This Week in Wrestling 2024 Week 23

Brian Damage

It’s Saturday and today we have ’This Week in Wrestling’, the 23rd of 2024. Today Brian talks about the recent struggles of New Japan Pro Wrestling and shares all the best wrestling content from this week. (WARNING!!! Some NSFW content inside) I REPEAT…NSFW Content!

New Beginnings for New Japan

One of my favorite promotions the last few years has been New Japan Pro Wrestling. An organization that doesn’t rely on storytelling outside the ring, but rather in it with their matchups. A formula that definitely works for them and a formula that AEW is trying to emulate themselves. As much as I have loved watching New Japan all these years, I have to admit that the promotion just hasn’t been the same for a bit.

There is plenty of talent that is still there, but losing superstars like Kazuchika Okada, Will Ospreay, ‘The Guerillas Of Destiny’ in Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa have seriously hurt them. Add to that, the value of Yen has been suffering in the nation of Japan and it is very visible that New Japan is not what it once was. Sure, they have a strong relationship with All Elite Wrestling and the exchanging of talent has helped them to a certain degree. After all, Jon Moxley is the current IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. New Japan recently went on record as saying that their partnership with AEW is stronger than it has ever been.

That is all fine and well, but I can’t help but feel that New Japan has become somewhat of a feeder territory for AEW recently. While that is great for AEW, New Japan has been suffering because of it. Regardless, New Japan has been able to create new stars over the years. They have a great training facility and their Young Lions program has proven to be effective. I am not overly concerned that New Japan cannot make new stars of the future, there are other aspects that do need to be addressed by new NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi.

First off, there is in my opinion way too many titles in the company. They really should get rid of a few or at least merge some to one championship. I think one of New Japan’s biggest mistakes was getting rid of the IWGP Intercontinental championship. A title that was made prestigious by one of its greatest holders Shinsuke Nakamura. There are about 11 active titles in the company currently. They can do away with the King of Pro Wrestling championship, the Six Man titles and perhaps the ugly Television title. I never understood what the Never Openweight title was about, but seems pretty meaningless compared to others. They got rid of the United States title and create the Global title…meh.

Secondly, the Bullet Club has by far been the most successful faction in New Japan history. Between the talent that they had in it, to the way they were meticulously booked. Since Jay White left the group and joined AEW, the faction has been seriously lagging with David Finlay as its leader. It may be time to disband the group or introduce a new leader. Nothing against Finlay per se, but he is no Prince Devitt, AJ Styles, Kenny Omega or Jay White.

Lastly, their streaming service New Japan World isn’t the best service around. It isn’t always user friendly and needs some upgrades to it. All of these things should be addressed by President Tanahashi. I am confident that this man is the savior for the company. It was Tanahashi who burst onto the wrestling scene and became the “Ace” of the company helping to rebuild it so many years ago. Now, as an executive, I think Tanahashi can do it again. It will be an uphill battle, but New Japan can once again become a dominant organization.

Photo Gallery

The Monster Abyss artwork

A Nation of Domination Reunion

Macho Ink

Recent pic of Madusa Miceli

RTC got to Mia Yim first

JK 😉

Skye Blue

Samantha Irvin

Gigi Dolin

Liv Morgan

NXT’s Dani Palmer

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Video Gallery

Not gonna lie, this WCW playset from 1999 looked pretty cool!

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NSFW Viewer Discretion is Strongly Advised.

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Velvet Sky

Jenni

Lacey Evans

Mandy Rose

The Dynamite Doll (Dynamite Kid’s Daughter)

CJ Perry

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Safety!!!

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