16 Ups & 9 Downs For NJPW In 2018

4. The Use Of Chris Jericho

Chris Jericho Intercontinental
www.njpw1972.com

Consider the way WWE have booked Brock Lesnar over the past year. The Daniel Bryan match was great, but 'The Beast Incarnate' has become main event poison. His Universal Title reigns have derailed what should be Raw's top prize, and while Lesnar can still be an awesome performer when the mood takes him, his presentation as the only top guy in WWE continues to drive fans away from him.

Now contrast with Chris Jericho, who makes even less appearances for NJPW than Lesnar does with WWE, and has only put the IWGP Intercontinental Title on the line once since winning it just under 200 days ago, yet still feels like a complementary presence.

This is testament to the sterling job NJPW have done with 'Y2J.' He's holding the secondary belt, not the top prize, and it not being on every pay-per-view has allowed others to step into singles opportunities. Everything he does gets over, too. The Kenny Omega match was outstanding, as was the Tetsuya Naito beatdown at Dominion, and while the EVIL title defence wasn't on the same level, it still ruled. The promos are as biting as they've ever been. The character is tremendous. The facepaint? Admitedly, we could probably do without that.

Jericho will likely drop the Intercontinental strap at Wrestle Kingdom, but his New Japan run has put him back on the map as a relevant, top-level pro-wrestler, and he still has plenty to offer in 2019.

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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.