10 Things You Learn Converting From WWE To New Japan Pro Wrestling

10. The Big Shows

Contrary to popular belief, traversing from WWE to NJPW isn't really a minefield of lost translations and misunderstandings, not least because the Far East organisation operates within a similar annual framework. Whilst WWE's 'year' kicks off in earnest the night after WrestleMania, NJPW instead more logically work from 5 January onwards in preparation for a 4 January mega-event at the Tokyo Dome.

Christened Wrestle Kingdom in 2007 as part of NJPW 35th Anniversary celebrations, the inaugural edition of the show took place in 1992 and has long been considered the organisation's equivalent to WrestleMania. Rising attendances at the cavernous Dome over the past several years have reflected the increased quality of the event, with 2018's Wrestle Kingdom 12 almost a perfect storm of fans new and old convening for a blockbuster vying for wrestling fan dollars over WWE's own 'Show Of Shows'.

In league with Wrestle Kingdom is the G1 Climax, a gruelling month-long tournament that's existed in some form since 1974. Since 2012, its winner has earned a Wrestle Kingdom title shot that often becomes itself a storyline crux between July/August and the following January.

Sandwiched between these events are New Beginning, Power Struggle, King Of Pro Wrestling and Dominion - the latter of which housed the Kenny Omega/Kazuchika Okada sequel in 2017 that earned Dave Meltzer's highest ever rating. Far from just SummerSlam/Survivor Series supplementals, the supercards ordinarily have similar show-stealing potential.