10 Reasons You Should Be Watching New Japan Pro Wrestling
Wrestle Kingdom may be over, but that doesn't mean you should move on from New Japan.
Wrestle Kingdom was a month ago and WrestleMania is on the horizon - which means it's the time of year that a lot of Western wrestling fans put New Japan Pro Wrestling in the cupboard for another twelve months.
They'll crack open the door now and then, to peek in and see what's going on, but will generally ignore it to focus on what's happening closer to home.
Well, guess what - you're missing out.
NJPW isn't just for January 4th, people. Japanese wrestling can take a bit of getting used to. But when you get past that cultural barrier, you are presented with a world that is rife with things to explore, whether it be the deadly serious wrestling of The New Beginning or the bonkers crossover with CMLL that is Fantastica Mania - and that's only what we've been already been treated to this year.
Sure, the on-demand service is in Japanese, and there isn't always English commentary, but when you get past that, NJPW is one of the best wrestling companies in the world...
10. The New Japan Dads
Everyone loves a legend, and New Japan is no different.
Some of those stars are instantly recognisable. Jushin Thunder Liger turned up in NXT a couple of years ago, so even new fans will recognise his distinctive mask. Others, like Satoshi Kojima, have spent their entire careers in Japan and built up a legacy without the help of WWE.
What's impressive is that these men are far from a novelty act. Liger, in particular, is in incredible shape. At the age of 52, he can do things in the ring that a man half his age would be proud of. His distinctive look has almost made him immortal, and when he's wrestling, you can almost believe he is.
The New Japan legends are the father figures of the promotion. They are often teamed up with the Young Lions, and their matches are meant to be fun rather than brilliant feats of wrestling.
They might no longer be capable of pulling off five-star classics, but if you sit back and relax, they will still roll back the years and remind you what they once were.