A WWE Fan’s Guide To New Japan Pro Wrestling: The Stars

It happened on January 24th, 2016. Riding off the fumes of Roman Reigns getting over in Philadelphia one time, WWE had turned the Royal Rumble into a World Championship match. The big dog would enter number one, and defend his WWE championship against every other entrant. One versus all. It could not have been more obvious WWE wanted this to be a defining moment in the rise of Roman Reigns. A neatly orchestrated piece of wrestling history. The shocking setback on his road to ultimate triumph. Instead, the 2016 Royal Rumble will likely be remembered for something else: the arrival of AJ Styles from New Japan Pro Wrestling.

New Japan. Concrete numbers are hard to find when it comes to wrestling, but since the Phenomenal One stepped into the Amway Centre last January it’s felt like Japan’s biggest wrestling promotion has cast a low shadow on WWE. Every other week JBL would mention Styles’ two runs as IWGP Heavyweight Champion. Shinsuke Nakamura showed up in NXT with knees that could cave your face in. Two bald dudes who were definitely not members of something called Bullet Club (whatever that is) showed up to hang out with Styles.

From WWE’s point of view, they’d grabbed four of the biggest stars in “indie” wrestling. But for some of us – we’ll probably never know how many – it opened up a whole new world. What was New Japan? Did everyone over there flip and bump around like as AJ?

The question lingers, even as WWE plan another stubborn effort to make Roman Reigns their top star. So let’s talk about New Japan. Let’s talk about the top stars whose names have become a smark’s weapon of choice in wrestling comment threads across the internet. WWE fans, this is your who’s who of New Japan Pro Wrestling.

 

Kazuchika Okada

OkadaWhen Kazuchika Okada’s music hits and he enters an arena, he looks like the currency of a decadent fallen civilisation. Decked out in a robe of sparkling red and gold, the IWGP Heavyweight Championship round his waist, Okada’s exchange rate would probably have to be a billion dollars – or two Ric Flairs. He’s young, brash, arrogant and rich. To find a star with matinee idol looks and jaw dropping ring work is rarer than unicorns, and it should make you sick with envy. When Okada does it, it’s like he’s the Tom Hanks of wrestling. You can’t hate him.

Okada is the leader of Chaos, which used to be evil but is now sort of good. They’re not squeaky clean, but Okada is the babyface at the top of the mountain in 2017, the swaggering hero of New Japan. At 29, Okada is probably the youngest guy around who’s in the conversation for best wrestler in the world. On some nights he already is, and it’s thanks to a pretty rare skill.

See, a lot of New Japan’s smaller shows will have top stars taking it easy in busy tag matches filled with bodies. Okada is no different. But when it comes to big matches, no one (no one) delivers as consistently as Okada. The guy damn near kills himself every time he has to defend his title.

The Rainmaker (because he’s rich and cocky, and fake dollars with his face on them fall from the rafters when he walks to the ring) will likely be New Japan’s top star for the next decade. Disgustingly, in that time he’s only get better. His wristlock Rainmaker clothesline is the unofficial coolest move in wrestling today. Just let it grow on you.

 

Kenny Omega

Kenny Omega
Image Source:
Wrestlefix

Here’s the guy everyone’s already heard of. Kenny Omega is the latest leader of Bullet Club, a faction that’s a parody of 90s American wrestling gone mad. Members constantly throw up the NWO’s Too Sweet hand gesture. It’s key tag team, The Young Bucks, have made a career out of superkicks, screaming “suck it” and crotch chopping like no one since D-Generation X. Omega himself is an anime supervillain made flesh. All maniacal laughter and ruthless charisma. In the ring his frenetic pace is mesmerising.

If you’ve heard one thing about New Japan, it’s that Kenny Omega had an all-time classic against Okada in January. Which is great, because if you’re looking for an introduction to New Japan there’s no better place to start.

Funny how things work out in wrestling. It almost might never have happened. A year ago, Omega was not even considered a heavyweight in Japan. At Wrestle Kingdom 10 in January 2016 he actually lost New Japan’s Junior Heavyweight belt to KUSHIDA. Ironically, it wasn’t until then-Bullet Club leader AJ Styles signed with WWE that Omega took a top heavyweight spot.

Since then, Omega has had one of the best years in wrestling. From holding the IWGP Intercontinental Championship to winning New Japan’s legendary G1 tournament, he’s looked like a guy you could build a company around.

But once again, wrestling is a funny thing. In 2017, Kenny the ultimate villain has become so popular in Japan he’s starting to have trouble getting crowds to boo him. Not that he’s trying very hard.

