4 Ups & 4 Downs From NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 (Night 1)
Downs...
4. Lost Majesty
To be clear, Wrestle Kingdom 15's flat atmosphere isn't NJPW's fault. The promotion's only questionable contribution towards it was continuing with the two-night format despite the ongoing global health crisis, though this can be countered with the lost revenue argument that comes with combining - particularly compelling, given the circumstances.
NJPW abided by guidelines. They limited the attendance and maintained their no shouts/chants/cheers policy, as vocalisation increases transmissibility. This isn't on them.
Still, WK15 didn't feel like Wrestle Kingdom. The big, cavernous building made the issues with NJPW's clap crowds even starker, rendering an event that should be big, bombastic, and spectacular mundane at points. Countless spots and moments that would have drawn huge, building-shaking reactions were diminished. Kota Ibushi's big win played out to ripples of polite applause.
This hurt almost everything on the show. It won't be harped on beyond this entry, though its clear negative impact can't be ignored when assessing WK15's quality.