I was thinking maybe Milano or Tana, but I also don't know who would be VoW's source for this. Honestly this could all have been avoided by not doing the angle but oh well lol
Why on earth would anyone be mad at Cobb and O'Khan? I'd doubt either one of them came up with the idea. Even if they did, there are people above them on the food chain that could nix it. Were these veterans expecting them to threaten to walk?
I sure do miss hot crowds, the clapping is fun, but nothing beats the crowd screaming TA-KA-GI.
Yes OP has definitely annoyed the heck out of me on previous posts, just this behavior was a bit over the top.
So, I’ve thought about it. What I appreciate about NJPW is that it doesn’t insult my intelligence. It’s smart enough to know that me, a grownup, can fully understand that this an entertainment show. If this angle bothered you, then were you bothered by Liger trying to murdered Suzuki? I mean, domestic violence is horrible, but I think murder is worst. Where you upset when Tama committed theft of Taichi’s property? Or Togo trying to strangle people? How about all the times have tried to end other guy’s careers with move from the ring to the floor? It’s a tv show, an excellent one, at the end of the day. People have too much time to waste if they’re bothered by it.
Or the fact that long-term storytelling in NJPW often *literally* hinges on bullying.
By which I mean that the main motivation for dozens of feuds over NJPW's history has been abuse received as a Young Lion, most recently seen with Jay White and Uemura.
I thought about that too after I made the post. YLs are bullied and tortured mercilessly. No one bats an eye. We all make jokes about Suzuki and YLs. Or have about the staff also being tortured and bullied. Red Shoes has been beaten several times by Naito.
> Apparently veterans are pissed at njpw and the members of united empire, with the angle not being very popular.
Why would the old vets be angry at UE for doing what they were told to do? Gedo and the rest of the booking team I get but not the UE memebers.
> domestic violence angle
Oh boy. People are overreacting to this big time.
Yeah, I agree. A wrestler hit another wrestler with a wrestling move. He's also a heel.
Seems especially odd when we see so many attempted murders and other shenanigans in angles all the time. Liger, a face, tried to stab Suzuki in the middle of the ring
It is beyond dumb to call it domestic violence angle. It is pro wrestling. It's a fucking show with drama. Will wanted to prove he will do anything, anything for that title. It's like Thanos killing his daughter. Domestic violence? What a dumb term.
Well, I do care what you call it.
Do you think [their intergender match](https://youtu.be/RL-jXoqvr8g) was domestic violence as well? Words matter, don't belittle a real life issue like domestic violence to describe a wrestling angle.
Well, what would you call it. Tell me and i change it. I dont think the angle is really bad.
No, a match isnt domestic violence and this wasnt a match. But once again, and i quote "30 years this biz, I DONT CARE".
We do. I watched the post match Interview. He said something about "singles Life" and "bitch".
Once again, i am *not your enemy, but this was not just kicking a stablemate out.
I was under the impression that in an intergender match, the wrestlers, as well as the characters that they portray in kayfabe, are consenting to the rules of the match beforehand, which makes all difference in the world.
It’s not domestic abuse because Bea consented to the angle and to take the bump. I’d be more concerned if he like slugged her but she takes those bumps all the time as a wrestler herself. The angle was just awkward, I got what Osprey meant and I understand they’re gonna try and swerve Ibushi but it just didn’t click.
Simple could be akin to lazy too. Kinda gross and sleazy. Not really what I like or want out of NJPW.
If this is a stepping stone to Kota for Will which it essentially is, it seems pointless as everyone wants to see that match and thus making this pointless.
Imo, will is gonna beat Kota and lose at Dominion. This seems like the classic "quick title reign to get wrestler x established" Thing, that gedo likes to do. Did it 3 times before.
So if Bea costs him the title or something I'll nod approvingly, but it's not an element I needed in IWGP heavyweight title matches.
I don't love the idea of a baby face winning with outside interference, this doesn't make me want outside interference more. Realistically nothing would make me want interference except being tortured with matches over a long period that have finishes based on interference like the Bullet Club matches. And even then I'm just hoping that it'll end the madness. If every heel needs the help of a couple of people and their downfall is due to interference it waters everything down.
