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Hoshino (a former NJPW wrestler and current general of Makai Club) arrived to INOKI DOJO from Japan to meet and speak with Antonio Inoki. Hoshino brought Yasuda, a leader of Makai Club along with him.
INOKI: You have to come out here and experience it for yourself. When I told Yasuda first, he probably didn't want to come out to the US to train. But now he'll come out on his own. This will apply to all NJPW wrestlers too: to step out and to know what is important. Of course, everything is important, but to lay out the priorities, what comes first? Everybody seems to be lost and mixed up.
Makai Club is becoming popular now, but the fighters also should know how the world is moving, or else they will be left behind. For example, WWE became extremely popular a few years ago, but now it's going down. There's always a trap of getting stuck in a certain cycle. This applies to anybody.
There are rumors that we are going to do shows in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. But the main point is, what kind of a fight should we present? It's not about where or when. People are getting mixed up again. I'm always saying this, but one thing that never changes is that, inside the ring, there has to be a true fight.
There can be many different styles or various expressions. Performance may vary. But somehow things switched over, and now performance comes first, and the fighting is left behind. But I'm going to keep my mouth shut about these issues because it'll be too big of a topic if I get into it.
Fighters are training here as we speak, but what do you think of the system here at INOKI DOJO?
INOKI: It's early now, but more fighters come from other dojo to practice everyday. The other day, Mark Coleman and Randleman came to ask me to teach them pro-wrestling. I've taught them before, but they should come in more often.
HOSHINO: I came straight to INOKI DOJO from the airport, but at first look, I was surprised to see many fighters with great potentials. I'd like to recruit these fighters to Makai Club.
INOKI: That's good. Back in our time when we came to the US, for each state, there were promoters who carried 20-30 wrestlers. This in a way meant that we had the freedom. Wrestlers had the choice to stick with one promoter or to go to another state to fight for another promoter. Right now, it's the opposite. There are only WWE and a few small independent groups. This means that there are many wrestlers that are out of work; some of them were cut off from WWE. Another group would be the NHB type of fighters if they don't have a place to fight or to express themselves here. But there are many fighting opportunities in Japan. There are NJPW, Pride, K-1, and many other pro-wrestling organizations.
HOSHINO: Fighting market is growing in Japan. It's possible for me to recruit fighters. Can you please help me?
INOKI: You have to be very clear about what kind of characters or styles you are looking for. The concept has to be clear; you can't be picking out just anybody. You have to look for the right ones and take them with you when it is clear that Makai Club needs that certain type of character or when there is a new fine idea of needing that certain type of fighter. Look at Bob Sapp. When he came to me a year ago, he was nobody but did have a huge body. In one year, he turned into a superstar. As a character, there's nobody who can compete with him right now. The potential he has is immeasurable. He just started, so he's gaining the necessary techniques. But the main point is to focus on what to show the fans; that's going to make a big difference. There are many fighters who are professional, but a true pro is the one who understands this and able to appeal to the fans and also bring the fans.
HOSHINO: Yes, I understand. We need great athletes and characters in Makai Club.
INOKI: It's different from when we used to wrestle. Somehow fighting and pro-wrestling have separated and split into two different things. Pride and K-1 have led the martial arts world into a borderless fighting era. It's not only punching or grappling. In that sense, Mirko did a great job at Inoki Bom Ba Ye. He did have that martial art talent from the beginning. Here at INOKI DOJO, specialists from jiu-jitsu, kick boxing, boxing and wrestling come in and train fighters, so there are many potential fighters ready to go into the rings of mixed martial arts and pro-wrestling.
HOSHINO: From what I see here, there are many exciting fighters for Makai Club. I'd also like to expand my team by picking fighters not only from INOKI DOJO but also from Asian countries.
INOKI: Of course, the Asian market. Aside from Japan, Korea and China would be a huge market. Things are a little tricky in China, but by using Pay Per View, we can put up a big show. So we also want star fighters from other Asian countries. There are many Chinese and Koreans here in L.A., so Asian stars will attract them too. As an event, it will most probably succeed.
HOSHINO: Then, we will take over everything and be in charge!
INOKI: What about you, Yasuda?
YASUDA: I'm not sure....
INOKI: Why don't you become a bodyguard in Las Vegas. {laugh}
YASUDA: That's too much of a hard work for me.... I'll be a beach boy at Santa Monica beach...
INOKI: You can't do that because you don't have any savings right? {laugh}
YASUDA: No, I don't..... {laugh}
Continued to the next page --> Other Interviews |
