10 Reasons To Stick With NJPW After Wrestle Kingdom 12
Get into NJPW in 2018; you won't regret it.
New Japan Pro Wrestling's Wrestle Kingdom 12 was a resounding success not only in terms of match quality, but also for attracting countless new eyes to the product.
Social media was abuzz throughout the show. The pay-per-view topped Twitter's worldwide trend chart long after it had concluded, and with the company's English-speaking fanbase seemingly larger, louder and more engaged than ever before, the decision to market the event around Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho's stunning No DQ match should be considered a success.
As NJPW's answer to WrestleMania, Wrestle Kingdom always draws more attention than any other event. This is understandable, given its unmatched size and spectacle, but New Japan's burgeoning reputation wasn't built on WK's success alone. The reasons behind the company's recent surge are legion, and the product's outstanding quality deserves all the attention in the world.
New fans who stick around following WK12 shall be rewarded handsomely. It was a great night of action - one that any company will do well to better in 2018 - but NJPW's world-class roster are going to deliver many before the year's end, solidifying their position as THE alternative to WWE's flawed modern output...
10. It Has Never Been So Accessible
NJPW's perceived lack of accessibility is regularly held up as a barrier to entry, but while this was certainly a valid argument a couple of years ago, it no longer applies.
Watching the sport's hottest promotion has never been so easy. Their streaming service, NJPW World, comes with a straightforward sign-up process, and at approximately $8.82/£6.52 a month, it's cheaper than the WWE Network. The English language integration isn't perfect, but it's coherent enough to allow easy navigation of the site.
Worried about Japanese commentary? No problem, the underrated Kevin Kelly/Don Callis team now call every major event, and both know what they're talking about.
The promotion launched a full English website last year, hosting everything you need to know about upcoming shows, past events, and all the latest headlines. It came to life at the start of NJPW's American expansion in summer 2017, and fast became an invaluable resource.
If you're a US viewer, AXS TV produce a regular show featuring all the biggest New Japan matches, though they're usually a couple of weeks behind. Still, they're set to broadcast each of Wrestle Kingdom 12's most important bouts over the next few weeks, starting on January 6th.