Okada leaving. Tanahashi retiring. Naito leaving. It really is the end of an era,
Well goddamn, somebody cue up the Ishii picture
Damn. Wonder where he ends up, but above all I hope he gets to rest up a bit.
Good thing that both of the top draws have left the company and put over zero of the young Japanese guys to start their careers.
gjgjgjgj
I like this. No more dependence on the older talent that can’t go anymore.
Buried at the bottom of that page is a link to a story that Bushi is finishing up on the same day.
It truly is the end of an era. LIJ are probably done as a faction.
So Tsuji takes over LIJ then ?
Him and Bushi leaving points to dark days for LIJ
Honestly shocking news I was not expecting this
I’m curious if he continues past May 4th as a freelancer. His and BUSHI’s contracts end the same but their articles are worded different with only BUSHI’s saying he’s leaving. Though, it does feel very Naito to just disappear rather than an extravagant retirement.
Regardless, end of an era. Feels like LIJ is dead in a heartbeat.
Shut the fucking sub down….
They only mentioned that they don’t plan to renew his contract, they didn’t say that he was retiring. Makes me wonder if he’s still going to continue wrestling elsewhere, despite the writing being on the wall for quite some time.
NJPW is taking some pretty hard hits to their roster. Makes me wonder if Tana is gonna look into signing more people at this rate.
Damn…
He’s either retiring or he’s becoming a freelancer
I can’t believe Tony Khan stopped bankrolling NJPW and now the wrestlers are leaving in droves. Just kidding. Hiromu kinda spoiled this announcement yesterday on Kenoh’s Youtube show by saying Naito is a free lancer and they’ll both show up to face him.
LIJ folding into Hontai probably, what the fuck?
Glad I got to see him live in Japan in last August. This really feels like the end of an era. Thank you El Ingobernable.
The only true positive here is that we can expect a pretty fresh G1 scene.
You’ll be missed, Naito.
Everytime i think New Japan can keep running with the momentum some insane stuff happens. Losing Chaos and LIJ in the same year is just crazy. The only factions that work right now are War Dogs and TMDK and everything else seems to be in some weird pause. Im genuinely just that Ishii meme at this point.
Holy fucking shit. Not much else to say.
There is probably going to be a first time g1 winner which will be good and also hopefully this means my guy taichi gets in the g1
Cabron
Where will Naito go?
Bushi is leaving too but I think no one actually gives a fuck?
That Naito chant, on May 4th, is going to be so loud. As it should be.
WHAT
None of the four involved in the double-gold dash are still with the company 6 years later. Absolutely wild
Naito’s going to fucking die in the ring.
i can’t see a world where it was NJPW pushing him to do more dates.
this is the ultimate sink or swim for the company, i think they’ll be fine, i orignally though they were gonna pivit back to Zack at dominion but i think its probably worth just running the Goto good will as far it will take you to WK.
Starting to feel like AJPW vibes and not the good kind.
Zandokan Jr come on down!
This shit sucks and I’m finding it harder and harder to not be apathetic towards NJPW with how much water they’re taking on. The new gen will keep them afloat but man apathy is building
I’m sorry, what??!? Honestly, Bushi has been stale for years unfortunately, though I was a longtime fan (hopefully means Titan will finally be used more, though hopefully not as just the pin eater. Maybe add a new member?), but I’m pretty shocked about Naito, just b/c of his situation, even though he obviously moves down the card to more of a special attraction/Tanahashi’s current/previous role…there’s still some more for him to do while he’s still around, and again, his limitations bring in to question what he might be able to do elsewhere. I personally liked the WK match with Hiromu, despite what people said; it wasn’t a naito-hiromu match you would have wanted years ago, but it was good for what it was for me
I’d have to assume CMLL, GLEAT, NOAH, DDT or AJPW at this point, right? He’s probably unlikely to want to go somewhere else, and of those, CMLL seems the most obvious; I just wonder what exactly he’s even going to do
Glad I got to see him at Windy City Riot while I still had the chance; Sad I never made it to Japan in time to see a proper NJPW show, with all of my favorites involved, but happy for what I did get to see, which I never expected to; 1 of my absolute all time favorites
I still believe all the things I’ve been saying/I said the last couple of days about my excitement for NJPW moving forward. It sucks losing such long time favorites, but I still feel like overall, NJPW is about to have a really strong next 2-3 years…and hopefully, if things go a certain way with certain people, and the older guys hold up elsewhere, there’s still the potential for return matches down the line, when current people in NJPW are in higher status for it
I swear if they let another top guy leave without putting anyone over they deserve what they get.
Kinda curious to see where Naito ends up. Could even see him have a few more matches with NJPW.
