13 Wrestlers Who Were Better In NJPW Than They Were In TNA

Sent over to TNA as part of the package deal with Yujiro, Naito faced similar problems and was constantly picked to job to lesser talents on Impact. Most egregious though was TNA's decision to make him lose to Jeff Hardy in the Tokyo Dome - a heel Jeff, no less.

After coming back to Japan though, Naito found that certain “Polvo De Estrella” to help him fully embrace his Stardust Genius character. Riding a wave of popularity and seen by many as the successor to Tanahashi, he would go on to win the G1, before plateauing and hitting the wall that was Kazuchika Okada.

The rejection of fans in favor of Okada was arguably the most arduous obstacle facing down the young star. It wouldn't be until another excursion to Mexico that Naito would become El Ingobernable. This was a new Naito, that would reserve his high-energy moves, lethargically taunting his opponents and the crowd as he lazed about the ring and the outside area.

This dejected and jaded personality ended up striking a chord with Japanese fans, making him easily the most popular guy in the promotion. Naito would add more members to his motley crew like SANADA, EVIL, and Hiromu Takahashi, to form the most popular stable in Japan.

Right now Naito stands as both leader of LIJ, and the only singles double champion in IWGP history. It's hard to do better than that.