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

Credit: NJPW Twitter

Con: The Glass Ceiling

There is no bigger gap in NJPW’s hierarchy than the chasm below the ‘Big 4.’

The promotion’s calendar allows Juniors and Tag Teams their share of the spotlight, but the focus of the product is the Heavyweight division. The G1 gives performers a platform to make their mark, as the likes of Ishii, Goto and EVIL have in recent years. That said, the crucial times of the year are entrusted to the ‘Big 4.’

Wrestle Kingdom 11, Dominion 6.11, and the final three days of the G1 Climax were all closed out by some combination of Okada, Omega, Naito and Tanahashi. In fact, the only main-event at a major show in 2017 that did NOT feature one of the ‘Big 4’ was Destruction in Fukushima, one of the most critically-panned main-events in recent NJPW history.

Supporting a faction lieutenant like EVIL, Ishii or Goto comes with the caveat that while they may get opportunities to take a stab at one of the top four, they’ll never supplant any of them. Goto’s ‘bridesmaid’ status is now a fundamental part of his character that we all must accept.

NJPW’s oligarchy have a stranglehold on their megastar status, and there doesn’t appear to be much room for a fifth wheel. That can be frustrating for both fans and the wrestlers further down the totem pole. It could also make outside talent think twice before signing with New Japan.