Does NJPW Strong Have an Identity Issue?

NJPW Strong, the American branding that New Japan Pro Wrestling uses for its American shows. What started as a weekly show was scrapped and is now roughly once a month. It had titles, it had storylines, it has its own cups but now it feels like the brand doesn’t have a real identity. I wanted to go over what NJPW Strong is currently and really is there’s anything of its own brand that really works.

If you look at NJPW Strong it has 3 distinct titles in an Openweight, Tag and Women’s titles. It was described as titles for American shows and only the American shows for talent on Strong. It does feel like they are throwaway titles but the likes of Gabe Kidd, KENTA, TMDK, Aussie Open, Willow Nightingale and Mercedes Mone have all held these titles which as key talents at points for New Japan you can’t argue they do have a care for titles. However, the belts for Strong aren’t the focal point of Strong. I don't know if it just me but all of the Strong titles are just very plan. They are different colours but with the same basic background and NJPW Strong logo which just feels not just plain but lacking in identity. New Japan has had some great looking belts over the years but these just feel lacking in that. considering these belts ill only ever main event a show if Mercedes is defending the women's title I don't feel like they will ever be changed. 

It also feels like these monthly events only happen in the same places? It might be me not paying attention but where's a Toronto show or any other major place. If ticket sales are down year on year then why not go somewhere else. 

I wrote the first part of this before Resurgence but given how that went in terms of ticket sales and booking it feels like that disconeect and care is as further apart as possible. I'm going to write the rest of this in bullet points in terms of action points I would implement.

• Scrap NJPW Strong as the branding for these shows. By not being given the real full New Japan logo and feel it already gives the feeling of a lower show. If people already think of this show as not as important they won't care. The last show only advertised and announced the World title match only a few days before the show and then to add a screwy finish really questions the point. 
• I'd change Strong to be an anagram for what you want the title to be representative of much like the NEVER titles and for got sake redesign those belts so they look somewhat interesting. Show what you want from these belts and linking back to point one if they are named after the branding you use on these shows but aren't the main focus then what is the point in them?
• Make clear your pathway between New Japan academy and actual New Japan shows. If you still think this NJPW Strong has legs as a brand (it doesn't) then show why wrestlers should pay you a premium for training if they don't have a better route to New Japan or Stardom through your shows. Have actual showcase matches of your best talent, keep running that academy showcase but with real stakes, Allan Breeze won the Academy Cup then lost the Strong Survivor match so what does that mean? What was gained by winning that cup? Also just rebook Matt Vandagriff vs. Fred Rosser and have Matt win. Show don't tell the progression from academy even more so with a win over the head trainer.
  
• Get rid of Strong Survivor. Following on from the above point this idea has run its course. Think about it, you keep winning so your reward is another pre-show match. If you look at Matt Vandagriff he kept winning and winning and then once he lost the 'title' he's on the main card? He got a promotion from losing? I think Strong Survivor is a great nickname especially if the person with that wins the STRONG title. My opion have Matt just win it back and end if he is the first and last 'Strong Survivor' keeps that as a nickname (he already has the gear) and build him to win that STRONG Openweight title down the line.
• Booker smaller venues. AEW figured this out with the issues they had moving tickets (a different issue maybe fucking advertise your shows really ahead of time). Having to change your entire lighting set up for Resurgenceshould be a sign. I think AEW lucked into something with this with these unique venues allowing for more visually insteresting segments and moments. While New Japan is largely going to be just wrestling a brightly coloured mostly full venue over a venue where you can't see half the crowd would just look better.

I think that New Japan in America has potential. It has a demand and a want but New Japan does not seem to want to fully act in growing that and in turn it is shrinking. Whoever books these shows needs to sit down, thinking on how to take this brand forward and fully retool it to work it into the full operation of New Japan Pro Wresting.

Or just steal the above Rocky Romero I don't have an issue with that.