10 Incredible Wrestlers Who STILL Don't Get The Praise They Deserve
8. Hirooki Goto
To be a Hirooki Goto fan is to suffer immensely.
Of all the G1 Climax winners over the years, Goto is the only one to never lift New Japan’s top prize. It’s a stat that makes his infamous ‘The G in G1 stands for Goto’ promo from 2019 all the more egregious.
Despite embodying the hard-hitting Strong Style spirit of traditional New Japan with gusto, Goto is always a bridesmaid. There was a time, long before head booker Gedo rendered him a serial choke artist, that Goto was immensely popular.
Returning from a Mexican excursion in 2008, the CHAOS gatekeeper wowed crowds with his inventive moves, stiff brawling and fiery demeanour. He seemed like a natural fit at the top of the card, butting heads with Hiroshi Tanahashi and Shinsuke Nakamura.
Sadly for Katsuyori Shibata’s friend-turned-enemy-turned-friend (?), the next wave of talent washed in before he could win the big one. With Kazuchika Okada establishing a claw hold on the IWGP heavyweight gold and Tetsuya Naito beginning the march to main events, Goto was left in the cold.
Throw in Bullet Club bad boys like AJ Styles, Kenny Omega and Jay White and suddenly Goto had no room at the top at all.
In 2021, he’s slotted firmly in the midcard. His credibility at the top is shot and he ate 6 (!) losses in this year’s G1. Goto can still burn the house down in the ring and fans still like him but it’s clear he’ll never get the credit he deserves.
Like Dolph Ziggler in WWE, Goto’s real-life abilities and reputation have been badly hindered by the damage done to him in kayfabe.