10 Things Japanese Wrestling Does Better Than WWE

Pro wrestling is a unique art form that is interpreted differently across countries and cultures. While it's seen primarily through the veil of 'sports entertainment' in the U.S., it’s very different in Japan. Presented more as a sport that combined multiple martial arts disciplines with a basic storytelling component, puroresu is normally seen as a remnant of what pro wrestling was before Vince McMahon revealed it to be 'scripted' entertainment.

However, not everything in Japan is about fighting spirit, legitimate-looking contests and mutual respect. Due to a combination of cultural differences, industry-wide customs and promotional tactics, the supposedly-reserved Japanese form of pro wrestling does, in fact, possess several quirks that make it actually more insane and outlandish as its more theatrical American counterpart.

This article will present ten traits about the Japanese wrestling industry that showcase not only how puroresu is actually similar to American pro wrestling, but how in some cases, Japan pulls off American wrestling concepts better than the Americans themselves. Not only that, but given the myriad of problems that WWE constantly finds itself in, they should look to Japan for guidance.

Whether it’s something to do with business philosophies, making talent stand out more, or even the kind of action you’ll find in the ring, WWE has, admittedly, copied some things from Japan before. But if they really wanted to be even more successful, they’d copy at least some of these ten things that Japan simply does better than the US and especially WWE.

If you’ve ever watched a long wrestling match, then you’ll know what a ‘rest-hold' is. For those who don’t, it’s a sort of submission hold that allows for the wrestlers to re-charge their batteries before the final climax of the match. It tends to be one of the most boring and inactive moments in a match, and does little-to-nothing in making either wrestler look strong.

This is why Japanese promotions out-do WWE in terms of keeping the fans excited and building drama in a match. In most Japanese promotions, they have their own concept of a rest-hold: the ‘test of will’, a stiff slapping contest that keeps going back-and-forth until one person falls to the ground. 

The slap to the face is usually done to bring out the best out of a wrestler, so whoever wins the contest has the most fighting spirit.

What this does is demonstrate just how much pain both wrestlers can take, and provides an excellent way to keep fans invested in a match after multiple momentum swings. Furthermore, it does wonders to present both wrestlers as equals, even if there might be a difference in size or card positioning between them (because constantly getting slapped in the face as hard as possible hurts anyone and everyone).

This, coupled with the general stiffness of strikes in Japanese wrestling, allows for everyone to be presented as true tough guys and not like 'fake fighters' as some people in America perceive wrestlers to be.