10 Reasons To Get Into NJPW In 2019

3. Junior Schooled

New Japan Pro Wrestling
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Will Ospreay's Wrestle Kingdom clash with Kota Ibushi is for more than just the Never Openweight Title currently adorned by 'The Golden Star' - it's about stealing the show. Both are capable, and 'The Aerial Assassin' knows full well what he has in him to give every single time he wrestlers.

A victory there too will permanently propel him out of the occasionally-beleaguered Juniors field and into a heavyweight division that may not yet be ready for what he brings. An exhibition scuffle with CHAOS gaffer Kazuchika Okada shortly before 'The Rainmaker' lost the IWGP Heavyweight title was one of his best matches this year, perhaps only topped by two tagged classics alongside Tomohiro Ishii in September and Hiroshi Tanahashi in December against The Golden Lovers.

'The Aerial Assassin' may yet wish to remain a conqueror amongst the existing field of awaiting fliers, but a world beyond that now finally appears to be his oyster. Kenny Omega's leap into the league was seamless enough, particularly when his jaw-dropping matches reimagined main events in his image. Ospreay - should he wish, and should he stay injury-free - could be the next to change the game.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation over 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. Within the podcasting space, he also co-hosts Benno & Hamflett, In Your House! and Podcast Horseman: The BoJack Horseman Podcast. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, Fightful, POST Wrestling, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett