9 Things We Learned From NJPW Dominion 6.19

2. Michael Elgin Was Made For Japan

NJPW Dominion
njpwworld.com

Just a couple of years ago, Michael Elgin's professional wrestling career was at a serious crossroads. He had fallen out of favour with Ring of Honor, and seemed set to quit the sport altogether to pursue a career in baseball. When Elgin was announced for last year's G1 Climax the news wasn't exactly met with excitement by the wrestling world, who were subsequently shocked when Elgin put in a serious of performances that legitimately resurrected his career.

Six months later Elgin was signed to a two-year deal with NJPW, and at Dominion he challenged Kenny Omega for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship in a ladder match, a true rarity for the company. Elgin was a replacement for Hiroshi Tanahashi, and the two Canadians proceeded to put on a show that the Osaka crowd lapped up.

Elgin won the match to become the new champion, and it is clear to all that he was simply made to compete in Japan. The Japanese crowds are frequently enthralled by his insane feats of strength, and they have taken to him unlike any other gaijin in recent memory. Elgin's career has restarted as a result, and he'll surely be a top player in Japan for years to come.

Contributor
Contributor

Born in the middle of Wales in the middle of the 1980's, John can't quite remember when he started watching wrestling but he has a terrible feeling that Dino Bravo was involved. Now living in Prague, John spends most of his time trying to work out how Tomohiro Ishii still stands upright. His favourite wrestler of all time is Dean Malenko, but really it is Repo Man. He is the author of 'An Illustrated History of Slavic Misery', the best book about the Slavic people that you haven't yet read. You can get that and others from www.poshlostbooks.com.