10 Best Character Arcs In Wrestling Today

Tetsuya Naito’s roadblock laden journey to Wrestle Kingdom 14 feels 6 and a half years in the making.

Rejected by the fans after his G1 Climax 2013 victory and voted out of the Wrestle Kingdom 8 main event, Naito spent some time soul searching before his rebirth. It was in Mexico where he embraced the philosophy of Tranquilo, leading first to crowd disgust in 2015 before receiving heavy crowd support from 2016 onwards. For many, Naito’s counter cultural anti wrestler persona represented fighting back for those oppressed and mistreated at work and in life in general.

After a painfully short heavyweight title run, Naito became synonymous with the title he hated, the IWGP Intercontinental championship. The title that had main evented instead of him at Wrestle Kingdom 8 has come to him far more than any other title in his career.

When he was finally able to challenge for the heavyweight title again at Wrestle Kingdom 12, Naito choked. He got much too caught up in the support of the crowd, allowing long running nemesis Kazuchika Okada to get the better of him once again.

With his blood beginning to boil after messy feuds with Jay White and Taichi this fall, Naito finds himself challenging for the Intercontinental title once again on January 4 with a shot at the heavyweight title on January 5 should he win.

Will Naito be able to redeem himself and finally reach his peak next January?