What's next for New Japan?

New Japan Pro Wrestling, one of the most storied organizations in the entire pro wrestling industry, held a pair of signature Tokyo Dome events last week, with the trademark Wrestle Kingdom show on January 4th and then followed that with Wrestle Dynasty, a co-promoted event with All Elite Wrestling, the next day. The working agreement between the two sides has been somewhat odd over the past few years, particularly because the majority of the "agreement" saw Tony Khan cherry-pick most of the top talent from the Japanese league. Don't get me wrong, this wasn't a "talent raid," that was a term developed by Vince McMahon to spin the narrative of the Monday Night war when he found himself on the losing side of the ratings battle for the first time as a promoter during that era. Tony Khan's acquisition of talent was simply that he offered more money than New Japan could reasonably counter offer for, and the talent decided to take the money and the bigger platform of national television in the United States to sign with AEW.

That's not a talent raid, that's just capitalism.

Sure, it's going to be an uphill proposition for NJPW regardless because they can't compete with a billionaire, or the expanded revenue of the American major leagues, despite being the biggest promotion in Japan. That's not a jab, either. New Japan has a tremendous history and some of the greatest bouts in the history of the sport took place in an NJPW ring, but the bottom line is, the New Japan product was always designed to sell toward its domestic market, both culturally and with its presentation so it simply doesn't have the resources of a global wrestling promotion.

In short, if WWE wants a New Japan wrestler, and in the modern era, even more so now with Triple H running the company with better opportunities given to foreign talent, more often than not, the TKO corporation can land the free agents. WWE is going to pay them top money, knowing that they are asking a performer with a top spot in their native country to completely relocate to the United States. There was a reason Shinsuke Nakamura was content to reportedly surface when he was off television for several months prior to the US title push. At the same time, WWE is a billion dollar corporation because it maximizes its return on investment the vast majority of the time so if Tony Khan is willing to overpay performers just to add them to his roster, and we've seen several examples of this, WWE brass won't pay more than they think they can generate promoting a competitor for their contract.

That puts New Japan in a tough spot, as the WWE can offer top money and the potential for a major spot in the biggest sports entertainment organization in the world, which ultimately means even more money, or Tony Khan will agree to sign some of the Japanese stars for more than New Japan could realistically offer given the organization's economic status. There was a time when the WWE would've been seen as somewhat of a step down for Japanese talent, especially during its heyday or as recently as the low point of the business there in the early-2000s. Basically, the sports-based performers weren't going to risk being saddled with a hokey gimmick, or working tag matches TL Hopper on an episode of Superstars, all due respect to Tony Anthony. Plus, Jinsei Shinzaki's stint in the WWF was just under a year and a half, with a notable series of matches against Bret Hart as the only portion of his tenure that had any importance, despite his stellar skill set. Also in 1994, there was a very memorable, but very brief working agreement with the All Japan Women's group. Again, despite some tremendous talent, they weren't truly presented or featured to the level of their in-ring ability.

Within the modern era, the old wrestling troupe of limitations with foreign talent, especially those that don't already speak fluent English, is almost considered an antiquated concept. So, Japanese talent appear to be more receptive to importing their careers to the United States. Of course, since Tony Khan is a longtime subscriber of The Wrestling Observer newsletter, he understands the value and sometimes overvalues the top-tier Japanese talent.

The combination of those factors have made it increasingly tougher for the New Japan office to replenish its talent pool within the past decade or so. AJ Styles and Nakamura were originally signed away with The Good Brothers in 2016 before the launch of All Elite Wrestling saw the temporary exits of Kenny Omega, Cody Rhodes, The Young Bucks, and Adam Page in 2019. Within the past five years of AEW's existence, Kota Ibushi, Shibata, Jay White, Okada, and others from the main event scene of New Japan were signed by Tony Khan.

Essentially, in some form or fashion, as soon as NJPW would reestablish it's main event picture, some of those stars would be signed elsewhere. It's not easy to create or develop money-drawing stars. As talented as most of the New Japan roster is with a higher standard of in-ring work, with a few exceptions, than some of the rosters in America because of the emphasize of the Japanese style, the bottom line is, major performers that can legitimately draw money are still very rare.

The pair of Tokyo Dome events were six and five hours respectively so to parse details on the matches would be too lengthy, but the broaden scope, both for the draw and the top bouts, can tell the story of the organization right now. Wrestle Kingdom, with Zack Sabre Jr. headlining against  Shota Umino drew just under 25,000 fans. Wrestle Dynasty saw Sabre Jr. defend the IWGP belt against Ricochet, garnering just over 15,000 fans in the building. Umino is a solid performer, but the general notion is that he's not a star yet. The numbers for Wrestle Kingdom more or less confirm that. Sabre Jr. is one of the most gifted technicians of his general, but if I had to guess, I'd say that he was only given a reign with the heavyweight championship based on the complete lack of depth on the current roster. I'm not surprised that his defense against Ricochet drew significantly less than the traditional dome event the day before. Make no mistake about it, the former WWE competitor is very talented, but is he truly a star? Would there be any reason for the fans in Japan to believe that he was actually going to win the title during a one-off appearance?

One of the good aspects of Wrestle Dynasty was that Kenny Omega returned to in-ring action after more than a year due to a life-threatening bout with diverticulitis at the end of 2023. I have to be honest, I was skeptical that Omega could return to top form, not just because of the intestinal issues, but also the several surgeries that he had to repair injuries that put him on the shelf for almost a year prior to that. Omega and Gabe Kidd had a tremendous bout that was less of the usual overly choreographed sequences that are often seen in the modern era and more of a physical contest that was designed to look more competitive during the match.

It remains to be seen how far Gabe Kidd can go up the ladder or if New Japan management would want to invest major stock into him this year, but I don't think it would be unrealistic to consider the contest a potentially star-making performance for Gabe Kidd, even if he didn't win the match.

I'm not sure if Gabe Kidd is going to get that type of push, or if that would truly help boost NJPW numbers, but again the attendance figures for the Tokyo Dome events revealed a diminished interest in the product, at least for live event tickets. Bushiroad, the parent company of New Japan Pro Wrestling, CEO Takaaki Kidani told Tokyo Sports during the post-event press conference that the goal is to draw 40,000 fans for Wrestle Kingdom next year. That's a very lofty goal, especially because the company hasn't drawn anything close to that number since before the pandemic. However, New Japan president, Hiroshi Tanahashi plans to retire at the Tokyo Dome next year so that might be enough to get to that type of attendance. The legendary grappler carried the company on his back when it was on the brink of collapse in the early-200s, but more than two decades in the ring have undoubtedly taken a toll on him so it's a wise decision for him to retire. That being said, while the final bout for Tanahashi might be a major draw for the organization, how the NJPW office builds for the future remains to be seen. This might be too optimistic, but with the roster so bloated in AEW, maybeTony Khan could do the company a favor and send some of his talent that otherwise would only be wrestling occasionally in America to Japan for an extended period of time to add some depth to the roster.

Raw debut on Netflix

The WWE entered unprecedented territory last night when Raw, the longtime flagship show of the publicly-traded corporation, made its debut on Netflix. In a move that truly globalizes the product to a level never before seen, the streaming platform broadcasted the landmark episode live throughout the vast majority of the civilized world.

In signature WWE style, there was all the pomp and circumstance that you'd expect to go along with the $5 billion dollar deal that took the program from its traditional cable spot to behind the Netflix paywall. With the executives front row, there was quite literally the pyro and ballyhoo to maximize the atmosphere of the new era of the WWE.

The show opened with an absolutely incredible video package narrated by Triple H, which was another example of how unmatched the WWE production value truly is, especially for these major shows. In a reflection of the episode itself, this sold the sizzle, not the substance, which is completely fine, as that was the designed nature of the broadcast. Of course, you simply can't have Wrestlemania-type matches 52 weeks a year, but still, the debut edition of Raw on Netflix could give an indication of the overall direction of the brand going forward, particularly with the build to Wrestlemania this year, which will be held Easter weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The first segment saw The Rock cut a basic, but effective promo, and it's probably a good thing that he didn't let himself ramble on with anything that went beyond the 10-minute mark as far as mic time. However, it should be noted that The Rock praised Cody Rhodes, who he feuded with prior to WM last year so unless they are dropping what could've been a money match, it was a little odd that any of the previous hostility was essentially ignored. The Rock's reemergence on the WWE scene with his appointment to the TKO board last year was a good PR move, as the company looked to distance itself in every way possible from Vince McMahon, but it's also been a good decision for Dwayne Johnson as well. This isn't meant as a knock, but his films haven't done quite as well at the box office and a few were panned by critics in recent years. That's not to say that he's not still a mega star in Hollywood, every career, especially in the movie business, has some peaks and valleys. The Rock brings an added sizzle to the WWE product, and at the same time, it puts the real-life Dwayne Johnson in an environment where he looks like a bigger star so it becomes a win-win situation for everyone.

