10 Times Wrestlers Busted Out Moves You'd NEVER Expect
4. MJF Busts Out Made In Japan
MJF is the complete professional wrestler, and if this scans as hyperbole, so bet it: he's almost the perfect wrestler.
He is fantastic on the ring, even better on the microphone, and is better than anybody at dangling you on the hook for whatever it is he's doing the next week - which he often teases with a mystery and delivers with an awesome penny drop of a reveal.
In an era of increased fan engagement, with more platforms available than ever before to scrutinise various story beats, his work is as rewarding as the most deep thinkers in the game. In virtually every interview he has conducted this year, he has professed his loathing of New Japan Pro Wrestling. He hates it, or at least his character does.
He thinks they're morons who stiff each other stupid with demented and gratuitous head drops. He makes a point to mention this frequently too. He has one eye on a future Forbidden Door show, yes, but he has also woven this hatred into an awesome story beat; in his first match with CM Punk in Chicago, he felt he had no choice but to bust out Shingo Takagi's Made In Japan to regain the advantage in the most competitive match of his life. Whenever a wrestler breaks their code is awesome; it's the ultimate shock and show of respect to one's opponent.
And, even with no knowledge of this context, it was still very obviously enough of a departure from his usual repertoire to resonate.