NJPW 4 (2017) vs. The WCW 4 (2000)

[The Rick Jericho]

Chris Benoit vs. AJ Styles
Eddie Guerrero vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Dean Malenko vs. Karl Anderson
Perry Saturn vs. Luke Gallows

So do the parallel each other? We have the main eventer the WWE wanted at the time. Benoit and Styles. But the other 3 came along too. They both came in during January so let's compare where they were almost 2 years after signing with WWE.

Benoit: January 2002 was out with a neck injury. Before getting hurt was a former IC and Tag Team Champion. Was positioned was an upper mid career. Did receive a title shot but did not win the big one.

Styles: December 2017 is the WWE Champion. 2 times he has held the belt. Some day he is the best worker on the roster. And the most valuable. He is carrying the smackdown roster.

Advantage: Styles

Guerrero: January 2002, was released at this point by WWE. During his 2 year run, the most charismatic of the 4. While over with the crowds seemed to not be uiltilized property after coming in with lots of buzz and anticipation. Won the European title. His only championship up until that point.

Nakamura: December 2017, still on the roster. During his current run, he is the most charismatic of the 4. While over with the crowds seemed to not be properly utilized after coming in with lots of buzz and anticipation. Won the NXT title. His only championship up until this point.

Advantage: I honestly don't know. As both just didn't get to the next level yet two years in.

Malenko: James Bond. 007 player. Completely misused. Was old and on the decline apparently. Won the Light Heavyweight Title.

Anderson: Can he even work singles? Hasn't shoe much then again not given much. Won the Raw Tag Title.

Advantage: Malenko. Barely.

Saturn: WWE was high on him apparently. Didn't last long. Tag for a bit. Got into a concussion storyline and then hung out with a mop. Two years in and he was wearing cow themed tights. Won the European title.

Gallows: His past was a better indicator of who he can be. Festus or Luke Gallows 1.0. with the SES. He has the comedic chops but isn't really used. Calls people "nerds". Won the Raw Tag title.

Advantage: Neither. Saturn did more but was embarassed more after Mike Bell. Gallows is just there.

[Tiger Millionaire]

As long as AJ Styles doesn't kill his family, he's got the advantage on Benoit.

[The Yes Man]

To answer if Anderson can work singles; YES! He is an amazing worker. His matches with Nakamura, Tanahashi, Okada, Goto, etc. were always great. Anytime he had a chance to shine he did.

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

If we're doing this just on talent and removing Benoit's atrocities from the occasion, then the WCW four win, really. Malenko is one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. Benoit was a bona fide main event talent in both companies even if his WWE booking was frequently even more questionable than WCW's. Eddie was Eddie, for f***'s sake. And Saturn was more over as a curtain-jerker than almost anyone of main event status in the modern age.

Because of how WWE has handled things, Styles is the only one that can square up against the other group. You could make an argument for his superiority to Benoit or Eddie if you wanted, as far as being decorated he outstrips Malenko and Saturn isn't even in that discussion. The second Nakamura hit the Smackdown roster he was just another guy with a cool entrance (I am a huge mark for him, don't get me wrong) and Gallows and Anderson are a waste of space.