10 Things You Learn Converting From WWE To New Japan Pro Wrestling
8. All Your Favourites
A perk of watching New Japan Pro Wrestling today is the option of catching the NXT/WWE's stars of tomorrow unburdened by the pressure of Vince McMahon's production line.
Since Triple H took control of the company's developmental reigns in 2011, the net of talent acquisition has been flung open wider than ever before to allow proven stars an opportunity to shine on their alleged 'grandest stage'. The initial buzz behind NOAH's Hideo 'KENTA' Itami arriving in 2014 unfortunately fizzled, but the NJPW imports have been substantially more successful.
Finn Bálor, AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura and Karl Anderson were all main event mainstays in New Japan before surprisingly signing with the company, whilst Luke Gallows' Far East sojourn resulted in a return to the company alongside his 'Club' compadres with only semi-joking assertions about Vince McMahon's realisation that he'd already had multiple stints in the organisation.
The game works the other way too - Juice 'CJ Parker' Robinson was a standout success story of 2017's G1 Climax, whilst Cody Rhodes continues a career reinvention as a Bullet Club sh*t-stirrer soon set to tangle with Kenny Omega.