Group A rotavirus (RVA) is the primary causative agent of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in children under five years of age, resulting in over 120,000 deaths annually. In previous studies, we identified truncated VP4∗ as a potentially more promising vaccine candidate compared to VP8∗ and VP5∗. This study aimed to compare the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of VP4∗ and P2-VP8, the most advanced recombinant rotavirus vaccine undergoing phase 3 clinical trial in various animal models, including mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, and piglets. The results indicated that the binding antibodies and neutralizing antibodies induced by VP4∗ were significantly higher levels compared to P2-VP8. Immunization with VP4∗ provided 100 % protection for mice against challenges with EDIM and LLR strains. Additionally, we were intrigued to discover that the VP4∗ antibody not only inhibited virus adsorption but also prevented the virus from entering cells following pre-adsorption. In summary, VP4∗ demonstrates greater immunogenicity and protective efficacy compared to P2-VP8, making it a more promising candidate antigen for recombinant rotavirus vaccines.