"Japan UFO Update
Submitted by: FIGHTWORLD
Posted On 08/01/2002
There is speculation in Japan that the 8/8/02 UFO Tokyo Dome show is going to be a complete financial failure.
Tickets sales are disastrous and it appears that there are major political struggles and ramifications between UFO and the powerhouse combination of K-1 and Pride.
UFO officials were speculating 40,000 fans but Japanese sources are saying it will be a miracle if the show sells 25,000.
It now appears that Nippon TV is a major player the promotion. Nippon TV has apparently put tons of pressure on Antonio Inoki to pull off a huge event and things are not coming together.
Nippon is fronting the money for the Tokyo Dome (which is the equivalent of $250,000 U.S. Dollars) and they have also pumped over $150,000 in live productions costs. This is a major step for the TV company who appears to be banking on a success and another show in January (which may already be off).
The show will air in prime time from 7-9pm on a Thursday, an off night to run a show with such promise. The fact is that NIPPON TV is airing the show on free TV, so there is a lot of hope that the show will be successful due to the great exposure provided by free TV. There is major pressure for Inoki to do a large TV rating to cover some potential losses.
With all the threats surrounding Minotauro and the upper-management of Pride of UFO, it appears that Ishii is now involved with All Japan Pro Wrestling. Ishi is helping broker a deal for former WCW pro wrestler Bill Goldberg. This is yet another bizarre political deal that Pride isn't too crazy about.
Another bizarre twist is that Naoya Ogawa has yet to sign a contract to fight (if it is legit). Ogawa has made it clear that he does NOT want to do real fights unless the money is astronomical. Figure that one out.
His opponent is scheduled to be Matt Ghaffari the American wrestler, who is likely being bought in for a 'worked' match. Other reports are stating that Ogawa is getting close to 7 figures for the match, so it may be for real.
Although the lineup looks good on paper, Antonio Inoki has chosen to run opposite Kazuyoshi Ishi (K-1) Naoto Mori****a (Pride). This could be bad business in the long run for fighters caught in the middle just looking to fight.
CURRENT LINEUP:
- Naoya Ogawa vs. Matt Ghaffari
- Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Sanae Kikuta
- Jens Pulver vs. Takehiro Murahama
- Mario Sperry vs. Wataru Sakata
- Rogerio Nogueira vs. Vladimir Matyushenko
- Kazunari Murakami vs.
Wallid Ismail
"
Zaczynaja sie juz problemy a szkoda bo zapowiadało sie naprawe dobrze! Kasa Kasa Kasa
KAIN
Minister spraw wewnętrznych w dziale Liga NHB
"The ground is my ocean, I'm the shark, and most people don't even know how to swim."
KAIN
Krzysztof Piekarz
Ronowicz
Anonim
Sventevith
