In the ring it’s a mixed bag, but it is another culture’s take on professional wrestling and they often are more methodical, even if they are more likely to hit what would be overkill in America in terms of their endings of main events. Some stuff, like the SEM elimination match, Kobashi/KENTA Vs. Sasaki/Nakajima, Briscoes Vs. Ibushi/Nakajima and Sugiura Vs. Morishima, I certainly couldn’t call dull. It’s some of the best stuff I’ve seen all year from any company.

They gave Marufuji the belt 2 years ago. He and KENTA are too obviously ‘juniors’ for that role. I think Go has the talent (and then some), but needs more intensity.

John,

“Is it bad”? Heck no, it’s good.

As far as writing more about the young guys, I’ve written about them a lot over the years: Morishima’s push in ‘07-’08, Rikio’s botched reign, Marufuji’s reign, Go’s potential, etc. Honestly, nothing’s changed. There needs to be something, preferably a generation war, that gets things moving in a discernable direction to provide continuity and elevate the young stars. NOAH has all the talent they need to tear things up at Budokan Hall and sell it out, but the product is so dull and glacial. The lack of effort is what gets me, I don’t think I’ve seen anything quite like it.

I’m like to second Steventon’s question about elevating the youngsters. In fact, have you considered ever writing a column purely evaluating NOAH’s favorite younger guys (Morishima included) in terms of talent and who could carry the company?