That nachos picture compelled me to go back and watch my favorite promo, which is Tetsuya Naito announcing that his faction Los Ingobernables de Japon will get an extra member after Hiromu Takahashi was injured and had to vacate the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship in 2018. First off, the video bleeds style like few others do: the remaining four active members of LIJ are dressed sharp and meeting in some kind of speakeasy gambling hall. But my big thing is about this philosophy that Naito shares:
So, Hiromu is injured and loses the belt. LIJ wants to wait for Hiromu to be back in action¹, but also doesn't want to be stagnant... so there's a new member coming². That's all fine, but damn how about that philosophy? Be true to yourself, be determined, and don't be afraid to step forward and change when you need to. That's good shit.
That philosophy kinda goes with the backing track, is the nutso thing! It's a remix of Naito's "Stardust" theme which he still uses to this day (I believe, anyway -- my NJPW bingeing days are behind me). The title refers to his original gimmick as the "Stardust Genius" that was trying to be pushed by NJPW management even though Naito didn't really fit the mold they imagined. You can see it in one shot while Naito's talking about his failed past.
He had a lot of skill and brains, but the generic babyface character never really clicked with the audience in the right way and he got buried by a match-booking fan poll that stalled his momentum to the top. So, after failing as the Stardust Genius, Naito goes on an excursion in the Mexican promotion CMLL and re-invents himself by teaming with Los Ingobernables and taking on an anti-hero, "I do what I want" type attitude as a reaction to the fan hate... and the fans love it because of course they do, that's way cooler than a wonder boy babyface. Now Los Ingobernables de Japon is one of the top stables in NJPW, Tetsuya Naito is one of the top 3 wrestlers in the promotion, and merch flies off the tables. There was a flippin' crossover between LIJ and Idolmaster!
But despite all these changes, Naito hasn't gotten rid of that old Stardust theme. To be fair, it goes hard -- but it also makes me think about the words he's said. You can have the bravery to step forward and change while still retaining the parts of you that you like. Look where that mindset can take you.
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In case you're curious, Hiromu's injury was a broken neck and he was out of the game for 16 MONTHS. JESUS. How do you go back to wrestling after that???????
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That new member was Shingo Takagi who I honestly haven't seen a lot of, but he has a cool look and I believe people like his striking ability. I'm not getting into him right now because oh god how long have I been writing this post for? oh god
