10 Reasons To Stick With NJPW After Wrestle Kingdom 12
7. Getting In On The Ground Floor
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.