8 Big Concerns Raised By WWE's Injury Crisis
3. Nowhere To Hide
While it'd be ridiculous to hold Japan's notoriously stiff wrestling style as a bastion of safety (Mitsuharu Misawa literally wrestled himself to death in 2009; Katsuyori Shibata came within a hair of doing the same eight years later), WWE could learn much from the way puroresu promotions structure their cards, particularly when it comes to match composition.
The average NJPW card comprises largely of multi-man tags. Though not as exciting as blockbuster singles bouts, they're a great way of protecting from wear and tear. Part of the reason Hiroshi Tanahashi remains such a thrilling performer at 41 years old is because he's able to hide in such contests during PPV builds, only tagging in to pop the crowd. Every NJPW singles star does the same, because it helps them preserve their bodies for bigger matches, ensuring they're ready to go all-out come pay-per-view time.
In contract, the average Raw, SmackDown, or house show is comprised largely of singles and regular tags. Performers are in the ring for longer, meaning their chances of getting hurt are far higher. Booking more multi-mans would be a tremendous way of alleviating the strain, and while we don't want to see WWE undercards become a crowded mush, protecting the wrestlers must take precedent.