83 Weeks - WCW & New Japan Pro Wrestling [Show Notes] (Patreon)

Let’s get into our topic today Eric - New Japan and WCW’s Relationship.

Before you were in charge in WCW, the New Japan relationship with WCW was well known dating back to the early 90s - including the tradition beginning of the January 4th Tokyo Dome shows working together with the two companies. What was your knowledge of the agreement between the two companies when you first started in WCW?

Was Japan something you were always interested in - considering your martial arts background and ninja game?

How did you meet Sonny Onoo?

When you stepped into management for WCW - the relationship between the two companies was very frayed was it not?

Was that just Bill Watts - or do you think it was others?

Did you feel that the WCW - New Japan relationship was important to the company?

Did you see them as a source of revenue?

What were you aware of regarding wrestling in Japan?

You wrote this in your book:

“I went over to Japan in 1994 to meet with representatives of the New Japan Pro Wrestling promotion. I went originally to find out how we could work more closely together. But the trip did much more than that. It fundamentally changed the way I thought about wrestling.

Wrestling isn’t just popular in the United States. There are wrestling fans all over the world. American wrestlers can find themselves more popular overseas than in the States. Besides touring on our own in Europe, WCW had arrangements with Japanese promotions to capitalize on that popularity.”

What was it about this trip that changed the way you thought about wrestling?

Was it a conversation, a moment, an event…chat me up.

When 1993 ended - WCW had sent the Nasty Boys to New Japan for a tour - did New Japan just think they were getting the wrong end of a talent exchange?

Right away in March the shift in thought process can be obvious. You send - at the time - WCW International Champion - really the NWA Champion - kind of - to defend the belt in the main event of a show in Tokyo - Rick Rude to lose to Hiroshi Hase and drop the title. Was that something you would do in good faith to show you were invested in fixing the relationship?

You would write in your book about how doing business with New Japan was a great way to offset your talent budget by subcontracting a group of performers for a high fee - essentially lending them out to New Japan - you can offset that cost. Was this all about trying to - once again - save money for WCW?

How important was Brad Rheingans to this relationship?

How about Sonny?

Do you think without those two this relationship wouldn’t be successful?

Sonny has stated in interviews and in Guy Evans’ Nitro book that he had no idea why was he going with you to Japan - and he thought it was to pitch a show…is that how you remember it?

Why did you make Sonny the liaison for New Japan to reach out to? Was he ready for that spot?

Sadly not long after this - in May of 1994 - Rick Rude would wrestle his last match against Sting in Japan - when he injured his back during the match. Was this something you could turn to New Japan as a liability or was that not in the cards?

Eventually it would become more of a two way street - both companies sending talent back and forth. Was New Japan the one who chose who would go or was that between you & Brad?

Was there anyone at any point in time who refused to go to Japan?

As you’re rekindling the New Japan relationship - Hulk Hogan joins WCW. Hogan had a long storied history with New Japan back in the early 80s - did he ever come up in conversation about going to Japan? Or was that something that didn’t work for him brother?

Antonio Inoki would come to the United States to actually wrestle against Lord Steven Regal at the 28th Clash in August of 1994. How did this come to be?

How often would you travel to Japan?

What were you learning while watching the shows?

You would write this in your book

“The Japanese audiences also believed that the things happening in the ring were real. I couldn’t change that back in the United States either—there was no way I could take audiences back to 1940 or 1950. But there was a psychology to the Japanese style that could be brought back and applied to our creative formula. Americans might not be willing to believe that everything about the match was real, but there might be a point where they were willing

to suspend their disbelief—much as they would when going to see a play or movie and get caught up in the moment. If they were allowed to believe, just for a moment or two, they would enjoy the show more completely. And that would be the key to success.”

Was this a game changer for you?

You would announce at the 1995 New Japan Tokyo Dome show that the relationship between WCW & New Japan would be expanding - was that your idea or theirs?

