5 Most Insane Things Happening In Wrestling Right Now (July 13)

4. A Work, A Shoot, Or A Rib?

Brock Lesnar Cash
NJPW1972.com

Hiromu Takahashi's injury was far from the only talking point generated by New Japan's umpteenth awesome show of 2018.

In what was a spellbinding, ultra-authentic fight, Juice Robinson captured the United States Championship from Jay White, the main narrative of which centred around the elevation of both men. Juice triumphed in a finish of pure catharsis, adding a gritty and credible badass layer to his plucky underdog bit. Jay White meanwhile finally projected himself as a dangerous and despicable heel. It was superb storytelling adorned with inventive variations on the classic wrestling brawl, the most grimacing of which saw Juice throw Jay to the ringside mats with a Russian Leg Sweep off the apron.

The subplot, however, saw Jim Ross take an unintended bump. "They need to get theit sh*t together," he raged.

If it was a work, and it's wrestling, so best not rule it out completely, the commitment to it was immense. White and Robinson hurled each other into several ringside barricades, none of which were fixed in place. Wouldn't it have been conspicuous, if only the guardrail protecting Ross and Josh Barnett was?

After White sent Robinson careening into said guardrail, the momentum sent Ross flying backwards out of his chair, legs akimbo, in a blackly hilarious visual. Ross hasn't been floored like that since Kaitlyn last tweeted a gym pic. The very real rib injury suffered by Ross, however, brought on waves of guilt in the aftermath.

Adding to that authenticity, or the simulation, an apoplectic Barnett stormed the ring to confront White. Unlike Barnett, who used the opportunity to get himself over, we extend our best wishes to JR for a speedy recovery. After an injury like that, any criticism of his poorly-researched and distant commentary work seems pedantic.

Still, in this heavily choreographed modern era, a bit of chaos - a bit of genuine insanity - was some palette-cleanser, one that elevated the match in parallel with its breakthrough performers.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!