Tetsuya Naito – Ring Side Mania

🌏 Tetsuya Naito

✅ Nickname: “Stardust Genius”

✅ Catchphrase: “Tranquilo, Assenayo” (Stay Calm, Don’t Rush!)

✅ Type: Unorthodox / Technical / Showman

📌 Basic Information

Category	Details
Real Name	Tetsuya Naito
Born	June 22, 1982
Hometown	Tokyo, Japan
Height	180 cm (5’11”)
Weight	102 kg (225 lbs)
Promotion	New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW)
Debut	May 5, 2006

✅ Signature Moves: Destino, Gloria, Stardust Press

✅ Iconic Match: vs. Kazuchika Okada (Wrestle Kingdom 14)

🏆 Career Highlights

Year	Achievement
2006	Debuted in NJPW
2011	Won the G1 Tag League with Yujiro Takahashi
2013	Won his first G1 CLIMAX, but was rejected by fans in the main event of Wrestle Kingdom 8
2015	Reinvented himself in CMLL, returning as the leader of Los Ingobernables de Japon (LIJ)
2016	Won his first IWGP Heavyweight Championship, shocking the NJPW world
2017	Won his second G1 CLIMAX, defeating Kenny Omega in the final
2020	Became the first-ever double IWGP Heavyweight & Intercontinental Champion at Wrestle Kingdom 14
2023	Won his third G1 CLIMAX, setting up a Tokyo Dome main event at Wrestle Kingdom 18
2024	Defeated SANADA to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 18

💡 Key Contributions:

✅ One of the most influential wrestlers in modern NJPW history

✅ Revolutionized the “Tranquilo” philosophy and led LIJ to mainstream success

✅ Broke traditional wrestling norms by popularizing the anti-hero persona in NJPW

✅ Transformed fan rejection into one of the most powerful redemption arcs in wrestling history

📺 Iconic Matches

▶ vs. Kazuchika Okada (Wrestle Kingdom 14) – The ultimate redemption moment

▶ vs. Kenny Omega (G1 CLIMAX 27 Final) – A battle between two of NJPW’s best

▶ vs. SANADA (Wrestle Kingdom 18) – A dramatic clash between former allies

📖 Match Breakdown: Historic Matches – Tetsuya Naito

🔥 Key Rivals

• Kazuchika Okada (A legendary rivalry that shaped NJPW’s modern era)

• Kenny Omega (A crucial opponent during NJPW’s global expansion)

• SANADA (Once his stablemate, now a fierce rival for the IWGP title)

🎵 Entrance Theme

• “STARDUST” 🎶

💡 Highlights:

✅ “STARDUST” symbolized his early days as NJPW’s rising star

📊 Wrestler Rating

Category	Rating	Explanation
Offense	★★★★☆	A combination of technical ability and unorthodox attacks
Defense	★★★★☆	Resilient in big matches but takes significant damage over time
Physical	★★★☆☆	Not the most explosive athlete, but compensates with smart pacing
IQ	★★★★★	Master of psychological warfare and long-term storytelling
Charisma	★★★★★	One of NJPW’s most beloved and captivating superstars

➡ Overall Rating: 90 / 100 (A Rank)

💡 Analysis:

Tetsuya Naito’s career is a testament to perseverance and reinvention. Initially rejected by fans, he transformed into one of NJPW’s most charismatic anti-heroes. His LIJ faction became one of the most beloved stables in NJPW, and he has remained a main event player for nearly a decade.

While years of hard-fought matches have taken a toll on his body, his storytelling, psychology, and ability to manipulate match dynamics remain elite, making him a top-tier performer in NJPW today.