3 reasons why Block A Winner, Tetsuya Naito, deserves to win the 2017 G1 Climax.
On August 11th, 2013, a then 31-year-old Tetsuya Naito squared off with NJPW legend, Hiroshi Tanahashi in the finals of that years G1 Climax. Naito, a member of the NJPW roster for 8 years at that time, had never attained elite status, having never won a singles title in the company. However, that did not stop him tearing into Tanahashi, who was at that time was a 6-time IWGP champion. This resulted in a fearsome 27-minute battle that saw Naito climb the mountain and capture his first major accomplishment under the NJPW banner.
The win set him on a collision course to face Kazuchika Okada at Wrestle Kingdom 8 that following January. However, the idea of a Naito/Okada pairing for the biggest show of the year didn’t exactly excite the Japanese fans which led to their match being the pre-main event of the show, while Shinsuke Nakamura battled Tanahashi in the main event. Naito failed to take the belt from Okada that night and the perceived lack of excitement over the match was a hit to Naito’s stock.
However, 2 years later and after a stint wrestling in Mexico, Naito returned to NJPW with a new look and attitude. With his new stable of Los Ingobernables, Naito had transformed himself into a disrespectful, brash, heel and the results were staggering. He finally did capture the IWGP title in 2015 and now he finds himself in a position to get back to the Wrestle Kingdom main event with a win in the finals of the 2017 G1 Climax.
Here are 3 reasons why he should do exactly that.
3. He’s The Perfect Heel for Okada
Kazuchika Okada is unquestionably the top superstar in NJPW. He’s been a star in the making since he debuted with the promotion back in 2007 and in the past five years, he’s won 4 IWGP Heavyweight Championships and 2 G1 Climax’s. He’s clearly the gold standard of what a Japanese superstar should be and when it’s all said and done, he may just go down as the very best that has ever stepped foot in an NJPW ring. His respect for the game and his commitment to his craft has endeared him to the fans and his legend grows with each passing day.
Naito is a different story. Since changing personas in 2015, the 35-year-old has been the polar opposite of Okada as far as fan perception goes. He’s the yin to Okada’s yang. An angry, vitriolic heel, Naito has no problem sharing his disdain for the fans and NJPW as a whole, while blaming the company for his past misfortunes. He’s an absolute heat magnet and the unabashed perfect answer for the ever-popular Okada.
A Naito win Sunday night will set up a match between two guys on totally opposite ends of the spectrum. And although another contender, Kenny Omega operates as one of the top heels in the company as well, Naito is a whole different animal. And yes, these two have already met for the title at a Wrestle Kingdom, but this is a very different Naito and would undoubtedly change the dynamic for that main event.
2. Always Strike When The Iron Is Hot
Naito has always been good. He was good the day he walked through the door the first time in NJPW back in 2005. He was good when he won the 2013 G1 Climax. And he was good when he battled Okada for the belt at Wrestle Kingdom in 2014. However, in the past 2 years, Naito has upped his game from very good, to unbelievable. At 35 years old, he has never been better and the results prove that. His first 8 years in the company netted zero singles titles. However in just the past 3 and half years, he’s won not only the IWGP Heavyweight title, but also the NEVER Openweight belt, and the IWGP Intercontinental title.
With all that being said, Naito has finally put together the resume needed to defeat somebody the likes of Okada. The new Naito has the NJPW audience foaming at the mouth for somebody shut him up and for that reason, a match with Okada at Wrestle Kingdom could be the most contentious fight in ages.
Inside the ring, he’s never been better as evidenced by his wars with Omega, Tanahashi, Okada, Michael Elgin, and Tomohiro Ishii. All these matches have occurred within the past 24 months and is very likely that Naito’s best work may still be ahead of him. Getting this rematch now will almost ensure a brilliant finale to Wrestle Kingdom and could challenge for match of the year honors at years end.
3. It’s The Perfect Story
If Okada is still champion when Wrestle Kingdom comes around, that’ll put his title reign right up around 550 days which would shatter Shinya Hashimoto’s 489-day record with that belt. So it doesn’t really have to be said, but I’m going to say it anyway: when it happens, it’ll be a massive deal. What better way to make that moment even better than reopening the book on a rivalry that never really got to where it needed to be? Yes, that’s right. If Naito wins this year’s climax, he will defeat Okada at Wrestle Kingdom. It has to be that way.
As mentioned in the opening slide, Naito had his chance at Okada at Wrestle Kingdom in 2013 and the NJPW audience voted to have it pulled from the main event. That alone may explain why Naito has become what he has. The angry, bitter heel has an ax to grind against the fans that shunned his opportunity to close out the biggest show of the year. There would be no better way than to stick it back to them defeating their hero on the biggest stage that the company has to offer.
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When he defeated Okada back in 2015 for the title, it took outside interference from his stable mates. This time around, he needs to do it all on his own. And when he does, Tetsuya Naito will be the new face of New Japan Pro Wrestling. A fitting end to this run, but an open book for the future. Naito has everything he needs right now to be a dominating champion, complete with a slew of ready and willing challengers. Now he just has to win Sunday night. And if he does, his journey will have come full circle and his new found bitterness will have officially been worth it.