The Disturbing Truth Behind New Japan Pro Wrestling

by Michael Sidgwick
Takahashi Ospreay
NJPW1972.com

You might be part of the FDM crowd.

Without opening up an entirely separate debate, Dave Meltzer commands respect from all arms of the industry. Both Will Ospreay and Dustin Rhodes, as different as two wrestlers can get, both rexpressed appreciation on Twitter to Dave after he awarded them with ***** match ratings. He is a respected man of influence, and although danger is the one, dubious constant in his highest-rated matches, it is not his responsibility to curb this death march. He is complicit—as are the fans—but he’s not guilty. It is the responsibility of New Japan management. They hold the authority, and they should know better. They are aware of the grimmest lesson in puroresu history, and New Japan is more stylistically diverse than All Japan ever was. This is all so unnecessary.

That Ibushi suffered this bump so close to the 20th anniversary of Misawa’s death felt like the interference of benevolent fate. And yet, Ibushi won’t listen. He won’t listen, even though the retired Katsuyori Shibata returned to the company in a non-wrestling capacity on the same show. Hiromu Takahashi has recovered from a broken neck, and is set to return to the ring imminently, tempting the risk/reward balance once more. These men have the devil in them. It is long past time the company acted as the angel on their shoulders.

The Disturbing Truth behind New Japan Pro Wrestling is that somebody is going to die in that ring.

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!