What do you think of the fact that neither Shota Umino nor Yuya Uemura* have won ANYTHING since their respective returns from excursion?

*Yes I know Uemura hot potatoed the provisional KOPW title with Great-O-Khan in 2024.

Umino and Uemura have been back in New Japan for 3.5 years and 2.5 years respectively, but neither of them have won any legit championship or tournament; no IWGP belts, no NEVER belts, no STRONG belts, no TV belt, no trophies. I would have expected that by this stage in their careers, even if not winning the IWGP Heavyweight title yet, they would both have a handful of midcard singles titles or a NEVER 6-man reign to their names.

Compare to other heavyweights who have redebuted in the same period:

Yota Tsuji: IWGP (World), IWGP Global x2, NEVER 6-Man, NJ Cup

Ren Narita: NEVER, NJPW World TV, NEVER 6-Man x2

Ryohei Oiwa: NEVER 6-Man, World Tag League

Knockout Brothers: IWGP Tag

Boltin Oleg (no excursion): NEVER, NEVER 6-Man x3, STRONG

Historically Gedo has always ‘had a plan’, and slow burns are a staple of his, but isn’t it about time these two handsome bastards were thrown a bone?

by antagonjst