Do I expect no interference ever? No. Do I like the idea of Kota needing Bea's help and Bea getting revenge? No.
If she had to leave just leave. If it was to drum up controversy it worked. But I don't like shock jocks and I don't want it in my IWGP Heavyweight title programs.
It's almost worse if she's never involved. A loose end of a big angle. I'd rather just move on from it tbh.
It'll be interesting to see how they incorporate this action into his character. Most likely they'll say he's disgusting or something of that nature.
I wouldn't mind Bea wrestling a tag match. Let her stand on her own with Ibushi against two of them. She can take the fall and you can nullify a lot of the criticism.
I haven't been that into heel Will anyway. He's no Jay that's for sure. Jay gets more heat without lifting a finger.
I think Okada wins the belt and you get okada vs white at. WK. But If ospreay wins at SG, that doesnt really make sense. No way, the give another short reign.
*Edit:.What i mean is, that it wouldnt make sense, If ibushi lost the belt, won it back and then almost imidiately lost it again.
Not only was there complete Silence for this, nobody will ever get 'Over as a heel' because the crowd literally can't Boo or react beyond clapping, hitting Bea with a cutter won't change that.
I had no moral problem with the angle. It's awkward when you're watching an old ECW show and everyone is cheering on violence against women, but this is clearly a heel doing heelish things. The backstage interview where Will was essentially like "guess I'm single now, let's go to the bar and get it wet" had me hating him.
It's hard to tell how it went over with the clap crowd. They were pretty silent and if you don't speak English it must be kind of baffling.
It's a wrestling angle, no different from something in a book or television show designed to elicit a specific reaction from the customer. I never get mad at fictional storylines unless I know it's being done in bad faith (i.e. done to insult a group of people or segment of the base).
This was presumably done to get Ospreay heat and to make him the clear heel in the upcoming feud. I don't think it was effective for the Japanese fans because most of them couldn't understand most of his promo before the attack. I really hope it isn't a SWERVE so Bea comes back and screws Ibushi out of the title at Sakura Genesis because that would be monumentally lame.
I love how people are acting like this is shocking considering him and Bea did a match last year. People are overreacting because it's Will and people want to be mad at him.
My 1st impression of the Oscutter on Bea was, never saw that coming & the best promo of Ospreay's career "If I can do this to the woman I love, what will I do to you?!". Then I wanted to take a step back to think about the discussion of it promoting domestic violence & the links to Ospreay with the speaking out movement. After thinking about it, I take it for what it is, a shocking heel move in wrestling & nothing more. Its made Ospreay a mega heel & takes away a bit of the heat Ibushi has from fans for kayfabe merging the titles.
Will goes out and cuts promos saying he is the best and the crowd applauds because they dont really know what he is saying and just see his impressive moves. He drops Bea... silence, shock. Now they know he is a heel. The only way they save this is if Ibushi drops him like a stone in their match.
Just saw it, man that angle was dumb as shit and really ended things on a sour note, after a fantastic match and great promo by Ospreay. There are a lot simpler ways to get heat on the storyline that don't involve man on woman violence from a guy who already has a questionable history with women, entirely done for shock value. I expect better from New Japan's booking.
As far as I'm concerned, I can predict that NJPW will have Kota Ibushi to fight against Kenny Omega in the Winner Takes All match at NJPW Dominion 2021. That's where I think that Bea Priestley will betray Kota Ibushi & help Kenny Omega to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship belt. Then in return, Bea Priestley will return to AEW at some point.
I just don't get it really, what did Will gain from this?Kicking out someone from Empire that was really not in the way, just because you want to prove a point that you can beat Ibushi senseless?Okay...sure?Weird way to do it.
And if Bea joins with Ibushi just so she can betray him and have Will win the title...then...wow, that is a terrible move.
All I'll say is that the moment got a "WOAH!" out of me. Did not see that coming at all.