It’s surprising because Naito seemed like a lifer but at the same time I understand. Whatever he’s doing next will probably give him more rest than working the NJPW schedule. He gave enough to NJPW, probably more than he should have so he can do whatever he wants now. The fans have seen how beat up he is, all I saw from the Japanese fans in the last few months is them saying they wish Naito could rest for a while. So the fact he can’t go anymore probably has an impact on his drawing power but even in his current state he’s still one of their biggest stars and it’s still a huge loss.
Curious to see what happens with LIJ, can’t feel the same without him and it will probably have an impact on merch sales. I wish he could put over Tsuji before leaving but seems like it’ll not happen, unless he ends up as a freelancer and can make a few appearances here and there. Guess we’ll have to wait and see what’s next for him.
NJPW is losing its last 2 big stars this year, even as beat up as they are, it’s a loss for the promotion. The current gen of dojo products has more guys with a high ceiling compared to the Okada/Naito gen but for now they absolutely don’t have any star of the same level and being a star that connects with the crowd as well as Naito and Tanahashi is something you very rarely see. NJPW will have to hope someone can get that connection because if not you’ll have great wrestlers at the top but you won’t really have a big star.
Push Tsuji to the fucking moon
OH DEAR GOD NO
From a personal standpoint, it’s a fitting end for me with not having enough time anymore to keep up with New Japan. I started watching in 2016 and Naito & LIJ caught my eye immediately. Life has gotten more busy and I find I can’t watch like I used to. I’ve luckily met Naito in 2018 and have his autograph. I saw him get the IWGP Championship back from Moxley live, so that’s a cool last moment for me. He’ll always be one of my favorites.
So funny to me that despite YEARS of people on here and sc saying Naito needs to retire and or New Japan shouldn’t be booking around a guy with no knees and one eyeball, people are now saying New Japan is in trouble lol
Bring back Caveman Ugg!
I knew Naito’s time was eventually coming with how battered he is, but I thought he’d at least get some big massive sendoff at one last Wrestle Kingdom when the time came or something. Good god.
The most frustrating part of this was that now his last Wrestle Kingdom match was finally the singles vs Hiromu… but Hiromu didn’t fucking win.
NJPW is ready to be AEW’s lackey possibly “forever” by AEW x NJPW 2025 in London and Tanahashi could be calling The Rock, Nick Khan & HHH & WWE to “save them” for a WWE x NJPW partnership!
The future is now, old man
I wonder who the highest paid NJPW guy is once naito/tana are gone. Or who the top guy is considered.
41 comments
end of an era
Okada leaving. Tanahashi retiring. Naito leaving. It really is the end of an era,
Well goddamn, somebody cue up the Ishii picture
Damn. Wonder where he ends up, but above all I hope he gets to rest up a bit.
Good thing that both of the top draws have left the company and put over zero of the young Japanese guys to start their careers.
gjgjgjgj
I like this. No more dependence on the older talent that can’t go anymore.
Buried at the bottom of that page is a link to a story that Bushi is finishing up on the same day.
It truly is the end of an era. LIJ are probably done as a faction.
So Tsuji takes over LIJ then ?
Him and Bushi leaving points to dark days for LIJ
Honestly shocking news I was not expecting this
I’m curious if he continues past May 4th as a freelancer. His and BUSHI’s contracts end the same but their articles are worded different with only BUSHI’s saying he’s leaving. Though, it does feel very Naito to just disappear rather than an extravagant retirement.
Regardless, end of an era. Feels like LIJ is dead in a heartbeat.
Shut the fucking sub down….
They only mentioned that they don’t plan to renew his contract, they didn’t say that he was retiring. Makes me wonder if he’s still going to continue wrestling elsewhere, despite the writing being on the wall for quite some time.
NJPW is taking some pretty hard hits to their roster. Makes me wonder if Tana is gonna look into signing more people at this rate.
Damn…
He’s either retiring or he’s becoming a freelancer
I can’t believe Tony Khan stopped bankrolling NJPW and now the wrestlers are leaving in droves. Just kidding. Hiromu kinda spoiled this announcement yesterday on Kenoh’s Youtube show by saying Naito is a free lancer and they’ll both show up to face him.
LIJ folding into Hontai probably, what the fuck?
Glad I got to see him live in Japan in last August. This really feels like the end of an era. Thank you El Ingobernable.
The only true positive here is that we can expect a pretty fresh G1 scene.
You’ll be missed, Naito.
Everytime i think New Japan can keep running with the momentum some insane stuff happens. Losing Chaos and LIJ in the same year is just crazy. The only factions that work right now are War Dogs and TMDK and everything else seems to be in some weird pause. Im genuinely just that Ishii meme at this point.
Holy fucking shit. Not much else to say.
There is probably going to be a first time g1 winner which will be good and also hopefully this means my guy taichi gets in the g1
Cabron
Where will Naito go?
Bushi is leaving too but I think no one actually gives a fuck?
