10 Most Important Non-WWE Wrestling Moments Of The 2010s
8. New Japan Go Stateside
Since 1972, New Japan Pro-Wrestling (or NJPW for short) has been a force to be reckoned with.
Founded by the legendary Antonio Inoki, New Japan is the second largest wrestling promotion in the world today and has not only produced some of Japan's biggest stars, but also given opportunities to Westerners such as Stan Hansen, Vader, and Kenny Omega.
For the most part, New Japan has remained in Japan, bar the occasional foray abroad in partnership with other companies. However, this all changed in July 2017.
NJPW brought fans the G1 Special in the USA, live in Long Beach California. This was their first ever solo show in the US, bringing over a whole host of talent that American wrestling fans would have previously been forced to fly several thousand miles to see.
Whilst many big Japanese names were at the show, the emphasis was definitely on Western stars. The main events of both nights featured Cody Rhodes challenging for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and then Kenny Omega being crowned the first ever IWGP United States Championship. This show helped pave the way for other New Japan shows in the States, including their huge event in Madison Square Garden over WrestleMania weekend this year.
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