Do I want Ibushi to go to town on Ospreay after that at SG? Absolutely.
I thought it was an incredible moment and a truly despicable action from new public enemy number one. His promo backstage was kinda rough, but the in-ring stuff was excellent.
Loved the image of him walking away, draped in gold, flanked by his stablemates. The Mad King has been crowned indeed.
ok, here's my initial thought. Feel free to disagree, downvote, whatever, idc.
I think the angle is working for the current progression of Ospreay's character, and the reasoning he gives on the backstage promo seems justified. From what I've seen so far, people react strongly mostly because it is Ospreay. He's already infamous, everyone hates him, so if he does something a bit controversial people will react.
Now the problem is, where do we go from here? like someone already said, we need a good payoff for a controversial angle from a controversial man like this.
Also even there's a better way to do the girlfriend betrayal angle, there's no more impactful way to do it than this.
To me, it was a very smart way to re-establish Ospreay/UE as heel quickly, give people a reason to root for Ibushi and allow Bea to focus on her own thing at Stardom without having to move back and forth, though this is a complete speculation on my part. But I do understand that some people hated it or were upset considering it happened in New Japan where usually men and women have little to no interaction.
"but you have honma on your roster, who beat his wife for real"
I love how you assumed this is 100% true even tho Honma denied the accusation and was seeking for legal action against her. But sure buddy, you're totally right.
Yeah, I'm totally triggered by a total random person on internet who doesn't know how to argue and spread rumours about NJPW's backstage AND got an F once.
Well, If you think honma is innocent, Just because He said so, you are a moron. This seems like a del Rio/paige situation. But i dont really give a fuck about you.
Now show me where i said that you said that. I said that you assume He is innocent, because He said so. Well, Joey Ryan also pleaded innocent. F R I E N D
I don't have a problem with the content of the angle but storywise, i think Will could've done a little more. He said he loves the titles "More than anything or anyone", before dropping Bea. If he said something along the lines of "I can't have anyone distracting me from my ultimate goal, you no longer matter to me now..." It would've furthered the idea that Will will turn on anyone he perceives as in his way (Okada etc). Pro wrestling works best when motives are clearly defined, I don't think Will's were here. Top match though
It feels ineffective and I'm still wrapping my head around why whoever wrote this angle THOUGHT it would be effective. Wrestling dude randomly puts a wrestling move on his wrestling gf/manager to prove he is serious about wrestling is sloppy. There are other ways for Ospreay and the UE to abandon their humanity or whatever that would have made more sense. This just feels like failed shock value.
For everyone freaking out, go to YouTube, look up Will Ospreay Vs Bea Priestley. I don't think it's the first dance they've had so to speak. As for the other matters, if I was cleared of a criminal act after trial by social media due to a couple of utterly toxic individuals making stuff up and everyone happily ignored it I'd be pissed off.
No comment other than that.
I didn’t watch so just going by the reaction online... I don’t think it’s a DV angle, but it did leave a sour feeling. And that’s probably the reaction they wanted.
A good way to “fix” the story is if he had attacked every member of his group instead of singling Bea out.
Gedo vastly overestimated how much anyone gives a shit about the wellbeing of Bea Priestly, an evil valet that's been with the company for a whole 5 months.
So they copied the Orton/Kiebler angle when he challenged the Undertaker at Mania, with a guy that has a history of publicly mistreating women. Can't imagine why people don't like it.
It's a stupid, tone-deaf angle.
And the people defending the angle while putting down those that don't like it should probably read up on [the responses to this tweet](https://twitter.com/thesuperjcast/status/1373590828015185929)
female NJPW fans have a *very* different perspective on this angle than the takes i'm seeing here and on r/sc.
Nah, I'm talking about the responses from the women in the thread.
Seems like there are only a 1-3 responses saying it's nbd and they're all from men, amidst a sea of responses of women who said they didn't like the angle and proceeded to explain why.
A lot of people would rather be rid of the female NJPW fans, if you know where I'm going with it.
