Is Taichi really that bad??

[autisticgeordie]

I admit that I'm a casual fan of New Japan, but I remember that, back when he was a Junior Heavyweight, Taichi had the definition of 'X-Pac Heat', even if he did have one of the coolest theme songs in all of wrestling, not just puro, but it seems like, ever since he moved up to heavyweight levels and has been feuding with Naito and people like that, people haven't complained about his run like they did back when he was a junior?

Is it just that Taichi is better suited to the heavyweight style as opposed to trying to keep up with the much faster paced juniors like Will Ospreay and Hiromu Takahashi? Like, I don't really understand the hate for Taichi, anyway; but apparently even his home-town told him to "Go Home!" which shows a lot about what people used to think of him.

[cabbageboy]

Sometimes he's decent when he actually does something out there. But seriously he also has been involved in some of the worst matches I've seen on NJPW, and those were heavyweight matches.

[Mozenrath]

I don't think he's bad at all. I think he leans into gimmick stuff, but I also think some of that is kind of required to keep him a heel. The crowds REALLY seem ready to cheer him, so the mic stand, iron finger, etc, probably are his only way of holding out the face turn a little longer.

[chrom]

Fans and Critics hated that he'd waste time and goof off with every match having shenanigans and clusters despite showing at times that he's actually a good wrestler and can have good matches and were wanting more of that and less of the former.

Hell from their NOAH run to 2018, Suzukigun was pretty damn bad as it was the same thing every match.

[Dub H]

From what I get he isnt really bad a smuch as he is more of a "WWE" Style Wrestler. Focused more on moments,selling his gimmick and brand to the public.

But he is charismatic that is for sure

[Convoy]

When he’s motivated, like in the G1 match with Ishii, he can be great. The issue is he’s more of a character than a wrestler, and that tends to contrast with what some fans look for when they watch New Japan.

Personally, I’m a fan, but I can see why others don’t like him. He’s very similar to Naito in how charismatic they both are, but also how both can take nights off. He’s also pushing 40, and has never been super athletic, so he’ll always be a step behind most of the heavyweight roster.

Overall I was glad he got into the G1, and I hope he returns to the lineup next year.

[Mozenrath]

Dec 9, 2019 16:22:49 GMT -5 chrom said:

Fans and Critics hated that he'd waste time and goof off with every match having shenanigans and clusters despite showing at times that he's actually a good wrestler and can have good matches and were wanting more of that and less of the former.

Hell from their NOAH run to 2018, Suzukigun was pretty damn bad as it was the same thing every match.

It's funny, I wasn't expecting it, but 2019 ended up being kind of a sleeper year for Suzuki-Gun eventually. Taichi got a lot more prominent, ZSJ has really come into his own with his heeling, Lance Archer ended up wowing people at the G1 and has kept some of that momentum going, and El Desperado's injury I think got people to appreciate him a lot more. DOUKI's also a fun addition, even if he's got a ways to go. Considering he was a last moment stand-in, he's trying his best.

[Dub H]

Dec 9, 2019 17:13:03 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

Dec 9, 2019 16:22:49 GMT -5 chrom said:

Fans and Critics hated that he'd waste time and goof off with every match having shenanigans and clusters despite showing at times that he's actually a good wrestler and can have good matches and were wanting more of that and less of the former.

Hell from their NOAH run to 2018, Suzukigun was pretty damn bad as it was the same thing every match.

It's funny, I wasn't expecting it, but 2019 ended up being kind of a sleeper year for Suzuki-Gun eventually. Taichi got a lot more prominent, ZSJ has really come into his own with his heeling, Lance Archer ended up wowing people at the G1 and has kept some of that momentum going, and El Desperado's injury I think got people to appreciate him a lot more. DOUKI's also a fun addition, even if he's got a ways to go. Considering he was a last moment stand-in, he's trying his best.

Makes you wonder if plans change to give suzuki gun more spotlight from all the ones CHAOS/Bullet Club have.

