{"id":113156,"date":"2021-02-10T15:59:14","date_gmt":"2021-02-10T21:59:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=113156"},"modified":"2021-02-10T16:00:59","modified_gmt":"2021-02-10T22:00:59","slug":"fann-which-njpw-wrestlers-you-should-be-most-excited-about-possibly-wrestling-in-aew-with-embedded-select-promos-and-matches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2021\/02\/10\/fann-which-njpw-wrestlers-you-should-be-most-excited-about-possibly-wrestling-in-aew-with-embedded-select-promos-and-matches\/","title":{"rendered":"FANN: Which NJPW wrestlers you should be most excited about possibly wrestling in AEW, with embedded select promos and matches"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-2854305853\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><p>With last week&#8217;s episode of AEW Dynamite ending with the appearance of New Japan\u2019s Kenta, and Tony Khan\u2019s announcement that the Bullet Club member will team with Kenny Omega to face Lance Archer &amp; Jon Moxley, the wrestling world is abuzz with the possibility of the &#8220;forbidden door&#8221; being opened.<\/p>\n<p>Whether it\u2019s AAA, Impact Wrestling, the NWA, ChocoPro, Tokyo Joshi Pro, or now apparently New Japan Pro Wrestling, Khan has adhered to his \u201call options on the table\u201d mantra even during a pandemic. Given these recent developments, I wanted to point out a few New Japan wrestlers who fit, should COVID travel restrictions allow. I have also included for the uninitiated a few matches you can watch that sell you on why I think these wrestlers would be a great ambassador of New Japan to an AEW\/American audience.<\/p>\n<p>(You\u2019ll note that Kazuchika Okada isn\u2019t on this list, as he\u2019s in a class by himself and I\u2019ll go into detail on him should the &#8220;forbidden door&#8221; allow in time.)<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2022KENTA (Bullet Club):<\/strong> Obviously, let\u2019s start with the impetus behind this article. Kenta has been on a bit of a career renaissance upon returning to Japan after an injury-riddled stint in NXT. The former NOAH stalwart has carved a place for himself not only as a New Japan regular, but in the heel stable Bullet Club as their American representative on New Japan Strong, New Japan\u2019s weekly show based in the United States.<\/p>\n<p>Kenta\u2019s style and current feud with Jon Moxley is fueled by Kenta\u2019s acquisition of the briefcase he currently holds which, like the G-1 winner\u2019s case, allows him to challenge for the title of his choice, which is the IWGP U.S. Championship. That is the title Moxley currently holds.<\/p>\n<p>Kenta\u2019s viciousness in the ring, coupled with his ability to read you for filth (see <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AEW\/status\/1357176188364607488\">this promo from last week post-AEW Dynamite<\/a>) will be a marked difference from the Hideo Hitami viewers may have known in NXT. In terms of a match, I\u2019m going to skip Kenta because you\u2019ll see him next week; I will, however, point to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=kNzsNN5lLKo&amp;ab_channel=NEWJAPANPRO-WRESTLING\">this outstanding promo<\/a> he cut last November on how important this run has been for his confidence.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"All&#039;s well that ends well for KENTA! |Power Struggle\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/kNzsNN5lLKo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2022SANADA (LIJ):<\/strong> If you\u2019ve listened to &#8220;The Deep Dive&#8221; podcast I host or heard me on any of the PWTorch podcasts involving New Japan, you knew this was coming. My dear beautiful adopted son Sanada may be familiar to those who remember his time in Impact, but since then he has joined one of the most popular stables in New Japan, Los Ingobernables de Jap\u00f3n. Sanada\u2019s moveset and flair would be great in an AEW feud with a number of wrestlers on their roster, but apparently The Dark Order has called dibs, based on a recent Tweet from Evil Uno.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"es\" dir=\"ltr\">Give us Los Ingobernables de Japon<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; EVIL UNO of DARK ORDER (@EvilUno) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/EvilUno\/status\/1357165457795665924?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 4, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>For his match, I\u2019m going to point to a great program that was done during the start of quarantine &#8211; \u201cNew Japan at Home\u201d &#8211; where Sanada described his favorite match and finish, which also features Okada &#8211; so you can consider this a backdoor Okada preview as well.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-3655939766\" class=\"pwtor-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"My Best Finish:SANADA\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0v-CrnxcCfs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2022Guerillas of Destiny (&#8220;G.O.D.