Considering his age, if The Rock has more matches planned, I'd guess that they'd have to take place sooner rather than later. If he isn't on the card for Wrestlemania in Las Vegas, I simply don't see him delaying any of the potential marquee matches for a few years. If the WWE is going to promote The Rock vs. Cody, or The Rock vs. Roman Reigns in a Samoan showdown, it would probably have to been within the next year or two. Interestingly, when the first match on the card saw Reigns beat Solo Sikoa to win the acknowledgement as the only tribal chief, when it looked like there could be a post-match heel turn by The Rock on Roman, which could've been a way to use their tag team defeat at WM last year to build toward this year's event, The Rock simply stood in the ring as Reigns celebrated. As far as the match itself, it was a solid segment, it might not have been a Tokyo Dome spot fest, but it was very well done from a story telling perspective. I could be wrong, but for some reason, I'd still guess that The Rock vs. Roman will happen at Wrestlemania. I think Jacob Fatu/Reigns could be a stellar match at the biggest show of the year, but Fatu is still relatively new to the WWE landscape, and The Rock is obviously the bigger money match.

Hulk Hogan made a brief appearance to cut a promo and was more or less booed out of the building. Some will claim this had to do with his political affiliation with the orange villain, but The Undertaker endorsed Trump and still received a positive crowd reaction based on his legendary status. Some might make the case that everyone deserves a second chance, but it's important to keep in mind that Hulk had a reputation as a jerk long before the infamous Gawker tape revealed that he said several racial slurs and derogatory comments. The difference is that there are a slew of podcasts to tell those stories on a more public basis, they aren't just in the dirt sheets or on shoot interview VHS tapes for a niche audience like they were in the past. Furthermore, it's also much easier for Hogan's track record of exaggerated claims and outright lies to be debunked with modern technology.

The Hulkster was there to announce that his "Real American Beer" had signed a sponsorship deal with the WWE. As aloof and obtuse as the entire brand is, Hogan jumped on the Trump train for the same reason that the convicted felon joined the political game, it's relatively easy money. Keep in mind, political donations are counted by the tens of millions of dollars. Not to mention the merchandise and the stock scams that go along with the marketing tagline to "save America." Terry Bolea saw that there was hefty cash to be made on the notion of "patriotism" and wanted to make sure he got a piece of the piece. Sure, it's insincere and it's scummy, but from purely a business perspective, it's a smart move. The Hulkster will gleefully collect some money from the purchases of "Real American" beer, which will be bought from the same local yokels that still think coal is going to make a comeback and that the wall is going to be built.

Don't get too riled up, though. Remember, politics are more of a work than pro wrestling, and it's more profitable, too.

However, sponsorships have increased drastically after the merger with the UFC last year, and they played a very key role in the overall presentation of the first episode of the Netflix era. The canvas had a slew of logos on it, which is completely fine. While I understand why Vince didn't want the mat to look like a billboard, the bottom line is, it's a way to make even more money, and when the company is publicly-traded, there's a responsibility to the stockholders to maximize revenue. I also understand why the organization used the black canvas, as it gave more of a sports-based visual, but it was almost too dark overall so hopefully the color scheme can be tweaked going forward.

Rhea Ripley defeated Liv Morgan to win the Women's championship, and it made sense to book the title switch on this show to have as many noteworthy results as possible. Liv did a good job as champion, but I think it's time for both competitors to move onto a new feud, especially with the previously mentioned Wrestlemania on the horizon, with Ripley's opponent probably being determined at The Royal Rumble in a few weeks. The Undertaker cameo after the match was fun, and it was a cool moment to give Ripley the endorsement from the legend to conclude the segment.

