10 Things New Japan Does Better Than WWE

Consider the greatest WWE rivalries of the past few decades. Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker put on their most amazing performances just as Shawn was leaving the business. Matt Hardy and Edge engaged in a deeply personal war that WWE managed to mould in their favour. But not since The Rock and Stone Cold have we seen two warriors captivate audiences in the most straightforward of situations: who is the top guy in the WWE?

Sure, they like to sell Cena/Orton to us like Randy Orton ever had a shot of usurping the top spot from ‘Big Match John', but their sprawled out, overexposed feud isn’t likely to be talked about in the years to come as landscape-defining. If you’ve ever been even remotely exposed to New Japan in recent years then you will know about Okada, and you will know about Tanahashi.

Their rivalry has dominated the IWGP Heavyweight title picture for the past few years including back-to-back Wrestle Kingdom main events, with the two most popular stars of this recent period battling to claim the moniker of ‘ACE'. It’s a simple, powerful tale of a main event stalwart fiercely struggling to hold onto his spot at the top while a young, hungry challenger does everything to take it from him and prove that he is better. When they are in the same place at the same time it truly feels like Messi and Ronaldo, Ali and Frazier.

WWE haven't managed to rediscover that special 'grab-the-brass-ring' rivalry though they may have been close with the Shield Triple Threat, and that match has already been and gone. At a Battleground no less. Bizarre.