Major News from New Japan

Weekly Pro is reporting that Simon Inoki has resigned as President of New Japan Pro Wrestling. The resignation will be tendered to the board of director at New Japan's stockholders meeting in April, reports Zach Arnold.

We reported earlier that Antonio Inoki was forming a new promotion called IGF (Inoki Gnome Federation), with the first show on 6/26. There is speculation the resignation and the formation of the IGF could be related.

As we reported yesterday, the speculation is that Simon Inoki resigned as New Japan Pro Wrestling President to work with his father-in-law, Antonio Inoki, in the formation of a new promotion, IGF (Inoki Genome Federation) - which is slated to debut in June. According to Sankei Sports, Vice President Naoki Sugabayashi and Masahiro Chono have emerged as the top candidates to replace Inoki. There is also talk that with Inoki resigning, the New Japan-TNA working relationship could be in jeopardy. As Chris Johnson reported yesterday, Keiji Muto (The Great Muta) is looking to open the door to a possible All Japan Pro Wrestling/TNA relationship.

Source: http://www.Gerweck.net

Has there been any confirmed westlers for the new promotion yet? Im intrested to see how it will work out,Chicago_Nut

i'm sure Inoki is gonna join the GPWA and use a lot of freelance wrestlers if he doesn't bring any big names with him from New Japan.

Good news. New Japan has been no man's land for years. Simon's management didn't make it any better. It's been aching for a change like this. Hopefully who ever steps up will turn it around.

There's a typo in the first full mention of IGF... it's 'Gnome federation' :P God, I thought the Juniors division would be making a comeback..

Anyway this sounds relatively interesting to me, given that I know a little about NJPW and have seen enough matches to probably judge the overall style the federation has developed. In my opinion, I think that the federation is crumbling a bit and a change here can only be a good thing..

As for the TNA/NJPW relationship.. I could care less. The last time I've ever seen any relationship within TNA of a Japanese promotion was when NJPW Jnr Champ Tanahashi appeared against AJ Syles at Destination X... last..freaking...year.

AJPW/TNA relationship could be OK.. but I doubt it'll be anything changing on the canvas between the two feds.