 

Tetsuya Naito

Naito and Los Ingobernables De Japon
Image Source:
Youtube

Imagine if Roman Reigns disappeared to Mexico for six months, then returned as CM Punk. That’s the best way to wrap your head around Naito. Pushed as a bland main event babyface, Naito never clicked with fans – at one point even being voted out of the main event of Wrestle Kingdom 8. Fortunately, a stint in Mexico seems to work wonders for Japanese wrestlers, and when Naito returned he became New Japan’s most entertaining act.

Naito leads another heel faction (you’ll notice factions are a big thing in Japan) called Los Ingobernables de Japon (LIJ). It’s an offshoot of a Mexican faction, originally founded by Andrade Cien Almas before he signed to NXT, but that’s a diversion we don’t need to take right now.

Naito’s the leader of LIJ in Japan, and what’s magnetic about him is his indifference.  From the moment he steps onto the entrance ramp it’s clear he can’t be bothered. “I’m the Intercontinental Champion,?” his eyes seem to say. “Well, whatever. I guess I’ll drag this belt along next to me. In fact, maybe I’ll just leave it here on the ramp. Or toss it into the ring like it’s the plastic recycling. It’s not like I care. Did I mention I don’t care?”

Once the bell rings, Naito begins with the mind games. Go to lock up, and at the last second he’ll turn away – a subtle show of disrespect. He’ll lounge on his side in the middle of the ring, pumping his fist in the air. In between all the taunts, though, Naito is an incredible wrestler to watch. The guy moves through the ring with a kind of arrogant fluidity. A fish that cuts through the water more smoothly than any other.

Last year Naito managed to interrupt Okada’s grip on the Heavyweight Championship for a couple of months. In 2017, he’s probably coming close to being as popular as Okada with the Japanese fans. From a WWE fan perspective, he might be the most fun to watch out of anyone in New Japan.

 

Hiroshi Tanahashi

Hiroshi Tanahashi
Image Source:
Betwrestling.com

This one’s a tough one. For the last decade, Hiroshi Tanahashi has been the Ace of New Japan. That means he’s been their top star – their floppy haired John Cena. But unlike WWE, whose efforts to find a new face to run the place are floundering, New Japan found their next star early. What’s more, in a saga which lasted nearly four years, New Japan pitted their reigning Ace (Tanahashi) against his replacement (Okada) in a series of spectacular matches.

Trouble is, at 40 Tanahashi is now the old Ace. Imagine WWE booking the story of John Cena’s slow decline, his mojo slipping away bit by bit. It would be Emmy worthy, right? Well, right now Tanahashi still thinks he’s the Ace, but he can’t quite cut it anymore. Beaten by Okada and Naito at successive Wrestle Kingdoms, Tanahashi is a prideful old lion who still thinks he runs the Serengeti.

He walks down to the ring doing air guitar, looking like someone’s cool dad, not quite believing the ride is over. He’s still really good at wrestling, of course, even as age and injury start to mount up. It’s like Shawn Michaels trying to prove he’s still got it against The Undertaker at Wrestlemania 26, but not quite as cool.

The only problem for newcomers is that for so long Tanahashi’s gimmick has been “I’m the top star, the ace, and the ultimate showman.” Which, since he’s not the top guy anymore, can be more than a little confusing. Still, they’re definitely trying to do some new, interesting things with the guy, so he’s still worth knowing about if you’re a new fan.

 

Katsuyori Shibata

Katsuyori Shibata
Image Source:
NJPW

In the early 2000s, New Japan bet its future on three young standouts at their dojo. The first was Hiroshi Tanahashi. The second was Shinsuke Nakamura. The third was Katsuyori Shibata. Except, after a prolonged adventure into MMA, Shibata wasn’t exactly the golden boy in New Japan anymore. It has taken Shibata a long time to regain the company’s trust, but as of 2017 it looks like he has it once again.

In April Shibata will become the next challenger for Okada’s championship, and if you’re a fan of Nakamura’s whole strong style thing, this match is probably for you. Because Shibata is a sinewy instrument of pain.

Decked out in nothing but black trunks, themselves distinct only by a small Japanese flag on one side, Shibata is as raw and unfrilled as cold baked beans. If baked beans could whack you so hard in the neck it starts to resemble raw meat, that is.

Shibata’s nickname is “The Wrestler”. His entrance involves him, white towel round his neck, staring at the ground and walking briskly to the ring. There is no pithy trash talk. He does not flaunt for the crowd’s approval. There is a moment in most of his matches, however, where he begins to embrace the pain. For his opponents this should be a red flag, because it means there are mere seconds left before Shibata beats the fucking kayfabe out of them.

There. You’ve been warned.

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