10 Wrestlers Who Became Amazing After Heavy Criticism
6. Hirooki Goto
Hirooki Goto has endured a torrent of undeserved criticism in recent years, perhaps resulting from his rather optimistic - or brazen - booking.
A secret MVP of New Japan Pro Wrestling's rise to stratospheric critical acclaim, Goto was depended upon to deliver killer main events on B-level shows in the role of perennial challenger. His various, ill-fated quests to dethrone Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada helped solidify and build their respective legacies, and his awesome performance level forged the company's pulsating, reversal-driven in-house style.
Ultimately, he was depended upon much too often; as the years passed, and NJPW's shifting roster improved exponentially, it became apparent that Goto was no longer a viable nor a compelling challenger, and as a result, his matches took on an air of near-complete apathy. Goto was an over-exposed "geek"; the man who once was so pivotal to the ascension of his peers as a pivotal chapter point was now skipped by more casual fans.
Goto has rediscovered that old fire over the last 18 months by emphasising his unreal physicality in the NEVER division, waging awe-inspiring, sweat-spraying wars with Tomohiro Ishii and proving himself an exceptional opponent for the emerging Shingo Takagi - essentially, reverting back to his formidable gatekeeper role with full, brick sh*thouse power.