[Captain Stud Muffin (BLM)]

Nah he’s not really that bad and people have really got into him over the last year

When he wants to work he can but he’s more Into his character work which I’m completely fine with. He’s a perfectly capable IC championship contender. He won’t ever touch the IWGP title but him along with others like SANADA should be the new people involved in the IC title scene

[Dub H]

Dec 9, 2019 17:24:43 GMT -5 Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) said:

Nah he’s not really that bad and people have really got into him over the last year

When he wants to work he can but he’s more Into his character work which I’m completely fine with. He’s a perfectly capable IC championship contender. He won’t ever touch the IWGP title but him along with others like SANADA should be the new people involved in the IC title scene

When I started watching NJPW it blew my mind which people never won the IWGP Title.

I was so used to the WWE where seems like so many "potential" main eventer got a run with the top title.

Like the fact that Suzuki and SANADA might never win the World Title in there still makes me feel uncomfortable

[This Player Hating Mothman]

The theatrics have always been there and always been great, and I can't hate a man with mid-match tearaway pants. As a worker he's not someone I get excited to see, and Suzuki-gun antics can sometimes drag a shwo down if they run too long. But I think his home town telling him to go home--which for the record translates to a sentiment more closely resembling 'f*** off'--is more in on the joke than X-Pac heat. He's a loathsome weirdo heel and the audience leans into it.

[Captain Stud Muffin (BLM)]

Dec 9, 2019 17:30:32 GMT -5 Dub H said:

Dec 9, 2019 17:24:43 GMT -5 Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) said:

Nah he’s not really that bad and people have really got into him over the last year

When he wants to work he can but he’s more Into his character work which I’m completely fine with. He’s a perfectly capable IC championship contender. He won’t ever touch the IWGP title but him along with others like SANADA should be the new people involved in the IC title scene

When I started watching NJPW it blew my mind which people never won the IWGP Title.

I was so used to the WWE where seems like so many "potential" main eventer got a run with the top title.

Like the fact that Suzuki and SANADA might never win the World Title in there still makes me feel uncomfortable

Yea it’s a thing of you just can’t have a hot streak and win the title. People are on it about Naito winning the IWGP title because his reign wasn’t really a reign. He got so hot they couldn’t ignore him anymore

SANADA I think is the next person that could get the IWGP title but he could easily be mini Naito and never hit that hot streak that propels him to such. NJPW does not mess around with that title and not anybody just gets a reign

[Captain Stud Muffin (BLM)]

Dec 9, 2019 17:35:01 GMT -5 This Player Hating Mothman said:

The theatrics have always been there and always been great, and I can't hate a man with mid-match tearaway pants. As a worker he's not someone I get excited to see, and Suzuki-gun antics can sometimes drag a shwo down if they run too long. But I think his home town telling him to go home--which for the record translates to a sentiment more closely resembling 'f*** off'--is more in on the joke than X-Pac heat. He's a loathsome weirdo heel and the audience leans into it.

Angel Garza is the worker version of Taichi right now

[Allie Kitsune]

Dec 9, 2019 17:30:32 GMT -5 Dub H said:

Dec 9, 2019 17:24:43 GMT -5 Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) said:

Nah he’s not really that bad and people have really got into him over the last year

When he wants to work he can but he’s more Into his character work which I’m completely fine with. He’s a perfectly capable IC championship contender. He won’t ever touch the IWGP title but him along with others like SANADA should be the new people involved in the IC title scene

When I started watching NJPW it blew my mind which people never won the IWGP Title.

I was so used to the WWE where seems like so many "potential" main eventer got a run with the top title.

Like the fact that Suzuki and SANADA might never win the World Title in there still makes me feel uncomfortable

Thing is, though, unlike WWE (between the Attitude Era hotshotting getting us used to short reigns and the Brand Splits giving the rise to the likes of Swagger, Khali, Dolph, and Jinder as champions), NJPW hasn't really ever set an expectation that "Everybody Gets a Turn".

