10 Things WWE Fans Need To Know About KUSHIDA

3. He Can Get Guys Over

Kushida Best In The World
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New Japan re-debuted Hiromu Takahashi in 2017 - a performer who brought (the past tense still stings) a totally absurd level of danger to the Junior Heavyweight division.

Like, totally f*cking absurd: doing very well not to concuss his opponents as a result of his deranged sunset flip powerbomb to the outside spot, the Time Bomb - what an unfortunate but apropos nickname that is, in retrospect - brought new eyes to the scene, even if they were covered by hands in a position of sheer fright.

KUSHIDA gave his body to the cause of putting over his successor. He also readily sacrificed his credibility; in a very rare NJPW squash, at Sakura Genesis 2017, Takahashi almost literally flattened KUSHIDA in under two minutes, and while this was the first chapter in a redemptive long-term arc that culminated in his second Best Of The Super Juniors tournament win, it does not detract from the bravery of both booking and performance.

In the fallout of the angle, Takahashi was made as the new Ace of that division - and KUSHIDA, an expert in-ring storyteller, is very well-positioned to fulfil the same role on Wednesday nights.

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Contributor
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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!