8 Ups & 6 Downs From NJPW King Of Pro-Wrestling 2019

7. Every Cloud

Lance archer
NJPW

For New Japan Pro Wrestling, the silvering lining to Jon Moxley not making KOPW was a leaner lineup with fewer multi-person tags, more standard two-on-twos, and a fresher IWGP United States Championship match pitting Lance Archer against Juice Robinson.

Robinson/Moxley III would've banged but we've seen it twice already. Yes. it was a rubber match, but we've never seen Juice go one-on-one with the surging Archer. Even if the original booking may have resulted in a better bout, Archer/Robinson was different (on paper). It's impossible to be made at NJPW for how they handled this - credit to them for making the most out of a bad situation.

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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.