Feel like the lineage of “Junior Ace” of NJPW goes like this:
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Tatsumi Fujinami – was the OG junior-heavyweight star when Inoki was top dog in the 70’s, as Dragon held multiple junior titles from the WWWF and NWA, defending them in Mexico and the States.
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Satoru Sayama (TM I) – THE guy who put junior-heavyweight wrestling on the map and made them be seen on the level of heavyweights. Star power was undeniable as well, and he took on Fujinami’s role in defending NWA and WWWF Junior Titles.
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Jushin Thunder Liger – THE guy that you think of when it comes to Junior-Heavyweight wrestling, full-stop. Liger’s mark on wrestling in general is far-reaching and deeply influential into today. Was also a consistent star who was seen on the level of the OG Musketeers (Hashimoto, Mutoh & Chono).
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Minoru Tanaka – easily one of the most underrated and skilled juniors ever. Had the hard task of living up to Liger as the next top Junior but Tanaka was truly a well-rounded guy who could grapple, strike and high-fly in equal measure.
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Prince Devitt – as of now, the only gaijin to be at the top of any division and seen as an “Ace”. Devitt was really special during his time in NJPW, as his popularity with the Japanese fans broke the door down for the likes of Styles, Omega, Osprey and White to break through.
After that it gets a little fuzzy to me, as KUSHIDA could be considered to be the next guy that could be labeled as the “Junior Ace” but in hindsight he didn’t definitively feel like that to me, as he was kinda a holdover between Devitt and Hiromu. Thoughts?
- Hiromu Takahashi – the man who has sat on top of the junior division for the longest stretch in the “modern era”, being massively popular and endlessly entertaining. His time at the top of the division appears to be coming to and end now, as the likes of Kosei Fujita and others are making their claim for the top spot.
by MrPuroresu42