Pros and Cons of NJPW’s ‘Big 4’ Wrestlers

Credit: 411Mania.com

Con: The Call of WWE

NJPW are no strangers to this ‘Big 4’ structure.

While they’re now riding the rollercoaster of WWE booking, Shinsuke Nakamura and AJ Styles occupied two of the top four spots in NJPW less than two years ago. Wrestle Kingdom 10 culminated with a ‘Big 4’ double main-event that drew more global attention than any NJPW event in recent memory.

However, their bubble soon burst, as both Styles and Nakamura were scheduled to leave the company soon afterwards. Skeptics proclaimed NJPW’s doomsday, as losing two of their four pillars would surely reduce the promotion to rubble. As it happens, New Japan were well-prepared, and just a little bit lucky.

Tetsuya Naito’s character was starting to make waves, and NJPW acted quickly in establishing him as a new cornerstone. In the space of a month, Naito won the New Japan Cup, the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, and added a new member to his crew. 

Where the company got lucky was with Kenny Omega not only living up to his predecessor Styles, but actually exceeding his mark on the company. NJPW wisely had Omega become the first foreigner to win the G1 Climax, and soon the four-pillar structure was restored.

That said, WWE will always have money, opportunity, and the platform of WrestleMania. They will always be lurking. Omega looked to be on his way out at the start of the year, but Nakamura has paved the way for Okada, Naito, perhaps even Tanahashi to make the leap to the States. Should that happen, we best hope NJPW are as well-prepared, and as lucky, with their talent replacement as they were last time.