The main event was CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins, another bout that could've taken place, and probably will still take place, at Wrestlemania. The match was fine, it wasn't subpar or anything, but I got the impression that they were saving some dramatic in-ring scenarios for a bigger stage. Unless, Punk is going to challenge for a championship in the main event, there seems to be too much meat left on the bone for the Rollins/Punk rivalry to wrap up on Raw. Furthermore, during the John Cena cameo, he said that he will enter The Royal Rumble, and the narrative of him breaking the recognized championship record during his retirement tour is almost too good of an opportunity to pass up for the company because it would maximize his final run.

One of the other major takeaways from this show was that the term "wrestling," a word that was once banned under Vince McMahon, was used often. Truth be told, while I understand why the sports entertainment tagline would be used for marketing purposes and sponsorships, it always seemed silly that McMahon tried to avoid "wrestling" being said on a pro wrestling show. The video packages of the spectacle of sports entertainment definitely make sense, but nobody has ever said they bought a ticket to go to the "sports entertainment matches." Obviously, this is just one episode, but it certainly looks like management has some major plans for the product this year.

3LW Pittsburgh debut

Pittsburgh, a city known almost as much for its wrestling as the steel it once produced, has such a storied history of the genre of the squared circle that it often gets passed down from generation to generation. The stories of Pittsburgh Studio Wrestling, house shows at the Civic Arena, or wild bouts at the Golden Dome in Monaca become a part of family discussions when reminiscing about grappling of the past. Bruno, Angle, and Douglas are just a few of those western Pennsylvania legends that left an impact on the sport.

It goes without saying that sports entertainment is woven into the fabric of the area almost as much as any of the other sports the region is known for. The field, the rink, and the ring all draw a passionate response from the dedicated fans of the city. As such, it's not uncommon for live events to be hosted from a myriad of organizations on any given weekend throughout western Pennsylvania. Those dedicated sports fans usually have the opportunity to see a live wrestling somewhere each weekend. With nearly a half a dozen groups bringing in respectable crowds on a regular basis, the Pittsburgh scene has proven to be a market that is ripe for quality professional wrestling.

This Thursday, Three Legacies Wrestling, a group that was founded by former WWE star, Jesus "Ricardo" Rodriguez in mid-2022, will make its Pittsburgh area debut with its presentation of "Steel City Grit," a nod to the traditional and heritage associated with the region. Based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the 3LW product, a combination of spectacle and enthusiasm from its young roster that is blended with styles from around the globe, will be imported to Pittsburgh with the goal to add its flavor to the vibrant wrestling scene of the city.

"Pittsburgh has a very rich pro wrestling history and a lot of very passionate fans. And an area that that I have had the privilege of wrestling in many times, both independently and with WWE so it felt like a right fit to bring not only the 3LW talent that opportunity, but to also showcase the 3LW talent to the western PA audience. We are proud that over the course of our history, we have grown not, just internally, but also our base area which, is a testament of the product and presentation of 3LW," said Rodriguez.

The 38-year-old grappler has spent more than half of his life involved in the professional wrestling industry in some form or fashion. Through his extensive experience in a variety of roles, he brings a jack-of-all-trades skill set to the table. He has shown that he can discover, polish, and produce aspects of the sport at any level. He has found himself in a sold out stadium under the brightest lights of Wrestlemania, and he helped aspiring hopefuls take their first step in a wrestling ring as a trainer around the world at various training centers. Ironically, the west coast native traveled quite literally around the globe through the avenue of professional wrestling, with his early days in his hometown under the persona of "Chimaera," but it was the quiet city of Lancaster where he landed for his most ambitious project of his career as an event organizer.

"I have learned in this newly found journey as a promoter that it takes a lot of work and patience and trust, not only in your abilities, but in your entire team. Having that confidence that your product and your brand can deliver is key, but so is being able to promote oneself because as a good saying goes 'what good is having a good product if no one knows about it.' And the more we grow that more people can experience it," he explained.

True to his path in the sport of building the genre, and in this case, the brand from every level, a critical piece of the puzzle for the 3LW project is its training center, where Rodriguez serves as its head trainer. A pair of wrestling rings in the facility house eager students that look forward to the chance to quite literally learn the ropes from an accomplished veteran like Rodriguez. A row of flags representing various countries decorates one of the wall, a reflection of the curriculum that teaches a potpourri of styles within the grappling arts.

"It began with the mission to give back to not only the wrestling industry, but also the community. 3LW provides the platform and the tools for wrestling hopefuls to help achieve their dreams as well as help build a strong community with its charity events," Rodriguez remarked.

