10 Wrestlers WWE Could Poach From NJPW Next

4. Tetsuya Naito

tetsuya naito
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As we've mentioned, a lot can change within a year - among them, Naito’s chance of an NXT call-up. Naito is one of the best technicians to emerge from the incredibly fruitful Japanese scene in recent years, but until recently, he has never really shown the personality to match his awe-inspiring high-octane in-ring game.

Often blank of expression - in stark contrast to the raw charisma emanating from a re-tooled Shinsuke Nakamura - fans rejected his would-be ascent to the throne in 2013/14. In a rare error of judgement, NJPW bookers Gedo and Jado thought they could pick up Naito's push where they left it before his lengthy lay-off with an ACL injury.

They implemented a damage limitation exercise in allowing fans to vote for the main event of Wrestle Kingdom VIII, and Naito was a casualty of democracy: demoted to the semi-final slot, Naito would have to wait his turn. This relegation actually worked out well for his long-term prospects.

As is so often the case, he engineered his rise to what initially looks to be lasting prominence by turning heel, discovering hitherto-unseen personality in the process; as leader of the Los Ingobernables faction, Naito has lit up the main event scene, ably filling in for the departed Nakamura. One suspects that his NJPW career is only just lifting off.

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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!