7 Things WWE Can Learn From NJPW
1. How To Create New Stars
WrestleMania 32 was marketed around four big matches, one of which was the Women's Championship triple threat between Charlotte, Sasha Banks, and Becky Lynch. If we take that out of the equation, four of the six men involved in the other three matches performed at WrestleManias over 10 years ago.
This is not a new trend, and most of the recent WrestleMania events have been dominated by superstars of the past. WWE has seemed reluctant to get behind fresher stars despite having plenty of opportunities to do so along the way, and the product has suffered because of it.
Over the years New Japan has shown a keen awareness that time eventually catches up with all, and has realised the importance of building new stars to take the places of each passing generation. When Hiroshi Tanahashi, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Katsuyori Shibata came up together, they were clearly earmarked for great things and all (Shibata to a lesser degree) delivered. Sure, that can be put down the talent on display there, but they were given time to develop and built up properly in the process.
With Nakamura, Styles, Gallows, and Anderson all leaving at the same time. it is this that gives New Japan fans the most hope for the future. The holes left by these gentlemen are already starting to fill, with Tetsuya Naito finally delivering on his potential and wrestlers such as EVIl, SANADA, Shibata, Tomohiro Ishii, and Kenny Omega in particular stepping up to the plate.
This is perhaps the biggest lesson that WWE can learn from New Japan, and one that will guarantee a bright future for the largest professional wrestling company in the world.