13 Ups & 4 Downs From NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13

Downs...

4. Poor Set Design

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13 set it's very bad isn't it
NJPW

A minor Down, but a Down nonetheless.

Aesthetics matter. When the show looks big and bold, the show feels big and bold. WWE dress their WrestleMania arena with a far grander budget than any other pay-per-view to convey its importance and heighten the spectacle, and NJPW, to their credit, usually do a great job with Wrestle Kingdom in that regard. 2018 saw a giant Tetsuya Naito eye watch over the building, with each of the previous few years conveying a similar sense of grandeur. By comparison, WK13 was lacklustre.

All we got was a slightly-bigger-than-usual screen and the usual wide stage. That's it. No fancy gimmick, no extra mile... nothing.

Though far from a big deal, it's something that needs to be mentioned as there should always be an immediate 'wow' factor when Wrestle Kingdom goes live, and you see that beautiful, beautiful set for the first time. It's a shame the new regime seemingly disagreed this year.

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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.