I mean it cannot be understated how impressive it is that Ryohei Oiwa got a HEADLOCK over and credible as a G1 Climax winning level finish in 2026.

Side note, Boltin Oleg is freaking awesome. Just a big dude who throws people around. Basic Pro Wrestling at its best. I hope they push him hard over the next couple of years.

They need to start pushing the guys they have now immediately. This G1 was awesome and i feel like Shota Umino would've had a bigger role in this year's G1 if he didn't get that concussion.   Also they have some very capable junior heavyweights but they need to do something with them immediately

I’m cautiously optimistic. The time is now or never for many of these young talents.

NJPW is back. a Renaissance is a great way to describe it. The product is evolving with the new generation and they've spent the last year and a half, two years building up to this point. It took some time but it feels like the patience has paid off.

I started watching NJPW again in 2025 but I was going to approach it differently than in years past where I just watch the big shows.  This time I was going to watch EVERYTHING or atleast as much as I could.  I had some preconceived notions based on what I was hearing from other lapsed fans like all the stars were gone, there was no stories, a lot of random tags, etc.  I was completely wrong, NJPW has a great young roster and some of the best storytelling going.  

ZSJ finally becoming world champion was a big part of why I started watching.  To see how a super technical genius wrestler works as the top guy and he fucking killed it.  Every hole in his game is patched up, his strikes are insanely hard hitting and he has even more grappling moves than I last saw him.  His first world title run being more of a babyface and his second being a little more heelish and punishing his opponents was great.  Goto finally got the top belt and that was great to see him finally ascend to being one of the top guys.  Takeshita being a monster in 2025 and tearing through the G1 and getting the belt was a sight to see.  Yota Tsuji being the homegrown guy to take the title back from the "outsider" was a great story.  Newman dethroning Tsuji was a shock but more importantly in just 2 years NJPW established 4 new world champions, 2 brand new G1 winners, new tag league winners, brand new Heavy tag champs, etc.  I'm seeing the new generation finally get their due and start getting major accolades and new stars being born like KO Bros reviving the tag division with their feuds with Shota/Yuya, Ishii/Taichi, and ZSJ/Oiwa.  

Not to mention I'm only scratching the surface with the stories.  Gabe Kidd rising up to be the soul of NJPW and his betrayal, Takeshita being an outsider finally embraced as a NJPW guy, the stable wars and rise of United Empire as a top heel faction.  SANADA's turn against War Dogs and his health journey and return, Drilla neing accepted as singles face by the crowd and is imminently  due for a title run and his feud with Kidd, Shota Umino Must Suffer lol.  Hell, even the young lions have a lot of stories going on with Nagai sparking the lions to join stables before graduation and seeing him evolve.  They even compete against other companies young lions on United Japan Pro Wrestling shows.  The preview tags on every show especially the Road To shows help build feuds and stories to the big shows, the post-match promos are often greatly entertaining and push the stories forward in a major way and every single wrestler on the show gets to speak if they want to.  It creates this roster where EVERYONE has a story going for them.

2 words: Yuto Ice

Yup lets not forget about the progress of other guys like Skkar, Yuto Ice, Aaron Wolf, Boltin Oleg. Also some Jrs like YOH, Fujita, Master Wato etc.

What I loved about the g1 this year was the way it set up a rock-paper-scissor dynamic with the new generation. Tsuji is the tactician with a plan for every match, Ice is the striker, Oleg is the power guy, Oscar is the monster, Callum is the scum bag heel, Yuya is the flashy technician Oiwa is the power technician.

It’s fantastic they they’re carving out their own new signature style instead of trying to imitate the 2010s main event style. They’re going for a more grounded, fundamental approach rather than the high intensity, big moves style that Okada, Naito, Omega, Ibushi, Ospreay, etc. did. Those guys are all some of the greatest wrestlers ever, it would be impossible to do that style as well as them. It actually even makes guys like Takeshita and Shingo, who are amazing at that 2010s New Japan main event style, stand out MORE on the roster in 2026 when fewer people do it now. They’re letting that style live on in AEW and trying something new, just a brilliant call.

Also, humongous cultural victory for Zack Sabre Jr. He’s stayed when everyone else left and helped bridge the gap to the new era, and it allowed him to help shape the guys that are leading the new generation in his image. I could see him getting a high profile behind the scenes job in the near future because of that and Tanahashi obviously thinking highly of him. Maybe even become a trainer at the dojo.

Biggest mistake was not having Naito go over Okada in the 2018 Wrestle Kingdom. Naito was molten hot. Imagine Vince booking Michaels to beat Stone cold at WrestleMania 14.

You made me care! I will tune in soon.

Another fantastic video Jon, great insight on how Uemura and Oiwa both got to where they are now.

Great video - needed this seeing as though I’m checking out a show at Korakuen Hall this October 🙏🏻

would love some more modern day njpw content! seems so hard to find a decent creators that talk about it nowadays but your knowledge and presentation was great.

Loved the Video but the lack of any mention of  KoB or Aaron wolf is noticeable

Thanks for the amazing video

Oiwa vs. Yuya is one of my favorite matches of the year. I believe New Japan is on the way up with the pushing of younger talent like Tsuji, Newman, Oiwa, Yuya, KOB, and Shota. I hope Shota is able to regain his momentum after that untimely injury because he’s put it together this year.

This was the first video by channel that I've ever come across.  I don't hit that "Subscribe" button often, but this video definitely warranted it.

I really love your videos
You deserve much more exposure

Always look forward to the next video!