10 Reasons To Stick With NJPW After Wrestle Kingdom 12

7. Getting In On The Ground Floor

Kazuchika Okada
twitter.com/njpw1972

As a wrestling fan, one of the most rewarding things in the world is getting to know a wrestler early in their career, then following their progress, development, and growth en route to their greatest successes (or grandest failures). This was a huge part of NXT's appeal a few years ago, when the brand was populated primarily by ground-up WWE prospects rather than respected indie veterans. Part of the reason Bayley became so popular was because fans had followed her arduous trek to the top, joining her on every twist and turn, resulting in a huge, emotional outpour when she finally captured the Women's Title.

NJPW's Young Lions bring a similar appeal, and the current class is stellar.

Big, brawny, and brimming with charisma, Katusya Kitamura is NJPW's Braun Strowman. 20-year-old Hirai Kawato has already mastered the arts of underdog selling and babyface fire. Shota Umino carries himself like a star, Henare is a straight up beast, and Tomoyuki Oka looks set to follow in the footsteps of his legendary mentor, Yuji Nagata.

Though far from the finished article, these are the guys who'll be headlining NJPW shows five years from now. Following their progress is already bags of fun, and if you get in on the ground floor, you'll be rewarded later down the line.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.