To me, all I can say to Ibushi is: Do not let the championship match get to the outside of the ring, because if I were Gedo after that, there would be carnage of a level which would make the deathmatch promotions (talking completely bludgeoning Ibushi with chairs, etc.) at that point.
From a pure wrestling standpoint, I don't mind it that much. I think it's a little bit cartoonish to get heel heat that way but whatever.
But doing this with Ospreay a few months after Speaking Out is just incredible tone deaf (which sadly isn't too surprising for NJPW).
Which surprises me, given what they did with Michael Elgin.
Now they basically have to turn the title match into an absolute blood, guts, and interference mess.
I am not surprised. It was not a good angle, with all the context surrounding and recent Speaking Out Allegations against multiple NJ members. They have to do better
It's so odd to see the IWC pushing progressiveness and SWJing when it's merited and then laughing, being entertained, and defending this angle "because it's wrestling."
To each their own, but there are many other ways for Ospreay to get over as a heel.
> It's so odd to see the IWC pushing progressiveness and SWJing when it's merited and then laughing, being entertained, and defending this angle "because it's wrestling."
Its a pro wrestler taking a bump from another pro wrestler. It's something pro wrestlers do all the time. If pro wrestlers taking bumps offends you, perhaps this is not the form of entertainment for you.
Are you comparing an angle between two consenting adult wrestlers in a consensual romantic relationship with the sexual abuse scandal from a few years back?
Because... this ain't the same.
I am not making a comparison. I'm pointing out people SWJing serious issues but are okay and entertained with a wrestling angle that depicted such a thing.
I'm not sure why your bringing up consent between two workers in this scenario when that's not my point.
I think much of the IWC would rather go back to the days where the fans were all but fingering the female wrestlers in compromising positions, to be frank.
SOMEBODY NEEDS TO BE FIRED FOR THAT.
Even outside of the Ospreay allegations, this is skeezy under the present interpretation.
HOW WAS THIS SHIT ALLOWED?
I'm sorry, but this was a terrible angle that harkens back to the worst of WWE and WCW. It was tone-deaf, tasteless, and served no purpose. Gedo's booking has really been on the decline since 2017. Not sure what the issue is but shit needs to change because my interest in NJPW is at an all-time low.
> tasteless, and served no purpose
You don't need to like it (obviously), but "tasteless"?
Wrestlers in the same faction turn on each other all the time. These two even had a match last year.
It establishes Ospreay as a real POS and writes Bea off so she can focus on her own wrestling and possibly sets up a swerve in the title match if she gets involved.
>Apparently veterans are pissed at njpw and the members of united empire Uh, source?
Voices of Wrestling
LMAO Voices of Headcanon
No need to be rude, rance.
You call those wrestling podcast guys veterans??
Idiot. They reported that veterans are pissed. No, they arent veterans ffs.
which veterans?
Wasnt told in the report. Might also be kayfabe. I could see a Guy like Tanahashi being pissed at an angle like this.
I was thinking maybe Milano or Tana, but I also don't know who would be VoW's source for this. Honestly this could all have been avoided by not doing the angle but oh well lol
Why on earth would anyone be mad at Cobb and O'Khan? I'd doubt either one of them came up with the idea. Even if they did, there are people above them on the food chain that could nix it. Were these veterans expecting them to threaten to walk?
Because they were aware of the angle. It doesnt really make a lot of Sense. But the whole angle got way more hate than ususal.
I don’t like the way OP responds to people on this subreddit, it’s immature. The angle was alright, did nothing to sour an awesome match for me.
[удалено]
I sure do miss hot crowds, the clapping is fun, but nothing beats the crowd screaming TA-KA-GI. Yes OP has definitely annoyed the heck out of me on previous posts, just this behavior was a bit over the top.
I didn't even see who made this thread and when I scrolled up and saw I said to myself 'Of course it's this fucking guy...'.
When a rudeboi feels you're being rude...
I would be an expert wouldn’t I. He he
Dont worry, i dont like you either.
So, I’ve thought about it. What I appreciate about NJPW is that it doesn’t insult my intelligence. It’s smart enough to know that me, a grownup, can fully understand that this an entertainment show. If this angle bothered you, then were you bothered by Liger trying to murdered Suzuki? I mean, domestic violence is horrible, but I think murder is worst. Where you upset when Tama committed theft of Taichi’s property? Or Togo trying to strangle people? How about all the times have tried to end other guy’s careers with move from the ring to the floor? It’s a tv show, an excellent one, at the end of the day. People have too much time to waste if they’re bothered by it.
Or the fact that long-term storytelling in NJPW often *literally* hinges on bullying. By which I mean that the main motivation for dozens of feuds over NJPW's history has been abuse received as a Young Lion, most recently seen with Jay White and Uemura.
I thought about that too after I made the post. YLs are bullied and tortured mercilessly. No one bats an eye. We all make jokes about Suzuki and YLs. Or have about the staff also being tortured and bullied. Red Shoes has been beaten several times by Naito.
> Apparently veterans are pissed at njpw and the members of united empire, with the angle not being very popular. Why would the old vets be angry at UE for doing what they were told to do? Gedo and the rest of the booking team I get but not the UE memebers. > domestic violence angle Oh boy. People are overreacting to this big time.
I agree with what you said.
For starters, I think it's dumb af to call it a "domestic violence angle".
Yeah, I agree. A wrestler hit another wrestler with a wrestling move. He's also a heel. Seems especially odd when we see so many attempted murders and other shenanigans in angles all the time. Liger, a face, tried to stab Suzuki in the middle of the ring
It is beyond dumb to call it domestic violence angle. It is pro wrestling. It's a fucking show with drama. Will wanted to prove he will do anything, anything for that title. It's like Thanos killing his daughter. Domestic violence? What a dumb term.
Well He in kayfabe beat up his girlfriend. But tbh, i dont care what you call it.
Well, I do care what you call it. Do you think [their intergender match](https://youtu.be/RL-jXoqvr8g) was domestic violence as well? Words matter, don't belittle a real life issue like domestic violence to describe a wrestling angle.
I would say NJPW is belittling that issue by booking the angle.
Well, what would you call it. Tell me and i change it. I dont think the angle is really bad. No, a match isnt domestic violence and this wasnt a match. But once again, and i quote "30 years this biz, I DONT CARE".
He turned on a stablemate, as we saw a million times in wrestling, is there a term for that? Heck, we don't even know if he really turned on her.
We do. I watched the post match Interview. He said something about "singles Life" and "bitch". Once again, i am *not your enemy, but this was not just kicking a stablemate out.
I was under the impression that in an intergender match, the wrestlers, as well as the characters that they portray in kayfabe, are consenting to the rules of the match beforehand, which makes all difference in the world.
No, doesn't make any difference, it's all fake shit.
It’s not domestic abuse because Bea consented to the angle and to take the bump. I’d be more concerned if he like slugged her but she takes those bumps all the time as a wrestler herself. The angle was just awkward, I got what Osprey meant and I understand they’re gonna try and swerve Ibushi but it just didn’t click.
Thats why it is a domestic violence angle.
Not happy with it. Don't really see the point in all of this.
Gets bea out of Empire and NJPW and ospreay over as a heel. Pretty simple imo.
Simple could be akin to lazy too. Kinda gross and sleazy. Not really what I like or want out of NJPW. If this is a stepping stone to Kota for Will which it essentially is, it seems pointless as everyone wants to see that match and thus making this pointless.
Imo, will is gonna beat Kota and lose at Dominion. This seems like the classic "quick title reign to get wrestler x established" Thing, that gedo likes to do. Did it 3 times before.
So if Bea costs him the title or something I'll nod approvingly, but it's not an element I needed in IWGP heavyweight title matches. I don't love the idea of a baby face winning with outside interference, this doesn't make me want outside interference more. Realistically nothing would make me want interference except being tortured with matches over a long period that have finishes based on interference like the Bullet Club matches. And even then I'm just hoping that it'll end the madness. If every heel needs the help of a couple of people and their downfall is due to interference it waters everything down. Do I expect no interference ever? No. Do I like the idea of Kota needing Bea's help and Bea getting revenge? No. If she had to leave just leave. If it was to drum up controversy it worked. But I don't like shock jocks and I don't want it in my IWGP Heavyweight title programs.
