi Tanahashi, The New World Heavyweight Champion.


Thanks for reading

Get him to run over Stone Cold and say he did it for.....Kendo Nagasaki.

Great article (well I havent read past the first paragraph yet but you have obviously put a lot of effort in!)

I don't know if the OP is referring to my article on 606 that I posted back in November, but here is what I originally wrote on the matter:

Over the years there been limited success of Japanese (and other wrestlers from the far east) wrestlers in the WWE.
Whilst in their home country they receive huge success and are considered much more mainstream than their Western equivalent, when they have transferred over to American soil they are regarded for the most part as fodder such as Funaki, the only person to ever receive a main event push as a Japanese star was Yokozuna and he wasn’t from Japan (part of the Anoa’i Western Samoan family that also contains the Rock etc)
I for many years was completely unaware of the likes of the Great Muta, KENTA, Tiger Mask etc due to the lack of exposure they receive here barring the internet but the level of skill that these guys possess is phenomenal and it’s reflected in that many of the Western top stars hone their talents in the Japanese promotions. Bret Hart, Dynamite Kid, Benoit, Jericho, Kurt Angle, Bryan Danielson, Brock Lesnar etc all spent time perfecting their ring skills in Japan.
Is WWE missing out on a huge opportunity by failing to acquire one of the big stars from the likes of NOAH and NJPW or would the WWE Universe simply just not accept a bonafide Japanese star?

I considered that approach Hobo but I think that was a once off flash in the pan moment and for me there will never be another star in this buissiness as Rikishi..oh wait

Cheers Hero thats the one

Amazing Article Gregory House.

Fantastic read!

I wanna see more of these!

Great, great article Doc.

If there a rating system on here I'd give you 47 stars!

theundisputedY2D2 wrote:Great, great article Doc.

If there a rating system on here I'd give you 47 stars!

I think you should copy this but do it from a TNA point of view.

I would but you could do it so much better! I have a few ideas though.

King Beer wrote:

theundisputedY2D2 wrote:Great, great article Doc.

If there a rating system on here I'd give you 47 stars!

I think you should copy this but do it from a TNA point of view.

I would but you could do it so much better! I have a few ideas though.

Ok Tanahashi debuts on Impact as a mystery partner for Kurt Angle, the next week Tanahashi turns on Angle, they have a match at the PPV where Tanahashi wins, Tanahahsi turns face again on the next Impact and jobs to Amazing Red

That sounds about write

If you want to write a serious on by all means go ahead

Dr Gregory House MD wrote:

King Beer wrote:

theundisputedY2D2 wrote:Great, great article Doc.

If there a rating system on here I'd give you 47 stars!

I think you should copy this but do it from a TNA point of view.

I would but you could do it so much better! I have a few ideas though.

Ok Tanahashi debuts on Impact as a mystery partner for Kurt Angle, the next week Tanahashi turns on Angle, they have a match at the PPV where Tanahashi wins, Tanahahsi turns face again on the next Impact and jobs to Amazing Red

That sounds about write

If you want to write a serious on by all means go ahead

I meant Y2 should do it in his style.

Fair enough apologies for the confusion, I do agree he could do it better than either of us

Dr Gregory House MD wrote:Fair enough apologies for the confusion, I do agree he could do it better than either of us

No apology needed!

I thought your article was brilliant. Y2's would be purely for entertainment.

I think I'd rather try doing an original TNA article KB (thanks for the props to you and the Doc by the way! ) because it wouldn't be fair to use the Doc's hard work in making an outstanding article for what would be a purely comedic one.

I'll get the thinking cap on though!

theundisputedY2D2 wrote:I think I'd rather try doing an original TNA article KB (thanks for the props to you and the Doc by the way! :) ) because it wouldn't be fair to use the Doc's hard work in making an outstanding article for what would be a purely comedic one.

I'll get the thinking cap on though!

Good man.

Also, can you post A Day in The Life of JR?

King Beer wrote:

theundisputedY2D2 wrote:I think I'd rather try doing an original TNA article KB (thanks for the props to you and the Doc by the way! ) because it wouldn't be fair to use the Doc's hard work in making an outstanding article for what would be a purely comedic one.

I'll get the thinking cap on though!

Good man.

Also, can you post A Day in The Life of JR?

The original or a new one?

Original!

I'll go find it!

Really good article. I think the booking is very sound here (although one bit I didn't like was the girlfriend getting randomly introduced and then kicked in the head. It reminded me of Randy Orton's magic bus).

While the booking is solid, especially the use of Undertaker in getting him over, do you really think this would improve business? Dolph Ziggler vs anyone, especially a newish member of the roster, in the main event of Wrestlemania, doesn't sound like a moneyspinner to me, with all due respect to Ziggler. If that opponent is Japanese, I think that sadly it would be even less lucrative.

In summary I think this is really well booked and would work brilliantly in a promotion which focuses on workrate and values epic matches over epic promos. But WWE is not that promotion. I also doubt, unfortunately, that the mainstream wrestling audience in the US has much interest in a Japanese wrestler as a top babyface. For that simple reason, I think the answer to the original question posed is "no".

I'd love to see more of your fantasy booking though, as you clearly have a mind for a long term story arc and joining the dots along the way. Basically what I am saying is that you are a better booker than the people TNA pays to be bookers.

Excellent read sir, you should be proud.
Love the way you painted Washington's character, he would be great as a egomaniac heel manager!
Only downfall is, (not that its a big deal as the focus was on the japanese guy and was probably fairly random) but Dolph beating Rey for the title at the Rumble?, Rey to become champ again this year?, please no! haha , and as for the main event of Mania; Miz, Punk, or a heel Orton/Edge would be a better option and more Mania worthy than Dolph.
Brilliant article though mate, really really enjoyed reading it, so original and creative, article of the month!

The best booked Japanese Wrestler in the US was Yokozuna and he was Hawian, go figure, excellent thought process tho mate, a few things id change but your ideas outweigh mine

Thanks for the kind words guys, I dont write these articles looking for praise but it wouldn't be great to spend 2 months writing an article no one thought was any good

Crippled- I totally understand where you are coming from but I chose Ziggler as the heel champion going into 'Mania as I needed someone who would realistically hide behind Washington to retain his title, I could never see HHH or Orton etc hiding in this way, perhaps Edge would be the a more sutible candidate, Im interested if theres anyone you think could do better?

On the subject of getting a Japanese star over as a top babyface, the cynic in me at heart inclines me to agree with you but do you think there is any scope for a wrestler who is poor on the mic (be he japanese or not) to get over in the current climate through actions rather than words, the picture I was trying to paint here was of a man who endears himself to the audience through a strong retorichc of honour and a desire to be the best over coming the obstacles put in his way by men obsessed by money and self protection

This has been shown to work in patches by Rey Mysterio (a man who never gifted on the mic has got himself over by being a never say die underdog in a land of giants) and Batista (a strong storyline and talented opponent covered up for his obvious deficinancies during the run up to Wrestlemania 21) do you belive that there is anyway things could be made to work in this scenario?, is there anything you would do differently?

Gaffer- I would be very interested to hear what ideas you have

Gregory, I think your idea is pretty much the best anyone could come up with if they wanted to get a Japanese wrestler over in WWE. There's nothing I'd do differently, I'm just not convinced it would work. The only thing I'd change is the girlfriend bit. I think it would be a bit random and I don't like it when wrestling companies use man on woman violence to further storylines.

I like your explanation for Ziggler's role, although if this was the case I would probably just try to change the timing so it wouldn't be the Wrestlemania title match. I'd try and get the belt on Tanahashi before Wrestlemania and then match him up with a bigger name opponent.