13 Ups & 4 Downs From NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13

2. This SHOULD Have Been Outstanding...

KUSHIDA Taiji Ishimori
NJPW

KUSHIDA vs. Taiji Ishimori was a goodmatch. They worked hard, did well with their runtime, and built a great layout to establish 'Bone Soldier' as the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight kingpin. The problem is that they needed to have more than a mere good match in this spot, not only because their's was one of the night's most anticipated bouts from a workrate standpoint, but also to give Ishimori an ideal springboard after months of mediocrity within the division

Note that said mediocrity is nobody's fault, as NJPW couldn't have accounted for Hiromu Takahashi's horrific injury. They were dealt an awful hand and decided to go back to a safe, steady presence in KUSHIDA. Nobody can criticise them for that. It is by circumstance that Q4 2018 was so ungratifying for the lighter weight class, but regardless, why wouldn't the bookers give these guys 20-25 minutes and the edict to go out there and try to steal the show not only to put the past in the rearview, but also drive Taiji forward on the back of an incredible spectacle?

'KUSHIDA is going to WWE' is the likeliest answer. That'd explain a lot, but even then, this is a guy who's been considered New Japan's Junior Heavyweight ace for almost half a decade. If this is 'goodbye,' he deserved a grander exit.

We can't help but feel let down by this 11-minuter that concluded just when it looked like the performers were about to hit third gear.

Advertisement
Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. 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.