That Naito chant, on May 4th, is going to be so loud. As it should be.
WHAT
None of the four involved in the double-gold dash are still with the company 6 years later. Absolutely wild
Naito’s going to fucking die in the ring.
i can’t see a world where it was NJPW pushing him to do more dates.
this is the ultimate sink or swim for the company, i think they’ll be fine, i orignally though they were gonna pivit back to Zack at dominion but i think its probably worth just running the Goto good will as far it will take you to WK.
Starting to feel like AJPW vibes and not the good kind.
Zandokan Jr come on down!
This shit sucks and I’m finding it harder and harder to not be apathetic towards NJPW with how much water they’re taking on. The new gen will keep them afloat but man apathy is building
I’m sorry, what??!? Honestly, Bushi has been stale for years unfortunately, though I was a longtime fan (hopefully means Titan will finally be used more, though hopefully not as just the pin eater. Maybe add a new member?), but I’m pretty shocked about Naito, just b/c of his situation, even though he obviously moves down the card to more of a special attraction/Tanahashi’s current/previous role…there’s still some more for him to do while he’s still around, and again, his limitations bring in to question what he might be able to do elsewhere. I personally liked the WK match with Hiromu, despite what people said; it wasn’t a naito-hiromu match you would have wanted years ago, but it was good for what it was for me
I’d have to assume CMLL, GLEAT, NOAH, DDT or AJPW at this point, right? He’s probably unlikely to want to go somewhere else, and of those, CMLL seems the most obvious; I just wonder what exactly he’s even going to do
Glad I got to see him at Windy City Riot while I still had the chance; Sad I never made it to Japan in time to see a proper NJPW show, with all of my favorites involved, but happy for what I did get to see, which I never expected to; 1 of my absolute all time favorites
I still believe all the things I’ve been saying/I said the last couple of days about my excitement for NJPW moving forward. It sucks losing such long time favorites, but I still feel like overall, NJPW is about to have a really strong next 2-3 years…and hopefully, if things go a certain way with certain people, and the older guys hold up elsewhere, there’s still the potential for return matches down the line, when current people in NJPW are in higher status for it
I swear if they let another top guy leave without putting anyone over they deserve what they get.
Kinda curious to see where Naito ends up. Could even see him have a few more matches with NJPW.
It’s surprising because Naito seemed like a lifer but at the same time I understand. Whatever he’s doing next will probably give him more rest than working the NJPW schedule. He gave enough to NJPW, probably more than he should have so he can do whatever he wants now. The fans have seen how beat up he is, all I saw from the Japanese fans in the last few months is them saying they wish Naito could rest for a while. So the fact he can’t go anymore probably has an impact on his drawing power but even in his current state he’s still one of their biggest stars and it’s still a huge loss.
Curious to see what happens with LIJ, can’t feel the same without him and it will probably have an impact on merch sales. I wish he could put over Tsuji before leaving but seems like it’ll not happen, unless he ends up as a freelancer and can make a few appearances here and there. Guess we’ll have to wait and see what’s next for him.
NJPW is losing its last 2 big stars this year, even as beat up as they are, it’s a loss for the promotion. The current gen of dojo products has more guys with a high ceiling compared to the Okada/Naito gen but for now they absolutely don’t have any star of the same level and being a star that connects with the crowd as well as Naito and Tanahashi is something you very rarely see. NJPW will have to hope someone can get that connection because if not you’ll have great wrestlers at the top but you won’t really have a big star.
Push Tsuji to the fucking moon
OH DEAR GOD NO
From a personal standpoint, it’s a fitting end for me with not having enough time anymore to keep up with New Japan. I started watching in 2016 and Naito & LIJ caught my eye immediately. Life has gotten more busy and I find I can’t watch like I used to. I’ve luckily met Naito in 2018 and have his autograph. I saw him get the IWGP Championship back from Moxley live, so that’s a cool last moment for me. He’ll always be one of my favorites.
So funny to me that despite YEARS of people on here and sc saying Naito needs to retire and or New Japan shouldn’t be booking around a guy with no knees and one eyeball, people are now saying New Japan is in trouble lol
Bring back Caveman Ugg!
I knew Naito’s time was eventually coming with how battered he is, but I thought he’d at least get some big massive sendoff at one last Wrestle Kingdom when the time came or something. Good god.
The most frustrating part of this was that now his last Wrestle Kingdom match was finally the singles vs Hiromu… but Hiromu didn’t fucking win.
NJPW is ready to be AEW’s lackey possibly “forever” by AEW x NJPW 2025 in London and Tanahashi could be calling The Rock, Nick Khan & HHH & WWE to “save them” for a WWE x NJPW partnership!
The future is now, old man
I wonder who the highest paid NJPW guy is once naito/tana are gone. Or who the top guy is considered.