12 Ups & 6 Downs From NJPW Best Of The Super Juniors 2019

4. DOUKI, The Sore Thumb

DOUKI Ren Narita
NJPW

While New Japan's broadcast team were quick to assure us that the pronunciation was "doe-key," Taichi associate DOUKI's Best Of The Super Juniors performances bore a closer resemblance to the title of Green Day's seminal pop-punk album.

DOUKI is not an NJPW wrestler. That he was brought in as a replacement for the injured El Desperado means we can cut the promotion some slack, but only some. Everything from his janky ring work to his shoddy look screamed "indie-riffic." In over his head and out of place, the scrappy, grimy luchador mucked it up all BOSJ long. His 16 May clash with Ryusuke Taguchi was a hard watch. It showed, decisively, that this flown-in freelancer is far better suited to the smaller stages on which he usually performs, despite his general fit with Suzuki-gun's aesthetic.

Credit to New Japan for finding a last-minute Despy substitute, but DOUKI ain't it, chiefs. His shortcomings were perfectly surmised on the last night, when seven other wrestlers were lined up to catch his dive to the outside and the big dafty somehow missed every single one of them. Good.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.