Among the talent that will have the chance to shine during 3LW's Pittsburgh debut are names like the wild man Tarzan Duran, who will tangle with stellar NWA star, Spence Slade in the evening's main event, the Pittsburgh-based, but internationally renowned Facade will square off with energetic youngster, Pat Angel Zoey Cannon, J.S. Hawthorne, and many other mainstays of the Three Legacies project will be on the card. The eccentric and always entertaining Super Oprah is also advertised for the event.

"I’m looking forward to debuting at 3LW especially in one of the greatest wrestling cities like Pittsburgh. I’m also excited to go against one of the biggest names in pro wrestling, Facade. I know he has a high set of skills, but so do I, and I’m looking forward to matching his energy and hopefully come out on top with my first win at 3LW against one of the best to do it. This will be a great start to the new year," Pat Angel commented enthusiastically.

The event will be held at "Sunken Bus Studios," an event space in the city that hosts a myriad of entertainment events. Comedy shows and live music are staples of the building, but the arrival of 3LW has prompted anticipation from participants and fans alike ahead of Thursday's live action.

"Three Legacies Wrestling has been growing rapidly elsewhere in Pennsylvania and I'm excited to experience the vibe first hand. It's very rare to see an event pop up in this part of Pittsburgh, being only four miles from home for me, I hope to see some familiar faces come out to support so we can see Jesus and 3LW in the area more often," said Joe Dombrowski, the voice of the English broadcasts of AAA Lucha Libre and lead play-by-play announcer for Major League Wrestling that will host the evening as 3LW ring announcer.

"Steel City Grit is a show I'm very excited to be a part of. If it's anything from past experiences working for Three Legacies in Lancaster, it will be a night of exhilarating, high-paced and family friendly action with a colorful cast of characters. The fantasy clash of styles with Spencer Slade and Tarzan Duran make for a bargain at the door," added George Ross, one of the best referees on the independent circuit that will be there to make the count for the Pittsburgh debut.

The diverse landscape of the steel city circuit will get the chance to experience a fresh and unique addition when Three Legacies Wrestling brings its brand to Sunken Bus Studios this Thursday.

"Fans can expect a night of high flying, fast paced, character-driven, pro wrestling action that's suitable for all ages," Rodriguez concluded.

What's next for AEW?

Just before the end of 2024, I penned an article about what could be used for a happy new year for WWE brass, mostly focused on the fact that the retirement tour of John Cena, almost unanimously the biggest star that company produced since the heyday of Steve Austin and The Rock in the Attitude era, could be the centerpiece for the publicly-traded corporation to draw big numbers at higher ticket prices than in the past. I also mentioned that Cena, the guy who was a total workhorse for the company throughout the vast majority of his career, deserved the final run, particularly with the possibility of dethroning Cody Rhodes to break Ric Flair's recognized title record. I doubt you could consider it a knock on Cody or a downgrade on his status if he dropped the belt for the time being to someone at the level of Cena. In many ways, Cena provided the blue print for the modern top guys, such as Rhodes and Roman Reigns, to follow as far as a representative for the organization. Sure, the wild stories of the 80s are fun cannon fodder during podcast interviews, but there's a way too lengthy list of performers that passed away way too young because of their lifestyle at the time. In the modern when everyone has a camera on their phone and social media could ruin a career within minutes, it's exponentially more important for top guys to be as cautious and measured as possible.

You won't see John Cena get a DUI, he won't storm off of an important interview, and he takes his role as a figure that some fans look up to seriously. As I wrote prior, John Cena is the real-life hero that Hulk Hogan pretended to be on-screen.

However, All Elite Wrestling is the other side of the coin, as for all being the other major force within the sports entertainment industry. For all of its faults, and there are plenty of rightfully faults of the AEW product, the Khan-owned organization still has a noticeable impact on the direction of the business. It's nothing new, regardless of the struggles that company had behind the scenes or with the numbers for the on-screen programming, but the bottom line is as long as Tony Khan is willing to offer competitive money for talent (and sometimes he even overpays) compared to the WWE, his promotion can dictate a portion of the narrative of the genre in the United States.

So, what does All Elite Wrestling have to do for a happy new year in 2025?

This isn't a jab about the competition, but it goes without saying that it's exponentially easier for WWE to bank on Cena because of his history and star power over the previous two decades. 

