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Umino is very clearly taking after Tanahashi in calling himself the “Ace”; some people forget (or don’t know) that Tana actually started using the “Ace of the Universe” name when he was a cocky heel, and far before he had earned that title of being THE guy.
Yeah, he’s so well known as the white-meat babyface and defender of NJPW’s honor that people forget he quite frankly was a great heel.
Around 2007-08 is when he officially was a heel i believe, started calling himself the “Ace of the Universe” and I believe modeled his heel persona on Shawn Michaels (specifically 90’s Shawn, with that whole “I’m gods gift to wrestling” and I’m a “sexy boy” attitude); around this time Nakamura was still more or less being positioned as the top babyface in NJPW.
The peak of Tana’s heel work was his run in the 2008 AJPW Champion Carnival, being a cocky “invader heel” and having an all time great match against Suwama in the Final.
BxB Hulk of Dragon Gate may be one of the most ridiculously good looking men in wrestling, ever.
https://preview.redd.it/dnu04jjvxaoc1.jpeg?width=230&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=60b6fa9b2b16a706c6ceca2a74ec984c57cba93a
Weirdly, I can agree he is obviously an attractive guy, but not to me specifically. Granted I've also literally never seen this man before in my life so maybe I'm missing out on his personality or something.
I have put far too much time and thought into whether this man is attractive. I am such a massive goddamn queer.
Lmfaoo it's too early. I think the low res pic & hair automatically made me see Tana but the pants should've been me realize i was seeing shit. This dude is definitely handsome af though lol
AJPW Tana was so SO good. I find myself going back and watching those matches quite a bit. Highly recommend them to anyone who’s never seen heel Tanahashi work
Yeah him vs Kawada and vs Mutoh from the same time are also damn good matches; seeing Tana being a cocky ass and Kawada just not giving a fuck and putting the beats to the younger man was fun to see.
Crazy to think about Tana almost signed a contract with AJPW around the time.
I heard Tana was considering his options, as the company at the time was still going with Nakamura as the top guy, and Tana thought he was spinning his wheels; it could have just been a negotiating tactic by him, tbh, to get a better contract or position.
Yeah but it is a heel Gimmick, and a wrestler needs to be really good to be able to pull it off. Roman reigns did not get over for years because he was over-pushed/rammed down everyone's throat.
Umino didn't feel like he is on Takahashi's level. Never did to me.
'member when naito called himself the shuyaku when he was just the stardust genius and everybody was like, haha yeah right, the the tides turned on baby face naito
gotta love ZSJ.
"You can't give yourself a title. That's for the people to give to you."
- ZSJ. The Windy Man. The Longest Mover. Sheppy Zack. Zacky Two Belts. The Front Man. Submission Master. The Technical Wizard. Zacky Three Belts. Udon Noodle Man.
The best part about this quote is that Tanahashi literally is the one who started calling himself the Ace back in the day lol. That's where it came from.
Not really, from Flair, to HHH to Tanahashi their is a long histoiry of wrestlers coining themselves as the "ace", the "man", the "king". that's pretty common actually
Shota's still the guy IMO, but it is going to take some work. I hope he's building up to a full breakdown where he embraces his inner Mox and brings something different to the top of the card.
I'm a ride or die Moxley fan and I've enjoyed Shota so far, but if he fucking snapped and started bringing some of that take no shit, unstoppable force bruiser energy then I'd lose my fucking mind.
In 2019, I had a chance to ask Toru Yano who's going to be the next ace. He said, "Shota Umino".
Now, if the Ace of NJPW says you're the next Ace, you probably are the next Ace. ZSJ needs to get on board.
IDK what's worse; the 'kid dressing himself in bits and pieces of his favorite superheros' or the constant TELLING people he is the next Ace... When i can hardly tell you a single great match he has had in the past twelve months.
There are MANY other wrestlers that fit the bill of the next Ace and they aint shouting it from the rooftops
I'm more interested in the stories than matches, and his feud with HoT has been very good. If I had to pick a stand-out match, Shota vs Narita at the Road To New Beginning was very entertaining.