&#8221; \/ Bullet Club):<\/strong> This would be a great get for several reasons. First, G.O.D. &#8211; Tama Tonga &amp; Tonga Loa are some of the OGs of The Bullet Club and have had issues with the Young Bucks, Kenny Omega and The Good Brothers using the Bullet Club name outside of New Japan. The pair are brothers and brawlers and would be vicious in their path of vengeance &#8211; and to prove that they are the authentic Bullet Club, particularly as the record setting seven-time and reigning, defending IWGP Tag Team Champions. Additionally, they\u2019re the sons of Haku which selfishly means for me at some point Haku might show up for a six-man match and smash some dudes. For their selected match, the &#8220;New Beginning in Atlanta&#8221; show is a great match to watch them work against a solid New Japan team of FinJuice (David Finlay &amp; Juice Robinson).<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"FREE MATCH FinJuice vs GoD The New Beginning in Atlanta 2020\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/N7PMKvzwIsQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2022Minoru Suzuki (Suzuki-gun):<\/strong> The leader of Suzuki-gun and one of the toughest wrestlers trained by the \u201cgod of pro wrestling\u201d Karl Gotch. Suzuki can brawl, he can stretch you, or he can go knockout shot for shot with you in the center of the ring. Moxley and Suzuki would have a great chemistry as they had in New Japan, and Lance Archer could have a chance to either team with his old senpai in Suzuki-gun or face off against him in single combat. I could point to a ton of Suzuki matches, including him vs. Mecha Mummy, but I want to give a little credit to the OG Gotch and show footage of Suzuki training in Gotch\u2019s yard in Florida back in the day.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/catchwrestling\/status\/955437194285547520?lang=en<\/p>\n<p>Who am I fooling? I\u2019m not getting out of here without dropping Suzuki goodness. Watch Minoru and Tim Thatcher scrap in a free OTT match here.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\ud83d\udea8Free Match\ud83d\udea8 Tim Thatcher Vs Minoru Suzuki\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qRQajztJQ5Q?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Hopefully this has helped anyone whose Twitter timeline was filled with excitement and had no clue why so many people were tuned up for the dude with purple hair showing up at the end of Dynamite. Enjoy, because tonight you get to see him in the ring on Dynamite.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>RECOMMENDED:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2021\/01\/20\/fanns-take-one-fanns-opinion-castle-attack-could-be-ibuushis-chance-to-who-bridges-the-absurd-and-the-athletic-as-only-he-can\/\">FANN\u2019S TAKE: One Fan(n)\u2019s Opinion \u2013 \u201cCastle Attack\u201d could be Ibushi\u2019s chance to bridge the absurd and the athletic as only he can<\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>(Rich Fann is a new Pro Wrestling Torch columnist. He\u2019s been contributing to PWTorch.com and PWTorch podcasts including the PWTorch East Coast Cast and the weekly \u201cDeep Dive with Rich Fann\u201d for years. As of January 2021, Wade Keller joins Rich every weekend for a new signature weekly VIP-exclusive podcast series, \u201cEverything with Rich Fann, hosted by Wade Keller.\u201d Rich also cohosts the \u201cEverything Mailbag\u201d podcast with Zack Heydorn. Follow him on Twitter: @rich_fann.)<br \/>\n<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-2082550857\"><div id=\"pwtor-2260758220\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>With last week&#8217;s episode of AEW Dynamite ending with the appearance of New Japan\u2019s Kenta, and Tony Khan\u2019s announcement that the Bullet Club member will team with Kenny Omega to face Lance Archer &amp; Jon <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2021\/02\/10\/fann-which-njpw-wrestlers-you-should-be-most-excited-about-possibly-wrestling-in-aew-with-embedded-select-promos-and-matches\/\" title=\"FANN: Which NJPW wrestlers you should be most excited about possibly wrestling in AEW, with embedded select promos and matches\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":113163,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[52,6514,53],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-113156","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opnionandanalysis","category-fanns-take","category-opinion_stafftakes"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2021\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-02-10-at-3.57.54-PM.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113156","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=113156"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113156\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":113164,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113156\/revisions\/113164"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/113163"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=113156"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=113156"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=113156"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}