An Invisible Glass Ceiling
Upper card gatekeepers are some of the most unappreciated workers in the now, but immensely beloved in retrospect. Take, for example, the greatest world champion that never was; Rowdy Roddy Piper.
In his heyday, Piper was the huge heel but never really climbed the mountaintop. Back then he gained appreciation but not the kind he has now. That type of wrestler is part of every company.
The greatest of them being none other than Tomohiro Ishii. Ishii (including Hirooki Goto and at one point Katsuyori Shibata as well) is a performer who is brilliant any given day, he is the king of the underrated. Set to challenge Omega for the IWGP World Championship, Ishii is going to give it his all but fall short.
Even then, he's hovering just above the main event. Ishii can put anyone undeserving back in their place and elevate those that will be the future of New Japan.