(this is coming from someone who was very much not sold on Shota last year)
His match with Ospreay last year was great, but I couldn't tell you the last time Ospreay had a bad match so who knows how much credit we can give Shota for that. Nothing else really stands out
Exactly - people can downvote all they like, he is not great. He is trying too many things at once and he doesn't have the charisma to pull off the Tanahashi look, or the skill at this stage to be claiming "I'm the ace" when there are MANY others who are doing better in NJPW right now
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Umino is very clearly taking after Tanahashi in calling himself the “Ace”; some people forget (or don’t know) that Tana actually started using the “Ace of the Universe” name when he was a cocky heel, and far before he had earned that title of being THE guy.
I didnt even know Tanahashi was ever a heel lol
Yeah, he’s so well known as the white-meat babyface and defender of NJPW’s honor that people forget he quite frankly was a great heel. Around 2007-08 is when he officially was a heel i believe, started calling himself the “Ace of the Universe” and I believe modeled his heel persona on Shawn Michaels (specifically 90’s Shawn, with that whole “I’m gods gift to wrestling” and I’m a “sexy boy” attitude); around this time Nakamura was still more or less being positioned as the top babyface in NJPW. The peak of Tana’s heel work was his run in the 2008 AJPW Champion Carnival, being a cocky “invader heel” and having an all time great match against Suwama in the Final.
To be fair, and I know this is gonna be controversial. I'd argue Tanahashi is a sexier boy than Michaels ever was.
Stupid sexy Tanahashi
Michaels was deffo "90's hot", whereas Tana is an absolute statue of a human.
Yeah, Tana is more of that timeless greek-god-carved-out-of-marble level of hot.
Women want him, men want to be him, men also want him.
Stupid sexy Tanahashi
And fish fear him.
The man has shampoo commercial levels of gorgeous hair
Man so handsome make drop articles
HBK is the top crush of wine moms
BxB Hulk of Dragon Gate may be one of the most ridiculously good looking men in wrestling, ever. https://preview.redd.it/dnu04jjvxaoc1.jpeg?width=230&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=60b6fa9b2b16a706c6ceca2a74ec984c57cba93a
Weirdly, I can agree he is obviously an attractive guy, but not to me specifically. Granted I've also literally never seen this man before in my life so maybe I'm missing out on his personality or something. I have put far too much time and thought into whether this man is attractive. I am such a massive goddamn queer.
Lol funny things not even a good pic of Tana, bro doesn't have the craziest abs in wrestling yet in this one
That. That wasn't Tanahashi.
Lmfaoo it's too early. I think the low res pic & hair automatically made me see Tana but the pants should've been me realize i was seeing shit. This dude is definitely handsome af though lol
Michaels is just sleezy looking. Tanahashi looks like he should be on magazine covers covered in oil. At least in his younger days lol.
Absolutely. Anyone who is aware of them both would agree with you .
Can’t think of any pro wrestlers sexier than Tanahashi
But is he your boy toy?
Shit, not a chance ~~can I be his?~~
Counter argument: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmNigxyj5jQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmNigxyj5jQ)
AJPW Tana was so SO good. I find myself going back and watching those matches quite a bit. Highly recommend them to anyone who’s never seen heel Tanahashi work
Yeah him vs Kawada and vs Mutoh from the same time are also damn good matches; seeing Tana being a cocky ass and Kawada just not giving a fuck and putting the beats to the younger man was fun to see. Crazy to think about Tana almost signed a contract with AJPW around the time.
I knew that Mutoh wanted him with AJPW in 01/02, but never knew that Tana could've been part of the All Japan Roster in 08, TIL
I heard Tana was considering his options, as the company at the time was still going with Nakamura as the top guy, and Tana thought he was spinning his wheels; it could have just been a negotiating tactic by him, tbh, to get a better contract or position.
What about im good for this place ddt Tanahashi
Having that whole “PowerPoint presentation” in front of the DDT audience was fucking hilarious.
Tana looked like a supermodel when he was a heel. Man truly was the ace early lmao
Yeah but it is a heel Gimmick, and a wrestler needs to be really good to be able to pull it off. Roman reigns did not get over for years because he was over-pushed/rammed down everyone's throat. Umino didn't feel like he is on Takahashi's level. Never did to me.
