10 Reasons Why WWE Fans Should Be Watching New Japan Pro Wrestling

10. The Atmosphere

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1XxgRB8R3c Japanese wrestling is seen as more serious than mainstream U.S.-based wrestling, and that€™s not an inaccurate statement €“ but it also doesn€™t mean that it€™s completely without pomp and ceremony. It was Japanese fans, after all, who invented the practice of throwing streamers at wrestlers during their introductions to show respect and appreciation. Entrances are often elaborate and fantastical, like this one from February, in which Kazuchika Okada made his way to the ring alongside a dinosaur. Everything has a time and place, and that certainly beats spending 20 minutes of Raw exploring an under-the-ring society of little people. The fans are also different in Japan. There€™s nothing wrong with western wrestling fans €“ at a lot of WWE shows, they€™re the most entertaining part of the proceedings. The difference is, Japanese fans are used to wrestling being treated as a sport, and they react as such. Typically, babyfaces are cheered and heels are booed, but respectfully, and chants are more earnest than ironic, done out of support for favorites rather than the desire to entertain oneself. It€™s not better or worse than in WWE, just an interesting contrast worth exploring.