New Japan has slowly begun to test the US market. As the world’s #2 wrestling promotion they have every right to. It also doesn’t hurt that they probably are producing the best in ring content around. For US fans it’s not been easy to get a hold of that content with American commentary, or subtitles, but now it seems there are some options.
Following the Wrestle Kingdom 9 show in January, their version of Wrestlemania, NJPW launched their new show on AXS TV. This is not your standard weekly wrestling show. It actually covers matches from the past of NJPW starting with the companies 2013 Wrestle Kingdom 7 show and then from week to week going through in order all the key matches the company has had on PPV since then.
The show has been a delight with Mauro Ranallo and Josh Barnett providing commentary in English. NJPW is basically giving fans a chance to get caught up on who the major players are and building some history while showing off some of their top talents.
Without a doubt the show features absolute wrestling classics. The typical main event match in NJPW is 30 minutes or so and usually features a slow start working into a faster pace and a dramatic conclusion. NJPW talents do a great job of telling the in ring story. Even if an outcome to a match seems obvious they can sway fans mid match to feel a different way.
A great example of this was at WK9 when Ibushi and Nakamura went at it for Nakamura’s IC title. The match seemed like a showcase for Nakamura, but it came off as if Ibushi was going to break through ahead of schedule and win the belt, which would have been a major upset in that spot. They start by making fans assume that Nakamura will win, but finish has everyone on the edge of their seat rooting for Ibushi. When Nakamura gets his win fans are left wanting more from the two them.
It’s like how WWE used to book Hogan. The WWE made it seem as if Hogan couldn’t possibly topple the odds, but he found a way through fighting spirit to do so. Hogan had that ability to tell a great in ring story and that’s a cornerstone of a good solid NJPW main event.
NJPW embraces what is known as strong style wrestling. This is where a lot of stiff blows and kicks are used to tell stories in matches. Talents do bump around quite a bit, but there is certainly a level of balance. Almost every talent has three name moves including his finisher and a few named submissions. This keeps fans guessing on how each match will end. Also, fighting spirit is a big deal. That is wear a talent good or bad suddenly digs deep and hulks up to make a comeback when logic would dictate that maybe he should be beaten.
There is also one constant with top talent in NJPW. They are not only excellent characters that are way over with the fans on style, but they are also great in ring workers. Tanahashi, Okada, Ishii, Naito and others are considering some of the best workers in the history of the business let along Japan. Many consider Nakamura the best wrestler walking the Earth today. He cuts great promos, has a great persona, and can work like no other.
This is something the WWE doesn’t put as much weight into. They tend to go more for look and character appeal instead of trying to find the talents that can do it all like NJPW has. Roman Reigns would get eaten alive in a company like this.
This week’s AXS show was the World Title match between Champion Okada and challenger Naito. Naito had previously earned his shot by winning the G1 climax tournament held during the summer of 2013. By doing so he won the contract to face the Champion at the WK8 show. Interestingly this match did not go on last. That’s because NJPW allowed the fans to vote for what match they wanted to see go on last and they picked Nakamura and Tanahashi for the IC title, which will be on next week’s can’t miss show.
It’s worth noting that NJPW so promotes their IC champ that it’s worthy in the fans eyes of going on last. It’s almost like how the UFC functions with multi champions, albeit in different weight classes. There is no 1 guy that the company’s hopes are rested on, but a group of them that are all stars. Certainly Okada, Tanahashi, and Nakamura have pushed the company to new heights, but the concept of valuing your champions and not just one guy is worth noting.
The WWE might be trying to do this with Daniel Bryan. If they make him the IC champion at WM31 then possibly he may elevate that title over the next few months hopefully against great workers. That could satisfy the needs of the smart fans that are so critical of the WWE at this time.
Okada and Naito both wrestled this match with a chip on their shoulder. They both had the desire to win, but also prove that they should have been on the top of this card. The match started slow as many top NJPW matches do. There was lots of trading blows and solid move exchanges with neither man getting the upper hand. The announcers made sure to note that Naito had a bad knee going into the match from a previous injury. Since he was the face here they were protecting him and building the underdog story further.
In a very important spot Okada gets Naito onto the top rope and hits his drop kick. As Naito is falling his bad knee gets caught up in the ropes. This furthers the story of his injury. There is no doubt that Okada’s drop kick is the best in the business. For a guy that is as big as he is its amazing how high he gets and how great he is at creating the believable contact that makes the move so good.
Okada takes control for a while and lands a DDT off the mat onto the floor outside that really puts him in control. He batters Naito with a series of moves including a top rope elbow. He then poses, which is the setup for his famous Rainmaker clothesline, which to this point in history no one has kicked out of.
Naito avoids it and is able to get the advantage and put Okada in his Puma Blanca submission hold. Okada barely escapes and after a few move exchanges Okada lands a flapjack on Naito to gain control again. Okada gets Naito in his submission hold the Red Ink, but Okada’s shoulder is hurting and Naito is able to barely escape as well. Naito hits a massive Frankensteiner off the top on Okada and starts feeling that this might be his time.
Naito hits a huge dragon suplex into a bridge, but Okada kicks out before the three count. Naito hit’s a Gloria press, but Okada kicks out. Naito immediately climbs the ropes attempting his signature stardust press, but Okada is able to get out of the way. Okada gets the advantage and hits a few big moves including Heavy Rain, but Naito kicks out. The two trade blows in the center of the ring, classic strong style. Okada misses the Rain Maker finisher and Naito gets tossed into the ropes. Okada hit his legendary drop kick and goes for the Rain Maker again, but Naito reverses into a roll up for the nearest fall of the match.
Naito goes for a wheel barrel slam, but Okada reverses out and connects with another stellar drop kick to the back of the head. Okada hits a tombstone, which is usually the setup for the Rain Maker. As he goes for it Naito reverses out, but this time Okada is able to lock him up and set him up for yet another tombstone. He then picks up Naito and hits the Rain Maker, which Naito sells like a million bucks. Okada gets the win.
Post match both guys talk about their effort tonight. Okada is happy with his win and thinking he has proven he should have been at the top of the card and is Naito upset over losing, but determined to not quit on his dream of one day becoming Champion. The match is four star and better than described here, so if you can catch it on a replay on AXS do so.
If you considering yourself a fan of pro wrestling and you want to see something that will make you remember what it is like to sit on the edge of your seat and be engaged in a match then make sure to tune in next week for Nakamura and Tanahashi. There is nothing on this planet that can probably hold a candle to that match.