KINGS WITHOUT CROWNS:
NJPW’S UNCROWNED CHAMPIONS
By Jasmine Olan
With such a stacked and high quality roster, New Japan Pro Wrestling’s main event picture can be a very challenging one to get into. The IWGP Heavyweight Championship is the promotion’s highest honor, and it’s not easily earned as the title doesn’t quickly change hands. This honor is held by only the best of the best in NJPW. Because of this, there are many incredibly talented performers who have yet to achieve it. The ones fans feel are the most deserving among them are often viewed as uncrowned champions, the performers they believe should have the title but don’t. Their stories are some of the most relatable told, and they themselves hold a very special place in the hearts of NJPW fans. Quite a few of New Japan’s finest have experienced this. One of them is a fierce warrior who has been a mainstay of the company since the early 2000s.
An absolute powerhouse in the ring, Hirooki Goto is probably one of the best examples of an uncrowned champion in New Japan Pro Wrestling. He has been with the company since 2003 and has accomplished so much throughout his career. Goto has won championship gold as both a junior and a heavyweight and has also helped elevate the NEVER Openweight title to new levels of honor and prestige, winning a record four times. In 2008 he won one the most prestigious and grueling tournaments in all of professional wrestling, the G1 Climax. His list of accomplishments also includes winning the New Japan Cup three times.
He even made his mark as a young lion, winning the Young Lions Cup in 2005. The one accolade that has eluded him all these years is the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. It is a classic case of “always the bridesmaid, never the bride”. Goto gets as close as possible to winning the title but never does. Despite that fans still have the utmost respect for Goto and hold out hope that he will one day take his place as IWGP Heavyweight Champion. It is a similar situation for one of his closest CHAOS stablemates.
The Stone Pitbull, Tomohiro Ishii is viewed by many as one of the true gatekeepers to the main event inner circle in New Japan. Like Goto, he too has accomplished a lot but never the big one. Ishii has won numerous titles in both Japan and the UK, but the IWGP Heavyweight Championship has perpetually eluded him for years despite his status as a big fan favorite. Ishii is also held in very high regard by his fellow wrestlers as he is widely known as one of the best brawlers on the international wrestling scene. His case is unique in that he often plays an integral role in the push behind many of NJPW’s top stars. The best of the best have all had to do battle against the Stone Pitbull on their way to the top. One of them may be soon taking his place as champion at some point this year.
Viewed by fans and the industry as a whole as one of the best wrestlers of his generation, the Golden Star, Kota Ibushi appears to be one of the next in line to take his place as IWGP Heavyweight Champion. This is something that could have easily been done four years ago, but the one thing that has delayed it all this time has been his reticence to sign a contract with any promotion. That has since changed with Ibushi having recently signed a two year deal with New Japan. He made a huge impact years ago during his time as a junior, and will soon be making an even bigger one as a heavyweight. Even after nearly fifteen years in the industry, fans are still completely in love with his awe inspiring talent and free spirited nature. If anyone can go that distance and make it happen it’s the Golden Star, Kota Ibushi.
These performers and others like them have a very unique place in the grand scheme of things within New Japan Pro Wrestling whether as gatekeepers or stars on the rise. Their roles are very important as everyone affects everyone else’s push in the company. That and their connection with NJPW fans helps to elevate the quality of the product at every turn. The hard work and passion they put into what they do will no doubt continue to inspire future generations. These incredible talents all serve as an example of how sometimes being a king doesn’t always come with a crown.
