10 Reasons Why New Japan Pro Wrestling Had A Great 2016
9. Partnerships With Ring Of Honor And CMLL
Since 2011, New Japan has been partnering with Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) to produce Fantastica Mania, which is a tour of Japan for the CMLL luchadors. This showcases two incredibly different styles, when the Japanese tend to lean on strong style and the luchadors work their Lucha Libre style. It also produces really different matchups with main event stars like Nakamura and Okada teaming up with technicos like Mistico and Volador Jr,.
Along with the Fantastica Mania tour, NJPW continued a relationship with Ring of Honor that gave American fans without NJPW World the opportunity to see Okada, Naito, and Bullet Club on American TV. Wrestlers like Michael Elgin and Jay Lethal have been able to be inserted into the IWGP Intercontinental Title picture, including Elgin holding the title for three months over the summer. The Briscoes also held the IWGP Tag Titles and were the first NEVER Openweight Six-Man Champions with Yano.
The cross-promotion gave dream matchups and a change of pace to the programming that New Japan offers. Mixing three styles of wrestling together over the course of an entire year means that there is less to get bored about as a wrestling fan. It also gives those who are fortunate enough to work with NJPW the ability to gain a new fanbase and travel a country they may have not gotten the opportunity to otherwise.