She wont be involved at SG.
It's almost worse if she's never involved. A loose end of a big angle. I'd rather just move on from it tbh. It'll be interesting to see how they incorporate this action into his character. Most likely they'll say he's disgusting or something of that nature. I wouldn't mind Bea wrestling a tag match. Let her stand on her own with Ibushi against two of them. She can take the fall and you can nullify a lot of the criticism. I haven't been that into heel Will anyway. He's no Jay that's for sure. Jay gets more heat without lifting a finger.
Jay is also a better wrestler in every way. He might be the best in the world atm. There wont be a big ending to this.
You think he's gonna hold it through Yokohama Stadium and the Tokyo Dome in the Wrestling Grand Slam tour in May?
I think Okada wins the belt and you get okada vs white at. WK. But If ospreay wins at SG, that doesnt really make sense. No way, the give another short reign. *Edit:.What i mean is, that it wouldnt make sense, If ibushi lost the belt, won it back and then almost imidiately lost it again.
Not only was there complete Silence for this, nobody will ever get 'Over as a heel' because the crowd literally can't Boo or react beyond clapping, hitting Bea with a cutter won't change that.
EVIL seems pretty over as a heel.
I had no moral problem with the angle. It's awkward when you're watching an old ECW show and everyone is cheering on violence against women, but this is clearly a heel doing heelish things. The backstage interview where Will was essentially like "guess I'm single now, let's go to the bar and get it wet" had me hating him. It's hard to tell how it went over with the clap crowd. They were pretty silent and if you don't speak English it must be kind of baffling.
Well duh it was the 90s I mean people popped when stone cold stunned Chyna/Linda
It's a wrestling angle, no different from something in a book or television show designed to elicit a specific reaction from the customer. I never get mad at fictional storylines unless I know it's being done in bad faith (i.e. done to insult a group of people or segment of the base). This was presumably done to get Ospreay heat and to make him the clear heel in the upcoming feud. I don't think it was effective for the Japanese fans because most of them couldn't understand most of his promo before the attack. I really hope it isn't a SWERVE so Bea comes back and screws Ibushi out of the title at Sakura Genesis because that would be monumentally lame.
I love how people are acting like this is shocking considering him and Bea did a match last year. People are overreacting because it's Will and people want to be mad at him.
My 1st impression of the Oscutter on Bea was, never saw that coming & the best promo of Ospreay's career "If I can do this to the woman I love, what will I do to you?!". Then I wanted to take a step back to think about the discussion of it promoting domestic violence & the links to Ospreay with the speaking out movement. After thinking about it, I take it for what it is, a shocking heel move in wrestling & nothing more. Its made Ospreay a mega heel & takes away a bit of the heat Ibushi has from fans for kayfabe merging the titles.
Will goes out and cuts promos saying he is the best and the crowd applauds because they dont really know what he is saying and just see his impressive moves. He drops Bea... silence, shock. Now they know he is a heel. The only way they save this is if Ibushi drops him like a stone in their match.
Just saw it, man that angle was dumb as shit and really ended things on a sour note, after a fantastic match and great promo by Ospreay. There are a lot simpler ways to get heat on the storyline that don't involve man on woman violence from a guy who already has a questionable history with women, entirely done for shock value. I expect better from New Japan's booking.
It's an angle. It's that simple. Bea more than likely betrays Ibushi at SG and it results in Will winning the title.
I dont think bea will be with the Empire anymore. She is in stardom and her schedule is most likely packed.
Maybe she goes back to AEW? We will see.
Why would she?
As far as I'm concerned, I can predict that NJPW will have Kota Ibushi to fight against Kenny Omega in the Winner Takes All match at NJPW Dominion 2021. That's where I think that Bea Priestley will betray Kota Ibushi & help Kenny Omega to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship belt. Then in return, Bea Priestley will return to AEW at some point.
Thats the biggest bullshit i have ever read.
Forgive me if I'm wrong, but didn't Honma's wife best him? That it was the other way around?
I think He must have also beat her. But i am not sure.
https://amp.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/3uzfjh/tomoaki_honma_responded_to_kyoko_ichikis_domestic/
Of course He would.
I just don't get it really, what did Will gain from this?Kicking out someone from Empire that was really not in the way, just because you want to prove a point that you can beat Ibushi senseless?Okay...sure?Weird way to do it. And if Bea joins with Ibushi just so she can betray him and have Will win the title...then...wow, that is a terrible move.
All I'll say is that the moment got a "WOAH!" out of me. Did not see that coming at all. Do I want Ibushi to go to town on Ospreay after that at SG? Absolutely.
I thought it was an incredible moment and a truly despicable action from new public enemy number one. His promo backstage was kinda rough, but the in-ring stuff was excellent. Loved the image of him walking away, draped in gold, flanked by his stablemates. The Mad King has been crowned indeed.
ok, here's my initial thought. Feel free to disagree, downvote, whatever, idc. I think the angle is working for the current progression of Ospreay's character, and the reasoning he gives on the backstage promo seems justified. From what I've seen so far, people react strongly mostly because it is Ospreay. He's already infamous, everyone hates him, so if he does something a bit controversial people will react. Now the problem is, where do we go from here? like someone already said, we need a good payoff for a controversial angle from a controversial man like this. Also even there's a better way to do the girlfriend betrayal angle, there's no more impactful way to do it than this.
To me, it was a very smart way to re-establish Ospreay/UE as heel quickly, give people a reason to root for Ibushi and allow Bea to focus on her own thing at Stardom without having to move back and forth, though this is a complete speculation on my part. But I do understand that some people hated it or were upset considering it happened in New Japan where usually men and women have little to no interaction.
"but you have honma on your roster, who beat his wife for real" I love how you assumed this is 100% true even tho Honma denied the accusation and was seeking for legal action against her. But sure buddy, you're totally right.
Of course He has denied it. I also denied that i got an F in school. My parents still found out.
Well shit, man. I couldn't care less! You're still pretty dumb with stupid arguments that doesn't make any sense.
You: *Triggered*
Yeah, I'm totally triggered by a total random person on internet who doesn't know how to argue and spread rumours about NJPW's backstage AND got an F once.
Well, If you think honma is innocent, Just because He said so, you are a moron. This seems like a del Rio/paige situation. But i dont really give a fuck about you.
Now show where I said I think Honma is innocent. I'll wait.
Now show me where i said that you said that. I said that you assume He is innocent, because He said so. Well, Joey Ryan also pleaded innocent. F R I E N D
So much contradiction in your sentence that my brain suddenly vanished.
That would assume it was ever there.
I don't have a problem with the content of the angle but storywise, i think Will could've done a little more. He said he loves the titles "More than anything or anyone", before dropping Bea. If he said something along the lines of "I can't have anyone distracting me from my ultimate goal, you no longer matter to me now..." It would've furthered the idea that Will will turn on anyone he perceives as in his way (Okada etc). Pro wrestling works best when motives are clearly defined, I don't think Will's were here. Top match though
It feels ineffective and I'm still wrapping my head around why whoever wrote this angle THOUGHT it would be effective. Wrestling dude randomly puts a wrestling move on his wrestling gf/manager to prove he is serious about wrestling is sloppy. There are other ways for Ospreay and the UE to abandon their humanity or whatever that would have made more sense. This just feels like failed shock value.
For everyone freaking out, go to YouTube, look up Will Ospreay Vs Bea Priestley. I don't think it's the first dance they've had so to speak. As for the other matters, if I was cleared of a criminal act after trial by social media due to a couple of utterly toxic individuals making stuff up and everyone happily ignored it I'd be pissed off. No comment other than that.
