10 False Wrestling Facts You Probably Believe

8. Dave Meltzer Is Biased Against WWE

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WWE

There is an insistence - corroborated by his own data - that Dave Meltzer, if not "biased", certainly prefers New Japan Pro Wrestling to WWE, or believes the former is a vastly superior wrestling product than the latter. No main roster match has reached his ***** rating since 2011, whereas countless NJPW matches have achieved and smashed it in recent years. New Japan is a constellation; WWE's main roster a black hole.

'Main roster' is specified above for a reason, for, taking a deeper dive into the star rating data, Meltzer believes a WWE product is the best on the planet: NXT. The statistical average of NJPW is weighed down by the extreme value that is Toru Yano, or Dave's patter deficiency - strange, given what a deadpan delight the man is on Wrestling Observer Radio.

NXT offers none of the comedy NJPW (nor AEW) does, and TakeOver cards are dominated by sumptuous technical and dramatic wrestling received by hugely enthusiastic crowds. That's what his system primarily rewards. There's a weird sentiment that "NXT doesn't count as WWE", which furthers this false narrative, but the ropes aren't cable, the commentators talk utter convoluted sh*te, and every promo is bang average. It's WWE, all right.

And, where Meltzer mumbled passively about KUSHIDA stealing Cameron Grimes' hat, he excoriated AEW for the infamous December 18 Dark Order angle. He has never gone in two-footed on NXT like he did AEW here. Listen to the audio. It's as vitriolic as anything his colleague Bryan Alvarez once aimed at TNA. Meltzer has a subjective preference, much like we all do as human beings.

And it's actually CMLL, not AEW nor NJPW.

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 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!