10 Wrestlers Who Got Over By Losing
9. Tomoaki Honma
Tomoaki Honma was positioned in New Japan's seminal 2010s era as a lower card enhancement guy. Endearing and almost awkward, mechanically, he had more fire than talent - or maybe "success" is the better word, looking at his remarkable rise.
A last-minute G1 Climax 2014 substitute for the injured Kota Ibushi, Honma lost every last one of his 10 block matches. The booking was as logical as it was inspired. It made sense for him to lose, but the New Japan fans were dazzled by his fighting spirit and his sheer refusal to stop fighting, even when it was less than pointless.
A peak Honma high spot - basically, whenever he was in a fight with Tomohiro Ishii - meant so much more than most, even if (or even because) he executed those moves with such little grace. He didn't ascend the turnbuckle because he was a gifted aerialist ready to launch into a high-risk attack. He didn't fly from the top rope because he had particularly low regard for his own safety. He just desperately wanted to win, to prove himself more than the loser his dire record all but confirmed he was.
His Kokeshi finish - he would hold his body rigid, and flop into a flying headbutt with zero success - was as clever as it was dumb. The hit-and-hope of pro wrestling moves, when he finally hit it, it felt like a shared celebration. You couldn't not be happy for him.
Just look at his daft face!