10 Wrestling Moments That Couldn't Live Up To The Hype
3. The 2020 New Japan Cup
New Japan's return from global b*stard cancellations in mid-2020 came with a wave of huge positivity from a fanbase that had anointed them the true babyface wrestling promotion in an era where that sort of thing matters a great deal.
WWE and AEW followed their network paymasters (or simply didn't really want to stop, or both) and found all the ways to run shows that have since become familiar. NJPW waited for national safety warnings to lessen, with a selection of empty arena shows building to a blockbuster weekend of New Japan Cup action that was to be the first mainstream wrestling of any significance to feature fans since everybody was hoofed earlier in the year.
Tragically, rules and regulations scuppered the atmosphere before audacious booking soured the rest of the experience. The few fans in attendance were allowed to clap but not cheer, creating a strange hum of nothing in particular as career midcarder EVIL shockingly turned on Los Ingobernables de Japon and joined Bullet Club, earning a shot at former leader and dual IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Champion Tetsuya Naito the next night. Which he then won.
It was a lot to take over the course of one return weekend, drawing lots of buzz but very little of it good. The company has marched onwards, but this current version of the company may serve to create alienation rather than adoration during unprecedented times.