10 Things WWE Fans Need To Know About KUSHIDA
3. He Can Get Guys Over
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.