12 Ups & 5 Downs From NJPW The New Beginning In Osaka 2019

by Andy H Murray

1. New Japan Is Fine

NJPW New Beginning In Osaka Arena
NJPW

While the New Beginning tour didn't yield an abundance of Match of the Year candidates, the overwhelming feeling coming out of this series of shows is that this promotion is going to be absolutely fine, and rumours of a post-Elite demise have been greatly exaggerated.

The two Sapporo shows outdrew last year's offerings, and that's with f*cking Taichi on top. Osaka scored a 5,500 sellout.

Jay White is the best heel in wrestling at the moment. 'Rainmaker' Kazuchika Okada is back, and it won't be long before he's back in a main event spotlight. Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho could yet walk back through the door. Kota Ibushi is sticking around. Tetsuya Naito's coronation as 'The Guy' is still on the horizon. Taiji Ishimori looks set to lead a new-look IWGP Junior Heavyweight division for much of the year. Hiromu Takahashi is coming back. The still-unpinned Shingo Takagi is going to kill it when he turns on Los Ingobernables de Japon. Heavyweight Will Ospreay is a thing. The list goes on.

The Elite will be missed - of course they will - but things are looking mighty exciting in for the 'King Of Sports' right now. Trust Gedo, trust the process, and trust NJPW to endure the challenges of this new wrestling landscape.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.