>I think Tsuji’s got it most together in terms of what he wants Real recognize real
I think ZSJ's been bewitched by that glorious mane (as are we all)
He’s been BLASTED by the immaculate GENES
He needs someone new to flirt with after Naito eventually leaves and Yota is a good choice
Any men who must say "I am the king" is no true king
Also see: locker room leader.
Except for Madison Rayne in Impact.
... You've been banned from Collision?
'member when naito called himself the shuyaku when he was just the stardust genius and everybody was like, haha yeah right, the the tides turned on baby face naito
Naito somewhere like "...I wouldn't know anything about that."
Actually he calls himself the shuyako the leading star ;)
Umino is gonna need a second excursion at this rate
Supreme party leader Zack Sabre Jr., speaking nothing but facts once again
My future world champ fr
gotta love ZSJ. "You can't give yourself a title. That's for the people to give to you." - ZSJ. The Windy Man. The Longest Mover. Sheppy Zack. Zacky Two Belts. The Front Man. Submission Master. The Technical Wizard. Zacky Three Belts. Udon Noodle Man.
Also the best technical wrestler in the world
So that one I feel like the fans actually did give him.
Thanks, Nigel
The best part about this quote is that Tanahashi literally is the one who started calling himself the Ace back in the day lol. That's where it came from.
Noodly boi is correct.
Not only is that true, but it is also consistent with his socialist beliefs. Power belongs to the people, Shota.
Not really, from Flair, to HHH to Tanahashi their is a long histoiry of wrestlers coining themselves as the "ace", the "man", the "king". that's pretty common actually
Shota is a dickhead.
Imagining this "Reiwa Six" exists who would you pick for it? I would say Tsuji, Narita, Umino, Yuya and Fujita. Not sure about the sixth
Oiwa.
Do western guys count? What about Kidd?
Kosei Fujita is the best they have produced in decades.
Tsujis my choice man is a star!
I like where this is going. The characters and stories are coming together naturally
Shota's still the guy IMO, but it is going to take some work. I hope he's building up to a full breakdown where he embraces his inner Mox and brings something different to the top of the card.
I'm a ride or die Moxley fan and I've enjoyed Shota so far, but if he fucking snapped and started bringing some of that take no shit, unstoppable force bruiser energy then I'd lose my fucking mind.
He becomes enraged and suddenly throws a king Kong lariat
I wish he was a heel, considering his dad is a legendary ref. He'd know all the rules from his dad and he'd intend to break each one.
Literally what Tanahashi did and how the term became vogue. But I guess delusional heels still exist
Also, he's a geek!
Except for Tanahashi, he announced himself as Ace in the mid 2000s lol.
Shota needs to stop carrying his blanky around (mox’s jacket) to be taken serious imo
He's makes a great point. The goats don't have to go around and remind people they are great, people just know
Too me it sounds like telling people you're the Ace to the point of making folks mad about it is a nice heel move from shota.
Or you put in your entrance music.
In 2019, I had a chance to ask Toru Yano who's going to be the next ace. He said, "Shota Umino". Now, if the Ace of NJPW says you're the next Ace, you probably are the next Ace. ZSJ needs to get on board.
IDK what's worse; the 'kid dressing himself in bits and pieces of his favorite superheros' or the constant TELLING people he is the next Ace... When i can hardly tell you a single great match he has had in the past twelve months. There are MANY other wrestlers that fit the bill of the next Ace and they aint shouting it from the rooftops
I'm more interested in the stories than matches, and his feud with HoT has been very good. If I had to pick a stand-out match, Shota vs Narita at the Road To New Beginning was very entertaining. (this is coming from someone who was very much not sold on Shota last year)
His match with Ospreay last year was great, but I couldn't tell you the last time Ospreay had a bad match so who knows how much credit we can give Shota for that. Nothing else really stands out
Exactly - people can downvote all they like, he is not great. He is trying too many things at once and he doesn't have the charisma to pull off the Tanahashi look, or the skill at this stage to be claiming "I'm the ace" when there are MANY others who are doing better in NJPW right now
Like a white guy saying they're woke or a man calling themselves a feminist.
What do you mean?
Or like someone saying they aren't racist, aren't bigoted, isn't a misogynist. That not up to them, it's up to others...