[Allie Kitsune]

Dec 9, 2019 17:48:55 GMT -5 Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) said:

Dec 9, 2019 17:35:01 GMT -5 This Player Hating Mothman said:

The theatrics have always been there and always been great, and I can't hate a man with mid-match tearaway pants. As a worker he's not someone I get excited to see, and Suzuki-gun antics can sometimes drag a shwo down if they run too long. But I think his home town telling him to go home--which for the record translates to a sentiment more closely resembling 'f*** off'--is more in on the joke than X-Pac heat. He's a loathsome weirdo heel and the audience leans into it.

Angel Garza is the worker version of Taichi right now

Aside from the tearaway pants, I'm not so sure.

I get more of a "Kid Romeo, but with bucketloads more charisma" vibe from Garza.

[Captain Stud Muffin (BLM)]

Dec 9, 2019 18:03:25 GMT -5 Allie Kitsune said:

Dec 9, 2019 17:48:55 GMT -5 Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) said:

Angel Garza is the worker version of Taichi right now

Aside from the tearaway pants, I'm not so sure.

I get more of a "Kid Romeo, but with bucketloads more charisma" vibe from Garza.

Well not as much as the theatrics department but charisma and scheming are on the same

Both know what they bring to the table tho obviously in Garza part he is a beast in the ring 

[Dub H]

Dec 9, 2019 17:48:16 GMT -5 Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) said:

Dec 9, 2019 17:30:32 GMT -5 Dub H said:

When I started watching NJPW it blew my mind which people never won the IWGP Title.

I was so used to the WWE where seems like so many "potential" main eventer got a run with the top title.

Like the fact that Suzuki and SANADA might never win the World Title in there still makes me feel uncomfortable

Yea it’s a thing of you just can’t have a hot streak and win the title. People are on it about Naito winning the IWGP title because his reign wasn’t really a reign. He got so hot they couldn’t ignore him anymore

SANADA I think is the next person that could get the IWGP title but he could easily be mini Naito and never hit that hot streak that propels him to such. NJPW does not mess around with that title and not anybody just gets a reign

Yeh for example.

When I started watching NJPW it was because I heard so much of Kenny Omega and The Bullet Club, Omega was the hottest act I hear about outside of WWE.

And the dude hadn't even won the title yet.

[Starshine]

He comes off like an "effort" wrestler, where you'll get a good match depending on how motivated and willing he is to actually put the work in.

[Starshine]

Dec 9, 2019 18:02:16 GMT -5 Allie Kitsune said:

Dec 9, 2019 17:30:32 GMT -5 Dub H said:

When I started watching NJPW it blew my mind which people never won the IWGP Title.

I was so used to the WWE where seems like so many "potential" main eventer got a run with the top title.

Like the fact that Suzuki and SANADA might never win the World Title in there still makes me feel uncomfortable

Think is, though, unlike WWE (between the Attitude Era hotshotting getting us used to short reigns and the Brand Splits giving the rise to the likes of Swagger, Khali, Dolph, and Jinder as champions), NJPW hasn't really ever set an expectation that "Everybody Gets a Turn".

They came close in the early-mid-2000's. Like there's no reason Tadao Yasuda should have ever held that belt, but here we are. They also had guys like Fujita hanging around the belt for long periods of time. Then there was Bob Sapp, who yes, was probably over enough, but I do question if that's really the guy you want to put the pressure of carrying your company on. Especially considering the completely pointless way in he lost the belt which made the whole thing look like a complete waste of time.

[Allie Kitsune]

Dec 9, 2019 18:27:40 GMT -5 Starshine said:

Dec 9, 2019 18:02:16 GMT -5 Allie Kitsune said:

Think is, though, unlike WWE (between the Attitude Era hotshotting getting us used to short reigns and the Brand Splits giving the rise to the likes of Swagger, Khali, Dolph, and Jinder as champions), NJPW hasn't really ever set an expectation that "Everybody Gets a Turn".

They came close in the early-mid-2000's. Like there's no reason Tadao Yasuda should have ever held that belt, but here we are. They also had guys like Fujita hanging around the belt for long periods of time. Then there was Bob Sapp, who yes, was probably over enough, but I do question if that's really the guy you want to put the pressure of carrying your company on. Especially considering the completely pointless way in he lost the belt which made the whole thing look like a complete waste of time.

I dare not attempt to peer into the mind of Inoki.