WWE Vs. NJPW: Head To Head

6. Over Stars

Daniel Bryan Kazuchika Okada
NJPW1972.com

Vince McMahon and Gedo are such polar opposites that the dynamic would make for a wacky odd couple sitcom.

With an actual line drawn between each side of the living room, Gedo would keep his side in order, carefully tending to his bookcase and ensuring his plants can grow to their full potential. Vince in contrast would sh*t on the floor, not even in the corner, and laugh hysterically. He would point at it and say “That’s such good sh*t!”

That’s not even all that facetious.

Gedo is not so much a booker as an architect. He builds and builds his talent, protecting them across their arcs through spirited losses and breakthrough wins framed as huge achievements. The G1 Climax tournament is his city—an achievement of world-building. The headline acts are living legends; the absurdly populated midcard division is adjacent to it through Gedo’s philosophy of clean, valiant losses and meaningful wins that affect the narrative.

Vince meanwhile is an overgrown toddler who takes the toy building blocks stacked by Triple H and sends them sprawling across the floor in a fit of temper.

Polar. Opposites.

Gedo says tomato, Vince says “F*ck every thin notion of continuity and let’s rewrite that entire show minutes before we go on air.”

Scorecard: WWE 0-5 NJPW

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 current Undisputed WWE 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!