10 Things You Learn Converting From WWE To New Japan Pro Wrestling

6. There's Juice Loose Aboot This Hoose

Kazuchika Okada Dinosaur1
NJPW1972.com

New Japan Pro Wrestling is f*cking great but a list of ten reasons why without highlighting a fairly obvious criticism wouldn't be in the spirit of those attempting to enter into a new relationship with the coolest promotion on the planet.

In 1994, Vince McMahon was found not guilty of various charges relating to the use and distribution of steroids amongst his employe...private contractors during the 1980s and early 1990s. In 2006 he was forced to implement (and later tighten) a stringent Wellness Policy after the ex-wrestler mortality rate rivalled US Prison Death Row figures. That he gambled twice on his personal freedom and financial future highlighted how much he valued the superhuman looks of his performers, and NJPW get equally gooey for vascularity.

Though the company has a much broader palette of physiques in general, the bigger guys are big f*cking guys. Wrestling is now now so topsy-turvy that there's more chance of seeing a ripped and chiselled specimen in Japan than in a product promoted by Vince McMahon. At least Triple H would presumably have a far easier time selling his father-in-law on hiring Katsuya Kitamura than he did Shinsuke Nakamura or Finn Bálor.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett