The Lesson WWE BADLY Needs To Learn From The NJPW G1 Climax

by Michael Sidgwick
Randy Orton Kofi Kingston
WWE.com

Kofi’s SummerSlam match with Randy Orton is more intriguing, but we are essentially through the looking glass. The premise of the feud is based on how badly WWE bungled Kofi’s first singles push. This is the exact opposite of the Gedo approach: WWE has essentially lucked out on a WWE Title programme through happenstance. This informs a not inconsiderable drama, but it’s a deeply fortunate meta byproduct of a broken system.

Nobody knows who is going to win the G1 Climax. WWE’s system is so broken that fans can barely guess who is going to contend a title programme, post-SummerSlam. WWE often talks of “roads”, but there are too many cars on it, stuck in an infinite traffic jam.

WWE badly needs to build talent by identifying which talent the company is actually behind, and implementing measures to protect them. Frame wins as wins, not flukes. Don’t immediately negate those wins with a loss. Don’t conflate winners and losers by entering both into All Star Battle Royals, retconning a five-hour PPV in less than 24.

The G1 Climax is a masterpiece of storytelling. WWE, without characters, can barely tell stories.

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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!