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NJPW: Naito and Hiromu’s history comes full circle with first ever match

By Samantha Schipman

TOKYO, JAPAN - JANUARY 07: IWGP Heavy Weight Champion and as well as IWGP Intercontinental Champion Tetsuya Naito attends the NJPW press conference on January 07, 2020 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - JANUARY 07: IWGP Heavy Weight Champion and as well as IWGP Intercontinental Champion Tetsuya Naito attends the NJPW press conference on January 07, 2020 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images) /
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After retaining both of his titles at New Beginning, Naito offered Hiromu a singles match at NJPW’s anniversary show on March 3.

It’s customary for the IWGP Heavyweight Champion to offer the IWGP Junior Heavyweight champion a match at NJPW’s Anniversary Show. A bloody Tetsuya Naito had just defeated KENTA to retain both the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships when he invited his stable mate, Hiromu Takahashi, to the ring. Naito formally offered Hiromu a chance to face him.

Not only is it a big deal that Naito kept the tradition going (he’s not known for keeping with tradition), but it will be the first time ever that these two will face each other. Naito took Hiromu under his wing when the latter was a Young Lion. Before Hiromu went off for excursion to Mexico, Naito told the Young Lion that they would one day wrestle each other.

Hiromu returned to NJPW in July 2017 when he took out KUSHIDA, whom had just defeated LIJ member, BUSHI. Naito offered the Time Bomb a spot to join Los Ingobernables de Japon. Hiromu accepted his mentor’s offer and has been by his side ever since.

Here’s an excellent thread that summarizes the relationship between the unlikely friends.

During the post New Beginning press conference, Hiromu interrupted with a request: he wants to face Naito for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. After a pause, he says that if he challenges for the title here, then it’ll happen every year. “IF I win, you give me the G1 Climax Tokyo Dome main event briefcase.” Chairman Sugabayashi is taking Hiromu’s requests under consideration.

Naito thinks that it’s the best time for this match because they’re both champions. In response to Hiromu’s request, the double champion said, “If he gets results maybe…or maybe he could enter the New Japan Cup? Or challenge me at the next big card?”

Naito goes on to say that no matter what the company decides, he sees this as a title match. “If I don’t win then I will give him the belt, title match or not.”

With this match made official, there are so many questions. Can the student beat the teacher? Is Hiromu ready to face Naito – this Naito who is the first double champion in the company’s history

What if Hiromu isn’t successful? On the other hand, what if Hiromu becomes the Heavyweight champion and takes the title that Naito worked so hard for? He desperately wanted to be both the IWGP Heavyweight champion and to be the first double champion. How will this match effect their relationship and LIJ?

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Naito is tranquilo and Hiromu is wide-open all the time. Hiromu is a daredevil and at times, reckless. Naito is methodical and calculating. Their styles and personality work well as part of LIJ. In a one-on-one match, this will make for interesting dynamics. No matter what happens, this will be a match that LIJ fans will love.

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