10 Wrestlers WWE Could Poach From NJPW Next

9. Kazuchika Okada

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NJPW

If Tanahashi can lay claim to being the world's number 1, Okada is its A. In being the Kenta Kobashi to Tanahashi's Mitsuharu Misawa, the Ricky Steamboat to his Ric Flair, Okada has helped propel early 2010's NJPW to the G.O.A.T stratosphere occupied by mid-90's All Japan Pro Wrestling and late-80's WCW under the NWA umbrella.

Following his five-star Tokyo Dome triumph over Tanahashi at this year's awesome Wrestle Kingdom event, there is no separating them in neither kayfabe nor reality, especially since, after temporarily ceding the IWGP heavyweight crown to Tetsuya Naito earlier this year, Okada has made a similar transition from king to king-maker.

Owner of the best dropkick in wrestling - the height he manages is unbelievable for a man of his rangy proportions - Okada can do it all, and has a tremendous arsenal, which is just as well, given that he would have to drop the Tombstone piledriver from his act.

He is also downright cooler than Tanahashi; his 'Rainmaker' persona, tailor-made for an extravagant WrestleMania entrance, is far more suited to western audiences than Tanahashi's heavy metal star routine. The ball would be in his court. NJPW have thrown all of their weight behind him, and he will be aware through Katsuyori Shibata's plight of the loyalty they demand from their top stars.

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Contributor
Contributor

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!