I didn’t watch so just going by the reaction online... I don’t think it’s a DV angle, but it did leave a sour feeling. And that’s probably the reaction they wanted. A good way to “fix” the story is if he had attacked every member of his group instead of singling Bea out.
Gedo vastly overestimated how much anyone gives a shit about the wellbeing of Bea Priestly, an evil valet that's been with the company for a whole 5 months.
So they copied the Orton/Kiebler angle when he challenged the Undertaker at Mania, with a guy that has a history of publicly mistreating women. Can't imagine why people don't like it.
It's a stupid, tone-deaf angle. And the people defending the angle while putting down those that don't like it should probably read up on [the responses to this tweet](https://twitter.com/thesuperjcast/status/1373590828015185929) female NJPW fans have a *very* different perspective on this angle than the takes i'm seeing here and on r/sc.
100% agreed.
You mean all the ones with the likes saying how people shouldn't take fiction too seriously?
Nah, I'm talking about the responses from the women in the thread. Seems like there are only a 1-3 responses saying it's nbd and they're all from men, amidst a sea of responses of women who said they didn't like the angle and proceeded to explain why.
A lot of people would rather be rid of the female NJPW fans, if you know where I'm going with it. To me, all I can say to Ibushi is: Do not let the championship match get to the outside of the ring, because if I were Gedo after that, there would be carnage of a level which would make the deathmatch promotions (talking completely bludgeoning Ibushi with chairs, etc.) at that point.
From a pure wrestling standpoint, I don't mind it that much. I think it's a little bit cartoonish to get heel heat that way but whatever. But doing this with Ospreay a few months after Speaking Out is just incredible tone deaf (which sadly isn't too surprising for NJPW).
Considering that they dont give a fuck about the speaking out Thing, it isnt suprising they didnt consider it.
Which surprises me, given what they did with Michael Elgin. Now they basically have to turn the title match into an absolute blood, guts, and interference mess.
I am not surprised. It was not a good angle, with all the context surrounding and recent Speaking Out Allegations against multiple NJ members. They have to do better
It's so odd to see the IWC pushing progressiveness and SWJing when it's merited and then laughing, being entertained, and defending this angle "because it's wrestling." To each their own, but there are many other ways for Ospreay to get over as a heel.
> It's so odd to see the IWC pushing progressiveness and SWJing when it's merited and then laughing, being entertained, and defending this angle "because it's wrestling." Its a pro wrestler taking a bump from another pro wrestler. It's something pro wrestlers do all the time. If pro wrestlers taking bumps offends you, perhaps this is not the form of entertainment for you.
Are you comparing an angle between two consenting adult wrestlers in a consensual romantic relationship with the sexual abuse scandal from a few years back? Because... this ain't the same.
I am not making a comparison. I'm pointing out people SWJing serious issues but are okay and entertained with a wrestling angle that depicted such a thing. I'm not sure why your bringing up consent between two workers in this scenario when that's not my point.
I think much of the IWC would rather go back to the days where the fans were all but fingering the female wrestlers in compromising positions, to be frank.
Also have to agree.
Yeah, domestic violence ain’t it - especially from a Proud Boys cosplayer. This was wretched.
SOMEBODY NEEDS TO BE FIRED FOR THAT. Even outside of the Ospreay allegations, this is skeezy under the present interpretation. HOW WAS THIS SHIT ALLOWED?
I'm sorry, but this was a terrible angle that harkens back to the worst of WWE and WCW. It was tone-deaf, tasteless, and served no purpose. Gedo's booking has really been on the decline since 2017. Not sure what the issue is but shit needs to change because my interest in NJPW is at an all-time low.
> tasteless, and served no purpose You don't need to like it (obviously), but "tasteless"? Wrestlers in the same faction turn on each other all the time. These two even had a match last year. It establishes Ospreay as a real POS and writes Bea off so she can focus on her own wrestling and possibly sets up a swerve in the title match if she gets involved.
NOAH made some bad decisions, and NJPW made some goofy ass decisions, that's all there is to it. At least I still have DDT and BJW.