Hello to everyone in the wrestling community!
Currently, this is being written before the G1 Climax finals, please just keep that in mind I reference anything incorrect in who wins 2018’s G1!
This is how I would implement a worldwide New Japan Pro Wrestling expansion (not including America!)
TALENT
Now, I like the Kenny Omega’s, Kazuchika Okada’s and the Naito’s of the world but new talent, being built properly would not hurt anyone.
Broaden the horizons by scouting from all corners of the world! For example, WALTER is taking the indies by storm (as he is the current PWG and Progress Wrestling Heavyweight Champion at the time of writing), WALTER, in my estimation, would be the perfect antagonist to either Okada or a Naito in a major IWGP Heavyweight title feud, with WALTER’s style more suited to a Strong Style audience that Japan holds!
TELEVISION
New Japan suffers from one big problem (in my opinion), there are not enough eyeballs on the product at this current time, there is only one major way to stream NJPW action, on their own streaming service, NJPW World.
One way I would take the next step is search for multiple TV deals to get New Japan into a lot more homes than a streaming service that only the fans that seek it out will know! NJPW on something like Channel 4 in the UK would be ideal as it would put the product into more homes and it gives the opportunity to potentially draw new subscribers to the NJPW World service for pay-per-view events like Wrestle Kingdom and Dominion.
Update: Since this article has been close to finishing, NJPW has now been discussing a possible TV deal in the UK, which is big and exciting new for pro-wrestling fans in the UK!
EVOLVING STRONG STYLE
Pro wrestling fans will all agree (unless they live in the bubble) that New Japan does provide some of the best in-ring bouts that wrestling has ever seen but I have one thing to draw more attention to the product than just in-ring quality. Storylines!
Now, I do not mean that New Japan should become… they who shall not be named but create compelling TV that keeps everyone coming back, not just for the pro-wrestling but for the characters!
As an example of a good story that NJPW have done that proves they have got what it takes, the return of Minoru Suzuki and Suzuki-gun, the way they came in at the New Years Dash 2017, was marvellous
It is one of the only reasons I keep my eye on the product is because of Minoru.. fact!
That’s all for today, I’ll be back on the 20th with my thoughts on the world of pro-wrestling!
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