For All Elite, the answers are potentially much more complicated since the harsh reality is that the company has lost steam and viewership since Cody Rhodes left the organization nearly three years ago. As we know, Rhodes mentioned publicly in the documentary released last year about his return to WWE that he signed a nondisclosure agreement prior to his exit from AEW, but hopefully, at some point in the future, someone with knowledge of the situation can shed some light on it, as it appears that there was a serious divide between the once tight-knit Elite group. Regardless of the reasoning, Rhodes' exit and then the terrible publicity of backstage chaos in the few years afterward have drastically impacted the perception of the organization. It might be a cliche, but sometimes cliches are true, and in this scenario, perception is reality. The ratings and attendance reflect that narrative, as the controversy around the company has eroded some of the enthusiasm and good will of the audience.

As far as putting a positive spin on the new year, including Max as a streaming platform is artificial corporate fluff. Sure, it makes the WBD executives happy, and it makes sense to keep those suites happy since they gave AEW a few hundred million dollars for their next TV deal, but it's important to keep in mind that a simulcast doesn't improve the content of the shows. Let's be honest here, Dynamite was streamed and Triller and Fite prior to this so none of this is new territory for the television show. Viewers that aren't watching All Elite programming don't watch because of dissatisfaction with the content, not a lack of access.

The substance of a potentially positive spin for AEW will sink or swim based on the decisions made that will determine the overall direction of the show. Don't get me wrong, Tony Khan is a billionaire, and I'm not so what do I now? But, my two cents on the matter is that Tony's philosophy of catering to the diehard audience that usually follows The Wrestling Observer newsletter won't translate to success on national television. By nature, the newsletters aren't for the general public or the casual fan, but when a show is on TBS, it must be geared toward the broadest audience possible.

That's not to say that a wrestling-based product can't be successful, WCW proved that it can be during its peak, albeit for an abbreviated period because of discontent behind the scenes, not the action in the ring.

In many ways, the general philosophy of an emphasize of wrestling action is the right call. All Elite should aim to be the Pepsi to WWE's Coca Cola. There are a few decades to prove that nobody is going to produce a slicker show or have more pyro and ballyhoo than the WWE machine. The WWE sells the spectacle and became a billion dollar corporation because of it. Let the franchise guys like Ospreay and Okada go other there, much like they did at Worlds End, and place an importance on it that is on the level of their skill set. The biggest problem with the set up for the finals at Worlds End was literally no progress was made, Okada started as the Continental champion and then finished as the Continental champion so from a storyline prospective, if a view simply skipped the tournament, what did they miss? Was remain the Continental titleholder really a way to make Okada seem more important, specifically when his character doesn't have much direction since The Young Bucks disappeared from AEW TV?

As far Ospreay, I wrote previously that he could be the guy for AEW in a similar way that AJ Styles was considered the standard for TNA, but he's spinning his wheels working the mid-card with only an emphasis on "great matches" instead of being booked in the main event scene to establish his star power.

I want to make it clear, All Elite Wrestling has a tremendous amount of talent, but the way that they are used doesn't highlight or establish them as money-drawing stars. Again, if great matches alone were the way to draw money on a national level in the United States, TNA would've had an exponentially bigger run than it did during its peak almost two decades ago.

This is why for All Elite to have a happy new year, my two cents on the matter to the billionaire boss that runs the company is to simplify every aspect possible of the on-screen presentation. Don't concern yourself with how many stars a match-up will receive from Dave Meltzer, the talent on the roster is solid regardless of a ratings system in a newsletter, take the talent that is the most over with the audience and book them against the heels with the most heat from the crowd. Allow the baby face to fight for the audience and get the heel to put obstacles in the way. Maybe Ospreay should've been the one to save the organization from the reign of Moxley's faction. The four-way at the pay-per-view was an artificial way book a main event without a compelling angle. What's the point of the Moxley stable? Despite some rambling promos, I'm not sure a purpose has been declared.

Tony is a well-known fan of old school wrestling, and instead of an overly-complicated presentation based on the charts and graphs from his days of E-fed booking on the internet, perhaps a simplified old school approach would be useful for his wrestling project in 2025. It might be more productive to take the most over talent and book them against the most hated heels. The journey of the baby face to triumph is ultimately how you draw money, there are decades of examples from dozens of territories to prove it as being an effective strategy for the company.