From the Nitro book

“Consequently, Onoo became the contact person for the WCW-NJPW partnership, securing an eventual $1 million in annual revenue. “I think the initial year was just making up for the “money we accepted,” he remembers. “Obviously, it became a great relationship, and New Japan was an amazing part of the growth for WCW. When Nitro happened, we needed more talent, and through the talent exchange program, we got to use their biggest talent in Japan.”

So not only was working with New Japan a revenue boost but it gave you access to talent. Eventually - you would go to New Japan and take Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, Ultimo Dragon & Chris Jericho to come to WCW. So you sign those wrestlers, and since they already have a relationship with New Japan - loan them back to the company to increase your revenue and help offset the money you needed to sign them is that right?

How crucial was this talent injection for the expansion of WCW’s TV with Nitro?

The story has always been you’ve seen the UWFI & New Japan invasion angle that led to the nWo…set the story straight Eric. Was that story the baseline for the New World Order?

Sonny’s role in the WCW - New Japan relationship ended up getting bigger with New Japan requesting him to be the Japanese wrestlers mouth piece - what did you think of that idea?

The deal between WCW & New Japan for Collision in Korea has been covered in our archives so be sure to check that out - but if you didn’t fix that relationship - Korea never happens does it?

The first Nitro match ever featured Jushin Liger taking on Brian Pillman. So here’s the launch of this prime time show and the first match you have features a New Japan wrestler taking on a WCW wrestler. How big a moment was that for you?

Did you ever think of a New Japan invading WCW story like the nWo would later on?

Starrcade 1995 would feature the World Cup of Wrestling. You were the key to the original Forbidden Door weren’t you?

Do you consider that show a success to the point you needed or wanted more?

More and more New Japan wrestlers start to appear…and eventually they become champions of their own with WCW belts like Kensuke Sasaki defeating Sting for the WCW US title. Any push back from the roster?

Did the guys enjoy going to Japan?

Did you enjoy working with them?

Did you ever hear from them that they were unhappy with anybody’s portrayal on American TV?

Did you get to take Loree & the kids at any point in time?

How did the nWo translate over to Japan and have them become a part of it?

Was this a licensing agreement that WCW generated an income off of?

The success of the nWo in America bled over into Japan and you can see that the brand, concept & storyline was something that was massive for them as well wasn’t it?

Sonny Onoo said this:

“The nWo Japan angle for New Japan made an amazing amount of money for that company. In the summer of 1998 we sold upwards of five million dollars worth of t-shirts. It was amazing. I’m sure the wrestlers didn’t see any of that money but the company definitely made money. The nWo Japan was Chono and Muta, they were like the Kevin Nash of nWo Japan. Chono double crosses me on Nitro and the next week I bring Muta to avenge me and Muta turns on me. In retrospect I am so glad I played a part in the birth of nWo Japan and you look at history 15 or 16 years ago and how it all developed. I am so grateful to have just been a part of the height of viewership in American pro wrestling and the height in popularity of Japanese pro wrestling.”

Did you get any of that money?

Was there ever a request you can think of that New Japan wanted - ideas, gimmicks, people - that you had to say no to?

Masa Chono was the first New Japan wrestler to join the nWo. Was there a particular reason for it?

What was the ebbs & flows in the relationship with New Japan?

As your business grew and their business grew - did you ever think - maybe acquire a piece of the company? Was something like that ever discussed?

Did Turner or CNN or anyone realize the relationship even existed do you think?

It’s been reported that the New Japan relationship ended when you left WCW and Vince Russo came in. Is that accurate?

Did you ever hear from anyone in Japan after you left WCW and when you returned with Russo?

What would be the biggest surprise about WCW working with New Japan - and vice versa - that we wouldn’t believe it when you told us?

Are you surprised a company like AEW sought out a relationship with New Japan?

Are you surprised the WWE hadn’t done more with New Japan?

What did you think of Japan as a whole? Did you bring Loree & the kids there?

Favorite memory in Japan?