Ranking What Was Really The Best Wrestling Entrance Every Year 1990-2021

23. 1999 - Atsushi Onita

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In 1999, ahead of an Exploding Barbed Wire Death Match opposite Masahiro Chono, genre pioneer Atsushi Onita took to the New Japan Pro Wrestling stage.

He was a mischievous ultra-cool renegade happier than a pig in sh*t at the thought of sullying the Tokyo Dome with his lurid brand of garbage action. The traditional promotions had little use for him, beyond a solid if unremarkable All Japan run early in his career. He knew it, and it informed this smug masterclass of a performance.

Bombarded with garbage, he refused to sell it. He luxuriated in it, setting up a chair and smoking a cigarette in lol f*ck off defiance.

The absolute epitome of badass.

Authored by Michael Sidgwick

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 current Undisputed WWE 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!

First Posted On: 22nd Apr 2021

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