Top 5 NJPW Wrestlers that managed to stand out the most for a new-time viewer

#3 Yujiro Kushida

A fan favourite.

My very first thoughts when seeing Kushida come to the ring were, this guy looks like Marty McFly from Back to the Future. Like Okada, he doesn’t really grab your attention until he steps inside the ropes. When he does, it is a truly awe-inspiring experience to watch him wrestle.

More of a high-flyer than a hard hitter, his style is not too dissimilar to the kind of wrestling you get from WWE these days. This is probably what made Kushida stand out for me most. While I was enjoying the novelty of strong style, there was something familiar about the former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion that drew me in.

After watching a few of his matches, you realise he is far from just a high-flyer. He can also go toe to toe with the hard hitters and has an innate ability to draw from the passion of the Japanese fans. They clearly love the guy, and it’s easy to see why.

Could he work in WWE? – Out of all the stars I’ve seen so far, I’m probably most eager to see Kushida come to the WWE. I think he has the in-ring style and connection with fans to be an instant hit on Smackdown or RAW. The average WWE fan wouldn’t have to try too hard to figure out what Kushida is about, as there’s something very ‘Western’ about his abilities in the ring. Let’s hope it happens sooner, rather than later.

Matches to check out: Kushida Vs. Takahashi – Wrestlekingdom 11